Motorcycling Maturity

[Pete]

And I didn't call out Harley to pick on them... Guy riding next to me was riding a V-Rod and made a comment of riding around 4,500 RPM and wasn't especially comfortable for him at that RPM. They were going to slow to upshift, to fast to downshift, wanted them to either speed up (my choice) or slow down.

Their reply was.. "4,000, I'm cruising around 1200." but I think I made of mis-spoke. Think the replier was on a Kawasaki Vulcan and the other in the group was on a Harley.

Think many riders ride in too high a gear for comfort sake. Less vibes, less noise etc..

OK that makes more sense. He was trying to pace you and he was taching 12-15K, not that he normally cruised at 12-15K.

 

[Pete]

Lot of my friends are ATGATT crazy (including my brother).


I try, but I fall short. I don't normally wear the pants and I don't have a pair of riding boots.

The pants would actually be a lot more comfortable than jeans and a lot more safe... they are fully vented like the jacket, and armor in all the right places. like having the security of leather pants, but the ventilation of wearing shorts. I tend to wear them on trips of longer duration, but don't wear them around town.. and I know.. Statistically speaking I SHOULD be wearing them here at home too.

I do wear the jacket (it's cool even on 100 degree days), the full face helmet, and the gloves.. just have to work on the lower end.

I should wear more and do when I can. If it is over 80 it is too hot to leather up.

 

[Dutch6]

Mid range of the power band so you can get some giddyup when you twist without hesitation or have ample engine braking when you let off.

If you putt along in a high gear with low rpm and you need to juice it it takes too long to wind up and you might not have time to kick down a gear.

Got it. Set to the memory banks now for future rides.

 

[gumbo]

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.

You wouldn't believe how many riders think they know how to ride, but don't know that you counter steer a motorcycle.

Wanna go left..turn handle bars to right. And until that becomes a natural instinct..you're bumper bait.

 

[gumbo]

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.

Do you actually think a bike is going to stay straight while your braking on an oil soaked intersection when grandma pulls out in front of you?

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

You know absolutely nothing to make such a retarded statement.
First of all there are several types of dirt surfaces.
The technigues used to ride a motorcycle on slick pavement and or wet pavement are exactly the same techniques you use to ride on a hard dirt road.

AGAIN! If you can not control a dirt bike in slide. What in the hell makes someone think they can do it on a street bike?


There has been several occasions that I've had a street bike completly sideways in a hot oiley intersection. And I still maneuvered around the jackass. And instead of giving it gas and getting out of the way, they lock up brakes blocking the intersection.

 

[gumbo]

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.

Once you break rear wheel traction you're no longer in control..Exactly!

You don't think the bike is going to be sliding when you got the brakes locked down through a hot oiley intersection.
You don't think you're going to slide that puppy sideways when you know you can't stop in time.

Trust me you're going to pull out every trick in the book to keep from hitting that car



If you've never came across this situation.

A..You've been very lucky
B..You've been very lucky
C.. You've been very lucky and or you don't ride very much.

Just because you've been lucky all these years don't mean sheot.
I've known plenty of first year riders to slide there bikes right under cars and trucks that blocked there path in an oiley intersection.

 

[Larry Gude]

I saw...

...this freaking road kill to be last Friday during rush hour. I swear, if it wasn't as aware as I am, he'd be DEAD.

Freaking STOPPED at the end of the on ramp. The hole was so big in traffic, I was starting, insticntively, looking over my should and then I take a last look ahead. This stupid bastard is just sitting there. Looking over his shoulder. Far too old for new bike nervousness, but there he sat. I come to a COMPLETE STOP. Just looking at this retard, visualizing him flying through the air when his time surely and soon comes.

Then, finally, when room for a 747 to roll out appears, he gingerly lets out the clutch and putts out. In my head, I'm screaming, "MOVE ASSWIPE OR THEY"RE GOING TO KILL YOU!!!!"

Unreal. I swear, I've seen tractor trailers move out faster.

Then, one minute late I see Mr. Stage 4 pull out in front of me. Close, not too bad, but aware and ON IT. He freaking lets the horsies out to play, I got an erection and, viola, no fuss, no muss, he's out of there and into the flow like it's supposed to be done.

I hate those freaking stage one bastards. I don't wanna see them get smooshed. Instructors should punch them in the face and scream at them. Motivate them.

 

[GWguy]

Once you break rear wheel traction you're no longer in control..Exactly!

You don't think the bike is going to be sliding when you got the brakes locked down through a hot oiley intersection.
You don't think you're going to slide that puppy sideways when you know you can't stop in time.

Trust me you're going to pull out every trick in the book to keep from hitting that car



If you've never came across this situation.

A..You've been very lucky
B..You've been very lucky
C.. You've been very lucky and or you don't ride very much.

Just because you've been lucky all these years don't mean sheot.
I've known plenty of first year riders to slide there bikes right under cars and trucks that blocked there path in an oiley intersection.

You really are an azz......

 

[glhs837]

1. Do you actually think a bike is going to stay straight while your braking on an oil soaked intersection when grandma pulls out in front of you?



2. You know absolutely nothing to make such a retarded statement.


3. First of all there are several types of dirt surfaces.
The technigues used to ride a motorcycle on slick pavement and or wet pavement are exactly the same techniques you use to ride on a hard dirt road.

4. AGAIN! If you can not control a dirt bike in slide. What in the hell makes someone think they can do it on a street bike?


5. There has been several occasions that I've had a street bike completly sideways in a hot oiley intersection. And I still maneuvered around the jackass. And instead of giving it gas and getting out of the way, they lock up brakes blocking the intersection.

