useful little features that not all bikes have

[czakal]

I have switched from a budget Kymco Pulsar to a slightly more expensive YBR250 that feels rather sturdier. But I must say there's a few small things that my Pulsar had which I kind of miss. First one is a clear window for the oil. It's really simpler than having to take out the dipstick to check oil levels. My Pulsar also had a centrestand, but am I correct that most bikes bigger than 125cc don't have it anyway (maybe it's too heavy to have a centrestand strong enough to hold up a big bike?). One last thing is a gear indicator light that shows which one is in use, though it's more useful for beginners (who are likelier to be on a Pulsar) and not the biggest deal for me. Do you think these things should be standard on all bikes?

[P.addy]

Lap timer and top speed run... upon discover of this wonderous bit of kit on my Triumph, I now want it on all bikes.

Gear indicator too, handy as f.

[Andy_Pagin]

A lot of big bikes do in fact have a centre stand, typically sports bikes don't. I don't personally like the idea of a gear indicator, even for beginners, what's important is where the engine is in its rev range at a given speed, not which number gear is engaged.
I actually prefer a dipstick since where I park there's no space to see the sight glass without using a mirror.
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They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa, hey-hey,
the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[Monkeypony]

Heated grips.

Fairing.

Headlights that actually allow you to see in the fucking dark!
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Current bike - 2018 H2-SX, 2004 SV1000s, 2016 Aprilia RSV4 RF, 2017 Sherco SERF 300, 2003 Suzuki DRZ400 (stolen - AY53 JUU)

[chickenstrip]

I prefer an oil level window to a dipstick, quicker to check, but only a marginal thing. Only problem with a level window is if you do a lot of short trips in winter and the oil emulsifies, it can sludge up the window so you can't see the level properly. And on my last bike, the window actually got badly stained so couldn't read the level at all.

Sports bikes tend not to have centre stands for reasons of weight saving and ground clearance. Centre stands can be and are fitted to large, heavy tourers with no problems.

I've never felt the need for a gear indicator light personally.

Fold-in/out bungee hooks ought to be used on more bikes.
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Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[BrownTrousers]

My Ybr dash didn't have a clock showing the time of day.drove me mad.
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Bikers make great organ donors - add your name to the register
Ducati Multistrada 950 | Triumph Tiger 800 XR | Honda CBR500R | Yamaha YBR 125 Custom

[chickenstrip]

MY Fazer doesn't have tea/coffee making facilities
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Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[Alpha-9]

I love having hazard lights on the XJ600, such a novelty
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Fzr-600 1999

[waffles]

I like having a gear indicator, never used a centre stand anyway so I don't miss not having that.

My gixer doesn't have a fuel gauge and I have to rely on the "undo the filler cap and give the tank a shake" method to see how much I have left. Not really that much bother but I would quite like to have something that gives me some kind of idea while I am on the move without having to stop and check myself.
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Theory test - 19/8/09, CBT - 11/10/09, MOD 1 - 16/8/10, MOD 2 - 27/10/10
Past rides Yamaha XT125X, Triumph TT600, Honda XR250
Current rides Suzuki GSXR 600, Honda MSX125

[Beehive Bedlam]

[DrSnoosnoo]

On slightly newer ZZR600s than mine, they replaced one of the trip counters for a digital clock. I use both of my trip counters, one for distance since filling and one for chain maintenance.

My CG only had the Odo and I had to half remember when I filled it up.

I enjoy my centre stand for ease of chain lubing, removing back wheel etc. I have a fuel guage, not all bikes have them, it's alright but it says it's 3/4s full when in reality there's less than half so it just drops off a cliff - hence the trip counter.

I wish my seat was less slippery ...
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I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[weasley]

My Thundercat has no clock, no fuel gauge and no hazard warning lights - all of these things are on the concurrent FZS600 model. I would like all of them and believe that if I replace the left-hand switchgear on mine for those from a Fazer or R6 of the period then I would at least gain the hazards. The clock is a useful feature of having a satnav mounted on the steering stem but there's no easy way to get a fuel gauge in it.

I'd also like a headlight that, y'know, lights ahead.
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[Mudshark]

[monkeybiker]

A clock. Back in the day I would have to glue a watch to the dash.

[P.addy]

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Underseat storage. You could get a fair bit of useful stuff in the space under the seat on the CB500.
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Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[RhynoCZ]

I might be getting a bit old here, but I always take off everything I do not need. In fact, if lads at MOT didn't want to see the ODO meter I wouldn't even have speedo. I know at what revs I go 50/90/130 kph at 6th gear.

The only really great thing I've ever had and want on every single motorcycle is the center stand. I loved mine on the GPz, I used it even more often than the side stand, plus not only you could comfortably work with the rear wheel and chain, the GPz also didn't take that much of a space in the garage, when it was parked on the center stand. But, not every motorcycle can have one.

Back to the OP:
Center stands - Oh, yes please, if my ZXR had a center stand instead of the side stand, I'd be quite happy actually.

Gear indicator - I'm too old fashioned to have one of those on my 90's superbike, but if it was there from the factory, I wouldn't mind. I mean, I do not need it, yet sometimes I find my self trying to shift the 7th gear, when cruising. A simple light that would tell me, I'm already at the 6th gear would be nice. Gears no. 1-5 are pointless to be aware of, since the gear shifting is based on the engine's behaviour.

Dipstick vs. Glass - I had both and the glass is quicker and cleaner to read. Although, if you don't have a center stand (or paddock stand), or a mate that would hold your bike up right, the dipstick is more accurate and easier to read.
On some motorcycles, you can read the glass on your own without the center stand but, on my ZXR, for instance, to get correct measurements, you need a paddock stand or a mate, + a torch.
Or just buy a Honda, most of them don't eat oil.

Fuel gauge - With or without it, I always put the tap to ON, then to RES and find a petrol station. As I understand it, some newer bikes don't have the RES option, so that'd be quite tricky.

Under seat storage - It is nice to have some space under the seat, I can now take snacks and water with me, when I'm riding all day. + Basic tools, that saved me or any other rider quite a few times.

ABS/TCS/Quick shifter... - Maybe someday, but, so far, I was doing quite well without those.
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[Nemo]

[Mudshark]

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[SteveSmith]

[andys675]

fuel remaining trip, adjusts as bike is ridden so the harder you ride it the lower it estimates your remaining distance before filling, likewise if you get up on the motorway it goes up as you ride more efficiently, well handy when out for a blast in wales of a weekend
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Some people feel the rain, others just get wet.

[The Shaggy D.A.]

[wr6133]

I have an older model ZZR with no fuel gauge (or tap). Just an utterly useless light that flashes at me anywhere between 1/2 and 1/3 full. I would like a fuel gauge (I know they are rarely accurate and you can watch the mileage but I want one).

and a clock, I don't need 2 trip meters.

and a pair of RPG7 mounted to fire forward and backward (not sure any bikes have these but I want).

[CaNsA]

Cup holder.