Privacy policy
Last updated: 26 September 2026
MotorBend is a motorcycle bend-warning and navigation app for Android, with a route planner at motorbend.co.za. It is operated by ATS All Technology Solutions (Pty) Ltd, South Africa ("we", "us"). This policy explains what information MotorBend collects, why, who it is shared with, and the choices you have. We process personal information in line with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).
Questions or requests: info@motorbend.co.za.
The short version
- You can use the bend warnings without an account. Bend detection runs on your phone.
- If you sign in, we store what you save or record so it appears on your other devices and on the website.
- No advertising, no analytics trackers, and we never sell your information.
- You can delete your account and everything linked to it — see Delete your account.
What we collect and why
| Information | When | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Location (precise GPS) | While a ride is running in the app, including in the background via a visible notification. | To warn you about the bends ahead and to navigate. This is processed on your phone. |
| Account details: name, email address, profile picture, and your Google account ID or a securely hashed password | When you create an account or sign in (with Google or with email and password). | To sign you in and keep your data together across the app and website. |
| Recorded rides: GPS track, times, distance, bend warnings, and photos you take during a ride (which include where they were taken) | Uploaded when you are signed in and ride upload is on (it is on by default when signed in, and can be switched off in Settings). Photos upload on Wi-Fi unless you allow mobile data. | So your rides appear on the website and your other devices. |
| Last known position | While riding and signed in, at most about every 5 minutes. | So the website's "use my current location" can use your phone's real position. |
| Corner-learning data: the corners you rode, with speed, lean angle and position | Only if you switch on corner-learning sync (off by default). | So your riding profile carries over to other devices. |
| Saved places and routes | When you save them. | To keep your home, work, favourite places and planned routes. |
| Searches | When you search for an address or place. | To find it. Search results are cached without being linked to your account. |
| Map corrections and added places | When you fix a map pin or add a missing place. | To improve search for all riders (see "What other riders can see"). |
| Technical data: IP address, request times | On every request to our servers. | To keep the service secure and working (for example rate limiting). Kept in short-lived server logs. |
What other riders can see
- Saved routes are public by default so riders can find good roads — you choose this per route and can make one private.
- Recorded rides are private. A ride becomes viewable only if you create a share link, and you can stop sharing at any time.
- Places you add become visible to everyone once enough riders confirm them. Map corrections may be sent to OpenStreetMap as a public note, without your name or email.
Who we share information with
We do not sell or rent personal information. MotorBend runs on our own servers in South Africa. Some features rely on these services, which receive only what they need:
- Google — if you choose "Sign in with Google", to confirm who you are.
- HERE Technologies — some address searches are sent to HERE (the search text only, not your identity).
- OpenStreetMap and OpenFreeMap — map images are loaded from their servers, which see your IP address and the map area being viewed. Map corrections may be posted to OpenStreetMap Notes.
- unpkg.com — the website loads its map library from this public content network.
We may also disclose information if the law requires it.
How long we keep it
We keep your account data until you delete your account. When you do, we delete your account, rides, photos, saved places and routes, corner-learning data and last known position. Places you added or confirmed are detached from your account, and notes already posted to OpenStreetMap stay there because they are public and not linked to you. Server logs are short-lived and are deleted automatically as they rotate.
Security
Traffic between the app, website and our servers is encrypted (HTTPS). Passwords are stored only as secure hashes, and share links are long random tokens. No system is perfectly secure, but we work to protect your information and will notify you and the Information Regulator if a breach affects you, as POPIA requires.
Your rights and choices
- Use the app without an account, or sign out at any time.
- Switch off ride upload, corner-learning sync, or mobile-data uploads in the app's Settings.
- Deny or revoke location permission in Android settings (bend warnings need it to work).
- Ask to see, correct or delete your information by emailing info@motorbend.co.za, or delete your account.
- If you are unhappy with how we handle your information, you may complain to the Information Regulator (South Africa): inforegulator.org.za.
Children
MotorBend is intended for licensed motorcyclists aged 18 and over and is not directed at children.
Changes
If we change this policy, we will update the date above and, for significant changes, tell you in the app or by email.