We all have our opinions and no one is totally right or wrong. What ever floats your boat is the way to go. If you believe in the BD electronics and overlook all the "Help me" threads on here then good for you. I don't. That is my opinion.
Ok, I'll try to explain as not to confuse anyone. Old school to me is having just 1 starter relay that costs $12 and you can buy at any auto store. There is no "box, computer or module that translates signals from the handlebar switches to the starter, lights, horn etc. In my opinion these type systems break down because of heat, moisture, vibration and leave you on the side of the road. They are also very expensive. Get one lose connection or short and there goes your box and riding. Call the tow truck.
Old school uses 12v positive on switches to directly send the power to the bike and lights not some box. If your headlight doesn't work there is only 1 wire going to the switch on the bars so the wire is bad or the switch is bad. You can jump it to get home.
Old school doesn't use turn signals. I have never had them until this bike and I survived for 50 years riding using my hands. Right now my bike is hot wired to run with no ECH, module or computer in it. It has only 3 wires going from a 30 amp breaker and a 15 amp breaker that run the starter relay, lights, Ign and start button. (a cheap clip on button I have as a temp until I put on my new bars and controls, I also have a slam button
I could add relays for the turn signals, not too hard but with the Badlands box costing only $86 why not use that if you want or need turn signals? This will add more wires but if the box goes bad a simple jump from the positive breaker to the running lights will get you home. (the brake light switch is jumped from the running lights to begin with)
As I said "You either have to stay with BD and modules/computers or go old school. There is no in between." WP, RIP or any other "kit" using the "box" and BD switches is the same as BD to me. You are just swapping one problem for another.
You can't keep the good looking BD controls and switches and get rid of a box, module or computer. (well you could but you would wind up with a bunch of relays and it wouldn't make much of a difference)
Harley, Indian, Victory and many other bikes have used this system for over 90 years and it is simple and it works. In my opinion BD had a good idea in theory but bad in practice. Anytime you put a circuit board on a hot, wet vibrating bike you are asking for trouble.
If you want really nice old school controls there are many companies out there that make them but instead of $269 for a complete set they cost around $600. Arland Ness has a set that is killer.
And I do "fundamentally understand" the electronics because I have wired more bikes than you will ever own and I own a software company and build all of my computers.
:lol:
