Race bikes and rider aids (electronic)

[Robert Taylor]

I don't think they spoil the fun - Electronics or not I think anyone who even throws their leg over a MotoGP bike and turns up the wick is fuckin' awesome !!

I've been to ONE MotoGP event (Silverstone 2010, the round after Rossi broke his leg ) IT WAS AMAZING !!
Watching it on TV or you tube clips of the top guy's is cool, but you don't REALLY get an idea of just how fast they are going unless you are there.

Going fast is what it is all about who can go fastest on a motorbike, who makes the fastest motorbike, which team can adapt to the different circuits and keep up the effort for a whole season and win the title.
The "spectacle" is not diminished (in MY opinion)

There is plenty of stunt riding/drifting etc. to be found if you want to watch that sort of thing (and I do )
I've been in the Computer bizz for 1/4 of a century and have some appreciation of just how clever the electronic aids are and how much computer "horsepower" they require (and how clever a human being is to even ride a motorbike with/or without them).

Exactly, and technological progress has been relentless through the decades, why artificially stop it / dilute it ? There are plenty of ''traction control aids'' which oversimplistically are a band aid and substitute poorly for currently banned technologies in MotoGP and WSBK, namely electronically controlled suspension. That one technology has the potential to not insignificantly increase corner speeds, foreshorten braking distances and raise exit speeds. Ohlins successfully proved it in WSBK, then the cavemen rulemakers promptly banned it. Other suspension manufacturers were also developing systems.
Such tecnologies usually start in high end racing and in time trickle down, thats great.
30 years ago you'd turn up at a race meeting with a box full of jets and needles and youd spend all day fiddling with your accursed flatslides. Now you turn up with a laptop and a communictaion cable, thats positive progress.

[jellywrestler]

Exactly, and technological progress has been relentless through the decades, why artificially stop it / dilute it ? There are plenty of ''traction control aids'' which oversimplistically are a band aid and substitute poorly for currently banned technologies in MotoGP and WSBK, namely electronically controlled suspension. That one technology has the potential to not insignificantly increase corner speeds, foreshorten braking distances and raise exit speeds. Ohlins successfully proved it in WSBK, then the cavemen rulemakers promptly banned it. Other suspension manufacturers were also developing systems.
Such tecnologies usually start in high end racing and in time trickle down, thats great.
30 years ago you'd turn up at a race meeting with a box full of jets and needles and youd spend all day fiddling with your accursed flatslides. Now you turn up with a laptop and a communictaion cable, thats positive progress.

i've got a cigarette lighter on my old Suzuki GS850 that's a handy wee attachment

[JayRacer37]

Why not just watch dirt track out of the states or speedway here if you want to see the bikes move round? Plus you get the benefit of close racing, AND crashes. No TC or anti wheelie or anti spin there.

Ah, cos the fun is seeing a road bike do it...and making it do it too! MX has the bikes all over the place but it doesn't appeal to me in the same way.

In saying that, I don't think TC is a bad thing (nor did I state so!). Tyre technology has as much blame for processional racing, if not more so. Tyre competition would help, or a spec tyre that wasn't so very precise. In saying that, they do the best lap times...

I think rather than numb corner exit electronics (TC, wheelie control) which genuinly help stop crashes as you mentioned above, there should be some limitations on corner entry electronics. Look at Moto2 where this is already in place, because the bikes are harder to get stopped perfectly, the riders miss apexes occasionally and it creates the close racing we crave. In 2002/03, remember watching Rossi fighting the RCV up to the corner as it only had a mechanical slipper clutch, not a complex over-run system and an auto blipper. I think this would give us some excitement, without loosing totally the technolgical marvels and ability that we have currently.

[roogazza]

30 years ago you'd turn up at a race meeting with a box full of jets and needles and youd spend all day fiddling with your accursed flatslides. Now you turn up with a laptop and a communictaion cable, thats positive progress.

Yes Robert, gives them much more time for the serious stuff !!!

Even the little guys that look about 12yrs old by the way, so professional.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Yes Robert, gives them much more time for the serious stuff !!!

She looks like some sort of exotic wading bird.

[Robert Taylor]

Yes Robert, gives them much more time for the serious stuff !!!

Even the little guys that look about 12yrs old by the way, so professional.

My youngest daughter looks like that, Ive largely managed to keep her away from motorcyclists. Except Seth who needed a bib when he set eyes upon her. ( she has stunning genes from my gene pool )

[jellywrestler]

My youngest daughter looks like that, Ive largely managed to keep her away from motorcyclists.

better the devil you know....

[budda]

My youngest daughter looks like that, Ive largely managed to keep her away from motorcyclists. )

....... have to admit I'm surprised you let her WEAR such a nice labour red pit shirt like that .......

[crazy man]

agree with Robert . nz bikes need rider aid because of poor set up.

[Robert Taylor]

agree with Robert . nz bikes need rider aid because of poor set up.

So you're the first candidate then...............?????????????

[Robert Taylor]

....... have to admit I'm surprised you let her WEAR such a nice labour red pit shirt like that .......

She is a tory, otherwise she wouldnt be allowed to live under the same roof.

[scracha]

My youngest daughter looks like that, Ive largely managed to keep her away from motorcyclists. Except Seth who needed a bib when he set eyes upon her. ( she has stunning genes from my gene pool )

Going by your previous posts about hot women then I'm imagining a young Margaret Thatcher.

[Robert Taylor]

Going by your previous posts about hot women then I'm imagining a young Margaret Thatcher.

There is no doubt that as a champion of hard work and enterprise Maggie would totally embrace the technologies this thread is about. And as one who doesnt suffer fools she would deride those who oppose progress. Its a real pity she cannot be cloned.

[Kickaha]

There is no doubt that as a champion of hard work and enterprise Maggie would totally embrace the technologies this thread is about. And as one who doesnt suffer fools she would deride those who oppose progress. Its a real pity she cannot be cloned.

You really want her to have your babies dont you

[suzuki21]

Electronic aids are awesome for the top guys as they can get the little advantage - like the guy next to them. For lesser riders they can.................. I dont know, but there seems to be a lot of serious accidents lately.