Electronics-laden modern bikes.

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

What sort of mileages are the electronics-laden modern bikes reaching before the gremlins appear? I expect they’re better built (proper waterproof connectors, for example) but having opened up a few old-skool handlebar switches I dread to think how complex the multi-function modern versions are. Do fancy modern bikes survive high miles and a salty UK winter or three? What’s yours done?

[Pete.]

I'm on 108k miles.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

What bike?

[Shaft]

Dunno about bikes so much, I've got an Interceptor, but that's the most modern thing I've owned and it's not overburdened with electronics.

I do work in the car industry though, where electronics are far more insulated from the weather and I can tell you for certain, the newer and more complex they get, the less reliable they are.

Many of the electronic systems are related to performance (for that read emissions) and they tend to interact with each other to such an extent, if even the slightest glitch takes place, it can have catastrophic mechanical and/or financial consequences.

I don't think bikes are quite at that stage yet (although everything bike parts related seems to be mega expensive) but it probably won't be too far down the line.

Unless you are very conversant with modern systems and how to diagnose them, I wouldn't be buying anything that isn't under factory warranty, or you are happy to undergo open wallet surgery to get fixed.
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Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[Pete.]

[rpsmith79]

[c_dug]

My R1200GS was on around 50k I think when I sold it. Not a single electronic gremlin, although it really needed a good strong battery.

My Aprilia Shiver 750 is on 24,000 miles and the gremlins are creeping in. It's the only bike to have ever left me at the side of the road, and due to everything being controlled by the computer it is also the first bike I've ever had to put into a shop to even begin diagnosis.

That said, I've since bought the laptop cables and once you've had a bit of a play with the software it really isn't that bad. In some aspects it's easier than an pre-electronic-everything era bike because the laptop will usually (sometimes) tell you exactly which part is at fault.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Fat Angry Scotsman]

[Pete.]

[Keithy]

Saw 5 mins of a Wheeler Dealers episode with an Evo last night. The active yaw control was mounted under the rear wheel arch, so rotted quickly and costs £1,600 to replace. I was thinking about a similar thing on newer tech bikes, how much is an IMU and what would it cost to replace? Are there other bits like that which manufacturers are rubbing their hands together at the prospect of owners needing them in 5 years time?

[MarJay]

It depends if it's a KTM or not. Triumps, BMWs and most Japanese stuff seems to be fine. KTM not so much, and Ducati depends on how you look after it.

Electronics have got better overall, with less actual wiring, all low voltage. Ducati have been using CANBus to transmit signals from one end of the bike to the other for a few years now, so you've only got a couple of wires to worry about rather than 20 or so. It's all swings and roundabouts.

Personally I was concerned when Fuel Injection was introduced, but it's been 20 odd years and I've never had a problem with fuel injection. However, I've had problems with ten year old Carbed bikes in that time... go figure.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Polarbear]

When I was at maritime college I rewired my mates C15 using 3 core nicked from a builders site next to the college. I couldn't see that working on my Trophy.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[blurredman]

[UncleFester]

Inertial Measurement Unit.

IIRC it's what does the maths for angle / lean / acceleration / grip and decides what the traction control does.

Personally i've no intention of riding a bike in the kind of weather / road conditions that kills them. Modern or not.
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Module 1 and 2 passed - October 2014. Happy owner of a 2017 Z1000SX, ex owner of a YBR125 / CB500 / VFR800.

[MarJay]

[UncleFester]

If you really want to split hairs, an IMU is also an ECU in and of itself
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Module 1 and 2 passed - October 2014. Happy owner of a 2017 Z1000SX, ex owner of a YBR125 / CB500 / VFR800.

[Polarbear]

Just an aside. Is it a fact that without fuel injection and electronics, no bike (or car) would even be able to come close to passing emission controls?

If that is the case, I'm amazed that there are no laws stopping remapping. You can't legally remove a CAT or a DPF can you, the vehicle won't pass it's MOT (or have I got that wrong) yet you can totally play around with the fueling?
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[xX-Alex-Xx]

[MarJay]

[UncleFester]

It only has to pass on that day. The market will adapt to make things better at plug and play.

Until roadside plod get more numbers then its unenforceable. Unless insurers start to require it.

So if you crash you might be double screwed.
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Module 1 and 2 passed - October 2014. Happy owner of a 2017 Z1000SX, ex owner of a YBR125 / CB500 / VFR800.

[grr666]

There's removing DPFs and there's removing DPFs. The one on my Transit was removed from the van in it's entirety
and then gutted but down the exhaust pipe with no external tampering, refitted and then it's function completely mapped out,
only leaving the warning light to illuminate and then extinguish upon start up.

Only advisories on last years MOT were corroded rear brake lines.

Sold my similarly modded Sprinter to a dealer and they never spotted it on that either despite their mechanic giving the
van a thorough once over before agreeing to purchase it from me. Both vans were LOADS better to drive after the work and
I saw my average daily use MPG go up on my transit from about 35 to almost 50.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[Easy-X]

[MCN]

BMW k1300 18k and S1000RR. 11k

Elektronikally sound.
Unless one counts R and L handle bar switch clusterfucks replaced three times on each bike in the 1st and 2nd years from new.

Mechanical issue in the switches.
Been gremlin free for about a decade now.

Bike lektrics issuez were normally harness or connektor related in the olden days.

My triumph caused me to not buy British ever again. When the ignition coils failed on two new bikes. Arseholes.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.