Video

Good Morning Richard I have 3 Kawasaki’s the ninja 1000 sx tourer and the 35 year GPZ 500 ex definitely no tech on that one she just passed her mot yesterday. The premium brands are putting a lot of them on there bikes That bone in what looked like a jag suv needs tech obviously never used the mirrors 👍🏍️

I think it is to get new riders who think it is too dangerious to ride to get a high tech bike Richard does that make sence!

I have a low tech bike and a high tech bike I enjoy each equally I definitely like Annimal totally cool motorcycle 😊

I'll only be happy when I can finally have that self-righting, self-driving, supersonic, invisible, flying rubber unicycle that I've always felt mankind deserves. No, but, a Star Trek-level H.U.D. would be super sweet. The rest, I don't feel the need for, and probably couldn't ever afford. :(

Happy where i am tbh....a brand new KTM superduke evo would be great but my zed is totally custom to me...i understand that they need to sell bikes but, personally i dont need a new bike...no plans to sell my zed at any time soon...

I don't know about a proximity alert on a motorcycle Richard. I don't mind the ones in the mirrors of cars as long as they don't fail as you said.

I have cruise control Apple car play heated grips on the NT1100 I have used them all on long runs especially busy Motorways nice to have helped me stay comfortable and I enjoy them not necessary but add to the luxury of having a nice bike I’m one of those bikers who actually doesn’t understand or particularly likes biker culture I just enjoy a different kind of transport 😮

Morning Richard 😊 the only gizmo you need on a bike is a fury one straped to the handlebars 👍 hope you didn't get to wet 😊😊

The tech I hate is the stuff that can stop the bike when it becomes faulty. 'Blind spot' detector or is it a proximity detector. Rather than have 'blind spot' why not have mirrors that are big enough to be useful and not something mostly designed to be asthetically pleasing. Surely, Hot Grips are not really tech. Six way ABS is a potential life saver and who if heavy rainfall wants to be riding in traffic on the only vehicle that takes longer to stop. To those who think they can outbrake ABS, I remind you of a boxers words "everyone has a plan until they are punched in the face" . Ride safe.

Morning Richard, I’ve seen a few blind spot detectors where a light flashed in the mirror. These gadgets and gizmos are all well and good so long as the rider doesn’t rely on them and still checks anyway. 👍

Carpurides with cameras and CarPlay for navigation….heated grips with bark busters…. LED headlights…. all reduce stress..✌ Quickshifters, blind spot indicators, rider modes….. tech faff….not really my thing. 🚫 Jury still out on cruise control… 🤔 Now If anyone knows of a good idiot detector in the works….

Evening Richard the warning on some bikes people are getting fed up of them not selling good at the end of the day if you cannot turn your head round enough they shouldn’t be riding I used to have very small blind spot mirrors on the Z1000 SX roughly 3cm diameter not to big 👍🏍️

I think you may have a point there, the rules are getting tighter and tighter. Maybe the only option is to get a little Enfield, there’s no mod cons on them other than ABS. Perhaps instead of modes they should consider moods. Press button A for a spirited ride. Press button B for a relaxed ride. Press button C for a lazy bimble in the countryside. Works for me. 🤣🤣👍

I ride a 21 year old Bandit 1200, slightly ratty and in need of some attention but still does what I want. No tech, no gadgets. In truth I'd have a new bike tomorrow if I could afford it. Would be a bit of a step up though...

I like the tech on my NT 1100 especially when I’m doing long trips the different modes are great for all conditions especially rain and I enjoyed the cruise control but I can revert to a simple bikes such as the Monkey I’ve had several high tech bikes enjoyed all of them especially DCT I like the tech in my VW especially DSG gear box with its paddle switches 😮the technology in my mind makes the bike safer I like the fact Honda have my safety in mind 😊

ABS can be a life saver when you have to grab the brakes to avoid a smidsy. Traction control moderates the power output so that a 180bhp motor only puts out 70bhp until the bike is doing 80mph.

