New Goldwing.......

[MAD6Gun]

 The local Honda dealer Ehlerdings was having a open house. Test rides on the new Goldwings. I rode a six speed yesterday. All the bells and whistles like a new car. Even though it was a short ride I was impressed. Good handling,great brakes and tons of power. They sure are not lacking power.

 Today I went back and rode the new automatic 7 speed. That is wierd especially when you come to a stop and grab for a clutch lever that isn't there. Shifting was smooth and fast. You can pick several different modes.  Like tour,rain and sport. Sport mode makes the shift points higher. I jumped on it coming on a long straight away. Wow I had 90 in no time. Anyway. The rides were fairly short but was very cool. I would consider one if I had unlimited funds as a second bike.

[old2soon]

      I stood right next to one earlier in the year at the Honda Dealer in Rolla Mo. The Most they'd let me do was throw a leg over-which I declined cuz they weren't offering test rides!  Do you believe you would have nuff room on it fer the long haul-15-1800 miles in 3 days? The one I looked at was artic white and to me anywho That color did Not seem "right" on that scooter.
      Yesterday I stopped at the Honda Dealer in West Plains Mo.-when I need parts This is where I go-and just inside the main entrance to the right was an 18 Can Am in ruby red. The Finish on the paint job was as Good as Anything Honda or H/D have ever put out. I DID throw a leg over the C A and Everything fit rather nicely. Sales mgr I know said takes bout a minute to open the doors and git er outside!  Pointed to my cage and said I don't use my helmet in That!  Even IF I had the coinage available-30 G for a Can Am? RIDE SAFE.

[Reb]

If you think the new wing has loads of power, try out the BMW K1600B

[hubcapsc]

If you think the new wing has loads of power, try out the BMW K1600B

Or a Motus... holy cow!



-Mike

[RDKLL]

The Motus brings a lot to the table. I like that they get the best parts from the best suppliers
"Öhlins NIX forks, Brembo brakes, Galfer braided lines, wave rotors and Braking master cylinders, Akrapovic titanium mufflers, Sargent seat, HeliBars, OZ Racing forged aluminum rims"

But I would not seriously consider any new bike that does not have lean sensitive traction control and ABS...

But being made in the USA with a GM drivetrain...cool as hell!

[Rams]

But I would not seriously consider any new bike that does not have lean sensitive traction control and ABS...

Really???

Admittedly, never ridden a bike with lean sensitive traction control (if I have, I wasn't aware of it) but have ridden several bikes with ABS.    Was not impressed with ABS but, to each their own.   

Just as soon as my lottery numbers hit, I'll have one or more of those Motus bikes.    Yeah, not holding my breath on that either. 

Rams

[RDKLL]

Really???

Admittedly, never ridden a bike with lean sensitive traction control (if I have, I wasn't aware of it) but have ridden several bikes with ABS.    Was not impressed with ABS but, to each their own.

Not sure what bike you rode, but the MTC and ABS on the KTM is almost seamless when it intervenes. It will NOT keep you from crashing if you do something stupid.
Demonstration of ABS and MTC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5S5Syeqa0

[Beardo]

But I would not seriously consider any new bike that does not have lean sensitive traction control and ABS...

Really???

Admittedly, never ridden a bike with lean sensitive traction control (if I have, I wasn't aware of it) but have ridden several bikes with ABS.    Was not impressed with ABS but, to each their own.  

Just as soon as my lottery numbers hit, I'll have one or more of those Motus bikes.    Yeah, not holding my breath on that either.  

Rams

As you said, to each their own...but I specifically bought the base Wing and upgraded with the rear box, centre stand, etc because then I could avoid traction control. For the same reason, I’m still driving an 07 Toyota Tacoma...one of the last trucks without traction control. Don’t know what I’m going to get when it wears out...everything has TC now and I hate it, especially on trucks.

I can maybe understand wanting it for a serious sport bike for track days or a canyon carver. But on a 850 lb bike...I don’t see it as needed.  Without traction control, my limits aren’t set by my traction, but rather the speed limits, traffic and the size of my own cojones...and kidney punches from my wife.

[RDKLL]

Without traction control, my limits aren’t set by my traction, but rather the speed limits, traffic and the size of my own cojones.

Whatever limits you are operating within, there are situations where the ABS and traction control might save your bacon...or might not. A stupid decision will result in injury or death. I dont think it is mandatory yet, but it is probably coming down the pike.
The early systems, both on cars and on motorcycles could both be outperformed by racers but the sophistication has increased to the point that it is almost imperceptible when either the ABS or traction control are activated. On the KTM when the traction control has intervened, the TC light blinks.
When I jump on the Valk, it is like a dinosaur...a really cool dinosaur...that is a great bike but not my daily...
An article about the first impressions of a MSC (motorcycle stability control system) on a Ducati
http://www.ridinginthezone.com/truths-about-electronic-stability-control/

[Beardo]

I think I’d be ok with TC if they allowed you to turn it COMPLETELY off when you want.  In trucks, often you can turn off the TC but you can’t turn off the stability control, which will still kick in and cause you to get stuck.

I still can’t overcome the urge to intentionally roast the rear tire from a stop on wet (or sometimes on dry) pavement and I don’t want my bike saying no, I won’t let you do that.  .

As the sensor quality, sampling rates and computing speeds increase, it gets better and better, I’ll admit. The first iterations of ABS were awful and sometimes scary...trying to stop on washboard gravel...and it keeps releasing the brakes to get traction, meanwhile you’re blowing through a stop sign...that doesn’t happen so much with the newer ABS with better technology. I suppose the new TC can be made more seamless as well.

[RDKLL]

I think I’d be ok with TC if they allowed you to turn it COMPLETELY off when you want.  

They all allow you to turn the ABS and traction control off. My buddy has a '17 CBR 1000 RR that has something like 10 levels of traction control depending on track conditions