I gave up the traditional standalone GPS a while ago and switched to a device providing Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality right on my handlebars. Overall, it worked well, but it had a few quirks and features, like forgetting how to connect to my phone every few weeks and a severe parasitic power draw that killed my V-Strom’s battery after a week or two of not riding. These were quirks I learned to work around. Aoocci, one of the companies selling this unit (they call it the C5), offered to send me their newest and fanciest offering to try out, the C6 Pro. I accepted their offer to try something new and see how much it has improved.
Photo: Aoocci
Like its predecessor, the C6 Pro came with a variety of mounting options, all based on the RAM Mount system. Initially, I tried the included handlebar mount shown here. It worked just fine, and I had no concerns about it coming loose or falling off, even over rough terrain. However, the plastic parts were not as strong as genuine RAM Mount components, allowing it to vibrate more than I preferred. It wasn’t bad, but since I already had a solution that I knew worked better, I switched out their mounting hardware for my own. No modification was required to use the ball mount on the C6 Pro itself with my own hardware.
Wiring up the C6 Pro was a simple but extensive process due to its features. Unlike the C5’s simple power/ground wiring, the C6 Pro connects to power, ground, and switched power (I used the tail light circuit for this). It boots quickly when you turn the ignition on, faster than the previous model, and gives a five-second countdown before powering down when you turn the ignition off. Beyond that, it was a simple matter of installing the TPMS sensors on my valve stems, figuring out where to mount the front and rear dash cams, and running the wiring. All plugs are color-coded, so it’s hard to mix them up.
Photo: Justin Hughes
Apple CarPlay functionality is simple and works well. Pairing the C6 Pro to my phone was easy, and unlike its predecessor, it has never lost its connection during the months I’ve been using it. The screen is clearer, sharper, and wider than the C5, enabling it to display more icons on the screen at once. Any CarPlay app will work, as well as Android Auto. Since I have an iPhone, I was only able to put CarPlay to the test, but it performed extremely well. My only nitpick, and it’s a small one, is that I wish the screen was more sensitive and responsive to gloves without capacitive fingertips.
Photo: Justin Hughes
After suffering a flat tire this past spring, I was quite interested in the tire pressure sensors that come with the C6 Pro. These simply replace the standard valve caps, and use a retaining lock nut to hold them in place. I was slightly concerned about the additional weight throwing off the wheel balance but noticed no vibrations or other issues. More concerning was how they’d hold up on rough dirt roads, but after many miles in such conditions, they showed no signs of falling off or having any other problems.
Photo: Justin Hughes
Pairing the sensors to the Aoocci C6 Pro is a simple one-time procedure. I’ve noticed their pressure readings differ by a PSI or two from my tire pump and gauge, but it’s certainly good enough to monitor the situation while underway. I set a low pressure alert of 30 PSI, which will display a warning on the screen no matter what mode the C6 Pro is in. Since my lowest recommended tire pressure is 33 PSI on the front, this will give me plenty of warning if I have a leak, and likely enough time to pull over safely before it’s completely flat.
It has also been interesting to monitor my tire temperatures as well as pressures while I ride. Naturally, both increase slightly once underway. I’ve done a lot of two-up riding this year, and even with the extra air in the back tire that Suzuki recommends (41 PSI rather than 36 for solo riding), I noticed much higher rear tire temperatures than in the front. This led me to try increasing the rear tire pressure to 43, which resulted in lower temperatures and a happier tire. Different tires work in different ways, and the Shinko 705s on my V-Strom are different than the original tires the recommended pressures were intended for.
Photo: Justin Hughes
One of the main features of the Aoocci C6 Pro is front and rear dash cams, which can be set to record your journeys continuously or on a loop. This requires the addition of a microSD card to the bottom of the unit. Front and rear video is recorded simultaneously in 1920 x 1080 at 30 fps.
Photo: Aoocci
Current models of the Aoocci C6 Pro come with a wired remote control. This lets you snap photos or videos anytime, anywhere, regardless of the mode the unit itself is in. My review unit came with a wireless remote. It was easy to pair and never gave me any problems, but Aoocci says they changed to a wired remote to solve customer complaints about the wireless remote. Good on them for being proactive about fixing reported problems, even though I didn’t have any.
Photo: Justin Hughes
One of my few criticisms of the C6 Pro is the accessibility of the microSD card and USB-C port hidden underneath this water-resistant panel. The C6 Pro has an IP67 rating, meaning it is dust-resistant and can be immersed in one meter of fresh water for up to 30 minutes. This is excellent for ADV riders. The cost is that you can’t just plug in or pop the memory card in and out on a whim. I had to find my eyeglass repair kit for a screwdriver small enough for these screws, then try hard not to lose them while the panel was off. I imagined that I could make great YouTube videos using footage from the C6 Pro, but not so much with such a process to get videos off the unit. However, it will work great as a regular dash cam, recording your ride continuously with the ability to lock and save clips if you happen to witness or be in a crash. This happens rarely, so retrieving the video is only an occasional inconvenience. Arguably, the IP67 rating this cover enables is far more useful in day-to-day adventure riding. I’d love to see a redesigned cover with easier accessibility and no tiny easy-to-lose screws, however.
Strangely, videos are saved as TS files, more appropriate for DVD and Blu-Ray video, rather than the standard MP4 format. While my laptop could play these files in their native format, I had to convert them to MP4 to throw this quick sample video together so you can see what the footage from these cameras looks like.
While not quite as sharp as a GoPro or a late-model iPhone, the image quality is quite good. It is extremely stable as long as the cameras are mounted to solid bodywork. I mounted my rear camera to the rear license plate bracket, which I later learned has rubber mounts and bounces around a bit on rough surfaces. That’s the only reason why the rear view on dirt is shaky and not a problem with the camera itself. I was particularly impressed with its performance in low-light conditions. The view ahead is excellent as I have bright LED headlights and spotlights, but even the rear view is pretty good in the dark, even when the tail light is the only illumination. The video switches to black-and-white when it gets too dark for color, which is perfectly fine. Wind noise overloaded the built-in microphone at moderate speeds, even behind my windshield, but you get a dash cam for the video more than the audio. I was unable to find a way to switch the telemetry from metric to Imperial units despite doing so in other functions, but Americans should know by now how to use the metric system.
Overall, the Aoocci C6 Pro is a significant improvement over its predecessor. I’m mainly interested in its Apple CarPlay functionality, but the safety of tire pressure warnings, as well as front and rear cameras to document any incidents I may encounter, are great benefits as well. The C6 Pro has many of the same features as the NaviCam CL876, but rather than being a Kickstarter project, it is on sale right now for $219, a much lower price. Even better, Aoocci offers inmates 22 percent off using discount code ADVRIDER, bringing the price down to $170.82 before shipping. I paid slightly less for the C5 CarPlay unit almost two years ago, but the C6 Pro packs more features and better quality. For me, it’s become an integral part of every ride.
