Technology - has it taken over?

[rastuscat]

I was surfing through a thread on big Hondas and loving the trip down memory lane. Bikes from the eighties are just so cool.

I have spent too much time on TradeMe looking at bikes I'll never buy, but one thing struck me. Have we been overtaken by the technology?

My personal bike is a 1999 model, and part of the attraction is that I can work on it myself easily, it's fairly simple. There is a world of information and lots of blogs about things I can do to it.

Thing is, if I owned a brand new 1000cc fire breathing rocket ship of pretty much any brand, I wouldn't know where to find the spark plugs, let alone change them. Holy cow, the hi-tech thing has just gone mad on bikes. I'd be having to take it back to the dealer just to do basic things.

I'm getting old chaps (and chapettes), as I long for the days of simplicity, not increasing technology.

Am I alone in this?

[98tls]

Nope your not alone fella.Traction control,ABS blah blah blah might as well stick a roof and another couple of wheels on it for my money.As ive got older my longing to own ever older bikes keeps getting stronger and methinks a new inline 1000s about as appealing as a wet flannel.Not only have i and bikes changed dramatically but so have the roads and those that use em not to mention the ever present lawman on them.Personally i think we have not only seen the best of bikes but also the best time to ride one.Have to add that though bikes have come a long way from my experiance with them many of the younger generation buying them have no interest whatsoever on anything mechanical so its probably just as well theres not much cause to tinker with them.(walks away muttering and shaking his doddery old head).:shifty:

[Eyegasm]

Well that is the thing with technology.

It is aimed at the younger generation, who grew up with cellphones before the were even in college. Where an iPad is the next greatest thing and everyone wants one. Look at any product by apple, way more applications than anyone really needs.

So they are doing it to motorvehicles (have been for a while)

I remember the olds when they had the Valiant. Engine block, Radiator and pretty much nothing else. When they got rid of it and got a jap car it was all wires and gizmos galore.

[Headbanger]

The best time to be riding a bike is anytime you're on your bike, try not to suck the fun out of everyone else's awesome activities.

Any bike that takes your fancy is only as good as any bike that takes someone else's fancy.

[98tls]

Well that is the thing with technology.

It is aimed at the younger generation, who grew up with cellphones before the were even in college. Where an iPad is the next greatest thing and everyone wants one. Look at any product by apple, way more applications than anyone really needs.

So they are doing it to motorvehicles (have been for a while)

I remember the olds when they had the Valiant. Engine block, Radiator and pretty much nothing else. When they got rid of it and got a jap car it was all wires and gizmos galore.

Got the fright of my life at work the other day,sitting in the smoko shed surrounded by the usual suspects clutching the blingy cell phones doing there thing with em when one went off and it sounded just like a real phone:shit::shit:i shit you not,remember what a phone ringing sounded like? just about dropped my lunch.Oh and wtfs an ipad?:shifty:

[98tls]

Any bike that takes your fancy is only as good as any bike that takes someone else's fancy.

Fancy that,thats lovely dear.

[Mom]

remember what a phone ringing sounded like? just about dropped my lunch.

I remember have 3 shorts rings as our ring, I think our letter was S on the party line. I shit you not the first time I used a phone at a friends place in Wellsford after I got married in 1979 was one like this, you had to wind a crank on the side to get the exchange to answer, then get them to connect your call for you.

214402

[jim.cox]

I'm getting old chaps (and chapettes), as I long for the days of simplicity, not increasing technology.

Am I alone in this?

No you are not alone

I'm a luddite - I like things simple

There are some advantages to technology - electronic ignition for example - I dont want to go back to setting and adjusting points

But all the Techo crap on the new bikes leaves me cold

I dont need datalogging, fly-by-wire is a problem waiting to happen, I hate the idea that a liitle blackbox might decide my brakes wont work etc etc etc

I know how hard it is to keep older bikes on the road - and would hate to be trying to find essential parts for some of today's bikes in ten years time

K.I.S.S.

[98tls]

I remember have 3 shorts rings as our ring, I think our letter was S on the party line. I shit you not the first time I used a phone at a friends place in Wellsford after I got married in 1979 was one like this, you had to wind a crank on the side to get the exchange to answer, then get them to connect your call for you.

