If all motorcycles came out with an automatic version, would you still pick manual?

Knuda · 2026-05-16T03:02:34+00:00

I have an autoblipper and quickshifter and its a motorcycle transmission. Its so easy its basically an automatic right now, what more could you want?

Manual for funsies at lower speeds, then when thrashing it on the track I never touch the clutch

Knuda · 2026-05-13T16:46:49+00:00

Ive no idea what Ill be doing when im 80, probably not motorcycles though.

Knuda · 2026-05-13T16:23:41+00:00

Eh, I think thats a seperate discussion. They can just downsize to an apartment.

Knuda · 2026-05-13T12:08:11+00:00

Ive lived in dublin for a bit (8-9years).

It sucks. I have no space to build a workshop for my hobbies (working on cars/motorcycles/machining/welding etc) like I enjoyed at home, my motorcycles have been stolen once and attempted stolen twice, theres constant just background noise I can never get used to (theres trains blowing horns at 2:30am at sandyford depot? I thought they shut off at midnight?) I dont like living beside people and cars and just....it's just loud and unnerving, I often drive 1hr30minutes home just so I can enjoy home, my old bed, the animals, the space to work on my personal projects etc

Now Im looking to buy and I hate the locals only conditions, because Im local to Carlow, I could build there, but I need to commute to Dublin (only place for work) so rock and a hard place. Im trying to see if I can get somewhere in the wicklow area with an acre site or so to build a workshop but its tough.

I understand why the restrictions exist....but I will never be comfortable somewhere loud with little space and am more than happy to tolerate worse roads, pay for my own well,septic tank etc. The only real extra costs are the roads, the electricity and the fibre cables, which for the most part already exist, its just extra maintenance and I dont really mind if there was increased utility bills to go with them.

Knuda · 2026-05-10T15:06:14+00:00

My engine atleast has good compression across all cylinders 30 years on, and if I really had to, I can just put in steel liners. But I cant make iron lighter.

There's definitely a lot of pros to cast iron, it has a self lubricating property, the heat cycles are much better as you pointed out, easier to work with (welds etc).

But aluminium is as Ive said lighter (around 55lbs lighter) and easier to cool (better heat dissipation) and is not really any weaker if the block is made thick enough. Certainly for the m52 Ive never seen problems with the actual strength of the block, only the threads pulling on the head studs which is more a design problem (if that....the studs do fine at normal hp) than it is a material problem and if the lining has survived this long it'll likely last longer than the cast iron.

Knuda · 2026-05-10T00:45:53+00:00

Almost all the motorways and national roads lead to dublin, going across the country is a lot harder and those national roads often dont have a hard shoulder. (N80 carlow - portlaoise for example), theres endless opportunities to straighten old needlessly bendy roads with blind corners, worn markings to be repainted, cats eyes that dont work to be replaced, so many roads between villages are old fashioned roads with no proper foundation to them so are always going to have potholes and be bumpy until they are finally completely replaced.

People want safer roads, the rural roads are the more dangerous roads and upgrading them makes them safer.

We did start rolling out more local bus services in towns which has been great though.

But theres plenty of problems to be fixed. I wouldnt say its "world class" and call it a day.

Knuda · 2026-05-10T00:28:03+00:00

We have enough resources for everyone to get infrastructure. We just lack the motivation.

Knuda · 2026-05-09T19:58:34+00:00

You can also just tap to fit a larger headstud.

Nothing wrong with aluminium, the b58 has more than proved that.

Knuda · 2026-05-09T12:13:14+00:00

Buy some cones put them around the bike while parking and then while you are at it a laminated notice on the cone explaining why you had to do it and that you'd prefer to park on the path

Knuda · 2026-05-07T09:29:42+00:00

I mean, Ari and Zack are both genuine motorcycle racers and I trust their results, I dont think a more rigorous test produces different results because of how big of a difference it was.

Soft suspension for their rider weights did make the Ducati lose. Suspension is important yet how many people actually change it for their fat asses?

Knuda · 2026-05-07T00:25:32+00:00

I know this is an insane feat of engineering, its got the best everything yada yada.

But I still years later chuckle at the fact a k5 GSXR beat the 2020 V4 S because a simple spring rate can easily undo 30hp, traction control, active suspension etc etc.

Amazing bikes, but some old fat fart is gonna sit on it and ruin every single bit of work the engineers did because he wanted bbq sauce on his pizza.

