I wouldn't mind lighted switch gear. 

Oh and a high beam indicator lamp that wasn't brighter than the high beams themselves.

Color display with integrated GPS like the new MV Agusta.

Standard driving lights.

Hydraulic lifters.

Standard driving lights.

Hydraulic lifters.

Buy a Harley?

How about some factory engineered places to mount things, like a GPS for example.

Dimable dash lights:  my Monster has a dimable lcd dash.  It's nice...but needs to dim even more.  I agree - stop blinding me at night!

Fully customizable lcd dash's with skins:  seriously:  just start putting up a 4x6 dash that a flat, touch screen lcd.  Let me PICK what I want to see.  Highway cruise?  How about a HUGE MPH number and smaller temp, fuel range, etc. skin.  Or if I'm on the track:  HUGE RPM and Coolant Temps...It's not like I give a rats poop about RPMs when I'm droning along at 65 on the freeway...

REAL Throttle by wire settings:  Hey, just because YOU think a rain mode is needed and that neutering my bike means something doesn't mean it does.  What I want is to control the aggressiveness of the throttle - not the powerband, not amount of throttle.  In the rain I want simply a soft delivery in the first 75% of the throttle...but full power if I need it.  I want to tailor that throttle myself.  I don't want to mess with fueling or anything like that - I do want to control the way the throttle works.

Cruise Control:  with throttle by wire here, please just make Cruise a standard feature. 

Real maintenance intervals:  how about figuring out a way to indicate what really needs to be adjusted for maintenance?  Like, don't go tell me to check my valves if none are out of spec?  Surely there's a way to know when the valves are out of spec?  And come on, why should riderse have to go out and buy a GSG9 computer to figure out default codes?  If you've got a full custom LCD display, just have a "maintenance" screen and post the issue there.

I'm sure there's more...

Dimable dash lights:  my Monster has a dimable lcd dash.  It's nice...but needs to dim even more.  I agree - stop blinding me at night!

Fully customizable lcd dash's with skins:  seriously:  just start putting up a 4x6 dash that a flat, touch screen lcd.  Let me PICK what I want to see.  Highway cruise?  How about a HUGE MPH number and smaller temp, fuel range, etc. skin.  Or if I'm on the track:  HUGE RPM and Coolant Temps...It's not like I give a rats poop about RPMs when I'm droning along at 65 on the freeway...

REAL Throttle by wire settings:  Hey, just because YOU think a rain mode is needed and that neutering my bike means something doesn't mean it does.  What I want is to control the aggressiveness of the throttle - not the powerband, not amount of throttle.  In the rain I want simply a soft delivery in the first 75% of the throttle...but full power if I need it.  I want to tailor that throttle myself.  I don't want to mess with fueling or anything like that - I do want to control the way the throttle works.

Cruise Control:  with throttle by wire here, please just make Cruise a standard feature. 

Real maintenance intervals:  how about figuring out a way to indicate what really needs to be adjusted for maintenance?  Like, don't go tell me to check my valves if none are out of spec?  Surely there's a way to know when the valves are out of spec?  And come on, why should riderse have to go out and buy a GSG9 computer to figure out default codes?  If you've got a full custom LCD display, just have a "maintenance" screen and post the issue there.

I'm sure there's more...

 This is what discourages me about newer bikes, and vehicles in general. Too many electronic "features" that can't be altered or even repaired by the home mechanic.

 The big trucks at work are especially bad in the TBW dept. I freakin' hate it when the ECU overrides my foot.

I wouldn't mind lighted switch gear. 

Oh and a high beam indicator lamp that wasn't brighter than the high beams themselves.

I like both these options.

ABS standard on everything (that's happening organically anyway), with an option to disengage for those power riders who can do everything better.

Front pannier options for some bikes; balancing the weight of soft luggage off the tank seems to make a lot of sense.

Fully adjustable suspension on everything. They don't need to be race-spec Ohlins on everything, but for instance, what the FJR comes with is a good base minimum.

A few more spare amps across the board.

$.02

Quote from: Mr. Whippy on November 15, 2013, 09:20:14 AM

Hydraulic lifters.

