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[Crissa]

That's how the Triumph has sketchy looking extra plastic, not how the Zero isn't in a housing.

-Crissa

[princec]

Various KTMs just have the TFT panel out there in the breeze.

Cas

[Richard230]

Various KTMs just have the TFT panel out there in the breeze.

Cas

Like my KTM 390 Duke - which have not have the best reliability reputation in the past.  But perhaps being out in the open like that and subject to single-cylinder ICE vibrations is a little tough on the device. 

[JaimeC]

Various KTMs just have the TFT panel out there in the breeze.

ICE vehicles may be affected by poor aerodynamics just like EVs... but poor aerodynamics are a bigger concern for EVs.  If the flat TFT is behind a windshield all is well and good.  But when it is NOT behind a windscreen (like on the naked S, DS and DSR) it will have an effect and not a good one either.  Motorcycles are not the most aerodynamic vehicles on the road to begin with, but every little bit helps.

[Crissa]

The smaller the bulb of aerodeflection, the better you aero is at middle speed is anyhow.  And if you want to smooth it out, you can opt for the flyscreen or more.  I have a commuter screen and it's fine at the speeds I go at.  Not having extra stuff to break while I learned to ride is handy, too.

-Crissa

[JaimeC]

Since I'm not familiar with TFT screens I have to ask:  Are they "Glove Friendly" or do they require you wear a special "touch screen compliant" glove?  Because I NEVER ride without a pair of gloves...

My Garmin GPS screen works on pressure, so it works with whatever glove I happen to be wearing.  My phone, on the other hand, requires that I either take my glove off, or that I'm wearing a glove that works with touch screens.

Also, if the phone screen gets wet (like I'm caught in the rain) it doesn't work at all until I can dry it off again as the water affects the electric field the screen looks for when you touch it.

[Auriga]

Probably depends on the screen, but Zero's dash is not a touch screen.

[princec]

Touch screens on bikes is really just asking for accidents isn't it... ISTR Honda disables theirs when the Africa Twin starts moving.

Cas

[svelectric]

The new TFT isn't touch screen as noted above.  The buttons are nice on the sides.  I have no problem using them with gloves on.  I'd say at least mostly glove friendly.  I like it.  I miss the clock and ETA displayed while the key is off.  I wish it had additional functions over the old screen.  I do however love the way it looks, it has a nice layout as well.  Probably not worth 270 bucks, but I'd do it again, just because it makes me happy.

[TheRan]

The new TFT isn't touch screen as noted above.  The buttons are nice on the sides.  I have no problem using them with gloves on.  I'd say at least mostly glove friendly.  I like it.  I miss the clock and ETA displayed while the key is off.  I wish it had additional functions over the old screen.  I do however love the way it looks, it has a nice layout as well.  Probably not worth 270 bucks, but I'd do it again, just because it makes me happy.

You've made me think of a question, does the screen show anything while charging? With the old LCD it's okay because you can still see it without the backlight on but I don't think I'd want the new screen all lit up when the bike's charging outside my house at night.

[Richard230]

The TFT screen on my little KTM is about 6.5" inches across. So they must be getting pretty cheap. It is easy to select a number of functions using backlit buttons on the left handlebar. Yesterday I replaced my battery and naturally the clock time needed to be updated. That was easy to do once I read the owner's manual and discovered the secret. But the other thing I discovered was that the program also contained a date, which I hadn't messed with since I bought the bike in April of last year. The date set by the factory was March 3, 2018.  Once I reset the date correctly, a big yellow Service warning came up on the display. Since having the selling dealer perform the 600-miles servicing and getting hit with a $650 bill, I have decided to perform my own servicing from now on. So I adjusted the date back a couple of years and the Service warning vanished.    Not at all like my BMW that will bug you with a service warning until you take it into your dealer for the factory-approved servicing - unless you reset the service date with a GS-911 device. 

Anyway, I mention this because TFT displays are becoming all the rage lately and having buttons (the backlit feature is really handy at night) on the left handlebar are a lot better than if some company comes up with a touch screen. While that might work in a car, it would not be safe on a motorcycle.

Personally, I think color TFT screens are a big improvement in readability compared with LCD screens. Provided that the programmers don't get carried away with complicated layers of information that must be accessed by diving into the different layers. I think most riders don't need to be overwhelmed with too much information regarding their bike shown on the display, especially while they are riding.

[princec]

The skeumorphic graphics and cluttered messes in Honda, Aprilia and Energica designs are grim beyond belief. BMW have got it worked out precisely, and KTM are also on the ball.
These screens cost very little - in the tens of dollars range including capacitative touch for 7" - and they can be rapidly developed and customised. Creating custom LCD (or worse, mechanical!) dashes for every model or even several models is orders of magnitude more expensive than "use this generic TFT panel and write a bit of software". (Relateldy, had a fair bit of fun earlier this year making an embedded 7" touch display for seismic vessel bridge rooms, it's quite similar in many ways to my other side gig making computer games)

Cas

[princec]

The new TFT isn't touch screen as noted above.  The buttons are nice on the sides.  I have no problem using them with gloves on.  I'd say at least mostly glove friendly.  I like it.  I miss the clock and ETA displayed while the key is off.  I wish it had additional functions over the old screen.  I do however love the way it looks, it has a nice layout as well.  Probably not worth 270 bucks, but I'd do it again, just because it makes me happy.

You've made me think of a question, does the screen show anything while charging? With the old LCD it's okay because you can still see it without the backlight on but I don't think I'd want the new screen all lit up when the bike's charging outside my house at night.

If it's anything like the SR/F I have... yes, it's on while charging, though it is "dimmed" after a while I think. The little blue LED on the official Zero charging cable though is about 100x brighter than the whole TFT and illuminates the entire neighbourhood when it flashes :S Gonna have to tape over it.

Cas

[JaimeC]

Good information.  Thanks, all.  BUT Zero really has to work on making it look like it BELONGS there and not something they just slapped on.  It looks fine on the Gen3 bikes but like an afterthought on the Gen2 bikes (probably because they ARE).

That old B/W LED screen on my 2018 "S" tells me pretty much everything I need to know.  State of charge, range to empty, power/regen info, current speed and the time (which is somewhere in the ballpark; frankly I don't mind it being fast... makes it harder to be late anywhere).  I have the app open on the handlebars to monitor battery, BMS and motor temperature (as well as a far more accurate clock).

[svelectric]

The new TFT isn't touch screen as noted above.  The buttons are nice on the sides.  I have no problem using them with gloves on.  I'd say at least mostly glove friendly.  I like it.  I miss the clock and ETA displayed while the key is off.  I wish it had additional functions over the old screen.  I do however love the way it looks, it has a nice layout as well.  Probably not worth 270 bucks, but I'd do it again, just because it makes me happy.

You've made me think of a question, does the screen show anything while charging? With the old LCD it's okay because you can still see it without the backlight on but I don't think I'd want the new screen all lit up when the bike's charging outside my house at night.

It does have a charging light that flashes.  So that is good.  It doesn't show the time remaining or anything else though.