Can Too Many Farkles Be A Safety Distraction?

[jeffmiller]

Ok...now I know this will rankle many members. I have a few farkles on my bike, but only ONE that I have to fiddle with....my Garmin 2730......

BUT...I have seen SOOOOO many ST's that look like a Borg vessel had flown through a garbage dump.

I've seen one bike with a ham radio, XM, GPS, coffee cup holder, radar detector, dash shelves loaded with stuff, GMRS, CB, voltmeters, tire pressure monitoring devices, garage door openers, etc etc etc etc.

I have to think that with too much busy stuff, it becomes a distraction....let's see if this thread is like jet fuel on the fire.....

JUST wondering if it is just me, or if my logic chip in my brain is failing.

[Louie Louie]

Most definetely..I find myself looking for stations on The XM or using the Ipod or GPS. I have gotten a couple scares for sure.. I only have 3 or 4 devices.
I appreciate you posting this as ite reminds me of the importance of keeping my eys on the road!.

[puffmtd]

They can definitely be a distraction. If your running down the road and paying attention to what channel you XM is on your not paying attention to business. My biggest problem up to now has been my Garmin 2620 but that's changed since I got my ST...now it's the real time MPG readout on the dash. I keep trying to figure out what actions I am doing to make it take a nosedive or what I'm doing different when it show's 55 mpg. It got to the point where I realized I was being distracted by it so it is now off and I'm happy. :)

[ccryder]

With my dashshelf setup I can quickly scan the specifics and maintain great focus on my primary task, riding.

Since I have bi-focals I mounted my goodies so all I have to do is look through the lower lens and everything is in focus. I found that having farkles out of eyesight, on the bars or on the steering stem, is a distraction away from the road. Trying to refocus constantly is difficult and time consuming, especially when milliseconds count! I have trained myself to ignore the dash instruments and dashshelf goodies except when I am in a LOW threat environment.

Just my $0.02 and YRMV.

Time4Sleep (and dreams of the road)

Neil S.

[EASt]

I just got back from a 4 day ride through the Minnesota north woods. I am relatively farkle-free (a powerlett, heated grips, and power windshield are all I have).

I was hurling myself along a perfect wooded road, and took a second to look at my SGS (sleeve-borne guidance system), where I write my daily route down and velcro the directions onto the left sleeve of my Roadcrafter.

It seemed like only a quick glance, but when I came up onto the road again...there were the deer waiting to cross the road ahead of me.

I'm glad I wasn't squinting at a GPS, tuning a radio, or some other farkle that requires hand-eye coordination to work. I think my eyes and hands are best suited for handlebars and the road ahead.

[Blrfl]

I don't have many gadgets, but I do have some rules for them:


Learn new gadgets inside out before installing them. The road isn't the place to be figuring out its quirks or which menu has the Defrobulator On/Off setting.

After installation, ride with the gadget on the bike, but keep it turned off. This is a first step that will get you accustomed to its visual presence. (I find that I get used to what the bike looks like, and anything that's "not supposed to be there" is a bit of a distraction.)

After you're happy with it, turn it on and ride in "new gadget mode" for awhile. Remind yourself that you have a new distraction and make an effort to pay extra attention to the road.

If your gadget has short-cuts that consume less of your mental energy or things you can operate by feel, use them. My satellite radio (not installed on the bike yet) has a feature that lets me use a paddle to switch among the presets. Trying to use the preset buttons with heavy gloves on would be very distracting.

Integrate your gadgets into your riding. I treat my GPS as if it were another instrument on the dash, and it gets the same regular quick glances as the fuel gauge or the trip odometer.

Don't expect instant gratification. If it takes multiple steps to do something on your gadget, do them one at a time, going back to your riding after each step. I see cagers getting wrapped up in what looks like trying to complete a multi-step operation in one crack and they invariably end up not minding what their cars are doing. We probably do this too.



