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I discovered after buying my Aprilia last year that, technology being what it is now, the bike records the maximum speed reached on a ride. It's always a bit of a shock when I see how high this speed can be, but I suppose it's a speed that may have just been touched on for a second. It occurred to me that if I was stopped I could always just reach down and delete it. Then I imagined a situation could happen when, for instance, a car pulled out in front of me and knocked me off the bike leaving me injured. I could have been riding perfectly legally at say 40mph in a 40 zone but the information retrieved says 90mph - it wouldn't look good for me! Let us give thanks for simple bikes like the Commando!
Stephen_Spencer
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Agreed. Love the no-tech-nature of the 961.
The tech has its place on a rocket-ship like the Aprilia though of course. Never rode the original Firblade, but I imagine it was a real handful with zero tech. The max speed figure on your bike will be of interest to those guys doing serious track stuff I suppose.
Not sure there would be many coppers out there that would know that figure existed on certain high tech bikes, let alone how to access it through those menu’s.
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City Garage
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The key takeaway here is that choosing a helmet from a brand that undergoes actual safety testing is essential. In the U.S., helmets only need to meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) for manufacturing, but they aren't required to undergo testing or approval before being sold. I’ve visited the Snell lab in California, and their testing facility is truly impressive (https://smf.org/testing). While I’m not an engineer, it’s clear that if you’re buying a helmet that hasn’t been tested by reputable safety organizations, you’re making a poor decision. I often see riders on $30,000 Ducatis wearing $300 helmets—that’s just irresponsible, especially if you have children. Modern helmet technology, including features like air cushions for safer removal after an accident, is well worth the investment.
I actually traded in a Fireblade, bought new in 2009, for the Aprilia. It had no tech, not even ABS, but felt easy and safe to ride, but then I'm a fairly restrained rider, I just like a bit of poke now and then! The Fireblade was the exciting bike and my Bonneville was the relaxing bike. The problem was that the Honda was beginning to give me neck pains so I decided to buy something to replace both of these bikes. One with the power when wanted, but also comfortable at any speed. Every review said the Tuono was the perfect do-it-all bike so, rashly, I bought one without a test ride. It turns out that this bike is wonderful at speed, light, fast and well balanced. The problem is it's almost unrideable below 40mph, the gearing is all wrong and the throttle is ridiculously snatchy (Euro 5 I was told, and I shouldn't expect it to behave like the Honda). At the bike's first service they gave me a courtesy Guzzi V7 - I was smitten! I couldn't stop riding it, better handling, more comfortable and more involving than the Bonnie. I had to have one, it would be my relaxing bike. Unfortunately, or fortunately I should say, I saw the 961 at the same dealer and got a test ride there and then. I loved it and a £3.5K discount made it irresistable. Luckily I decided to leave it until after Xmas and then grabbed the PCB deal, which means I can now still afford the Guzzi! So instead of downsizing to one bike, it looks like I'll end up with three! One thing I have learned is to take these magazine reviews with a good pinch of salt!
Stephen_Spencer
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Ironically, received this yesterday as we were discussing helmet/bike cameras - from a local riders group.
Young lad is mostly ok but described as ‘devastated’. No ability to get any car details beyond a vague description. Driver’s committed at least one crime there!
Young lad is mostly ok but described as ‘devastated’. No ability to get any car details beyond a vague description. Driver’s committed at least one crime there!
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Blimey
Stephen_Spencer
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Yep, that happens to me I want it on camera! Even if there ‘may’ have been fault on the bikers side (who knows), the fact that the driver fled the scene is telling. And illegal of course.
MAK
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Or - it’s too late to up-grade when sliding down the road!
Yes this is ironically just the sort of scenario I had in mind. On the Tuono there is Tour mode and Race mode. From the Race mode you can record lap times etc. but, as purely a road rider, I leave mine in Tour mode. I believe there is also "Launch Mode" which sounds interesting - I just haven't had the bottle to try that yet! The scary thing is you don't have to access any menu to view max speed. It is recorded along with ave. mpg, trip mileage etc., you just press a button on the L.H. switchgear and there it is! I'm not sure how common this feature is on other bikes now. With regard to the Guzzi V7, it looks like I'll have to get a move on if I want one. For what was once a simple air-cooled bike the new 2025 bikes announced will now come with more (unwanted) tech. and Euro 5 plus! - Does anyone know just what a six-axis IMU is?
Stephen_Spencer
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The tech has its place of course, but when does it go too far? Personal preference I suppose. If ya make a mistake and the bike saves your ass, would the rider even know sometimes? So he/she could avoid doing same in future? I don’t know.
A six axis IMU facilitates ABS and Traction Control apparently. Both worthwhile tech facets in given situations.
Still quite happy my 961 has none.
A six axis IMU facilitates ABS and Traction Control apparently. Both worthwhile tech facets in given situations.
Still quite happy my 961 has none.
Thanks for that information, clever stuff! It's a cliche but I've always thought of biking as a learning curve. When I first started out I took it easy and learned just how far I could lean on varying road surfaces, and I sometimes got it wrong! This put me in good stead for sportsbike ownership later on. In view of more potent bikes and faster traffic these days, I would say that better brakes and ABS can only be a good thing and I'm sure the tech can help in certain situations. It seems to me however that although the tech may allow you to take a bend faster than you might otherwise do, this will only be up to a limit - and when it lets go, the faster you are going the harder you will fall!
Not as mad as it seems, read the data on the Sharp website as to why the specs were changed. After studies on head injury and the helmet being worn in road accidents it showed up some deficiencies in the race helmets at lower speeds. The info was on the sharp website and worth a read, but basically the cheaper and not so well made helmets gave better protection at lower speed collisions than race helmets. due to the lining deforming easier at the lower speed. I believe the study is still ongoing in the UK, and if you have the unfortunate task of watching a rider being loaded into an ambulance then make sure the helmet if removed goes with them as they can tie the head injury to the impact points on the helmet.
Mind you, on the way to the INOA rally last year, some riders on the I93 used sunnies, some used sunnies and bandana, and some pushed the protection level higher, sunnies and a T shirt. It seemed strange seeing riders like this for us brits.
Fast Eddie
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It was actually a thought experiment created by professor of law and economics Gordon Tullock.
Later introduced into popular culture by a certain Mr Jeremy Clarkson.
And it’s 100% true. Anyone in any doubt just needs to ride a motorcycle in shorts and flip flops, then in full race gear, and see what makes you more confident and faster !
Active electronic aids are also problematic because most of the time, most people do not realise they’re being helped. Therefore, they think they handle the power etc. they have no idea they’re being protected / assisted.
I learnt this when I switched off the TC in a V8 AMG once. Yes, ONCE, I never switched it off again, freakin’ thing jus’ wanted to kill me !!
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hence why 20mph limits do not reduce accidents, pedestrians take more risks.
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She was letting you know that she was going to video you for her protection.
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depending what u may do nxt, could end up on utube then might even go viral
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