Motorcycling Maturity

gumbo

gumbo

FIGHT CLUB !
Bigpops92 said:
Really???? Why is that?
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When you're riding a street bike. Sometimes while goin around a corner.
You're going to hit gravel, oil, water, or mud. All will cause the bike to go into a slide.

Then there are the jackasses that just pull out in front of you and you have to throw the bike into a controlled slide just to maneuver around them.
 
Bigpops92

Bigpops92

Active Member
gumbo said:
When you're riding a street bike. Sometimes while goin around a corner.
You're going to hit gravel, oil, water, or mud. All will cause the bike to go into a slide.

Then there are the jackasses that just pull out in front of you and you have to throw the bike into a controlled slide just to maneuver around them.
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Gotcha. Though a quick countersteer if far better than a slide when dealing with the "jackass" scenerio.

Believe it or not, other than oil and gravel, when you feel a streetbike get a little loose in a turn...the best thing you can do is RELAX. At the school they had you go into the turns FAST....as you felt that little "wiggle" (which has scared the S%#T out of me many times) you just relax and let the bike absorb it all. It is simply the weight shifting throughout the suspension and the gyro effect of the wheels.

How many times have you seen a video of a bike getting shaky or expeirence a tank slapper and when the rider falls off the bike lines right up and continues on? That is just the gyro effect of the bike working as normal.
 
GWguy

GWguy

*
gumbo said:
When you're riding a street bike. Sometimes while goin around a corner.
You're going to hit gravel, oil, water, or mud. All will cause the bike to go into a slide.

Then there are the jackasses that just pull out in front of you and you have to throw the bike into a controlled slide just to maneuver around them.
Click to expand...

I've been riding (licensed) since 1970. I have been on just about every size and shape of bike, currently riding a GoldWing. When on the trails, learning the drift method of steering and control was fun, and not dangerous. I have never come across a situation where a slide of any kind was needed, or safe, while riding on the road. Once you break the traction on the back wheel, you are no longer in control.
 
aps45819

aps45819

24/7 Single Dad
Dutch6 said:
So I should make it a habit to ride at higher RPMs? A good question for when I'm in class next month. :yay: Thanks.
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That all depends on the bike/engine.

Harleys and other big V twin cruisers don't rev very high. Some of those top out at 4500-5000 rpm. Sport bikes that rev to 15,000 rpm don't make much power at 3500 which is where mine runs at 70 mph in 6th gear.
 
Bigpops92

Bigpops92

Active Member
GWguy said:
I've been riding (licensed) since 1970. I have been on just about every size and shape of bike, currently riding a GoldWing. When on the trails, learning the drift method of steering and control was fun, and not dangerous. I have never come across a situation where a slide of any kind was needed, or safe, while riding on the road. Once you break the traction on the back wheel, you are no longer in control.
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Yes...but you look cool!:buddies:
 
aps45819

aps45819

24/7 Single Dad
gumbo said:
When you're riding a street bike. Sometimes while goin around a corner.
You're going to hit gravel, oil, water, or mud. All will cause the bike to go into a slide.

Then there are the jackasses that just pull out in front of you and you have to throw the bike into a controlled slide just to maneuver around them.
Click to expand...

This is why a course from certified instructors is important
 
Lugnut

Lugnut

I'm Rick James #####!
BadGirl said:
I THINK I understand.

For example..

My bike at 2500 - 3500 RPM is very smooth, very easy to ride, but not very 'reactionary', not flickable

My bike at 4000- 5000 RPM, just a flick of the wrist and you can get out of a bad situation.

at 2500 RPM I crack the throttle, and it will SLOOOOOWLY accelerate, and you are in a trouble spot the biggest advantages a bike has (maneuverability and speed) to get out of trouble are lost.

I THINK this is what he means. I went on a ride last year and the Harley guys were all talking about how they cruise at 1200 - 1500 RPM while I'm usually at 4K.. If someone or something jumped out in front of them, other than braking their options are limited.

In the early 80's I was told to ride in a gear lower than you think you should.

Don't know if this is right or not, but this is my take on it.

OOPS, itsbob again!
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:yeahthat: Any traffic at all around me and I keep the bike in a gear that puts the engine right in the middle of it's power band so I have the option to brake OR accelerate. Too often people tailgate bikes and braking isn't a safe option.
 
glhs837

glhs837

Power with Control
gumbo said:
If you can't or you're not comfortable putting a dirt bike into a controlled power slide in the dirt.
You have no effin business on a street bike.
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Sorry, Gumbo, I disagree with this. Any slide on pavement is more out of control than keeping both wheels in traction. Like people who think that drifting a car around a turn is faster, its a fallacy that doesnt pan out.

I'm trying to imagine this slide that gets you around a car thats pulled out in front of you better than just turning, but Its not working for me. Example, please.

Dirt and pavement are two different surfaces, and the techniques that work on one are not the ones that work on the other.

On a related not to where to keep the bike in the powerband, I quite often see people with highway pegs use them in traffic, which freaks me out. I always, always cover the controls, and I get that some people dont, but how the heck can you keep your feet 2 feet away from the controls you might need to save your life is beyond me.
 
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W

Wenchy

Guest
Not off topic:

How about the man last week on Broome's Island Road? One car was taking up the northbound lane AND shoulder, and there was oncoming southbound traffic.

What were his options?
 
desertrat

desertrat

0_0
Wenchy said:
Not off topic:

How about the man last week on Broome's Island Road? One car was taking up the northbound lane AND shoulder, and there was oncoming southbound traffic.

What were his options?
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I don't know the details. I guess he was coming up on a stopped car or something?
 
GWguy

GWguy

*
Wenchy said:
Not off topic:

How about the man last week on Broome's Island Road? One car was taking up the northbound lane AND shoulder, and there was oncoming southbound traffic.

What were his options?
Click to expand...

Like DR said, don't know the details. As well as you ride, and as well as you prepare, there may come that day when you're the bug on the windscreen and not the windscreen. I just hope it's none of us....
 
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