214402

Yep had the party line thing when i was a young fella,remember getting sick of every time i went to use it there was people yapping away.:shutup:well that this thread bastardized,sorry mate.Moms fault:shifty:

[onearmedbandit]

many of the younger generation buying them have no interest whatsoever on anything mechanical so its probably just as well theres not much cause to tinker with them.(walks away muttering and shaking his doddery old head).:shifty:

I grew up working on my own vehicles, from my first go-kart at about 7 (4hp B&S) through to my bikes and cars. Sure it was great learning to strip an engine, diagnose the fault, rectify/replace/modify and ride off again, but I only did that because I damn well had to. Every minute I was working on my vehicles was a minute I'd rather be riding driving. In other words, while it was enjoyable, it took away from my main interest, which was using them.

Now I own a couple of late model sportsbikes. They start every time, they don't require constant maintenance, I don't have to skin my knuckles, I don't have to wait 2mths to get a part or fabricate my own. In other words, I now can do what I really want to do, ride.

The new generation have got it good. They get reliable fuss free pleasure.

To answer the original question. I don't bemoan the increasing pace of technology, give me TC, ABS, supersmart fuel injection, etc etc etc. However what I don't want is increased weight due to the emission laws. That's why I love my K2, reliable as a swiss watch, massive amounts of power and torque, and it's not suffocated by Euro4 watchdogs. I'd like to add a K5 to the stable, as that was the last Gixxer to not be completely castrated.

[bogan]

course it hasn't, plenty of bikes available without all the fancy lecity bits, they're just a little bit older. The new bikes have to compete with one-another, as such they want higher hp, and with higher hp comes more lecity bits to control it, fuck riding the 180hp ss1000r without traction control :shit:. Personally I think the golden age of motorcycles was late 80s and early nineties, almost as if the beings upstairs saw that I'd arrived and though it best they get some sweet sweet bikes made for me :D but i digress, bikes in that period had it all, plenty of power, good looks, simplicity, and customisability :yes:

So there is a bike out there for everyone, sometimes it just isn't brand new. So there :bleh:

[imdying]

Thing is, if I owned a brand new 1000cc fire breathing rocket ship of pretty much any brand, I wouldn't know where to find the spark plugs, let alone change them. Holy cow, the hi-tech thing has just gone mad on bikes. I'd be having to take it back to the dealer just to do basic things.

Am I alone in this?There will be the ignorant luddites who agree completely, and others with varying degrees of agreement, but most people are smart enough to realise that they're really not that complicated. Sure the level or knowledge required to maintain a bike has gone up, but it hasn't risen as fast as the access to that information, courtesy of the internet.

Your spark plugs are exactly where they've always been, in the cylinder head, and changing them is still no big deal. Sure you might have to remove a tank and an airbox, but it half a dozen screws are a problem to you, you probably shouldn't be working on anything harder than getting your gut down to a reasonable size. Brakes basically haven't changed, neither have most of the other important maintenance items like brakes, tyres, batteries, bearings etc.

The most complicated part that has been added as of late is fuel injection, and most of the time it'll tell you what is wrong with it... not they often need to... just how much hand holding do you need?!?!?

[rastuscat]

It must be an age thing. I can live my life without YouTube, iPads, iPhones, Windows whatever. I admire wire-wheel Katanas, CBX1000s and ZX1300s. Those big sixes were dead sexy. And I don't care if they were heavy and hard on gas.

I was brought up in a Western Southland small town, and I recall our phone number being 40M. I think the M was the first letter of the street name, and we wre the 40th phone on that street. The crank handle was on the right side of the phone.

My 12 year old came to me last week and announced "You have no idea how hard it is to live without YouTube". I cringed.

Sadly, it's our fault that life is all about gadgets. My generation invented and financed them, I guess we can't blame the Millenials for relying on them.

My 1999 bike is an R1150GS. Beemer now does traction control. I already had traction control, it's called my right wrist, and works with CommonSense2.2

Happy to accept that it's my nostalgia gland kicking in.

So there.

[Headbanger]

Fancy that,thats lovely dear.

