Forum Replies Created
Crash Course: How To Safely Fall Off A Motorcycle
-
AuthorPosts
-
Capt CrashParticipantCapt CrashParticipantSomehow this wound up in OFF Topic. Someone with Mod powers please move it to Video or General?
Thanks!
Capt CrashParticipantSomehow I ended up with a second user profile. Oh well. I’m still me.
Capt CrashParticipantDon’t tell anyone but when you get a TW right up to max braking? You’ll hear this wierd squeak from the suspension. Wierd, but true…
ALSO they may not let you swap bikes on the second day (we don’t) ’cause it can put you and another rider on unfamiliar bikes.
Have fun!
Capt CrashParticipantTake a deep breath and relax!
Way to many people let the pressure get inside their head. Nice thing is you’ve done it all before and this time no surprises! Have a good time!
Capt CrashParticipantI love earplugs…
I can actually hear the engine. AND I’m not as fatigued at the end of the day.
Capt CrashParticipantOh it’s in the lineup…
Just in a new format.
Capt CrashParticipantThis one is tough for me to read…the Blast always got…blasted…for being half a sportster. The feeling those I came into contact with was that they just pulled the rear cylinder and made a motorcycle out of it. They were kinda fun to ride (good brakes, drag pegs in a second) but they were heavy and (to me) slow to transition from side to side.
Then it got picked up as the Rider’s Edge training bike…the question is what are the HD Rider’s Edge providers gonna use?
You could be these guys: http://www.monkeysee.com/play/10150-how-to-get-on-a-motorcycle and be stuck with a bunch of Buell Videos….
My understanding is the HD Dealers Meeting start this week so we’ll see–could just be the buzzzz factory at work…
Capt CrashParticipantIdaho STAR bought some for training bikes and baby–I LOVE IT! They are comfortable, moderately peppy and BRAKE like a son of a gun. I tell ya, a quarter fairing, clip ons, rig up some rearsets and it would be BOSS!
Did I mention I like them a lot?
I’m not a Rebel fan so don’t ask what I think of them.
Capt CrashParticipantPulling through does bring with it the need to be sure someone isn’t pulling in from the other side; however, if you can pull through odds are you’re in a lesser populated part of the lot. I prefer to pull through cause I’m nervous about stopping in the flow of traffic and then backing into a spot–you actually can have people try to whip it in behind you as you paddle backwards AND there’s no reverse lights to warn them you’re backing up. (more on that in the next “60 Second Lesson: Parking”).
Bottom line: do what you feel comfortable with! There’s more than one way to skin a cat!
Capt CrashParticipantStoppies and wheelies are cool to look at but can be a path to serious pain. You’re putting the bike on it’s nose or tail and are at the edge of it’s performance envelope. IF you attempt a wheelie or a stoppie then you need to be ready to pay the piper–things can (and do) go spectacularly WRONG.
Lots of Sportbikes and Standards will stoppie under EXTREME braking if you’re not careful with body positioning. Floating the rear in the air under hard braking or lifting the front under hard acceleration isn’t that uncommon but it is a sign that you’re pushing the bike pretty hard–so rethink where you are and what you are doing, you might be looking at the need for a track day.
That said, here’s some INFORMATION (not instruction) on how it’s intentionally done:
Capt CrashParticipantI never got a break. I had really good 1/2 hour conversation once that ended with “I’m gonna write you up now…” (I thought we were friends!)
To your concerns with speed in general, you want to get used to HEARING your speed–what does your bike SOUND like in 3rd gear at 35mph? At 55mph in 6th? It’ll take some of the OH CRAP out of your riding and you’ll spend less time looking down to check your speed.
Capt CrashParticipantJust take a breath before you start each run. Cleansing breath….out with the bad, in with the good…
Capt CrashParticipantFind your comfort zone and work to expand it. You might try mapping routes that are low traffic/low threat for a time. I would suggest Sundays, from 8am til noon as an excellent Bay Area time to work secondaries and school parking lots.
If you decide to ride to work, scout your path, then practice for it. Know where you’re gonna turn, when you need to get into the left lane or the right.
I’d consider an Experienced Class in the fall. Also, look for locals who can mentor you–try the BayAreaRidersForum.
My first ride? I bought the bike cash, my buddies who rode over with me gave me a “This is the clutch, throttle, shift” lesson, then said “Follow us, do what we do” AND I survived my first ride/double RR jump all in the same day.
Capt CrashParticipantI’ll be happy to help…
Let me break in the Buell and you can ride my DRZ! Yeah, that’s good…Actually you want to remember that the 1125 will punish mistakes–if you twist the throttle hard it will respond NOW. If you GRAB the brakes it will skid. One of the key things you’re looking for in a starter bike is something that won’t go nuts on you if you spur it; and won’t punish you if you’re indelicate.
Cool ride for sure! Hope it’s RED!
-
AuthorPosts
