Bore & Stoke Breakout: Ken Hill’s Philosophy on Modern Rider Aids
The debate surrounding electronic rider aids, such as traction control, slide control, and anti-lock braking systems, often splits riders into two camps consisting of those who rely on technology as a safety net and purists who prefer pure analog feedback.
In episode four of the Bore and Stoke podcast, guest Ken Hill offers a third perspective, arguing that electronics should be embraced, but they must be actively managed and turned on by the rider's skill rather than used blindly. Hill’s core philosophy is that the rider should remain the primary controller of the motorcycle, learning to ride to their maximum potential before allowing the onboard computers to intervene.
The goal is to apply inputs smoothly and aggressively enough to find the actual limit of traction, allowing the electronics to step in only at the absolute threshold. Hill warns that if a street rider panics and slams the front brake without building weight transfer, the ABS will trigger instantly, resulting in less stopping power and a longer stopping distance than a controlled braking sequence.
To understand how these systems work, Hill recommends setting traction control or ABS to maximum intervention levels in a safe environment. By purposefully riding up to the point where the dashboard indicator light triggers, a rider learns exactly what intervention feels like and can adapt their inputs to work dynamically with the motorcycle.
Check out the Bore & Stoke episode with Ken Hill here to listen to the full interview.
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It's simply progress. "Purists" complained when disc brakes came out, then they complained when fuel injection became standard, and complained some more when electronic start became common. Personally, I will take all the rider aids I can get.
No thanks on the electronic overkill. I have been riding since drum brakes were standard and I loved it when we got disc brakes. Standard Cruise control and ABS is also great but the rest of the bandaids should be optional and in no circumstances should be on racing bikes.