Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/18418
The Modern Machines by JAMES JONES Long gone are the days of the simple design for a car or motor- cycle. For the motorcycle, gone are the kick start, points, cable clutch and brakes. They now have switch- es, sensors, modules, hydraulics, computers and a variety of things too long to mention. I knew my BMW R1200GS was a sophisticated (complicated) bike when I bought it. I didn’t real- ize how sophisticated (complicated) it was until I had a misfire and wanted to check my spark plugs. Looking for a socket, I could not find one in my tool kit that came with the bike or one in my garage that would fit. Off to the dealer- ship I went. After talking with the service manager, he told me that the spark plug socket did not come with the bike because I would never need it. He went on to tell me that the bike is so well engineered that something else would have me in the shop before I would need to change my own plugs. Not happy with this answer, I purchased the $50 tool, at which time, he kindly mentioned that I could probably sell it on eBay after I got tired of carrying it around. So far I’ve not used it (he may be right). Finally giving in, I took the bike to the dealership so they could hook it up to their fancy computer only to tell me that I had water in my gas tank and would I like to pay that with cash or credit. On my BMW R1200LT I can’t even see the engine. The bike is covered with plastic (a.k.a. a fairing). The fairings on most bikes hide the engine. The manufactures will tell you that the fairing make the bike more aerodynamics but I think it is more for looks and to make you take the bike back to the dealership for work. High-tech motorcycles can be a lot of fun, but come with high repair and maintenance costs. The same goes for modern cars. The new vehicles are made to hide the engine. I have a car that does not even have a dipstick. I can open the hood and see nothing but plastic. The computer tells if the oil level is low and when I need service. Like my car, my bike is loaded with sensors, hydraulics, and switches all being processed by computers and code. This technology has replaced the machines that we knew a few years ago. Today’s motorcycles have cruise control, electronic suspension, electronic fuel injections, automatic traction control, heated seats and heated handgrips. The driver is fed information via digital displays, Bluetooth, phone connectors, MP3, GPS, CD players and a host of other devices that transport directions and entertainment to us via integrated helmets or speakers. Bikes are becoming safer than ever with ABS, automatic stability control and airbags. My sophisticated (complicated) bike now tells me the oil level, tire pressure, outside temperature (not sure why, I’m pretty sure I’m outside), MPG, fuel range, average speed and other information. All of these are cool to have but all of these things require care and feeding. So what does all this mean to you? It means: be prepared to visit the dealership. The engineering design forces us to go back to the dealership and takes you (the do-it-yourselfer) out of the picture and drives up the cost of simple repairs. At the dealership repairmen are tucked away behind doors. You no longer know who is working on your bike (or car) and you get to deal with the service manager (not the mechanic). When you are forced to go to the dealership (and you are) for repairs or routine maintenance it may be worth your while to get to know your service manager on a personal level. This will help give you some sense of control over your bike and the sense of some personalized service. As manufacturers continue to design better and safer machines, be mindful that they are designing them so that with every mile you drive, money will blow out your pocket and into theirs. If there is a topic that you would like to discuss you can contact me at motorcycle4fun@aol.com. RIDE SAFE! JAMES JONES, Contributing Writer COMMENTS? 484-6200 ext. 222 or editor@upandcomingweekly.com 26 UCW OCTOBER 27 - NOVEMBER 2, 2010 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM OCTOBER 30 • HALLOWEEN BASH at Legends Pub. 4624 Bragg Blvd., Fayetteville, NC 867-2364. OCTOBER 31 • POKER RUN TO BENEFIT TONY FLOYD at Legends Pub. 4624 Bragg Blvd., Fayetteville, NC 867-2364 NOVEMBER 6 • 14TH ANNUAL OYSTER ROAST to benefit the Bikers for Bikers Foundation at Legends Pub 4624 Bragg Blvd., Fayetteville, NC 867- 2364 NOVEMBER 7 • BOB MARLOWE & GYPSY WOMEN. 10TH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT at Legends Pub. 4624 Bragg Blvd., Fayetteville, NC 867- 2364 NOVEMBER 20 • STEEL ANGELS TOY RIDE starts at Legends Pub. 4624 Bragg Blvd., Fayetteville, NC 867-2364. NOVEMBER 25 • THANKSGIVING FEAST at Legends Pub. 4624 Bragg Blvd., Fayetteville, NC 867-2364 PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse group of patriots from every state that come together to honor fallen soldiers at funeral services across the country. Visit www.patriotguard.org for more info. TUESDAYS BIKE NIGHT at Chili’s Grill and Bar in Southern Pines. Happy hour, drink and food specials. All bikes welcome. 4 p.m. to close. Halloween Costume Party • October 30 Poker Run • Oct. 31 To Benefit Tony Floyd For more information call LEGENDS at 4624 BRAGG BLVD.