Apps? Don't need no stinkin' Apps

[solo1]

                                                      Got an App for That

I'm beginning to see things happen in the motorcycle world just as they happened in the automotive world.

Antilock brakes, anti skid, anti collision, anti flattening back up cameras , you name it, the automotive makers are trying to stay ahead of the idiots who drive.  I would imagine that soon you will be able to say the words when texting while driving thus keeping your hands and eyes on the road.  Yeah, I know it's already in smart phones but the auto makers will have to build that in so the cars will sell.

Now it's jumping over to motorcycles.  Anti lock, antiskid, a slipping clutch for those who haven't got the hang of proper downshifting. Air bags.............. wait that's already been tried by Honda with the GW.   I've heard that BMW reliability isn't all that great because of the latest electronic aids for newly arrived riders.   Are we in the middle of “we are doing it because we can” or are the new breed of riders quite similar to our 'haven't got a clue' cage drivers?

'Way back in 06 when I started riding we had to actually kick start the motor,  hope that the battery would stay charged, and that we could stop just short of obstacles with the anchor full out!  Our arse didn't get coddled much especially if the bike was a hard tail.  Sometimes we didn't need to change the oil, just add, being careful not to step on the droppings much like the original, the horse.

Today, we all know that the Valkyrie was much improved.  However, it didn't have all the latest goodies, didn't coddle our arses too much but gave much in return.  No antilock, noantiskid, no nuttin. , just the ability for us to enjoy the wind, and gain experience in the proper riding of a motorcycle.  As we all know, it takes more thought to properly ride than it does to drive todays cars,

One of my cars, a Mazda Six, although it doesn't have the latest in cameras, etc, it does hve anti lock brakes, traction control, etc.  By the way, it does have one important feature.  I CAN turn the traction control OFF.  Try spinning your wheels in snow and see where 'traction control' gets you............nowhere.

My other car, a Mazda Miata, which has taken the place of the Valkyrie and the Vstrom.is a throwback.  No anti lock, no anti skid, no camera, no collision avoidance, no blue tooth, no GPS,  just cruise control (Now THAT is worthwhile.)  No automatic anything.

It does have a manual six speed, it does have great brakes, it does have great handling, it does have adequate acceleration ( adequate meaning just past leisurely)but the advantage is that it keeps me out of trouble. Power top? Nah, manual only.   Does it have “In the Wind?”  Oh YEAH!.

In short, it lets me decide how I want to drive, sorta like the Valkyrie's  “What can I do for you” sorta.
At the end of the driving day, I pat the hood, the substitute for the gas tank.

Now I know some of you might disagree with my comments, Go for it. I'm just throwing this out and you can do the same. Just a comment with all the English mistakes spelling, etc. and assorted crap.

Written with 'tongue in cheek' and arse firmly planted in the bucket seat of my Miata.   A simple App and I like it.

Wayne, Solo1

[John Schmidt]

Agreed....totally. 

[Gavin_Sons]

Newcars already have that talk to text feature wayne.  our new family van has it. I dont have to touch anything if I don't want, just say a command like volume down and the radio will volume down. I'm a button pusher, I like to push buttons just to see what happens.  do not ever put me in a room with a single button thats says do not push.  It will be pushed in less than 5 minutes 

[Jess from VA]

I want the app where when I activate it, the cell phone on the drivers ear or being texted with next to me in traffic explodes.  (a small explosion would be OK)

[Serk]

I like the option of having "smart" assistance when I'm driving because I have to get somewhere, as long as I can turn it off and enjoy the pure essences of operating the machine when I'm operating it because I want to.

My biggest fear is that as our vehicles get smarter at smarter, before long our benevolent masters will decree that the cars are better drivers than we are, and thus for our own good we must give up our operator status and just become passengers in our own vehicles.

...for the children...

[Willow]

I'm all for technology assisting other drivers with the difficult and increasingly numerous tasks of driving today.  If we were really completely against such things wouldn't we all be riding horses or driving wagons pulled by the beasts?

That said, I don't particularly want or need a lot of it for myself.  I drive an old pickup with a manual transmission and lights that must be turned off after every use.  Honestly, maybe I do need some of the technology but I'm too cheap to buy it.  I'm happy to have my ass in or on the old tech vehicles for now.  

[The emperor has no clothes]

I like the option of having "smart" assistance when I'm driving because I have to get somewhere, as long as I can turn it off and enjoy the pure essences of operating the machine when I'm operating it because I want to.

My biggest fear is that as our vehicles get smarter at smarter, before long our benevolent masters will decree that the cars are better drivers than we are, and thus for our own good we must give up our operator status and just become passengers in our own vehicles.

...for the children...

I was just watching a program last night where Google is testing driverless cars in Chandler AZ.

