As you like it: Continental’s new MultiViu Sports display for motorcycles gives riders maximum flexibility

“Selecting a motorcycle is a lifestyle decision. The driver of a low rider motorbike is different in many ways from a motocross biker,” says Patric Zimmermann, Continental’s product manager for two-wheeler displays. “However, both care a lot about how information is displayed to them. Both need a display that is as good as a smartphone and shows content in accordance with their particular preferences.” With this in mind, Continental developed a software platform for its MultiViu Sports displays that motorcycle and motor scooter manufacturers can precisely tailor to the individual needs of their customers.

The hardware too is based on a platform. Manufacturers have a choice of sizes and aspect ratios in portrait and landscape format, and they can select a suitable design language without having to start from scratch. The TFT display has excellent technical characteristics: a typical resolution of 800x480 pixels (for 5-inch and 7-inch sizes), a brightness value of 1,000 cd/m² and a contrast of 1,000:1. Fogging of the glass and annoying reflections are ruled out thanks to optical bonding technology. The glass is coated to minimize fingerprints, and readability can be further increased by means of anti-glare and anti-reflection coatings.

MultiViu Sports is not only a new generation of displays for the motorcycle world,” says Patric Zimmermann, “it opens up new opportunities for the motorcycle industry. By having a joint back end and a front end that can be customized to a high degree, automotive display technology can be made available to motorcycles in a cost-efficient manner, even with small production runs.” The MultiViu Sports platform also shortens the time to market for manufacturers. Displays can go into production more quickly.

The developers at Continental have not only designed the platform to permit customization of image content. Suppliers can also integrate external services such as weather information or music streaming in cooperation with manufacturers. An app with an open design connects the rider’s smartphone with the motorcycle via Bluetooth Low Energy, taking customization another step further. Continental has also designed the platform to be ready for future technologies and types of user behavior. For example, forthcoming versions of the MultiViu Sports display will offer touchscreen functionality. A video of the display can be seen on the Continental Automotive YouTube channel.