Buell opinions?

[Larry Gude]

It takes time. The biggest thing to remember is wherever you are looking is where you go. Ever wonder how a bike rider hits a tree when there was ample space to miss it? They get out of control, start getting it back and are looking for obstacles and see a tree and stare at it thinking "Don't hit that" and guess what.......right to what you are looking at.

No. I know EXACTLY how to hit something; look at it.

I learnt, day one, on the dirt bike it goes where you look, ruts, turns, etc. The thing is, dirt biking has given me tunnel vision. I don't need to look all that far ahead or to either side very much. And there is no such thing as too much lean or turn on a dirt bike. I've drug my handle bars before.

And, dirt biking is real, real fast from zero to 40 or so and things happen quick but, things are gonna happen a WHOLE lot quicker at 70 or 80, right?

 

[aps45819]

No. I know EXACTLY how to hit something; look at it.

. And there is no such thing as too much lean or turn on a dirt bike. I've drug my handle bars before.

That's why you don't look down

You'll drag foot pegs on a street bike before you drag the bars.

 

[Larry Gude]

That's why you don't look down

You'll drag foot pegs on a street bike before you drag the bars.

I drug 'em yesterday a bit. Instructor asked me what the wobble was after one exercise. Why'd I get off the gas in the corner. Freaked me out.

I supposed I'll get used to it but, I have an innate worry of planting one and the rear getting unloaded in a corner where as zero worry with a dirt bike because it's gonna grab and go and I'm used to it hopping all over the place anyway. Just seems like bad mojo on asphalt!

I also got yelled at all day for riding with a finger on each control.

 

[glhs837]

So, they dont want you "covering? is that it? Or was one finger too few?

 

[Larry Gude]

So, they dont want you "covering? is that it? Or was one finger too few?

NO COVERING as SOP.

Only cover in tight quarters.

 

[GWguy]

I also got yelled at all day for riding with a finger on each control.

They'd have a field day with me..... I ALWAYS ride with a finger or two over the brake/clutch. Not to use them, not for security, but it's just comfortable on my hands.

 

[glhs837]

NO COVERING as SOP.

Only cover in tight quarters.

Hmm, I would fail then. If theres anyone within 1/4 mile of me, thats tight quarters right there.

 

[itsbob]

If I had the time I would like to do the instructors course but it is like 3 days and you have to travel for it.

Had one of the riders here do it last year. I think it was over 6 months (one night a week) plus riding skills on some week-ends, then JR instructor for x amount of months..

 

[Larry Gude]

Hmm, I would fail then. If theres anyone within 1/4 mile of me, thats tight quarters right there.

It wasn't pass/fail. It's just what the instructors wanted. Their argument was you want four fingers to squeeze that break and to do it progressively all the way to the grip if need be, which I never do. If I squeezed that hard on a dirt bike, I'm wheel standing at best, going for a ride at worst.

 

[Larry Gude]

How we liking an 09 Concours, sitting in the showroom, $11,000?

Sat on a 650 Vstrom. I can see that. No frills.
A Honda NT700V. Cheapest luggage imagineable. I do like the bike, however.
Even looked at a 08 KLR 650. 7000 miles, $4k

 

[itsbob]

How we liking an 09 Concours, sitting in the showroom, $11,000?

Sat on a 650 Vstrom. I can see that. No frills.
A Honda NT700V. Cheapest luggage imagineable. I do like the bike, however.
Even looked at a 08 KLR 650. 7000 miles, $4k

If it's the Concours 14 (I think it's the only Concours made in 2009) that's a LOT of bike. Not very forgiving when it comes to giving a little too much throttle.

It's a Long Distance, HEAVY on the SPORT in the Sport Touring category. I think you and a passenger would be comfortable on it all day long.

Another is the the Honda 1300ST

 

[Larry Gude]

If it's the Concours 14 (I think it's the only Concours made in 2009) that's a LOT of bike. Not very forgiving when it comes to giving a little too much throttle.

It's a Long Distance, HEAVY on the SPORT in the Sport Touring category.

Another is the the Honda 1300ST

Yup.

Maybe too much bike for me? :shrug:


In other news, one of my buddies just parked his Hayabusa at my house. Was in his way. No time to ride. Thinly veiled psyop to get me to buy it.

 

[itsbob]

It wasn't pass/fail. It's just what the instructors wanted. Their argument was you want four fingers to squeeze that break and to do it progressively all the way to the grip if need be, which I never do. If I squeezed that hard on a dirt bike, I'm wheel standing at best, going for a ride at worst.

I understand the reasoning behind the four fingers because a long time ago it would take some doing to get the brake lever compressed, especially if you wanted 100% of your braking.

Now I don't quite get it. Most bikes can give you 100% of your braking power with a single finger on the brakes.

I had them shaking their head when the instructor told me "less front brake", and I tried to explain that my brakes were linked. There is no "less front brake" (kind of a half truth), I don't need to use the foot brake in emergency or any stopping.

 

[glhs837]

Frills are for lizards

KLR? Just strap some signals on the dirt bike.

Councours? Big bike. But for a big guy, not as much of a factor. Brand new on the floor? ABS?

 

[itsbob]

Yup.

Maybe too much bike for me? :shrug:


In other news, one of my buddies just parked his Hayabusa at my house. Was in his way. No time to ride. Thinly veiled psyop to get me to buy it.

Kawasaki Concours shares it's engine with the Ninja ZX14, like putting luggage on the Hyabusa.

 

[GWguy]

I understand the reasoning behind the four fingers because a long time ago it would take some doing to get the brake lever compressed, especially if you wanted 100% of your braking.

Now I don't quite get it. Most bikes can give you 100% of your braking power with a single finger on the brakes.

I had them shaking their head when the instructor told me "less front brake", and I tried to explain that my brakes were linked. There is no "less front brake" (kind of a half truth), I don't need to use the foot brake in emergency or any stopping.

GoldWing is the same. Foot brake is linked to the front and back. Hand lever works a different set of calipers on the front. I rarely use more than a finger or two on the front, or I'd be going over the handlebars.

 

[ylexot]

I had them shaking their head when the instructor told me "less front brake", and I tried to explain that my brakes were linked. There is no "less front brake" (kind of a half truth), I don't need to use the foot brake in emergency or any stopping.

Yeah, they said that I HAD to use the rear brake pedal. It actually screwed me up because I am so used to just using the front brake now.

 

[ylexot]

GoldWing is the same. Foot brake is linked to the front and back. Hand lever works a different set of calipers on the front. I rarely use more than a finger or two on the front, or I'd be going over the handlebars.

Mmmm...that's not the same as BMW (or not the same as mine anyway). On mine, the pedal operates the rear (nice for dirt riding). The front splits between the front and rear. There is no different set of calipers.

 

[Larry Gude]

Frills are for lizards

KLR? Just strap some signals on the dirt bike.

Councours? Big bike. But for a big guy, not as much of a factor. Brand new on the floor? ABS?

No ABS, brand new. Not sure I like the fob business where you need to have it for the key/ignition to work. WTF happens if you lose the stupid thing, break it or it just plain fails? :walking:

 

[ylexot]

No ABS, brand new. Not sure I like the fob business where you need to have it for the key/ignition to work. WTF happens if you lose the stupid thing, break it or it just plain fails? :walking:

It has a separate fob? Mine just has an RFID chip in the key.