Does any one really turn off rider aids?
Discussion
I don't hang about on a nice sunny day hooning about, yes I am slower on average than I used to be but that suits me. I can pick my lines and use all of the available tire ( no chicken strips on the rear ) I do use wide open throttle through the gears and have had a fair few bikes with modern electronics .
I can honestly say I do not feel the need to turn tc or anti wheelie off totally on any modern litre bike or indeed a bigger capacity modern naked bike.
I can see the tc light flashing at wide open throttle in 3rd 4th and 5th but for me It doesn't hinder the bike and if not for the anti wheelie I wouldn't be able to hold wide open throttle
I am not talking about track day riding but a decent road ride.
Seriously the amount of s
t I read on various forums about people turning all this st off because it restricts them on the road is odd, even some old across the road from me came over when I was washing my bike last year and said that would be a lot quicker if you rode it without
the tc turned off, the old rides a pile of st at 30 mph 
Does anyone on hear feel the need to say they run all the electronic aids off on the road on a modern litre or above bike or is it just me that thinks that's bull st 
I can honestly say I do not feel the need to turn tc or anti wheelie off totally on any modern litre bike or indeed a bigger capacity modern naked bike.
I can see the tc light flashing at wide open throttle in 3rd 4th and 5th but for me It doesn't hinder the bike and if not for the anti wheelie I wouldn't be able to hold wide open throttle
I am not talking about track day riding but a decent road ride.
Seriously the amount of s
t I read on various forums about people turning all this st off because it restricts them on the road is odd, even some old across the road from me came over when I was washing my bike last year and said that would be a lot quicker if you rode it without the tc turned off, the old
rides a pile of st at 30 mph Does anyone on hear feel the need to say they run all the electronic aids off on the road on a modern litre or above bike or is it just me that thinks that's bull s
t I’ve never owned a bike with rider aids so must be a riding god 
. Seriously though the bikes I have ridden with rider aids I haven’t been bothered by them. Traction control can be a bit intrusive sometimes but not enough for me to be bothered to turn it off.
Also after spending several years in a bike shop, literally every person that has come in telling us how fast they never had been. They’re those people who fly down straights then st themselves when they get to a corner.
. Seriously though the bikes I have ridden with rider aids I haven’t been bothered by them. Traction control can be a bit intrusive sometimes but not enough for me to be bothered to turn it off.Also after spending several years in a bike shop, literally every person that has come in telling us how fast they never had been. They’re those people who fly down straights then s
t themselves when they get to a corner.SAS Tom said:
Seriously though the bikes I have ridden with rider aids I haven’t been bothered by them. Traction control can be a bit intrusive sometimes but not enough for me to be bothered to turn it off.
Also after spending several years in a bike shop, literally every person that has come in telling us how fast they never had been. .
I couldn't stand that bull sAlso after spending several years in a bike shop, literally every person that has come in telling us how fast they never had been. .
t day after day so fair play for lasting all those years 
.U would like me, straight in and out with my purchase without bothering you with bull s
t, only to be seen out the shop window from the corner of your eye in a smoke of side ways tyre squeal with the front wheel aloft standing up on the pegs with one arm off the bars saluting my exit Absolutely depends on the quality of the rider aids.
I'm happy with decent TC as long as I can turn antiwheelie off independently. Every antiwheelie, even on the new V4 Panigale, I've found makes the bike feel broken to a greater or lesser extent. They are getting better but ultimately it just takes over throttle and dumps the wheel down where you don't want it and is still prone to pogo-ing.
Unfortunately most bikes' TC is or has been tied to Anti-wheelie, so I run everything off to stop antiwheelie causing problems over every crest or small pop up. Luckily it seems more and more bikes have a tailored mode where you can adjust TC, Anti-wheelie and even slide control and ABS if need be, independently.
To be honest though - I reckon tyres and suspension have outpaced engine development in recent years. You can completely take the piss with everything turned off on 200bhp superbikes and they are less likely to bite you than a 98 R1 with 130bhp on the tyres they had in the late 90s.
Regarding ABS - I've pulled the fuse on older bikes with ABS before as it usually cuts in dangerously early over bumps on older bikes and kills too much braking power in the process. However, no bike I've ridden on road or track with ABS since 2013, have I found has ABS that cuts in too early (unless wanting to do stoppies for fun). If TC and ABS are truly passive they are great, but for a long time they've been quite ste if you are happy with things moving a little.
What I find funnier is wet modes and power modes on 70-100bhp bikes. Tyres are so good, wet or dry, that dumbed down power on middle weight bikes to stop them spinning up, when they already have TC etc. is laughable. These are gimmicks to sell bikes to people who think they actually do anything.
