At the EICMA 2024 trade fair in Milan, Italy, held from November 7 to 10, Bosch unveiled its latest cluster and vehicle architecture solutions for the two-wheeler industry. User-friendly accessibility, secure connectivity, and the advantages of digital content are emerging as clear trends in the motorcycle segment. Bosch’s new connected clusters aim to enhance the riding experience with features like a glove-friendly display, excellent visibility in any weather, and voice command functionality, enabling riders to keep their hands on the handlebars.
“In a connected world, Bosch is ready to bridge the gap between vehicle manufacturers and riders through innovative technologies without compromising security,” said Geoff Liersch, head of Two-Wheeler & Powersports at Bosch, during the EICMA 2024 motorcycle show in Milan. “Bosch’s Two-Wheeler & Powersports organization is continuously driving innovation and investing in technologies dedicated to motorcycles and powersports.”
Bosch delivers a seamless connected experience and integration for riders.
While features like wireless Apple CarPlay are standard in cars, they are not yet common in motorcycles. The Bosch TFT Connect platform bridges this gap by linking to a smartphone, allowing riders to securely store their phone and access apps directly on the display while riding. The system also integrates with a global navigation satellite system, providing accurate location data. Supporting both Linux and Android Automotive, it offers manufacturers greater flexibility to customize and incorporate content, allowing for more diverse interface designs and additional features for riders.
A standout feature of the TFT Connect platform is its voice control functionality, enhancing both safety and convenience. Riders can easily adjust settings like ride mode using voice commands. Additionally, smartphone controls via Siri or Google Assistant enable hands-free management of calls, messages, navigation, and music, further improving the riding experience.
More Clarity and Control with Bosch’s New Connected Clusters
A motorcycle display serves as more than just a link between the bike and rider—it must deliver essential ride information at a glance while offering a range of features and options. Regardless of the weather, whether it’s bright sunlight or heavy rain, the information must remain clearly visible. Bosch’s new generation of TFT Connect displays sets a new benchmark in motorcycle instrumentation, offering high-resolution displays, advanced connectivity, and a customizable interface. With the highest contrast ratio and brightness in the market, the display provides crystal-clear, vibrant images in any conditions. Boasting over 16 million colors, a brightness of up to 1,500 nits, and a contrast ratio of 1250:1, it ensures optimal visibility in all weather.
The display will initially be available in 7” and 10.25” sizes but can be tailored to different layouts and dimensions. The newly introduced touch interface is designed for seamless interaction, whether the rider is wearing gloves or not, ensuring a personalized and comfortable experience in various weather conditions. Additionally, the platform’s faster boot-up time and optimized system for delivering key information in under a second allow riders to get on the road without delay.
The Bosch TFT Connect platform marks a major leap forward in motorcycle instrumentation, offering riders enhanced clarity, connectivity, and customization. With its cutting-edge features and intuitive design, it promises to elevate the riding experience for motorcycle enthusiasts worldwide.
Handling the complexity of the future with the new Bosch central gateway
In an increasingly connected world, security is fundamental to avoiding unauthorized access to and tampering with vehicle components. Bosch’s central gateway for two-wheelers brings state-of-the-art security to the motorcycle and powersports world, safeguarding the other electronic control units in the vehicle’s trusted zone, ensuring rider safety, and helping to comply with upcoming cybersecurity regulations.
Bosch’s gateway platform is prepared to serve a large variety of vehicles in a range of sizes. Also, it’s designed to be constantly active and includes additional vehicle inputs and outputs; this makes it possible to deliver further features, turning it into a true gatekeeper for the entire vehicle. Functions such as over-the-air updates, remote function activation, connected safety functions, and vehicle tracking can be hosted on the gateway. Furthermore, the gateway can enable secure smartphone-based keyless systems, in which the rider can unlock the vehicle with their smartphone hands-free. This will open up new ways to make the riding experience more personalized and to improve riders’ daily life. With its versatility and functions, Bosch’s gateway for two-wheelers serves as a basis for future architecture upgrades.
“The technology Bosch delivers for greater security in connectivity and data exchange is laying the basis for new services and connected assistance and comfort functions. This brings us closer to our goal of shaping the future of riding,” Liersch says. “It’s exciting to be part of an ever-evolving industry, and Bosch is consistently driving forward the development of new motorcycle technologies in both software and hardware to ride at the very forefront.”
