SHAD Reveals World-First Keyless Luggage: Debuts on the Yamaha Tracer 9 GT
The system has been developed by Shad’s parent company, NAD, and uses clever tech that does away with wires and connectors
SHAD, the luggage legends behind those ultra-practical top boxes and panniers, have teamed up with Yamaha to drop a game-changer: keyless luggage powered by wireless energy transfer. No keys, no cables. Just swipe, snap and ride.
The new system makes its world debut on the Yamaha Tracer 9 GT, and it’s one of those rare bits of motorcycle tech that actually makes life easier. No fumbling with keys. No spaghetti of wires. Just seamless integration between bike and bag, thanks to some seriously clever engineering.
Wireless tech, real-world function
While most keyless setups on the market still rely on old-school wiring looms or chunky connectors, SHAD’s new system uses Wireless Power Transfer (WPT). It works a bit like your phone's wireless charger – only in this case, there’s a transmitter on the bike and a receiver on the case. Park it in place, and the two plates transfer energy without ever physically touching. It’s clean, waterproof, and eliminates all the usual issues with corroded connectors or misaligned plugs.
That energy powers everything from electronic locking and unlocking, to a courtesy light inside the case, and even a USB charging port for your gadgets. Leave the lid open? No worries – once you're rolling past 10km/h, the bike automatically sends a signal to close it.
Fast connections that were four years in the making
Of course, pulling this off wasn’t easy. NAD – SHAD’s parent company – spent four years developing the system in collaboration with Yamaha. One of the main hurdles? Getting the emitter and receiver to link up quickly. Originally, the system took around five seconds to connect – an eternity when you're in a hurry. But after a major software redesign, the team slashed that time to just 0.6 seconds. That’s practically instant and a huge win for usability.
This wasn’t just a quick R&D project either. NAD’s engineers racked up more than 4,000 hours of work and over 10,000km of road testing, ensuring the setup could survive the real world. Every component has been internationally certified for mass production and sales – meaning this isn’t just a fancy prototype, it’s ready for your next adventure.
What’s next?
At the moment, this keyless tech is exclusive to the Tracer 9 GT, but you don’t have to squint too hard to see it coming to more bikes – and maybe even the aftermarket – in the not-so-distant future. NAD says it’s already working on several more electronics-focused projects for motorcycle luggage, putting them at the sharp end of this growing field.
So, while everyone’s banging on about radar cruise and AI this and that, SHAD’s quietly bringing smart tech to the bit of your bike that actually hauls your stuff. And frankly, we’re here for it.
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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!
