3 ms·

I grew up riding mechanical, carburetor, dumb motorcycles, and every mishap was due to my youth, bad environment, judgement, what have you. However, I now ride

by eggy 3y ago

I grew up riding mechanical, carburetor, dumb motorcycles, and every mishap was due to my youth, bad environment, judgement, what have you. However, I now ride a motorcycle with a 6-axis accelerometer, inclinometer, ABS braking, fuel-mapped ignition, and all controlled by the onboard ECU. I can say it has been a disruptive experience. I can disable things when I want to do stupid stuff - burnouts, wheelies, etc. - or leave them on so they can save my tired ass in the rain or a tight turn I've entered too fast. I have felt the cornering ABS kick in once. The throttle by wire is ultra responsive and programmable depending on the mode you are in, and not like the mechanical throttle of my old bikes. The fuel mapping is intelligent and changes under different temperatures and demands. I'd say it has saved rather than killed me. But, I must say, I talk to my moto, Ginger, and thank her for taking care of me on every trip. It makes me feel better ;)

ubermonkey 3y ago
As a fellow motorcyclist, it falls to me to ask "what bike?"
- eggy 3y ago
  2021 KTM Duke 890R. Decat with dual-titanium Arrow race exhausts, Power Commander, Rottweiler race air intake. Replaced Michelin PC2s with Michelin P5's..Love it! And you?
  - ubermonkey 3y ago
    Those are VERY cool and VERY powerful! As for me, I waited until I was sure I wouldn't kill myself to buy a motorcycle, which for me meant "last year, at age 52." Sure, I still gotta worry about everyone else, but that's a risk I've been taking on a bicycle for years already. Mine is a Royal-Enfield Classic 350, which is perfect for 85% of what I'd want to do -- errands in town, etc -- but is obviously limited to surface streets and slower back roads. It tops out at 70, notionally, but it's not super happy above 55(mph). We'd dropped to one car during the pandemic, because my wife has traditionally taken the bus to work. I'd have the car during the day for the odd daytime errand. Then she got a better job that required driving to work, and we really really didn't want to buy another car - and I had always wanted a motorcycle... She wasn't super excited, but the price tag helped a lot ($4800US). It's lovely, and I get comments on it constantly, but after a year I'm definitely starting to think about Next Bike. Top contender is a Bonneville T120.

by eggy 3y ago

ubermonkey 3y ago

As a fellow motorcyclist, it falls to me to ask "what bike?"

eggy 3y ago
2021 KTM Duke 890R. Decat with dual-titanium Arrow race exhausts, Power Commander, Rottweiler race air intake. Replaced Michelin PC2s with Michelin P5's..Love it! And you?
- ubermonkey 3y ago
  Those are VERY cool and VERY powerful! As for me, I waited until I was sure I wouldn't kill myself to buy a motorcycle, which for me meant "last year, at age 52." Sure, I still gotta worry about everyone else, but that's a risk I've been taking on a bicycle for years already. Mine is a Royal-Enfield Classic 350, which is perfect for 85% of what I'd want to do -- errands in town, etc -- but is obviously limited to surface streets and slower back roads. It tops out at 70, notionally, but it's not super happy above 55(mph). We'd dropped to one car during the pandemic, because my wife has traditionally taken the bus to work. I'd have the car during the day for the odd daytime errand. Then she got a better job that required driving to work, and we really really didn't want to buy another car - and I had always wanted a motorcycle... She wasn't super excited, but the price tag helped a lot ($4800US). It's lovely, and I get comments on it constantly, but after a year I'm definitely starting to think about Next Bike. Top contender is a Bonneville T120.