Innovation
- Count Steer
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Innovation
Looking at various threads of old bikes and the regular rebuild/redesign/café racer things got me thinking. (That dull grinding noise and occasional clunk you can hear...s'me).
Bikes haven't changed much have they? All the bits have got better but they're still 2 wheels connected to something that makes the wheels go round, with a seat on top. Some things have been added (for better or worse - ABS, more electronics etc) but not much really. Even that $190k thing was 'retro' rather than 'tomorrow, today'.
What have I missed? What great innovations do you think have been introduced? What would you like to see?
Bikes haven't changed much have they? All the bits have got better but they're still 2 wheels connected to something that makes the wheels go round, with a seat on top. Some things have been added (for better or worse - ABS, more electronics etc) but not much really. Even that $190k thing was 'retro' rather than 'tomorrow, today'.
What have I missed? What great innovations do you think have been introduced? What would you like to see?
Doubt is not a pleasant condition.
But certainty is an absurd one.
Voltaire
But certainty is an absurd one.
Voltaire
- Taipan
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Re: Innovation
I love ABS as I'm crap at braking and had a front wheel tuck once.
Fuel injection is a PITA at slow speeds/part throttle openings.
Fuel injection is a PITA at slow speeds/part throttle openings.
- Count Steer
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Re: Innovation
I suppose you could say that doing away with a pedal (and, effectively, a gear stick) with the auto box was an innovation. Rotary engines were an attempt to get away from up/down/up/down -suck/squeeze/bang/blow but never really caught on.
Re Taipan and ABS. How about something that eliminates high-sides? That'd be clever!
Doubt is not a pleasant condition.
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But certainty is an absurd one.
Voltaire
- KungFooBob
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- chutzpah
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Re: Innovation
In that case, DCT?Count Steer wrote: ↑Fri Sep 10, 2021 4:23 pm I suppose you could say that doing away with a pedal (and, effectively, a gear stick) with the auto box was an innovation.
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Re: Innovation
Aye motorcycles were rubbish before wheels.KungFooBob wrote: ↑Fri Sep 10, 2021 4:25 pm Since when?
Cos possibly the greatest innovation was the wheel.
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Re: Innovation
Wasn't nearly everything on a modern bike, apart from the electronics, tried by the Second World War?
Honda Owner
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Re: Innovation
Pretty much. Even fuel injection is pre war tech, although not computer controlled of course.
Oh and carbon fibre, but even that is 60s tech.
Oh and carbon fibre, but even that is 60s tech.
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Re: Innovation
Not on the bike (cos I've never had one new enough to have it), but today I'm in the wife's little Aygo, it's got auto lights and wipers and radar braking and lane departure, etc... but it hasn't got Cruise Control, I use it every journey in the Merc, even if it's just for keeping at the speed limit in 30's.
I miss it more than any other toy when I don't have it.
I miss it more than any other toy when I don't have it.
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Re: Innovation
ME109s were fuel injected, they're pre war.Mr. Dazzle wrote: ↑Fri Sep 10, 2021 4:43 pm Pretty much. Even fuel injection is pre war tech, although not computer controlled of course.
Oh and carbon fibre, but even that is 60s tech.
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Re: Innovation
Incorrect, early 109s are BFs, late ones made in a different factory are MEs, but all the pre war ones would have been BFs, and yes, I'm kicking myself for that middle aged error (I was going to say school boy error, but when I was a school boy I was aeroplane mad and would never have made that mistake)KungFooBob wrote: ↑Fri Sep 10, 2021 4:51 pmNo such thing.
BF109 innit. Common mistake tho' so I'll let you off.
Edit: Bollocks, wrong again, they are all BFs
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- chutzpah
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Re: Innovation
You can't get a knee down on those though, you slip off. I've tried a few times when at the playpark with the kids and bored.Mr. Dazzle wrote: ↑Fri Sep 10, 2021 4:40 pmAye motorcycles were rubbish before wheels.KungFooBob wrote: ↑Fri Sep 10, 2021 4:25 pm Since when?
Cos possibly the greatest innovation was the wheel.
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- Count Steer
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Re: Innovation
Whenever you like! I just got to thinking that, here we are, rapidly approaching the end of the hydrocarbon age and we're riding around on things that are the same in many ways as soon after it started.KungFooBob wrote: ↑Fri Sep 10, 2021 4:25 pm Since when?
Cos possibly the greatest innovation was the wheel.
Lots of things have improved, engine technology, tyre technology, suspension, once added, has come on a bit etc. But we're not riding Akira-mobiles or hover-bikes or Transformers or even FJRs beloved feet-forwards.
Doubt is not a pleasant condition.
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But certainty is an absurd one.
Voltaire
- Horse
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Re: Innovation
Both wrong.Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: ↑Fri Sep 10, 2021 4:54 pmIncorrect, early 109s are BFs, late ones made in a different factory are MEs,
Edit: Bollocks, wrong again, they are all BFs
Enny fule kno that they were all fokkers.
And saying so will get you banned from tv.
Even bland can be a type of character
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Re: Innovation
KungFooBob wrote: ↑Fri Sep 10, 2021 4:25 pm Since when?
Cos possibly the greatest innovation was the wheel.
Even bland can be a type of character
- Count Steer
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Re: Innovation
Had a couple of bikes with cruise control and assumed I'd never use it but it's great when you need to scratch your bum (if you're right handed). I was also impressed that at 70 it was more fuel efficient than me holding the bike at 70. Dunno why, but it was by a significant amount.KungFooBob wrote: ↑Fri Sep 10, 2021 4:48 pm Not on the bike (cos I've never had one new enough to have it), but today I'm in the wife's little Aygo, it's got auto lights and wipers and radar braking and lane departure, etc... but it hasn't got Cruise Control, I use it every journey in the Merc, even if it's just for keeping at the speed limit in 30's.
I miss it more than any other toy when I don't have it.
Doubt is not a pleasant condition.
But certainty is an absurd one.
Voltaire
But certainty is an absurd one.
Voltaire
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Re: Innovation
Designed by a YorkshiremanCount Steer wrote: ↑Fri Sep 10, 2021 5:38 pmHad a couple of bikes with cruise control and assumed I'd never use it but it's great when you need to scratch your bum (if you're right handed). I was also impressed that at 70 it was more fuel efficient than me holding the bike at 70. Dunno why, but it was by a significant amount.KungFooBob wrote: ↑Fri Sep 10, 2021 4:48 pm Not on the bike (cos I've never had one new enough to have it), but today I'm in the wife's little Aygo, it's got auto lights and wipers and radar braking and lane departure, etc... but it hasn't got Cruise Control, I use it every journey in the Merc, even if it's just for keeping at the speed limit in 30's.
I miss it more than any other toy when I don't have it.