Exhaust Notes! A Competitive Study on Motorcycle HMIs

As a UX Designer, I recently conducted a competitive study on motorcycle instrument displays to understand industry standards and identify best practices. In this blog, I will share my experience of selecting the motorcycles to review, the criteria I used for evaluation, and provide insights into what I considered during this study.

When initiating my competitive study, it was essential to select a diverse range of motorcycles that represented different segments and technologies. Here are some key considerations that guided my selection:

Motorcycle Segmentation: I chose motorcycles that represented various types such as sport, touring, and adventure.

Technological Variance: I included motorcycles with various types of instrument displays.

User Demographics: I selected motorcycles that catered to different user groups (e.g., beginners, commuters and enthusiastic riders).

Brand and Model Diversity: I ensured a mix of different brands and models to get a broad perspective.

To conduct a thorough competitive study, I evaluated several critical aspects of the motorcycle HMIs. Here are the key criteria I used:

Display Type: Understanding the type of display used was fundamental. This included:

• Analog vs. Digital: How do analog gauges compare to digital screens?
• Mixed Displays: How do combinations of analog and digital elements work together?

Display Layout: The layout of the display significantly impacted usability:

• Information Hierarchy: How is information prioritized and presented?
• Clutter and Readability: Is the display cluttered or easy to read at a glance?

Information Architecture: This involved how information is structured and accessed:

• Riding Modes: How are different riding modes presented and switched?
• Configuration Settings: How easy is it to configure settings like display themes or layout options?

Input Mechanisms: The way users interact with the display was vital:

• Button Types: Analog buttons, joysticks, or other input mechanisms.
• Ease of Use: How intuitive is the input mechanism while riding?

Interaction Design: This aspect focused on the user’s interaction with the system:

• Animations and Micro-Interactions: Are transitions smooth and intuitive?
• Feedback Mechanisms: Does the system provide clear feedback to user actions?

Visual Structure: The visual design played a crucial role in user experience:

• Themes and Personalization: Are there theme options available? How customizable is the display?
• Contrast and Readability: Is the display readable in various lighting conditions?

In-Person Review:
Reviewing the displays in person allowed me to gain a hands-on understanding of the usability and user experience. Here’s what I focused on:

• Real-World Usage: I studied the displays while riding and simulating real-world scenarios.
• User Feedback: I gathered feedback from actual users to understand their pain points and preferences.

Desk Research: I complemented my in-person review with desk research to gather more comprehensive data:

• Documentation: I reviewed manuals, guides, and technical specifications.
• Online Reviews: I analyzed user reviews, and blog posts.
• Online Videos: I studied videos of the instrument displays, posted by vloggers and motorcycle owners.

After collecting data, I analyzed it to identify trends, best practices, and areas for improvement. Here are some insights from my analysis:

• Compare and Contrast: I compared different displays across various criteria to identify strengths and weaknesses.
• Identify Patterns: I looked for patterns in user feedback and usability issues.
• Recommendations: I provided actionable recommendations based on my analysis.

Conducting this competitive study on motorcycle HMIs was a valuable experience that significantly improved my understanding of what makes an effective instrument display. By carefully selecting the motorcycles to review, using a comprehensive set of criteria, and combining in-person reviews with desk research, I gained deep insights into display type, display layout, information architecture, input mechanisms, interaction design, and visual structure.

These elements collectively contributed to a seamless and intuitive user experience for motorcycle riders. Here’s what I learned from this experience:

• The importance of clear information hierarchy and readability.
• The need for intuitive input mechanisms that do not distract from riding.
• The value of customizable themes and settings to cater to different user preferences.
• The impact of smooth animations and micro-interactions on user experience.
• The critical role of visual structure in ensuring readability across various lighting conditions.