Which bike has the best electronic/gauge package?

[Smash Allen]

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!

I don’t spend time looking at the dash. It’s like choosing between supermodels based on their personality.

 

[Reli]

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!

The KTM RC8 screen was like that, but worse. In sunlight you could barely read it.

 

[ob1ventura]

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

I disagree.
Enjoyed touring and commuting on the TL1000 and ZX10r.

If you define "normal riding" as running around the City then perhaps.

 

[fubar929]

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.

Electronics are becoming unavoidable as are the digital screens connected to them. If you tried riding a modern bike, you might actually find that some of the new electronics provide value. I was a big fan of the electronically-adjustable suspension and cruise control on my Mulistrada. Being able to float over the bumps on a goat trail, then flick a switch and have a knee-dragging setup for a smooth road isn't a necessity but it sure makes riding more fun! Wheelie control on the Super Duke 1290 is pretty handy and the auto-blipped downshifts on the Supersport S put a smile on my face every time...

 

[clutchslip]

Dated. arty

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!

Interesting, except that auto manufacturers had lots of game-boy dashes before motorcycles, and guess what, most are gone and returned to easy to read tachs just like the BMW. Other parts of the BMW dash are very difficult to read, but a large simple tach and large speed numbers make perfect sense on a performance vehicle. An asymmetrical rectangular donkey kong bar tach, not so much. And studies also show that multiple colors are not a good idea, because we don't all see colors the same way. Thus these "modern" bike dashes seem ignorant of modern studies.

 

[mrzuzzo]

Interesting, except that auto manufacturers had lots of game-boy dashes before motorcycles, and guess what, most are gone and returned to easy to read tachs just like the BMW. Other parts of the BMW dash are very difficult to read, but a large simple tach and large speed numbers make perfect sense on a performance vehicle. An asymmetrical rectangular donkey kong bar tach, not so much. And studies also show that multiple colors are not a good idea, because we don't all see colors the same way. Thus these "modern" bike dashes seem ignorant of modern studies.

Really? Most new cars I've been in seem to have TFT dashes... Even my 2016 Chevy Spark had a 7" TFT display instead of the instrument cluster.

BMW doesn't really make great cars at all, but even the high end like Lambo or Ferrari all have digital color TFT dashes these days.

 

[Blankpage]

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

Of the liter bikes I've owned none of them sucked for normal riding.

As far as gauges go I always thought round dials were best for reading with a quick glance. Then when I got my first bike with a digital display I realized I was totally wrong about that belief, especially with the speedo.
I want all the info they can throw at me but have it customizable so some info can be accessed only when you need it.
I haven't seen one yet thats hard to read in bright sunlight but I can see how that could be an issue if its not a well thought out design.

 

[ScottRNelson]

As far as gauges go I always thought round dials were best for reading with a quick glance. Then when I got my first bike with a digital display I realized I was totally wrong about that belief, especially with the speedo.

Digital speedometer is good. Digital tachometer not good. You want to be able to tell at a glance where you are in the RPM range, and we, as humans, are real good at judging dial angles quickly. Not as good at doing math in our heads to figure out how close we are to redline.

 

[Jalopyshoppe]

I think we overvalue tachometers these days. I find them useful for tuning, and useful to diagnose when my clutch is slipping, but I do the majority of my shifting by ear and feel. I use the tach on a bike to get used to a sound/rpm feel and then I stop using the tach.
As far as modern electronics and rider aids, the FZ10 takes the cake for me. Hands down, the most useful TC and ABS package, with minimal intervention. The ergos and power delivery of the bike is really good. The bike is a visceral experience that never gets old.

 

[clutchslip]

Really? Most new cars I've been in seem to have TFT dashes... Even my 2016 Chevy Spark had a 7" TFT display instead of the instrument cluster.

BMW doesn't really make great cars at all, but even the high end like Lambo or Ferrari all have digital color TFT dashes these days.

Bull! Chevy Spark, a game boy car, for ev sakes.

Here, I can go all day with these kinds of photos. This is the latest Ferrari, Notice the GIANT f'ing tradtional tachometer in the center.

 

[ScottRNelson]

I think we overvalue tachometers these days. I find them useful for tuning, and useful to diagnose when my clutch is slipping, but I do the majority of my shifting by ear and feel. I use the tach on a bike to get used to a sound/rpm feel and then I stop using the tach.

Of course you don't need a tachometer for the list of bikes under your name.

I mainly use a tachometer to keep from hitting the rev limiter, at least on the two or three bikes that I've owned where that happens. I can't tell by feel on my KTM 990 that it's about there. And it really only matters in first and second gear, anyway.

 

[ob1ventura]

Digital speedometer is good. Digital tachometer not good. You want to be able to tell at a glance where you are in the RPM range, and we, as humans, are real good at judging dial angles quickly. Not as good at doing math in our heads to figure out how close we are to redline.

This.
Would much prefer the analog tac like on the S1000rr or the '16 RSV4rr and find all the color a distraction.
My flight instructor told me to scan the instruments and not read them. If you had any real time in the plane the pilot would register any off angles.

 

[Jalopyshoppe]

Of course you don't need a tachometer for the list of bikes under your name.

I mainly use a tachometer to keep from hitting the rev limiter, at least on the two or three bikes that I've owned where that happens. I can't tell by feel on my KTM 990 that it's about there. And it really only matters in first and second gear, anyway.

It is true, I usually just count the rate the fasteners fall of as reference for rpm.

 

[Blankpage]

I hardly ever pay attention to the tachometer. I get a feel for where the rev limiter kicks in and adjust accordingly. If I hit the rev limit its no big deal.

 

[rudolfs001]

It is true, I usually just count the rate the fasteners fall of as reference for rpm.

Never hit redline on my KLR650 for the same reason. It didn't have a rev limiter, just a red shading on the RPM gauge. I figured it meant that's where the bike would spontaneously deconstruct itself.

 

[mrzuzzo]

Of course you don't need a tachometer for the list of bikes under your name.

I mainly use a tachometer to keep from hitting the rev limiter, at least on the two or three bikes that I've owned where that happens. I can't tell by feel on my KTM 990 that it's about there. And it really only matters in first and second gear, anyway.

What? Just adjust the shift light to go off before you hit the redline. Tacs are pretty useless.

 

[Reli]

Just because you don't "need" a tach doesn't mean it's not nice to have. I just like having the information. The more information the better. I'm a data geek. It makes it a more "involving" experience. I want oil temp, water temp, oil pressure, volts, etc. And if I have to install aftermarket parts to get it, I'll do it.

 

[295566]

Obviously I'm biased... but honestly I see these new gameboy screens on all the new bikes and think how garbage they look. They're cluttered and flat-looking (no depth) which, in my mind, would make a quick glimpse down a where's-waldo hunt to find what you're looking for.

07-08 R1 gauges are perfect, IMO:

Symmetrical. No nonsense styling. I much prefer this to the previous gen, 04-06, where they had the italicized/slanted font This is much cleaner in my opinion. Analog tach in the middle, digital speedo on the left, engine temp on the right. Misc warning lights. It'd be nice to have a gear indicator but that's nitpicking.

 

[Hooli]

Obviously I'm biased. 07-08 R1 gauges are perfect, IMO:

Well, obviously.

 

[NeverSayDie]

Color displays, what a time to be alive