Thats the kind of mood I'm in today cupcake.

[bogan]

My 1999 bike is an R1150GS. Beemer now does traction control. I already had traction control, it's called my right wrist, and works with CommonSense2.2

beemer also now does double the horsepower of an RG1150GS, as do the other manufacturers, same weight, double the torque, still think your wrist is up to it?

[imdying]

Of course, old people are always arrogant enough to think they know better than black boxes.

[rastuscat]

beemer also now does double the horsepower of an RG1150GS, as do the other manufacturers, same weight, double the torque, still think your wrist is up to it?


Luckily commonsense2.2 is upgradable via wireless download to commonsense2.3 any time you get on a different bike. That causes the user to be cautious until having at least some idea as to the handling and performance of the bike.

What concerns me is the need to download a patch to repair the fault............the one that makes me want to ride like a teenager on a big, powerful bike.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy riding big fast bikes, I just don't want to own BattleStar Galactica.

[imdying]

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy riding big fast bikes, I just don't want to own BattleStar Galactica.True mate, but that's not technologies fault, that's the manufacturers and the way they implement it. ABS and traction control, 99.9% of the time you should never even know it is there. EFI is a bit of an exception, you should know it is doing the biz every time you start the bike on a cold morning and it goes first time every time :laugh:

[MarkH]

Oh and wtfs an ipad?:shifty:

It's a new hi-tech sanitary pad made by Apple, or possibly something else that is less useful.

Or it might be like an iPhone but too big to fit in any pocket and can't make phone calls.

[dipshit]

I was brought up in a Western Southland small town, and I recall our phone number being 40M. I think the M was the first letter of the street name, and we wre the 40th phone on that street.

Nope, Your street would have been the 40th line on the local exchange and your house was 'M' in Morse code so your house would have answered the phone when it rang 2 longs.

[breakaway]

I don't think technology has 'taken over' at all. While some people (myself included) may view technologies such as slipper clutches, ABS, traction control etc as detracting from the riding experience, things such as ECU controlled EFI are the best things since sliced bread. EFI bikes run so much smoother/better. But a lot of the old codgers probably can't wrap their head around using a computer to interact with the fuelliing system as opposed to simply changing out parts in a carbureated system. So. it's taken ages to implement it into bikes. Not the same story with cars though.

[AllanB]

EFI are the best things since sliced bread. EFI bikes run so much smoother/better. But a lot of the old codgers probably can't wrap their head around using a computer to interact with the fuelliing system as opposed to simply changing out parts in a carbureated system. So. it's taken ages to implement it into bikes. Not the same story with cars though.


I remember a EFI big bore Kawasaki several decades ago (late 80's?), then it disapeared for years and suddendly it's the rule.

Personally I think EFI is bloody fantastic. In fact if it is modern technology that causes me to have a bike that starts every time and is 24,000 kms before the cam cover needs lifting then I'm happy with it. I can spend my $ and time on 'goodies' that the bike does not 'need' but it's owner wants :innocent:

Slipper clutches are another good idea (shame I don't have one), as is ABS - look out for this becoming mandatory overseas on bikes.

[Spearfish]

Nothin wrong with points and carbs....shyt who am I kidding!?!

[SPman]

I'm getting too old....went looking for a sportsbike and ended up with an RG250! 130Kg of FUN!

[2wheeldrifter]

I just look at the Ducati Muitistrada 1200 with 4 settings at a flick of a switch, Touring,Urban,Sport and Endro.... each one will change the power curve, suspension settings, ABS settings and Traction control settings to suit each one...... plus all the other goodies :yes:

http://www.multistrada.ducati.com/jspducatimultistrada/tutorial.jsp

[one fast tl1ooo]

I just look at the Ducati Muitistrada 1200 with 4 settings at a flick of a switch, Touring,Urban,Sport and Endro.... each one will change the power curve, suspension settings, ABS settings and Traction control settings to suit each one...... plus all the other goodies :yes:

http://www.multistrada.ducati.com/jspducatimultistrada/tutorial.jsp

What you talkin about al

[2wheeldrifter]

What you talkin about al


what cha talkin bout willis ???????????

