Thanks for your video. I'd like to mention that we should not only concentrate on our bike but also take an objective look on ourself. Physical fitness is in my humble opinion also a major safety supplement. Maybe you could make a video about the essentials fitness needs for a safe (off-road) biker?
Absolutely. My wife is a weight lifter and trainer, and what finally got me to join her in the (garage) gym was the KLR in the corner, reminding me exactly how heavy it is. 😅
My son and I ride Piaggio Beverly scooters, his is 400cc mine is 350. We tour and motocamp. In addition to features you recommend we: wear bright colors and even had reflective tape sewn onto his leather jacket, All gear all the time, Tall windshield during winter riding for better vision w/o buffetting, Added brake light flasher with 3 quick blinks to alert I'm braking without annoying vehicles behind, Pin lock behind visor to prevent fogging, Cardo on lead rider to alert of hazards. Happy Holidays to you and your subscribers.
I like adding auxiliary lights, not just to see better at night but also to be seen better during the day. A single headlight could be a motorcycle or a car with a broken headlight, but a triangle of three lights is definitely a motorcycle, and unusual enough on the road that drivers seem to notice.
Right on. Two headlights on a car a far distance away appear as one (convergence). Motorcycles appear further away to motorists because the separation between light sources is less and always perceived incorrectly.
Great vid Bret and you pointed out the flashing hazard lights under heavy breaking, this is a feature other manufactures have had fitted for a couple of years now. As for a safety feature - I change the standard 'asthmatic mouse' like horn on my bikes to a Stebel air horn & fit auxilary lighting.
Thanks Bret, some very good points there. I’ve added daytime running lights which can also be used as fog lights to my Gen 2 KLR650. I’m not sure if it makes a difference or not to other road users but it definitely makes me feel more safe. I have also added heated grips but never considered them to be a safety feature until now. 👍🇦🇺
Thanks Bret, another excellent video. I think that ergonomics are very important. That is getting the seat height correct, handlebar position and seat to pegs plus angel. On occasion I have raised the bars and turned them very slightly plus changed the seat to get that comfortable position so that I'm not moving around on the bike trying to get comfortable. Trying to eliminate any aches.
This bike is very well set up from Triumph. I have found over the last several years bikes have been much better than in the past. The only complaint I have is they are almost to tall at the bars now since they are all catering too the "riser" crowd.
I had the 2017 GSA 1200 and was a member of the riser crowd. This is possibly due to being 6' 2" tall and 240 lbs so not your average size rider. However, I now have the KTM 1290 SAS which fits me just fine without the need for risers. I can now spend my money on something other than risers.
Amber aux lights up front are on my list. My buddy has them on his GS and no question cars see him coming from way back and are generally more likely to move out of the way (for lane splitting or just getting out of the fast lane).
On both my BMW 1200 and 650. GS's, I have added auxiliary lights to help me see better at night as well as other people seeing me better during the day.
Not sure if I agree with heated grips/seat to be safety feature, but I get the point. If a rider can't feel his fingers, that's a clear sign to stop and have a break (or that investment in certain areas is needed). Currently my bike has abs and tc, next one will definitely have more electronics.
I have a riding acquaintance whose life (or at very least the quality of the rest of his life) was saved by one of those when he was rear-ended on a freeway at speed. I think it was a Held brand?
I would like either a motorized assist or a mechanism improvement for putting my BMW R1200RT on the center stand. This is a safety item for me as I've injured myself a few times in doing this.
There is a right technique for doing it. I would suggest getting some help or watching a few videos on it. If you are putting a lot of effort into it you are not doing it correctly and that is a safety hazard.
Having 50years in the saddle, this video explains why I just bought a 23 RP 1200. We are so fortunate to have such technology helping us with safety. Maybe if I was still 21 I’d say what a man I am and don’t need no stinking technology, helmets suck!
I think the Ducati Desert X comes with a blinking tail-light whenever the brake is applied. At one time there was an aftermarket headlight adapter that would modulate the headlight between high and low beam to make the bike more visable to other drivers during daylight. Anything that can make a motorcycle more visable, outside of painting it yellow or florescent orange, is a good thing.
Installed a Lighting strikes rear brake and Denali T3’s on back tied to Denali Can-smart that flash on deceleration and braking on rear of my Africa Twin
I remember braking hard with an empty pick-up approaching a corner. Not long after, GM managed to introduce ABS on rear brakes on volume pick-ups. 3 or 4 way adjustable suspension that actually make a difference when twiddled is quite remarkable. Manufacturers didn't like giving too much adjustability as someone could twiddle into some dark territory.
KTM 1290 Super Adventure uses all that features since 2017. The exception being the tail light feature, heated grips and seats (both always sold as an extra).
I added to my 1999 AT metal breaklines, TT-Suspension for 2 riders an bag., larger footpegs, "comfy+safer" seat, maintain. and service all over the bike by my own to mult. reliability/safety, "no communication-system"....., no bling-bling so I´m free for "atitude matters", greetings from Graz/Austria, Christian
I'm genuinely curious about your thoughts regarding the "loud pipe thing." I've been riding for almost 30 years. When I was young, I went through the loud-pipe phase. While I no longer feel the need to have a pipe that makes my ear drums bleed, I can't deny that there was a marked improvement in cager awareness when I was riding around on a loud crotch rocket. I understand that it annoys those around you. I'm just saying that it definitely made drivers less likely to pull out in front of me.
The loud pipe thing is mostly for those riders with juvenile minds who want attention. While it may work to a certain degree it gives very bad impressions about motorcyclists. Also, who selfishly thinks one's right to ride a motorcycle should infringe on others right to peace and quiet? It is suggesting the right of one individual to ride a loud motorcycle triumphs the rights of 100s or 1000s of others right to peace and quiet. To that point you would think those people might punish riders of loud motorcycles. Oh wait they already do but they dont enforce the laws. As a rider I despise and harbor highly negatives feelings towards riders of loud motorcycles. They ruin the experience of riding for me more than anything else on a regular basis and even when I am not riding.
@@kannermw That's my point. You can't have it both ways. How can a loud pipe annoy "1000s of others" without raising drivers' awareness of the presence of a motorcycle? Anyway, I personally don't really care if someone has a loud pipe. I just feel like some people talk out both sides of their mouth on this issue.
@@ArmyOfZin What if that someone is your neighbor who fires up those loud pipes at 5 am in the morning or maybe arrives around 1-2am and gives it a few twists so you know he’s home? It’s disrespectful and illegal. Riders should add extra lighting, wear more visible clothing and use a horn to alert distracted drivers while riding defensively. The a-hole, juveniles using “loud pipes save lives” slogan is just a convenient excuse to infringe on others rights to peace and quiet including the people not even driving just living their lives at home and wanting to peace and quiet. There is just no logical justificationsfor such behavior. They should just quit riding then. Plenty other riders including myself do just fine without loud exhaust.
Not necessarily a motorcycle mod, but hi-viz gear is a big safety enhancement. Ear protection is an overlooked safety enhancement. Proper maintenance of chain, brakes and tires are a very important safety enhancement. The crash bars on my KLR are a good safety enhancement. What about forward controls or highway pegs? Preventing leg cramps by having the ability to rest your legs in different positions is a safety enhancement.
