| Motorcycle Safety / General Discussion |
| Dropped my bike tonight! 1st time on Ultra
|
bkikkert
* Today * 12:52 PM |
quote:
I'm definately not an olympic weight lifter at 5'5" and 125lbs. I don't consider myself a fibber in this reguard either.
I guess you are one of the few.. |
| Motorcycle Safety / Campfire chat |
| Strange, beautiful, and scary
|
Robus
* Today * 12:40 PM |
I'm having trouble understanding the point of #11 (that circular driveway suspended over the dam). Anyone? |
| Motorcycle Safety / General Discussion |
| A close call tonight
|
haithabu
* Today * 11:41 AM |
Had a sudden flat with a tube tire (rear) back in the 70's. Riding on at any speed was not an option, not even with easy inputs (the bike was providing violent inputs of its own). I steered in the direction of travel as the bike flipped from left to right and back again, but it was very close to the steering lock. I considered myself lucky just to make it to the shoulder in one piece. |
| Dropped my bike tonight! 1st time on Ultra
|
capozzir
* Today * 11:36 AM |
quote:
Originally posted by bkikkert
There are very few people, experienced or not, that have not dropped a large touring bike either stopped or during a slow speed maneuver and especially two-up loaded with luggage. Those that say they have never dropped a touring bike are either little white fibbers or olympic weight lifters. 
Well, I ride an GL1800 Goldwing which I guess qualifies as a "large" touring bike. I'm definately not an olympic weight lifter at 5'5" and 125lbs. I don't consider myself a fibber in this reguard either. So far after 1.5 years and 38k miles of ownership and doing mostly 2 up touring fully loaded with a luggage platform on the back, I haven't dropped it (knock on wood).
I have never "dropped" a bike. Had one roll of the kick stand while it was idling in the driveway but I wasn't on it at the time. 
I have wrecked twice, on two different bikes (18 years ago now and one was on a race track). Since then, I've kept it rubber side down. I'll keep eating my wheaties and petting my rabbit's foot.  |
| A close call tonight
|
radan2
* Today * 11:26 AM |
quote:
Originally posted by rkfire
I'm curious about these valve stem failures. Was it the inner stem that broke, fell apart, or what? Maybe a spare valve stem in the tire patch kit would be a good idea, and a removal tool or valve cap that includes the tool.
If it's the rubber part of the valve that's cracking, just a good reminder to have new valves installed at every tire change.
In my case, the rubber stem of the stem looked like it had been cut. I had been riding past some construction areas, and I think something metal or glass on the road flipped up and hit the stem. I have never heard of something like that happening before, and am totally puzzled about it, as I felt nothing. But now I have metal valve stems, so I don't expect to have that trouble again.
My Guzzi has only got a sidestand, so removing the wheels on the side of the road would be difficult or impossible. In any case, since it has a shaft drive, taking the rear wheel off is a real chore even in a shop with a lift. That is one of the tradeoffs you make when you go to shaft drive: no adjustments and virtually no maintenance for the drive, but changing the tire becomes more difficult. Perhaps a single sidearm shaft bike would be easier. When I get one, I'll find out. Or perhaps someone with a newer BMW or Guzzi can post something here. |
| Odds and Ends / Board Enhancements or Problems |
| Multiple bikes in user profiles
|
Cash Anthony
* Today * 10:35 AM |
Are you kidding? Between us, I think we just don't know when to stop.   
In truth, Jim's working assiduously on it, and I've given up editing for now, until the 'final' version of the current section arrives.
Cash |
| Motorcycle Safety / General Discussion |
| Birthdays and grandkids...
|
twc
* Today * 10:32 AM |
quote:
Originally posted by scottrnelson
My own opinion is that you should get a dirt bike too and go ride with him.Look at this as a good opportunity for you to do more riding and to participate in an activity that your son will enjoy too.
I have to admit that I like Scott's suggestion, but...
