We've come a long way

[Pennyrick]

As I was cruising along this morning it occurred to me just how much things have changed in a very short time frame.

Could I have imagined less than a half a century ago while cruising along on my Honda 360 just what things are like today?

Here we sit in our command center and can instantly communicate with a satellite orbiting above us to check on the route we are traveling... we can pull up on the screen in front the weather, not only for now but the forecast for the days ahead and even for the places we are heading toward. We can tell the altitude, alternate routes, time of destination and even find places to eat, sleep and visit. We can play our favorite tunes and type of music.

And, with just a click we can direct all that stuff into our helmet or to on board speakers. Another click and we can access a phone book and talk with others. Heat up your grips, stiffen your suspension, adjust your windscreen height.

I can do all this is wonderful comfort without having to wear out my wrist pulling on a clutch lever, scuffing up the tops of my shoes on a shift lever or supporting nearly a half ton machine at stoplights.

I can do all this and still be in the wind.

Thanks BRP.

 

[Chupaca]

Well said...!!

Although I still fly by the seat of my pants (manual shift, gps in the frunk only music and intercom on the G9), I do marvel at all the gagetry that has evolved. Starting with nothing, we finally got a speedometer which was all for the longest time. If you had an odometer you were in high cotton. Could go on and on but not to bore someone else can continue...:roflblack:

 

[ARtraveler]

Yes, compared to the "good ol days," I can remember some of the stuff that was considered cutting edge. Now, with all the electronics, its more like Star Trek and beyond.

 

[den1953]

Electric Leg

I can remember when electric start was a big new thing. Most but not all bikes were kick start only when I was starting out back in 1970 and it was considered sort of macho to kick start your bike. Bikes with electric starters still had a kick start on them. Disc brakes were also a new thing back then and most bikes still had drum brakes. Cast wheels and radial tires weren't invented yet, much less any of the gadgetry we now take for granted. Practically all bikes had points ignition, I think maybe the Kawasaki H1 triples had electronic ignition by then and every single bike had carburetors and a fuel petcock. Yep we've come a long way.

 

[ARtraveler]

I can remember when electric start was a big new thing. Most but not all bikes were kick start only when I was starting out back in 1970 and it was considered sort of macho to kick start your bike. Bikes with electric starters still had a kick start on them. Disc brakes were also a new thing back then and most bikes still had drum brakes. Cast wheels and radial tires weren't invented yet much less any of the gadgetry we now take for granted. Practically all bikes had points ignition, I think maybe the Kawasaki H1 triples had electronic ignition by then and every single bike had carburetors and a fuel petcock. Yep we've come a long way.

My early 80's Yamaha Venture had a kick starter as well as an electric starter. I did not have either the strength or weight to kick that one over manually.

 

[latony007]

you can say the same for a lot of things now adays. I remember the biggest thing to hit childhood in years was the big wheel. Now my daughter drives around in a barbie jeep that is electric and does about 10 miles and hour and has a stereo built into probably nicer than the one in my first car

Problem is people havent advanced much and too many of them are still jerks lol.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

WELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

:gaah:I only have to go back to Spyderfest 2014, I started owning Spyders back in 09. I have owned two up to 2014 . Then at Spyderfest I took the FATAL test drive on the 2014 RT ...............I was so overwhelmed by the difference the 1330 Ace engine / trans / clutch made I bought one in May..............I'm still smiling :2excited: :yes: :yes: :yes:.....Mike :thumbup:

 

[robmorg]

As I was cruising along this morning it occurred to me just how much things have changed in a very short time frame.

Could I have imagined less than a half a century ago while cruising along on my Honda 360 just what things are like today?

So right!!! When I was flying, I used to marvel at my Cessna, with all of it's gadgetry, and remembered that when my father was born, airplanes had only been around for 20 years or so. ...and automobiles, not that much longer. Amazing to contemplate!

 

[Chupaca]

Even wings..!!

My early 80's Yamaha Venture had a kick starter as well as an electric starter. I did not have either the strength or weight to kick that one over manually.

They had a kick starter in the tool kit on early wings...popped off a cover stuck it in and kicked away like an old tin lizzy (early fords for you young'ins)..:roflblack:

 

[Dan_Ashley]

Does anyone remember Dick Tracy's two way wrist radio?

