Motorcycle riders have to accept fewer creature comforts compared to what’s offered in cars, but the gap is closing. While air conditioning’s still an impossibility, American motorcycle manufacturers have finally brought infotainment systems to two wheels.
The 2017 models of Indian Mototcycle’s Chieftain and Roadmaster come standard with Ride Command, an infotainment system that integrates navigation, premium audio and radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and vehicle data.
Indian’s 7-inch, two-finger capacitive 800×480 touchscreen is the biggest on the market today, besting Harley Davidson’s 6.5-inch display, which only supports single-touch input. Naturally, the touchscreen is glove compatible and supports pinching gestures to zoom in and out on the map. Riders can also interact with the system through handlebar-mounted controls when situations don’t allow for taking a hand off the bars.
Ride Command has several media connectivity options, both wired and wireless. USB flash drive support means that riders can just load their song files onto portable storage and play them through the 100-watt premium audio system output on the Chieftain, or the 200-watt system on the Roadmaster. Sound can even come over- the air with built-in AM/FM/weather band tuners.
Riders with audio systems in their helmets, such as those from Sena Technologies, can pipe that sound in wirelessly over Bluetooth, both from Ride Command or your smartphone. “It can easily pair with compatible phones and headsets,” an Indian Motorcycle representative confirmed with Digital Trends. “We sell and support Sena through Indian.”
Besides the features that can make the ride more interesting are features that give the rider safety and maintenance information about the motorcycle. Ride Command can display tire pressure, fuel range, fuel economy, miles left until next oil change, altitude, and heading.
Although a 7-inch infotainment system seems easily integrated into big, full-featured bikes like the Chieftain and Roadmaster, Indian’s most interesting motorcycle in our opinion is the new Scout. Unfortunately, Indian declined to comment as to when, or if, Ride Command will ever expand through the product line.
Related Posts
I was skeptical of the Cadillac Lyriq-V, but a test drive changed that
The 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V is the first all-electric model in the luxury brand’s V-Series performance lineup. The V-Series has been instrumental in helping Cadillac shake off its stodgy image with fast-and-fun cars that go tire-to-tire with their counterparts from BMW M5 and Mercedes-AMG. But, more often than not, Cadillac V-Series models have been powered by loud-and-thirsty V8 engines — the opposite of the silent, zero-emission electric powertrains that are ostensibly Cadillac’s future.
Save $103 on this high-power car jump starter for emergencies
If you’ve ever dealt with a dead car battery at the worst possible moment, a dependable jump starter is worth keeping in your trunk. The high-power AVAPOW 4000A portable jump starter is now on sale for $56.99, down from $159.99, giving you a $103 savings on a compact power pack that can bring a dead car back to life without needing another vehicle.
Save 15% on DEWALT’s portable power station and jump starter this Black Friday
A dead car battery or a low tire always seems to happen at the worst time. If you want something reliable to keep in your trunk for those moments, the DEWALT DXAEJ14 Digital Portable Power Station Jump Starter is a practical pick—especially now that it’s on sale. It’s currently $109.55, down from a typical $129, giving you a sturdy, all-in-one roadside tool from a brand known for its durability.