To add to the comfort/safety of heated grips, I have put some heat shrink tube around my levers. That way, your fingers won't cool down that fast at a traffic light. I also have a white helmet to enhance visibility in low light conditions.
I once commuted on a Yamaha Enduro year round. My girlfriend gave me these giant mittens, like a dog-sled musher would use. It only took an extra 4 or 5 seconds to MAYBE find the clutch and brake levers. In retrospect, I think she had an insurance policy on my life. In summary, heated grips ARE a safety feature I've installed on my V-Strom.
Hi Bret, I ride and have done since 1976 until today. My concern with modern bikes is what occurs when computer fails and you lose abs traction control. Have we become too reliant on modern technology and lost the skill of riding a bike pre modern abs etc?
I would agree if we were ever any good at braking. The average rider did (and still does) only brake at about .7g declaration average where most ABS will stop near 1g (good traction for both scenarios). In 11years of collecting braking data from experienced motorcyclist for the government only one rider met the 1G threshold without ABS in the first run and he was student of mine
I've been riding 56 years, I guess all that electronic gizmos is fine for you younguns. I've never had a bike with it and really don't care to ride a bike I can't work on myself. These days I mostly ride 40 and 50 year old Harleys. Simple but it gets you down the road, works for me but I don't live near a city either
I’d like to add a cylinder to my bike. Turn my G310GS into a F620GS. Not kidding. I really like the G310GS. If @BMW made the engine a parallel twin instead of a single, it would be wonderful. More power. I’d add more power.
Thank our lucky stars we have these safety features. Can you imagine the amount over government oversight and subsequent overstepping there would be. Fact: Cessnas used to be relatively inexpensive until a pro baseball player crashed one. Now they are about 5-10 times the cost they should be new because of regulation. That, and the threat of litigation especially here in the land of the fearful and worrisome. We used to be the land of the free and the brave, but so many citizens are so ready to abandon our rights to the government in the name of 'safety'. In the end, we are much less safe, but over controlled, which is what ''our'' (using that term very, very loosely) government officials really wanted. Us being less safe, then leads to more control and less rights. Our founding fathers were geniuses. Now we have the likes of Biden and Trump... You thought this was a one sided argument, didn't you? Well, I can't stand either side. Well, at least we still got motorcycles... But, don't say it too loud, as ''our'' leaders also love to crush out anything that's fun, but also dangerous.
Or have launch control & wheelie assist too, almost all is now possible and is dial-able on some newer bikes. The key skill that will be missed though may be found at the worst moment of the riders career...obstacle avoidance in an emergency. Whether its better skills or equipment, you often need them both to be at their best when it matters most. That's why i took lessons from Club Desmo and dirt riding clinics, both with Doc Wong. One advice he gave me was "to reduce fear of street slides, learn to ride a dirtbike where its loose all the time!". I did just that, multiple sessions at his Hollister clinics too. Now 20 some years later i have a Yamaha Tracer 9GT+ for 2up street, giving me even better equipment to go with my skills. By the way, Thanks Doc 😉, i greatly appreciate what you did and still do for me and others.
2 bits on my motorcycle that I think enhance safety,: 1) Reflective strips on the outside edges of my hard panniers so that traffic from the front and back may judge the full extent of my vehicle 2) Adding yellow filters to my aux lights for foggy conditions. It’s mind blowing how much of a difference the color makes
I'm with you Kislay. I love Reflective Solas Marine Tape. I put this on my panniers. Marine Solas tape does a great job of lighting you up at night when headlights hit you from the rear or the side.
Headlights had to be yellow in france up until 1993 because they beleived it would improve visibility in foggy conditions. This holds true when comparing yellow and white lights at the same luminosity. However, filtering white light to be yellow reduces the brightness, which reduces the effect. At the sime time dimmer lights are significantly worse when it's not foggy. So they ended up reverting to white light just like the rest of the world. Same goes for ski-masks: yellow filters were very popular for bad weather conditions but usually when visibility is very bad there also isn't a blinding amount of sunlight left so most people just use clear glasses nowadays. I have compared both many times and tbh I couldn't see a significant difference. Glad if it works for you though! And I am certainly on the same page when it comes to reflective stripes. Most reflectors on bikes point forwards and backwards but never sideways, so don't forget to put some on the sides as well.
My bike had a pair of aux lights when I got it, but the original owner aimed them straight forward. One of the first things I did was fix that. They are for fog and off-roading so they should be pointed lower and out to the left and right, not directly at the eyeballs of oncoming traffic.
@@progammler thanks for sharing! I live in the northern part of India and in my experience white light just doesn’t work in the dense smog/fog we get here. Yellow light seems to cut through a lot better. Could also be the placement of the lights, tbh.
Please do a video on physical fitness for motorcycling. And anything special that motorcyclists should do to develop strength in some areas. Thank you.
Thanks for this trip through current safety features on today's bikes. My biggest safety add on was putting pivot pegs on my bike . Almost impossible to slip off , which gives more confidence while riding. Also adding 4 Clearwater lights upfront. Rode for years regular one headlight standard one light upfront , and now I can tell a noticeable difference with cars interactions with me as I approach intersections .
Tire Pressure Monitoring system. 2021 RP black/white owner here. I like the subtle styling changes to the 24, and really like the gray/black /red color scheme.
Lol, I wouldn't mind TPMS on my bike. Had a quick flat a few months ago while doing 80mph and didn't realize I didn't have air until my rear tire started wandering back and forth. Full butt pucker moment while crossing 4 lanes of rush hour traffic to get to the shoulder.
Great comments, Bret. On the road, visibility is paramount! Although black looks cool, it contributes to the invisibility of the motorcycle and rider. Visible colors, reflective tape, and lights assist in others seeing you!
02:30 “You cannot brake better than modern ABS” - False. In perfect conditions you can stop the bike faster without it. Fortnine has clearly demonstrated this in his video “Out-braking the ABS myth”. Are we better off with it? Almost always. What I find most disappointing with modern bikes is the TC and ABS make no consideration for suspension and tyre selection. There is a massive difference in the automated systems intervention on the basis of these variables. It would be fantastic if they could allow for variations (setting changes) which would then allow for far more effective intervention. A bike could have a road tyre setup with hard suspension. The same bike could be outfitted with medium suspension and knobby tyres. How the electronics intervene will be different for both scenarios and this is certainly not optimal.
A more generic safety feature is adjusting the controls to fit your hands and feet. Another one is foot pegs. The foot pegs on my recently purchase KTM 690r were a bit too narrow and I would find my big feet sometimes slipping off the peg. Wider pegs helped that, but I also have to be careful to not have my feet too wide on the new foot peg real estate. Don't want my feet to come off the pegs on narrow foot pegs and don't want my feet to get peeled off the bike and break a leg from my feet wagging out in the wind waiting for a root or rock to hit them.