As long as engines rev as high as many do, this is a self-defeating design. But for all the lower revving, lower-power engines, HELL YES!!!!

I read this, but I don't understand why that's the case.  What is it about hydraulic lifters that don't allow high rpms?  Just the rate of fill?

the rate of fill couple with the pumping down (loosing fluid -- linked but not quite the same) . . ..

the rate of fill couple with the pumping down (loosing fluid -- linked but not quite the same) . . ..

good point; hydraulic lifters work by controlled pressure loss. It's a fairly complicated system.

In any case, you'll (likely) never see it on higher-revving systems.

A stock saddle that doesn't feel like I'm sitting on a 2x4 which forces me to spend another few hundred bucks on an after-market model. (I know...not gonna happen)
Self-cancelling turn signals.
Find a way to shave 75-100lbs off the FJR. Or I could just go get some liposuction....
Throttle-by-wire.
Standard cruise control. Real cruise control...not a throttle locky thing.

Quote from: bomber on November 15, 2013, 08:58:53 AM

What feature (or capability) is missing form your favorite bike?

About 50hp. 

Doesn't matter what bike you have, I'll always take another 50 HP.

Who wouldn't want a loud horn, self-cancelling turn signals, heated grips and enough electrical output to power a reasonable number of gadgets? 

Quote from: bomber on November 15, 2013, 08:58:53 AM

What feature (or capability) is missing form your favorite bike?

About 50hp. 

not ova here.  :LOL:

i haven't rode my bike enough to really decide on anything it needs... hmm.. guess ABS would be nice but you can get it on the newer models. 

guess I'm happy..

If you buy a new bike, the dealer should set the suspension for you or how you want it, including different springs as needed.

Every ST or touring bike should have a spare switched power fuse and a spare switch on the handlebars that the owner can change from momentary to on-off (or a way to use the starter button for something else when the bike is running?).

Sensor that measures the ambient light and changes the brightness of the dash, tail and brake lights.

Optional high output stator.

Bluetooth for low fuel, oil, high temp, etc...  to start.

+ 1 on the ecu error code read out.  So easily done w/ any digital guage.

If you buy a new bike, the dealer should set the suspension for you or how you want it, including different springs as needed.

I think this should be mandatory for selling a bike. I feel they can charge on the spring but I believe a set up should be free.

Decent sticking tires that last 10,000 miles.

Quote from: HipGnosis on November 15, 2013, 07:49:33 PM

Optional high output stator.

The problem is space.

I know.  I'm saying I would REALLY like the mfgs to include that (little bit of) space in the design.

I would really like to see a Japanese competitor to the KTM 500 EXC. Surely someone can take a modern 450 enduro bike and make it street legal. The DRZ400S, DR650, XR650L are all quite long in the tooth and in need of an update.

You mean like the CB500X?

I would like to see a daylight readable color display panel that would give speed, revs, vitals, and GPS data in an all-in-one Add to that a built-in High Definition Camera mounted in the headlight assembly, Wi-Fi, Spot GPS capability, etc.

Bring back the mid size shaft drive bike, ala the XS750G and GS750G.

Larry
VFRrider

without the firing problems when it was wet.

Quote from: HipGnosis on November 16, 2013, 09:16:03 AM

Quote from: garry on November 16, 2013, 08:23:22 AM

I would really like to see a Japanese competitor to the KTM 500 EXC. Surely someone can take a modern 450 enduro bike and make it street legal. The DRZ400S, DR650, XR650L are all quite long in the tooth and in need of an update.

You mean like the CB500X?

... and the DOT paperwork crap. Most dirt bike titles say "Not for Highway Use" or something like that which makes it hard to get a plate for them in PA. Not impossible, just hard.

Therein lies the problem. On top of that is the local state anvil.


It's almost like they don't want you to ride a motorized vehicle off the pavement.




Unless you're hunting of course.

Accurate speedometers, odometers and fuel gauges.
They're instruments of measurement, not nannied video games...

They're no more or less accurate than the ones in your 4 wheeled vehicles.

"Two wrongs don't make a right". - My Mom