I'm happy with decent TC as long as I can turn antiwheelie off independently. Every antiwheelie, even on the new V4 Panigale, I've found makes the bike feel broken to a greater or lesser extent. They are getting better but ultimately it just takes over throttle and dumps the wheel down where you don't want it and is still prone to pogo-ing.
Unfortunately most bikes' TC is or has been tied to Anti-wheelie, so I run everything off to stop antiwheelie causing problems over every crest or small pop up. Luckily it seems more and more bikes have a tailored mode where you can adjust TC, Anti-wheelie and even slide control and ABS if need be, independently.
To be honest though - I reckon tyres and suspension have outpaced engine development in recent years. You can completely take the piss with everything turned off on 200bhp superbikes and they are less likely to bite you than a 98 R1 with 130bhp on the tyres they had in the late 90s.
Regarding ABS - I've pulled the fuse on older bikes with ABS before as it usually cuts in dangerously early over bumps on older bikes and kills too much braking power in the process. However, no bike I've ridden on road or track with ABS since 2013, have I found has ABS that cuts in too early (unless wanting to do stoppies for fun). If TC and ABS are truly passive they are great, but for a long time they've been quite s
te if you are happy with things moving a little.What I find funnier is wet modes and power modes on 70-100bhp bikes. Tyres are so good, wet or dry, that dumbed down power on middle weight bikes to stop them spinning up, when they already have TC etc. is laughable. These are gimmicks to sell bikes to people who think they actually do anything.
Ignoring track and purely talking road
I prefer everything on but at a very low setting. It does also make a difference bike to bike. My mv agusta dragster rr had very intrusive abs and primitive tc. I know my mates mt10 and brothers gsxs1000 are the same and quite frustrating at times
My current Aprilia 1100 has a very good electronics package. I run abs, wc, lc all 1 and tc typically 3-4
I turn off when I want to do a big long wheelie, rolling burn out etc but fast riding I keep on
I'd like to think I'm quite a 'keen' rider that enjoys a decent pace too. I've had 2 strokes, carbd, first of the fuel injections and seen all the improvements in tyres and electronics in the last 20 years and personally really appreciate it
I prefer everything on but at a very low setting. It does also make a difference bike to bike. My mv agusta dragster rr had very intrusive abs and primitive tc. I know my mates mt10 and brothers gsxs1000 are the same and quite frustrating at times
My current Aprilia 1100 has a very good electronics package. I run abs, wc, lc all 1 and tc typically 3-4
I turn off when I want to do a big long wheelie, rolling burn out etc but fast riding I keep on
I'd like to think I'm quite a 'keen' rider that enjoys a decent pace too. I've had 2 strokes, carbd, first of the fuel injections and seen all the improvements in tyres and electronics in the last 20 years and personally really appreciate it
3DP said:
I'm happy with decent TC as long as I can turn antiwheelie off independently. Every antiwheelie, even on the new V4 Panigale, I've found makes the bike feel broken to a greater or lesser extent. They are getting better but ultimately it just takes over throttle and dumps the wheel down where you don't want it and is still prone to pogo-ing.
This, nothing ruins riding like an over zealous anti wheelie pogo 
My MT 10 is my first road bike with all the bks fitted, I have it turned off because it fks the wheelies up.
My Fireblade was my first track bike that had a slipper clutch, the R1 I have now for the track has the anti wheelie/lift control on full but the rest of the bks turned half way.
I don't think I would like to ride my track bike on track with it all turned off mainly because it took 22k out of my bank account once it was finished and I'm that tight I turn the gas off when I turn the bacon over.
ks fitted, I have it turned off because it fks the wheelies up.My Fireblade was my first track bike that had a slipper clutch, the R1 I have now for the track has the anti wheelie/lift control on full but the rest of the b
ks turned half way.I don't think I would like to ride my track bike on track with it all turned off mainly because it took 22k out of my bank account once it was finished and I'm that tight I turn the gas off when I turn the bacon over.
Modern litre bike aids are so good, they don't feel too intrusive at all. If anything, they work without you even knowing it, which is the best you could hope for
I'll take every bit of help I can get if it means I'm not launching myself into the scenery whilst drifing my bike out of corners and feeling like I'm doing it myself when in reality, it's the bike flattering my choppy right wrist and st line choice
I'll take every bit of help I can get if it means I'm not launching myself into the scenery whilst drifing my bike out of corners and feeling like I'm doing it myself when in reality, it's the bike flattering my choppy right wrist and s
t line choice My last ride was clean, but my current ride is riddled with aids.
