The Quickshift
Polaris has a cool, proprietary linked journey function included in its Experience Command system for its side-by-sides The Group Experience function permits drivers linked to it to ship messages and monitor one another on a helpful map on rides Indian Experience Command would not have this function, but it surely ought to A linked journey function like this may very well be a game-changer if Polaris licensed it to different OEMs, too
Should you often journey with no less than one different particular person, then you understand it may well generally be a battle to remain collectively. The potential to lose somebody (or perhaps greater than a single somebody) is even better when you’ve a gaggle that is not acquainted with one another’s habits and using types, or should you invite newer riders to affix the group.
Having Bluetooth comms attached might help, however what should you may simply see all your folks in your using group on a handy map in your sprint? Perhaps even within the app you are already utilizing to navigate?
Related rider tech is one thing that OEMs like Honda have been speaking about bringing to marketplace for years. It is primarily been a part of discussions surrounding linked driver tech and methods to get our automobiles to speak with one another as we share the highway.
However here is the factor, and it is a factor you could or could not have recognized as a result of powersports pursuits do not all the time overlap. See, Polaris already has a working model of this tech that it is efficiently utilizing on its SxS lineup.
It even has a reputation you could already be acquainted with: Experience Command.
Should you’re pondering that Indian additionally makes use of one thing known as Experience Command, you are completely appropriate.
However the actually necessary factor to grasp right here is that they don’t seem to be the identical.
Polaris
2025 Polaris RZR Professional R Final 7
I simply acquired again from testing the brand new 2025 Polaris RZR Professional lineup in particular person (and you may hear extra about that very quickly). Anyway, after I requested Polaris Off-Highway Autos Division Challenge Engineer David Elia what the 2 Experience Command techniques have in widespread, he mentioned that {hardware} and software program begin in the identical place, however are then constructed out in a different way by every car growth group to extra particularly go well with every software.
One factor that Polaris Experience Command has, and that Indian Experience Command at the moment would not, is a very cool Group Experience function. Should you’re utilizing it, you and the opposite SxS drivers which are a part of your Group can ship messages to one another on the route. It is one thing that may actually turn out to be useful if somebody in your group has a mechanical failure, or will get misplaced.
And the actually key half right here is, as a result of it is made for ORV use, it is particularly made to perform with out a want for mobile phone service.
That is proper; zero bars needed. Throw your telephone out the window (or yeet it off your bike fully) and you may nonetheless have the ability to discuss to riders in your Group Experience.
However that brings me to a different cool factor that Group Experience function does, and that is the truth that it means that you can see precisely the place your companions are on a map. Should you’re following different riders, that makes it a lot simpler to know that you just did not miss a flip, and which path it is advisable go in if you wish to catch up. And for journey leaders, it is a useful solution to know whether or not the drivers following you might be on their method, or are misplaced.
Experience Command makes use of a proprietary radio frequency sign to transmit info between automobiles which are linked in a single Group Experience, mentioned Elia. He added that as much as 20 drivers might be linked in a Group Experience situation.
Riders who’ve handled flaky Bluetooth comms models slicing out and in may also marvel what the vary is like, and there is excellent news there, too. Based on Elia, the comms vary for Polaris Experience Command’s Group Experience function is roughly 70 miles.
Even should you assume that quantity is barely optimistic, if the fact is anyplace near that quantity, it is fairly spectacular.
And it may very well be completely wonderful if one thing like this was carried out for Indian Bikes. Or, pondering larger, maybe even licensed by Polaris to different OEMs in the event that they’d moderately not spend the time creating their very own linked rider techniques like this. It may very well be a reasonably large deal, actually.
Take into consideration what number of bikes have TFT dashes now, the place one thing like this might probably be proper at house. It is the sort of linked rider development that would have far-reaching results past simply the side-by-side world.
