Ight, Folks. I got a quick one for you. Since I've gotten my hands on the Indian Challenger a few times, I wanted to go over a few thoughts about the Infotainment System. I will say that I was a bit underwhelmed. But Yes, the infotainment system, we’re talking about that because we already know how amazing the engine is along with all the whistles and doo dads that come with the Challenger. But, this video is already overdue since I posted the First Ride video awhile ago so if you haven't seen my Indian Challenger first ride , subscribe and definitely check that out when you get a chance. Alright a bit of some background info for those that aren't up to date, but on Indian fairing models like the Chieftain, RoadMaster, Challenger, and the non fairing FTR 1200 S, they come equipped with Indian's ride command system that displays information about the bike like tire pressures, oil life including features like navigation and media playback. The whole point of this is convenience and it eliminates the guess work of having to figure these things out manually. It's been in the automotive world for years so it makes sense to have these features on motorcycles.
But with the new Indian Challenger, they introduced the latest version of its Ride Command system.
And one of the most notable changes done to the Challenger's infotainment system outside of the software, is its physical location in the fairing. The design choice was more ergonomic focused to bring the screen closer to the rider. For reference, the screen is located close to the rider on the Chieftain and the purpose is to prevent having to reach further forward to interact with the screen by hand along with just seeing it better. Which brings me to one of the biggest complaints about fixed fairing motorcycles with these systems installed is how far the touch screen is placed in relation to the rider. I noticed that when riding a Road Glide for the first time while on my tour through California. But You do still however have toggle switches on the handle bars to navigate the system while riding to not have to touch the screen. This works for both Indian and Harley Davidson.
So something else I noticed with the Challenger's screen on my test ride, even though it was for a brief moment, I found it hard to see the screen display while in bright sun light. You can brighten or darken the screen manually to compensate or set it to auto adjust, but I don't think that'll beat the harness of the sun completely. Not a deal breaker, but it's worth noting.
Besides those few nuances, the current infotainment set up is solid. You can change multiple settings to alter how the information is presented, then you got navigation and of course ya favorite tunes. It gets the job done and I'm sure Harley Davidson's infotainment system is just as efficient and functional. We'd probably be splitting hairs on the differences between the two, but Indian does claim to have the fastest infotainment system in its class with this new quad core processor. For non tech savvy peeps, it just means they have the fastest system. But that power bump is used to smooth out the customizable screens you can have to display information along with the added live traffic and weather updates. All of that helps plan out your ride and shift your routes around from unwanted delays. Smooth and effective additions I'd say.
But here's where I think Indian missed an even better opportunity.
While I think highly of the ride command system that we have, I would have liked to see the system come with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. These two features allow the rider to extend their smart phone apps to the motorcycle. So, instead of using the built in Indian Navigation, you could use Google Maps or Waze. Or, you could use Spotify, Apple Music or Sirius XM. I know many of you would like to see less tech and connected features on motorcycles, but that's a topic for another day.
Having a proprietary system in place with Android Auto or Apply CarPlay isn't new to the automotive industry. For motorcycles, Harley Davidson added Apple CarPlay recently to their BoomBox GTS Infotainment system and it is also on the Honda Goldwing. The option to use their propriety systems is there, but Apple CarPlay is now included for those that have Apple iPhone devices. So, adding Android Auto or CarPlay (even as a paid option) for those that wanted it, could've been a solid feature to make the ride command more attractive to competition. But then again, I don't think the target market and audience is picking these motorcycle simply for that feature. I would be looking for the option for my next purchase. Maybe I'm asking for too much.
Video Credit:
The Verge Android Auto Review
Honda Apple CarPlay
Harley Davidson Apple CarPlay
#BrandonBicasso #IndianMotorcycle #HarleyDavidson
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