Yesterday, we started a poll to find out what people think about manufacturers asking you to pay extra for software upgrades that are, essentially, already on the bike. Things like special rider modes, quick shifters, or heated grips. If it?s already programmed into the bike, should the upgrade be ?free?" Or is it better to give people the choice when it comes to ?optional extras? i.e. the choice to pay for the ones they want, and save money by not having the ones they don?t want.

Within 24 hours of yesterday?s poll going live, over 6,000 people had voted. And the results were fairly conclusive. 92% of you reckon that you shouldn?t have to pay for software upgrades, if you?re only turning something on that you?re bike?s already got. 8% of you prefer the flexibility to choose the upgrades you want, and pay for them when you want them.
Interestingly though, quite a few people correctly pointed out that there?s an alternative way of looking at this. It could be argued that the manufacturers are allowing their bikes to be retailed at a slightly discounted rate because of the fact that they don?t have all the gismos enabled. And that if you don?t want the extras, you shouldn?t be made to pay for them.

Free" What’s that"

Because let?s face it, nothing in life is exactly free, is it" Especially where motorcycles are concerned. If Honda, KTM, Triumph, Yamaha etc. decided to scrap the ?optional? part of their optional extras range, the price...