My first reaction to this post was incredulity that a grandparent would purchase something like this for a grandchild without first speaking to the parents, even if the parents and grandparents are all bikers.
We are all aware that riding motorcycles carries with it some risk, and we each accept that risk as part of motorcycle riding. A child of ten is not yet capable of making an informed decision about those risks; the parent must be part of the process. A grandparent is not a parent and has no right to make that decision on behalf of the parents.
Yes, I am a grandparent.
|
| Odds and Ends / Board Enhancements or Problems |
| Multiple bikes in user profiles
|
radan2
* Today * 10:14 AM |
quote:
Originally posted by scottrnelson
Well, I guess that's something that you can work on after you're done writing your books.
Is the book done yet? Is the book done yet?
(James, didn't you just know that something like this would happen!) |
| Motorcycle Safety / General Discussion |
| A close call tonight
|
rkfire
* Today * 10:01 AM |
I'm curious about these valve stem failures. Was it the inner stem that broke, fell apart, or what? Maybe a spare valve stem in the tire patch kit would be a good idea, and a removal tool or valve cap that includes the tool.
If it's the rubber part of the valve that's cracking, just a good reminder to have new valves installed at every tire change. |
| A close call tonight
|
radan2
* Today * 9:30 AM |
I have had two flats while riding; one in the front as a result of a piece of metal on the road, and one on the rear as a result of a broken valve stem.
The piece of metal was black, lying on a rain-wet road in the dark. I did not see it. The front began to go squirrelly, so I pulled off.
In the case of the valve stem, I was able to pull into the lot of a service station. Deflation was much more rapid. The valve stem looked like it had been cut by something, presumably on the road.
My bike has cast wheels and tubeless tires. There was no sudden blowout. The front lost pressure very gradually, and still had some when I stopped. I have since replaced both valve stems with metal.
In both cases, I called AAA and they sent a tilt-bed wrecker. In the first instance, I was near home and they took the bike to my house. I trailered it to Backroads Motorcycles the next day. In the second instance (valve stem broken), I was in Little River, SC. The AAA made calls, found a bike shop that was open nearby and had a tire of the appropriate size, and the truck took me there.
Here are the lessons I have learned from this.
1. As soon as the bike starts getting squirrelly, pull off.
2. Use careful, smooth inputs.
3. If at all possible, use tubeless tires.
4. AAA+ motorcycle and RV coverage is worth its cost. |
| Birthdays and grandkids...
|
scottrnelson
* Today * 9:20 AM |
My own opinion is that you should get a dirt bike too and go ride with him. Something like a Honda CR150F should be able to keep up with the 50. He'll listen much more to what you have to say about riding if you're doing it together then you can talk about different situations.
Riding gear can get expensive, though, because he's likely to grow out of his gear two or three times. I've heard of exchange programs where you can trade in the gear your kid has outgrown and move up to gear someone else has outgrown.
Look at this as a good opportunity for you to do more riding and to participate in an activity that your son will enjoy too.
This is me riding with my son back when we would go out about every other weekend:
 |
| A close call tonight
|
gymnast
* Today * 8:59 AM |
Alabusa, has the cause of the loss of air in the tire been determined yet? |
| Motorcycle Safety / Campfire chat |
| Torque vs horsepower vs acceleration
|
James R. Davis
* Today * 7:42 AM |
It's curious to me that though you clearly have a mathematical and engineering perspective of physics, you would claim
quote:
Given the weight of the bike(M) and the horsepower(F),
you can integrate F=MA ...
F, as I'm sure you know, stands for Force in that equation.
Torque is a force while Horsepower is not.
Of course you can rearrange and integrate formulas, and if you ignore cause and effect relationships, can conclude that work causes acceleration -- but do you believe it?
My guess is that you believe that force is what causes movement (or acceleration) of mass, and as a result, work.
HP is not a force. It does not CAUSE the movement of mass.
|
| Motorcycle Safety / General Discussion |
| A close call tonight
|
Alabusa
* Today * 7:34 AM |
I never did feel as I was going down and did remain calm through out. What did bother me the most was my wife being on the back. I feel that her extra weight on the bike may have been the reason for the feel of increased instability.
