Types of Instrument Clusters in Motorcycles

The instrument cluster is one of the most important and engaging parts of a motorcycle. It provides information about speed, fuel, trip distance, temperature, and other relevant data. Motorcycle manufacturers have changed the design, look, and feel of the instrument clusters over time. 

Some speedometers may look cool, while some clusters may feel more useful. Should you judge a bike solely by the design of its instrument cluster? Let’s figure it out.

Types of Instrument Cluster

Analog Instrument Cluster

This is the oldest type of instrument cluster used to provide information about speed and fuel. Some bikes also come with a temperature meter.

It is easy to use and track data with the gauges in this type of instrument cluster. These clusters have zero lag because they track data continuously, resulting in riders experiencing almost zero GPS error. 

However, users may encounter parallax errors. It’s difficult to get an exact idea of the pointer from different angles, and the margin of error may increase with greater distance. Therefore, analogue instrument clusters are not ideal if you need accurate numerical readings.

Semi-digital Instrument Cluster

It is a combination of both analogue and digital elements.

Generally, motorcycle brands that want to add a touch of retro style to modern bikes choose these meters. Examples include the Royal Enfield Continental GT, Royal Enfield Interceptor, and BSA Gold Star 650. 

Brands typically use analogue models to represent speed and RPM, while opting for digital mechanisms to display fuel and trip information.

Digital Instrument Cluster

These are relatively new instrument clusters and are best for providing accurate details. Digital instrument clusters come in TFT and IPS display types, allowing riders to check point-to-point numbers. Bikes that support different modes and electronic features typically use digital clusters because it’s easy to view every single detail on the display and control the bike accordingly.

Conclusion

All three instrument clusters cater to different types of riders. If you frequently navigate rough terrains and prefer a bike with minimal electronic controls, an analogue or semi-analogue instrument cluster will be our recommendation.

But, if speed, fuel, and RPM measurements are important to you, it’s best to choose a bike with a digital instrument cluster.