[old2soon]

First semi I drove had no power steering and a direct link from my foot to the injector pump via the throttle rod. Used to carry a spare throttle return spring ALWAYS. Late 80s? things started to become electronic. The last truck I drove was an 08 International with a Cummins diesel. The throttle under my foot was now computer operated. You could mash it to the floor-the throttle-and the computer would determine EXACTLY how much of the available horsepower and torque I could use. The power and torque use was NOT completely at my control. On slick icy roads when I used the brakes another computer could figure out if the tire was sliding and pull back some air pressure from the sliding wheel-MUCH MUCH faster and way more efficiently than ANY human ever could. My years of experience learning to finess the brakes in bad weather were taken over by a black box. This reliance on computers actually running the machine to a point MIGHT MAYBE be the reason WHY so many piss poor drivers are out there in the first place. Oh well YEAH I'm goin way too efin fast BUT the car has a collision avoidance computer so we are good!  Good post Wayne!  RIDE SAFE.

[Jess from VA]

You will never see me sitting in a driverless (computer operated) car.  

Just being the passenger with another human driver is scary enough for me.  It's not that I'm phobic about it or anything, but since 16 I've always had my own car and am always the driver wherever I go (with rare exceptions).  So I get easily nervous in the passenger seat.  

I think the last time I was a passenger was when John Schmidt drove us to lunch at the Ashville Inzane.   He's a good driver and I wasn't scared at all (and it was 25 all the way  LOL).  Most of the other times, the wife was driving, and, well............... there you go.

I suppose ships, planes and trains all have auto pilots of one sort or another already, but they still all have drivers.  And there's a heck of a lot less traffic at sea, in the air and on RR tracks.

No....... cruise control is the most control I ever want to give abandon to the car's judgment about driving the car.  

The next goofy thing they'll propose is a handgun that knows you're it's owner and will only allow you to shoot it.... if you've been nice to it.  Not to worry, for those who die when it won't shoot at all, they'll replace the gun.  Probably same deal with the driverless cars.

On the other hand, if the whole thing worked to perfection, we could do away entirely with collision and liability auto insurance coverage, right?  Just need fire and theft.     

[da prez]

Jess , they already have a smart gun with a computer chip that will only fire for who it was programed for.

 Gavin , I worked for Ryder Truck rental and in a Chicago shop,there was a pull chain hanging in the shop with a note , do not pull. Someone would pull and out of sight was a tugboat style air horn pointing downward. I bet there were a few wet panties there.

 Texting , a disabling device should be installed so it will not work in the drivers seat.


               da.prez

[Serk]

This is available on consumer cars from Tesla right now, driving among us:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yCAZWdqX_Y

The new update even has a mode where you can have the car open your garage door, park itself, and close the garage door on it's own, with no one in it. Then you hit a button on the keyfob and the car will open the garage door, back out of the garage and be out and ready for you to get in...

And this isn't sci-fi, these are available today. (Way out of my price range, but they're out there...)

[msb]

Great topic!!  One reason I still ride the Valkyrie (there are so many) as my only ride and haven't purchased a newer bike is because it is still just a motorcycle, without a bunch of technological doodads.   Same as my wife's Summer car, a '92 Miata... just 4 wheels, stick shift, rear wheel drive and a manual top.... she gets to do and feel everything when driving it.
On the other hand, my everyday and work vehicle , a Jeep Wrangler, has all the doodads...Bluetooth speech text, heated seats, auto lights, etc - and I do enjoy having and using all of these features. So basically, I'm all for technology for everyday driving, but for my lifelong passion of motorcycling or if one owns a sports or classic car for pure driving pleasure, the simpler the better as far as I'm concerned, in order to feel and experience all the bumps, wind, noises, etc. I agree.... the only "App" we  require for  the Valkyrie or the wife's Miata is a seat to sit on\in and the key

[old2soon]

As I understand it most of the newer/new motorcycles have an interlocked brake system. One pedal or one lever actuates both brakes. There are times I ONLY want to feather the front or the rear brake. Do NOT want both brakes actuated. BUT maybe the newbies don't wanna take the time to learn HOW to finess the brakes. Course I've heard young and old "riders" tell me the front brakes will flip ya if you use them!  RIDE SAFE.

