Which bike has the best electronic/gauge package?

[Gary856]

FYI, gauges on 950 Adventure and early 990 Adventure ranked number 1 in being cheap looking, followed closely by XR650L.

Gauge clusters have always been a big part of the showroom (and garage) appeal for high-end motor vehicles. They're how complex machines talk to their human masters. I love to ogle at finely crafted, jewel-like, precision instruments looking vintage gauges with big round dials, thin bezels, fine markings, and thin, long needles. More recently, early R1 models have the coolest looking instrument clusters with the big, round analog tach dominating the center. The latest color-TFT clusters are modern and functional, but not as pretty as analog gauges.

 

[ScottRNelson]

FYI, gauges on 950 Adventure and early 990 Adventure ranked number 1 in being cheap looking, followed closely by XR650L.

I would put the XR ahead of the KTMs, actually.

 

[dravnx]

I would think that if the gauges are important to you, the human/gauge interface would be important.
Are the displays nice and crisp and sunlight/night readable?
What does it take to access the different modes?
How deep are the menus?
How easy are they to configure?
Is all the information that you want there?
To me, the display is low on the list of data points I would use to choose a bike but to each their own.

 

[bunnygoat]

Cool but I don't need a lot of info. My 950 SM doesn't even have a tach but a voltmeter will save you from being stranded. All bikes should have one.

 

[Hooli]

The new Honda CBR1000RR got one of those full TFT panels last year.

And the Yamaha R1/R1M got the TFT panel three years ago...

 

[rudolfs001]

I understand it. When I bought my current bike, the gauges made a decision for me. The Ultra Limited has few differences from the standard Electra Glide Ultra Classic. But one of them is that the gauges are backlit by crisp white LEDs instead of the regular orange on the classic. And a standard 6.5” touchscreen radio/navigation unit. Made it an easy choice for me. Years ago when I was thinking about a K1300S, BMW offered some obnoxiously expensive “MotoGP style” full LCD gauge cluster for like $3k. I would’ve sprung for that, because yeah power, how it rides, comfort, and all that is certainly important. But the gauges are right in front of my face the whole time I’m on the thing. If there’s a way to get something neat to look at, then I’m on board.

FYI, gauges on 950 Adventure and early 990 Adventure ranked number 1 in being cheap looking, followed closely by XR650L.

Gauge clusters have always been a big part of the showroom (and garage) appeal for high-end motor vehicles. They're how complex machines talk to their human masters. I love to ogle at finely crafted, jewel-like, precision instruments looking vintage gauges with big round dials, thin bezels, fine markings, and thin, long needles. More recently, early R1 models have the coolest looking instrument clusters with the big, round analog tach dominating the center. The latest color-TFT clusters are modern and functional, but not as pretty as analog gauges.

On a sport bike, it's below your field of vision. I have to actively look down and stop paying attention to the road to look at the cluster.

And even when I do, there are a very tiny amount of things I want to see. In order:

1. Tachometer (most prominent)
2. Speedometer (as numbers)
3. Gear indicator (half size of speedo)
4. Fuel gauge/low fuel light (small)
5. Odometer (small)
6. Engine temperature
7. Turn signal lights, neutral light, check engine and other error lights.

Personally, I'd much rather have a simple instrument cluster that displays the above and have the company put the money into better suspension, brake calipers, or something like lighter wheels. The instruments you don't use often, and their use doesn't much change the riding experience. Things like suspension, brakes, and wheels you use all the time and their performance greatly impacts the ride.

I really like the sv1000 cluster, though it is missing a gear indicator. Here it is fixed to perfection: https://imgur.com/V3qk3ge.png

 

[Smash Allen]

On a sport bike, it's below your field of vision. I have to actively look down and stop paying attention to the road to look at the cluster.

And even when I do, there are a very tiny amount of things I want to see. In order:

1. Tachometer (most prominent)
2. Speedometer (as numbers)
3. Gear indicator (half size of speedo)
4. Fuel gauge/low fuel light (small)
5. Odometer (small)
6. Engine temperature
7. Turn signal lights, neutral light, check engine and other error lights.

Personally, I'd much rather have a simple instrument cluster that displays the above and have the company put the money into better suspension, brake calipers, or something like lighter wheels. The instruments you don't use often, and their use doesn't much change the riding experience. Things like suspension, brakes, and wheels you use all the time and their performance greatly impacts the ride.

I really like the sv1000 cluster, though it is missing a gear indicator. Here it is fixed to perfection: https://imgur.com/V3qk3ge.png

or the bmw s1000rr, perfect from factory

 

[TheRobSJ]

On a sport bike, it's below your field of vision. I have to actively look down and stop paying attention to the road to look at the cluster.

And even when I do, there are a very tiny amount of things I want to see. In order:

1. Tachometer (most prominent)
2. Speedometer (as numbers)
3. Gear indicator (half size of speedo)
4. Fuel gauge/low fuel light (small)
5. Odometer (small)
6. Engine temperature
7. Turn signal lights, neutral light, check engine and other error lights.

Personally, I'd much rather have a simple instrument cluster that displays the above and have the company put the money into better suspension, brake calipers, or something like lighter wheels. The instruments you don't use often, and their use doesn't much change the riding experience. Things like suspension, brakes, and wheels you use all the time and their performance greatly impacts the ride.

I really like the sv1000 cluster, though it is missing a gear indicator. Here it is fixed to perfection: https://imgur.com/V3qk3ge.png

No clock?

