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[Lightcycle]

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But right now, today, no one is saying "I won't buy a motorcycle, because it doesn't have lane change alerts, and proximity alerts so I guess I won't buy a motorcycle until they have that stuff."

You haven't read GTAM enough then.

Look through the archives, there are some pretty mind-boggling reasons why people strike certain motorcycles off their shopping list...

It's their hard-earned money, they're entirely entitled to spend it the way they want.

 

[Lightcycle]

Not to mention, @Lightcycle pointed out that this crap will entice more people to buy in, apparently. I don't think it works like that. I don't think rider aides and tech grows the market size at all. "I was going to buy a motorcycle, but there wasn't enough technology, so now I won't buy any," said no one, ever. Rider aides and tech just steers certain riders away from the bikes that don't have them, and towards the bikes that do.

Agree to disagree then.

I think tech like eClutch/automatic transmission will definitely bring in new riders who just can't master a clutch and shifting gears. Gyroscopic stabilizers that make it damn near impossible to tip the bike over at a standstill will also pull customers away from CanAm Spyders and trikes/hacks.

At the very least, it will keep geriatric and infirmed riders' bums on seats longer and buying new bikes instead of aging out, which has the same effect as keeping motorcycle companies in business for longer. ADVRider is an old folks home right now, and the number of geezers raving about automatic ride height solving hip and knee problems and automatic trannies for frail hands...

Hm.. would make for an interesting poll on GTAM, seeing how the average age on here is like 98...

But yeah, unfortunately all this R&D and standardization will make the bikes more expensive than they are now.

 

[Dirty Frank]

Autonomous motorcycles would have to be a big pass for me.
I'm not the best passenger with flesh and blood at the controls, relying on sensors and code is too big of a reach for my self preservation instincts.
Some of the driving nannies are well worthwhile but FSD is more than i desire for my ride.

 

[xrljoel]

The only thing my bike needs to help me keep riding in my seventh decade is a dispenser for Tylenol Arthritis.

Agree to disagree then.

I think tech like eClutch/automatic transmission will definitely bring in new riders who just can't master a clutch and shifting gears. Gyroscopic stabilizers that make it damn near impossible to tip the bike over at a standstill will also pull customers away from CanAm Spyders and trikes/hacks.

At the very least, it will keep geriatric and infirmed riders' bums on seats longer and buying new bikes instead of aging out, which has the same effect as keeping motorcycle companies in business for longer. ADVRider is an old folks home right now, and the number of geezers raving about automatic ride height solving hip and knee problems and automatic trannies for frail hands...

Hm.. would make for an interesting poll on GTAM, seeing how the average age on here is like 98...

But yeah, unfortunately all this R&D and standardization will make the bikes more expensive than they are now.

You know what would solve those hip and knee problems for those geezers at ADVRider?

A SHORTER, LIGHTER and NOT TOP HEAVY motorcycle.

What if a company like BMW, KTM, etc. took one of their adv bikes, admitted that they were mostly a styling exercise and dropped the ground clearance and suspension travel negating the need for more expensive technology? Keep the high quality suspension components, but just lower it.

Yes, the forums in which those geezers post would be red hot with their whining and wailing but I wonder if the bikes would sell.

 

[Lightcycle]

You know what would solve those hip and knee problems for those geezers at ADVRider?

A SHORTER, LIGHTER and NOT TOP HEAVY motorcycle.

What if a company like BMW, KTM, etc. took one of their adv bikes, admitted that they were mostly a styling exercise and dropped the ground clearance and suspension travel negating the need for more expensive technology? Keep the high quality suspension components, but just lower it.

Yes, the forums in which those geezers post would be red hot with their whining and wailing but I wonder if the bikes would sell.

The BMW lineup is full of light, beginner/geezer friendly bikes.

The G bikes are mostly all sub-400 lbs, ~31" seat height.

But heaven forbid a neckbeard R185000GS Adventure rider who's ridden nothing but flagship heavyweights his whole life be seen on anything but.

They're like Harley riders. Would a Road King rider ever trade in his hog for a Sportster?

Hell no.

"I have money, so I'm right!"

And BMW supports their delusion by making sure every new iteration of the heavyweight flagship will drop like a WheelTrans bus to let them get on and off, and automatically keep their distance between their bike and the vehicle in front of them without them ever having to touch the clutch, throttle or brake.

It's a license to print money, why would BMW stop now?

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