why light wheels make your bike turn easier

Snorton, there is a race circuit near here where I've never raced. It is 3 dimensional and has blind corners. My Seeley 850 comes on with a rush and self-steers - not a good combination ?

I like the Viagra Racing Team idea, however does Viagra help the urge come back or does it simply give you a stiffie ?

To me both the safest way is the also the fastest way, as far as brake use goes, get it done in conditions its application does the most secure good in shortest time > before fully dove into a committed racers risking competition level turn. I did not pick Nortons knowingly nor was able to start off creeping up on extreme handling, [ all about total mystery to me in '99]. So mean or ego as it sounds about none of the good advice applies to me in say a police chase in the Ozark tights that ends up on THE Gravel chicanes. After that pavement is child's play, even pulling off the stress relieving relaxing show off flat tracker stuff by wasting time>traction>tire>acceleration with wide lazy long lasting slides/drifts, I now abhor. All's ya need to do that, is just get going fast enough and begin the rear to spin then allow it to swing out far as ya like then just adjust a little this and that to balance, but basically its allowing front tire to follow and point in actual surface travel direction, which they still point out ward, so tends to run wide, but a darn stable balance point can be easy found to carry on till the pop up into faster straight. I do something similar in phase 3 but with straight steering for a short slide out of rear to bleed speed w/o brakes, as any touch of brake at that speed power angle would be instant direction change on Peel but likely an instant slap down on elite racer. That's another feature of Peel that's so different at break neck rates, her controls reverse, so brakes only good for direction and attitude & skew aim, nil for slowing in time. Its the same maneuver the stunters do to get sideways to stop short and hop off with bike on the side stand. Fastest I've done that is about 65 mph in 10 mph marked switchback. Which is another reason I have lost respect for the moderns with balloon tires, if they can't take those loads then they can't even take the loads in a nice long sweeper that Ms Peel could while still in same "phase two" handling with identical counter steering on two tire traction - exactly as all expert video and likes of Tony Foale describe. I class that rate as commute to work with reserves style, but my path dong that is only a yard wide as we get lane crossers routinely, on Peel no difference to cut in close to double yellow or hang inches from outer paint line, so that's how secure Peel was. No chance or worry of slip out as that took more speed/power than trail braking is possible on. So no time to react but be out of the way ALL The Time. Most race tracks look like freeway opens to me, which means I got hurt a lot learning my imprinted styles but only times in turns was d/t so slow I thought I could trail brake SPLAT on THE Gravel again. My front brake palm feels like red hot spikes on lever now rather than a reflex to use it much. To get that deep a reverse survival reflex changed to brain stem level faster than thinking brain can even process, requires Burt Muro state, of trying stuff till it crashed or just forget about it.

Only ice spiked speedway racers take it like Peel does pavement. Study them very closely and also MX supercross in vertical wall ruts to grasp sharp turns and fork action of Peel letting hair down on pavement. Oh sure none of that applies to elite road racers, boy don't I know, hehehe... Never got to fully find Peels traction limits d/t the dangerous places to test her my favorite Punca being near my office.
http://www.tourdehills.com/jd.html
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/1/5980/RG ... aster.aspx
HA- another cripple didn't even make it to the good stuff but similar to the eager squadrons I joined in with Peel as within her pull power rates. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oYGoE6g_PA go to 4.40 mark as rest boring.

Rest your restless souls on Arkansas Dragon Mt. Juda Hyw 123. Peel attracted a Texas rider buddy that pointed out where his best friend died here off the bluff rail on a Z1, bitched at my crazy style but he got knocked off few yr later on a commute in TX. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c6pjn1PZgc



Hehe to carry on my fantasy based on what I've already experienced, if next Peel works as hoped, picture elite and Peel neck and neck on nice long slightly decreasing radius sweeper @ ~ton and elite is beginning to smoke tire and loose it on its angle/power loading to keep up the accelerating pace, so its pilot gritting teeth in exertions, i nod in respect, then Peel spins rear out to trip her down and snap forks into straight steer while kicking rear out to pop bike up in a flash and turn into a bee line front floating dragster shooting a straight now opened up by the new angle and snick another shift then snap her down to shoot rest of sweeper straight out of there leaving the poor corner cripple to so wisely take it easy.

acotrel said:

Whatever turns you on. Try racing some time - the circumstances shown in the Devon video clip don't occur so often.

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(Ok, so not my last post.)

I take it you're not out in front much then? I prefer riding on roads with minimal traffic. Had my fill of congested roads earning a living as a despatch rider in London in the late 1980's and '90's. The conditions in the video are ideal and real world - which is where I do my riding.

ludwig said:

Al-otment said:

.. I prefer riding on roads with minimal traffic... The conditions in the video are ideal and real world - which is where I do my riding. .

