Too much bike technology?

Comparing my new CBR to my old CBR it's interesting to see the innovations such as Idle sensors, throttle sensors, electronic steering damper, slipper clutch, etc... Other bikes even have more including traction control, various throttle/control maps and ABS.  While I like items such as fuel injection, as I never liked playing around with carbs, and improvements such as suspension or slipper clutches but riding aids such as traction control I'm not in favor of. While their ability to help riders is obvious at high levels such as MotoGP which can help mere mortals like us regular riders. I still feel that part of the enjoyment I get from riding is the satisfaction I get from good rides to know it's my skill moreso than some techno wizard in a black box.  

the day IS coming when you won't even need a rider??  F1 can already program different corners remotely[GPS] bikes are not far behind!!!  i like MY traction control, MY ABS and MY slipper clutch....it's called co-ordination!!

how much skill is needed to hold it WFO and let the electonics take over???  bring back the good ole days!!  500cc 2 stroke monsters with a powerband of a 125...ALL or NOTHING!!  now THAT took skills...


rant over...

carry on...  

weasel221:
F1 can already program different corners remotely[GPS] bikes are not far behind!!!  

Actually, MotoGP is already there, and production will be there soon. Both MotoGP Yamaha and Ducati's Magneti Marelli ECUs have GPS-controlled traction control that allows tailoring for specific corners. Bimota's DB7 will have an ECU that already has some racetracks downloaded into its GPS-capable ECU for lap time dissemination.

I prefer rider control and skill necessity as well, but the safety nets provided by ABS and traction control in poor (read: cold and wet) conditions are hard to ignore. I like having the option of turning them off if desired (as with the BMW S 1000 RR); giving the rider the choice is the best policy in my opinion.  

but, doesn't/wouldn't that dumb down the rider?? seems the oldguys did ok, i know, i know, tons-o-highsides back then, and with current tire tech, you really have to try and crash..  but, i think THEY were/are better riders than today's spoiled whiners...

that's just MY opinion, and we ALL know about opinions!!  lolol  

If we're talking about top level racing such as MotoGP the I also agree that it should be more about rider talent then rider aid technology. This is evident because pre-rider aids it took racers a longer time to get acclimated to the bigger bikes now it seems they get up to speed much faster.

As Kento noted there are times for everyday riding where it may be helpful but only if the rider has the choice to use it. A lot of people try to make claims that rider aids help in wet conditions and for lesser skilled riders and that maybe true but like I've stated before I enjoy using my skill and developing my riding ability.  

weasel221:
but, doesn't/wouldn't that dumb down the rider?? seems the oldguys did ok, i know, i know, tons-o-highsides back then, and with current tire tech, you really have to try and crash..  but, i think THEY were/are better riders than today's spoiled whiners...

You're not "dumbing down" the rider if he's given the choice; then the decision is entirely up to him. As I stated before, I'd rather try to improve my skills, but there are many situations (such as riding in city traffic on a rainy day) where I'd prefer the additional safety envelope of ABS. Traction control I can do without for the most part.

Actually, most of the top GP riders turn off much of the traction control systems on their bikes because it slows their drive too much. Some wheelspin is actually needed for maximum thrust off the corner, and the amount varies so much that most of the GP riders only make use of traction control at full lean; once they start to pick the bike up driving off the corner, they use less of the TC than you'd think.

True, the skill required to ride a 500cc multi-cylinder two-stroke at its limit was possessed by only a few. But that doesn't necessarily make them better riders than today's GP pilots, regardless of people's opinions on their character...  

The Luddites were wrong; they still are.  

Some of the things they are doing to bikes these days are definitely gay in my opinion.  Take, for example, Honda's linked braking, whereby when you hit just the back brake and the front is automatically added to the equation.  Also, wheelie control... Gay.  If all bikes start to come with this stuff, I definitely think having the option to "turn it off" is the way to go.