Dash board

[Robert]

I really like the dash board on this bike, it shows the attention to detail that it can be easily seen day or night.

[Jess from VA]

Give me analog every time.  Not better, but I have a lifetime of using them, and they instantly register meaning.

Digtal takes me a brief delay to process meaning.  

Same deal with a wrist watch.  Got one for a gift.  Look at it and I'm not sure what time it is, briefly.  I gave it to someone else.  

I once had a first year front wheel drive Lincoln Continental with digi-dash ('88?).  I was looking at my speedo, as it just settled in at 85 for a long time.  Later, I learned it topped out at 85 and God knows how fast I was going for that hour (freeway, boy I was passing everything in sight).  The air bag suspension was like a dream ride, you had no sense of movement at any speed.  Years later the whole dash crapped out and then I had no idea how much gas I had, how fast I was going or anything.  New was ridiculous, so I got a working one from a junk yard which worked fine.... except now my car now had 165K on it instead of 75K.  (When the second transmission went south, I donated it to Purple Heart for the tax deduction.... and good riddance).

I will say that my original bulbed '99 ISs are very dim (but I rarely ride at night).

If the F6C dash goes out, I wonder what a new one runs?

I just looked it up.  List:  $758  Pro-Caliber: $521   (now, I like it even less)

http://www.procaliber.com/oemparts/a/hon/535963bbf87002133496b26e/meter

[Robert]

Give me analog every time.  Not better, but I have a lifetime of using them, and they instantly register meaning.

Digtal takes me a brief delay to process meaning.  

Same deal with a wrist watch.  Got one for a gift.  Look at it and I'm not sure what time it is, briefly.  I gave it to someone else.  

I once had a first year front wheel drive Lincoln Continental with digi-dash ('88?).  I was looking at my speedo, as it just settled in at 85 for a long time.  Later, I learned it topped out at 85 and God knows how fast I was going for that hour (freeway, boy I was passing everything in sight).  The air bag suspension was like a dream ride, you had no sense of movement at any speed.  Years later the whole dash crapped out and then I had no idea how much gas I had, how fast I was going or anything.  New was ridiculous, so I got a working one from a junk yard which worked fine.... except now my car now had 165K on it instead of 75K.  (When the second transmission went south, I donated it to Purple Heart for the tax deduction.... and good riddance).

I will say that my original bulbed '99 ISs are very dim (but I rarely ride at night).

If the F6C dash goes out, I wonder what a new one runs?

I just looked it up.  List:  $758  Pro-Caliber: $521   (now, I like it even less)

http://www.procaliber.com/oemparts/a/hon/535963bbf87002133496b26e/meter

I was worried about many of the same things you mentioned including being used to an analog display. But I have to tell you that the numbers being big and bright night or day make looking at speed easier. A quick glance is all it takes to see the speed and the tach is not a problem either.

[Jess from VA]

Given the cost of replacement, I'd be extra careful in rain riding and washing the bike.

I had a rain cover/bootee on my Sat radio, clear in front.  I never took it off.

I'm sure it's bright and clear.

[Kidd]

Visual is good  in day time ONLY when the sun is  directly on screen

[dinosnake]

I just looked it up.  List:  $758  Pro-Caliber: $521   (now, I like it even less)

http://www.procaliber.com/oemparts/a/hon/535963bbf87002133496b26e/meter

Is Pro Caliber a reliable company?  Their OEM parts prices are astoundingly low.

If so, thanks for the heads up!

[Jess from VA]

I just looked it up.  List:  $758  Pro-Caliber: $521   (now, I like it even less)

http://www.procaliber.com/oemparts/a/hon/535963bbf87002133496b26e/meter

Is Pro Caliber a reliable company?  Their OEM parts prices are astoundingly low.

If so, thanks for the heads up!

I think so.

Currently, they are the cheapest OE part seller out there (barring any competition's specials or sales), but shipping is higher than everyone (and sometimes downright stupid) if under $100 (last I looked it was a hundred).  Free shipping over a hundred.

If you need under a hundred, go elsewhere (or order up with spares, yada).

Stuff changes though.  You go to a site, add stuff to cart, calculate shipping.... and THEN decide if it's the best deal.

[Shrubbo]

I really like the dash board on this bike, it shows the attention to detail that it can be easily seen day or night.

Yeah I agree, I can't see my phone half the time in the day but that display always seems to impress me. I love the change when you go through say a tunnel as well. No negatives with it for me.

