Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Features I'd like to see

I was thinking about this on my ride into work this morning. If I were designing a bike, what features would I like to see. I'm not talking about building a custom - I'm talking about designing a bike for the mass market. So here's what I came up with.

Most of the features I'd like can be summed up in one word: adjustability.

Adjustable bars, pegs and seat. Every car in the world has an adjustable seat and steering wheel. Why? Because the auto makers know that everybody is differently sized. I'm 5'9". My girlfriend is 5'0". If cars were like bikes, we wouldn't be able to drive the same car. So, I'm thinking adjustable footpegs and bars at the very least. I bet someone could design a pretty nifty adjustable riser. And you'd think moving the pegs and foot controls around should be pretty easy, too.

Exhausts with removable baffles, and matching EFI. I've seen removable baffles on some exhausts, but it's usually only one baffle. Why not go all the way? You could make a set of pipes with, say, three removable baffles, and your EFI controller could have four settings to match. Remove a baffle, and flip a DIP switch. Sound/performance adjustment in five minutes.

Easy accessability of innards. One of the things that drives me crazy about some bikes is, when you want to access an internal part, you have to spend half an hour taking stuff off the bike. Then you have to spend another half hour putting stuff back on. Everything should be easily accessed. Especially things that are tinkered with frequently (like, say, battery connections). Stuff like body panels that need to come off should be held on with quick-releases rather than bolts.

Modular electrical stuff. Say you want to put on new turn signals. Instead of cutting, stripping and soldering wires, how about, you just plug them in? (Plug adapters could be available to handle aftermarket stuff.)

Anyway. That's what I came up with.

Sounds like the Perfect Bike . Would cost 18,500.00 MSRP

Hey Joe, this thread o' yours here reminds me....Are you gonna go see that new "Transformers" movie?

Juuuuust yankin' the ol' chain there, dude. Actually, I think your ideas above are pretty good!!!

Youre basically asking the company to spend all the money in engineering so they can lose all the money in accessories and service. The sticker price would scare everyone away and they wouldnt sell that many.

But I think the main thing is that people like changing stuff regardless. As long as its slightly different than the next guys, thats all that matters.

And what if your company spends all their time and money developing adjustable foot controls and finds out 85% of their customers have them in the same spot?

As for casings and covers, check out the suzuki bollevard, mass market wants everything hidden, manufacture loves selling extra parts, and service loves how you cant figure out how to change the spark plugs.

I see what youre saying when youre comparing to modern cars, but motorcycles are still a luxury in the bigger picture. They are evolving a lot faster now-a-days. It used to be that you had to be a mechanic to ride a motorcycle and your grandmother could change out the tranny in your chevy pickup.

I would really like some kind of hidden storage bin. Just enough to stash minimal tools, phone, maps, small items.

I'm not saying this is economically viable, brokenfixed. I'm saying it's what I want.

Lonzo, I agree.

Just adding to the discussion Joe

I made these toolboxes for myself...

That's some nice tool boxes. Not that they would do me any good. I'm a complete knucklehead when it comes to mechanics. I know where the gas goes. What else is there to know.

I agree with the adjustable bits on bikes. Good idea, but i think they would stick it to us in cost. And like has been said already. 90% of bikes in the US are toys and are ridden by one person. So there is not much call for adjustments like cars.

Quote:

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As long as its slightly different than the next guys, thats all that matters.

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Mine is totally different from the next guys. It's totally stock. Don't see many of those unless you go to a dealership.

Realizing that I am not in the masses targeted by Triumph marketing, (thankfully), here is what I would like to see for future models of BA/Speedy:

Increase the stroke.
Displacement of 1000cc or better, but no larger than 1200cc.
Finely balance the rotating mass and eliminate current balance shafts.
Camshaft bearings.
Trim some weight.
Separate the engine from the transmission!
Gearing options.
Kick start options.

I am generous, so those changes could be extended to include all Bonneville derivatives. Could care less about any other Triumph models though.

Add them all to the wish list thread...and keep wishing.