2019 Indian Motorcycle FTR 1200 S
Rider’s Point-of-View
4.3” TFT Touchscreen Display
Role
Lead Visual Designer
Supporting Interaction Designer
Overview
The 2019 Indian Motorcycle FTR 1200 was one of the most important motorcycle launches in the history of Indian Motorcycle. It signaled a new direction for the brand in terms of style and demographics, branching out from the classic cruiser genre that they are known for, and moving into the sportier street bike genre that is popular in Europe. Taking inspiration from U.S. flat-track racing, where Indian Motorcycle is currently dominating the championship, Indian wanted to bring the performance of that race bike to the streets and the general public.
As part of the overall design philosophy of bringing performance and technology to the street, the high-end model trim, the FTR 1200 S, comes with a 4.3” TFT touchscreen display with Ride Command, designed and developed in-house by my team in Sunnyvale. Taking most of the functionality found in the Polaris Off-Road Ride Command System, and resizing it to fit a smaller display was a challenge. The visual design was also a challenge in that it had to work as a bridge between the “old-school” and “new-school” Indian brand, bringing technology to an audience who wouldn’t normally expect it from Indian Motorcycle.
Gauges - There is a choice of two gauge styles, accessible by swiping up or down on the touchscreen.
Media - The display has USB and Bluetooth capabilities enabling the rider to control their music from the touchscreen.
Phone - Assuming the rider has a bluetooth connected communications device in their helmet, they can make and receive phone calls via the display.