German automotive electronics company claims it has developed the world’s first split-screen instruments for a motorbike capable of showing app and vehicle information in separate screens at the same time.

Indian has had a split screen feature for at least three years in their seven-inch Ride Command infotainment system.

However, the Bosch system is slightly different as it displays app content from a smartphone on one side of the 10.25-inch TFT screen.

It uses mySPIN  smartphone integration and will arrives first on some BMW motorcycles this year.

Ducati and Kawasaki also plan to bring to their motorcycles, but Ducati will not have the split-screen function on their Bosch 6.5-inch connectivity display.

The mySPIN software has been used since 2018 in all-terrain vehicles, personal watercraft and BRP vehicles such as the Can-Am Spyder.

Bosch spokesman Geoff Lieresch claims the split screen facility is not only convenient but safe as it displays all relevant information “at one glance without distracting the rider”.

Users decide on the content they wish to see on the screen, all of which can be controlled by a switch on the handlebar.

The contents of a smartphone app, for example, are automatically adapted with mySPIN to show relevant information fitting the size of the motorcycle display. The split screen continues to show key indicators such as speed and warnings.

According to a Bosch survey nearly 90% of riders use their smartphone to prepare or follow-up on trips.

One third put themselves in great danger using their smartphone even while riding, the survey found.

Bosch’s mySPIN software partners with apps such as REVER to download, track and share routes with a community of like-minded riders, Genius Maps and Sygic to find the way to a nearby hotel or restaurant and Dash Radio for free premium digital radio. The app portfolio is continuously expanded on a global basis.

Bosch says pone of the most important apps is the digitally connected emergency call system Help Connect.

In the event of an accident, it automatically calls rescue services and provides the GPS location of the rider.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

One of the major failings with motorcycle helmet intercoms is the poor quality of their speakers.

Recently Sena and Cardo (JBL speakers) updated their intercoms with bigger, louder, thinner and better-quality speakers.

We have tested these upgraded speakers as well as some aftermarket speakers and the improvement in sound is welcome. You wouldn’t listen to music at home wth crappy speakers, so why do it when you’re out riding!

And for those who say music is a distraction, maybe they shouldn’t be riding … or even driving as all cars have sound systems!

One of the aftermarket speakers I reviewed was a set of $30 speakers from Finn Moto. I found they provided a substantial improvement in sound for a budget price.

Now, they have made them thinner and bigger which means they are more comfortable next to your ears, as well as louder and with better bass.

In fact, for those who know about audio quality, the output is now from 20Hz to 20kHz.

The problem is that wind noise tends to cancel out the bass end in most speakers.

However, these seem to retain a lot of that fulsome deep sound.

It’s not audiophile quality, but it’s a lot better than before.

Best of all, they are now just $27.95.

While the speakers look a lot bigger, most of that size is the padded surrounds which make them comfortable against your ears.

Flip them over and the actual speaker unit is no bigger. Yet the sound is better.

And they are much thinner which again improves comfort.

They come with Velcro attachments so you can securely position them right over your ears for optimum sound.

It’s a small price to pay to vastly improve the quality of your sound.

So if, like me, you enjoy music and riding, why not double your enjoyment with a good set of speakers in your helmet intercom?

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

German adventure and touring motorcycle accessories company Touratech has produced a special skid plate for the engine on big KTM adventure bikes.

The KTM Rallye skid plate allows riders to literally skid over hazards such as rocks, logs and other bumps on rough trails without doing any damage to the engine.

Unlike some other rigid skid plates that bolt straight into the engine casing and can transfer impact to the engine, this is made of 6.5kg aluminium that flexes and absorbs impacts without breaking.

That weight is kept low in the bike, so it doesn’t affect handling or balance.

It also has two parallel recesses to absorb impacts and allow the bike to skid along the object without jamming on it.

There are also no welds to snag on bushes and sticks.

The KTM Rallye skid plate costs $A711.50, but it’s cheap insurance on protecting your engine.

It suits KTM’s 1050 Adventure, 1090 Adventure, 1190 Adventure and 1290 Super Adventure.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

BMW Motorrad is leading the charge for more carbon fibre on motorcycles with a patent for a carbon fibre swingarm and carbon fibre wheels, fairing and fenders for its S 1000 RR sports bike.

The latter are among their new M performance parts catalogue, but it shows their commitment to lightweight motorcycles.

But in this drive for lighter weight for both better performance and economy, are they sacrificing structural integrity and safety?

Carbon fibre is a material consisting of thin, strong crystalline filaments of carbon, used as a strengthening material, especially in resins and ceramics.

It has been around for many years with early development in cars by Toyota and BMW.

Performance motorcycles have long offered various carbon fibre accessories, but nothing really structural.

Today’s carbon fibre is a lot better produced and BMW has shown that it can even be used in the frame.

Many riders are still sceptical that it can withstand the unique physical punishment in a motorcycle.

Race engineer for Porsche and Supercars, Jeromy Moore, says that compared with ABS plastics, carbon is more brittle, but is lighter and stronger in that it takes a higher load until it fails.

“It can be used in combination with Kevlar which of course is used in bullet proof vests as it’s strong and impact resistant,” he says.

“There are also flexible resin systems out there now that allow movement under low loads and the parts return to original position.”

That seems to be what BMW Motorrad is doing with its swingarm which uses flex rather than a pivot.

Jeromy says Kevlar is not as stiff as carbon but still has higher stiffness-to-weight ratio than plastic.

As for how it stands up in a crash, Jeromy says it depends on the crash.

“Plastic will just deform and you may be able to repair it,” he says.

“A composite that has been deformed past its yield is throw away.

“It is more expensive and I think unless you are looking for the last tenths of a second around a track by shaving a few kilograms, on a road bike it’s just an expensive nicety.”

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com