The future of motorcycling

[TexasDave]

 BMW's R1200RT has several riding modes for your conveniance. Two riding modes, Rain and Road, allow the R1200RT to be adapted to most road conditions. The optional riding mode Pro, includes the additional riding mode dynamic plus the hill start control function. The R1200RT can be experienced to the full in Dynamic mode, while hill start control helps to make light work of stopping and starting on an uphill slope. But wait theres more. Gear Shift Assistant Pro. Available as an option and according to BMW is a first for a production made motorcycle. Basically allows upshifts and down shifts to be made without operation of the clutch or need to adjust the throttle. Seems to me this takes most of the fun out of riding one. Anyone remember the 750 Hondamatic of the mid 70's (yea I'm that old)? no clutch lever and Honda couldn't give those things away. Hold on I think I see the future now.......... federally mandated computer controlled training wheels so we don't fall over.    Dave

[Capn Ron]

As someone who crashed not more than six months ago...If I were told there was a technology that would have prevented that crash...by essentially taking me and my decision making process out of the equation...I'll gladly crash again.

Cap'n Ron. . .

[TexasDave]

+1 Cap'n Ron. I just think manufacturers are taking the motorcyclist out of motorcycling. AND sooner or later some government bureacrat will decide these features are required on all motorcycles to keeper us safer. OR I may be getting older and grumpier with accepting new technology.   Dave

[andyb]

My bikes have a hill start feature, called a back brake.  They also have a performance and rain settings that are infinitely adjustable, called throttle control.

It's bad enough in a car when you feel like you're controlling the computer that's driving, instead of part of the action yourself.

[Arnie]

Big Brother is out there and waiting to wrap us all in cotton wool for our own good.
While it can be shown that certain items can provide an increased measure of safety, shouldn't it be our choice, as adults who have been certified by the state to have adequate skills, to decide for ourselves which if any of these safety systems we choose to use?
The answer is; OBVIOUSLY NOT
Helmets are mandatory in most places, so are daytime running lights or headlights.  Some jurisdictions mandate certified safety clothing.  I expect ABS braking will become mandatory in many places soon.
In cars, seatbelts, ABS, and even both Traction and Stability Control are required in all new cars sold.
It will not be long until the auto-drive mode systems that Volvo and others are demonstrating become mandatory at least in metropolitan areas.  It is surprising that "black box" devices are not required now.

Future of motorcycles?  You gotta be kidding!  The only future is tiddlers in "developing countries", maybe.
If you want a high performance motorcycle, better get one and enjoy it now.
IMO, the future of motorcycles is nought. (and probably within my lifetime) 
 

[ribbert]

It is surprising that "black box" devices are not required now.

Most modern cars record some information. My brother is currently running an insurance fraud case involving a BMW M6. The black box was sent back to Germany to have all the info downloaded.
At the point of impact it records location, speed, G-forces, air bag deployment etc. and probably to which side the driver dresses. Scary stuff.

This is what my simple GPS collects now, downloaded after a ride.





Fortunately the Police are not allowed to seize them unless they believe a crime has been committed and it will provide useful information.

Noel

[TexasDave]

Noel why is your max speed blacked out ?    Dave

[JCainFJ]

Europe has manditory ABS starting in 2016 for all new bikes.

[Bones]

What brand of GPS do you have Noel.

[~JM~]

ABS on a Bike?!?!?

Look at many of the modern Super-Bikes or Sports-Bikes. Many have various throttle control settings like what was already discussed, plus an anti-wheelie function. What the hell is up with all these extra electronic controls? Just more weight & complexity. What ever happened to "Learning How To Ride"?

I have a raging stiffy for an Aprilia Tuono. But it has the ride by wire throttle control, plus all the various traction control settings. I can see myself buying one of these bikes & then trying to strip all that BS off of the bike. The bike would probably default to the No Ride function & never be the same.

My FJ kind of freaked me out at first for being the first bike that I've ever owned with a fuel pump.

~JM~

[Pat Conlon]

The modern bikes with all the electronic rider assist gizmos are no doubt safer bikes.
There are lots of gizmos to go wrong. Think you can work on them? Forget it. Take it to the dealer $$$.
Even down to the basic engine design with Niksil plated cylinder bores. Yes, they are efficient.
You want to replace your piston rings and do a simple hone on the bores? Forget it.

I remember back in the 50's, standing with my dad, looking down at the new Corvette's fuel injection and my dad saying, "I'm glad I don't have to work on that..."

Gotta love the old school FJ....

[TexasDave]

OK NOEL--NOW YOU HAVE DONE IT !!!!!    I absolutely do NOT appreciate the shameless display of (new to me) GPS technology on this post! I had no idea of the amount of information these units can track and display. Now I have to have one! I am impressed with your GPS and the way you can use it. Could you please let me know what brand/model you have and any programs you have added. I don't like the idea of the displayed top speed either because I too have my kookaloo moments. It would give you an accurate indicated top speed----hmmm.  Dave

[ribbert]

What brand of GPS do you have Noel.

I have a Garmin Zumo 550 (the old model)

All the cool info you can download is not so much the device as the website. It is called (I think) "My Garmin Connect"
Once registered on it you can save all that info, file it, add notes, give it titles, catalogue them.

When you select 'play', the icon moves over the map (or satellite image) and the bar graphs all at the same time (as circled in yellow on my post of it)

If I want to retrace a ride I did a few years back, I simply look it up, connect the Garmin to the computer and download it into the unit. Get up next morning and just hit "Go"

Someone else can also send you a ride they did, recorded in every detail, which you load straight into the unit. I have someone I do this with occasionally.
It's like a mystery ride, I love it. Particularly if you don't scroll ahead to see your destination.

Some modern bike technology is good.

Noel

[TexasDave]

Thanks Noel. I researched GPS and almost everything on site had to do with location and mounting. Not much on units or programs. Again thanks.  Dave

[FJ_Hooligan]

Back to technology.  It won't be the future if people don't buy into it.  Let them sit on the showroom and they will hear you. 

When the tech drives up the price beyond what we're willing to pay for it, it will go away.

I was talking to a Yamaha salesman a few weeks ago and he told me that the clutchless FJR is no longer imported into the USA.  It didn't sell well; however, he also said it is still popular outside the states.  Same with the dual transmission VFR1200.  Are either of these bikes popular in Oz or Europe?