--Mark

[Gonzo]

Holy Brainlock, ccryder,
I don't know whether to be afraid or be jealous. LOL
Maybe you should let your back-seater operate all the threat detection equip!
You know, fighter jockeys tend to turn off some of the stuff when they get to the danger area because of too many distractions. We can only process so much data at one time.
Gonzo

[JReviere]

Oh my! Just thinking about the results of being distracted is enough to make me glad I seem to be immune to the disease known as "FARKLEITIS". Old pilot skills in setting up and performing a routine instrument/road scanning process limit my eyes almost exclusively to the road and "hot zone" ahead with mirror checks included in the instrument scan. I keep the brilliance of the instrument cluster turned down so in most daylight situations, it's not easy to read. I limit instrument scans to speed and coolant temp. No GPS, no radios of any kind, no outside interference to distract me... But then, no one has ever accused me of being afraid to be different.

JR
394

[EJ's 97ST]

Hello all. I will agree with JR. I'll probably add heated grips and trying to find rear view mirror turn signals but that's about it. I've been riding since the mid 70's and been down once and that was by choice to keep getting run over. There's enough destractions all around us and I want all my concentration on the shear enjoyment of being on two wheels taking some sweet corners, IN CONTROL.............Ride Safe!
Ed STOC 5950:biker:

[Gug]

Multi-tasking is a good thing. Just be careful as to where and how you do it.

[sherob]

Look what happened to Curt... he was distracted by his farkles... then accosted by that female :rolleyes: He'll never be the same :cool:

[naturally wired]

Bone stock dash area(.) other then the 18.6 oz stainless bar ends but I only look at them when I clean the bike !.....sorry guys I leave the remotes and such at home! I even use a compass when I'm deep in the woods, hiking or hunting ! WOW "look mom no gps!" I guess what I'm trying to say is when I'm in a different area I don't know as well I'd rather be looking around insted of down...I'd rather listen to the sound of the bike and the wind...then music that I listen to in my cage !....the only farkle I can think of gadget wise would be heads up display but the price of that is still to high!....I guess for now I'll just rely on the feel of things going on around me to tell me how fast I'm going !

[billxp]

Well maybe.

GPS for me is way less distracting than a map and directions. I don't really watch or look at the GPS. I do have it programmed and it tells me when my turns are approaching and how many feet etc etc. Way better than looking at directions considering that I prefer back roads to the interstate.

Mp3 player I just leave on shuffle. With on 1gb of music it only has my favorites.

Its all in how you use the tools that makes the difference.

[naturally wired]

Turn by turn gps would be a great tool , but for the $$$$$, I still don't think so. I take brakes when traveling anyway . Fuel, water, eats, and take a look at the map time . It may take me longer to get somewhere , but on a long ride its not a race for me !

[curmudgeon]

Turn by turn gps would be a great tool , but for the $$$$$, I still don't think so. I take brakes when traveling anyway . Fuel, water, eats, and take a look at the map time . It may take me longer to get somewhere , but on a long ride its not a race for me !

Right on Bro

[SteveST1300]

I'm with Bill on this one I listen to the GPS don't have to look at it. If I need to reprogram or change the route I will do it at a rest stop. iPod for tunes in the background breaks up the monotony of a long ride and actually helps me focus on the ride. But to each his or her own. It's a personal preference. I said all the same things about cell phones and even GPS but once you have tried them you find they a re a great tool.:03biker:

[Dorian]

There seems to be a plethora of "Us versus Them" polls and I often wonder what is the purpose of this type of poll?

Obviously those that have a lot of farkles don't think they are unsafe. Those of us that don't have farkles can only speculate since we don't have even anecdotal evidence. But I sometimes wonder if a guy that has farkled the daylights out of his dash and handlebars might be so geeked up about about riding that he is actually safer than the minimalists due to it always being in the front of his mind?

[STnAV8R]

I decided against a gps for that reason, afraid I'd look at it too much. A paper map I look at only when stopped, otherwise it's in the glove box. I did add a 1" dia ball compass, and elec cruise control which I feel reduces distraction since I don't have to watch the speedo so much.

