Something that drives me crazy sometimes is that, every now and then, you’re presented with a motorcycle that has the world’s sexiest list of lust (the specs panel) and then you sit on it only to discover that the dash looks like something that belongs on a personal mobility device. One of those unquestionably useful four-wheeled electronic trolleys you generally see the more elderly among us use.
I have no problem with the mobi-trolleys, but definitely don’t want to see the same approach to instrumentation used on my hideously fast, omigawd-there’s-the-horizon-already, performance bike.
Having ridden a virtual flood of transports of delight lately, with the neat little analogue tacho, matched to what amounts to glorified digital watch on the side (which will, depending on the model, tell me speed, ambient temp, trip distance in three ways, and the time in Paris), I’m fed up.
Now I understand the thinking behind these gadgets, which is it saves weight at a time when new models come out boasting about how many grams they lost by using new and exotic fillings made from brazed Amazon hooting frog gonads in the valve stems.
The GSX-R1000 clock shown serves to illustrate the point. It looks like all the others and, yes, I’m sure it’s terribly efficient. But, when mounting up, something in the back of my mind wonders whether I’ve saddled up or am putting something in the microwave.
While having the best power-to-weight ratio in the showroom is important for bragging rights at the pub, it makes sod-all difference on a track day. There are people I’ll beat no matter what we’re riding, and folk who’ll nail me regardless of the spec sheets. It comes down to ability, which in my case has resulted in a life-long drought of race contract offers.
What I really want is to feel good when I mount up. Part of that is the way a bike presents. Instead of a glorified digital watch, I want a turbocharged Rolex, thanks very much. If I spent $20k, I want it to look like $100k.
Just as all hope seemed lost, I recently scoped the dash on the new Hayabusa. I bow in the general direction of Hamamatsu – someone, finally, understands. It looks terrific, like a real one. Lots of stuff happening, big round gauges and, going by experience so far, doesn’t seem to have slowed the machine down, despite the potentially crushing 1100 gram weight penalty. It’ll still suck the headlights out of WRXs on the way past…
You can take the dash too far, however. Just see the Cessna light aircraft example shown here. It goes from being sexy to downright terrifying when you first confront the thing. Weirdly enough weight is a big issue in planes like the172 shown, which is a lot lighter than the equivalent four-seater car. Much of the information is essential, although it’s also a great argument for proving too much of an allegedly good thing can be downright intimidating.
The ’Busa clocks are just about right. But folks, get a grip. Stop hiding the unmentionable 300km/h number on the speedo. This is like Ferrari fitting towbars. You and I both know the thing is a big, hairy, exercise in excess which everyone should own at least once. Put the 300 in and make sure 320 and 340 are there as well. It’s a goddamn motorcycle, not a microwave…but well done, anyway.

You’re always welcome to get in touch via the palatial MT offices at locked bag 12, Oakleigh 3166; Or on the wire via guy.allen@traderclassifieds.com.au.

GSX-R1000

Hayabusa

Cessna