Motorcycle Forums

Don't use the term manual, when you mean...

"You still need to manually adjust the suspension,"

Manual means getting down on your knees and either using a knob, a spanner or a screw driver to make changes to the suspension.  When it's done from the dash it's no longer manual, it's electronically adjustable.  Same is true with the (DTC) Traction, there is no such phrase as manually adjustable dynamic traction control.  just forget the term manual and say "adjustable," "switchable," or "selectable on the fly" and so on.

cheers,

Looking forward to the full review as this is on the 'possible' list  as next years new bike

Update

I've now done four sessions and really got to know the HP4 in more detail. It weighs a massive 9kg less than an equivalent S1000RR and the traction control is another big step forward over the standard bike, which was in turn an improvement over the 2010 model. The way the electronic suspension works is impressive and it works well around the track, although at full pelt I'm not sure it's as good as a full-on race set-up. The real test would be on the road in changing conditions, but we'll have to wait for a UK test for that. Full report in MCN next week...

ratchetman

Are you suggesting that people are angry that these type of bikes and are buying GS's to teach BWM a lesson?

It's got nothing to do with it, they are just fashion victims after watching to many episodes of 'The Long Way Round' but that OK, you're welcome to your Dad Bikes............  some of us are just too cool to buy bikes as a fashion accessory and don't care that the bikes we ride are not popular.
 

Too Fast and Manual

Too Fast: Actually the RR is quite docile in traffic. It's probably the most practical of all sportbikes. It's extremely easy to ride in the city. It's very mellow in traffic and you can tour on it. Well, sportbike style tour, put a lot of mileage with as little baggage, as many do.

The RR gets fast when you get on the throttle. The RR has two personalities slow and fast. It's mellow and very manageable below 7K RPM and ferociously fast above it, up to about 14K redline.

Also, since the non-HP version is priced so well, it's really an ideal street bike, that can also do track days very well.

Note to Neeves about "Manual:" Don't mean to bust your chops and I do appreciate your reports. But there is no such thing as "manual" electronic adjustment. In motorcycling there are 3 levels of adjustment: (1) "Automatic," meaning sensors decide how to handle the function. (2) "Electronic," meaning you set the adjustment and then the bike behaves within set parameters. (3) "Manual" meaning by hand adjustment, it's distinctly separated from electronic settings, event says so in the dictionary. From Dictionary.com: "MANUAL: done, operated, worked, etc., by the hand or hands rather than by an electrical or electronic device."

Manual means you wrangle or wrench a knob to set the functionality. What you have here with the new Dynamic suspension is 1+2: Automatic functionality within Electronic adjustment of the main settings. Erase the word manual from your report. You'll get more respect, from people who actually pay attention not just to what you say, but also how you say it. Cheers, S