I’ve now had a chance to assess the FCC (following cruise control) over the last three weeks and 600 miles. New toy and I had to play, right?
Well the firmware (206) with the new feature also introduces some seemingly random changes to the cruise function as well as the radar-integrated distance control.
Changes: Pushing ‘UP’ to RESUME when the programmed speed is higher than the current speed sometimes produces an acceleration up to the programmed speed but sometimes produces a ‘SET’ function and resets the programmed speed to the current speed. I’ve not been able to determine the cause. Also the static speed cruise function is now quite happy to stick at one or two mph below the programmed speed whereas before it would keep adjusting to get that exactly. Neither issue is huge but the first particularly is annoying as it creates a lack of smoothness in progress and invariably makes me look down at the clocks to check when I should be watching the road ahead.
The adaptive part operates well when following cars, but regularly loses ‘sight’ of leading motorcycles, which can cause unintended acceleration if the programmed speed is higher than theirs!!
I don’t believe that the cruise function is linked to the IMU as a couple of times it’s started accelerating in mid-corner.
For the feature to take an additional year to ship after the bike’s launch (and to go through an on/off release process) suggests to me (a 38 year software industry veteran) that Piaggio Fast Forward (that’s the PFF in the radar feature) was/is ‘inexperienced’. When I looked at the company’s website last year their only product appeared to be a range of motorised suitcases that autonomously follow their owners around airport terminals.
So, useful following cars and trucks on motorways but flawed for group motorcycle touring. My mechanic claimed it took almost an hour to figure out to upload and initialise the software and charged me for that time (£95 inc Tax), as well as £184 for the licence.
Now that the Mandello has a PFF version there may be sufficient takers to encourage further optimisation of the software logic. I hope so.