Motorcycle black box lets riders monitor vital info
STURGIS, S.D. -- A device that connects motorcycles to smartphones will let riders "pimp" their rides digitally.
Vance & Hines, a motorcycle accessories maker, came to the big annual Sturgis motorcycle rally, which draws riders from a cross the nation every summer, to show off its Fuelpak FP3 -- a black box that plugs into the engine computer of a newer Harley-Davidson bike and broadcasts the engine performance data over Bluetooth to a smartphone app.
Using the app, riders can view all sorts of data in real-time -- from engine revolutions and battery voltage to error codes and fuel efficiency. For those looking for more precise control, the app even allows riders to make changes to their bikes’ settings.
This can be especially useful to riders adding aftermarket parts who need to fine-tune their bike’s performance, a Vance & Hines executive says.
“It used to be a long and involved process and would involve a lot of time at the motorcycle shop and a great deal of expensive. Now, everything is managed…on your iPhone” says Larry Coleman, western regional sales manager for Vance and Hines.
Vance and Hines also touts its’ ability to help users remotely. Riders in need help with their bikes, can speak to one of the company’s technicians over the phone who can then tap into their bikes via the internet and make fixes—all without ever visiting a mechanic.
Coleman says that while such apps are typically the purview of Millennials, many older riders are willing to do anything to enhance their bike. “Our older generation rider…when it comes to their motorcycle, if it’s going to make it run better…they’ll learn it.” he says.
The product has appeared to strike a chord with consumers, with Coleman calling it “the most successful new product we’ve introduced in years.”
The Fuelpak FP3 is easy to find online at Amazon for less than $300.