[JackTrade]

ESPECIALLY police. That’s third-world-secret-police-dictatorship stuff.

I can understand why the cop did what he did, and can even somewhat excuse the supposed “aggressiveness” in dealing with a jackass squid like this guy, but the idea that it’s a felony to film something like this is very disconcerting to me.

I’m assuming the cop in the car behind was filming the scene with his onboard camera…I didn’t hear anyone tell the squid that *they’re* filming things.

If anything, government officials (esp. those with the legal power to kill you) need to be MORE subject to transparency requirements like being allowed to film them in performance of their *public* duties…there’s too much potential for abuse with a system where those in authority are trusted to monitor themselves.

I suspect now that this is on the news and making the rounds on the internet, Maryland is going to stop being such a hardass about it. I’m sure the officer himself isn’t pushing this (in my experience, most cops are pretty reasonable, esp. when the heat of the moment from something like this has died down), but rather the lawyers for the state.

[JackTrade]

Going fast isn’t the biggest rush on the street, it’s executing that perfect turn at speed.

For me, there’s nothing better than roaring up to a turn, downshifting and braking before throwing the bike into it, increasing the throttle as I come up and out, all super-smooth. When I execute one perfectly, it’s an epihany of man and machine that feels wonderful. I can only imagine what it feels like on the track (I look forward to experiencing that one day).

[JackTrade]

Glad you’re okay Ben!

I had a rear-brake-lockup situation in January. Not nearly as dramatic as Ben’s, but enough to make me think. Within 5 minutes of starting out, was heading toward an intersection at about 35 or so. Light changes to yellow right at that point of no return. I decide to brake hard, and that’s when it happened. Some fishtailing, and squealing, and finally came to a stop about 5 feet into the intersection. I was proud of myself for being able to calmly walk the bike backward out of the intersection and then wait there for the light like this was no big deal (while my heart was hammering in my chest).

Reflecting on it later, the experience definitely made me appreciate why you have to take it easy until the tires warm up, and made me pay some real attention to my braking. Shocking to the veterans here I’m sure, but I found I wasn’t really using the front brake to its full potential…I was hitting the rear fractionally first, then applying the front brake, but not really as much as I should/could.

I’ve been conscious of this since, and my braking has gotten a lot better. Can’t remember where I read it (might have been here), but something I’ve adopted is that with the front brake, when you initially apply it, you apply it to where it just starts to bite. Once you’ve made that initial contact, you then steadily and linearly squeeze to apply more pressure.

[JackTrade]

I want to like Icon (love the look and feel of a lot of it, esp. their very cool retro-style jackets), but their pants and jackets don’t seem to fit me well. I think it’s their “street style” focus, whereas I’ve come to prefer the more tradition motorcyclist style (read tight and fitted).

I’m about a 44 chest and a 34 waist, so most jackets that are big enough up top can’t be adjusted small enough down below for me.

[JackTrade]

on GS500fs.

[JackTrade]

51. If they’re doing ANYTHING with ANY piece of electronics that isn’t permanently attached to the car, assume they’re just looking for a chance to maim or kill you.

Was at the local dealership this weekend, and was talking to salesman I know, and we got on the subject of cellphones…or “mobiles” for Eon …and how while one might normally notice that some people are talking while driving, it’s not until you’re riding a motorcycle that you notice how f-ing many of them are really doing this.

[JackTrade]

You can always tell the idiots whose entire knowledge of cars comes from those movies…they think NOS is actually the generic term for nitrous oxide. They also think that putting a park-bench-sized wing on the back end of their Civic DX will actually do something.

[JackTrade]

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not speed that kills on the highway; rather, it’s speed differentials. That may be what #9 is also getting at (though I think Eon’s probably right about the main intent).

I’m always nervous about whizzing past a line of slow-moving cars…you never know when someone, frustrated by his slow pace and seeing what he/she thinks is an opening, is going to decide to pull out right into your lane without looking. You @ 45mph + Him @ 5mph = you crashing into him @ 40 mph. Ugh.

LOL on the “Fast N Furious” one. So true…while I like the the movies for their cheesiness and occasional car-porn (the Challenger in the first one, the GT-R, Yenko Camaro and AAR Barracuda in the second, etc.), their effect on the newly-driving kids at the time was atrocious.

[JackTrade]

is a classic example of what happens when statistics are misused and misinterpreted: something that has a basis in fact within a certain context gets simplified and applied out of context, and eventually becomes dogma.

While I’m sure this is done with good intentions (making people more conscious of the dangers of motorcycling is always a good thing), as with many such things, it’s not entirely true, and can have unintended consequences if taken without some examination.

Allen’s philosophy is similar to mine (mine being less articulate): I’m aware I CAN crash, but I strive to NOT crash.

[JackTrade]

You may have already seen it, but on the U.S. motorcycle safety foundation website, there’s a section that has some drills (pretty much the sort of thing we get here in the U.S. in their Basic Rider Course) that might be useful.

Here’s a link…the actual drills at toward the back:

http://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/Riding_Tips.pdf

[JackTrade]

…they got no torque!

I’m kidding, as I love the S2000 as well. Great all-purpose track car that you can actually drive everyday.

[JackTrade]

That seems odd…I thought MSF covered the country. Edit: or are you not in the U.S.?

[JackTrade]

Fair enough, Eon…it’s a good point. I learned the same thing re hill starts when I first learned (here in the states, no less…)

So my point is perhaps better stated that motorcycle clutch modulation isn’t really done with cars with the same frequency and in as many situations.

With bikes, it’s critical for low speed manuevering, stop and go traffic, and something you’re taught is a crucial part of riding, mostly because it helps with balance, something you don’t need in a car. With cars, you’re taught to be either be clutch in or clutch out as much as possible, reducing the time inbetween.

If you’re constantly on the clutch in a car, you’ll wear it something fierce, given the amount of mass you’re moving. Also, said mass moves very slowly (why car torque is way high compared to bike torque), so getting off the clutch entirely isn’t going to send you rocketing forward (as fast, that is…if manuals were more common these days here, talk about “unintended acceleration” issues w/new drivers!)

[JackTrade]

Most American cars are automatics these days unfortunately, and so few drivers are taught how to drive manuals when they’re learning. Very different from the UK and the Continent.

I’ve only owned manual transmission cars (I’ve even had to order them specially to get the manual…sigh), but did so before I learned to ride a motorcycle. Definitely makes learning to ride a bike easier, as the clutch/shifter concept is one less thing to worry about when you’re first starting out. I was grateful for my experience with cars, as some of the people in my BRC class were really having a hard time with the clutch concept.

Biggest difference I found is the whole friction zone thing…shouldn’t do that in a car!

[JackTrade]

WeaponZero’s got it covered 10 ways from Sunday (maybe Ben will post your paper in the “recommended reading” area??) , but some basics:

Leather provides the best possible protection short of not actually riding a bike. And it can usually survive a moderate fall without having to replace it. It also looks damn cool…from a basic jacket to a full suit, nothing screams “motorcyclist” more. It is however expensive for the good stuff, and can be hot (even the perforated models) in the summer.

Textile provides less protection, but is less expensive. It’s designed to sacrifice itself in a crash, so you’ll (hopefully) come out unscathed, but your gear will be shredded. Can be hot in the summer too, but there is also mesh textile, which provides less protection, but is very cooling. Textile is often more bulky than leather, and you’ll make less-cool swooshing noises when you walk around.

I usually wear textile, but I do have a leather jacket for the fall/winter.

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