[rastuscat]

Nope, Your street would have been the 40th line on the local exchange and your house was 'M' in Morse code so your house would have answered the phone when it rang 2 longs.

Cool !! Ta for that. Another fact I don't need to know but glad to have............you're a gentleman.

[rastuscat]

I'm getting too old....went looking for a sportsbike and ended up with an RG250! 130Kg of FUN!

Buying bikes should be a decision made by the heart, not the head. Long live the RG!!!

[dipshit]

Cool !! Ta for that. Another fact I don't need to know but glad to have............you're a gentleman.

The house I grew up in was 101D... long short short. The neighbour was 101S... short short short. The only bits of Morse code I know by heart.

Imagine up to 26 homes sharing the same phone line and only one house be able to use it at a time. Imagine if they all had teenage daughters!

(Mmmmm teenage daughters.... :drool: )

[98tls]

The house I grew up in was 101D... long short short. The neighbour was 101S... short short short. The only bits of Morse code I know by heart.

Imagine up to 26 homes sharing the same phone and only one house be able to use it at a time. Imagine if they all had teenage daughters!

(Mmmmm teenage daughters.... :drool: )

:blink:Sounds like a place down the line,Palmerston its called from memory though i think theres 34 houses down there.

[dipshit]

And look at us now... connected constantly on broadband chatting up teenage daughters around the world in a flash.

Ain't technology grand! :Punk:

[98tls]

And look at us now... connected constantly on broadband chatting up teenage daughters around the world in a flash.

Ain't technology grand! :Punk:

Indeed.I am particularly fond of the emails from Nigeria offering not only wealth but a housekeeper to boot.

[toycollector10]

I'm no Luddite. Got my son an iPhone for his birthday the other week, and recently got my daughter an iPod for hers, was dead chuffed when the family clubbed together and bought me an iPad for father’s day. Got my wife an iRon for her birthday, it was around then the fight started …

[toycollector10]

But seriously ffolks, I'm a member of the Classic Japanese Motorcycle Group. We source, restore and ride pre 1980's bikes. It's very rewarding to bring life back to a bike that has been given up on. It kind of bonds you to the bike in a zen like way that I don't think you can get by rocking on up to your local dealer with a wad of cash.

That's not to say I've never bought a new bike, that's a very cool experience too. but who's going to be restoring the wiring harness out of a 2008 Hayabusa in 30 years time? Or able to do it without specialist knowledge, tools and spares?

Each to their own.

[Voltaire]

Technology......
reminds me of when I used to get:
" points ignition...rubbish...you get a better spark with a magneto"
" Manual advance is what sports bikes have...only tourers have auto advance"
" Electric start...thats for girls"
" Mono shock....Vincent invented that in the 30's"
" 4 valves per cylinder...Rudge did that in the 30's"
....and so on. ( sounds like Ixion...)
I do like the hydraulic clutch on my 900ss...the gearbox that can actually find neutral..and the light that comes on when you have bugger all fuel left......:innocent:

[AllanB]

Funny thing - after earlier posting about the wonders of my modern motor I've just been reading about the possibility of the new 2011 ZX10Rrrrr thingy having a true big-bang crank and requiring a fancy hi-tech electric motor on the crank to spin it during the big gap in spark firing so the engine does not self stall at lower speeds.

All very super-tech but sheezzz an electric motor to keep your mega-tech petrol engine from stalling.

It appears I do have an acceptance level on technology. :shifty:

[Voltaire]

the Holy Grail of parallel twin design...the vibration free motor....

...... the BMW 800 twin with three conrods....:blink:

[bogan]

Funny thing - after earlier posting about the wonders of my modern motor I've just been reading about the possibility of the new 2011 ZX10Rrrrr thingy having a true big-bang crank and requiring a fancy hi-tech electric motor on the crank to spin it during the big gap in spark firing so the engine does not self stall at lower speeds.

All very super-tech but sheezzz an electric motor to keep your mega-tech petrol engine from stalling.

It appears I do have an acceptance level on technology. :shifty:

so they stick a motor next to the stator or something? if they use the stator as a motor breifly i can go along with that, but an extra motor seems excessive.


the Holy Grail of parallel twin design...the vibration free motor....