I remember your video of the bus workshop 🙂 Hahaha... I couldn't really do a longer term review as got shot of the bike after that vid! 😀 You are very much not the only person who has commented to me about not wanting rider modes 😀 My thoughts on the various throttle modes are that some people want a smooth and predictable long travel throttle, others want a short, quick action throttle. In the past on cable throttled bikes, you could change the throttle cam on the twist grip to adjust it from one to the other. Now with ride-by-wire, you can't do that anymore, so the button allows the rider to tailor the bike to how they like things. I normally go with the snappiest mode, but do switch them to suit my mood, which I'd not be able to do the old way. TC is my main bugbear along with ABS not being switcheable easily. I get we are mandated by the bubblewrap brigade to have them on bikes, but there are very much legitimate reasons to need/want to turn them off, and we should be able to do so easily and quickly, and be able to turn them back on as easily too. My Suzuki does thankfully allow me to turn off the TC very easily, but I can't turn off the ABS at all unless I pull a fuse. To turn off the TC on my Aprilia, it is possible, but not as easy, although on that bike I can easily turn off the ABS from the rear at least. On my Yamaha, turning the tech off requires delving deep into the menus and probably signing disclaimers before the tech allows you to turn things off fully. Regarding being a crutch, I very much agree... especially with your story of the person who said the front brake was a switch and the ABS does the rest, I'd def not let him ride any bike which did not have rider aids as he'd be a liability.... (although I have used ABS to teach me to brake later and harder on trackdays as I have always been a bit of a wuss at late braking so it allowed me to have that crutch should I overcook things... which I never did, so it showed me how much of a wuss I was being before). But the reality is we have all been relying on ABS and TC in cars for many many years now, and it is very reliable. Great vid mate 🙂

I must admit I am not a great fan of all this tech on bikes either, this is why I am a Royal Enfield fan boy, they have useful stuff like tripper sat nav and don't even bother with that new fangled water cooling either :)

The only tech on the bandit is ABS Richard apart from the rider!

Your audio is great, I have never had riding modes, a bit frightened to ride one, I am frightened that I would want one. 😎The tech is there because the governments are demanding it I think. Just like cars. My friend has the GSX after mine with the riding modes and just loves it. I do have ABS and traction control, which I don’t find intrusive. I can turn the traction control off but ride with in on the lowest setting. I have dropped the bike so they didn’t save me anyway. My throttle was snatchy so I had the bike remapped. I think they have sorted issue now. Nice topic mate. 😎

Good musings, could be a point that the continuing emission regs means that this tech, that us older riders don’t want, is needed to maintain what we had 20 odd years ago. In my opinion,bikes like the R1, Fireblade etc, had all the performance that road riders could ever need.

I think you hit the nail on the head Richard about rider modes, it is all down to your right hand input. On a related subject, don't you think that some motorcycles have way too much power in the first place ? My bike puts out a maximum 85 bhp and redlines at 12000 rpm. 6000 rpm gives me 70 mph on motorways, so how much bhp do I really need ? If bikes were made with sensibly adequate power, there wouldn't be a need for all of the rider aids rubbish and that would affect the profit margins of the manufacturers. The manufacturers are taking everybody for a ride plus, when all comes to all, it is just down to bragging rights. Hey, my bike has more power than yours and can go twice as fast. It's not a price worth paying, is it ? Good thought provoking video.

Interesting, Guy Martin did an interview with MCN the other day and he said he was disappointed bikes hadn’t more tech and that he wished the manufacturers kept up with the car industry. I’ve ridden bikes since the late 70’s so back then had no tech (and bad tyres) no ABS no petrol gauge no gear indicator and I can’t say I felt a need for them. I recently bought a new BMW RT full spec but I ride it like I would have always ridden it’s good to know the tech is there but I don’t rely on it. As to modes there is a difference between dynamic and rain as you would expect, rain or road because they have a gentler throttle are good when I have a pillion. I previously had euro 4 bikes now euro 5 and from my experience and this will not be everyone’s the euro 5 have had better throttle control with less hunting or snatchiness than the euro 4 on the same model.

Hi Richard most of the new bikes have different modes now the government makes them compulsory. I think it takes the riding out of it I have more fun on my 35 year old Kawasaki gpz 500 then the big ninja I have 👍🏍️

Afternoon Richard 😊 I agree with everything you just said but then again I have never riden a bike with any rider modes except for EBS 😊

You are right about relying on tech too much. Years ago on pushbikes there was an odd person that wore a full face helmet sunglasses or goggles. Then hardly anyone wore helmets. People used to laugh when they still move their heads to miss the branches, twigs, bushes and stuff. They would say something like 'why do you dodge the bushes and that when wearing that lot. I just ride right through it.' Then the same person would ride that way and all you would hear was ' aargh, I forgot I haven't got my helmet on. That hurt." People don't like doing anything for themselves anymore, they need tech to do it for them. Do it yourself as much as you can. You'll be safer and better off.

The trouble nowadays is safety legislation means all these things like abs, traction control, etc have to be fitted to any bike or car. If you don't want them you have to buy an older vehicle, also because they are now fitted to every vehicle they have become relatively cheap to manufacture and fit.

