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+--- Thread: complexity for complexity's sake (/showthread.php?tid=13392)
complexity for complexity's sake - the Ferret - 07-29-2018
![[Image: 002dee96fde9b60ce79f6dd3a6901bc5.jpg]](https://cb1100forum.net/forum/uploads/imp/201807/002dee96fde9b60ce79f6dd3a6901bc5.jpg)
This is my family doctor. He and I have been friends and motorcycle buds for 36 years, however this past weekend is the first time we have gone on a trip together. The trip was planned for last year but he had some heart issues and had to cancel the night before. Doc turns 72 next month. He owns A BMW R1200RT, A BMW S1000 whatever Adventure bike and a KTM 1190 something or other. It was my FJR's maiden trip.
I took him over to south east Ohio and northern West Virginia for four days basing out of Marietta. We rode some awesome roads. As a matter of fact today at lunch he commented why would anyone go to North Carolina (where he normally goes) when we have these kind of roads in Ohio only 3 hours from home. I know.. I agree with him. Anyhow, In this pic we had just pulled over to remove rain gear and after stowing the gear in a saddlebag, his bike would not start. Lights would flash, an alarm would go off and then it would go silent. Only to be repeated several times. He was flabbergasted the Beemer wouldn't start and his frustration is evident in the pic, staring at the bike with the what the heck posture of the arms. Turns out he had left the Canbus or something key fob in the pants pocket of the rainsuit when he stowed it in the saddlebag and the bike couldn't read it and thought someone was trying to steal the bike.. hence the lights and alarms. Once the fob was retrieved it started right up.
Twice he also had issues with the hill hold feature, which holds the bike on a hill so it won't roll backwards. when you squeeze the front brake lever hard, it "sets" it so you can't roll back. You have to let out the clutch and give it a lot of gas to overcome the holding brake. he said he thought it was locked up until it finally moved with enough gas lol.
Sometimes, all this complexity is just too much. My bike started with the key everytime, and when I released the brake on a hill and fed in the gas it took right off..no drama.
complexity for complexity's sake - Cormanus - 07-29-2018
Were you happy with the FJR, Ferret? How does it compare with the ST?
RE: complexity for complexity's sake - Offroad - 07-29-2018
I think Ferret should start a "touring guide" business and lead people on all the great roads he knows about!
Between him and LongRanger both mountain ranges would be covered.
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I believe if you pull in the brake quickly and release it, the hill start assist will release and you can take off normally.
RE: complexity for complexity's sake - the Ferret - 07-29-2018
Cormanus, , FJR is a nice bike, lots of power, handles well, has great brakes, and the cruise control is awesome. I have added a Givi 47 liter trunk, a Givi 15 liter tanklock tank bag, a helmet guardian, At just over 2000 miles, I'm still getting used to it. The only issues I have with it, are the low bars that put a kink in my neck right between my shoulder blades. (I'm considering some 1" bar risers, I think that will do it) and the tall seat height which is at the very edge of my comfort zone. I have considered getting the seat lowered bit that would make the knee bend tighter on a bike that already puts the knees in a pretty tight bend. I'm living with both issues for now. Hard to compare it to a bike I spent over 10 years and 110,000 miles on. Let me just say they are both superb sport tourers, equally at home on the super slab or the spaghetti roads.
Offroad I thought about leading tours, even offered a couple years ago but got no takers. Next spring or summer when you are off, maybe I can lead you on the roads we rode on over there for 4 or 5 days. I can gaurantee you, you won't be dissapointed
RE: complexity for complexity's sake - LongRanger_imp - 07-29-2018
My RT has the Keyless Ride feature too, and it is sensitive to key proximity. The bike won't start if you stow the fob in either pannier or in the trunk. I just leave mine in the front pocket of my jacket and all is good. The fob provides a central locking and automatic alarm arm/disarm feature which I do find useful. Tell your doc to carry a spare CR2032 battery because if the battery in his fob dies, he's SOL. I think they're good for about a year or two.
I haven't yet learned how to use the Hill Assist feature. Lord knows we don't have any hills around here, so it probably wouldn't be useful anyway.
My bike also has the Shift Pro Assist speed shifter, which is supposed to allow clutchless upshifting and downshifting. The gearbox is embarrassingly clunky with or without it. In my opinion, it's an answer to a question nobody asked!
RE: complexity for complexity's sake - the Ferret - 07-29-2018
I'll tell him about the battery. Yea his bike has the speed shifter too.. He says he feels like he's abusing the trans if he uses it, so he uses the clutch for most shifts.
RE: complexity for complexity's sake - Offroad - 07-29-2018
Longranger did you get a new RT? If so congratulations!
You should have gotten as a backup a little key blank looking thing made out of plastic that if you hold it on top of the gas cap where are the sensors are is supposed to allow you to start and activate everything I keep it in my billfold.
I use the shift assist all the time for upshifting but not for downshifting. It does seem to be clunky but I usually have earplugs in and don't hear it.
But the amazing thing is full throttle, max rpms, no clutch just shift...... it took me years to develop a speed shift like that except using the clutch full throttle now this does it better than any human possibly could
(07-29-2018, 01:10 PM)LongRanger_imp Wrote: My RT has the Keyless Ride feature too, and it is sensitive to key proximity. The bike won't start if you stow the fob in either pannier or in the trunk. I just leave mine in the front pocket of my jacket and all is good. The fob provides a central locking and automatic alarm arm/disarm feature which I do find useful. Tell your doc to carry a spare CR2032 battery because if the battery in his fob dies, he's SOL. I think they're good for about a year or two.
I haven't yet learned how to use the Hill Assist feature. Lord knows we don't have any hills around here, so it probably wouldn't be useful anyway.
My bike also has the Shift Pro Assist speed shifter, which is supposed to allow clutchless upshifting and downshifting. The gearbox is embarrassingly clunky with or without it. In my opinion, it's an answer to a question nobody asked!
I use mine more as a parking brake when I'm sitting still on an incline with the engine running too bad there's no such thing as a real parking brake.
The only advantage is it will automatically disengage if you give it enough gas so you can take off from a hill.
RE: complexity for complexity's sake - LongRanger_imp - 07-29-2018
Offroad, I bought a fully-loaded '15 RT from the local BMW dealer. It came with a bunch of factory options and accessories that I wouldn't have bought on their own, including Nav V GPS, trunk with integrated LED's (also fits your GT), Keyless Ride, Dynamic Ride, stereo / Bluetooth, etc. The bike had only been ridden 10k miles and had just received its full 12k dealer service, plus a new OE battery, fresh PR4's, and a few remaining months of warranty. so essentially a new bike for about 60% of MSRP. I bought it for extended two-up rides with my S.O. Just getting myself prepared for retirement!
RE: complexity for complexity's sake - Stichill_imp - 07-30-2018
I would like a hill holder when I want to briefly stop the bike to take pictures. I'd like to snick it into neutral with the engine running, keep both feet on the ground, and mess with my camera / phone with both hands. Without a hill holder, I have to keep a hand or foot on a brake, or shut off the engine in gear and restart once I've got my photo. In some locations it's not a good idea to rely on the left foot only to keep the bike upright, and if I use the hand brake I've got to fumble with the camera in my non-dominant left hand.