Technology and Motorcycles: To Tinker or Not To Tinker - The New Dividing Line?

Another thing about extensive motorcycle technology is that it make bikes, as one EatSleepRIDEr put it: "untinkerable".

The classic divide in the motorcycle world (not the only divide, but the most visible) was and to an extent still is the cruiser vs sportbike feud, best exemplified by "Harley-Davidson & clones" vs "crotch-rockets". In earlier decades it was Mods and Rockers in Britain and "hooligan outlaw" vs "nicest people" in the US. Hatfield and McCoy lived on.

One could say that what is emerging now is the "wrenchers" vs "hi-tech untinkerables".

I don't encourage divides. In fact I want to foster understanding and appreciation within the "sport" (I hate the term sport - anyone who owns a motorcycle knows that it transcends the term). There are political situations (e.g. insurance, idiotic restrictive laws and public policies) where all members of the "Church of Bike" need to unite.

However, like within any family, there are personality clashes. And I'm just callin' 'em as I see 'em. You know what they say: You can pick your friends but you are stuck with your family.

Historically, motorcycles (and cars too for that matter) needed to be maintained. (Looking at you Norton and H-D!). Today that's "part of their charm" - well not really since the manufacturers are successfully marketing "retro" - long-gone-era-memory-inducing models with comfortable reliability borne of modern technology.

Comparatively "maintenance-free"bikes, starting with Japanese bikes in 70's (the "UJM") killed, or nearly killed -off British (Norton, BSA, Triumph) and American (H-D, Indian, Victory) products. The charm of daily roadside maintenance died with the advent of affordable reliability.

There is convenience of not having to worry about maintenance stuff so much - your ride will start when you want it and run all day. I have to admit, after suffering through a bike or two with battery-charging challenges, it's a nice thing.

But there is still something fulfilling about getting a wrench on a bike, something satisfying that starts with performing your own oil change and working your way up to creating a piece of art from a basket of old parts. Your tinkering solidifies your ride as your own and has your personal stamp on it - from rat bike to custom show chrome special.

Cycle salvage yards that let you browse and chat and do-it yourself stores like Princess Auto, for example, wouldn't exist if people didn't tinker and enjoy doing so. Note that tinkering goes beyond "accessorizing".

I have to admit that personally, I was becoming disconnected to my 87 Yamaha XV750 Virago. It is a Japanese cruiser built before cruisers were really popular. A V-twin, the idea was to emulate a Harley. I wasn't feeling crazed about getting on it and hitting the road as I once did (I did have some other distractions, but still). It made me feel old - older than I wanted to feel. It wasn't cool. Then along came a friend who was talking about wanting a cafe racer project and something twisted inside me. You mean I can make my ride (and me) into something other than a Harley-wannabe?

Well after lowering the forks, new, smaller turn signals, Clubman handlebars (inverted, otherwise cornering would have been a challenge), removing sissy backrest and new tires, the result was more bobberesque. But that was cool - it was against the crowd - rebellion is a foundation of the sport. Soon, I was blasting the back concessions again and, surprisingly, scraping footpegs on occasion. With renewed confidence and a huge grin on my face.

But I digress... the point is the wrenching renewed my connection and commitment.

(Try this at home with your spouse or significant other to spice up your relationship ... please post your results in the comments.)

In the latest resurgence of "Mods & Rockers" eschews the history of violence and focuses on a new trend in motorcycling - it's almost anti-chopper and anti-hi-tech.

(Say it with me now: "What are you rebelling against Johnny?" "What've you got?")

It is encouraging and heartening to see youngsters (and young-at-heart) who want to buck a technology trend and get their hands dirty. (Rebellion again). They find an unexpected pleasure and pride in tinkering and in some cases resurrecting old bikes. There's a thirst for knowledge about how these things work. I have noticed there's not much "shop" taught in high school anymore.

(I read about the Toronto, ON event after the 2012 event - it was inspiring! I got a card at the motorcycle show for the 2013 event with the date Aug 24/25 - then it got moved up a weekend, so I missed it. For 2014 it's August 15/16 - I am making a note! http://www.modsandrockerstoronto.com/).

The youngsters who are wrenching are doing so to explore and adventure into the mechanical unknown. (Again, fundamental aspects of the sport - adventure and exploration). They are grinning with accomplishment and plain old fun and pride.

But are high-tech bikes really so "untinkerable"? Tech gets presented as beyond a "regular" schmo (especially older people) to understand - indeed we are discouraged from tinkering (or thinking). Things are so complex that you "should let a trained professional do it".

Now the great news - young (and young-at-heart) people don't listen. In this it stands them in good stead. Ignoring all warnings, they wade right into the thick of it. Fearless.

Thank goodness there are tinkerers who tinker with the untinkerable. At the extreme end, and this is seen in the automotive world, are the "tuners". These are people who mess around with EFI and ignition "mappings", upgrade brakes and suspension components and, notably, exhausts (not always with positive effects,in my opinion). People whose idea of a fun time is a night on the dynometer.

Maybe this is a new type of tinkering - it's electronic and computer-based. So maybe it's more familiar to the electronic gadget oriented youngsters. Connecting a laptop to a ignition port is more comfortable than slipping a ratchet and socket over a nut.

So untinkerables are not so much after all - just a bit different. And wrenchers, the new builders, are not across a deep divide from not-so- untinkerable uber-techies but in fact are just on the other side of the same coin. Back to back.

Cheers!