Bike features: How much is too much?

[pauls1150]

As I've said before, ABS has literally saved my ass on multiple occasions.
Having been there, I can easily say that most drivers in Europe are better than most drivers in Los Angeles! Sometimes just "grabbing a handful" is about all ya have time for, and I've been in situations where there Was No place to evade.

 

[GTRider]

Clearly, it’s been all downhill since this model:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4AR3m9U89pc/UQ1EVtykYsI/AAAAAAAAFSI/pbjrtTP38Ko/s1600/1.jpg

Best,
DeVern

 

[kbasa]

Clearly, it’s been all downhill since this model:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4AR3m9U89pc/UQ1EVtykYsI/AAAAAAAAFSI/pbjrtTP38Ko/s1600/1.jpg

Best,
DeVern

"Yeah, but I could fix that by the side of the road if it breaks."

Me: "Good. Because you're going to have to."

 

[globalrider]

30+ years with cars and bikes with ABS and I've yet to have to do anything other than replace pads.

I'm sure you turn that off on your Porsches, yes?

Hey, I can't help it if you don't know how to brake and not lock-up. Amazingly all these cars with ABS and they are still running into each other. LOL Maybe riders and drivers should enrol in a physics course.

Can't turn ABS off in any of my cars and likely my R1200 GSA LC. No choice in the matter as it came with it standard, unlike my 2003 and 2004 R1150 GSA.

 

[globalrider]

As I've said before, ABS has literally saved my ass on multiple occasions.

Judgement. Apollo 8 astronaut and former Eastern Air Lines chief Frank Borman once defined a superior pilot as one who used their superior judgement to avoid situations that require the use of their superior skills. How true.

 

[kbasa]

Judgement. Apollo 8 astronaut and former Eastern Air Lines chief Frank Borman once defined a superior pilot as one who used their superior judgement to avoid situations that require the use of their superior skills. How true.

I might point out that that was 50 years ago. It might also be read as a "superior pilot is one that can use their skills in conjunction with the available tools to avoid situations that require the use of their superior skills", no? I've been riding for 50 years and I'd be foolish to not take advantage of safety equipment that will keep me out of the ditches and my wife from becoming a widow.

The variability isn't in my skills, but in the surfaces I ride on. I live where we have eucalyptus trees which make braking deep and powering out early tough when the road is covered in eucalyptus oil and is a little damp. We have moss that grows in the road in the winter. I'll take whatever help I can get for those, piled on top of my skills.

Cars, bikes, it doesn't matter to me. I want to stay alive and I'm not proud of taking advantage of every tool I can get my hands on to do so. It's the biggest reason why I sold my 916: I wanted as much safety equipment on my primary ride as I can get. At nearly 66, I have no illusions that my skills and reactions aren't close to what they were even 20 years ago.

 

[globalrider]

Cars, bikes, it doesn't matter to me. I want to stay alive and I'm not proud of taking advantage of every tool I can get my hands on to do so.

Lets face it, you like toys and gadgets. LOL

 

[k12lts]

Judgement. Apollo 8 astronaut and former Eastern Air Lines chief Frank Borman once defined a superior pilot as one who used their superior judgement to avoid situations that require the use of their superior skills. How true.

I guess he can see that deer coming thru the woods before it jumps on the road. Superior

 

[globalrider]

I guess he can see that deer coming thru the woods before it jumps on the road. Superior

And you think ABS is goijng to save you from that if the distance is not enough. Oh boy.

That is why I slow down at night.

 

[ackme]

Judgement. Apollo 8 astronaut and former Eastern Air Lines chief Frank Borman once defined a superior pilot as one who used their superior judgement to avoid situations that require the use of their superior skills. How true.

This. I believe the best way to reduce your chances of ending up in a crash is to anticipate and avoid those situations which increase your chances of ending up in a crash. Don't ride faster than you can see and react, keep scanning as far ahead and back to your position to evaluate potential threats. David Hough and Larry Grodsky stuff. So work on your skills.

That being said, safety not guaranteed. There will always be risk and the chance a situation or event you did not or could not anticipate will catch you out. (RIP Mr. Grodsky) In those cases I'd rather have ABS than not. I'd rather have traction control than not. I'd rather have a lane warning light than not.

