Öhlins electronic suspension comes to WSBK Yamahas

[avgas]

I find this new argument about technology on bikes vs cars most interesting.
As an enthusiast in both - i can openly state that it does vary rarely matter.
Bikes are not behind cars in technology at all. Anyone who has this misconception has not looked very in depth into the matter.
They are different vehicles really.
What cars have 5v/cylinder technology? where did they get it from?
Fly-by-wire is bull as it is like the nasa special pen.....cost millions and is as good as a pencil in space. Do we have a sudden lack of throttle cables in the world? Is their any advantage in telling a middle-man that you would like to change your throttle position?
Think about it this way, if you were going to talk to a friend - would you ring up another friend that you jointly knew and arrange for a meeting where you would be Chinese whispers through the joint friend?
So why the hell do it on a vehicle (apart for the wank factor).
And before i get my head bitten off for this and i have to tell why its wrong - i should let you know that i have a fair bit of knowledge in magic boxes with blinky lights and how they work.
Yes KISS is not always the best idea - but you should consider ALL options in new deisgns - even the simpler ones.

[GSVR]

Seriously mate, I think you are loving the reactions you are getting, but maybe it would be better if you went away and had a bit of a think about the comparisons you are making.

How is a preload, rebound and 2 speed compression adjustable shock available on a run of the mill generic Japanese sportsbike substandard? Sure it's not the best you can buy but it probably compares favourably with GP suspension of just a few years ago.

Not all racers ditch the electronic steering damper, but most racers prefer some adjustablity rather than generic settings developed for a road bike.

Superbike versus Supercar? Get real, a generic Jappa sportsbike is at the opposite end of the price/prestige spectrum than the BMW M3 previously mentioned. It and the Evo are acknowledged as some of the finest real world sports cars you can buy, and far from your average family sedan.

Well I'm a little surprised at the passion behind some of the replies but have carefully worded to keep my posts simple and questioning. Not becuase I actually care to much either way but more to provide the other side of the debate.

I find the suspensions and brakes on the modern superbikes awesome but awesome can be improved on for a price.

Suzuki had for years this generic non adjustable steering dampner that came out on their bikes. You must know the one. Now they make an improvement and its just a gimic and doesn't have the adjustment required for track use?

In all respect the cars you mention not supercars they are actually sports/touring cars and as such should be compared to sports/touring bikes like the VFR etc.

[Robert Taylor]

No not singling Ohlins out at all but they are a good example as they make a great product.

Slowpoke was mentioning all the exotic stuff on a modern sportsbike. Hell Titainium is expensive. That really smacks of cost cutting!

And where in the owners manual does the bike maker advise me that my suspension might not suit my weight and could be a safety issue? They tell you to wear a helmet!

Heck you are not going to change the world on your own so Id stop winding yourself and others up any further. Im not going to waste any more time clarifying the obvious. Read and absorb what slowpoke says, he is making a lot of sense. Finito.

[GSVR]

Heck you are not going to change the world on your own so Id stop winding yourself and others up any further. Im not going to waste any more time clarifying the obvious. Read and absorb what slowpoke says, he is making a lot of sense. Finito.

I really thought you would have something to say about this from Mr Slowpoke:

"How is a preload, rebound and 2 speed compression adjustable shock available on a run of the mill generic Japanese sportsbike substandard? Sure it's not the best you can buy but it probably compares favourably with GP suspension of just a few years ago. "

At the risk of repeating whats already been said in other threads of course!

[Robert Taylor]

I really thought you would have something to say about this from Mr Slowpoke:

"How is a preload, rebound and 2 speed compression adjustable shock available on a run of the mill generic Japanese sportsbike substandard? Sure it's not the best you can buy but it probably compares favourably with GP suspension of just a few years ago. "

At the risk of repeating whats already been said in other threads of course!

Clearly I dont have the idle time that you have, nor do I wish to keep repeating myself. FINITO.

[cowpoos]

Hell Titainium is expensive. That really smacks of cost cutting!
!

Titainium is actually very very prolific mineral actually!!

But besides that...what the hell has got up your goose gary!
You are no doubt a free thinker...always new that from talking to you regularly at the track,etc...so whats with this sudden anti suspension companies conspurisy theory thing you got going here!!

