Garmin Zumo R1 Motorcycle Radar System Review: Safety First

The Garmin Zumo R1 motorcycle radar system is an electronic rider aid that provides a radar vehicle proximity alert for $500 MSRP. It can be mounted on a bike and paired with a smartphone via the Zumo Radar app.

The system consists of a rear radar detection unit and left and right indicator lights that can be attached to the bike’s mirrors or other locations.

The radar detection is off below 15 mph, but it can be put into Demo mode to test its functionality.

The system alerts the rider to approaching vehicles with amber indicators for slow-approaching vehicles and red indicators for fast-approaching vehicles, along with an audible beep in the headset. The Garmin Zumo R1 can also display on the screen of Zumo XT, XT2, and XT3 GPS devices.

In a 13-hour ride test, the system proved to be a useful rider aid, providing a quick confirmation of what to expect when making a head check.

However, it does not replace the need for mirrors and head checks, especially at low speeds below 15 mph.

The system’s biggest limitation is that it does not function below 15 mph, but used with the proper expectations, it adds another layer of awareness without changing the basics of how to ride.