The key I believe is to remain calm and not over-react, as is best course in most situations. |
| Motorcycle Safety / Campfire chat |
| Torque vs horsepower vs acceleration
|
sporty
* Today * 7:14 AM |
quote:
Originally posted by goldcoast
2- The bike has almost 40 hp less than a Yamaha R6R, but almost 20 ft lbs more (torque), that translates into real into higher acceleration but less maximum velocity.
As soon as you put that additional 20HP through a
transmission the torque available at the rear wheel
increases. The transmission is the 'great equalizer',
being required to transform nHP(high-RPM x low-Torque)
at the engine into nHP(low-ROM x high-torque) at the rear
wheel (note that HP, ignoring frictional losses, does
not change).
Given the weight of the bike(M) and the horsepower(F),
you can integrate F=MA and 33,000 ft-lb/min and come up
with a first-order estimation of acceleration. From
F=MA, increasing F increases A.
I would be extremely surprised if a manufacturer would
do a poor job of selecting gear ratios, particularly to
the point where a high HP bike was operating outside its
powerband.
-W |
| Motorcycle Safety / General Discussion |
| Birthdays and grandkids...
|
SkootchNC
* Today * 6:31 AM |
My wife has a habit of shopping for our grand child..... I usually ruin her shopping mood, by saying " is THAT age-appropriate?".... and she puts the item down.
We were at a local shop, and she picked out a little 50 cc bike (with training wheels) I told her, we'd have to discuss that purchase with our daughter, and son-in-law, first....Again... she's disappointed... but understands.
Yes... I want to buy him that "Daisy Red Ryder Lever Action BB Gun"... but I do find the will power to leave it on the shelf
It's great that "grandpa" can, and will lavish gifts upon your children...but he should have cleared THIS purchase with you first.
There are some wonderful programs designed to teach young children how to ride safely. I'd suggest contacting the local shops, to see what is available in your area. |
| California moves on Loud Pipes
|
rkfire
* Today * 6:29 AM |
Ray, that was the regulation that I was asking about. It simply requires the EPA stamp on the muffler.
Vance & Hines now has at least one aftermarket exhaust with EPA certification. Maybe laws like the NYC version would create an incentive to the aftermarket companies to make legal mufflers.
Right now, it's a sort of wink wink, this system is made for "offroad racing". I noticed CherryBomb running a TV ad lately that says "disturbing the peace since 1965?". |
| Motorcycle Safety / Campfire chat |
| Torque vs horsepower vs acceleration
|
goldcoast
* Today * 3:28 AM |
My sugesstion and my personal favorite, and my current ride :D
My bike has the same, even higher, acceleration than a Yamaha R6R, but they are two factors that make the bike more "human"
1- Throttle is very large, you almost have to twist your wrist into a very unatural position to put the throttle at full power.
2- The bike has almost 40 hp less than a Yamaha R6R, but almost 20 ft lbs more (torque), that translates into real into higher acceleration but less maximum velocity. |
| Motorcycle Safety / General Discussion |
| A close call tonight
|
Robus
* Today * 12:41 AM |
quote:
Originally posted by Alabusa
This is one case that I have no good idea how to practice for or be prepared for. Anyone that does know a good way please share!!
Sounds like you did fine. |
| Birthdays and grandkids...
|
gymnast
09/01/2010 11:34 PM |
I think that if you wanted your son to have a motorcycle, you would get him one. I would consider someone getting my son a motorcycle without discussing it with me first to be in the same category and about as far far out of line as if he had purchased a firearm or a boat for the child. You sounds like you realize the problems in this situation and it appears that you would not be pleased if the gift resulted in unpleasant consequences for your son.
