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Kymco Filly 50
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February 20, 2010 at 12:38 am in reply to: My New Fieldsheer Contour Saddlebags and Roll Bag (And how to attach them) #24607IBA270Participant
Look at Helen’s stuff.
http://www.racerpartswholesale.com/category/Helen_Twowheels_Clothes_Sacks
You can put EVERYTHING in a bag with plenty of loops to lash it to the big. I absolutely recommend here stuff. Very nice detail that makes a big difference on motorcycles.
The XL is GYNORMOUS. You ought to be able to get everything you need in there…
IBA270ParticipantI’d wait…it might not be for you (yes, it happens every week) and your riding style/bike type may change after you take the course. There’s really not much upside in buying one before…
IBA270ParticipantThe best part about all of this is that we have a healthy discussion that I hope members and “lurkers” alike are reading. Riding is a craft that requires the development of skills which are perishable. It’s important that people “think” about and visualize how they ride and endeavor to learn something on each and every ride.
Definately some good stuff and good advice here!
IBA270ParticipantI didn’t mean to counter what you were saying…I was actually echoing it, but I think I countered against your terms! You were right on with what you said.
IBA270ParticipantI agree completely that you need to be properly positioned BEFORE you enter the turn. In order to do this, you’ve got to do several basic things:
1.) Properly set-up for the turn, i.e. which side of the lane for a proper apex
2.) Scan through the turn, identifying any obstacles, debris, etc., and find your apex.
3) Have your weight distributed between bars, seat and pegs…balls of the feet on the pegs.
4) Move your body slightly to the inside of the turn before you tip in. Your upper body should be inside of the verticle axis of the bike.
5) Point your inside toe and knee towards the turn.
6) Press the inside bar foward while keeping your head/eyes level, looking as far through the turn as possible.Don’t hang off on the street…if you’re going that fast on the street, you’re going to crash in the next turn or two anyway!
There are a few different techniques that will get you through hairpins, or quick left/right combitions. Even at speed (over 10mph) you can still counterweight provided you have the clearance. Just move the bike under you. It’s not a universally recognized technique, but up to pretty quick speeds (and assuming clearance) it’s effect. On quick turn combinations, you can do the same thing, assuming you are at less than a quick pace.
And, again, don’t hang off on the street! FWIW, the REALLY fast at track days and most of the guys I teach with get their knees down LESS than the guys who *think* they’re pretty quick. They just get a cheek off, and manage the tire and throttle. It’s humbling…
IBA270ParticipantDon’t buy gear online…unless you absolutely have to. You can’t see it, you can’t touch it, and most importantly, you can’t try it on. With a notable few exceptions, I ALWAYS try to buy locally. My Aerostich stuff is the only stuff I order online because…it’s the only way it’s sold!
IBA270ParticipantOld K-bike tanks get so hot on the lower left hand corner (right on your left inner thigh) that it WILL BURN you. It’s crazy how freakin’ hot they get, especially as the fuel level get’s lower. I put 167K on a K1100RS…best bike I ever owned, except for that little detail!
Some EFI bikes can be bumped, and some can’t. Beemers, for some reason, cannot. At least my K-bikes couldn’t. Haven’t tried with the oilheads. There are other issues for more advanced bikes with low batteries to consider as well, namely the ABS systems and faults that are difficult to clear when they are jump started.
Smartest thing to do, regardless of bike, is to invest in a battery tender. Hook it up are you ride each time, and your battery will last a very long time. I got four years out of a battery, which is generally unheard of.
IBA270ParticipantOne thing to remember about premium gas; it doesn’t sell as well as the cheap stuff, so it tends to sit in the tanks longer. Don’t assume because you pay more that the quality will be better… I run regular in the BMW and Ducatis, and race gas in the race bike (15:1 compression).
