BMW TFT - is it too complicated?

[richardbd]

I have been riding a 21 850 for 10 months and I still can’t figure out more than half of the TFT functionality. Even resetting the tripmeter is an intellectual challenge equivalent to getting your granny to book a train ticket on her iPhone.

Last Monday I took a Multistrada V4S for a spin. Not only is the TFT easier on the eye (despite containing much more info on a single screen) it seems to be significantly more intuitive to use. The joystick seemed way easier to navigate than the wonder wheel.

Is it just me?

 

[BigT]

Be quick with the TFT on the V4S before it runs out of fuel. Low MPG and an egg cup for a tank. Nice bike though.

I have a 21 GSA. I assume the TFT is the same as the 850. Spend 30 mins sat on the bike with the book. All will become clear ;-) Good luck and enjoy.

 

[F8GS]

The trip and avg mpg reset is a bit of a fiddle having to scroll through multiple menus.

However a good friend showed me how to reset the trip and avg mpg via the BMW navigators touch screen. It’s now much easier and quicker.

It is very easy to do, just scroll to the info display on the navigator and there is a option to rest fields. Just reset the ones you want using the touch screen of the navigator.

Very simple and quick.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MotoRevive]

The real meat of these TFTs is when they've been around long enough to be out of warranty.

They cost about £1500-£2000 and have to be dealer installed.

I can't imagine them lasting ten years. Maybe not even five with heavy use.

 

[EPG_19]

The real meat of these TFTs is when they've been around long enough to be out of warranty.

They cost about £1500-£2000 and have to be dealer installed.

I can't imagine them lasting ten years. Maybe not even five with heavy use.

why not they have on cars?

 

[BobT]

The TFT is not difficult to understand. It gets complicated only when people add in a BMW Navigator, which is no longer needed if you use the app, or do not know how to set up their phone to work with the system.
I have had the TFT for a year and 8000 miles now and use it with my phone to navigate and do everything that I need.
There are loads of youtube videos out there to help, and there is a facebook group that will answer any questions, but I suspect that many people cannot be bothered to find out what it can do.

 

[RallyeGS]

TFT since 2018 and I think its great. Take the time to get to know it (like any hierarchal menu based interface) and its one of the best out there.

 

[squibb34]

TFT theft is certainly set to become more lucrative by all accounts.

Why do these screens have to look like an afterthought that has been clipped in place last minute; just the same in many cars, but at least they have doors/windows to offer some protection.

 

[Hartley]

I like the TFT and would say it get easier to navigate the more you use is. What I’m mystified by is what they cost so much. It’s only a phone screen, in fact it less so as it’s not touch sensitive. These things cost peanuts to make now and I’d be very surprised to hear they cost more to make than the analogue clocks.

 

[SBD]

all daylight-readable screens are expensive - tho' I think "thousands" is taking the papa-155

on the theft issue, why do they look like they've benen clipped to the bike, last minute? because they have. they could and should be coded to the bike, and they certainly should require tools to remove.

three circlips ffs? it's about as sensible as bungying your laptop to the rack and leaving it parked down town...

 

[Matty589]

I have been riding a 21 850 for 10 months and I still can’t figure out more than half of the TFT functionality. Even resetting the tripmeter is an intellectual challenge equivalent to getting your granny to book a train ticket on her iPhone.

Last Monday I took a Multistrada V4S for a spin. Not only is the TFT easier on the eye (despite containing much more info on a single screen) it seems to be significantly more intuitive to use. The joystick seemed way easier to navigate than the wonder wheel.

Is it just me?

It’s just you.

 

[Sneldog]

It’s just you.

Agreed.

 

[richardbd]

It’s just you.

Quite possibly…

 

[BobT]

all daylight-readable screens are expensive - tho' I think "thousands" is taking the papa-155

on the theft issue, why do they look like they've benen clipped to the bike, last minute? because they have. they could and should be coded to the bike, and they certainly should require tools to remove.

three circlips ffs? it's about as sensible as bungying your laptop to the rack and leaving it parked down town...

The three circlips are the type with a small tab so that they can be removed without tools, makes the bike cheaper to construct and the strip down at dealerships faster, also saving money. Just change the circlips for ones without the tab and suddenly they are much more difficult to remove. I don't believe in the urban myth that these were being stolen all over the place.

 

[10tenmen]

Quite possibly…

Most definitely haha

 

[richardbd]

I do find it lacks any kind of intuitive interface though. My car is way more complex in terms of its functionality, as is the Multistrada when compared to my 850, yet o had to resort to the manual with the BMW.

Has to be something in that…


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BobT]

I do find it lacks any kind of intuitive interface though. My car is way more complex in terms of its functionality, as is the Multistrada when compared to my 850, yet o had to resort to the manual with the BMW.

Has to be something in that…


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Are you saying that you have not yet referred to the BMW TFT manual? Strange thing that when you are asking a question on here about resetting the trip meter.

 

[richardbd]

Are you saying that you have not yet referred to the BMW TFT manual? Strange thing that when you are asking a question on here about resetting the trip meter.

I’m not asking a question about resetting the tripmeter. I’m just making the observation that on the BMW TFT operations like that are the most complex and non-intuitive that I’ve ever come across - at least since I had a Guzzi Stelvio that had the heated grip adjustment buried in the menus that could only be accessed where the bike was stationary - whereas the Ducati system seemed much more intuitive…

 

[BobT]

I’m not asking a question about resetting the tripmeter. I’m just making the observation that on the BMW TFT operations like that are the most complex and non-intuitive that I’ve ever come across - at least since I had a Guzzi Stelvio that had the heated grip adjustment buried in the menus that could only be accessed where the bike was stationary - whereas the Ducati system seemed much more intuitive…

My GF owned a 2018 Ducati Monster as her last bike. She never used the heated grips because the only way to switch them on or off was buried in the menus. On her 2021 S1000XR she presses a button on the right bar and now uses them all the time.
She is happy to set up a trip plan on her phone and then ride 800 miles with that and the TFT for navigation.

 

[richardbd]

She must be smarter at this stuff than me