[Phillyrube]

I guess I'm old fashioned.....I prefer to stop every 90 minutes, have a cup of coffee or a cold drink, drain the leezard, and check the map. Plus, get the circulation flowing in my butt!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bigfish]

I have to say I am a bare necessities kind of rider. I enjoy the open rode, looking at my surroundings, that would include roads and fellow drivers. I mostly consider farkles of the comfort variety. Being a new STer I am still trying to decide which to do first. Seat, pegs, riser, shield. I admit I do like tunes on the road, thanks to a 5 gig nano in my pocket set to song shuffle, it takes many many hours to hear the same song twice. All favorites! So there is no need to look at it. I would like to be able to get into the locked bags and glove box without having to sick a key in every stinking single time. I do plan on installing an audiovox system once I get the bike somewhat comfy. How can a 15K bike be so uncomfortable? Maybe that has been covered before! As for this poll, I guess it's what ever pops the panties, but I feel safer with out all that stuff to look at. The bike looks to good to put all that stuff on too!
Bigfish

[jeffmiller]

Very few of the Farkle Freaks responded to this poll....wonder why??!?

And yes I am a Farkle Freak...I just limit my farkles to ones I can rarely see and touch.....

[Blrfl]

Can't talk now. Farkling.

--Mark

[Bones]

I guess I'm old fashioned.....I prefer to stop every 90 minutes, have a cup of coffee or a cold drink, drain the leezard, and check the map. Plus, get the circulation flowing in my butt!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sometimes old fashioned makes more sense. Getting off the bike for a look around and some conversation with co-riders is part of what I enjoy about riding. There's something about scoping out 6 square feet of paper map that I love, and 8 square inches of GPS screen just isn't the same...the counterarguments still haven't swayed me.

My farkles are mostly comfort related (heated grips, heated jacket liner) and see/be seen related (Silver Stars, fork lights, reflective material). When you're comfortable, can see well, and are visible to cagers, there's less to be distracted by and more brain power left over for focusing on the task at hand.

[jeffmiller]

I think the value of the poll is, for me, to see where everyone stands. Not an "us vs. them" issue at all.

Many of us farkle the heck out of our bikes, me included. So since I am a farkle freak, and I started this thread and poll, how could it be us vs them?

Just wanted to know if anyone felt that a limit, as nebulous as that may be, can be exceeded.

And I think we all gained some insight from each answer.....

[tricky_micky]

Farkles do not distract me but for some they might!

Now is that a negative answer or what LOL.

My reasons, all my farkles are tools that go with my trade, and they do not distract me in any way or form:

Heated Grips:
I ride all year round so they do help when it is cold

Powerlet Plugs:
They assist me to get power to some gadgets that assist me, such as power into the top box, air compressor and so on.

Intercom System:
I not only use this to talk to wifey when she is on the back of the bike, but I also use it for bike to student communications whilst out training, and bike to bike when running with other instructors for training purposes. The intercom system also brings in the audio from my Honda RDS Radio, GPS and cell phone.

Cell Phone:
This is hooked up to the intercom system and is only used in an emergency. I can take incoming calls but I do stop if it gets complicated. I only continue riding if it is a Yes No interlude. My bike is my office extension!

GPS:
This gets me to places without having to use maps. I would not be without it now, but it does sit directly in front of me and the voice over commands can be heard in my helmet. When not using the mapping system, I run the GPS on the speedo for accuracy.

Honda RDS Radio:
This just brings music to my ears and is just an on off button or scan for other stations. Helps to pass the time away on our boring and congested roads in the UK.

Blue Sea Fuse Box:
Helps to connect everything correctly and from one source.

Sargent Seat:
Keeps my bum from becoming numb

On Board Video:
For training purposes. Everything is locked away except for a small push button (Lanc cable) that controls the on off etc and record.

Speed Camera Detector:
Under review by me, just there for testing. Has audio and visual display

Fixings:

Left bar, Honda RDS Radio on clutch reservoir mount, can be switched on and off with left thumb, this is where Honda mounts the unit but does not distract my view. I just press a button and listen.

Sitting on top of that is the speed camera detector. That is there for evaluation by me, can be distracting but I do not take much notice of it!

Right hand side of bars sitting on the clutch reservoir is mounted my PMR radio. This is situated in that position because of performance. It is out in the open rather than under the seat, and the antenna is vertical which really does improve performance. Not an issue, I do not have to look at it. Also, I can change it over to my HAM radio, and again, it is for performance and nothing else. Everything is voice activated.

In front of me is the GPS, it needs just a shift of my eyes to look at, just the same as looking at your speedo, so again, not an issue.