[Robert]

Given the cost of replacement, I'd be extra careful in rain riding and washing the bike.

I had a rain cover/bootee on my Sat radio, clear in front.  I never took it off.

I'm sure it's bright and clear.

Actually I have washed mine many times already with the hose solidly on the dash with no problems. I have also used the car wash jet a couple of times and did not do a direct prolonged spray on it but enough that if there was a leak it would have showed up. If there was going to be a problem I want it to be under warranty which I have for another 3 years. So I am not to worried about it at this point. I doubt all the instrument clusters I have seen on bikes have had many problems and I have seen some pretty old clusters that some look better than the bike. Plus analog gauges would have more problem than the electronic as there is moving parts and they need to be sealed just as well as if not better than the electronic ones. As long as the electronic board is made correctly that is, it should actually be able to take more abuse. Plus the way the gauge is larger in display and is always bright enough I never have a problem. I guess its all in what you like either old school analog or new school electronic.

  I have not done it to my bike but I like that you can put a personal greeting in the display on start up also, that is cool. I think this was another attention to detail that Honda engineers need to be applauded for. How hard was it to design a display that is led, that it bright enough in the day and at night and still looks cool. Thanks Honda.

[Jess from VA]

Given the cost of replacement, I'd be extra careful in rain riding and washing the bike.

I had a rain cover/bootee on my Sat radio, clear in front.  I never took it off.

I'm sure it's bright and clear.

Actually I have washed mine many times already with the hose solidly on the dash with no problems. I have also used the car wash jet a couple of times and did not do a direct prolonged spray on it but enough that if there was a leak it would have showed up. If there was going to be a problem I want it to be under warranty which I have for another 3 years. So I am not to worried about it at this point. I doubt all the instrument clusters I have seen on bikes have had many problems and I have seen some pretty old clusters that some look better than the bike. Plus analog gauges would have more problem than the electronic as there is moving parts and they need to be sealed just as well as if not better than the electronic ones. As long as the electronic board is made correctly that is, it should actually be able to take more abuse. Plus the way the gauge is larger in display and is always bright enough I never have a problem. I guess its all in what you like either old school analog or new school electronic.

  I have not done it to my bike but I like that you can put a personal greeting in the display on start up also, that is cool. I think this was another attention to detail that Honda engineers need to be applauded for. How hard was it to design a display that is led, that it bright enough in the day and at night and still looks cool. Thanks Honda.

No kidding?

Mine would be......... Welcome back leadfoot, so where we going today?  

If there was going to be a problem I want it to be under warranty

Actually a pretty good idea.   

[Robert]

No kidding?

Mine would be......... Welcome back leadfoot, so where we going today?  

If there was going to be a problem I want it to be under warranty

Actually a pretty good idea.   

Now thats a good one 

[Shrubbo]

Concerning the water resistance of the thing I can only speak from personal experience and I have ridden in my fair share of bad weather with this bike. As of 35000k (21000 miles) I have had no problems with water. I ride all weather and I don't hold back on the hose.

This is a video of one of my rides. At 1:40 there is heavy rain and 1:50 a decent water splash. That was April the 3rd last year and still going strong.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cY4nbDuvIAo

[ledany]

O Robert, come on ! Yes the dashboard is easy to read even in broad daylight but there are so many indications missing ! Gear, temp, range, MPG, ice, TV program, blue tooth, GPS, tire pressure, engine temp etc. Compared to what you can find on italian or british bikes (not to mention the BMWs or the KTMs), it's a shame ! And don't say it's for weight reasons !  

Look at this one on the new X Diavel : really small, changing color in tunnels (like the BMWs) but far more complete;



Well I agree, Robert, on a Diavel you don't glance at the TFT dashboard that often ... because you don't give a s. ! 

[Robert]

O Robert, come on ! Yes the dashboard is easy to read even in broad daylight but there are so many indications missing ! Gear, temp, range, MPG, ice, TV program, blue tooth, GPS, tire pressure, engine temp etc. Compared to what you can find on italian or british bikes (not to mention the BMWs or the KTMs), it's a shame ! And don't say it's for weight reasons !   

Look at this one on the new X Diavel : really small, changing color in tunnels (like the BMWs) but far more complete;

Sorry Ledany doesn't have a clock, not to mention the Valk is a pretty blue. 