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Why not the Alps then ? .
Do the names " Furka , Susten , Grimsel , San Bernardino , Nüfenen .." mean anyting to you ?
8th AlpineRoads meeting : 14 th july 2014 , Hotel Astoria , Ulrichen , Switzerland .
You can mesure your superstraight Commando against modern sportbikes .
The mountains are a great equaliser , so don't worry too much about the power handicap .
Come and show us how it's done ..

Click to expand...

Where's Switzerland?

Al, racing on a circuit is dramatically different to riding on public roads. There is a young guy in the next town who has my old short stroke engine Triton. He now owns it, however a few years back he had it on loan. He is a good road rider, and his main bike has been a well developed 1000cc Harley Sportster. When he first tried to race the Triumph he looked at the old hairy faced idiots on the start line with the other bikes and thought he would do well. He laughs about it when he discusses it these days - he got quite a shock. When you look over the fence at a race 'what you see, is not what you get' . I can only suggest you try it some time. You are obviously a thinking person and should do well.

acotrel said:

Al, racing on a circuit is dramatically different to riding on public roads. There is a young guy in the next town who has my old short stroke engine Triton. He now owns it, however a few years back he had it on loan. He is a good road rider, and his main bike has been a well developed 1000cc Harley Sportster. When he first tried to race the Triumph he looked at the old hairy faced idiots on the start line with the other bikes and thought he would do well. He laughs about it when he discusses it these days - he got quite a shock. When you look over the fence at a race 'what you see, is not what you get' . I can only suggest you try it some time. You are obviously a thinking person and should do well.

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Acotrel, thanks for the compliment. I have thought about track racing but decided 1) I couldn't afford it, especially running a road bike as well, and 2) I really enjoy touring the UK and Europe. Basically it's down to time and money and I suppose if I really wanted to do it I would find the money. I get a massive kick riding on the road and travelling. I try not to underestimate anyone. Looking forward to one or two track days next year and not expecting it to be easy.

I take it you're not out in front much then? I prefer riding on roads with minimal traffic.

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OH Yeah well there is congested slow rush hour traffic and then there packed roads flowing alone at legal+ speed, both conditions are a freaking thrill to run in and around on a race level capable car or cycle, like I learned to do on my P!! and my Merc 6.9 liter sedan and a hot rodded full size Chevy cargo van not loaded down with much interior or cargo so Porsches in Houston shocked. BTW my shocker was the van handled better than any of em!!! Like in down hill drifts over 90 mph with one set of tires in the grass slope and the other on level pavement thinking I'd die in horrific tumble, nope still responded to steering and throttle so speed up to straighten up the sharp jerk to shoot back onto tarmac with spiked heart rate and amazement. What THE Gravel taught me is that once going so fast traction gets dicey both cars and cycles need same type handling actions. I don't study m/c's video but rally car level I've 3 speeds rate myself, late on commutes, race competition and police chase...

The closer one gets to death the more alive ya may feel, so trills of city rides can provide this in spades. Guess what my opinion about those with bar end mirrors is, on or off road...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89Jt9kLxDIo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=By0iz2zqti0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XWUGjMVPwo

I agree, carving up city traffic can be fun, but not necessarily when you have to do it for 8hrs plus, 5 days a week in a UK winter to earn a living. Fun times included grinding the rocker boxes on a R75/6 BMW on suitable corners in central London. Not so fun times included losing the front end, on same bike, turning left immediately after Tower Bridge and coming to a stop in front of an oncoming taxi. All relatively low speed stuff. Losing the front end was due to an 'expert' fitter insisting the replacement tyre would be fine!

Never thought bar end mirrors were a good idea. Pan-Euro, Harley riders etc please note - proper motorcycles should be slim as possible.

Al-otment said:

I agree, carving up city traffic can be fun, but not necessarily when you have to do it for 8hrs plus, 5 days a week in a UK winter to earn a living. Fun times included grinding the rocker boxes on a R75/6 BMW on suitable corners in central London. Not so fun times included losing the front end, on same bike, turning left immediately after Tower Bridge and coming to a stop in front of an oncoming taxi. All relatively low speed stuff. Losing the front end was due to an 'expert' fitter insisting the replacement tyre would be fine!

Never thought bar end mirrors were a good idea. Pan-Euro, Harley riders etc please note - proper motorcycles should be slim as possible.

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Never ever had a problem getting my ST1100 through traffic, in fact I had kept my VFR750 expecting the Pan to be a pain in traffic, it wasn't, I sold the VFR....

Clever thing about the mirror design is that it is the widest part of the bike, wider than the panniers, good rear view too....whistled through traffic.....loved it...rode it to work year round, in frost, even snow...

There is no doubt that Alpine roads are a good test of any bike and rider. The whole experience - riding, scenery, food and wine - is the best you can get on this side of the world.

