Uncle Tony on Old Sportsters

[Jeff Higgins]

I love this guy (mainly because he's a MOPAR guy). He is one of the (way too many) YouTube car channels, but he is one of the few that actually seems to "get it". Very down to earth.

Well, he's into bikes as well. Here is his take on old Sportsters specifically, and the march of technology in general. Personally, I think that while we have gained a great deal along the way, we've lost something as well. Uncle Tony seems to agree.

[pwd72s]

I've never had a road bike, but enjoyed the video... So, did Michael Parks know who to start his Sportster in the TV series?

[herr_oberst]

Human nature. We can't stop trying to make things better.

We gradually make improvements to things we're passionate about; passionate people pick up the mantle and follow the tracks we've laid and gradually refine the refinements; on and on until we look up and have no recognition of the thing in front of us.

Then comes the self-reflection and nostalgia.

Lather rinse repeat.

We need the Uncle Tonys of the world.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Human nature. We can't stop trying to make things better.

We gradually make improvements to things we're passionate about; passionate people pick up the mantle and follow the tracks we've laid and gradually refine the refinements; on and on until we look up and have no recognition of the thing in front of us.

Then comes the self-reflection and nostalgia.

Lather rinse repeat.

We need the Uncle Tonys of the world.

Let me ask, is it a good idea to equip new motorcycles with anti lock brakes? I understand that more than half already have them. A disabling feature might be an option but IDT that would be an option on a normal car.

[varmint]

They’ve figured a way to charge more for the non abs bikes.

[Jeff Higgins]

It's my understanding that most (if not all) new street bikes come with anti-lock braking. The last new bike I bought was my 2013 Road King, and it was an option on that bike. So was cruise control. I chose neither.

Actually, I believe most have several rider selectable "ride modes", up to seven or eight of them. The greatest level of intervention is usually labeled "rain", with decreasing levels of intervention all the way to everything turned completely off.

These "ride modes" control not only anti-lock, but traction control, wheelie control, and engine output. The bike has various sensors, including things like lean angle sensors, to tell itself how much braking or power it can accept from the rider's inputs. Some of our 180+ hp liter bikes will cut power all the way down to maybe 110 hp in "rain" mode.

One of the guys who helped spec out and build my Ducati many years ago used to own Ducati of Seattle, and now owns Seattle Used Bike, an independent that, unsurprisingly, kind of leans towards Ducati. He tells me that since the Panigale generation of V-4 and V-Twins came out, with their rider selectable "ride modes", he has yet to see a single one of them come in for service that was set on anything but "rain".

His put was that these bikes are so far beyond the average riders' abilities that most are terrified the first time they "crank it up a bit" in the "ride modes". Most mere mortals, beyond a Michael Dunlop or Peter Hickman have no business even trying.

[MMARSH]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

It's my understanding that most (if not all) new street bikes come with anti-lock braking. The last new bike I bought was my 2013 Road King, and it was an option on that bike. So was cruise control. I chose neither.

Actually, I believe most have several rider selectable "ride modes", up to seven or eight of them. The greatest level of intervention is usually labeled "rain", with decreasing levels of intervention all the way to everything turned completely off.

These "ride modes" control not only anti-lock, but traction control, wheelie control, and engine output. The bike has various sensors, including things like lean angle sensors, to tell itself how much braking or power it can accept from the rider's inputs. Some of our 180+ hp liter bikes will cut power all the way down to maybe 110 hp in "rain" mode.

One of the guys who helped spec out and build my Ducati many years ago used to own Ducati of Seattle, and now owns Seattle Used Bike, an independent that, unsurprisingly, kind of leans towards Ducati. He tells me that since the Panigale generation of V-4 and V-Twins came out, with their rider selectable "ride modes", he has yet to see a single one of them come in for service that was set on anything but "rain".

His put was that these bikes are so far beyond the average riders' abilities that most are terrified the first time they "crank it up a bit" in the "ride modes". Most mere mortals, beyond a Michael Dunlop or Peter Hickman have no business even trying.

Rain mode is super restrictive and is also tied into the lean angle. Actually all the modes are tied into lean angle. The other modes also change also the amount of abs intervention

Years ago I learned on my track bike that unless the TC light was flashing for mercy, I was not giving it enough throttle coming out of a corner. The Superbike school had a lot less crashes when the bikes started having ABS and traction control and all the other rider aids.

On my my Adventure bikes they both have off road modes which keeps ABS on the front wheel, but allows you to lock the rear wheel and programable levels of TC that I can change on the fly.

Personally I wouldn't buy a new bike without ABS.

[Jeff Higgins]

Thanks, Michael. You're way more up to speed and knowledgable on new bikes than I am. I much prefer the older stuff. Suits both my riding style and skill level much better. My 900 Super Sport is as "fast" of a motorcycle as I'm comfortable with, or have any business riding.

[dennis in se pa]

Antilock brakes, stability management? You’re on a motorcycle WTF?

[MMARSH]

Originally Posted by dennis in se pa

Antilock brakes, stability management? You’re on a motorcycle WTF?

And your point.