[RacingJake]

I live 11 miles from the City, on my Farm and rides in all compass directions shows 'Roadkill,' everywhere, with Turkey Buzzards, the size of small CROP dusters enjoying the Buffett and the only way to get them airborne is to start HONKING the HORN, a couple of hundred yards away, Car, Truck, Motorcycle, Scooter or Senior Tricycle like I now ride/ drive. Some of those flying carnivores will stay glued to their delicious meal until the last second!

Sam

Years ago I got taken out by a Turkey Vulture on my Sportster going around a corner at 60 mph. The next thing I see is the ground, sky, ground, sky ! Wasn't fun at all.

 

[RogerC60]

The first time I sounded the horn on my R1150RT I about jumped out of my skin. I was expecting a feeble meep meep, but instead got a blast that sounded a lot like the horns (yes, dual-tone!) on my '69 Chevy Impala. Although I rarely use it, when I do it commands attention.

 

[Porky]

My new 2012 Goldwing had a very loud horn, maybe the same as a Honda Accord?

 

[Randall-in-Mpls]

You don't need a horn. According to YouTube, you should pull the clutch and over-rev your engine!

 

[WormGear]

Kill switch.
I forget it's there. Even when I can't start the bike.

 

[genel]

The horn on my Honda 650 is actually good, perhaps because it's a dual horn.

 

[Annihilator]

Hand guards. Theres nothing holding them at the angle they sit at. Its just clamping force on the bars. So if they took an impact Im 99% sure they'd just rotate down and leave my hand to take the whack.

 

[Critter]

Most of the time it's me.

 

[pdcomm]

Hand guards. Theres nothing holding them at the angle they sit at. Its just clamping force on the bars. So if they took an impact Im 99% sure they'd just rotate down and leave my hand to take the whack.

Try breaking trail and maybe then you can post an experienced opinion on hand guards .
They actually do what they are suppose to do .
And well designed guards have at least dual attachment points : both around the bar and inside the bar end .

 

[Bitterroot Bugler]

Try breaking trail and maybe then you can post an experienced opinion on hand guards .

Sport and touring bikers break wind, not trails.

 

[pdcomm]

Sport and touring bikers break wind, not trails.

in that case , there shouldn't be hitting much of anything that might force them , one way or another .

 

[Porky]

Sport and touring bikers break wind, not trails.

I break wind quite frequently and I don't need hand guards!

 

[pdcomm]

I break wind quite frequently and I don't need hand guards!

I'll be sure to stay up wind ...

 

[Bitterroot Bugler]

I break wind quite frequently and I don't need hand guards!

Nomex boxer shorts?

 

[Annihilator]

Try breaking trail and maybe then you can post an experienced opinion on hand guards .
They actually do what they are suppose to do .
And well designed guards have at least dual attachment points : both around the bar and inside the bar end .

The key word here is "well designed." They would need to be keyed to the bars somehow so they don't rotate on impact. Just clamping force isn't going to hold the bar from rotating when it takes a whack.

 

[Porky]

I raced in District 37 competition in 1968-late 69, in all kinds of environments but usually the Desert and let me tell ya, hitting a small limb at 70 mph, even with thick leather racing gloves on can sting and hurt terribly almost as much as a Jackrabbit hitting my Motocross boots at the same speeds!

Flash forward to BAJA racing, ISDT enduro racing, etc and by then my Bikes had Competition hand guards and MANY times, the loud sound of a rock or branch hitting them at high speed would wake the DEAD!

On Adventure/ Enduro rides used mostly on the paved roads, the guards still keep those TERRIBLE bugs from ruining ones ride! They also help keep the riders hands warm in cold weather.

Sam

 

[vito]

The radio/audio system and all four speakers. I have pretty significant hearing loss so the radio or other audio sounds like useless noise to me unless I am stopped or riding at under 30 mph. Even when I could hear better I found music or other audio to be a distraction that added nothing to my enjoyment of riding. Even on long rides I prefer the silence (if you can call engine, road and wind noise silence). I would prefer more locked storage in the space taken up by all four speakers on my current ride.

I'll add the Engine Cut Off Switch which we commonly call the "kill switch". I've never found it of any value, and have on occasion thought something was wrong with the motorcycle when it wouldn't start or the engine shut off while riding, only to realize after awhile that I had accidentally hit the kill switch into the off position.

 

[Rollin']

My reason to install "hand guards" was to protect the levers if the bike fell/crashed. They did they're job.

 

[hogcowboy]

The radio/audio system and all four speakers. I have pretty significant hearing loss so the radio or other audio sounds like useless noise to me unless I am stopped or riding at under 30 mph.

I can’t hear the factory speakers either but in helmet speakers work fine. And I have complete loss of hearing in one ear and only 70% in the other. So I set everything to mono and balance to the ear that has some hearing still left.

 

[Unkle Krusty]

The relay that turns on a dash light if the head light burns out. Another relay that lets the head light know the engine is running, before turning on the head light.
Both have been disconnected. All the idiot switches between the ignition on position, and the hot wyre required to start the engine. That includes the kill switch.
A useful item on one of my bikes, is the kick start lever, that is easy to put on and use. UK