Who runs Handlebar HQ
I’m Cal Brennan. I ride a lot, I write about the electronics I bolt to my handlebars, and I’d rather keep my real name off the internet. Everything else here is real: the bikes, the miles, the products, and the opinions.
I’ve been riding for a bit over twenty years and spent most of my working life as a field-service technician, which is a polite way of saying I’ve spent a lot of time diagnosing why a screen won’t turn on, why a Bluetooth connection keeps dropping, and why a wire someone else routed has chafed through. That background is why this site exists. Most motorcycle-electronics reviews are written by people who unboxed the product and rode around the block. I want to know what happens after 3,000 miles of rain, vibration, and gloved fingers.
The bikes
- 2022 Yamaha Ténéré 700 — my main test mule. No factory navigation, a 12V outlet, and handlebars that shake enough to find the weak point in any mount. If a CarPlay screen survives the T7 on gravel, it’ll survive anything.
- 2018 BMW R1200GS — the long-distance bike. Heated grips, a proper alternator, and the bike most of the CarPlay-screen makers design brackets for first. Used for multi-day touring tests and for anything that needs steady power over long hours.
I’m based on Colorado’s Front Range, which means summer canyon roads, high-altitude passes, and enough weather to test “IP67 waterproof” claims properly. I put somewhere between 10,000 and 15,000 miles a year on the two bikes combined.
What this site covers
Only the tech layer: CarPlay and Android Auto screens, dedicated GPS units, phone mounts, dash cams, helmet intercoms, trackers, chargers, and tire-pressure sensors. No helmet reviews, no bike reviews, no jackets. There are plenty of good sites for those. There isn’t one that takes rider electronics seriously, and that’s the gap I’m trying to fill.
How I test
Every product gets installed on at least one of my bikes and ridden for a minimum of several hundred miles before I write a verdict. Long-term updates get added when something breaks or when firmware changes the behaviour. The full method is on the Editorial & Testing Policy page.
Some links on this site are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you buy through them at no extra cost to you. It never affects what I recommend — details on the Affiliate Disclosure page.
Questions, corrections, or a product you think I should test? Get in touch.