I have also had a lot of fun on British roads, and there are some superb roads in Wales and the north of England, where, if you do your research, you can find nice pubs with excellent food and friendly people. As for bacon and eggs, it's hard to beat a full English, Irish or American breakfast if it's done properly.

My main problem with riding anywhere in Europe now is the greater police presence. Even in France, where it used to be quite relaxed, the authorities have tightened up a lot, so you have to careful if you want to avoid being nicked for speeding and the unpleasant things that will follow...

Fond memories are all that remain of the thirty full English or Scottish breakfasts I consumed while touring the UK in 07. I was so fat at the end of the trip that Tankslappers were no longer the main fear. It was the possibility of going into an uncontrolled chinslapper that terrified me (when chins 2 and 3 oscillate wildly and impart their energy on now buried chin number 1)
I may have to go back just for the breakfasting.
The A and B roads were great.

Glen

For good roads and light traffic, try some of the smaller roads in Spain and Portugal, away from the coasts, these countries are deserted ans wonderfully riding country.

Police are light, just be careful around towns.

Some HD's are some of the slimmest lowest bikes around, but for the big ole primary case. I had my P!! in Tallahassee Fla. then Houston Tex. so got to do about like the video showed and enjoyed catching air on the steeper freeway over passes, but gave it up when mothers with children on board looked and aimmed at me to take a nasty drug dealing child molesting motorcycler off the map, plus Houston's freeways were badly made so left tire wide gaps at oblique angle at inter sections that would grab tire which if took me down would be instantly run over. Houston had loop 610 which may of been over 100 miles around so was fun for many to see how fast they could take it under an hour and not get caught or crashed. My P!! had shortened lowered dragster forks so stiffer than average Roadholders and it could lean the long freeway sweepers so I was king of the road in mid 70's there. Once in a while police would light up on me but they didn't stand a chance so could get so far ahead they couldn't see where I turned off or if they did and tried to follow in city streets = didn't stand a chance as could lane split and parking lot dive and cross to filter them out. So yeah I was a bad boy but didn't sell the drugs I consumed nor could afford any as poor student on a Norton.

This city traffic dicing too fast for most traffic to even see and react to you is how I felt playing games with sports bikes in Ozark tights on Ms Peel, [which in her prime was like 1/3 slower than P!!] so like slow moving traffic cones in a gymkanna course. hehehe.

Acotrel, thanks for the compliment. I have thought about track racing but decided 1) I couldn't afford it, especially running a road bike as well, and 2) I really enjoy touring the UK and Europe. Basically it's down to time and money and I suppose if I really wanted to do it I would find the money. I get a massive kick riding on the road and travelling. I try not to underestimate anyone. Looking forward to one or two track days next year and not expecting it to be easy.[/quote]


I used to run the same bike on the road as I did on the race track, mainly to keep myself familiar with the all the idiocies of the bike. I even rode my bike to the race track, raced it and rode it home again; I was a lot more adventurous in my younger days. Even got myself a couple of trophy’s :!:

Al-otment said:

ludwig said:

Al-otment said:

.. I prefer riding on roads with minimal traffic... The conditions in the video are ideal and real world - which is where I do my riding. .

Click to expand...

Why not the Alps then ? .
Do the names " Furka , Susten , Grimsel , San Bernardino , Nüfenen .." mean anyting to you ?
8th AlpineRoads meeting : 14 th july 2014 , Hotel Astoria , Ulrichen , Switzerland .
You can mesure your superstraight Commando against modern sportbikes .
The mountains are a great equaliser , so don't worry too much about the power handicap .
Come and show us how it's done ..

Click to expand...

Where's Switzerland?

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That's where horrible capitalists hide all of their ill gotten booty. Not too mention the allied planes shot down to appease the Nazis in WW2 and the stashed money and gold stolen from holocaust victims. I'll take my local rides over Switzerland anyday!

Snorton74 said:

.. the stashed money and gold stolen from holocaust victims. I'll take my local rides over Switzerland anyday!

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Fair enough .
But then , didn't you steal Oregon from the Indians , after exterminating them first ?? .
Study your own bloody history , before pointing fingers..

And I thouught they were Motorcycles ! :shock:
you can understand the chap looking a bit pissed off .

We're all natives or none of us are.

ludwig said:

Al-otment said:

Where's Switzerland?

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It is a place , far away from your keybord .
( and your bacon and eggs ..)

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Thanks for your previous invite Ludwig. If I thought it was genuine I may have considered attending. After looking at the AlpineRoads web site I really don't think so. Riding around with a bunch of 50 motorcycles on 50mph limit roads and stopping in hotels is not my idea of fun. Swiss speeding fines for 10mph over equate to approx. £160! You lot are either very rich or enjoy riding slow, 50mph max before extortionate fines kick in. No thanks.