Best bike related inventions

[Demannu]

In the last 30 years?
Biking has come on so much, but some things are stand head and shoulders above others.
For me, the humble pinlock.
I remember having to rub a cut potato on my visor, which lasted for about an hour, then it was either visor up and be blinded or risk certain death with a foggy visor!

[Mr Moofo]

Days when it doesn't rain..

[JackyJoll]

Cycle sluts.

[weeksy]

Slipper Clutch for me... awesome things.

[Count Steer]

Heated grips
Waterproofs that are actually waterproof
Goretex boots

Winter riding was miserable in the 80s

I had a great waterproof, textile 2-piece suit in the 80s made by Motomod. Commuted daily, rain and shine (in Wales, so mainly rain) all year round. Unfortunately the best I could get for the feet were Derriboots - remember them? Waterproof, but basically wellingtons.

Ignoring the 30 years limit, I'll go with electric starters. (Reliability would be a contender but it's not exactly an invention although only the Japanese seemed to know about it).

[wheelnut]

Heated grips
Waterproofs that are actually waterproof
Goretex boots

Winter riding was miserable in the 80s

Add to that heated clothing, and my new bike has a heated seat - surprising what a difference that makes - talk about getting soft.

Fuel injection over iced up carbs.

[Count Steer]

Ignoring the 30 years limit again I'll add tubeless tyres/wheels. TBH I think the late 70s and 80s were 'the great leap forward'.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Things my 2020 bike has that my 1990 bike doesn't

ABS
Traction Control
Slipper Clutch

All are good, but I believe BMW had a bike with ABS before 1990, and it was hardly a new idea, my 1979 Talbot Sunbeam had ABS on the back brakes.

[dern]

Mobile phone... for when something goes wrong.

[Demannu]

Mobile phone... for when something goes wrong.

Pfffft

s-l400.jpg (34.58 KiB) Viewed 256 times

[Taipan]

ABS

[Skub]

My favourite things.

Pinlock visor inserts.

Heated grips and gear.

Awesome tyres,brakes and suspenders. Even the most basic bikes are miles better than 70s machines.

Lights are generally better,but still not great imo.

A remaining pisstake is how hard it is to buy waterproof gear which stays waterproof for more than a few months. The gear is a lot more spendy and I daresay more protective,but it all still leaks down the line. I don't ride in the rain much,but I've totally given up expecting bike gear to keep out anything more than a light shower.

[Taipan]

I don't even know what a pinlock is, but it looks like I should do!

[Yorick]

ABS

That's a funny one as only really beneficial on crappy city roads where it often rains. I can feel the ABS on mine getting in the way on the road and have to pull a bit harder than on previous models. But it does have a little benefit on the rear as that could lock up sometimes due to lack of feel.

The telling thing is that all racers take it off and many road riders as well.

[Skub]

I don't even know what a pinlock is, but it looks like I should do!

Vid showing the fitting.
https://www.thevisorshop.com/en/gb/Arai ... sqEALw_wcB

[KungFooBob]

[Rockburner]

Heated grips
Waterproofs that are actually waterproof
Goretex boots

Winter riding was miserable in the 80s

I had a great waterproof, textile 2-piece suit in the 80s made by Motomod. Commuted daily, rain and shine (in Wales, so mainly rain) all year round. Unfortunately the best I could get for the feet were Derriboots - remember them? Waterproof, but basically wellingtons.

Ignoring the 30 years limit, I'll go with electric starters. (Reliability would be a contender but it's not exactly an invention although only the Japanese seemed to know about it).

My first pair of "bike-boots" were Derriboots - fecking horrible things.


What's impressed me most in recent years is things like laminated materials for clothing (waterproof, breathable, and don't soak up rain water).

[Count Steer]

ABS

GPS.

[Demannu]

ABS

GPS.

NOOOOOOOOO
I miss the sheet of A4 taped to the tank bag, gradually getting more unreadable the wetter it got!

[Horse]

Waterproofs that are actually waterproof
Goretex boots

Unfortunately the best I could get for the feet were Derriboots - remember them? Waterproof, but basically wellingtons.

My first motorcycle boots were from Lewis Leathers and actually heavy duty pull on cowboy* boots. When polished and dubbined they were waterproof.

* A pedant notes: I learnt many years later that cowboy boots have higher heels, for grip in stirrups, so what I had were 'ropers'.

Later, I moved onto MX boots. Then Daytona touring boots. Ridiculously expensive (at the time) but waterproof and comfortable.