Up until now I’ve left them on for the most part, but now I’m used to the bike and the weather has warmed up I think I’ll be turning them off. It’s a bit of a rudimentary system (2017 Speed Triple) so no separate anti-wheelie and TC, and despite what the manual says Track mode doesn’t seem to disable ABS on the rear wheel.
Happily it can all be switched off from the dash, though does require selection of a custom rider mode every time you start it and trying to ignore a couple of yellow warming lights for the rest of the ride thereafter.
As for rider modes... Having had bikes both with them and without now, even though it’s the future (and yes, there are far better implementations of it than what I have now), current opinion is MEH.
Up until now I’ve left them on for the most part, but now I’m used to the bike and the weather has warmed up I think I’ll be turning them off. It’s a bit of a rudimentary system (2017 Speed Triple) so no separate anti-wheelie and TC, and despite what the manual says Track mode doesn’t seem to disable ABS on the rear wheel.
Happily it can all be switched off from the dash, though does require selection of a custom rider mode every time you start it and trying to ignore a couple of yellow warming lights for the rest of the ride thereafter.
As for rider modes... Having had bikes both with them and without now, even though it’s the future (and yes, there are far better implementations of it than what I have now), current opinion is MEH.
I think my riding skills are pretty average so I’m not that st that I need riding aids to stop me crashing but then I am far away from being good enough to have them hinder me either.
Although am quite happy riding bikes without any aids if I do have a bike with them I don’t turn them off completely.
t that I need riding aids to stop me crashing but then I am far away from being good enough to have them hinder me either.Although am quite happy riding bikes without any aids if I do have a bike with them I don’t turn them off completely.
They have improved a lot since the early systems, both in the level of adjustment available and being able to adjust or turn off different things independently.
The system on the Panigale I’ve just got is miles ahead of the system on the early S1000RR I had, the pogo effect in that was horrible under power.
The system on the Panigale I’ve just got is miles ahead of the system on the early S1000RR I had, the pogo effect in that was horrible under power.
I went from a 100% unassisted Ducati 1098s to a heavily assisted 1299S - and the latter is much better, safer, and more fun. Night and day.
The assistance is very thorough with at least 3 different settings for: traction control, anti-wheelie, cornering ABS, engine braking, engine power, and active suspension. Plus a slippy clutch and clutchless up and down shifts. It’s magical really. A quantum leap forward compared to my “old” 2007 bike.
The assistance is very thorough with at least 3 different settings for: traction control, anti-wheelie, cornering ABS, engine braking, engine power, and active suspension. Plus a slippy clutch and clutchless up and down shifts. It’s magical really. A quantum leap forward compared to my “old” 2007 bike.
Biker's Nemesis said:
That sounds like me when I'm shagging, in, out, leave a deposit and roll over already snoring.
3DP said:
Absolutely depends on the quality of the rider aids.
To be honest though - I reckon tyres and suspension have outpaced engine development in recent years. You can completely take the piss with everything turned off on 200bhp superbikes and they are less likely to bite you than a 98 R1 with 130bhp on the tyres they had in the late 90s.
To be honest though - I reckon tyres and suspension have outpaced engine development in recent years. You can completely take the piss with everything turned off on 200bhp superbikes and they are less likely to bite you than a 98 R1 with 130bhp on the tyres they had in the late 90s.
This is true ,^^^
i have booted my 1290r in the wet before in 1st and 2nd just to see what it did and it just stuttered away up the road quite sedately making strange noises . If i am honest i probably don't lean on the electronics because i am to used to riding old school bikes.
In fact i can honestly say i haven't got it in me to try wide open throttle while cranked over to test lean sensitive traction, i also wont be testing lean angle abs under my own steam either but its nice to no its there.
A revelation for me was anti wheelie on my 2014 rsv4, my 1st litre bike with decent electronics and the 1st litre bike i could actually pin the throttle open through the lower gears without shutting off, that was a leap of faith to trust it though.
We do all understand that popping a wheelie on a public road, and being seen by the police, will probably result in being banned from driving for a period of time? And that's all of your licences. Car, HGV whatever. They all go. Plus the fine. Leave it switched on.
On track is fair enough, but on the road...
On track is fair enough, but on the road...
Felters said:
We do all understand that popping a wheelie on a public road, and being seen by the police, will probably result in being banned from driving for a period of time? And that's all of your licences. Car, HGV whatever. They all go. Plus the fine. Leave it switched on.
On track is fair enough, but on the road...
Meh, where's the fun in that? if you are going fast enough to activate anti wheelie you are probably speeding anyway so all the above applies, why bother riding the bike at all?On track is fair enough, but on the road...
Also you aren't really allowed to pull wheelies on track and will get black flagged from most TD's for it.
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