What do you think about the riding modes? Do you find them useful?

[Jagster]

It's an interesting thread. It's got me thinking about more than just the modes on the bike.

It's making me analyse about how I approach my riding somewhat.

The short answer is......I don't think about changing the rider mode setting hardly at all. It's default setting is on full fat Rocket propulsion.

However, there have been a couple of occasions where i've said to my self, 'hit the rain mode' due to the road conditions. because I know that I can tame the bike with the setting, but it's not something I think about 90% of the time.

I'll admit have been caught out once. I lit up the rear end accelerating in a low gear in a tight-ish bend, but managed to save the sudden sideways action. I certainly woke myself up a bit, but I deserved a wake up, because I gave the bike too much 'expression' when I knew the conditions were not the best on cold tyres.

So I hear everyone cry, why didn't you already have the bike in rain mode.....you're an idiot, and you might be right, but I think I was more of an idiot by winding her up just to taste the delicious torque, and then the bike spoke to me and I changed my mindset back to my more normal one, which is a bit more rational.

Bottom line is that i'm an 'old school' rider who wants to be the one who makes the decisions rather than letting the bike do them for me.
It's difficult to break out of that fundamental mindset.

 

[Eric Ray]

I keep mine in sport mode all the time. I never ride in the rain, but if I would end up riding in bad weather, I would definitely chose an appropriate setting.

 

[dougl]

The original Rockets had no modes although the throttle was restricted. That was easy to solve. The max torque on my 2007 Classic was 162 rw ft lbs, rain or shine.

 

[sandcritter]

Using the rain mode while get used to new bike (NOS ‘23 red/chrome).

Though have related experience, have only two years of real/owner MC experience (‘23 Triumph Bobber). Using the rain mode has made this big bike an easy transition. Maybe after get first 600mi in, will go “Road”. Have preset “Rider” to be same but moved throttle map to sport; that’ll be my third move up.

 

[dfresh]

Doesn’t it have cornering traction control?

Not sure if that’s a real question or sarcasm lol but I definitely can sense when the rear tire starts to give way and fishtail even with traction control on. Maybe I could lean into it with more throttle and trust the traction control will prevent it from breaking loose completely but I don’t feel a need to be that aggressive or risk it when I’m doing 85+. If I lost it and went into a slide at that kind of speed I’m probably dead even with gear.

 

[dougl]

Not sure if that’s a real question or sarcasm lol but I definitely can sense when the rear tire starts to give way and fishtail even with traction control on. Maybe I could lean into it with more throttle and trust the traction control will prevent it from breaking loose completely but I don’t feel a need to be that aggressive or risk it when I’m doing 85+. If I lost it and went into a slide at that kind of speed I’m probably dead even with gear.

It wasn’t sarcasm. It’s supposed to lower the torque if the rear wheel loses traction in a turn.

 

[dfresh]

It wasn’t sarcasm. It’s supposed to lower the torque if the rear wheel loses traction in a turn.

Yep, I get that.

 

[dougl]

Yep, I get that.

There is probably a disclaimer about the traction control in the user manual. There was for my BMW.

 

[Protonhound]

It wasn’t sarcasm. It’s supposed to lower the torque if the rear wheel loses traction in a turn.

Yes it does as mentioned by others and according to the manual it's lean angle dependent as well.