Motorcycle Fundamentals vs Luxury Features

[High_Side]

I agree that age has to be a BIG factor in what you consider basic acceptable creature comforts. By 40, I thought that I would be old, on a cruiser or more likely a Beemer. Now that I am 40, I don't feel a whole lot closer to either (well the V-Rod is fun), but there are a few concessions sneaking in. The heated vest rocks and extends my season no matter how many extra clothes that I wore in the past. My I-Pod comes out as I zoom across the prairies. I take my phone (where is that barfy emoticon?). Is the ability to have these things as factory options high on my list in picking a bike? Not even on the radar. But to each their own.....and in the North American way that means for many, the fun can't happen unless they have it all, and then some.

[storysunfolding]

I like the flush look of factory upgrades. That said, all my bikes are so customized that I take pride in it. I welded one of my crash bars on the V-strom back with quarters, jumper cables and a couple batteries (don't tell the US treasury) in case I needed it again on the TransAmerican trail.

I'd much rather have a solid bike that I upgraded to even above the cost of another bike, instead of having those options on a bike with issues that irked me. I could probably fine tune a rough power curve or gear ratios given enough time and money, but why bother.

That and the chicks dig the triumph

[totalmotorcycle]

By 40, I thought that I would be old, on a cruiser or more likely a Beemer. ... My I-Pod comes out as I zoom across the prairies.

What do you mean Cruisers are for the 40+ crowd? haha. Although I have to say that Cruisers do have many more luxuries than the standard sport bike.

I-podding the prairies is a nice idea for the background tunes while traveling through some of the most incredible secenery in Canada.



Mike

[totalmotorcycle]

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.

I would like to try out a sidehack one day myself, I think they are really kinda cool in a different sort of way, plus, you can bring a passenger (or 2 if you have 1 in the sidecar and 1 on the motorcycle passenger seat) in more comfort... I've never rode in a side car before but I bet it's fun.

I rode the 2010 Harley-Davidson Street Glide and it did have a stereo, but I couldn't hear it at all on the highway with the full face helmet on and the wind. I'm sure it works great in the city, but I didn't get its use on the highway.

Mike

[ibswooft]

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.

Windshield-ratchet and sockets
Grips-good pair of gloves
Seat-thermals or extra pair of underwear
Suspension-shock wrench
All of above = an adventure everyday of your life!

[High_Side]

By 40, I thought that I would be old, on a cruiser or more likely a Beemer. ... My I-Pod comes out as I zoom across the prairies.

What do you mean Cruisers are for the 40+ crowd? haha. Although I have to say that Cruisers do have many more luxuries than the standard sport bike.

I-podding the prairies is a nice idea for the background tunes while traveling through some of the most incredible secenery in Canada.



Mike

Did you take that pic? If so, nice work.

[totalmotorcycle]

By 40, I thought that I would be old, on a cruiser or more likely a Beemer. ... My I-Pod comes out as I zoom across the prairies.

What do you mean Cruisers are for the 40+ crowd? haha. Although I have to say that Cruisers do have many more luxuries than the standard sport bike.

I-podding the prairies is a nice idea for the background tunes while traveling through some of the most incredible secenery in Canada.



Mike

Did you take that pic? If so, nice work.

Yup, sure did! I used a Konica SLR (film) that I took with me on my Honda 400.

You take awesome pics too.

Mike

[Grey Thumper]

No to any of them. I like bikes precisely because of their simplicity.

[totalmotorcycle]

What do you think about luxury items like factory Saddlebags or a windscreen added to make a "touring" model vs the same model without them?

Mike

[ibswooft]

My bike came with bags, windshield and cissy bar. First time I have had windshield. I will fight you for it. It's nice to have it, especially in rain and cold temps. I always puts some kind of bag system on a bike with a cissy bar and luggage rack. Have got to put a luggage rack on this bike, just haven't took the time to look for one.