I understand now why BMW and other brands have asymmetric headlights.. A few years back a work mate of mine was riding home from work late, it was dark and had his headlights on. His bike had two round headlighs as some older bikes do. Very unfortunately for him a car doing a U-turn saw these two headlights and mistook him for a car in the distance not a motorcycle 50metres away, the outcome was catastrophic and life changing, he was lucky to survive but unable to ever ride a bike again. You are very right Brett when you say headlights are a safety item, in more ways than one, asymmetric headlights are a life saver too.
I switched to yellow lenses on my Deni's D4's... I have noticed that driver's seem look at me longer, even in daylight. The yellow lenses attract attention, which is good when it comes to automobile drivers.
Hi Bret. Good video. My 1250GS has excellent safety features that I am glad to have, but I think the best safety feature remains frequent high quality training. I managed five days last year including two with you and two MSF classes. Nothing has helped me more as an aging rider. As to your video, I especially liked the comments that I took as a caution about "over-lighting" your bike, something which my fellow GS riders seem especially prone to. It's sort of the BMW equivalent of loud pipes save lives. Yes, some added lighting is probably helpful to a point but so many riders overdo this, which I find annoying and a distraction both as a rider and a driver. The friend I ride with most, and who is usually behind me, has such bright lights on his bike and so many of them that I find it a constant distraction when riding with him. And I notice that his setup sort of spooks drivers ahead of us, sometimes causing them to make dangerous maneuvers to get out of our way. My guess is that they think there is some sort of emergency vehicle behind them. We need to strike a balance between being visible but not annoying. Terry Burnes
@@fidanym My buddy runs a tubeless conversion on his 17 AT. 10K miles and numerous tire changes, no issues. Woodys are pricey, but you dont have to worry about them holding air and they look damn good =)
On my 2019 Africa Twin. Safety added features Heated grips Additional night lites Adjusted suspension Appropriate condition tires Regular service to brakes
My current GS I’ve added *amber* riding lights. Cages see me much earlier is all situations. Legal in California, not sure about less enlightened states. Highways, two-lanes, splitting and filtering much safer! Especially the 🟡🟡 Amber.
Simple, forward and backward radar. In sharp sunlight its hard to judge distance or see break lights. Sunglasses and Sun visors can only block so much. With a warning if someone is approaching you to fast or you them, can give you that 1-2seconds faster reaction time. All it need to do is give audio, on screen or vibrating warning, and often that is enough to stop it going from being a scary moment to a crash. I know, I just had one this summer. Did not manage to stop in time as the sun was low and straight into my face, car was coasting to a stop so I misjudged the distance as I thought it was driving at road speed. But I did get the bike down to a slow speed before I hit the car. I also did the stupid thing "oh sh*t" and straighten up my back, locking my right albow. Broke my wrist, but all healed now. Lesson learned, and onwords to a new bike season in 4-5months. But if my bike had 1 more second, it would have stopped intime and both of us would have been fine.
I purchased a 2024 K1600GTL with 160 bhp on tap. Traction control means that power is fully available at all times in all conditions. It’s amazingly good and helps me ride with confidence
@@mikemerrill175 ofcourse we need motorcycles. In asia people's main mode of transportation is motorcycles. But getting a 1600 cc is just showing off. Most of u who own such high cc bikes r not even competent to handle that much power. Thats why u need so many riding modes and traction control and what not.
Okay so here's my addition: In the Netherlands, Oskam Engineering is selling lighted motorcycle emblems. I've got these on my BMW R1250GS, and they are lit white when riding, and Flash orange when indicating, obviously only on the side you're indicating. This greatly helps increase your visibility straight to the side, when for instance you're changing lanes on the highway in the dark. Also they look awesome. Also I always ride with the "offroad" footpegs, they have an aggressive pattern of small Pins, nearly impossible to slide off of. BTW, all the features Bret highlighted on this very nice Triumph, My BMW has had as standard (apart from heated seats and grips, those are options) since 2019. BMW has had the linked braking system for decades, but it's gotten really good nowadays.
I agree, technology does make the bike safer, but it also makes us worse riders. If you learn on a bike with sophisticated ABS and traction control, you will not learn many of the most important riding/control techniques. I prefer to turn everything off, unless I’m on wet roads, where I do lean on ABS happily.
That is incredibly ignorant perspective. An inexperienced rider who makes one fatal mistake will never ride another day. A few years back while riding my now sold DR650 travelling 55 moh on a two lane road I made a late decision to turn right on an upcoming road. I noticed gravel in the right side of the lane upon approach and thus used minimal front brake and too much rear brake. Thus the rear locks up and the rear wheel swings towards the median. Meanwhile another car is coming from the other direction. Did I survive? Yes! Did it make me better skilled rider? No! My instincts took over but after careful reflection I realized that could've have ended up horribly worse. What if I crossed the median or lost complete control of the bike? With ABS there would've been none of that drama. Most every accident is a culmination of various events when combined result in a very bad outcome. The key to survival is to eliminate such things that can escalate it to that level. I ride a motorcycle for enjoyment but not to test how many times I can avoid the grim reaper. Why you would ever shut-off ABS or traction control on the street is completely irrational behavior.
I have a 1200 GS 2006, and I just fitted a easy canon to the electronics, which allows me to use my computer to program all the lights to do different things. When I decelerate now I have two red LEDs on the back that strobe. When I use my horn, it's droves the spotlights and the lights on the front. At night, if I use a turn signal, it turns off the spotlights on the same side, so that the turn signal is not obstructed by the light it's a great feature for safety. And also the only way you can connect accessories to the GS computer system.
Owned a 2006 R1200GS as well. The only rider aids are ABS and the integrated front-rear link. The ABS failed on mine at 75K. In the mountains. With my wife on the back. Quite the moment. For those that dont know, that era ABS was a boosted system, power brakes. Performed a bypass and removed the servo unit, leaving the electronics section because it uses inputs for speedometer and brake light. It helped that the master cylinders are the same for ABS and non-ABS models. Brake feel actually improved, particularly off-road.
Great video, Brett! My night vision isn’t the greatest anymore, so I mostly ride in the daytime. But, I’m going to add driving lights to my Transalp when it gets here, primarily to be seen by drivers on the street. (Wish that it had the three-gyro traction control) Having the 3-light pattern to oncoming or side street traffic is more likely to get their attention, I think, and also gives them a better reference to judge my distance/speed, just as with two headlights on a car would. The new bike also incorporates the turn signals as running lights. (Great move, Honda). All new bikes should have flashing brake lights under hard deceleration too, imho.
One of the biggest things I've started doing, not only to my bike, but also my helmet (even my bicycle and bicycle helmet) is adding some strips of color matched retro-reflective tape to the sides and rear. I bought a 25ft roll of very black retroreflective tape and added 3 strips to the front cowling, on my rear crate, and dotted around my helmet in black areas. Unless you're shining a light directly at it (like a headlight) you're not going to notice the additions. But they really pop at night.
Rode a multistada v4s (?) Hated it. The computers gave me no feedback as to what levels of grip I had which ended up having me ride way faster than I normally would have. ABS won't create friction and traction if there is none to be had so that wouldn't have saved me. Rider aids reduce riders desire to develop a life-saving skills etc IMO
I'm guessing nobody is going to like this one. But a decent kickstand is important. The stock kickstand on my 1200 tenere sucks. I've come so close to damaging cars (and my back) trying to keep the bike upright when unloading the bike in a hotel parking lot. It keeps the bike in a position that is too upright. I've owned a lot of bikes and this one is the worst for having to watch the "terrain" when parking. Pretty bad for an adv bike.
