H-D's new Touring bikes are going to have pretty full suite of electrons available so maybe they are moving into the 21st century. I don't recall the H-D specific acronyms, but Advanced ABS, Corning ABS, Traction control, Slide control, and brake lnking/unlinking are in the package.
Also note that Livewire has fully adjustable suspension front and rear.
I could see adjustable suspension a worthwhile addition, ABS with an IMU would be a worthwhile upgrade to a Harley but I really couldn't see any point in the rest of the electronics?
Its just for sales brochures, but now everyone will have to bear the cost of all this 'R&D' when they buy a new H-D.
Its not even a matter of the bike. I just don't see the riders needing anything else?
Seriously, even traction control would hamper the front-tire-on-a-curb-parking-lot-burn-outs. And slide control?? I can't think enough Rossi wanna-bes will be backing their Street-glide into a chicane at 140mph
Is the Barricade Orange tank on that Pan-America a tribute to the Uly? LOL. It will be $30K+ and discontinued in 3 years for lack of sales. But I think I'd buy one anyway.....
Adjustable suspension a worthwhile addition, ABS with an IMU would be a worthwhile upgrade as well, but I really couldn't see any point in the rest of the electronics?
Its not even a matter of the bike. I just don't see the riders needing anything else? Seriously, its not a shot at H-D.
Slide control?? I can't think enough Rossi wanna-bes will be backing their Street-glide into a chicane at 140mph. Might as well add wheelie control to the pointless list.
Traction control is handy on slippery and loose surfaces. Prevent wheel spin, or dial in just the amount that you want. Slide control can be similar, it's not for backing it in but for controlling bike rotation on exit. At least on an R1, slide control can be set to allow a maximum (or none) amount of rear wheel slide exiting turns without needing to stand the bike up or back off of the throttle. It's amazing in the rain. This could be very handy on loose surfaces. Combined braking control is nice too. Depending on the settings, if one tire is starting to slide and the other still has grip, brake pressure can be transferred as needed.
Whether this stuff will be useful will depend entirely on implementation.
Tubeless is good along with the Brembos, it'll be interesting to see if it takes off or becomes yet another curio due to their inability to lure customers into the showrooms/unwillingness of the dealerships to embrace something so obviously foreign. By foreign I mean no floorboards, tassles, ape hangers, conchos, etc.
It’s been so long since I paid much attention to spoked wheels that I just realized that they are edge mounted on the rims, obviously for tubeless tires, but I wonder if that affects anything in a good or bad way being so wide?
I do like the controls on the left handlebar. Like directional keys on my remote control allowing me to toggle through menus! That's a step in the right direction as the new Suzuki Vstrom XT had that in the showroom today that I saw. And I don't want one of those damn things.
I have commented on every one of the facebook posts my local Harley dealer posted, let me know when I can order in Red or blue. Then we will determine if the freakin' crazy price will be worth replacing my Uly XT.
When HD crushed Buell, I swore I'd never have another thing to do with HD. But if this PA is good, really good, I might have a look as a replacement for my Uly. If HD is listening... I need an option for a higher pillion as my wife is small and I am large. I'm sure they'll get right on that.
They have some competition. Triumph Scrambler, rumored 900 Triumph Tiger and new Moto Guzzi bike would have my attention if I was pretend dirt bike shopping. Ducati Multistrada always interested me, too. All of those look pretty good and you don't have to put up with the 'tude at the dealership from the cruiser and bagger boys on both sides of the counter.
My dirt bike concerns are always power and weight. I don't need more than 25 hp for my type dirt riding. I do want a very light bike with over 5" of suspension. I'm just trying to honestly look at my needs-vs-wants. I won't be jumping MX hills. I would be doing trials style riding on concrete stair steps. I don't plan on climbing fence posts anymore.
Parts of that bike look great, parts of it look like it was designed by unemployed Horex employees from the 1950s.
I wonder what they're planning on doing for luggage? That gigantic muffler seems to rule out saddlebags unless the right hand one is the size of a pack of cigarettes.
Bet the seat brought a smile to the people at Corbin.