EKIY 5" Motorcycle CarPlay & Android Auto Display
There are plenty of inexpensive motorcycle displays promising wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. We wanted to know whether one of the cheapest options could actually work for adventure riding.
So we bought this 5-inch EKIY display and mounted it on one of our motorcycles.
It works with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, runs OffTrail well, and cost less than €50 at the price we paid. The 5-inch screen is small and its roughly 800-nit brightness is not exceptional, but for the money it is a surprisingly usable way to bring OffTrail navigation to a motorcycle.
We also found one important limitation during rough off-road riding: heavy vibration can cause ghost touches on the touchscreen. Fortunately, OffTrail has a practical way to prevent those accidental touches from interfering with navigation.
Quick verdict
Very good value if you want a simple CarPlay or Android Auto screen on your motorcycle.
The 5-inch display is smaller than many dedicated motorcycle units and approximately 800 nits can be limiting in strong sunlight, but it is perfectly usable in many conditions.
Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto worked well in our testing with OffTrail.
During rough, high-vibration off-road riding we experienced occasional ghost touches. From OffTrail 1.24.4 onwards, the CarPlay and Android Auto interfaces include Auto Lock, which prevents those accidental touches from interfering with navigation.
For less than €50 at the price we paid, it is a remarkably capable budget setup.
What is it like to use?
For normal navigation, the EKIY does exactly what we need from this type of device.
The phone stays safely stored while the display provides the CarPlay or Android Auto interface directly in the rider's field of view. OffTrail's navigation interface remains simple and readable, without turning the motorcycle cockpit into another smartphone.
At 5 inches, the screen is relatively compact. Riders who want a large navigation display may prefer something bigger, but the smaller size also makes it easy to fit into crowded adventure-bike cockpits.
The approximately 800-nit display is adequate rather than exceptional. Visibility depends on sun position and mounting angle, so riders frequently travelling in very bright conditions should keep that limitation in mind.
What happens off-road?
This is where our test became more interesting.
On normal roads and smoother trails the display behaved as expected. On rough tracks with rocks and sustained vibration, however, we occasionally experienced ghost touches — the touchscreen registered input without the rider deliberately touching it.
This is clearly a hardware limitation worth knowing about if the display is being considered specifically for adventure or off-road use.
It does not make the device unusable for us, because OffTrail includes a feature designed for exactly this kind of riding environment.
OffTrail Auto Lock makes the difference off-road
Available from OffTrail 1.24.4 onwards, the CarPlay and Android Auto interfaces include Auto Lock.
Once navigation is running, the interface can be locked against accidental touchscreen input. On this display, that means vibration-induced ghost touches no longer interfere with navigation while the screen is locked.
The touchscreen itself is not being fixed — the hardware can still generate unintended touches under severe vibration. Auto Lock simply prevents those touches from affecting the active OffTrail navigation experience.
For rocky tracks and heavily corrugated terrain, that makes this inexpensive display considerably more practical.
Our mounting hack: Quad Lock
We did not use the display exactly as supplied.
Our preferred motorcycle mounting system is Quad Lock, so we added a Quad Lock Universal Adaptor to the back of the EKIY display.
That turns the inexpensive CarPlay screen into something we can attach and remove using the same Quad Lock mounts already used on our motorcycles.
It is a very simple modification, but for us it makes the setup considerably more convenient.
Installed on the bike
The compact size works particularly well on an adventure motorcycle because the display can sit above the original instrument cluster without dominating the cockpit.
In our installation, the EKIY sits high enough to make navigation easy to glance at while riding, while the motorcycle's original dashboard remains fully visible.
Using the Quad Lock setup also means we can remove the screen easily when required.
What we like
- Very inexpensive.
- Wireless Apple CarPlay.
- Wireless Android Auto.
- Works well with OffTrail.
- Compact 5-inch format.
- Easy to remove with our Quad Lock modification.
- OffTrail Auto Lock makes it much more usable on rough terrain.
What to know
- 5 inches may be small for riders wanting a large navigation display.
- Approximately 800 nits is usable but not particularly bright.
- Strong sunlight can affect readability.
- Severe off-road vibration can cause ghost touches.
- OffTrail 1.24.4+ Auto Lock prevents those touches from interfering with navigation while locked.
- Marketplace pricing and product revisions can change.
Who does it make sense for?
This display makes most sense for riders who already carry an iPhone or Android phone and want an inexpensive, dedicated navigation screen on the motorcycle.
It is particularly interesting if you want OffTrail on CarPlay or Android Auto without buying a much more expensive motorcycle navigation device.
Riders prioritising maximum brightness, a larger display or hardware specifically engineered for severe off-road vibration may want to look at more expensive alternatives.
But as an entry-level setup, this little EKIY has proven much more useful than its price suggests.
Where we bought it
Marketplace prices, specifications and product revisions can change. This is the unit we purchased and tested. Not an affiliate link.
Using CarPlay or Android Auto for adventure riding?
OffTrail brings simple GPX navigation to your motorcycle through your phone, Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Load a GPX, create a route, download your maps and ride.
Free. No ads. No account.
New to GPX on the car screen? Read how to use GPX with CarPlay or the full User Guide.
FAQ
Does the EKIY 5" work with OffTrail?
Yes. We tested the display with OffTrail using Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Is a 5-inch screen large enough for motorcycle navigation?
It depends on the cockpit and rider preference. We found the 5-inch display usable and easy to fit on an adventure motorcycle, although riders wanting a larger navigation view may prefer a bigger screen.
Is 800 nits bright enough for motorcycle navigation?
It is usable in many conditions, but strong direct sunlight can reduce readability. Brightness is one of the compromises of this inexpensive display.
Does the EKIY display have problems with vibration?
During rough, high-vibration off-road riding we experienced occasional ghost touches. From OffTrail 1.24.4 onwards, Auto Lock prevents accidental touchscreen input from interfering with navigation while the interface is locked.
Can I mount it using Quad Lock?
We attached a Quad Lock Universal Adaptor to the back of our display and use it with our existing Quad Lock mounting system. This is our own modification, not an official EKIY or Quad Lock integration.