I introduced my kids to motorcycles, cars, guns, airplanes, and boats at such a time and under the circumstances that both myself and my wife felt to be appropriate. At no time did the grandparents "lead" in any of these decisions. I guess I have been lucky, as the kids are now grown and raising their own kids. |
| Birthdays and grandkids...
|
Scamper
09/01/2010 11:11 PM |
My first question is this: does he have all the gear that goes with that bike? Even a 50cc has quite a bit of power. I'm sure you know that but I just wanted to say it out loud and get it out of the way 
Do you feel that your son is responsible enough to handle more power than he's ever had? If he's quite mature, then I'd say this is prime time to introduce him to safe motorcycling. Might as well learn safe handling and safety now while he's impressionable.
I like your stipulation that it stays on the farm. I think he really ought to be riding it with supervision. Isn't it possible to 'fix' the throttle so it can't be opened up completely? |
| A close call tonight
|
gymnast
09/01/2010 10:56 PM |
A crash occurred just East of here last Sunday as a result of a rear rear tire deflation. The unfortunate rider was pulling a trailer. Speed limit on this section of Interstate 84 is 75 MPH. http://idahostatepolice.blogspot.co...n-falls.html
There have been a number of injury crashes in Idaho this summer involving riders pulling trailers with their motorcycles including this one http://idahostatepolice.blogspot.co...-on-i84.html |
| Birthdays and grandkids...
|
tmoldovan
09/01/2010 9:59 PM |
Sorry if this has been posted before, I tried the search, but haven't found anything on the topic.
My son just turned 10, and his grandpa bought him a 50cc Honda dirt bike, without running it by us first. (he hasn't given it to him yet. )
My son has been riding a bicycle for a while, and he loves trying to do wheelies and tricks. He also loves practicing tricks with his skateboard.
Grandfather (an experienced trucker) has only recently gotten into biking, and although he is apprehensive about using the front brake he seems careful and has done a few longer trips.
I want to develop a healthy motorcycling relationship with my son, and I wish that decision would have been left up to me. I know a ten year old can not fully comprehend the issues involved, but on the other hand he reaches the same speeds on his bicycle as he rides downhill to school.
So, I told grandpa, the bike can stay on the farm, and my son can ride it, but I don't want it to be presented to him as a gift, as I dont want him to feel that the bike is his.
I don't feel completely uncomfortable with him on a small dirt bike, so should I take this as an opportunity to teach him about responsible motorcycling, am I looking too deep into it, or do you think a kid his age is way too young for them? |
| Odds and Ends / Board Enhancements or Problems |
| Multiple bikes in user profiles
|
scottrnelson
09/01/2010 9:57 PM |
Well, I guess that's something that you can work on after you're done writing your books. |
| Motorcycle Safety / General Discussion |
| California moves on Loud Pipes
|
rayg50
09/01/2010 9:40 PM |
Here is a link to the NY City council proposal. Interestingly enough in quickly rereading it I see no mention of noise level. It seems to be aimed purely at straight pipes.
I remember reading the objections to how the noise level would be determined (my wife rubbed some salt into the wound back then). Perhaps they watered it down to get it passed or perhaps this is not the current proposal. In any event, I apologize for stating a content that is not in this version of the proposal.
A teaser quote:
quote:
b. No person shall stop, stand or park a motorcycle equipped with a straight pipe on a street in the city of New York.
http://www.noiseoff.org/document/ny....11.2008.pdf
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| A close call tonight
|
The Meromorph
09/01/2010 8:59 PM |
I don't know a way to practice for it. I do know what to do if it happens, and it worked for me.
About two weeks ago, I was riding at high speed on the freeway about 120 miles from home on my way to Louisville, and the valve stem on the back tire broke off... The bike remained stable in a straight line, but got somewhat squirrelly on corners.
I travel that road frequently (my eldest and his family, and several friends of ours still live there, as we used to), so I knew I was a long way from an exit, and a longer way from any exit likely to be near a motorcycle dealership.
