Yea, there's an app for that. Even if you're a rider. We probably shouldn't be surprised, but hidden amongst the 50,000-odd applications available for the iPhone are several downloads targeted specifically at motorcyclists.
This app claims to makes searching for motorcycle parts a snap. Released in February, the free app comes from BikeBandit.com (which says it's the largest online source for motorcycle accessories and parts). It lets users access over 8 million motorcycle parts, and over 320,000 schematic parts diagrams for all major manufacturers dating back to 1941.
"After identifying an increasing volume of mobile traffic, we wanted to make it easier for our customers to access BikeBandit.com," said Ken Wahlster, CEO of BikeBandit.com. "‘Following an extensive research process we came up with this application which will aid iPhone users in looking for motorcycle parts."
Serious motorcycle riders and mechanics will probably benefit the most, as the app lets users perform a motorcycle parts search from any location their iPhone or iPod Touch is. The application offers up-to-the-minute pricing and available inventory of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) motorcycle parts from all major manufacturers, all available for purchase with safe and secure online ordering.
The BikeBandit.com iPhone app is free and available worldwide exclusively through the Apple App Store by searching "motorcycle parts".
Greatest Road Software's new app is one that readily appeals to us - on its surface, anyway. The firm released the Greatest Road app last January, and says it's the first iPhone app to help motorcyclists find and rate great motorcycle roads. It works with the iPod Touch, too and is currently available for 37 countries.
Users choose a location on a map, and zoom in or out. Each road stretch has a user-generated rating telling you how fun, twisty and scenic it is and what shape the surface is in. Open-ended comments mean riders can share highlights or report on a hazard. In fact, most content - contributions, ratings and comments - is supplied by fellow bikers. Road descriptions can be exchanged between iPhones/iPod touches or emailed in the commonly-used gpx format, which works with many standalone GPS devices.
At $6.99, this app is pretty pricy, and right now, there aren't many road descriptions listed for the East Coast. For more info, visit www.greatestroad.com
iBike Rider Kit
The third app - well, isn't an app at all, but it IS made specifically for iPhones. Unfortunately, the iBike Rider Moto Kit isn't available to us proles in America just yet - the dang Euros at
SoEasyGPS.com have been keeping it all to themselves for now. iBike Rider is a waterproof kit that mounts your iPhone to your bike (or your forearm, if you want) to take full advantage of its GPS, phone and speedcam warning features while en route.
The iBike Rider kit packages together a waterproof cover for motorcycle handlebars, which can also be bound to the forearm (and can be positioned vertically or horizontally); an earpiece to install within your helmet and an optional battery pack.
Heck, did they say 'speedcam warning'? I gotta get me one of those...
For information (and to place requests for a U.S. version soon), visit SoEasyGPS.com