complexity for complexity's sake

[the Ferret]

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.