Chigee SR-1 radar system brings blind-spot detection to almost any motorcycle
The new Chigee SR-1 radar system adds blind-spot monitoring, lane-change assistance and rear collision alerts to motorcycles that left the factory without the tech.
Like it or not, radar technology has become one of the biggest safety battlegrounds in motorcycling over the past few years, but until now it's largely been reserved for expensive adventure bikes and luxury tourers. Chigee is looking to change that with the launch of its new SR-1 Millimetre-Wave Radar System.
Designed to fit a wide range of motorcycles, the SR-1 brings many of the rider-assistance functions found on premium machines to bikes that would otherwise never have access to the technology. Fancy radar tech on your CG125 or SV650? This system could make that a reality.
At the heart of the system is a 77GHz automotive-grade radar sensor that constantly monitors traffic behind and alongside the bike. Rather than adapting an existing automotive system, Chigee says the SR-1 has been developed specifically for motorcycle use, allowing it to better account for how bikes move through and interact with traffic.
The SR-1 runs four rider-assistance functions simultaneously, including blind spot detection, which warns of vehicles hidden alongside the bike, lane change assist, which monitors adjacent traffic before manoeuvres happen, active overtaking alert, which tracks potentially risky passing situations, and rear collision warning, which keeps watch for vehicles approaching quickly from behind.
The radar uses a 2Tx/4Rx antenna setup to scan a 110-degree area behind the bike, with a claimed detection range of up to 70 metres. Chigee says the 77GHz system delivers millimetre-level accuracy when measuring distance and relative speed, while remaining effective in rain, fog, dust and complete darkness.
Perhaps the most interesting feature is that the system doesn't just warn the rider of danger, but it also warns the approaching vehicle, alerting the driver behind as well as the rider in control of the bike.
Installation is claimed to be relatively straightforward, with the radar module mounting at the rear of the motorcycle and warning indicators fitted near the mirrors. The system can operate independently without requiring a display, although riders using Chigee's AIO-5 or AIO-6 smart riding displays can add on-screen radar information and audible alerts. An optional CG BSD Radar Mirror Kit also integrates the warning indicators directly into the mirrors for a cleaner installation.
As more manufacturers adopt radar-assisted safety systems on their flagship models, products like the SR-1 could offer riders of older, less expensive or less technologically advanced bikes access to technology that was previously reserved for machines costing significantly more.
Pricing for the USA is fixed at $219, while UK pricing is TBC. You can find out more about the system on the official website.
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Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