I’ll add a steering damper/stabilizer to the list. Suspension for the steering is important, especially off road but also on the street. After riding on the freeway several years ago and getting a tank slapper after hitting a 2x4, I’m a believer.
Sir, I have installed a Power Deer whistle , additional Fog lights but they facing downward, I have installed all type of reflective tapes all around the bike to make it more visible. Good Video sir, even though I am paved road rider, I enjoy all of your videos and Thank you so much for creating these useful videos for us.
biggest addional safety feature for me, after many years of riding is Yellow spot lights in the front... ( not amber - which is same color as indicators) .... how many times have you heard - sorry i did not see you. With yellow lights on the front i have never again had this problem. And yes i set them to 80-100 % output during day riding.
Good points Bret!! When I first got my Super Tenere I did braking drills trying to "outbrake" the Unified System. Needless to say I always came up going 5-10 feet further (depending on speed).
I covered my bike and helmet with retro-reflective stickers, and after placing them to my liking, they both look cool (to me, which is all I care about) and make me even harder to miss. Besides, who doesn't like stickers.
The no. 1 safety feature you can give yourself is a "Hi viz" fluo green helmet ! There is very little study but it is conclusive these lids are involved in fewer crashes. What there is a lot of is resistance in the motorcycle community to study this further. We still got the "not cool" brigade who don't want to look into this or be seen in HiVi ! If you've watched another biker in a fluo lid, you can see that rider from a long way away AND you didn't even notice, but you noticed that rider straight away. That lid caught your eye. If that's happening too for every car driver you pass then it's a massive safety feature !!!
A light colored helmet with added reflective tape strips on the back and sides. It helps to stand out at night and yes, don't ride around in dark gear at night without any reflective bits.
I used to remove the reflectors to 'save weight' or because it looked cooler. Later in life I think it's better to be seen :) I do think practicing skills and keeping your focus is very important. ABS on road is very important, and just as important is your own skill set and judgment. I like to push off road. I ride much more conservatively on road.
Nice video, Bret. One thing I upgraded on my DesertX that I consider a safety improvement is a high iPhone mount by Evotech/QuadLock. Having my navigation that high feels like having a head-up display, and I still keep a view of the road when I quickly look at the map.
Sophisticated modes help us - to sometimes neglect the actual riding techniques ;-) Many people don't ride often and not many miles per year (average about 2,000 km in Germany), little training makes you forget your routine. The best Stradivari violin won't make a world-class musician out of you. Just my 2 ct, Günter/Nürnberg PS: Better suspension and front brake for my Transalp 600 were the most important features.
Interestingly there are still people out there who think they can outperform a modern ABS system or ABS is not necessary, or even dangerous.The ONLY condition where that might be true, is using road ABS on a loose (gravel) surface. I tried it and did it - I outperformed road ABS on gravel with ABS off. Not too hard, actually. HOWEVER: once I told the motorcycle what to expect (offroad mode) it was braking better and more stable than I did. And of course those were controlled conditions with an expected full maximum power stop, not an emergency. Totally different story if you need to do an emergency stop. So: YES, ABS is the best thing that happened to motorcycles. Ever!
I see Triumph at least listened and fixed that knee area and removed that stupid piece of frame protector and replaced it with something more sensible. Also the new LCD user interface is much better.
Own a 21 RP. Looks like they may have redesigned the radiator outlet shrouds to direct the hot air away from the knees a little better (the heat didnt bother me much, but it's a valid complaint). I would gladly pay money to reflash the software/firmware and get those new screen graphics, but truth be told, I've gotten used to the current one and turns out I really dont care what exact RPM I'm at...I "feel" it at low speed when doing clutch work, and it has a rev limiter =) I wonder if the new one allows you to set the TPM lower pressure limits...it's distracting when I drop the pressures for certain conditions.
@@orangelion03 Being a software expert myself for 33 years as well as doing electronics as one of my too many hobbies, I am almost certain they could re-flash the firmware of that display, though I very much doubt they would offer such a service. Yes the heat on the legs is an issue. My wife rides the 23 RP Aragon, and she already mentioned it, also bearing in mind that summer riding here can easily be in 35 - 42 degrees C. I ride the 2019 KTM 1290 SAR and that bike is also a toasty beast.
Tubeless tires. A patch’s on the side of the highway is fast and done. Pulling a whole wheel off on the side of the road takes more time and space for more chances to get hit. And you’re then more exhausted for the ride. Tubeless
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Thanks for your video. I'd like to mention that we should not only concentrate on our bike but also take an objective look on ourself. Physical fitness is in my humble opinion also a major safety supplement. Maybe you could make a video about the essentials fitness needs for a safe (off-road) biker?
Absolutely. My wife is a weight lifter and trainer, and what finally got me to join her in the (garage) gym was the KLR in the corner, reminding me exactly how heavy it is. 😅
First thing have a healthy back, the rest is riding hours.
Changing my windshield to avoid buffeting. When going on long rides this makes focusing on important things much more difficult
Changed the ergonomics to my liking, lighting and did a safety course last year.
Properly adjusted mirrors, handlebars and brake lever/pedal. If you have to find them to use them, you’re in trouble.
My son and I ride Piaggio Beverly scooters, his is 400cc mine is 350. We tour and motocamp.
In addition to features you recommend we:
wear bright colors and even had reflective tape sewn onto his leather jacket,
All gear all the time,
Tall windshield during winter riding for better vision w/o buffetting,
Added brake light flasher with 3 quick blinks to alert I'm braking without annoying vehicles behind,
Pin lock behind visor to prevent fogging, Cardo on lead rider to alert of hazards.
Happy Holidays to you and your subscribers.
I like adding auxiliary lights, not just to see better at night but also to be seen better during the day. A single headlight could be a motorcycle or a car with a broken headlight, but a triangle of three lights is definitely a motorcycle, and unusual enough on the road that drivers seem to notice.
Right on. Two headlights on a car a far distance away appear as one (convergence). Motorcycles appear further away to motorists because the separation between light sources is less and always perceived incorrectly.
@@kannermwexactly! I notice I get cut off more often on my two-headlight V-Strom than my previous single headlight motorcycles.
Auxiliary lights for me are always a must addition to any Motorcycle I ride.
Great vid Bret and you pointed out the flashing hazard lights under heavy breaking, this is a feature other manufactures have had fitted for a couple of years now. As for a safety feature - I change the standard 'asthmatic mouse' like horn on my bikes to a Stebel air horn & fit auxilary lighting.
Thanks Bret, some very good points there.
I’ve added daytime running lights which can also be used as fog lights to my Gen 2 KLR650. I’m not sure if it makes a difference or not to other road users but it definitely makes me feel more safe. I have also added heated grips but never considered them to be a safety feature until now.