I slowed down to about 70-80 mph, and the bike remained stable, but a little squirrelly, so I continued my journey hoping to get close to a motorcycle dealer in Louisville. I took things very cautiously, not changing lanes unless I had to, etc. As I got to the outer limits of the Louisville metro area, the traffic (as usual) got much heavier, until I could no longer safely retain the same speed. Happily, I got to the first 'urban' exit, where I knew there were, at least, places I could get food and A/C and a decent cell-phone signal, to call for help.
As I slowed down and exited, things got a whole lot more squirrelly, but I managed to find an easy access to a gas-station/convenience-store and called my son, at work, for help.
The guy sitting next to him heard where I was and had just bought a new bike at a brand new dealership right around the corner from where I was. I managed to 'ride' the bike there, with great difficulty, and they had two tires that fitted (only two in the whole store).
My point is really that, if you can safely keep a fairly high speed up, you can get a long way on a tire with no air at all in it, until you slow down. I got 35-40 miles, and it was only after I had to slow down to 45 mph or so that things got difficult. |
| A close call tonight
|
greywolf
09/01/2010 8:40 PM |
It feels much worse than the actual level of danger as long as you don't need to deal with something else too. Don't do anything harsh. Just take it easy on all control inputs and find a safe place to stop. Pull the clutch in if you are able to stop soon. If you have hazard flashers, use them. Avoid using the rear brake, and a tubeless tire will usually stay in place on the wheel.
A mud guard that extends from the front fender as close to the ground as practical helps prevent flats. The usual cause is that the front tire runs over an object lying on the road and flings it at the rear tire. I use Ride-on in my tires also. |
| A close call tonight
|
Alabusa
09/01/2010 7:28 PM |
Just as the title says the wife and I had a close call tonight. Had a sudden evacuation of air from the rear tire. I felt the bike getting "stiff" then unstable in the rear. I knew immediately what was happening and threw a quick "DO NOT MOVE AT ALL" over my shoulder. Had to go about 1/4 of a mile to a safe spot to pull off the road. The slower I got the worse the rear started wallowing. We are back home safe now and about to get nerves settled.
This is one case that I have no good idea how to practice for or be prepared for. Anyone that does know a good way please share!! |
| California moves on Loud Pipes
|
Donryu
09/01/2010 6:59 PM |
Here's what the NY State law governing noise levels for motorcycles says:NYS Vehicle & Traffic Law, Article 10, Section 386.
Maximum Allowable A-Weighted Sound Levels at Speed: 35 mph or less, 82 dB(A); over 35 mph, 86 dB(A), measured at, or adjusted to, a distance of fifty feet from the center of the lane in which the motorcycle is traveling. |
| Dropped my bike tonight! 1st time on Ultra
|
gdickelman
09/01/2010 6:58 PM |
I dropped my bike when I didn't have enough experience with braking at slow speed, and little to no intuition regarding the physics of the thing. Being surrounded by 6-year-old children in a Toys-R-Us parking lot, while lying on my side with my Guzzi - and hearing one of the kids say, "Is that man's mommy going to put him in time-out for dropping his motorcycle?" - did not help me to eliminate the poor control.
It was only after taking a 3-day motor-officer class and practicing extremely slow-speed turns (cloverleafs, weaves, ...) AND having dropped the big Harley about 200 times in that span of 3 days did I get over dropping my bike and never again felt remorse the few times I dropped it after that.
To be sure, the only times it happened after the 3-day class was when I was practicing something difficult in a parking lot. |
| Air bag jacket in MotoGP
|
gymnast
09/01/2010 6:46 PM |
Gary, searching around the internet yields little in the way of new developments or news pertaining to "motorcycle airbag jackets". Here is a link to a search http://www.google.com/search?q=+mot...nt=firefox-a |
| Air bag jacket in MotoGP
|
gdickelman
09/01/2010 6:36 PM |
quote:
Originally posted by haithabu
The new thing out from Hit-Air is a tethered air bag vest which can be fitted over a conventional riding jacket. It has side segments which appear to be designed to offer lower rib/hip protection which the older models do not have. It is also advertised as having a new improved activation system which will deploy in .12 to .25 seconds (versus .35-.50 seconds for previous models). I have already ordered one to wear with my mesh jacket because my EU-3 is too warm for summer use in the US.
http://www.bikebone.com/page/BBSC/PROD/AT/MLV
Many thanks for the update.
