I’ve mentioned on here before that I recently got my hands on a 2015 T214 but I’m still learning to enjoy the simplicity of the bike itself. For one thing, I have been re-introduced to a motorcycle that does more with less and by that, I mean it’s the most basic bike I’ve owned in probably ten years. It wasn’t until I rode it to my house from the dealership (about 40 miles) that I noticed it doesn’t even have ABS. It also doesn’t have any stability control, traction control, or any other rider aid whatsoever. In my opinion, it’s refreshing to have a bike that will do exactly what you ask of it, nothing more, and nothing less. The instruments consist of a speedometer, tachometer, odometer, and trip 1 and trip 2 and directionals. Period. My first ten or so bikes were equipped pretty much the same way and I learned how to ride and survive the experience with just those rider controls. As many other riders on here, I’m sure, I have taken a few hard knocks in the past because I exceeded either the bikes ability or, in my case, my own abilities, and that’s how learned to be aware of the road and the many hazards that we have to avoid in order to stay alive and in one piece. An awful lot of my friends and riders who no longer ride, never learned those basic skills. I can’t tell you how many people I know who rode once upon a time but no longer do, will tell a tale of how they crashed their very first bike and that was the end of the story. Usually the culprit was too much twisting of the right hand grip before they had any idea of how much power they had between their legs and in many cases, they started on a bike with way too much power for their skillset. Starting small and increasing the size of the bike as my skills increased allowed me to become a competent rider and I still use my own skill vs. the electronics of the bike to keep me out of trouble, and it feels pretty good that I’ve learned how to be good at what I love to do without thinking the bike will save me. I’ll save myself thankyou and my wife knows that when she’s on the back I’ll keep both of us safe so we can ride again another time. Thank the Lord for simplicity.
My Honda CL500 Scrambler is probably about as basic as you can get in a new bike - it does have mandatory abs, but that is it, no other electronic aids, no immobiliser, not even a rev counter, just a speedo, 2 trips and a fuel gauge, and I love it!
I had to google what a T214 was as I’ve never heard of it but then I realised I owned a version of one, a Bonneville.
Yes, a pure version of today’s bikes where you get nothing but just the engagement of bike and thrill unfiltered. That’s in my eyes is THE BEST
It’s a little hard to appreciate how pleasant it is to ride something that is without all the bells and whistle’s that are pretty much standard on most bikes these days until you ride one and see how easy it is when you go back to simplicity. I also have a 2016 BMW R1200R which has all the extra stuff and although the ride is fantastic, all the buttons and switches are confusing and I have to get the manual out most of the time to see how to make a particular setting. Kind of takes away from the whole purpose of the functions to begin with.