[Shaun]

Titainium is actually very very prolific mineral actually!!

But besides that...what the hell has got up your goose gary!
You are no doubt a free thinker...always new that from talking to you regularly at the track,etc...so whats with this sudden anti suspension companies conspurisy theory thing you got going here!!

Very pink thick lips you have there dude

[GSVR]

Titainium is actually very very prolific mineral actually!!

But besides that...what the hell has got up your goose gary!
You are no doubt a free thinker...always new that from talking to you regularly at the track,etc...so whats with this sudden anti suspension companies conspurisy theory thing you got going here!!

Titanium is very plentyful but that doesn't make it cheap. The resason it expense is because it is hard stuff to work with. Same sort of deal as Stainless.

I'm not anti suspension companies as its one of the components on a bike that can make a huge difference. I would like to to realistically quanitify the actually difference between OEM and quality aftermarket.

Theres good reasons for fitting aftermarket to racebikes. You can't get OEM race suspension.

But would you agree with Slowpokes statement that the current OEM stuff is comparable with GP suspension of a few years ago?

I don't think they can be compared as they are doing two very differrent jobs.

The R in GSXR doesn't stand for Race it stands for Replica. Whats it a replica of ?

[SixPackBack]

Titanium is very plentyful but that doesn't make it cheap. The resason it expense is because it is hard stuff to work with. Same sort of deal as Stainless.

I'm not anti suspension companies as its one of the components on a bike that can make a huge difference. I would like to to realistically quanitify the actually difference between OEM and quality aftermarket.

Theres good reasons for fitting aftermarket to racebikes. You can't get OEM race suspension.

But would you agree with Slowpokes statement that the current OEM stuff is comparable with GP suspension of a few years ago?

I don't think they can be compared as they are doing two very differrent jobs.

The R in GSXR doesn't stand for Race it stands for Replica. Whats it a replica of ?

Not true. In many respects both stainless and titanium are easy materials to process.

[GSVR]

Not true. In many respects both stainless and titanium are easy materials to process.

Ok then Einstein so why is Titanium so goddam expensive.


Or maybe this thread should get back on track and the merits of WSBK being a testing ground for new technologies should be discussed.

[Cajun]

well in theory wsbk shouldn't be a testing ground for new tech isn't that what motogp for, wsbk is production superbike. In thory every item on a wsbk bike an average jo should be able to order. (be it at a very large expense)

And i am guessing these ohlins joe average can not go buy at this point in time, , so shouldn't be in the arena.

[SixPackBack]

Ok then Einstein so why is Titanium so goddam expensive.


Or maybe this thread should get back on track and the merits of WSBK being a testing ground for new technologies should be discussed.

*Betchya GSVR is from that manawatutu place with all the high tech-ma-nolagee*

[Shaun]

Ok then Einstein so why is Titanium so goddam expensive.


Or maybe this thread should get back on track and the merits of WSBK being a testing ground for new technologies should be discussed.

Na fuck that, it brings the truth and honesty out

[Robert Taylor]

Titanium is very plentyful but that doesn't make it cheap. The resason it expense is because it is hard stuff to work with. Same sort of deal as Stainless.

I'm not anti suspension companies as its one of the components on a bike that can make a huge difference. I would like to to realistically quanitify the actually difference between OEM and quality aftermarket.

Theres good reasons for fitting aftermarket to racebikes. You can't get OEM race suspension.

But would you agree with Slowpokes statement that the current OEM stuff is comparable with GP suspension of a few years ago?

I don't think they can be compared as they are doing two very differrent jobs.

The R in GSXR doesn't stand for Race it stands for Replica. Whats it a replica of ?

Nothing is ever as it seems and most often its not worth losing sleep over. All power to technology.

[NZsarge]

If your going to compare bikes to cars at least compare apples with apples. Superbike vs Supercar. Not Suberbike vs Family Sedan.

Superbike versus Supercar? the Evo are acknowledged as some of the finest real world sports cars you can buy, and far from your average family sedan.

Yeah, you'd be mind boggled how quick an Evo can be in the right hands, particularly in the tighter going.