Was this as good as motorcycle accessories would get?
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Tuesday, November 22nd, 2005 at 5:30pm by rhino
While many excellent technologies have made their way onto modern motorcycles like fuel-injection, fully adjustable suspension, liquid cooling; some of the most simple, effective and useful technologies seem to be continually overlooked by the manufacturers. And it's starting to piss me off!
I've purchased a new bike almost every year for the last 10 years. As soon as I buy a new bike; invariably, I have to start adjusting things and buying things just to make the bike "rideable" and in some case serious engineering and fabrication just to get what I consider reasonable functionality. While I appreciate the many features and technological advances on the latest crop of two-wheelers, some incredibly useful and simple items have remained AWOL. We're talking clocks and fuel gauges people, not rocket science. The car guys get this stuff on even the cheapest models but we're continually neglected.
Was this as good as motorcycle accessories would get? |
The idea that bikes were going to continually get useful features first occurred to me when I bought my first new bike. In addition to all the performance techno-wizardry on my '81 Suzuki GS1100E, it also came with a fuel gauge, front running lights and self-canceling turn signals! These were the latest and some of the most useful items I'd ever seen on a motorcycle. You'd think in 25 years, not only would we have all these features as standard on every motorcycle, but a lot more to boot. These type of features make riding a motorcycle more convenient, enjoyable and even safer, but it's rare to find more than a token offering of any of these type of features on any model, especially sportbikes! (A golf clap to BMW for doing the best job so far but still coming up short and at way too premium of a price)
You can argue weight saving, simplicity or cost, but the numbers just aren't that significant. At the very least these should be offered as options like the auto makers do. Many of these systems can't even be implemented using the aftermarket or without an extreme engineering fabrication makeover. If bikes were engineered with optional features as plug and play, with available connectors and pre-drilled holes from the manufacturer, this could open up a whole new marketing approach. Kinda like the way the cruiser boys get a plethora of chrome and performance mods for their scoots.
Here are my lists (feel free to comment on any other items you'd like to see either installed or at least offered by the OEMs). Many of these items are a result of my own first hand experience, some are things offered by auto makers that would apply to bikes and some are just good ideas. While I realize many of these things already exist, they should be included or at least offered on every model by the manufacturer.
1) Fuel Gauge (not a blinking light) - I want more than an indication I'm nearing the bottom of the tank. We all know that how hard you twist the throttle makes a significant difference in MPG. A gauge can give a more practical indication of usage rate, rather than just a line in the sand. In fact, with current fuel injection systems, fuel use can be monitored in real time and compared with speed to give instantaneous MPG.
2) Reserve Fuel Switch - It's nice to have a warning you're getting toward the bottom, even if you have a gauge. It can give you that nice "kick in the ass" reminder that you better consider adding a gas station to your priority list in the near future without stranding you. With the addition of the fuel pumps and fuel injection, petcocks have become an endangered species. Besides, it also a good way to turn fuel off to work on the tank, for storage, or for transport.
3) Running Lights (front and rear) - My personal experience is that these lights make us much more conspicuous both during the day and at night. It also helps cagers figure out your overall dimensions and act accordingly. A select few bikes I've owned have had front running lights, but NONE have had rears. I bet rear running lights would not only make you more noticeable but would reduce rear-end collisions. And all it takes is an extra wire and dual filament bulbs in the 4 directional indicators.
4) Integrating Turn Signals into Rearview Mirrors - Why have 4 protrusions sticking out the front of your bike when 2 will work as well! Besides, the mirrors are up higher and spaced wider, again for increased conspicuity. The idea of multiple uses for the same component has been around for a long time, it's time for a renaissance. And, it's one less hole in your side fairings.
Helpful hint for rearview mirrors: even on bikes with good rearview mirrors, at least the inside 1/3 of your viewable area displays mostly your own shoulder. Occupy this useless space with a blind spot eliminating convex stick-on mirror from the auto parts store (I'm partial to the rectangular ones myself). I still do my head turns, but it's a great way to keep an eye on the movement around you without looking like an owl all the time.
Another helpful hint for rearview mirrors: on many bikes the rearview mirrors are practically useless. A great alternative is bar-end mirrors which typically mount into the ends of your handle bars like the bar-end weights. The beauty of these babies (only if you buy real mirrors and not the dental-sized bling) is not only will you see everything behind you, but they quell handlebar/clip-on vibration even better than the weights (more mass ya know).