👍🇦🇺
Thanks Bret, another excellent video. I think that ergonomics are very important. That is getting the seat height correct, handlebar position and seat to pegs plus angel. On occasion
I have raised the bars and turned them very slightly plus changed the seat to get that comfortable position so that I'm not moving around on the bike trying to get comfortable. Trying to eliminate any aches.
This bike is very well set up from Triumph. I have found over the last several years bikes have been much better than in the past. The only complaint I have is they are almost to tall at the bars now since they are all catering too the "riser" crowd.
I had the 2017 GSA 1200 and was a member of the riser crowd. This is possibly due to being 6' 2" tall and 240 lbs so not your average size rider. However, I now have the KTM 1290 SAS which fits me just fine without the need for risers. I can now spend my money on something other than risers.
Biggest single motorcycle safety item I’ve invested in has been continuous rider training for………..me!
Bravo, no feature or gizmo will ever make up for a dumb ass on top of it😂.
Amber aux lights up front are on my list. My buddy has them on his GS and no question cars see him coming from way back and are generally more likely to move out of the way (for lane splitting or just getting out of the fast lane).
On both my BMW 1200 and 650. GS's, I have added auxiliary lights to help me see better at night as well as other people seeing me better during the day.
Not sure if I agree with heated grips/seat to be safety feature, but I get the point. If a rider can't feel his fingers, that's a clear sign to stop and have a break (or that investment in certain areas is needed). Currently my bike has abs and tc, next one will definitely have more electronics.
I am not an off road rider but I use an airbag that activates if I get thrown from the bike.... I love that comfort in case of an accident....
I have a riding acquaintance whose life (or at very least the quality of the rest of his life) was saved by one of those when he was rear-ended on a freeway at speed. I think it was a Held brand?
Clearwater Erica lights with yellow lens covers! So noticeably better!!!
I would like either a motorized assist or a mechanism improvement for putting my BMW R1200RT on the center stand. This is a safety item for me as I've injured myself a few times in doing this.
There is a right technique for doing it. I would suggest getting some help or watching a few videos on it. If you are putting a lot of effort into it you are not doing it correctly and that is a safety hazard.
Having 50years in the saddle, this video explains why I just bought a 23 RP 1200. We are so fortunate to have such technology helping us with safety. Maybe if I was still 21 I’d say what a man I am and don’t need no stinking technology, helmets suck!
Thoughtful tire selection
Proper tire pressure is a must imo
I think the Ducati Desert X comes with a blinking tail-light whenever the brake is applied. At one time there was an aftermarket headlight adapter that would modulate the headlight between high and low beam to make the bike more visable to other drivers during daylight. Anything that can make a motorcycle more visable, outside of painting it yellow or florescent orange, is a good thing.
Installed a Lighting strikes rear brake and Denali T3’s on back tied to Denali Can-smart that flash on deceleration and braking on rear of my Africa Twin
I remember braking hard with an empty pick-up approaching a corner. Not long after, GM managed to introduce ABS on rear brakes on volume pick-ups.
3 or 4 way adjustable suspension that actually make a difference when twiddled is quite remarkable. Manufacturers didn't like giving too much adjustability as someone could twiddle into some dark territory.
KTM 1290 Super Adventure uses all that features since 2017. The exception being the tail light feature, heated grips and seats (both always sold as an extra).
I added to my 1999 AT metal breaklines, TT-Suspension for 2 riders an bag., larger footpegs, "comfy+safer" seat, maintain. and service all over the bike by my own to mult. reliability/safety,
"no communication-system"....., no bling-bling so I´m free for "atitude matters", greetings from Graz/Austria, Christian
I'm genuinely curious about your thoughts regarding the "loud pipe thing." I've been riding for almost 30 years. When I was young, I went through the loud-pipe phase. While I no longer feel the need to have a pipe that makes my ear drums bleed, I can't deny that there was a marked improvement in cager awareness when I was riding around on a loud crotch rocket. I understand that it annoys those around you. I'm just saying that it definitely made drivers less likely to pull out in front of me.
The loud pipe thing is mostly for those riders with juvenile minds who want attention. While it may work to a certain degree it gives very bad impressions about motorcyclists. Also, who selfishly thinks one's right to ride a motorcycle should infringe on others right to peace and quiet? It is suggesting the right of one individual to ride a loud motorcycle triumphs the rights of 100s or 1000s of others right to peace and quiet. To that point you would think those people might punish riders of loud motorcycles. Oh wait they already do but they dont enforce the laws.
As a rider I despise and harbor highly negatives feelings towards riders of loud motorcycles. They ruin the experience of riding for me more than anything else on a regular basis and even when I am not riding.
@@kannermw That's my point. You can't have it both ways. How can a loud pipe annoy "1000s of others" without raising drivers' awareness of the presence of a motorcycle? Anyway, I personally don't really care if someone has a loud pipe. I just feel like some people talk out both sides of their mouth on this issue.
@@ArmyOfZin What if that someone is your neighbor who fires up those loud pipes at 5 am in the morning or maybe arrives around 1-2am and gives it a few twists so you know he’s home? It’s disrespectful and illegal. Riders should add extra lighting, wear more visible clothing and use a horn to alert distracted drivers while riding defensively.
The a-hole, juveniles using “loud pipes save lives” slogan is just a convenient excuse to infringe on others rights to peace and quiet including the people not even driving just living their lives at home and wanting to peace and quiet.
There is just no logical justificationsfor such behavior. They should just quit riding then. Plenty other riders including myself do just fine without loud exhaust.
@@kannermw Yeah man.
I have tenere 700,
Installed:
Heat grips
Innovv blind spot detection
And abs, of course..
1. Good training 2. Good tyres 3. Abs
Safety feature? Fit the most appropriate tires for how you ride... knobs, high-end sport bike tires, etc.
Big believer in amber fog lights; much more visible to other traffic.
Not necessarily a motorcycle mod, but hi-viz gear is a big safety enhancement. Ear protection is an overlooked safety enhancement. Proper maintenance of chain, brakes and tires are a very important safety enhancement. The crash bars on my KLR are a good safety enhancement. What about forward controls or highway pegs? Preventing leg cramps by having the ability to rest your legs in different positions is a safety enhancement.
To add to the comfort/safety of heated grips, I have put some heat shrink tube around my levers. That way, your fingers won't cool down that fast at a traffic light.
I also have a white helmet to enhance visibility in low light conditions.
I once commuted on a Yamaha Enduro year round. My girlfriend gave me these giant mittens, like a dog-sled musher would use. It only took an extra 4 or 5 seconds to MAYBE find the clutch and brake levers. In retrospect, I think she had an insurance policy on my life. In summary, heated grips ARE a safety feature I've installed on my V-Strom.
Hey Bret how does it compare to the 2023? Are the electronics and safety features the same?
My attitude and desire to be better
Thank goodness my best part of my life is behind me!!! Apparently I’m going to be done in by my old fashioned KLR 😂😂
likewise. at least my crash bars gouge the earth significantly enough when i lay it down that i feel like i gave as well as i got.
@@aaronkcmo 👍🏻👍🏻💯
better extra lights, windshield/windprotector
Nice bike... 😊
Hi Bret,
I ride and have done since 1976 until today. My concern with modern bikes is what occurs when computer fails and you lose abs traction control. Have we become too reliant on modern technology and lost the skill of riding a bike pre modern abs etc?
