Computer controlled everything

[Philistine]

::009:: I Know, Here he go's again :
I would just like to know if I'm the only one who thinks like this,

WARNING! read with a light hearted tone of voice
Cruise control, ABS, TC, linked Braking, Electronic Suspension, what next? Automatic gearbox? chauffeur? The more I have to do on a Bike the more I like it and the more i'm concentrating, the next thing we are going to need is an auto poker to keep us from falling asleep, Just set it to poke you in the throat every 30 seconds should do it ::025::
This is what we need to do every morning before you go out for a ride. Take 1 teaspoon of cement mix it into your coffee then harden up a little, should last you for 24 hours

I have been riding dirt bikes for about 39 years and consider myself as a well rounder rider, I pride myself in my Riding skills and I'm always looking for ways on how to improve, and learn all the little things I need to know about the bike I'm riding, because they are all different, I also like to push the limits of my bike to see where the limits are and what it feels like when your there, but I feel with all of this computer controlled everything on these new bikes that it is taking my skills away from me and I really don't like that, I feel we will become a lazy riders.
Riding a bike takes 100% concentration and I feel the less you have to do on a bike, the less you will do!
I think if we keep lapping up all of these mod con's we will end up longing for the old bikes when we had control of what we were doing :'(
I know a lot of you out there love these auto pilot features, I just want to know if i'm the only one against them, or at least let me turn them off.
And I do know I'm ::002:: and progress will go on no matter what I think ::010::

 

[XtreemLee]

Riding a bike takes 100% concentration and I feel the less you have to do on a bike, the less you will do!

Conversely the less u have to do the more u can concentrate.

 

[EricV]

You're missing the point. Really. Forget about ABS, TC, Linked brakes. It's not there for you to think about. Ride like you always did. Now, got that? Ok, good. NOW, remember this, every time you notice ABS or TC or Linked brakes, it's because you're not as good as you thought you were. Yep, you screwed up and those systems engaged because of it. Ha, thought you were well rounded, eh?

You are, but no one's perfect. Mis read some sand in the road, (or just don't see it), grab a bit more throttle than you have traction for, brake a little harder than you had traction for, the systems engage to help avoid the old school learning curve of crashing or crossing over the edge of the traction pie. The point is to remember that when you notice one of those systems doing it's job, you screwed up, so think about what happened and consider what you could have done better.

As far as pushing the limits to see where they're at. ::005:: Stop that mate. At least on the street. There are others out there too. Part of riding on the road is riding responsibly. You're no kid riding the edge for adrenaline rushes because they lack the skills to ride safely. You've got the skills. You use them every day. That doesn't mean you can slack off just because of some computer controlled systems that are there as a back up.

CC can be used or not used, as you see fit for your conditions and needs. I know plenty of people that never use it, and some that should use it more! I owned a Miata sports car for 10 years that had CC. I hardly ever used it because that car was fun to drive and not really intended for just sitting there. But on long interstate trips, it was a nice feature to have too.

 

[Checkswrecks]

I'll agree with Eric on this one. Plus, your minivan or car has up to 27 computers these days. These bikes don't have much other than the ECU, ABS, and instruments.


IF you are will to put up with solid state for at least the ignition, you still have options:

or

 

[Dallara]

~


And even a brand new* 2015 model one from Yamaha...

http://www.yamahamotorsports.com/sport/products/modelhome/691/home.aspx


(*which is really just a trusty, dusty ol' SR500 from decades ago - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_SR500 - notice the SR400 is mentioned in there)


Dallara




~

 

[snakebitten]

What kind of cell phone do you have?

 

[Philistine]

What kind of cell phone do you have?

one I can rely on ::025::

 

[Philistine]

You're missing the point. Really. Forget about ABS, TC, Linked brakes. It's not there for you to think about. Ride like you always did. Now, got that? Ok, good. NOW, remember this, every time you notice ABS or TC or Linked brakes, it's because you're not as good as you thought you were. Yep, you screwed up and those systems engaged because of it. Ha, thought you were well rounded, eh?

You are, but no one's perfect. Mis read some sand in the road, (or just don't see it), grab a bit more throttle than you have traction for, brake a little harder than you had traction for, the systems engage to help avoid the old school learning curve of crashing or crossing over the edge of the traction pie. The point is to remember that when you notice one of those systems doing it's job, you screwed up, so think about what happened and consider what you could have done better.

As far as pushing the limits to see where they're at. ::005:: Stop that mate. At least on the street. There are others out there too. Part of riding on the road is riding responsibly. You're no kid riding the edge for adrenaline rushes because they lack the skills to ride safely. You've got the skills. You use them every day. That doesn't mean you can slack off just because of some computer controlled systems that are there as a back up.

