How simple or complex is your m/c?

[Bonez]

Personnally I think some of the "technology" thrown at m/c these days is overated. Your thoughts. Oh and what do you call a biker who has been on the vodka's all night thats fallan flat on his/her back on the floor?

[What?]

1/ I don't have a prob with the engine management system on the BMW - now that it's been replaced!!!! but in the cold light of day, plenty of bikes/cars/outboards have similar faults. And breaker points were always a pain.
2/ Would the answer be "Bonez", perchance?

[Bonez]

And breaker points were always a pain.
2/ Would the answer be "Bonez", perchance?

I'm only on my second set of points on the 550 since I bought it in '86-70,000kms. Had a spare set "Just in case" for as long. 2. No not quite

[dangerous]

Personnally I think some of the "technology" thrown at m/c these days is overated. Your thoughts. Oh and what do you call a biker who has been on the vodka's all night thats fallan flat on his/her back on the floor?

well this one (pic below) is very 'techno' 11 sensers, serge tanks, injection, ECU etc and it was built in 82..... very hi tec for back then and very relible, the only prob was the wast gate gamming due to carbon build up but a easy fix was to ream the sucker out alowing more room for it to mive.

The VTR is carbed but with a ECU which can only make things more relible.... just a bit tricker to work on yaself... I'm all for 'tecno' but it is still fun working on the old

1982 CX500 turbo

[NC]

Apparently, mines not that complex... "It's just a C*NT to work on"

[Motu]

I have no problem with the technology - I work on cars for a living and bikes have always been much simpler systems than what we get on cars - but I have a real issue with packaging,spending 2 hrs to access a simple service item is crazy.

[Lou Girardin]

It's one of the things I like about the Bandit. Oil/air cooling, screw/locknut valve adjustment, everything's easy to get at. The longest part of an oil change is draining the oil. I would like injection on it though, hopefully for '06.

[Biff]

Better fuel economy, less pollution, smoother ride, better brakes. I like technology.

[TonyB]

Mines pretty simple I guess. But as Motu say's, the packaging is a bit of a problem. To get at the spark plugs you either have to:

• Take the side fairings off
• drain the coolant system
• disconnect the radiator and hinge it out of the way
• somehow get at the plugs (havent tried it this way, may not be an accurate description)

or

• Take the fuel tank off
• Remove the air box
• Take the coils out
• Take the plugs out

The really fun part is that you have to have exactly the right length spark plug spanner, other wise you can't get at the ones underneath the frame spars.
I guess to make bikes light and compact, things have to be complicated.....but by modern standards my bike is huge and heavy...

[Juan]

MV F4....... again a twat to work on..... rear brake.... to bleed... remove most of the back of the bike to be able to top up the fluid!!!!! FFS...

Brutale.... better, but under waranty so not allowed to yet

Fazer (FZ1) work on???? It' a jap bike they go for ever

[scumdog]

I have no problem with the technology - I work on cars for a living and bikes have always been much simpler systems than what we get on cars - but I have a real issue with packaging,spending 2 hrs to access a simple service item is crazy.

I'm with Motu on this one, no trouble with technology BUT do have an issue with the packaging.

That's why I like 'naked' bikes (from parking-up to removing filter and letting oil drain on my Sporty take less than 5 minutes, likewise the F100) and clear uncluttered engine bays.
More effort to change plugs/do oil-filter change on our 'new' '84 Laseratti than any of our other mechanical devices.

A lot of technology is 'fit-and-forget' but when it DOES need replacement? hoo-boy you pay for it then in $ and time plus if (for example) you ing. module dies you can't 'clean and adjust' to get you home.

[Pwalo]

My GS doesn't know what technology is. I think you chaps are right. The technology itself isn't a problem, more the fact that a motorbike has a very small gap to fit it all in!

Still there is something nice about working on an aircooled two valve per cylinder bike. Oh that's right I'm a bit lazier these days.

[Hitcher]

Technology? Don't know what you're talking about. PGM-FI, adjustable headlight beam angle, linked brakes, heated grips, trip computer, ambient temperature read-out, countdown to empty on reserve, licorice starter...

[vifferman]

HEAPS of technomonology on the VifFerraRi, but it's all good, and reliable. Too many acronyms though, with HISS, DCBS, PGMFI, HECS3, ECU, SSS, DOHC x 2, and a whole bunch of other 'buzzwords' like "metal composite cylinder sleeves", "pivotless twin-spar frame", "HMAS dampers", "three-stage inline proportional control valve", etc. etc.

But the nett result of all this is that there's not a lot of maintaining to do. The starter valves need balancing every so often, and like any other bike, the oil/filter need changing and the chain needs lubing, but otherwise there's not much to do. The ECU takes care of keeping things running right.

Like Motu said though, packaging is a problem, as my recent major disassembly to change a blown instrument bulb showed. And unlike the VTR, where the entire fairing could be removed by undoing 4 screws and 4 plugs, taking all the tupperware off involves lots of screws and clips. On the VTR, the oil and filter were accessible without removing anything, whereas half the fairing has to be dismantled on the VFR. Against that, chain adjustment is a snap, with the most difficult job being getting the tool kit out. Valve clearance checks are required only every 24,000 kms, and usually only the very first one (if any) requires any shim replacement. These are very reliable machines, due to all the advanced technology.

[bgd]

Based around a 1923 aircraft engine it can't be that complex. You just need to ignore the injection, engine management, abs and servo assisted brakes. Still years behind car technology, though.