I would agree if we were ever any good at braking. The average rider did (and still does) only brake at about .7g declaration average where most ABS will stop near 1g (good traction for both scenarios).
In 11years of collecting braking data from experienced motorcyclist for the government only one rider met the 1G threshold without ABS in the first run and he was student of mine
Well, reliability is the most important safety feature... Triumph? Plan on adding that one?
I've been riding 56 years, I guess all that electronic gizmos is fine for you younguns. I've never had a bike with it and really don't care to ride a bike I can't work on myself. These days I mostly ride 40 and 50 year old Harleys. Simple but it gets you down the road, works for me but I don't live near a city either
I’d like to know the thoughts on modulating/flashing headlights.
In some countries/states, its banned except for emergency vehicles only.
I’d like to add a cylinder to my bike. Turn my G310GS into a F620GS. Not kidding. I really like the G310GS. If @BMW made the engine a parallel twin instead of a single, it would be wonderful. More power. I’d add more power.
AuX lights
Thank our lucky stars we have these safety features. Can you imagine the amount over government oversight and subsequent overstepping there would be. Fact: Cessnas used to be relatively inexpensive until a pro baseball player crashed one. Now they are about 5-10 times the cost they should be new because of regulation. That, and the threat of litigation especially here in the land of the fearful and worrisome.
We used to be the land of the free and the brave, but so many citizens are so ready to abandon our rights to the government in the name of 'safety'. In the end, we are much less safe, but over controlled, which is what ''our'' (using that term very, very loosely) government officials really wanted. Us being less safe, then leads to more control and less rights. Our founding fathers were geniuses. Now we have the likes of Biden and Trump... You thought this was a one sided argument, didn't you? Well, I can't stand either side.
Well, at least we still got motorcycles... But, don't say it too loud, as ''our'' leaders also love to crush out anything that's fun, but also dangerous.
Better horns
Triumph still doesn't protect rear shock from debris? Wow!
And every new rider learns how to ride with those electronic aids, and when they mount an older school bike they basically die 😅
Half the fun is the risk. Hmm?!
A white helmet and a reflective safety yellow vest.
I step into my garage and look at my 1981 XL185 with no computers and drum brakes....Yeah this video isn't intended for me.
Id like to be able to comfortably do 2 wheel drifting and be able to begin to lose the front end and save it.
Or have launch control & wheelie assist too, almost all is now possible and is dial-able on some newer bikes. The key skill that will be missed though may be found at the worst moment of the riders career...obstacle avoidance in an emergency. Whether its better skills or equipment, you often need them both to be at their best when it matters most. That's why i took lessons from Club Desmo and dirt riding clinics, both with Doc Wong. One advice he gave me was "to reduce fear of street slides, learn to ride a dirtbike where its loose all the time!". I did just that, multiple sessions at his Hollister clinics too. Now 20 some years later i have a Yamaha Tracer 9GT+ for 2up street, giving me even better equipment to go with my skills. By the way, Thanks Doc 😉, i greatly appreciate what you did and still do for me and others.
1984 Harley, the same problem 😂😂😂
2 bits on my motorcycle that I think enhance safety,:
1) Reflective strips on the outside edges of my hard panniers so that traffic from the front and back may judge the full extent of my vehicle
2) Adding yellow filters to my aux lights for foggy conditions. It’s mind blowing how much of a difference the color makes
I'm with you Kislay. I love Reflective Solas Marine Tape. I put this on my panniers. Marine Solas tape does a great job of lighting you up at night when headlights hit you from the rear or the side.
Headlights had to be yellow in france up until 1993 because they beleived it would improve visibility in foggy conditions. This holds true when comparing yellow and white lights at the same luminosity. However, filtering white light to be yellow reduces the brightness, which reduces the effect. At the sime time dimmer lights are significantly worse when it's not foggy. So they ended up reverting to white light just like the rest of the world. Same goes for ski-masks: yellow filters were very popular for bad weather conditions but usually when visibility is very bad there also isn't a blinding amount of sunlight left so most people just use clear glasses nowadays. I have compared both many times and tbh I couldn't see a significant difference. Glad if it works for you though! And I am certainly on the same page when it comes to reflective stripes. Most reflectors on bikes point forwards and backwards but never sideways, so don't forget to put some on the sides as well.
My bike had a pair of aux lights when I got it, but the original owner aimed them straight forward. One of the first things I did was fix that. They are for fog and off-roading so they should be pointed lower and out to the left and right, not directly at the eyeballs of oncoming traffic.
@@progammler thanks for sharing! I live in the northern part of India and in my experience white light just doesn’t work in the dense smog/fog we get here. Yellow light seems to cut through a lot better. Could also be the placement of the lights, tbh.
SOLAS tape all over the place on every bike I have
Please do a video on physical fitness for motorcycling. And anything special that motorcyclists should do to develop strength in some areas. Thank you.
Thanks for this trip through current safety features on today's bikes. My biggest safety add on was putting pivot pegs on my bike . Almost impossible to slip off , which gives more confidence while riding. Also adding 4 Clearwater lights upfront. Rode for years regular one headlight standard one light upfront , and now I can tell a noticeable difference with cars interactions with me as I approach intersections .
Tire Pressure Monitoring system.
2021 RP black/white owner here. I like the subtle styling changes to the 24, and really like the gray/black /red color scheme.
Lol, I wouldn't mind TPMS on my bike. Had a quick flat a few months ago while doing 80mph and didn't realize I didn't have air until my rear tire started wandering back and forth. Full butt pucker moment while crossing 4 lanes of rush hour traffic to get to the shoulder.
Great comments, Bret. On the road, visibility is paramount! Although black looks cool, it contributes to the invisibility of the motorcycle and rider. Visible colors, reflective tape, and lights assist in others seeing you!
02:30 “You cannot brake better than modern ABS” - False. In perfect conditions you can stop the bike faster without it. Fortnine has clearly demonstrated this in his video “Out-braking the ABS myth”.
Are we better off with it? Almost always.
What I find most disappointing with modern bikes is the TC and ABS make no consideration for suspension and tyre selection.
There is a massive difference in the automated systems intervention on the basis of these variables. It would be fantastic if they could allow for variations (setting changes) which would then allow for far more effective intervention. A bike could have a road tyre setup with hard suspension. The same bike could be outfitted with medium suspension and knobby tyres. How the electronics intervene will be different for both scenarios and this is certainly not optimal.
I rewired the horn to go when the headlights turn on - if loud pipes save lives, always-on horns are next level!
😂
A more generic safety feature is adjusting the controls to fit your hands and feet. Another one is foot pegs. The foot pegs on my recently purchase KTM 690r were a bit too narrow and I would find my big feet sometimes slipping off the peg. Wider pegs helped that, but I also have to be careful to not have my feet too wide on the new foot peg real estate. Don't want my feet to come off the pegs on narrow foot pegs and don't want my feet to get peeled off the bike and break a leg from my feet wagging out in the wind waiting for a root or rock to hit them.
Auto dimming rear view mirrors!
Cars gave had this for years, why can't bikes?