1. I never said that the bike was going to stay straight, just that you'll get out of the way quicker without sliding the rear tire. Also, where do you find oil soaked intersections? Generally, oil is in the center of lanes, soaked in at the light, not in the inersection.

2. Way to have a discussion. I'm much more likely to listen to you after you call my statements retarded.

3. Ever ride in CA, after the first rain in the fall, after a summer with no rain? Like oiled ice. Actually tons of surfaces in both categories, no two alike, to state that a "hard dirt road and slick or wet pavement" use the same techniques is as simplisitc as my statement was. I apoligize for not being more specific.

4. Who said that you could control a slide on a street bike and not on a dirt bike? Not me. My point was that swerving without sliding the tire was better than sliding the rear tire.

5. Just becuase you avoided an accident that way does not mean its the only way it could be done. Lots of rider swear that "laying it down was the only option", ignoring the fact that braking is always a better option.

 

[my-thyme]

Did I really say I wanted to start riding out there on the road?


Time to re-evaluate...

 

[gumbo]

You really are an azz......

This is true. But this azz has well over 200,000 miles of seat time.
Not counting the years spent on flat tracks and motocross courses.

 

[Larry Gude]

Holy...

This is true. But this azz has well over 200,000 miles of seat time.
Not counting the years spent on flat tracks and motocross courses.

...HELL!!!

OK, how many times you lay it down on the street and/or been in accidents?

A buddy of mine up here has 10,000 incident free miles and I was impressed as hell with that!!!

 

[GWguy]

...HELL!!!

OK, how many times you lay it down on the street and/or been in accidents?

A buddy of mine up here has 10,000 incident free miles and I was impressed as hell with that!!!

It adds up. I've been street riding since 1970. At a modest 5000 m/yr, that's about 190,000 miles. I have never laid the bike down on the road nor been in an accident. It's not "being lucky", it riding smart and being aware.

 

[Larry Gude]

Ok...

It adds up. I've been street riding since 1970. At a modest 5000 m/yr, that's about 190,000 miles. I have never laid the bike down on the road nor been in an accident. It's not "being lucky", it riding smart and being aware.

...that is one of the more impressive stats I've ever heard.

I know guys who have been creamed sitting at stop lights, been forced off the road, one actually fell asleep, a couple who lost it on random gravel, I couple guys who have screwed while riding and one who even blew a tire on the beltway and I have either laid down or nearly killed myself on every bike I've ever ridden and now I know two people who have never had an accident riding.

Wow.

 

[my-thyme]

It adds up. I've been street riding since 1970. At a modest 5000 m/yr, that's about 190,000 miles. I have never laid the bike down on the road nor been in an accident. It's not "being lucky", it riding smart and being aware.

OK, those are the stats I'm shooting for! Way to go GWguy!

 

[aps45819]

4. Who said that you could control a slide on a street bike and not on a dirt bike? Not me.

I'll say it, if for no other reason than your seating position on a street bike.
Try and stand on the pegs while riding a street bike.

 

[aps45819]

It adds up. I've been street riding since 1970. At a modest 5000 m/yr, that's about 190,000 miles. I have never laid the bike down on the road nor been in an accident. It's not "being lucky", it riding smart and being aware.

I've been riding since '81.
Only dumps were first bike got hit from behind while stopped waiting to turn left, and then learning what happens when the front brake is applied on wet grass.

 

[GWguy]

...that is one of the more impressive stats I've ever heard.

I know guys who have been creamed sitting at stop lights, been forced off the road, one actually fell asleep, a couple who lost it on random gravel, I couple guys who have screwed while riding and one who even blew a tire on the beltway and I have either laid down or nearly killed myself on every bike I've ever ridden and now I know two people who have never had an accident riding.

Wow.

OK, those are the stats I'm shooting for! Way to go GWguy!

Thanx. It's not only the bike, but the last accident I EVER had including the car was when I was 17. I was inexperienced and didn't avoid a situation that, in retrospect, I could have.

Of course, now that I've said all this, I'll total the truck today...

 

[Larry Gude]

*lol*

I've been riding since '81.
Only dumps were first bike got hit from behind while stopped waiting to turn left, and then learning what happens when the front brake is applied on wet grass.

...

 

[gumbo]

1. I never said that the bike was going to stay straight, just that you'll get out of the way quicker without sliding the rear tire. Also, where do you find oil soaked intersections? Generally, oil is in the center of lanes, soaked in at the light, not in the inersection.

2. Way to have a discussion. I'm much more likely to listen to you after you call my statements retarded.

3. Ever ride in CA, after the first rain in the fall, after a summer with no rain? Like oiled ice. Actually tons of surfaces in both categories, no two alike, to state that a "hard dirt road and slick or wet pavement" use the same techniques is as simplisitc as my statement was. I apoligize for not being more specific.

4. Who said that you could control a slide on a street bike and not on a dirt bike? Not me. My point was that swerving without sliding the tire was better than sliding the rear tire.

5. Just becuase you avoided an accident that way does not mean its the only way it could be done. Lots of rider swear that "laying it down was the only option", ignoring the fact that braking is always a better option.

I'm from Southern California! Swerving with out sliding is always better option as long as you know which way to turn the handle bars.
And when a car jumps out in front of you, you will turn the handle bars.
I've read that the rider turns his or her bike directly into 85% of motorcyle accidents.
My point is.. with cell phones and text messaging on top of all the other drivers distractions. Learn how to ride in the dirt because the only way you're going to learn how to fully control a motorcycle is practice, practice, practice.
To many people want to skip the learning from experience..Oh I took a class and read a book.