I have been watching the Hit-Air literature for while. There have certainly been a number of good improvements / development since first introduced. |
| Air bag jacket in MotoGP
|
haithabu
09/01/2010 5:47 PM |
The new thing out from Hit-Air is a tethered air bag vest which can be fitted over a conventional riding jacket. It has side segments which appear to be designed to offer lower rib/hip protection which the older models do not have. It is also advertised as having a new improved activation system which will deploy in .12 to .25 seconds (versus .35-.50 seconds for previous models). I have already ordered one to wear with my mesh jacket because my EU-3 is too warm for summer use in the US.
http://www.bikebone.com/page/BBSC/PROD/AT/MLV |
| Air bag jacket in MotoGP
|
gdickelman
09/01/2010 4:52 PM |
It's been almost a year since the last post to this thread, and I'm wondering what's new in the world of inflatable jackets, air bags and other injury mitigation devices.
Motivation for re-opening the thread: It's been almost nine months since my accident, and I continue to be much more conservative about riding. This is, in part, in deference to my loved ones: It's not all about me and my overwhelming desire to ride.
I am a conservative, safety-practicing rider. I love touring. I have been studying the issue of whether to continue riding or not for some time (while tooling around the school parking lot behind my house on my Guzzi...the poor thing hasn't been in 4th or 5th gear in a long time, but I can sure make tight turns at slow speed, and stop on a dime!).
A few thoughts:
- Swap my Moto Guzzi for a Goldwing, with ABS and air bag. The latter is a more substantial machine, with a number of additional safety / injury-mitigating features over the Guzzi.
- Add an inflatable, sensor driven (versus tethered) jacket to my (already substantial) safety wardrobe
- Keep up the extra training, as I always have.
Thoughts (on the original question: What's new in the world of inflatable jackets, air bags and other injury mitigation devices)? |
| Off Theme / Humor ... the lighter side |
| Crashproof Motorcycle
|
gymnast
09/01/2010 4:41 PM |
Check out the safety features on the 2011 Mercedes Benz models. http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/index...des-7760552&
|
| Motorcycle Safety / Sharing of Lessons Learned |
| David Hough
|
haithabu
09/01/2010 4:07 PM |
That struck me as well. We all use others' brake lights to alert us to slowing vehicles ahead, but we can't afford to rely on that exclusively. Trucks have this in common with motorcycles: that both are able to slow down significantly without touching the brakes. |
| David Hough
|
Scamper
09/01/2010 3:46 PM |
I keep on getting fixated on the very first line of Hough's quote where he says: " A truck ahead of me suddenly slowed, apparantly with no brake lights..."
Here's the issue I have. Exactly how close was Hough to this vehicle and how fast was he going? If he'd been in a car and hit the junk truck, he'd have gotten a ticket possibly for careless driving. But because he was on a motorcycle, he got much worse although I'm sure he did his best to stop properly.
|
| David Hough
|
rayg50
09/01/2010 3:12 PM |
quote:
Originally posted by gdickelman
quote:
A truck ahead of me suddenly slowed, apparently with no brake lights. I over braked, did two or three stoppies, and then a forward flip.
In reading Hough's account, it seems that he reacted in a similar manner, taking his cue from unexpected behavior of a vehicle up front.
The admission of over braking and the first stoppie makes me visualize an adrenaline reaction on a bike that is in line (no dump).
The release and reapplication of the brake (second stoppie) reads to me like someone who has regained "it" and is going for maximum front brake.
He then follows with possibly a third stoppie and re-release of the front brake. The final flip reads like a "I'm not going to stop in time" maximum brake effort with no release (maximum speed scrub to impact). I visualize the truck moving out of the way just before the expected impact and the rider being left with nothing but air in front and too much rear end height to not flip.