 

[Chupaca]

For sure..!!

Does anyone remember Dick Tracy's two way wrist radio?

And we thought it would never happen...:roflblack::roflblack:

 

[den1953]

Dick Tracy

The wrist radio became a 2 way wrist TV in the late 1960's. He also flew around on a magnetic hovering thing that looked like a trashcan with crutches. Dick Tracy was always featuring some futuristic gadgets. Cool comic strip for a kid in the 60's to read.

 

[Bob Denman]

Just remember: Those older, less-sophisticated machines lit the fire in us that is still burning! :2thumbs:

 

[den1953]

Riding Back Then

It was an adventure, a thrill and always mixed with hoping nothing would break down while out. You had to be mechanically inclined to even consider owning a motorcycle in those days. The Japanese changed all that in a few short years, literally driving the British motorcycle industry out of business. Harley Davidson refused to die and struggled through. Ronald Reagan toured the York Pennsylvania production facility and passed a tariff on all imported motorcycles 700cc and over. Harley re-structured and introduced the "EVO" motor while the Japs "sleeved down" their 750cc bikes to 699cc. Once Harley Davidson was economically sound & profitable the tariffs were lifted and the rest is history. We all benefited in the end as motorcycles all became better, more reliable machines.

 

[wengerda]

As I was cruising along this morning it occurred to me just how much things have changed in a very short time frame.

Could I have imagined less than a half a century ago while cruising along on my Honda 360 just what things are like today?

Here we sit in our command center and can instantly communicate with a satellite orbiting above us to check on the route we are traveling... we can pull up on the screen in front the weather, not only for now but the forecast for the days ahead and even for the places we are heading toward. We can tell the altitude, alternate routes, time of destination and even find places to eat, sleep and visit. We can play our favorite tunes and type of music.

And, with just a click we can direct all that stuff into our helmet or to on board speakers. Another click and we can access a phone book and talk with others. Heat up your grips, stiffen your suspension, adjust your windscreen height.

I can do all this is wonderful comfort without having to wear out my wrist pulling on a clutch lever, scuffing up the tops of my shoes on a shift lever or supporting nearly a half ton machine at stoplights.

I can do all this and still be in the wind.

Thanks BRP.

question where you got your IPhone bracket? Thanks

 

[Bob Denman]

It was an adventure, a thrill and always mixed with hoping nothing would break down while out. You had to be mechanically inclined to even consider owning a motorcycle in those days. The Japanese changed all that in a few short years, literally driving the British motorcycle industry out of business. Harley Davidson refused to die and struggled through. Ronald Reagan toured the York Pennsylvania production facility and passed a tariff on all imported motorcycles 700cc and over. Harley re-structured and introduced the "EVO" motor while the Japs "sleeved down" their 750cc bikes to 699cc. Once Harley Davidson was economically sound & profitable the tariffs were lifted and the rest is history. We all benefited in the end as motorcycles all became better, more reliable machines.

...and we all bought lots of pickup trucks during the "AMF-Davidson" years... nojoke

 

[PrairieSpyder]

So right!!! When I was flying, I used to marvel at my Cessna, with all of it's gadgetry, and remembered that when my father was born, airplanes had only been around for 20 years or so. ...and automobiles, not that much longer. Amazing to contemplate!

My dad used to instruct pilots in Aeronca Champ - no electrical at all! After I got my license in a more modern (for the 70s) plane, he told he he was going to teach me to fly a "real airplane" and I learned to fly a tail-dragger. Ahhhhh, the good old days. Now even the trainers have all sorts of satellite-based stuff in them. I'd be lost, for sure.

 

[JayBros]

Talk to the Army and Marines about accurate land navigation skills when the GPS craps out.

 

[Pennyrick]

question where you got your IPhone bracket? Thanks

Just standard RAM mount stuff.

 

[Oldmanzues]

Stuff, not much, tied on with a rope on a kick start, only way53 BSA DBD34 (almost new) 500 cc. . Kick it right or it would break your leg or throw you over the handlebars. Tach, speedometer and odometer only gauges
I was talking to a gentleman the other day about the Old BMW, almost noise, until you shifted gears, then clunk