Geez, I almost forgot to mention self-cancelling turn signals!!! The system on my '81 Suzuki GS1100 worked great! It incorporated a timer and a speed sensor to determine when to turn them off, very simple. I don't forget to manually cancel my signals often, but when I do, this redundancy check guarantees I don't get caught giving a false impression.
5) Centerstand - I like to be able to adjust and lube my chain as well as remove my own wheels when my baby needs a new pair of shoes. I prefer to take advantage of the "wheels off bike" tire change prices. In lieu of that, because I understand that a centerstand on a sportbike can cause weight and ground clearance issues, how about at least installing stand spools from the factory and handing me an inexpensive (but durable) rear stand on the way out the door. This would definitely get my attention and most likely future business.
6) Passing Light/High Beam Trigger - These are starting to show up much more frequently thanks to our European counterparts. Since my left index finger is already in the neighborhood, covering the clutch, it's a simple move left and squeeze to communicate to those left lane dawdlers that it's time to wake up and move right except to pass.
7) Rear Mud/Splash Guard - Yeah, I know we already have these as well as huggers, but something that stops the spray where it starts, just off the surface at the rear wheel at the very back. At this location, the "guard" can be made smaller, placed lower and made lighter rather than dealing with the water once it's spraying all over the back of the bike. And in the process, by eliminating that aesthetically awkward black dingleberry hanging off the tail section, new design lines could be tried. I believe BMW put one of these on their GS model but I think it's disappeared. Shame.
8) Rigid Hydraulic Lines - I don't care if they are stainless steel, Kevlar, or whatever material, just stop using those crappy rubber lines. The improved "feel" of the brakes using the more rigid materials is significant, and even if it's not actually more powerful, confidence counts. The additional expense of basically changing the line material can't be that significant, especially with production numbers of the top manufacturers. It's a sin for a motorcycle that costs more than 10 Grand to have rubber lines. And while I'm thinking about it, what's with all the crossovers and junctions? Two simple lines from the master cylinder to the calipers, period! And while you're at it, put a bleeder at all the master cylinder(s), bubbles rise.
9) Adjustable Controls - Yeah, some controls on some bikes are adjustable, but virtually every control on every bike should be. The goal here is comfort and confidence. We aren't all the same size whether it's hands or feet or torso length. Even your preferred posture while riding can require alteration for optimal positioning of the controls. But while you can vary engagement point, rotational position can be severely limited. Between pins that fix position or contact with other components, typically there are only a few degrees of rotation available. Carpel tunnel syndrome, or just wrist ache in general could be minimized with a reasonable amount of adjustability built in from the factory. Being able to reach the controls quickly and accurately in an emergency can make the difference between a close call and a trip to the hospital.
10) Glove Box/Storage Compartment - Most bikes have a location up around the instruments where a lockable storage compartment could be available for ready access to things like wallets, cell phones, registration, proof of insurance, earplugs, comb, change, house keys. you get the idea. Not big, just convenient, and lockable!
11) Actual Wind Protection - Styling is king, so comfort suffers. If you only ride a couple miles at moderate speeds to get to the coffee shop, you probably don't care, but if you commute, tour, sport ride or race, keeping the wind at bay can make a big difference to both your comfort and performance. The wind screens on modern sport bikes are a joke, barely able to keep the breeze off your belly button. And those "cool" flip-lips cause tons of turbulent air to pound your head like Mr. Tyson using you as a sparring partner.
12) Adjustable Steering Lock - I almost always change the bar position on any new motorcycle I buy , usually buying new bars or risers (hey, I'm not 20 years old anymore). Whenever I do this, I almost always have some type of interference with the gas tank. The last thing I need is a scratch or dent in my tank or pinched fingers during U-turns or other parking lot ballet. It usually only takes a few degrees of limitation at the steering stops to cure this but I've had to do all kinds of "engineering" to implement a reliable solution. How about some type of adjustability on the steering stops? Yes, it does limit my turning radius, but not substantially.