I don't know how close this is to what happened so I do hope we get a first hand account in the future. IMO he did initially overreact (lose it) but after that it seems like he was trying to get it done.
|
| Motorcycle Safety / General Discussion |
| California moves on Loud Pipes
|
Igor
09/01/2010 3:09 PM |
I don't have an iPhone but I've heard that it has an app for reading decibels... the Andriods probably have the same. I wouldn't expect it to be super-accurate, but it ought to give you a ballpark idea of the noise level of whatever you use it with.... |
| Motorcycle Safety / Campfire chat |
| I'm going to try out ABS for a while
|
bachman1961
09/01/2010 2:55 PM |
Congrats on the new bike ! I went to my first race day at a track north of my home on Sunday. KTM seemed to rule the races on the pavement. Nice looking colors and graphics too.
Sounds like you know better than rushing to spirited riding. Amen.
~brian |
| Motorcycle Safety / Sharing of Lessons Learned |
| David Hough
|
bachman1961
09/01/2010 2:49 PM |
His second book; More Proficient Motorcycling really covers braking well with many good insights and details beyond different bikes = different brakes. He writes about the exact same two bike models having a different feel.
With his recent experience, it serves to underline the immediate need for PLP with moderate levels of braking force or simulated panic stops on a bike I'd consider riding on the streets that was not my own.
While almost all of my riding is absent heavy braking forces, it's the exceptional situations I need to train for. If I knew I'd have to scrub off a .8 g stop, I 'd never even get on a different bike.
When reading this as; over braked, did two stoppies then flipped forward, I suspect he was in a very fast changing situation. No doubt the Parks bike had a user tuned front brake setting beyond what the factory ships it out as. Variables aside from brake fluid, lines, pads, rotors and tires just seem to highlight the number of ways something can get boogered up. Many will take this story to heart and be better for it.
~brian |
| David Hough
|
scottrnelson
09/01/2010 1:49 PM |
quote:
Originally posted by gdickelman
The lesson, then, is to expect - and practice for - the unexpected. The parking lot is a great place to do so.
That is still difficult to do when riding a bike that is new to you. I'm being extra cautious on the KTM that I just got yesterday for that reason. I know that I would not be able to get maximum braking or turning from the bike until I really get used to it, which seems to take me about 1000 miles, based on the last two times I went through this.
So taking a ride on someone else's bike means you haven't practiced on it and need more caution.
I also find it interesting that both Lee Parks and David L. Hough were involved in this incident - the authors of the two best riding books in my home library. |
| Motorcycle Safety / Campfire chat |
| I'm going to try out ABS for a while
|
scottrnelson
09/01/2010 1:43 PM |
quote:
Originally posted by rayg50
Can you flat foot it? Any impressions from that first ride you would care to share while it is fresh in your mind?
Flat foot it? Yes, but just barely.
The bike has more power than any of the Ducatis that I've owned. I haven't actually tried running it to redline yet or finding out how it does on hard acceleration. It has lots of low-end power, which is what I like. I much prefer V-twin power curves over those of three or four-cylinder bikes. It doesn't sound like a Ducati, but it sounds okay to me, and is a bit quieter. The bike requires premium fuel, which is a minor drawback.
It has lots of legroom, which is a good thing. I'll have to do an all-day ride on it to decide if it's better for long trips, but I'm expecting that it will be.
There is one thing that I dislike about the bike, though, and I knew this from the first time that I rode one, so it's not a surprise to me. That windscreen puts a turbulent air stream right at the worst place on my helmet when I'm going over about 40 mph. Wearing good earplugs helps, but not enough. I'm reading a huge thread on the subject over at ADVrider to see what everyone else has done to solve the problem. I'm 120 posts into the discussion and only have about 900 more to go before determining what the best way to fix it is. Most likely I'll end up cutting 4" off of the screen with a Dremel tool.