February 10, 2010 at 3:56 pm in reply to: Whats the best wayto come to a stop at an intersection/stop sign? #24502IBA270ParticipantAs you ride more, you will develop the ability to better “control” your environment and anticipate situations that can arise. It’s a perishable skill, and it requires a slight different mental outlook when you ride. Here are a few ideas:
* RIDE/BE VISABLE-Many people, myself included, like to think that they are invisible to other riders. By thinking this way, you’ll tend to ride in positions that make you even less visible. Think about visibility of you to other drivers and do your best to stay in their line of sight.
* LANE POSITION-This goes hand in hand with visibility, but lane management is a key skill that isn’t covered enough in the BRC in my opinion and not many other places either. It’s absolutely key for estabilishing visibility, your line of sight, escape routes and avoidance of debris. Not an inclusive list…I can’t cover all the situations, but as you ride, particularly on a divided multi-lane highway, consider the advantages and disadvantages to each lane and the position within that lane. Some teach one lane has three positions. I’d advise you to see it as only two. I worry LESS about the car directly in front of me. There’s little they can do. I worry MORE about the cars that want to merge between the car in front of me and me for instance.
* TAKE INVENTORY-Identify the cars around quickly as you scan your surroundings. Lose that red sports car? He’s probably in your blind spot. You’d better find him… Coming up on an onramp? Look to see who’s going to be driving in your space.
* BE PREJUDICED-No, not like that, but you need to “profile” the drivers around you. People reading, putting on make-up, fighting, texting, smoking pot (yes, and you can smell it too…), talking…whatever it is they are doing, watch for them. Teenagers, old people, beat up cars, cars without mirrors, cars with flat (or near flat tires) aggressively driving trucks, squids on motorcycles, cars with out of state plates, drivers looking intently at exit signs, notice everything and be prejudiced against what you think they’ll do.
* COVER YOUR CONTROLS-I ride with one finger on the brake and the clutch at all times…in case I miss something…
* AVOID “DISCOLORED” PAVEMENT-Look for inconsistencies in pavement color or texture. Don’t ever assume it’s benign. You might not have known there was a traffic jam just 20 minutes before you where a truck sat leaking transmission fluid on the ground…the same transmission fluid you’re about to ride through!
I could type all day, but I’ve got to find a job! Good luck out there!
IBA270Participantis normally set by the state. Usually, there is a MAX amount…riders edge can be more expensive, but it’s the same course.
February 5, 2010 at 5:17 pm in reply to: Whats the best wayto come to a stop at an intersection/stop sign? #24421IBA270ParticipantRemember that your bike makes power much higher in the rev band. If you are in too tall of a gear (4 instead of third or even second) then it’s tough to get going. Doesn’t sound like you’re doing that, but certainly stay (around) the middle of the rev range. Think of down shifting like this; imagine you will stay in the gear you just down shifted too. Then, as you slow more, shift to the next lowest gear you would normally ride at that speed, and so on…make sense?
IBA270ParticipantFWIW…I know several people who have finished the Iron Butt Rally on sport bikes. A good friend was a top 10 finisher a few times on a VFR…there was a finisher on a ZX-10 recently, and back in the early years, a guy on a GSXR (I think) finished.
LD riding is all in your head. Ok, a little is in your butt, I’ll admit…
IBA270ParticipantWhy does she need to go? Kidding!
“I broke my wife in slowly…I’m planning on going to ‘X’. You’re more than welcome to come along, in fact I’d love for you to come. I’m riding, and leaving ‘Y’. ” She decided that sometimes she likes to go and sometimes she doesn’t.
IBA270ParticipantYou said trailering twice…
Stop that!
February 3, 2010 at 2:25 pm in reply to: Whats the best wayto come to a stop at an intersection/stop sign? #24384IBA270ParticipantUse both brakes, shift to first, stay in first at a light. Why? Because the person behind you expects you to go when the light turns green…assuming they remember you’re even there as they sent six text messages while waiting on the light. If you botch the neutral to one shift, you just became an obstacle. And even if the car behind doesn’t tag you, the car behind THEM might just bump them as they expected YOU to move.
And get to the BRC…don’t cheat yourself. Do a little research on the statistics and you’ll understand why.
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