What is the downside of sophisticated modern manufacturing?

 

What is the downside of sophisticated modern manufacturing?

I am the proud owner of a vespa motorbike. It dates back to the nineteen eighties and lacks any modern technology.

Probably out of envy people criticise my bike (mine’s the yellow one). The wheels are too small, the brakes don’t work well, it runs on petrol and oil, it lacks equilibrium -spare wheel on the left, motor block on the right- and so on. Alas, it is all true. And I could add more but won’t.

On the other hand, the old faithful never let me down. The kickstarter hardly ever fails. And when it does, some pushing always gets it started. There is nothing you cannot repair yourself. Everything is straightforward, even for a Luddite as me.

There is no battery and the wiring regards the beautiful designed lights only. Well, that and the horn (which resembles a duck quacking).

The downside of sophisticated modern technology? Yesterday I gave a lift to a friend who owns a brand new motorbike that ran out of battery. It wouldn’t budge. And he used to call my baby a mule!