At some point I'll ride it far enough to justify writing a trip report, and you'll get all of my impressions there. |
| Motorcycle Safety / General Discussion |
| California moves on Loud Pipes
|
bachman1961
09/01/2010 1:28 PM |
quote:
Originally posted by scottrnelson
I have no idea how one would go about getting the sound level properly checked.
By today's standards, I assume it would be a connection one might have with local LEO's and related equipment to insure it being within present or proposed codes.
It would be nice if locals had the opportunity to take the bike to a site where the police have a set up for riders to voluntarily stop in for a test run and no actual data recorded for violations if that were a potential. I'd go as far as calling the police station or traffic dept to ask about such an opportunity. They might like someone to practice on or have the chance to train some of their own personnel.
In the early 1980's the higher end audio salons had equipment to measure such information. By now, I'm sure with testing and set up of listening environments for home theater and acoustics, many high end shops would have the same. If you have a connection with a shop like that, it would give you the chance to run a test with similar equipment.
Circa 1983, the equipment I used was a dbx 20/20 spectrum analyzer with a microphone to simulate listening position. Ideal for the rider that wants to tune the exhaust for more or less bass.
~brian |
| Motorcycle Safety / Sharing of Lessons Learned |
| David Hough
|
gdickelman
09/01/2010 1:26 PM |
quote:
A truck ahead of me suddenly slowed, apparently with no brake lights. I over braked, did two or three stoppies, and then a forward flip.
In 2008 I reported a car stopping short in the middle of an intersection on a green light (many car lengths of open space in front of me). When the vehicle pitched, I grabbed a handful, locked my front wheel and went down. That's the accident that brought me to this site (...good things apparently result from bad situations).
In reading Hough's account, it seems that he reacted in a similar manner, taking his cue from unexpected behavior of a vehicle up front.
My accident resulted from inexperience with the slow squeeze, but the lesson remains regarding how we respond to unexpected situations. Perhaps Hough used great skill in attempting to burn off as much speed as possible as he danced with the threshold, but he was nonetheless surprised (if I understand his account).
The lesson, then, is to expect - and practice for - the unexpected. The parking lot is a great place to do so. |
| Motorcycle Safety / Campfire chat |
| I'm going to try out ABS for a while
|
rayg50
09/01/2010 1:25 PM |
quote:
Originally posted by scottrnelson
So far I've received more than one comment of "wow, that's a big bike".
I had to leave the smile in the quote. Can you flat foot it? Any impressions from that first ride you would care to share while it is fresh in your mind?
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| Odds and Ends / Board Enhancements or Problems |
| Multiple bikes in user profiles
|
James R. Davis
09/01/2010 1:10 PM |
I implemented multiple bike support in the new software that is still in alpha test. |
| Multiple bikes in user profiles
|
scottrnelson
09/01/2010 12:36 PM |
What ever happened to this feature? I know that it was tested on a limited basis.
Now that I own three different brands of bikes, it would be nice to be able to more accurately represent what I ride. |
| Motorcycle Safety / General Discussion |
| California moves on Loud Pipes
|
scottrnelson
09/01/2010 12:32 PM |
quote:
Originally posted by rayg50
The other objection was how / when was the noise going to be measured. While moving? While idling? While redlining? Are you ticketing the noise or the potential for noise? What if your pipes have the sticker but you get the ticket anyway?
California law says 50 feet away while going past at a steady speed of 30 mph. I don't know how background noise affects their readings, though, but I would love to get sound readings on my bikes to find out how loud they actually are. I have no idea how one would go about getting the sound level properly checked. |
| Motorcycle Safety / Motorcycle Accident Reports - WITH COMMENTS |
| Passenger killed on highway, no witnesses
|
Igor
09/01/2010 12:27 PM |
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/st...tion196.html
Ioana Bocunescu has been ID'd as the victim in this terrible incident. According to what I heard on CBC radio 1 she was 40 years old.
This is the only new information I've found. Obviously the SIU continues its investigation... |
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