I understand now why BMW and other brands have asymmetric headlights.. A few years back a work mate of mine was riding home from work late, it was dark and had his headlights on. His bike had two round headlighs as some older bikes do. Very unfortunately for him a car doing a U-turn saw these two headlights and mistook him for a car in the distance not a motorcycle 50metres away, the outcome was catastrophic and life changing, he was lucky to survive but unable to ever ride a bike again. You are very right Brett when you say headlights are a safety item, in more ways than one, asymmetric headlights are a life saver too.
I assume USA is the only country where asymmetric headlights are not legally obligatory.
I switched to yellow lenses on my Deni's D4's... I have noticed that driver's seem look at me longer, even in daylight. The yellow lenses attract attention, which is good when it comes to automobile drivers.
Hi Bret. Good video. My 1250GS has excellent safety features that I am glad to have, but I think the best safety feature remains frequent high quality training. I managed five days last year including two with you and two MSF classes. Nothing has helped me more as an aging rider.
As to your video, I especially liked the comments that I took as a caution about "over-lighting" your bike, something which my fellow GS riders seem especially prone to. It's sort of the BMW equivalent of loud pipes save lives. Yes, some added lighting is probably helpful to a point but so many riders overdo this, which I find annoying and a distraction both as a rider and a driver. The friend I ride with most, and who is usually behind me, has such bright lights on his bike and so many of them that I find it a constant distraction when riding with him. And I notice that his setup sort of spooks drivers ahead of us, sometimes causing them to make dangerous maneuvers to get out of our way. My guess is that they think there is some sort of emergency vehicle behind them. We need to strike a balance between being visible but not annoying.
Terry Burnes
I call it the Close Encounters look =) I bought a 17 GSA used, and it came with factory and Denali lights. It was a tad much.
Tubeless tyres, even on adventure bikes is a great safety feature. Keep up the good work,
Cheers, V.
Definitely, it's the only thing that I keep thinking about while riding my 2016 AT, so that is definitely something I'm looking forward to change
@@fidanym My buddy runs a tubeless conversion on his 17 AT. 10K miles and numerous tire changes, no issues. Woodys are pricey, but you dont have to worry about them holding air and they look damn good =)
@@orangelion03 yeah I was looking at Woodys and Alpina
White helmet for better visibility!
On my 2019 Africa Twin. Safety added features
Heated grips
Additional night lites
Adjusted suspension
Appropriate condition tires
Regular service to brakes
My current GS I’ve added *amber* riding lights.
Cages see me much earlier is all situations. Legal in California, not sure about less enlightened states. Highways, two-lanes, splitting and filtering much safer!
Especially the 🟡🟡 Amber.
Simple, forward and backward radar. In sharp sunlight its hard to judge distance or see break lights. Sunglasses and Sun visors can only block so much. With a warning if someone is approaching you to fast or you them, can give you that 1-2seconds faster reaction time. All it need to do is give audio, on screen or vibrating warning, and often that is enough to stop it going from being a scary moment to a crash. I know, I just had one this summer. Did not manage to stop in time as the sun was low and straight into my face, car was coasting to a stop so I misjudged the distance as I thought it was driving at road speed. But I did get the bike down to a slow speed before I hit the car. I also did the stupid thing "oh sh*t" and straighten up my back, locking my right albow. Broke my wrist, but all healed now. Lesson learned, and onwords to a new bike season in 4-5months. But if my bike had 1 more second, it would have stopped intime and both of us would have been fine.
I purchased a 2024 K1600GTL with 160 bhp on tap. Traction control means that power is fully available at all times in all conditions. It’s amazingly good and helps me ride with confidence
😂question is do u really need a 1600 cc bike ?
@TheAmitkumar2010 we only really need food and shelter to survive. Anything else is a want.
Do any of us REALLY need a motorcycle? No. That’s why I have 4 including a 1600 GT
@@mikemerrill175 ofcourse we need motorcycles. In asia people's main mode of transportation is motorcycles. But getting a 1600 cc is just showing off. Most of u who own such high cc bikes r not even competent to handle that much power. Thats why u need so many riding modes and traction control and what not.
@@chrishart8548 dont forget sex. We need that too.
Just told the wife I need to order a heated seat for my Tiger. Safety First!!!!!! Great vid!
How did you like the new 2024 Tiger 900 Rally Pro ??? NICE!!!
When a vehicle starts to change lanes into you a Denali Soundbomb horn is definitely a safety feature, in addition to normal defensive driving.
Okay so here's my addition: In the Netherlands, Oskam Engineering is selling lighted motorcycle emblems. I've got these on my BMW R1250GS, and they are lit white when riding, and Flash orange when indicating, obviously only on the side you're indicating. This greatly helps increase your visibility straight to the side, when for instance you're changing lanes on the highway in the dark.
Also they look awesome.
Also I always ride with the "offroad" footpegs, they have an aggressive pattern of small Pins, nearly impossible to slide off of.
BTW, all the features Bret highlighted on this very nice Triumph, My BMW has had as standard (apart from heated seats and grips, those are options) since 2019. BMW has had the linked braking system for decades, but it's gotten really good nowadays.
I agree, technology does make the bike safer, but it also makes us worse riders.
If you learn on a bike with sophisticated ABS and traction control, you will not learn many of the most important riding/control techniques.
I prefer to turn everything off, unless I’m on wet roads, where I do lean on ABS happily.
That is incredibly ignorant perspective. An inexperienced rider who makes one fatal mistake will never ride another day.
A few years back while riding my now sold DR650 travelling 55 moh on a two lane road I made a late decision to turn right on an upcoming road. I noticed gravel in the right side of the lane upon approach and thus used minimal front brake and too much rear brake. Thus the rear locks up and the rear wheel swings towards the median. Meanwhile another car is coming from the other direction. Did I survive? Yes! Did it make me better skilled rider? No!
My instincts took over but after careful reflection I realized that could've have ended up horribly worse. What if I crossed the median or lost complete control of the bike? With ABS there would've been none of that drama. Most every accident is a culmination of various events when combined result in a very bad outcome. The key to survival is to eliminate such things that can escalate it to that level. I ride a motorcycle for enjoyment but not to test how many times I can avoid the grim reaper. Why you would ever shut-off ABS or traction control on the street is completely irrational behavior.
2:40 well, I can think of one thing I do, or rather think about 15 times a second...
9:44 how bout the nut crusher pad? Thats some good thinking right there, by a real off road rider.
One thing that could be done to make my bike safer? Probably get me off of it???🤔
I just worry that with modern inflation and spec sheet obsession that the days of cheap iron have ended.
All those flippen controls are dangerous, too much time fiddling and not concentrating on riding.
I have a 1200 GS 2006, and I just fitted a easy canon to the electronics, which allows me to use my computer to program all the lights to do different things. When I decelerate now I have two red LEDs on the back that strobe. When I use my horn, it's droves the spotlights and the lights on the front. At night, if I use a turn signal, it turns off the spotlights on the same side, so that the turn signal is not obstructed by the light it's a great feature for safety. And also the only way you can connect accessories to the GS computer system.