I think a large part of the problem is the continual upselling of features on new bikes. A few years back I costed out a range of new BMWs at our local dealer. 4 bikes, F-800s mostly. Didn’t really want 2-3 grands worth of “accessories” to turn the bike in to small German starship, so looked at a minimal set up of….. nothing, not even the heated grips. Which is the point you realise that “accessories” (and servicing ) are the profit margin and you’re no longer their demographic. When you boil it down we just need something that starts, stops and goes round corners. Why do I need 5 rider modes when one that works in most conditions will do fine?…. which is what we used to get when everything was analogue. You’re right, you wouldn’t get a bike through Euro now without EMU/ECU managing combustion and 200 hp would kill us on a wet road if it wasn’t for the IMU. Madness.

You can see why cows are the most dangerous animals in the UK now. I think one was about to nick your bike.

Hahaha... I have seen a cow block the road so it's friends can cross too, kinda awesome, although the blocker is normally the dominant one, so can be a bit feisty. Cool to see the kid getting some bike action. 🙂

Hi Calmbiker, just found your channel. Looking forward to watching your videos around East Yorkshire as I'm in the same area. Where do you find the best placement for the microphone? Right in front of your mouth, cheek pad? Thanks.

That was UDDER chaos there at the end 😉👍

That was a cow of a time Richard!

It is amazing what you come across what you see out riding I once stopped to let two ducks and 4 ducklings across the road car drivers didn’t even slow till I got off my bike and stopped the traffic 👍

A very healthy-looking herd there at the end.

It's quite amazing some of the things you see when just riding around.

Did mine today with the same Fuchs coolant but mine was red. Also only took 2 litres.

Fabulous sound, I might look into one myself 😎

Can not cannot, useless auto text

I really enjoy your vlogs Richard, I think CZcamsrs can get a bit fixated about audio quality,I think yours is good. Can you have a word with Graham about the number of holidays he seems to be taking. He's just got back from Kent and now seems to be sunning himself in Weymouth or wherever,he needs to concentrate on providing his hoards of loyal subscribers with video. I cannot see why you got short tempered with him in a previous vlog and compared him to a unripe banana, quite right 😊.

I've loved the sound from the Purple Panda. It's probably not the best mic in the world, but of those that can fit in a crash hat ridden at speed, it's great. The only problem is the cable is not detachable. I've been messing around with a cheap boom mic that you can detach the cable from, but the sound just isn't as good. I'm thinking of going back.

That there be fertiliser. Not dung, young ‘un. ( said in a farmer type accent.) Can we have that summer weather back please.

I have used Purple panda mics now for a long time and I recon there the best. You know I bought one spare and do you think I can find it!

That is (finally) a great sound mate! Like me - you always had that terrible (Drift mic) sound - not helped by the Shark boom-box helmet. But yes, finally there's sibilance and only a little "boom". Dunno what it is about Sony - their camera is the same - too much gain, not adjustable, and then with Auto-level control just to make it worse! The Purple Panda was what finally fixed it for me too - and if I remember right, there may be a level of "told you so" that I can claim 😆

Fantastic audio mate, I think you have done the most thorough testing I've seen, and if I could cope with the long mic cable, I think this would possibly persuade me to get a PP mic. I also keep looking at your FOV, it does look a lot more naturel in your vids than superview, due to the bars looking like they are the right width etc... but I still think I prefer the pace that superview pretends to give.... Am still undecided... I think I shall do some testing too with SV vs Wide vs Linear fov. Great vid mate. Looks like you hit golden hour perfectly. I've been on holiday too, not gone anywhere, just played bikes etc a bit... I was supposed to go to a bike night this eve, glad I binned that as we had mega rain and a thunderstorm! 😀

Good sound and a good bit of magic at 7:17. I've had Drift cameras before. I got a Ghost camera that was all right but it messed up after a few years. I then got the newer version. The battery was supposed to last about 5 hours but it kept changing from 5 hours and 20 minutes (the actual time) to 4-3 hours, 2-3 hours, 5 hours, battery didn't know what it was doing. The lens was fish eye which mostly looked rubbish and had to buy new mics for it because they changed the connection a little bit. The new mic also picked up wind noise no matter what I did with it. The old one never. And it wasn't as good as the old one. I do not do videos for the internet ('cos life is hell and have been treat badly by anyone and everyone all my life). And I cannot do videos for the internet because even though I can talk to myself for hours, I cannot talk to a mic or a camera.

Sounds very good Rich excellent work

Sooo much better than the previous microphone! This sounds like a keeper.

Hi rich.sound brilliant on both bike.before you sounded basey n deep.i think you cracked it and its not quiet and its clear.good job. Look forward to hearing you again ha ha.👍🏍

Yep sounds good Richard wind noise you’ll never stop I had it bad on my helmet due to the Cardo being a bit to much to the from moved it back a bit a lot better. That’s all I use is purple panda 🐼 👍🏍️😎