Rigger, RAS and the motorcycle Options

[Nikoli]

I've been thinking about his lately, and have come to a few conclusions about using a VCR on a motorcycle.

It has been stated in the BBB and other sources that both decking and rigging puts the body in a state very similar to sleep, this is so you don't flail about and injure yourself or give your location away.

Now, I've known several people to set up their motorcycle with a rigger black-box to pilot it. Big problem unless you're sitting in a sidecar. A motorcycle is already a fairly unstable vehicle, that's one of it's strengths, it's light agile and incredibly cool. It is however also something you never EVER want to fall asleep while driving, you'll have an impressive case of road rash in a matter of seconds.

So, am I alone in thinking that rigging a motorcycle without sitting in a sidecar would be absolute suicide?

[grendel]

Yes, because Rigger 3 provides you with a piece of gear called the Motorbike Gyrostabilization System specifically designed to keep a motorcycle upright while being rigged or driven as a drone. Sorry, I don't have my book available or I'd supply a page number as well.

[Fenris]

[EDIT] Redundant post [/EDIT]

[Nikoli]

I'm familiar with that piece of gear. But, it does nothing for keeping the driver attached to the bike, which is the problem I am bringing up. One sharp turn and bamn, skid, ow. :wobble:

[spotlite]

I know what you're getting at Nikoli. Grendel is right, there is a piece of gear which is supposed to compensate but at high speeds I very much doubt it would cut it. But on the other hand, with everything in SR - its 2060 man! Why the hell not?

In other words, its a bit of an anomoly but it makes the game cooler, so either shrug and say what the hell, or disallow it. Your game, your call.

[Austere Emancipa...]

The driver can be kept attached by velcroing him in place or whatever else. Maybe a custom harness for rigging in a motorcycle.

[Nikoli]

That's not a bad idea AE. I could definitely see that working. Although the Drone rigger in me thinks putting the party on 4 or 5 RC motorcycles would look real spiffy as they all move in concert around a van, providing outriders.

[spotlite]

Thinking about the fiction, though, you might find some answers there.

In one of the stories on the fanpro website, reprinted from Rigger 2, is a tale of a rigger hightailing it away in a van from pursuit after a run. When he gets out, he's got leg cramp - as if he'd been running really fast for too long. He's got pulled muscles and stuff. Admittedly, he was redlining the vehicle and probably giving it stress points by exceeding the speed limit, but there is certainly some two way involvement. The rigger describes the sensations as if he's physically doing it, but its all metaphorical - running faster for accelerating, for example. On a bike, maybe the rigged system is tweaked so the RAS override is less sensitive, allowing you maintain that crucial control over centre of gravity. With the gyroscope as well, it might be enough.

Is that a better rationale?

[Austere Emancipa...]

Works for me.

[Nikoli]

I can see that, though again, it violates the precepts of the RAS technology. I like the harness idea, though it would have to have a quick release setup kinda simliair to teh motorcycle airbag system so you wouldn't get tangled with the bike if you spilled.

Though it is conceivable that the system just keeps you comfortably in the position you were when you jacked in, and not necessarily a loose lump of a meat body. That would explain how Fastjack in the 1st ed opening story stayed upright when jacking in, and how riggers stay on bikes. otherwise you'd always need a 5-point harness when rigging any normal vehicle, couase you'd submarine otherwise. though the thought of a dwarf stuffed into a side-car rigging it from there amuses me.

[spotlite]

RAS override does NOT have to completely override physical actions. Otherwise deckers not running pure DNI would be screwed cos they couldn't use the keys on the deck. It makes it difficult to concentrate on actions in the physical world, not impossible. Given that, something like well trained fingers flying over a keyboard or leaning into a curve which you can still feel because you're rigged in would be quite feasible, imho.

[Nikoli]

I wasn't aware that deckers usually used the keyboards, I always chalked that up to artists ideas of modern computing, and not reflecting the technology described.

[spotlite]

If they aren't running pure DNI, they have to be using physical interfaces. That's the point about Direct Neural Interface! ;D

[Nikoli]

Wow, neato. Learn soemthign new everyday. Just gave me an idea for a decker flaw too... Carpel Tunnel syndrone, +1 TN - 1 iniit when not using pure DNI, can be avoided in four hour stints with aspirin.

[spotlite]

same goes with cyber - eg to activate spurs if you haven't attached DNI you have to train a muscle reflex to pop and retract them. Headware which needs activating I beleive is assumed to have DNI, since you can't flex your brain.

I am willing to stand corrected on the cyberware issue, but I'm positive about the RAS override. It certainly CAN be set to completely override a la BTL and simsense chips, but it doesn't have to be.

[Nikoli]

Reminds me of a Decker I had in 2nd ed. There were references in the shadowland talking that you could multi-task with a Encehalon, so I had a decker with a mono whip. would put matrix on hold, scare crap out of person bothering her then go back to decking.

[Cochise]

[Panzergeist]

Even with the stabilization to keep the bike from tipping over, what's to keep the rigger from falling off?

[Lindt]

The VCR is SO wired into the lower brain and spine, prehaps it can manuplate the muscles directly to keep it up? *shrug* I just require the gyro on a rigged bike.

[boodah]

Solution:

BMW Bike from Akira (almost recline in the bike).
5 point harness.
Hydraulic system to shift your body weight when you need to lean.
Clipped shoes and gloves to keep your body tight to the bike.

Anything else?

[Nikoli]

Problem with that, you take a spill and they wetvac your remains off the street.

[boodah]

ok, then add a couple mercury switches to the bike, and an electric release for the harness, coupled with an easy disconnecting rig.

[Nikoli]

Nice, I like it. now if only we can get it past the Safety Comission...

[danbot37]

I'm pretty sure the bike was a honda, it did have an hrc logo on it (honda racing corporation)

[Nikoli]

Yeah, I was disappointed that more bikes along those lines weren't in the SR book or any of the Rigger books. I personally see the motorcycle as one of the transports of choice for a runner, it's fast, easy to hide and is just damned cool.