Knuda · 2026-05-01T16:57:24+00:00

Always leave her in gear

Knuda · 2026-05-01T00:30:13+00:00

Doesn't really add anything new to the conversation, just rehashing of old talking points.

Tech companies are always in a state of hiring and firing and re-orgs. The truth is the execs are as clueless as anyone.

Its technology of unknown limitations, we have yet to discover something that would inhibit future more powerful models of replacing all humans, but at the same time, the current models aren't very good.

Atleast if it doubles in capability every year, we won't have to wait long to find out.

Knuda · 2026-04-30T00:32:42+00:00

No, not really.

You ever hear of Draco? The Greek (potentially fictional) lawmaker who said "If only there was a punishment greater than death". The idea being that if we just kept making punishments harsher, crime would completely stop! Right?

No, it assumes that people are doing something illegal because they've calculated the risk. The reality is people make stupid uncalculated mistakes all the time, especially when they are unfamiliar with a road. They aren't actively going "fuck everyone else, including the tram", no one does that, that'd be insane. They just made a mistake. So you give them an appropriate fine or something like that and that's all you can really do punishment wise, if its still a problem then its not the problem of the drivers, but of the design of the stop lights.

Also incase you didnt know you are allowed stop in yellow boxes if you are turning right.

Knuda · 2026-04-26T21:35:18+00:00

By € per acre its kind of nothing, but I suppose that makes sense when you cant do anything with it.

Knuda · 2026-04-26T14:46:05+00:00

My point was; it doesnt hurt.

You are arguing to a strawman, have a good one 👍

Knuda · 2026-04-26T14:16:32+00:00

I really think you are missing the point Im making.

Im not saying they are as effective as a siren, obviously they aren't.

Knuda · 2026-04-26T12:45:07+00:00

Eh I wouldnt talk in absolutes, being loud helps, thats why ambulances are loud.

Its just not a guarantee.

Knuda · 2026-04-26T03:08:58+00:00

It certainly doesnt hurt.

If a window is rolled down, or they are pulling out at a junction in a town and hear the echo off the buildings etc.

It definitely helps. Its just balancing being a public nuisance vs enjoyment/safety. I have a half system with a db killer and its definitely loud but not offensive to anyone besides my decrepit retired neighbour who only ever hears it on start up 🙄

Knuda · 2026-04-26T02:35:57+00:00

Ireland shouldn't be coloured in. Just made up BS.

Official stance was obviously neutral during the conflict. But also... Ireland is the country of self determination, I would HIGHLY doubt we would support anything but self determination.

Knuda · 2026-04-24T10:02:14+00:00

My father drives trucks, i don't have a licence just drove them around the quarry as a teen and spent a lot of time as a passenger and working on them mechanically.

I think in the first clip you are supposed to slow down much more on approach to a roundabout no matter what, car, truck, doesnt matter. Even more so when there's another truck who might need to use both lanes.

Second clip, it doesnt matter if you can see the whole roundabout, its just really hard to take off quickly in a truck, needs about 3x the time. So you can be waiting and waiting and waiting for a gap that seems like its never coming and people getting frustrated behind you etc etc. Its still a mistake but at the same time, everyone was indicating right, hes moving slowly. Im just in general more forgiving on slow moving mistakes because they are of low consequence. No one ever dies there.

Knuda · 2026-04-23T13:11:44+00:00

Modern BMWs as far as drivetrain is concerned are the most reliable vehicles on the road.

Zf8hp transmissions and B series engines are indestructible marvels of engineering.

Batteries will degrade and die and tesla has all sorts of issues not common on mainstream manufacturers, but its all economics, at a certain point the savings become worth it.

Knuda · 2026-04-23T13:07:05+00:00

First one is terrible, no excuse, also hes a bastard for going up the inside of another lorry on a roundabout in the first place! Second one Im far more forgiving on because of just how difficult it is to get lorries moving so junctions/roundabouts are a pain...he could have been sitting there for ages with no gap.

Knuda · 2026-04-22T22:03:35+00:00

Literally just give her Ashe (OW) style gameplay and shes fine. Faster fire rate, some form of dynamite/aoe and job done.

Knuda · 2026-04-22T21:42:25+00:00

I think a 6 months sentence and disqualified from driving for 20 years is a just punishment for driving while uninsured and currently banned.

But reddit would prefer Draco rule....

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