When I had my RC51 (which had a neat gauge cluster at the time), since it didn’t have one built in, I actually went and bought some alarm clock thing that I Velcroed to the tank. Pushed a big bar on it and it would backlight so I could see the time at night.

 

[bunnygoat]

Why does anyone need a gear indicator?

 

[rudolfs001]

or the bmw s1000rr, perfect from factory

Too asymmetrical for my tastes. That's part of what I like about the sv1000 cluster, the physical design guides your eyes to the important info in "correct" order.

No clock?

When I had my RC51 (which had a neat gauge cluster at the time), since it didn’t have one built in, I actually went and bought some alarm clock thing that I Velcroed to the tank. Pushed a big bar on it and it would backlight so I could see the time at night.

The sv1000 cluster has a clock, it's just not that important to me to be necessary.

Why does anyone need a gear indicator?

Because sometimes you lose track. "Did I shift up up up down down, or up up down up down, or was it up down up up down down?"

 

[Hooli]

or the bmw s1000rr, perfect from factory

Dated. arty

 

[Reli]

Why does anyone need a gear indicator?

Because not all of us are pros who can tell what gear we're in just by the RPM and speed. There've been many times when I was on the highway and I couldn't tell if I was already in top gear or not. Especially with liter bikes, since they are so long-geared. Also sometimes you downshift to pass, and then a few minutes go by and you realize you've forgotten to upshift.

Also I love a sweetly designed gauge panel. I'd rather have that than ABS

 

[dravnx]

Or you stop at a light and then, when you take off and the bike is sluggish. You glance down and realize you're in 2nd and there's nothing wrong with the bike.

 

[mrzuzzo]

or the bmw s1000rr, perfect from factory

What a piece of shit display!!

Went from a Ducati to this and can't stand the shitty BMW Casio calculator style dash and the analog tac.

The only reason you think it's good is because you haven't experienced better.

TFT FTW!

 

[NoTraffic]

Why does anyone need a gear indicator?

Because their mind is still fumbling over how much insurance is a month. I don't get it either. You're either in Neutral or another gear. I don't need numbers on a car shifter either (I just need to know if R is right and down or left and forward)

 

[fubar929]

I don't understand this mindset at all. I've owned 22 motorcycle so far and I don't think the gauges made the top ten on my list of what was important to me when I purchased one.

How many of those 22 had electronic rider-aides, electronically-adjustable suspension, or an ECU with enough processing power to drive a digital instrument cluster? There are a lot of crappy displays on modern bikes; I can see not wanting to get stuck with a bad one. The TFT display on the prior-generation Monster 1200S looked great in pictures, but was so unreadable in direct sunlight it sold me on not buying the bike...

 

[NavyChief]

Have you ridden a modern literbike enough to know how much they suck for normal riding?

Not really but I have other bikes for normal riding. Thought maybe something to compliment the ones I already have.
Would be nice to get a little rocket to zip around on and maybe have some track time.

 

[NavyChief]

I’m hoping that the TFT displays would be configurable and I can pull telemetry from it cause I’m thinking of using the bike as a track bike with some street manners but not required.
The RSV4 has my attention and I’m going to see if I can find one to look at.

 

[Junkie]

FYI, gauges on 950 Adventure and early 990 Adventure ranked number 1 in being cheap looking, followed closely by XR650L.

Gauge clusters have always been a big part of the showroom (and garage) appeal for high-end motor vehicles. They're how complex machines talk to their human masters. I love to ogle at finely crafted, jewel-like, precision instruments looking vintage gauges with big round dials, thin bezels, fine markings, and thin, long needles. More recently, early R1 models have the coolest looking instrument clusters with the big, round analog tach dominating the center. The latest color-TFT clusters are modern and functional, but not as pretty as analog gauges.

I really like the 2nd gen SV gauge, with a big analog tach on top and then digital speedo

On a sport bike, it's below your field of vision. I have to actively look down and stop paying attention to the road to look at the cluster.

And even when I do, there are a very tiny amount of things I want to see. In order:

1. Tachometer (most prominent)
2. Speedometer (as numbers)
3. Gear indicator (half size of speedo)
4. Fuel gauge/low fuel light (small)
5. Odometer (small)
6. Engine temperature
7. Turn signal lights, neutral light, check engine and other error lights.

Personally, I'd much rather have a simple instrument cluster that displays the above and have the company put the money into better suspension, brake calipers, or something like lighter wheels. The instruments you don't use often, and their use doesn't much change the riding experience. Things like suspension, brakes, and wheels you use all the time and their performance greatly impacts the ride.

I really like the sv1000 cluster, though it is missing a gear indicator. Here it is fixed to perfection: https://imgur.com/V3qk3ge.png

if you want a gear position indicator, multibot will do that (and also let you correct the speedo so it matches the odo, and also add a voltmeter, all in the stock gauge). I had one installed and love it.

 

[ScottRNelson]

How many of those 22 had electronic rider-aides, electronically-adjustable suspension, or an ECU with enough processing power to drive a digital instrument cluster? There are a lot of crappy displays on modern bikes; I can see not wanting to get stuck with a bad one. The TFT display on the prior-generation Monster 1200S looked great in pictures, but was so unreadable in direct sunlight it sold me on not buying the bike...

The answer to your question is zero.

And some of them didn't have any instruments at all and I was still able to ride those (dirt bikes). Other than knowing how fast I'm going and how soon I need to fill up with gas (trip odometer for that), I don't really need the instruments to tell me anything else. You younger riders have been turned into pussies with all of this digital help.