Write by Nazario Peruggini, July, 2024

As a technology enthusiast, I believe that if something is well studied and used in the right way, it can only help us and improve our daily lives. For years, therefore, I have been using a dedicated navigation system on my bikes: a Tom Tom Rider 500. I preferred it to the smartphone, relegated to this use only in cases of need or emergency, because I believe that exposing an expensive smartphone to heat, sun, wind and rain is not the best solution for me. And if I have an iPhone 12 mini, in all honesty, I wouldn’t even have a large display at my disposal. Not a perfect solution it must be said, because the Tom Tom does not have the versatility and practicality of use in finding points of interest and quickly setting them as a destination.

For about a year now, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto navigation systems have also been spreading for motorcycles. We have already talked about it and we will talk about it again, because the market offers different solutions, and this one from Ricoel MotoPlay Lite C5 seems to be one of the most interesting in terms of value for money.”

Lite C5 Unboxing

The product features a neat packaging, with a beautiful box that immediately illustrates the most important features of the device. In the package we find:

The navigation system with its base for attaching to the motorcycle, complete with sun visor and quick release.
The device's display already has a film applied.
Ram handlebar mount with everything you need to adapt it to various diameters
Ram support for installation on mirror
Ram Arm
Power cable for USB Type-A connection Boring cable for fixed installation on the battery of our motorcycle
Mini screwdriver and two extra spare screws, to open the waterproof door that gives access to the USB Type-C and the Micro SD slot (the USB C also powers the device, useful in phases of software updates away from the bike)
USB C male to female USB A cable, useful for connecting a pen drive for updates
Instruction Manual

A rich equipment, therefore, which allows multiple mounting solutions on our vehicle, both on the bracket side and on the wiring side. USB Type-A is still a versatile solution. With a suction cup RAM, it would be easy to use even on a somewhat dated car.

Configuration and First Boot

The first big plus is undoubtedly the coupling system to the bike. Living in an area where it would not be wise to leave this kind of device fixed, risking theft and damage, this aspect is very important to me. With a wheel on the rear, the navigator is quickly unlocked, which appears very light and practical to carry with you. It is also possible to disassemble the Ram plate and adapt a different mount, as in my case on the KTM SMT 890. I reduced the footprint and made the setup more minimalist, using a 3D printed plate and screwing it directly to the GPS frame, as you can see in some photos.

The boot is quick, Ricoel also helped to customize the boot logo (download page here), proving to be very quick and efficient in all our requests for explanations and support. Our geek soul wanted to make the ignition of our CarPlay more personalized. We have tested everything with iPhone, needless to explain how these systems work, but I want to highlight some features and strengths, some of which are exclusive to this model.

Features & Technical Specifications

These systems work by using bluetooth as the first connection and then switching to a direct wi-fi connection, all managed automatically. In the latest software updates, you can also choose the channel for this type of connection. By default it's 36, from some personal research and tests I recommend you set it to 44.

Another interesting feature is the ability to use the intercom in two different ways. Leaving it connected to our mobile phone, as I do, or interfacing it directly with CarPlay. Both solutions work perfectly.

The brightness is 1000 nits, and although the protective film perhaps reduces it a little, in use it proves to be excellent and the reflections you see in photos and live videos are much less accentuated.

IP68 waterproof, complete protection against dust, neat cables and with waterproof closures.

Finally, the company declares high-performance CPUs, which in fact really give us a good user experience rather fluid and with a nice touch screen, and several hooking systems that can also be configured during the purchase phase: RAM/CUBE/BMW.

Two useful pieces of information for those who buy it: the reset password is 123456, while the one for changing the boot logo is 1234.