Apple made the microphone mandatory because many states require "hands free" use of the phone in a vehicle. You can't activate Siri hands free without a microphone. It's a CYA on Apple's behalf and probably alleviates Harley of some liability as well. IMHO

 

Diag4Bike does require a laptop. It is not a "per bike" software, it doesn't' "Vin Lock" to a bike... can use it on as many as you like... but its around $1200'ish for the software license and hardware (when I got it about 4 years ago), plus you have to have a laptop. Then if you want to update your software each year for any new features/abilities that's a fee ($280), and if you skip a year, or few, the update fee is cumulative but not double, triple, etc... for instance if you skip a year then update instead of $560, its $399, skip two years and update on the third year its $449 instead of $840... its pricey. But what you have continues to work even if you don't update, you just won't have abilities/features that have came out in subsequent years. Its hard to get info on it sometimes, but I actually purchased it thru one of my local HD dealers who got it from Hard Drive Vtwin Products (one of the USA distributers for Diag4Bike), and the local HD dealer is also a distributor for Hard Drive... its kinda messy

TechnoResearch is another one, also requires a laptop, and they used to sell it on a "Per Bike" license set up for those that didn't want to buy like a "shop version" of it, to save money. It used to be about $650'ish plus $70'ish per bike license for the software and hardware, plus you need a laptop... there was also a software update fee each year, but I don't remember the prices or structure, but their per bike version wasn't as harsh as Diag4Bike or even their own Shop version (that doesn't VIN lock to a bike). I don't know if they are still doing the "Pay Per Bike" stuff, which was fully functioning software, just vin locks a bike per license... but they have people in Detroit, I think it is, that you can talk to.. or email with.


I absolutely agree with you, and it seems its always about liability and HD was violating their end user agreement (having a way to disable the requirement) with Apple to be able to have CarPlay in their head units... so they reached an easy accommodation to get Apple off their back.

 

Thanks for the information, Ssitruc.
I think it's a very high price for infrequent use as a private user.
But I appreciate the clarification of my questions.