I don’t understand everyone’s facination with riding modes. It is just one more expensive part to possibly go bad and have to be replaced. The C14 already has 2 riding modes. How many do you really want / need?
Well, it isn't expensive (actually costs zero) and there are no parts and nothing to break. It is nothing but having more maps to select from. I can see how it could be useful. For example, one set of maps (think "Flash") could be with aggressive engine breaking, and another with normal, and another with little.
I have never used eco mode [FEAM]. Don’t understand why it needs it. It is a motorcycle! It already gets better mileage than all but the electrics and hybrids even when you ride it hard all day. If an extra couple of MPGs is going to make or break you, you probably picked the wrong bike.
FEAM is useful for when you do need to stretch out your mileage on long trips. I rarely use it, since I don't take many long trips. But it is handy at times. And actually, the "touring" part of sport touring does greatly depend on range (which is why one of our complaints has consistently been "if only the tank were a little larger").
Ride by wire? Same deal. One more unnecessary part that could possibly go bad and just a reason for them to charge more for essentially the same bike.
Ride by wire (electronic throttle) would instantly add cruise control (at zero cost), it would eliminate throttle cables and the need for their adjustment or lubrication and eventual replacement from wear, and it would likely remove the need for the entire secondary throttles assembly (because it would be mostly redundant). So it would actually result in far fewer parts and, thus, less expense than what we have now. Which also means it is likely more reliable, too. There is no avoiding this, all vehicles will have it. But it is a good thing (now that the technology is proven, effective, and reliable).
Don’t even get me started on that POS adaptive cruise control.
That, I hate, and never use it on my car (I have to intentionally turn it off EVERY TIME so I can have conventional cruise). I find it annoying and dangerous and would never want that on a motorcycle.
Any bike with adaptive cruise will NEVER be in my stable!
Unless it were designed
correctly, so the "adaptive" part could be turned off, so it is normal cruise control, like I can on my G37S (which has adaptive as an optional function). I have no problem with
optional things (modes, settings, etc), as long as I can retain control over them (and control that preferably is "sticky" (persistent) )