I ride a Shovelhead with coil and points with chain drives. I have no cell phone. I am retired. I say I am free. When I am feeling a little down I only have to go out and open my garage door and take a look at my two Harleys and then all is right with the world. Once I am on one of my Harleys and out on the road I am truly free from the troubles of the world or life.

 

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The most accurate and succinct answer to the question!

 

Even though my bike has a lot of the bells and whistles, I never really use them. Listen to occasional music and talk with my wife on the headsets when she's with me.. Cell phone is in a case and it's off.
I like the freedom of no outside interference .. I want to ride in solitude and leave the worldly bullshit behind.

 

No radio. LOL - I listen to the music that's always playing in my head OR the music the engine makes. If I need directions to where I'm going, I look it up before I leave and memorize it to the best of my ability. Sometimes I get lost.... At best, I can stop and ask directions or worst, take out the phone, turn it on, ignore all the messages/emails/missed calls, and look at a map. Then I can turn it off and rock on.

If your scoot has all the bells & whistles, you still don't have to USE them. IMHO, *I* don't need extra distractions while I ride. The cagers ARE out to kill us, so beware.

As always, YMMV. To each his/her own. Do your own thing. Etc, etc.

 

Why do I ride? Because I can, don't need any other reasons.

 

You're certainly entitled to your opinion, but I disagree heartily.

Cheers!

 

I enjoy riding. My ultra I have the choice AM/FM/Weather, C or CD (if I have one). I can plug in my MP3 player and I have a GPS unit if I want to use it (I don't have to go where it says). I can also choose to use none of them..
My phone is either in my pocket or stowed away on the bike.
My springer it is it's own "entertainment" system.

 

I don't understand how a digital screen, ride modes, or electronic controls would make riding less interesting or inhibit where I want to go. I agree they have way too much going on though, and features are distracting. I see myself picking a ride mode I like and not touching that feature ever again. I'd also like to know how long it takes most people to learn all the buttons intuitively on the new touring models. I have a hard time with my turn signal & horn button and have to look at what I'm doing to set the cruise control.

 

I feel free when I ride, but not a particular sense of freedom, which has a political undertone. If I felt a true sense of freedom I would ignore traffic lights, road signs, speed limits, and any other sign of law. Regarding technology interfering with my "free" riding, I enjoy most of the tech. I would get lost in my neighborhood if it wasn't for GPS. The only time I get overwhelmed is when two morons turn left in front of me.

 

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Freedom? I didn't know I was captured. I ride my bike to cross the line between the known and the unknow.

Some call this a nightmare, some call it an adventure. I call it the latter...