[solo1]

Great topic!!  One reason I still ride the Valkyrie (there are so many) as my only ride and haven't purchased a newer bike is because it is still just a motorcycle, without a bunch of technological doodads.   Same as my wife's Summer car, a '92 Miata... just 4 wheels, stick shift, rear wheel drive and a manual top.... she gets to do and feel everything when driving it.
On the other hand, my everyday and work vehicle , a Jeep Wrangler, has all the doodads...Bluetooth speech text, heated seats, auto lights, etc - and I do enjoy having and using all of these features. So basically, I'm all for technology for everyday driving, but for my lifelong passion of motorcycling or if one owns a sports or classic car for pure driving pleasure, the simpler the better as far as I'm concerned, in order to feel and experience all the bumps, wind, noises, etc. I agree.... the only "App" we  require for  the Valkyrie or the wife's Miata is a seat to sit on\in and the key

I agree, 100%

[Robert]

Wayne as you know the cars today have become increasingly technical. Today most new cars have no direct link to the gas some none to the brake and the steering. Not to mention headlights, turn signals and most other driver controlled inputs. But what is not talked about is the cost of repair and what it takes to keep these electrical monsters alive. I don't like driving when I have to be granted permission to do what I want by a computer. Sometimes fixing them is a nightmare the engineers need to drive and repair a car that has been driven on the roads for a few years. Then I think we would actually see some really livable cars and mods.

 Most only see the creature comforts of the modern car and dont get to look at the 6 to 36 computers that run one car. Most dont understand where this technology is taking us or the true cost of not being attentive on the road. shame really since driving is most times actually fun.

[solo1]

Robert, I know only too well how complicated present day cars are.

I've listened to Mark tell me of some of the things that went wrong that he had to troubleshoot.  Believe me, my hat is off to ALL of todays techs, they really have to know what they're doing.

All the more reason why I'm so flabbergasted* by my son losing his job because of a two bit general manager with a 'little man's syndrome" who fired my son!  I could use a different word instead of flabbergasted but Willow wouldn't allow it. 

The above GM reminds me of the sales manager in the movie "Fargo"  Not very bright, dishonest,  and disingenuous as well.

* Flabbergasted.  I know what it means, look it up yourself .

[PAVALKER]

                                                     Got an App for That

.......

'Way back in 06 when I started riding we had to actually kick start the motor,  hope that the battery would stay charged, and that we could stop just short of obstacles with the anchor full out!  Our arse didn't get coddled much especially if the bike was a hard tail.  Sometimes we didn't need to change the oil, just add, being careful not to step on the droppings much like the original, the horse.
.......

Wayne, Solo1

Wayne.....I know you are just a little older than I am, but how old were you when you first started riding in 1906??  In 2006 there was hardly a bike available without elec start.   

[BradValk48237]

I agree that I want my ride to be simple.. still be able to work on it... to a point...

As even our Valks and your Miata still have ECM's, Electronic ignition, miles of wire and hidden CPU/control units/sensors that if they go bad  (like the one that says the car is in gear and won't let it restart...etc).. the ride becomes a big lump of movable metal...


But even though someone texting while driving is dangerous, it can't be as bad as me (or any of you navigators/leaders) trying to recalculate a route on the fly with a paper map...... especially when you just rode past the folded edge and try to unfold/refold it with one hand to see the next part of the map to see the next road/exit to get to the next twisty happy road.... or both hands if the throttle lock is used, .... Yes, I have done it a few times...

I refuse to use GPS as it takes all the fun out of it..LOL

B

[solo1]

Pavalker, I should've said aught six instead of 06., meaning "Oh crap! here we go again",an old fart braggin' about his experience. "  The joke was on me.

As you know, I started riding in 1947 and there were no electric starters on any of my bikes then.

[solo1]

BradValk, thank you, no wonder I couldn't find the points and condenser to change. Hell, i couldn't even find the distributor!

I still haven't figured out the little black box on the dash that comes alive when the engine is running.  It displays all kinds of numbers and abbreviations on it like MPG, CLSD LP. OPEN LP, FIA,FWT,IGN,LOD,MAP, etc.

It's called a SCANGAUGE and tells me what the computer is doing.  Yes, i do appreciate computer control.

However, in my post, I should've mentioned carbs, tube tires, 6 volt batteries, vacuum operated windshield wipers, Crank windows, vibrator voltage generated tube radios, etc.

I guess that I didn't draw a fine enough bead.

[BradValk48237]

Solo,

I am just old enough that some of my first cars still had a distributer and learned about that if you take the rotor out of your buddy car he will have a hell of a time figuring it out....

I for one do not miss a car with an old fashioned carburetor as when I was a kid , my Dad had "remote starters' on all his cars/trucks.. that is as soon as one of us boys was big enough to reach the pedals, we had to go out in the morning to warm up the car for him to go to work... especially in the winter...

Will never forget to "Pump the gas pedal to the floor ONLY 2 times" to set the choke and the turn the key....  I think he had super hearing because he always seemed to know if I hit it 3 times or more...

And NEVER turn the heater blower all the way up on high 'cause "You'll burn the damn thing out!"..

And a hundred other car "facts"......

B

[solo1]

B

Yep, you're right!   The advent of fuel injection and computers have made a big difference!  That's why I appreciate the Miata so much.  A straight shift car that you can turn the key and just go without all the 'in between'

Come to think about it, that was why I enjoyed the fuel injected Vstrom so much too, just turn the key and go!

Thanks for reminding me.