Old analogue versus new bells and whistles.

[ptolemyx]

I've long had a gut feeling that all the bells and whistles on the latest bikes might not be all they're cracked up to be and that perhaps the old combination of an "analogue" bike and normal human interface is still good, especially in the real world of road riding. This Revzilla article and video is track focused but perhaps still relevant to us road riders...

https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/2 ... rbike-test

[Jug]

First bike I had with ABS made me not want ABS ever again - (Vstrom 650).
That has now changed as the lean angle ABS on my 1190 is lovely.

Ride modes and traction control... hmm I think on anything with less than 150hp this is mostly just gimmick. In bad weather I have once had the back end of my 1190 spin up and step out unexpectedly, and I wasn't even accelerating hard at the time. It got put into rain mode after that so I could have maximum TC.
One useful thing that ride modes do is make it more comfortable for passengers and also stops you getting head butted so often, obviously all bikes are different and some are so smooth anyway that this isn't an issue to start with.

But for full on track use and 200hp bikes then modern traction control seems to be the business. On the most modern bikes it controls the power to enable more traction than a human can regulate. So much so that on a test PB did an R1 & Panigale V4 managed to rotate their rear tyres on the rims during a track day, and according to Rutter you know when it happens as it unsettles the bike.

Wheel manufacturers are now looking at putting rough textures on the rim to help it bite into the tyres, that's gonna make tyre fitting fun.

[royb]

Enjoyed the video and the fun factor that all bikes can give; it's what keeps us biking. I,m with you on keeping older bikes, as there's generally less to go wrong.

[Ming]

Enjoyed the video and the fun factor that all bikes can give; it's what keeps us biking. I,m with you on keeping older bikes, as there's generally less to go wrong.

And you're not going to be able to keep a V4S going on bits and pieces you have lying around in sheds

[Tvrv37]

There are some benefits to newer bikes in the real world on the road. Much better brakes with ABS, improved suspension, traction control, fueling etc. Not many people take a new V4s on the track and what works on the road doesn't always translate to the track. I have bikes at both ends of the spectrum and enjoy them all but differently.

[Tvrv37]

There are some benefits to newer bikes in the real world on the road. Much better brakes with ABS, improved suspension, traction control, fueling etc. Not many people take a new V4s on the track and what works on the road doesn't always translate to the track. I have bikes at both ends of the spectrum and enjoy them all but differently.

[ptolemyx]

Do you actually need traction control, anti wheelie etc on a ROAD bike, I think not? The abs on my '14 busa was quite rudimentary and next to useless. No doubt newer abs is much better but I'd like to think the number of times it would be activated on the road would be next to zero.

[Jug]

If the bike is powerful enough and/or it's shape makes it more prone to wheelies then yes.. it helps. It's one less thing to have to think about.. that is unless you want wheelies in which case you can turn it all off.

Newer ABS (like lean angle sensing ABS) is nothing like the old fashioned one that scares the shit out of you - see below.

https://youtu.be/hHRWg91hv-M

The ABS on my Vstrom triggered on a dry road because I braked hard and then went over a manhole cover that had a drop off as it was sunk slightly in the road. I thought I was to ram the car in front of me. Thankfully the ABS turned off and allowed me to brake again but it really didn't need to have intervened.

[Tvrv37]

You pays your money and takes your choice but I certainly would not be without traction control on the Tuono. There is also factory quick shift which is excellent and miss it on other bikes. Loads of this tech all adds to keeping you safe at road speeds whilst helping you enjoy the potential.

[Ming]

Gotta agree with that. Sold my MT07 as I missed the QS and very light clutch I had on previous KTMs. The Duke has cornering ABS, 10 stage traction control, launch control and even a track mode.
None of it will be of any use unless I'm faced with that 1 in a thousand chance where I'm cranked over and something unexpected happens where I have to take avoiding action.

I didn't get the bike because of those features but I'm not sorry they're there.

BTW - I can't turn off the anti wheelie without selecting track mode, where it's pretty much impossible to ride it through towns or even on main roads. Throttle response is so snatchy that it's just more relaxing to leave it in Street mode.

Just means I'll have to take it on track to see what all the fuss is about.....

[Scotty]

BTW - I can't turn off the anti wheelie without selecting track mode, where it's pretty much impossible to ride it through towns or even on main roads. Throttle response is so snatchy that it's just more relaxing to leave it in Street mode.

Just means I'll have to take it on track to see what all the fuss is about.....

Hmmm, I run my 1290 in Track Mode all the time, don't have any issues with snatchy throttle response in traffic - the reason I leave it in that mode is that I don't want to miss out on any cheeky wheelie opportunities that might arise (and on the Gen.2 1290 the Track Pack allows you to turn the Anti-Wheelie Mode off, but it only works in Track Mode) - in that mode the clock and trip meter don't display, but that's a minor inconvenience in comparison with having the electronics interfere with a good wheelie and bring it to a premature end.

[Ming]

Scotty - I tried the 790 in Track mode as I too miss the "old" days on my 1190 that would lift the wheel a few inches whenever you were feisty with the throttle. Given time I could probably make it a bit smoother but it was awful in the 5 mins I tried it. Not a lot better in Sport, about the same as the 1190 was. I always popped that back into Street whenever I hit a built up area.
On the 790 in Track I was having to use the clutch an awful lot to try smooth the power delivery out. The 790 is well known to be a bit snatchy and there is a Booster plug which purports to smooth the fuelling but it invalidates the warranty which runs out in January, so if I'm not used to it by then I may give it a go.

[menzies3032]

This is quite interesting for me at the moment as coming off of K1 Gixxer to a K7 Gixxer there was basically no electric anything other then 3 rider modes (on the K7). However it looks like I am going to be getting a BMW F900R as some point soon and this is like Darth Vada's bathroom as it have electric everything, ABS, Traction control, engine brake control systems, Rider modes, hell it even has an automated emergency call system to BMW customer support if you have an accident and they will call emergency services for you and report you location.

Having ridden the bike have to say didn't actually use any of the electronic support systems as if your riding the bike within its means on the road (as we should be) then the electronic bits should not even be used. But for the day when it all goes wrong its nice to know that its all in the back ground waiting just incase.

[Streetmann]

These bikes will only need a pillion seat soon they will take us for a ride I'm sure

[ptolemyx]

For ROAD riding; traction control, wheelie control, slide control, controlled braking, it should all be in the right hand/brain interface. My 186 rear wheel bhp Busa and 194 rear wheel bhp B-King are always in A (full) power mode, perfectly controllable even in the most torrential rain. Granted, I had a recent off (first one since 2010) but that was the inept rider: no "aids" would have saved that one