What else, well the powerlet stuff is sorted before I move off, the cell phone is away in the side pocket of the bike, video if running, just needs the press of a button, no need to look at it so there you have it. My farkles are operated very similar to someone having to press a button and sound the horn.

Some Facts:

Most human brains can deal with about 5 functions at once, and the brain will be able to take in the information and deal with it, so that inforamtion gets processed. Get more than 5 functions and the brain will only work on what it needs to, the rest is put on hold or like a computer, deleted.

So a trained rider that is to a higher standard than others, should be able to deal with more things at once and the brain will take the information in and sort it out.

Remember I said the normal person can deal with about 5 things at once, those like Schumacker and Alonso have proved they can deal with 35 things at once and their brain can cope with this information and process it, this is why they are gifted and are at the top of their proffession.

I could go on about this as I do have to do presentations to people on this kind of subject but it may take all night.

So my answer to the poll is that my farkles do not distract me because of the way I have set them up and I can deal with the information they send out without it affecting my riding capabilities.

Interesting Dear Watson!

[EagleSix]

I think this type of poll is relative and valuable. It does have the capability of becoming a us-vs-them, but reviewing the replies, not likely on this board.

Apparently a lot of the riders making a reply have given the question some forethought and have by deductive reasoning went their chosen direction. As pointed out even if one has many distractive farkles, it is the pilot who elects when they are used or allow the device to draw their attention. Others simply do not want any or very many devices, ah the Freedom of choice!

I think there is no more distraction, while cruising along on an ST, from a audible GPS saying, “turn left at the next intersection”, than my SO while riding in my jeep, saying, “how about stopping by my place and we’ll have sex!”.

During certain training classes I conduct, each and every student is put into overload, no one escapes and it’s not that difficult for me to overwhelm them. When all is going at our comfortable pace I’m sure most can perform 5 task seemingly at the same time. When I put people in overload, they fail to complete even one task. Are there times when piloting a bike can get this extreme? …probably, but not likely.

On the other hand, each riders is an individual with individual multi-tasking talents. Some task take more focus than others. And with some training and familiarity it is most easy for some tasks to be completed with little thought process.

I think the worse tasks breeching the safety gap are those which demand our visual focus for longer than a fraction of a second, or those who allow their visual focus to be distracted for more than a fraction. Unlike certain driving jobs, there are no farkles which are mostly likely installed on a motorcycle which absolutely have to have the riders attention at any given moment, meaning the rider can elect to simply ignore the device for a few moments until clear of the intersection, after completing the turn, or while passing, before they reach for the button.

For me it always returns to the rider and their capabilities at any given moment during the ride they are conducting to function within their limitations. Of course there are motorcycles drivers who have no idea what their limits are because they have little if any skills to start with, but I think most of the ST pilots on this board are a step above and have given it some sincere thought.

And that brings me back to the value of these type polls, if there are any riders who haven’t thought much about, I bet that have after reading these other valuable post.
.
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[STnAV8R]

Just wanted to know if anyone felt that a limit, as nebulous as that may be, can be exceeded.

.....

When you put the bike on the side stand and it topples over, you have too many farkles.

[jeffmiller]

That actually could happen if I don't stop farkeling.....

I was trying to see if I can actually remember all my farkels....here is my evening mental exercise....

1. Corbin seat
2. Silverstar bulbs
3. Helibars
4. Throttlemeister
5. Touratech Mount
6. Garmin 2730 with XM
7. STarcom1 Advance with PTT and Remote Volume
8. Cobra HH-38WRX CB
9. FireSTik NGP Antenna with home made mount
10. Honda Top Box
11. Powerlets
12. FIAMM Freeway Blasters
13. STreetwavez LED License Plate Frame
14. Blue Sea Fuse Block
15. Hyperlites Brake Lights


If there is more I've forgotten.

[Louie Louie]

How about "Turn Left In 400Ft for Great Sex" I actually saw this in a Nevada Bordello!

[dteel]

How about "Turn Left In 400Ft for Great Sex" I actually saw this in a Nevada Bordello!

Hey, how about more details ;)

[Bigfish]

DOES "SO" and "SEX" ACTUALLY GO TOGETHER?
I gotta get a different SO!