I think I need to add that I am a dirt bike rider, I bought this bike to ride to the places I want to explore, when I'm on the black top its a different story. I don't like to push the bike to its limits on the Tar because their is not enough warning that things are about to go pair shaped and the consequences of drifting across a white line when the corner tightens up are terrifying to me, ( I do like to give it a squirt around roundabouts though ) so the ABS works great on the black top and on the dirt, but I wish it could be disconnected on the rear wheel, I like to be able to back the bike into a corner when I need to and under steer the bike out of a corner when I need to and I need the bike to do exactly what I tell it. The power is so controllable on this bike I just don't understand why it has TC Its just not needed in my opinion. I don't have to deal with snow and ice, just dust and fly's. So what I am saying is let me choose the settings on my bike, so I can ride it the way I want.
I grew up on shit Bikes with drum brakes that didn't work when they got wet. Rear suspension that's only job was to compress your spine or throw you over the handle bars, front forks that love to give you tank slapping heart attacks, non oring chains that had to be adjusted before every ride and during the the ride. Dont get me wrong I appreciate what we have in these great handling bikes of today, I really do, just let me be in control of them Please

As for TC and ABS lights coming on, they are on all the time because they have been disconnected for about 8 months, and since I did that I have been able to ride the bike the way I want on the dirt, which I couldn't do before it was disconnected

 

[Philistine]

Conversely the less u have to do the more u can concentrate.

Many years ago when I use to race, I found that it was harder to concentrate when you were out in front, sometimes I would miss my braking marker going in to a corner because my mind had drifted from what I was doing, I know this is hard to believe but its true, when you are in the pack fighting to win, with a hundred things going on around you, you are so switched on that you don't even have time to blink. Its the same on a dirt bike flying through the bush, you are very focused 100% on what you are doing and what might be around the corner or is that a shadow or a tree root, but slow down and the pressure is off and you start to look around at the scenery, now your concentration is not 100% is it?

 

[creggur]

Sounds you've solved your problem.

Of course you could just turn the TC off, and there are multiple posts on wiring in an ABS switch, or you just put it on the center stand and let the rear wheel make a few rotations in second gear. You've chosen to disable them completely; it's your bike, your prerogative, and I certainly have no issue with you doing what you wish with your motorcycle. More power to ya.

Personally, I don't mind the assistance from electronics - especially if I might make it home to my family in one piece - if they help me avoid some dimwitted cager, or save me from my dimwitted self at some point. The ABS has done this once already over the past two years, and it was Me it saved me from. Had I been on my last bike, I would've most-likely ended up under the back of a truck at a pretty high velocity. THAT was the day I truly came to appreciate what the tech on this bike could do.

Now, I've only been riding since I was 8 years old, and I like to think I've developed some decent skills over the past 34 years. But it only takes one screwup to end up in the back of an ambulance, and if these marvels of technology can help reduce the chances that a screwup will land me in a hospital, I'll take 'em...

 

[snakebitten]

I change settings all the time.
Sport Mode
Touring Mode

TC1, TC2, TC Disabled

Link brakes linked.
Linked brakes unlinked

And although I don't go through the trouble to disable ABS, it is doable.
Add to that the fully adjustable suspension.

This thing is amazing. It can be dialed into a Buick. Or it can be dialed all the way the other way into a Dirt Bike.
I've always loved bikes since I was a little tike. Even the old school basic ones. But todays bikes are like buying a transformer. You can push buttons, twist dials, and step on levers to transform them.

 

[EricV]

It's good to hear that Philistine is pushing his limits off the tar. ::008:: Your comments are in better perspective with that knowledge.

That ABS is just a bit of wire, an inline fuse and a simple on/off switch if you want. No big deal. The TCS can easily be switched off, but yes, I really do wish it would stay where we set it until we changed it. It's more than a little annoying to realize you forgot to re-set the TCS when you need it to be in 2 or off.

The linked brakes can be dis-abled, but it's a bit more work to make it permanent. I can empathize with you wanting the bike the way you want it. All I'm saying is that you can have that, and have the benefits of these computer controlled systems as well. In your case, rather more for the tar than the dirt.

A friend crashed the other day. Simple short ride on familiar roads. Came around a corner to find a road crew with a flagger signaling stop. Applied the brakes, and found traction limited due to wet road and apparently oils/sap from a Eucalyptus tree there. I'm guessing the front locked up and he didn't have the presence of mind to modulate, or perhaps the skill, as he's not a daily rider, and he low sided, tossing a shiny Guzzi California down the road at the flagger, and sliding down the road himself, into the curb. Fractured his pelvis. He's home now, in a lot of pain and on a fair bit of drugs for a long, slow recovery.

Needless to say, the Guzzi doesn't have ABS. It would have saved him a lot of pain and some $$ in replacement parts if he'd had it.