Suzuki is on the way back

Cool ad.
Being the rider, sure rider aids can save your bacon.
Being the racing fan, yeah, the racing sure was alot more exciting when there weren't any rider aids. However there were also alot more really nasty crashes that went along with it.

For street riding, I am in the yay camp. For racing, I am in the nay camp. The electronics often negate the skills we have all worked so hard to sharpen. Levelling the playing field for a newb facing off against veterans.

However, it sure would be neat, on a set of rains, to go out and splash about on a SMW S1000RR in a wet race with ABS and TC on.
 
Suzuki is appealing to the technological luddites out there. ^ omnivore is on the money. The best setup is to have the ABS and traction control available, with an "off" button for the specific situations where you don't want to have it.

In another year or two, Suzuki's hand will be forced, when the EU mandate that all motorcycles >125cc have ABS comes into effect. This has been in the works for some time, and all of the manufacturers have been preparing for it ... even Suzuki. This is why even basic models like Ninja 250/300 and CBR250 have ABS optional, even today, before the directive comes into effect. The latest generation of ABS systems add negligible weight, so that argument is out, and by putting it on high-volume models, the cost can be brought down.
 
Re: Racing driver aids: I've never tracked my bike before, so if you need to have done that to voice an opinion, please skip my post altogether, BUT;

IMHO, driver/rider aids in racing like TC and ABS are welcome additions - they're no more of a technological advancement than the changes to tyres, aero-equipment (specifically in formula, indy & nascar racing series'), and suspension advancements. Yes the way a racer handles the vehicle WILL change and have to adapt to this new, available technology, but this is done every single time a major advancement in race-vehicle technology is made.

Sometimes these driver aids are banned due to making the racing less exciting and/or too technology dependent (for professional racers), and it gets banned, but for the average track-day weekend-warrior, I'd say if it keeps you safer, keep it on. Unless you don't need to go to work on Monday to pay for your racing habit, that is.
 
"500GP winner Simon Crafar talks about his passion for riding and why riding should not be about electronics"

Exactly!
If you haven't got the skill to ride, no electronics will save you.
This is almost as bad as the new cars that park themselves.
 
Guys that could win a GP on a 500 ride at a level most of us will never come remotely close to. TC and ABS is probably good for most mortals.
 
Meh, I'm of the purist attitude that if I screw up my bike will make me pay and I'm fine with that. Makes me be a better rider and also I'm not trying to ride way over more level "hoping" the TC and ABS will bail me out.

And on the track I'm happy with my 600. It doesn't need TC. I've tracked my old '06 1000 and it was much better than I was and sure I could use TC on it but my skills wouldn't improve. Put me on the 600 and I'll get better.
 
In OP video, at 1:13, is that called a power slide ?

Is it different than the ones in Moto GP and Superbike, when they do it just prior to corner ?

edit: nvm, just saw the wheelie after the slide, so it's a power slide and not the Moto GP slide I believe.
 
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That's it!! I've had enough, i'm making my own rap video, apparently you don't need any talent whatsoever.
 
Ugur Dinch said:
In OP video, at 1:13, is that called a power slide ?

Is it different than the ones in Moto GP and Superbike, when they do it just prior to corner ?

edit: nvm, just saw the wheelie after the slide, so it's a power slide and not the Moto GP slide I believe.
Click to expand...

It's called "backin' it in." Sort of a take on drifting with much controversy in the racing world. Some of the pros do it as it feels right (and looks quite cool too). Others will say it slows you down as if you're going sideways, you're not going forwards.
 
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