In all seriousness why do you need a gear indicator? I understand a neutral light but not a gear indicator. I have never had one so I dont know.

[goldstar903]

Ledany, go ahead and pay the $10,000 more than I paid for my Valkyrie for a fancy dashboard.  Even it's more powerful engine is not worth that! 

[ledany]

@Robert : the pic of the Diavel dash board shows one of the various modes available. Of course there is another mode that has a clock, gear indicator etc. The gear indicator I agree is not necessary but it may help you sometimes (distracted, you thought you were in 6th or 5th gear but were lower). On my former bikes I could reach for the 7th or 8th though  
On the BMWs you have an indicator for the tyre pressure and it helped me twice, alert of a flat  

@Goldstar : not in France, the price of a Valk and a Diavel are similar (the Valk was initially sold 24,113 US$, so is the X Diavel- 23,000 US$ ; the X Diavel S is 25,800 US$). The Valk is not sold here anymore (though the official price in 2015 was lowered to 19,630 US$). This Ducati is an amazing bike though the advanced pegs are obviously designed for the american market but the maintenance costs are out of my reach (I hate the huge tyre) and I wouldn't ride my 15,500 mls/year so easily  

[sleepngbear]

Well I'm one of those boring old farts that doesn't like distractions while I'm riding. That includes tunes, GPS, cruise, and all the other fiddly crap that doesn't come on the Valkyrie. It was actually an added bonus to me when I saw everything it doesn't have. The Valk's display shows me everything I need. My riding buddy has a XDiavel, and while all that tech is neat and stuff, I wouldn't use 99% of it. I like the drone of the exhaust, and I like to hear everything that's going on around me. I want to glance down and only see how fast I'm going and how far I have to my next gas stop. The clock is also helpful when the boss is expecting me home at a certain time. Everything else to me is a distraction. All those goodies are one thing in a car -- and I don't even use half of what I have there -- don't want 'em on the bike. Never had 'em, never missed'em.

[Robert]

While Ducati is a cool bike I cannot take the engine noises, to many, too loud, it sounds like somethings wrong with the engine and smoothness is not one of their better traits. It just does not appeal to me at all.

[lazos valk]

While Ducati is a cool bike I cannot take the engine noises, to many, too loud, it sounds like somethings wrong with the engine and smoothness is not one of their better traits. It just does not appeal to me at all.

https://youtu.be/KooABbX0lQA Ducati engine sound.

[sleepngbear]

While Ducati is a cool bike I cannot take the engine noises, to many, too loud, it sounds like somethings wrong with the engine and smoothness is not one of their better traits. It just does not appeal to me at all.

You forget all that as soon as you crack the throttle. Then you just go into full survival mode. 

[Robert]

While Ducati is a cool bike I cannot take the engine noises, to many, too loud, it sounds like somethings wrong with the engine and smoothness is not one of their better traits. It just does not appeal to me at all.

You forget all that as soon as you crack the throttle. Then you just go into full survival mode. 

    Now thats funny good one.

[AdrianR]

I was worried about many of the same things you mentioned including being used to an analog display. But I have to tell you that the numbers being big and bright night or day make looking at speed easier. A quick glance is all it takes to see the speed and the tach is not a problem either.
[/quote]

Totally agree.  Just a paradigm shift.  I like the look of analog gauges only because it really is all I have known.  But pragmatically...geezzz...the speed indicator is about as easy to read as it gets!!!!  This is just another brilliant design caveat of this bike.  One would think the display would be more difficult to read in bright sunlight, but the display gets EASIER to read the brighter the sunlight as the numerals reflect sunlight back at ya!

[Jambriwal]

I am very pleased with the Dash. Well laid out , easy to see and comprehend. Saw the digital dashes back in the 80's and thought they were distracting. The Speedometer is the best since I tend to run a few miles over the posted speed limit
I did turn down the brightness to #3 since 4 was set from factory and too bright for nighttime use.
A gear indicator would be nice, since it's hard to tell 4 the from 5 the at around 50 MPH.
Of course I toe the shifter and if there is no travel I'm still in fourth.

[Chaz1076]

I agree with sleepngbear, and everything he said is also the reason I bought the Valk.  I love the dash and brings up an interesting point.  Why can you see this dash in the day time and not a GPS?  It is the single reason I have never put one on a motorcycle.  Most of the time you can't see the damn thing.  Just curious.