...... the BMW 800 twin with three conrods....:blink:

hmmm, how the fuck do they manage that? can see how they would do it with a flat twin, but parallel is inline init?

[miloking]

I was surfing through a thread on big Hondas and loving the trip down memory lane. Bikes from the eighties are just so cool.

I have spent too much time on TradeMe looking at bikes I'll never buy, but one thing struck me. Have we been overtaken by the technology?

My personal bike is a 1999 model, and part of the attraction is that I can work on it myself easily, it's fairly simple. There is a world of information and lots of blogs about things I can do to it.

Thing is, if I owned a brand new 1000cc fire breathing rocket ship of pretty much any brand, I wouldn't know where to find the spark plugs, let alone change them. Holy cow, the hi-tech thing has just gone mad on bikes. I'd be having to take it back to the dealer just to do basic things.

I'm getting old chaps (and chapettes), as I long for the days of simplicity, not increasing technology.

Am I alone in this?

My 2006 CBR is the newest bike i've ever had and its pretty simple to work on....but not sure about realy new bikes but i reckon with workshop manual at hand, right tools and some basic skills you can work on any bike.

[Big Dave]

My personal taste says that motorcycles are enhanced by what you take off them.

[Swoop]

... you had to wind a crank on the side to get the exchange to answer, then get them to connect your call for you.

214402

That appears to be the precursor to the Tell-lie-con XT network.:shifty:



No! Hang on. The crank system was FAR more reliable!

[george formby]

I must admit to marveling at the world we live in, technology is giving us a lot of hassle free pleasure. I can remember my dad spending his evenings in a freezing cold shed trying to keep his bikes & the family car on the road, skinned knuckles & permanently dirty hands. My bike gets basic maintenance & just goes, no fiddling out of necessity.
Apart from the main stream technotractionwizzbangery which is now selling bikes a lot of niche bike builders are using the latest technology to build some stunning & simple bikes.
The new norton looks the dogs danglies, I would love a shot on a new triumph scrambler & I really hope that Mac motorcycles in the UK can move forward with their range of singles now that Buell is defunct. They were going to use the Buell blast motor...... (see avatar)
Just below the main stream is a lot of innovation based on old values of simplicty & good engineering + modern reliability & safety. This is a good time to ride bikes, never have their been so many bikes to choose from ( by so few riders...) Until tomorrow of course.

[gatch]

http://www.depot4motorcycles.co.nz

CV carbs are about as complicated an item as I desire in a bike.

If I can't fix it or make a better bit myself I don't want to know. (For now of course, in future I may decide riding a computer sounds like fun.)

[rok-the-boat]

I have little time for new technology. My mate bought a Z1100 with electronic ignition when it first came out and I said he was stupid. I was right, it bust a few months later - luckily the warranty paid, but I wouldn't go near such secondhand, not a chance. Give me a carb to rebuild anyday, and even then, for an oldie ... a normal type - non-diaphram - is far superior, like, have you checked out the price of a new diaphram!!!

Keep it simple, stupid.

[Pixie]

I was surfing through a thread on big Hondas and loving the trip down memory lane. Bikes from the eighties are just so cool.

I have spent too much time on TradeMe looking at bikes I'll never buy, but one thing struck me. Have we been overtaken by the technology?

My personal bike is a 1999 model, and part of the attraction is that I can work on it myself easily, it's fairly simple. There is a world of information and lots of blogs about things I can do to it.

Thing is, if I owned a brand new 1000cc fire breathing rocket ship of pretty much any brand, I wouldn't know where to find the spark plugs, let alone change them. Holy cow,
the hi-tech thing has just gone mad on bikes. I'd be having to take it back to the dealer just to do basic things.

I'm getting old chaps (and chapettes), as I long for the days of simplicity, not increasing technology.

Am I alone in this?

The sparkplugs are at the top of the round hollow thingies

[Pixie]

I'm no Luddite. Got my son an iPhone for his birthday the other week, and recently got my daughter an iPod for hers, was dead chuffed when the family clubbed together and bought me an iPad for father’s day. Got my wife an iRon for her birthday, it was around then the fight started …

When is the iSuppository going to be released?