But that's just me. We all get to choose how we ride and at least for the near term what we ride.

 

[oldcamper]

I don’t believe the “tech” gadgets are necessarily bad, each must provide some value to at least some riders. My gripe is they are sometimes more trouble than they are worth. Let’s face it, BMW probably makes great margins on most of these add-ons, especially on replacement parts. If they can’t make it reliable they should at least make it cheap to fix when it does fail.

 

[r0ckrat]

I don’t believe the “tech” gadgets are necessarily bad, each must provide some value to at least some riders. My gripe is they are sometimes more trouble than they are worth. Let’s face it, BMW probably makes great margins on most of these add-ons, especially on replacement parts. If they can’t make it reliable they should at least make it cheap to fix when it does fail.

Name a "tech gadget" bike feature that has frequent failures and requires dealers to stock replacement parts for. Other than something like the Nav VI which is an accessory and not a feature.

 

[globalrider]

This. I believe the best way to reduce your chances of ending up in a crash is to anticipate and avoid those situations which increase your chances of ending up in a crash. Don't ride faster than you can see and react, keep scanning as far ahead and back to your position to evaluate potential threats.

Bingo!

50+ years accident free and insurance claim free, my insurance premiums paying for all those legends-in-their-own-mind on the roads.

Wanna go fast? Hit the track to find out how terribly slow you really are.

 

[GTRider]

Judgement. Apollo 8 astronaut and former Eastern Air Lines chief Frank Borman once defined a superior pilot as one who used their superior judgement to avoid situations that require the use of their superior skills. How true.

You’re trying to make your point about safety features by quoting Frank Borman, an aeronautical engineer and astronaut who would never have routinely disabled safety devices on any craft he piloted? Interesting…

This thread has become an example of why I recently asked in the website forum if there was a way to block entire threads. Sadly, there is not.

Bye bye,

DeVern

 

[oldcamper]

Name a "tech gadget" bike feature that has frequent failures and requires dealers to stock replacement parts for. Other than something like the Nav VI which is an accessory and not a feature.

Well, I personally had an esa front shock go leaking after 16,000 mostly freeway miles. BMW replacement part cost was $2,300, a real “shock” to me but maybe just chicken feed to some here I suppose.
Others here have recently reported failure of a very expensive adaptive headlight assembly, Tft instrument displays, and some have expressed concern over the cost of BMW replacement TPM units for example. All these optional features provide some utility but are perhaps not really worth it in the long run if replacement cost is prohibitive. Some people care about such things while others don’t.

 

[PGlaves]

Name a "tech gadget" bike feature that has frequent failures and requires dealers to stock replacement parts for. Other than something like the Nav VI which is an accessory and not a feature.

Fuel Strips!! Failed in '83-'85 K100s, and later in a whole fleet of recent bikes!

 

[bc1100s]

Again, can someone please call the wahmbulance?

Don't like tech? Fine. Preaching about it gets annoying.

 

[brownie0486]

I bought a yamaha gts 1000 in 93-94 that had abs. First motor I owned with that braking system. After riding that motor for a year and seeing how abs was an advantage over non abs motors, I was sold on abs.

Since then, abs brakes have saved my butt several times in an emergency braking situation. Won't ride a motor without abs since around 93.

 

[kbasa]

Lets face it, you like toys and gadgets. LOL

I do technology for a living, so yeah. It's why I have 5 bikes in the garage ranging from a /2 to a 2019 GS, an ancient pickup and a couple modernish German cars.

But mostly, I'd like to stay out of the ditch and am very aware that my skills peaked a few years back.

I might be attracted to gizmos and gadgets, but I'm painfully self aware of my age and what is happening to my body and brain. Which means I get to buy more gizmos.

 

[riderr1150gsadv]

Relying on too much tech does seem to numb the brain. All you need to do is look at how many idiots you see on the roads.... We still kill each other off at the rate of 40K+ people a year and is that despite or in spite of technology and "safer" vehicles????
Since education of any kind is on the back burner these days, it doesn't look like improvements are on the horizon either.... YMMV