The Indian Motorcycle Ride Command System

This bike plays music. Faced with that, I bet most riders would consummate the relationship with Bohemian Rhapsody, by Queen. It is always tempting. But my rock-it standard is Spirit in the Sky; the version recently done by The Upsidedown. Give it an ear, and let’s go.

One might wonder if riding a touring bike is getting easier or more difficult. Knowledge is power, but power corrupts. Though I hate to admit it, sometimes I've errored by because of knowing too much, though, of course, often times it's been due to knowing too little. So take it as it comes.

Living dangerously, Indian Motorcycle has introduced the Ride Command System, a touch-screen tablet-like interactive system that comes with a complete motorcycle attached. Choices of motorcycle include the Indian Chieftain and Roadmaster. This feature is so new, so trend setting, that it was updated during its media introduction. I say this just to warn you that my experiences might be slightly outdated by now.

Put simply, the Ride Command System is basically a modern, wide-screen update of a combination of push-button am radio, idiot lights, and a paper map from an Esso station. Yet it doesn’t bite and it ain’t heavy. All of the above, and a few more things, are App’d into a computer that presents itself as seven-inch touch screen for your touring pleasure. And it is a magical touch screen that can be operated while wearing gloves. Well, most gloves.

The multiple systems that the Ride Command provides are maps and navigation, clock, ambient temperature, vehicle information, trip information, plus radio and audio smartphone and flashdrive and iPod with Bluetooth or wired hook-up, Bluetooth phone and headset pairing, phonebook download, incoming call notification, dial to call, text notification, and much more that anyone interested should have explained to them in person at your Indian dealer.

So that there are no hurt feelings, we need to apprise consumers that iPod devices with 32-pin style connectors are not compatible, such as iPod classic and older devices. Plus, phone calls require purchase of an optional Blutetooth headset and, generally speaking, the system is friendlier to Galaxy than iPhone, your service may differ. So, this means that the iPod Nano your daughter gave you a decade ago, that you tossed in a drawer and never loaded with music, is already an antique and incompatible. The future does not wait, wild child.

Anyone who is interested in this system will quickly feel comfortable with it because its functions are fairly intuitive. The screen can be split to show two different classes of information simultaneously, and the map can be enlarged or shrunk with two fingers spreading or pinching. Additionally, some functions can be engaged with actual buttons located off the screen, or through use of the touch screen itself, such as swiping to a different screen or tapping icons for functions. The map and data screens can be displayed full screen or as half of a split screen, as per rider’s desire.

The texting feature is only an alert, and the Ride Command System does not display the content of a received text, thank God. Well, thank the Indian engineers, actually. Again, notifications might not appear when using an iPhone, but a slight music pause can be enough of a clue.

While using music data from other devices, the information displayed and choices offered can vary. For instance, with the loaned memory stick I could pick songs, artists, or albums, but with an iPhone I could only scroll through a list of songs to select music, bypassing the ones I didn’t want to hear whenever they appeared next to play. Plus, I never quite figured out the order in which my songs were presented. It was sort of a repeated semi-arbitrary shuffle, or maybe for me it was more of a scuffle.

When the system is fired up, it takes a moment for it to find a satellite and get its bearings. After that it knows who you are, where you are, and it, like you, might wonder why you are. Time to ride, Captain, ride.

The screen is big for the needs of the demographics that desire this system. Five buttons below the screen, and a couple on the left switch block for scrolling music, volume and dialing the wind screen up and down, can be used rather than “touching.” There are also buttons for yes (on the right) and no (on the left) which will soon be your passenger’s slang for you to stop “left-buttoning” her. She has to pee, damn it. Stop.

The Ride Command System locks out some functions when the bike is in motion, such as the QWERTY keyboard and phone dialing. Other functions time-out after a couple of seconds to ensure that you’re not staring at the screen, like George of the Jungle, “Watch out for that tree.”

The bike data and road data pages can be customized, when the bike is not in motion. Ride data can display such things as moving time, stop time, altitude, altitude change, compass, and more. Vehicle Status can display front and rear tire pressures, voltage, engine hours, oil change mileage, and more. And any pages can be paired with any other pages for a split screen view, or viewed full screen. In a short menu across the top of any chosen displays are minor facts such as, which way and how far to the next turn in navigation, magnetic direction, ambient temperature, and time.

When stopped, diagnostics and details can be reviewed or adjusted such as Language, Speed units (MPH/KPN), Temp units, Volume units, Pressure units, 24-hour clock, and so forth.

Volume units? Like if you want the audio system to play at 11? I don’t know. But there are of course all of the other audio controls such as fade, balance, bass, and such.

Which brings us to the speakers. Indian supplied the anti-social in our group (such as me) with Sena Bluetooth helmet systems that could be sync’d to the Ride Command System. After all of my failures due to 32-pin type iPod devices, I loaded music onto my iPhone 6 and rocked on. The sound is surprisingly poor and tinny through the Sena in-helmet speakers. Your experiences might differ.

What was equally surprising in the opposite direction was how well the external Roadmaster speakers provided clear, hi-fidelity sound at all speeds. A pair of speakers are mounted on the fairing upper, just forward of the handlebar controls. I’ve ridden the Victory Magnum X1, with its 200-watt system, and I couldn’t tell what song was playing when going highway speeds. But this new speaker system is a whole different deal, that earns its r-e-s-p-e-c-t.

According to Indian Motorcycle Program Leader, Neal Quade, a great deal of trial and research went into improving the sound system on the Indians this year. The speakers are more directed at the rider and the perforated screens are now metal instead of plastic, allowing them to be drastically thinner. The thickness required by plastic had the sound essentially passing through tunnels. The speaker covers now have a negative space of 48 percent, and there’s a 78 percent reduction in thickness, from the 4mm of plastic to 0.9mm for the metal. Plus, the system’s equalizer was reconfigured and a user-adjustable equalizer is included. Lastly, the internal sealing of the fairing speakers is improved, adding to the sound quality. It’s a winner. Now it’s easy to tell if the heavy metal music you’re hearing on tight roads is coming from power chords or floorboards.

In all, the Ride Command System of the Chieftain and Roadmaster are effective enhancements for the touring experience, if it’s within your desires. It works, it’s useful, it well communicates its human interface, just pay attention to the world too. Maybe if I get my ears fixed little the helmet speakers will have a different value, but Indian totally makes up for it with the best OEM sound system I’ve heard.

The MSRPs for the Ride Command System equipped Chieftains vary, depending on color, between $23,999 and $25,199, while the prices for the Roadmaster range from $28,999 to $30,399, motorcycles included.

And I play this off with Do Ya, as performed by The Move. Just the right amount of cowbell.