Motorcycle Fundamentals vs Luxury Features

[jstark47]

I occasionally post over on ADV (Adventure Riders Forum..... why do I do this?? Gummi warned me about that troll's playpen...!!! ) Got involved in a discussion about the prospective new Triumph Trophy, a sport-touring bike Triumph apparently has in the pipeline for 2012.

I stirred up some heat because I advocated that traditional Hinckly Triumph features such as a strong motor with a flat torque curve, stone fence reliability (Gummi's Tiger notwithstanding), good ergos, etc, might mean more to some folks than all the latest electronic gizmos. Especially if available at at traditional Triumph price point, i.e. lower than BMW. Apparently this is not a popular point of view on ADV, we might say.

Sooo...... how important are these things to you?

• - electrically adjustable windshield
  - electrically heated grips
  - electrically heated seat
  - electrically adjustable-on-the-fly suspension

Would you favor a higher priced bike that included these things as standard equipment over a lower priced bike that omitted them but was a fundamentally strong motorcycle?

IMO these things are nifty features, but not important enough to me to swing a purchase decision. Particularly if the bike that had them had some other fundamentally unsatisfactory attribute, e.g. an annoyingly peaky torque curve, gear ratios not well matched to the engine, self-destructing final drive, etc.

What say you? Discuss.

[Gummiente]

Sooo...... how important are these things to you?

• - electrically adjustable windshield
  - electrically heated grips
  - electrically heated seat
  - electrically adjustable-on-the-fly suspension

Absolutely not important to me at all, any of them. Okay, maybe the seat and the grips would be nice but I've no use for adjustable windshields and suspensions.

And I warned you about totalmotorcycle but, noooo, you didn't listen. But as long as you're on there, give them a few Triumph pokes for me... too many self righteous twits on there that think they are superior to everyone because they ride a Beemer. "Legendary Motorcycles Of Germany", my arse.

[High_Side]

I seriously think that too many people are working way too hard to make the motorcycle experience in to the luxury car experience. How the hell are you an adventure rider if you thumb up your nose at every bike that doesn't have abs, a bun toaster, or an electronically adjustable windshield. There is a crucial motorcycling experience that is slowly but surely being refined out of the equation and there are masses of riders who will never fully understand the adventure part.

But you really shouldn't ask me: It's only been within the past ten years that I keep my map visible on the tank in front of me (vs. in the saddle-bag for when I was lost beyond being able to find my way home). I also think that GPS and uploading pre-packaged adventures are one of the major contributors to the "pussification" (hello sensor-bot?) of motorcycle riders. There is no sense of adventure - just research and pre-plan the hell out of everything (grumpy old-man style rant over ).

I am with you Jstark, gimme a bike that has a sole, decent tank range, and a riding position and seat that I can tolerate, and I'll add on anything else that is truly essential and have a great adventure bike. The core motorcycle is far more important than the gizmo list available.

[Gummiente]

How the hell are you an adventure rider

Sport-touring, dude, the topic is sport touring - not Adventure riding. But your rant is spot on nonetheless.

[HYPERR]

- electrically adjustable windshield: Not important at all
- electrically heated grips: Not a deal breaker but would definitely pay extra if available as an option
- electrically heated seat: Same as above
- electrically adjustable-on-the-fly suspension: Not important but would consider it if the cost was reasonable(usually isn't).

[totalmotorcycle]

Sooo...... how important are these things to you?

• - electrically adjustable windshield
  - electrically heated grips
  - electrically heated seat
  - electrically adjustable-on-the-fly suspension

Would you favor a higher priced bike that included these things as standard equipment over a lower priced bike that omitted them but was a fundamentally strong motorcycle?

What say you? Discuss.

For me, I would favour a fundamentally strong lower priced bike without these things. Sure, it would be nice to have heated grips and seat and other electric do-dads, but really, I can live without them. If you take for example the Suzuki V-Strom 650, it's a strong basic bike, but really good at what it does, all at a very reasonable price point.

On the flip side, having such luxury features would extend the riding season by a month, maybe 2, you would have to figure if that's worth the extra cost. And again, you can add those to a bike like the V-Strom and still come out cheaper.

Mike

[High_Side]

How the hell are you an adventure rider

Sport-touring, dude, the topic is sport touring - not Adventure riding. But your rant is spot on nonetheless.

Thanks Gummi. However my rant was more at the premise of Adventure` Riders web-site who dismiss a motorcycle that doesn`t come with the kitchen sink. Me thinks that they are on the wrong website perhaps....

I went and found the thread JStark was referring to and in the context of what is required for a luxo-touring boat to be a success, I understand that these things are important to that market. Some riders feel that they need to have it all, and buy these things which is a profitable market for the manufacturers. However, these people who think they need to have it all know not what they give up by doing so......IMO.

And for another one of my unsolicited opinions: I`ve put my share of km on my Fathers Gold Wing when I was a kid and had to sell my street bikes due to some ``bad teenagers decisions``. Hands down the most boring motorcycle I have ever ridden.

[Gummiente]

Thanks Gummi. However my rant was more at the premise of Adventure` Riders web-site who dismiss a motorcycle that doesn`t come with the kitchen sink.

I hear you on that one. Way too many sheep and way too many Long Way Round wannabes on that site, which is part of the reason why I left there a few years ago and haven't looked back.

[sunshine229]

So about those features... I'm with High_Side - why they heck do you need all the bells and whistles when in reality you just need a fun bike to go out and have fun on? Let the luxury car folks have all the luxuries and give me a normal bare-bones bike that has all the investment in the parts that count.

[Gummiente]

So about those features... I'm with High_Side - why they heck do you need all the bells and whistles when in reality you just need a fun bike to go out and have fun on? Let the luxury car folks have all the luxuries and give me a normal bare-bones bike that has all the investment in the parts that count.

Ok, but let's keep in mind the old adage "different strokes for different folks". Some people just don't get the whole idea behind sidecars, for example, and figure I should just buy a car. But for me and all others who have them, sidecars are a very enjoyable and practical alternative to the usual two wheeled experience. And some people - like me - thought that cruise control and a stereo on a bike was akin to... well, to having breasts on a bull. But I have to admit that I have grown to love cruising along with the tunes blaring and I can now see why other seemingly ridiculous luxuries could be the "bees knees" for Gold Wing and BMW riders.