BYTES is a Bengaluru-based startup founded by biker-enthusiasts who decided to solve a big problem for two-wheeler riders: the lack of advanced safety support on bikes. Their system uses front and rear cameras, AI-powered analysis, and in-ride alerts to reduce reaction time to threats while riding. With pilot partnerships underway with several major OEMs and a plan to bring a direct-to-consumer product, BYTES is aiming to make highway and long-distance riding safer for millions of bikers in India.
Table of Contents
The Problem They Saw
Riding a motorcycle in India isn’t just about fun — it comes with a lot of risks. Things like highway hypnosis (when a rider zones out from long stretches), unexpected obstacles, rear-end collisions, fatigue and blind spots make two-wheelers especially vulnerable. Meanwhile, most advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) are built for cars, not bikes. BYTES recognised that gap.
Founding & Vision
Two biking enthusiasts — one with a background in autonomous vehicles, the other in go-to-market strategy — joined forces after going on long rides and encountering near-misses themselves. They realised that Indian roads, terrain and riding habits need safety systems tuned specially for bikes. So they founded BYTES with a mission: build a wearable or vehicle-mounted “guardian angel” for bikers, using AI to spot dangers and alert the rider in real time.
How the Technology Works
- Cameras (front and back) mounted on the bike feed video into a dedicated processing unit.
- The AI system analyses things like the movement of surrounding vehicles, relative trajectories, speed, road conditions and fatigue signs.
- When a threat is detected (for instance a fast-approaching vehicle from behind, or the rider drifting), the system issues alerts via multiple channels: haptic feedback (vibration), visual cues, and sounds.
- BYTES claims their system can respond in as little as 33 milliseconds, which significantly cuts the rider’s reaction time compared to unaided human response.
- The hardware and software are trained on real Indian riding data — including long trips, variable terrains and challenging conditions — to ensure the model works in local contexts.
Snapshot Table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Founding year | 2024 |
| Target reaction time | ~33 ms |
| Key hardware | Front & rear cameras + processing unit |
| Feedback channels | Visual + Haptic + Audio alerts |
| Target users | Individual bikers, fleet riders, OEMs |
| GTM model | OEM partnerships + D2C + fleet subscriptions |
Business Model & Traction
- BYTES is piloting with six major vehicle OEMs (both ICE and EV two-wheelers) to integrate their ADAS system.
- They plan a three-tier route to market:
- OEM integration: Safety system comes built into new bikes.
- After-market kits: Existing bikes can be retrofitted with the system.
- Fleet subscriptions: For delivery fleets and commercial riders, priced at a low per-day-usage model (target around ₹10-15 per day per rider) so cost is manageable.
- Direct-to-consumer (D2C) sale is planned within ~12 months, with pricing for retrofit kits in the range of ₹7,000 to ₹15,000.
- Funding: The startup has so far received non-dilutive grants and is raising an equity round in the US$1-2 million range to scale R&D and operations.
Why It Matters
- Two-wheeler riders are a massive segment in India (hundreds of millions of bikes) yet have been underserved when it comes to advanced safety features.
- BYTES shows how bike-specific safety tech can leap frog just replicating car tech. Indian roads and rider behaviour are unique, so local adaptation matters.
- For the startup ecosystem, it’s a strong example of “biker culture + tech” meeting a real pain point (safety) rather than a fad.
- For investors and mobility partners, the potential is large: besides individual riders, ride-hailing fleets, delivery fleets and insurance players stand to gain from reduced risk.
Challenges & Things to Watch
- Cost and adoption: At ₹7,000-15,000 for a retrofit kit, the cost may still be high for many riders. Scaling price down will matter.
- Battery / power consumption: Mounting cameras and processors draws power; ensuring minimal impact on range and battery life is critical.
- Reliability & false alerts: A high false-alarm rate or missed detection may reduce trust. The system needs to be extremely reliable.
- Competition & OEM priorities: Some bike manufacturers may build their own safety systems; BYTES needs to establish its differentiation.
- Legal/regulatory frameworks: How regulators treat bike ADAS (e.g., retrofit safety certification, liability issues) will influence uptake.
What’s Ahead
- BYTES aims to collect 1.6-2.0 million kms of riding data across diverse terrains in the next few months to improve its AI models.
- They plan to scale manufacturing of retrofit kits, finalise OEM integrations, and launch full D2C sales in the coming year.
- Expanding into fleet safety (delivery & logistics bikes) is a big growth lever, especially in cities with heavy motorcycle usage.
Key Takeaways
- Indian bikers now have a startup focusing on their specific safety needs.
- BYTES blends hardware + AI + local context to build a meaningful solution for two-wheelers.
- Success depends not just on the tech, but on pricing, reliability and partnerships (OEMs, fleets).
- For mobility, this is a sign: bike-safety tech is becoming more than high-end luxury — it could become mainstream.
FAQs
1. What exactly does BYTES’ product do?
It uses front and rear cameras plus an AI-powered unit to monitor the bike’s surroundings in real time, detect threats (vehicles, obstacles, fatigue, lane-drift) and alert the rider within milliseconds via visual/haptic/audio signals.
2. Who can use their system?
Both individual bikers and fleets can benefit. New bikes can come integrated through OEM partnerships; existing bikes can be retrofitted with a kit; delivery or commercial bike fleets can subscribe to a per-day safety service model.
3. How much does the retrofit cost?
The planned price range for the D2C retrofit kit is about ₹7,000 to ₹15,000. Fleet subscription costs aim at ~₹10-15 per day per rider.
4. How does BYTES differ from car ADAS systems?
Bike riding presents different risks: less stability, higher vulnerability, different camera placements, different rider dynamics. BYTES builds for two-wheelers and trains its AI with India-specific data, unlike many car safety systems which assume four-wheeled vehicles.
5. What is the timeline for commercial launch?
Pilots are already underway with OEMs. The D2C launch is expected within the next 12 months, and fleet subscription models will scale in parallel.
