I'm with I_bRad on this one AND I'm kind of a technofreak. Look under the seat of your car at the size of the ECM. Given the bike won't need all the processing ability of a modern automobile, there is still all the issues of sensors. Are they going to be optical (think dirt and chain lube grime) or impedance/resistance type? Think you have adjustment troubles now? Back to the battery thing. I own a laptop, battery around $100.00 to replace, runs maybe two hours max on low power settings. My last ride was six hours long. Granted one isn't shifting all the time BUT if we go back to the sensors, there is continual drain.

Admittedly, we could go electric over manual but to what end? Still need brake levers so weight savings would be minimal over brifters (and there's that battery again) AND still have the stepper motors (or whatever) connected to the deraileurs. What about weather? Battery life in the cold just plain sucks.

I could write a book on all of this but, why not just go out and buy a motorcycle. You can have all the electronics your heart desires and not have to pedal too boot.

Just my .02
Keith