Having owned a few primitive bikes in my life, I forget how nice modern amenities can be.
I decided to pamper myself and bought a 2015 BMW R12000 GS. I ride my bikes really hard, get 15k a year on them and typically they'll fall apart around 45k miles. Daily doses of high miles, heavy traffic, and hard rain.
So riding around on my new bike I tried out some of the features BMW throws in.
Heated grips - nothing amazing there, been around for decades, but still nice to have.
Throttle by wire - there is no throttle cable on this bike, all computer controlled.
Multi-function display - the 'dashboard' displays a ton of information - tire pressures, oil level, engine temp, ambient temp, trip meter, current range. All easy to access via toggle on the handlebars.
Built in GPS controls on the handlebars - I don't have a GPS, so this is nothing neat, but it's still there.
Hydraulic clutch - a HUGE benefit. No more Popeye forearms holding the clutch in while slogging through heavy traffic. No more cable stretch.
Computer controlled ride adjustment
ABS braking
Cruise control!!
Yes, cruise control. I don't even have cruise control on my truck. But the bike - genius. Tried it out for the first time today and I have to say it makes riding down the highway almost effortless. To the point where I almost don't have to pay attention. Certainly disconcerting to ride the first time. The bike is so high off the ground and the riding position is bolt upright - even without cruise it feels like you're piloting a bar stool. With cruise and it felt like you were being propelled forward by some invisible hand.
