BMW Motorrad's 1200 GS range of bikes will soon be equipped with a large digital Bluetooth dashboard, featuring multiple functions, including navigation. Optional for now...

The option is called "Connectivity". Available soon in the autumn according to the BMW Motorrad manufacturer, optional on the R1200 GS, before being available afterwards on other bikes of the Bavarian manufacturer.

Instead of the classic motorcycle instruments, BMW places a large 6.5-inch TFT screen, even larger than an iPhone 7 Plus. The comparison stops here because it is not equipped with a touch-screen, for obvious reasons of comfort and security. It is with a scroll wheel in the handlebar that the rider can move through the menus, and select display options.

Thanks to Bluetooth connectivity, this screen communicates with the motorcycle's Smartphone, and more specifically with the Motorrad Connected application. An application that allows access to the statistics recorded for all the journeys, but also to review previous ones.

It is obviously from the application that we will program a route in the embedded GPS. It has a simplified interface, with direction indicator arrows, the track on which the motorcycle runs … etc BMW specifies that even without a network, navigation is possible, maps can be downloaded.

But the Bluetooth connectivity also allows you to manage calls received on the mobile, which are then transferred to the Bluetooth intercom system of the biker's helmet. With the scroll wheel, it can accept or reject the call, but also initiate calls. The first users will also be able to try to launch a call with the system of speech recognition of their Smartphone, without guarantee of success.

Another useful feature is the screen, which is also used to manage the music of the user's phone. The name of the song and the album you are listening to is displayed, along with the image associated with the title, and of course, the remaining time and elapsed time of the song. A simple action on the navigation wheel makes it possible to move to the next song.

A part of the screen is reserved for the information of the bike, the speed and the engaged gear. A display option also displays a large digital tachometer on the screen, useful when you want to adopt sporty driving. Finally, the same display can show the tire pressure of the motorcycle.

The price of the option? It will be known during its release, next October...

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