Owned a 2006 R1200GS as well. The only rider aids are ABS and the integrated front-rear link. The ABS failed on mine at 75K. In the mountains. With my wife on the back. Quite the moment. For those that dont know, that era ABS was a boosted system, power brakes. Performed a bypass and removed the servo unit, leaving the electronics section because it uses inputs for speedometer and brake light. It helped that the master cylinders are the same for ABS and non-ABS models. Brake feel actually improved, particularly off-road.
Great video, Brett!
My night vision isn’t the greatest anymore, so I mostly ride in the daytime.
But, I’m going to add driving lights to my Transalp when it gets here, primarily to be seen by drivers on the street. (Wish that it had the three-gyro traction control)
Having the 3-light pattern to oncoming or side street traffic is more likely to get their attention, I think, and also gives them a better reference to judge my distance/speed, just as with two headlights on a car would.
The new bike also incorporates the turn signals as running lights. (Great move, Honda). All new bikes should have flashing brake lights under hard deceleration too, imho.
One of the biggest things I've started doing, not only to my bike, but also my helmet (even my bicycle and bicycle helmet) is adding some strips of color matched retro-reflective tape to the sides and rear. I bought a 25ft roll of very black retroreflective tape and added 3 strips to the front cowling, on my rear crate, and dotted around my helmet in black areas. Unless you're shining a light directly at it (like a headlight) you're not going to notice the additions. But they really pop at night.
Rode a multistada v4s (?) Hated it. The computers gave me no feedback as to what levels of grip I had which ended up having me ride way faster than I normally would have. ABS won't create friction and traction if there is none to be had so that wouldn't have saved me. Rider aids reduce riders desire to develop a life-saving skills etc IMO
I'm guessing nobody is going to like this one. But a decent kickstand is important. The stock kickstand on my 1200 tenere sucks. I've come so close to damaging cars (and my back) trying to keep the bike upright when unloading the bike in a hotel parking lot. It keeps the bike in a position that is too upright. I've owned a lot of bikes and this one is the worst for having to watch the "terrain" when parking. Pretty bad for an adv bike.
The details matter 👍
I’ll add a steering damper/stabilizer to the list. Suspension for the steering is important, especially off road but also on the street. After riding on the freeway several years ago and getting a tank slapper after hitting a 2x4, I’m a believer.
Sir, I have installed a Power Deer whistle , additional Fog lights but they facing downward, I have installed all type of reflective tapes all around the bike to make it more visible. Good Video sir, even though I am paved road rider, I enjoy all of your videos and Thank you so much for creating these useful videos for us.
biggest addional safety feature for me, after many years of riding is Yellow spot lights in the front... ( not amber - which is same color as indicators) .... how many times have you heard - sorry i did not see you. With yellow lights on the front i have never again had this problem. And yes i set them to 80-100 % output during day riding.
Good points Bret!! When I first got my Super Tenere I did braking drills trying to "outbrake" the Unified System. Needless to say I always came up going 5-10 feet further (depending on speed).
I covered my bike and helmet with retro-reflective stickers, and after placing them to my liking, they both look cool (to me, which is all I care about) and make me even harder to miss.
Besides, who doesn't like stickers.
The no. 1 safety feature you can give yourself is a "Hi viz" fluo green helmet ! There is very little study but it is conclusive these lids are involved in fewer crashes. What there is a lot of is resistance in the motorcycle community to study this further. We still got the "not cool" brigade who don't want to look into this or be seen in HiVi ! If you've watched another biker in a fluo lid, you can see that rider from a long way away AND you didn't even notice, but you noticed that rider straight away. That lid caught your eye. If that's happening too for every car driver you pass then it's a massive safety feature !!!
A light colored helmet with added reflective tape strips on the back and sides. It helps to stand out at night and yes, don't ride around in dark gear at night without any reflective bits.
It's also _fantastic_ birth control
@@sCiphre shame your folks didn't know that 😔
@@1050cc unfortunately you can have all the protection in the world, accidents still happen. Our existence is clear proof of that.
@@sCiphre 😆 I thought you were as dumb as you sounded. Exactly. Prevention might not always work but it's always possible to try it 😉
I used to remove the reflectors to 'save weight' or because it looked cooler. Later in life I think it's better to be seen :) I do think practicing skills and keeping your focus is very important. ABS on road is very important, and just as important is your own skill set and judgment. I like to push off road. I ride much more conservatively on road.
Nice video, Bret. One thing I upgraded on my DesertX that I consider a safety improvement is a high iPhone mount by Evotech/QuadLock. Having my navigation that high feels like having a head-up display, and I still keep a view of the road when I quickly look at the map.
Sophisticated modes help us - to sometimes neglect the actual riding techniques ;-) Many people don't ride often and not many miles per year (average about 2,000 km in Germany), little training makes you forget your routine. The best Stradivari violin won't make a world-class musician out of you. Just my 2 ct, Günter/Nürnberg PS: Better suspension and front brake for my Transalp 600 were the most important features.
Interestingly there are still people out there who think they can outperform a modern ABS system or ABS is not necessary, or even dangerous.The ONLY condition where that might be true, is using road ABS on a loose (gravel) surface. I tried it and did it - I outperformed road ABS on gravel with ABS off. Not too hard, actually. HOWEVER: once I told the motorcycle what to expect (offroad mode) it was braking better and more stable than I did. And of course those were controlled conditions with an expected full maximum power stop, not an emergency. Totally different story if you need to do an emergency stop. So: YES, ABS is the best thing that happened to motorcycles. Ever!
I see Triumph at least listened and fixed that knee area and removed that stupid piece of frame protector and replaced it with something more sensible. Also the new LCD user interface is much better.
Own a 21 RP. Looks like they may have redesigned the radiator outlet shrouds to direct the hot air away from the knees a little better (the heat didnt bother me much, but it's a valid complaint). I would gladly pay money to reflash the software/firmware and get those new screen graphics, but truth be told, I've gotten used to the current one and turns out I really dont care what exact RPM I'm at...I "feel" it at low speed when doing clutch work, and it has a rev limiter =) I wonder if the new one allows you to set the TPM lower pressure limits...it's distracting when I drop the pressures for certain conditions.
@@orangelion03 Being a software expert myself for 33 years as well as doing electronics as one of my too many hobbies, I am almost certain they could re-flash the firmware of that display, though I very much doubt they would offer such a service. Yes the heat on the legs is an issue. My wife rides the 23 RP Aragon, and she already mentioned it, also bearing in mind that summer riding here can easily be in 35 - 42 degrees C. I ride the 2019 KTM 1290 SAR and that bike is also a toasty beast.
Tubeless tires. A patch’s on the side of the highway is fast and done. Pulling a whole wheel off on the side of the road takes more time and space for more chances to get hit. And you’re then more exhausted for the ride. Tubeless
Avoid Teslas Always.
Szia Brett! Beszelsz magyarul? A neved alapjan azt gondolna az ember… ( es az eddigi 104 kommentbol mivel egyre sem valaszoltal, ezt sosem fogom megtudni…😊)
Rain/wet ground detection and mode
PS: Sadly the 900 Tiger Pro is not in a price range close to were a 1200/1250 GS was recently.