13) Park Reposition - Most bikes have a Park position on the ignition switch. This allows you to keep the taillight on and the steering locked in a situation where you may have to leave the bike by the side of the road if, let's say, you breakdown or run out of gas. It's rarely used feature, but most bikes have this position just beyond (counter-clockwise) the steering lock position. It's far too easy to accidentally turn the key to this position when you park and lock the bike normally. The issue is a drained battery if you accidentally do this and walk away from the bike without glancing back and noticing the stoplight glowing. During daylight hours, even the glance doesn't always reveal the situation. I recommend putting this Park position on the other side of (clockwise) the On position. This would eliminate this potentially common occurrence. I remember owning a bike that had this recommended layout and I was enamored with what an elegant solution it was.
14) Clock - Enough said, no bike should come without a clock, standard.
15) Ambient Temperature Gauge - With fuel injection becoming the standard instead of rare unobtainum technology, there's no good reason not to display this simple information. FI systems need to monitor ambient temperature to adjust fuel ratio. I want to know how hot, cold or "just right" it is outside.
16) Comfortable Seat - Year after year, decade after decade, motorcycles come standard with crap seats. Yeah, they look good, but I actually sit on mine and sometimes for extended periods of time. I've replaced almost every stock seat I've ever owned in an effort to get some degree of comfort. I know there are plenty of good aftermarket seats but when I shell out 10 large or more, I expect something that makes my butt feel good, even after 300+ miles. I know it's a personal preference thing but I think designers are more concerned with "line" than comfort.
17) Serious Headlights - What's with this one headlight trend? If I have two headlights, they should both work on low or high beam. With two dual-filament bulbs, if one burns out, you still have one to get you home. Besides, more light is safer and more enjoyable. I've even installed accessory "driving lights" on a few of my scoots and been amazed by the difference, especially being able to see the sides of the road! I'm also tired of people telling me one of my headlights is burned out and I'm sure more than one motorcyclist has been pulled by Johnny Law because of his supposed equipment violation. Hopefully, LED technology will make burned out bulbs a thing of the past, but in the meantime, let's start shedding some real light on the subject.
18) A Real Horn - This item borders on ridiculous and has since the very first two-wheelers came off assembly lines. I'm sorry, but when I need attention, I need to be heard clearly, I need to be heard now and I need to be heard at a distance. I need a horn that'll penetrate the stereo, conversation, cell phone and attention deprived passenger environment of a car with the windows rolled up. I think my life is more important than 50 Cent's latest contribution to low frequency noise pollution. Current autos have such soundproofed interiors that the average motorcycle horn barely makes an audible dent in the background noise.
19) Hydraulic Brake Light Switches - Ever since I used these devices to make my KTM "dirt bike" street legal, I couldn't help but wonder why using two separate device to actuate the brake and signal the actuation made sense? These are installed in place of the banjo bolts that are normally used at the master cylinders. Anyone who has ever change their brake pedal position, has had to readjust the switch engagement also to maintain the same brake light response. Oh, you say you forgot to do that? Well, my friend, your rear brake may not be light your stop lamp at all! Talk about dangerous! Not only would it save weight but it's one less mechanism to malfunction. See "Integrating Turn Signals into Rearview Mirrors" as another example of multiple uses for the same part.
20) Frame Sliders/Crash Protection - Some of the larger and more expensive touring rigs get bodywork that's made to take the hit in a low-speed tip over without having to replace entire body panels. And, it can also keep more critical items (levers and cases) from being damaged, that can lead to becoming stranded from a simple parking lot mishap. The crash guards I installed on my Bandit allowed me to continue riding after a fall on black ice with only a few choice four letter words. It can't be that hard to incorporate something similar on every machine.
21) Oil Temperature Gauge - While virtually all liquid cooled bikes have a water temperature gauge, which is a good indication of how the internal engine temperatures are doing, some motors still aren't liquid cooled. I want to know if my engine internals are baking in August in stop&go traffic. Then I could decide if I need to pull over and let my steel partner cool down a bit before I continue. At the very least it is a good way to monitor the health of your engine and the potential need for maintenance.
22) Gear Indicator - I'm tired of hunting for that one extra upshift all the time. Yeah, I should count gears, but I don't. I bet most of you don't either. This feature appears on various bikes in a seemingly random model or year occurrence. It's time for this to be standard on all machines.
Well there you have it, my "required list". Yeah, It's pretty long, but I feel these things have been neglected far too long with no reprieve on the horizon. In another installment I will list my ideas for "would be nice" and "luxury" items.
But it's just my opinion,
Rhino
