FREE RACE TIRES to our members

[xbacksideslider]

Yeah, on the street, rights tend to be blind. Blind, because of mountains or bushes or parked cars, so . . . a right turn means early outside apex to make options for whatever it is that you can't see because of whatever it is that is in your sight line - usually a mountain. On the other hand, lefts on the street are wide open, you can look over the double yellow and see farther down the road. Lefts on the street also are wider radius than rights. So, naturally street riders get better at going fast in lefts than in rights, because of wide radiuses and because no mountains right, and then they take the same habits to the track - where it shows.

Are you getting into steering it like a car? or like a tricycle? That is, reverse counter steering, provoking or tempting a high side? Where you go in, possibly initiating with counter steer, then braking, then trail braking, then approaching the exit by pressuring the outside peg to stand the bike up onto the center of the rear tire and as you begin gassing it, but then holding the line, steering by pulling on the inside bar/pushing on the outside bar, while holding the bike down by being off the bike on the inside?

[Tetge]

All this talk of loading pegs and counter steering and shifting weight and all the other technical stuff, really confuses me since I have always just ridden the motorcycle without the aid of science. I suppose that is why I am slow? But, I agree that street riding is a lot different than any track riding, since people learn tracks and can therefore push a lot harder than the average street rider ever will. Personally I am not into the degree of detail that goes into racing, or riding, at a known track. However, there are also street riders who learn the streets that they ride, and they too can push significantly harder than average, using their knowledge of the route. I am not a subscriber to learning roads and pushing to the max, since one never can be sure what awaits them when street riding. Anything from some vehicle that puked its oil all over the road to dogs and stalled vehicles and deer and sand and water, etc., can, and does, enter into the picture. So, I back off some when I can not see ahead. This sometimes drops me off the pace, but, staying in my comfort zone is also something that I feel is mission critical if one does not wish to crash a lot. Still, even at a lesser pace, a good street blast can lead to notable exhilaration as it is possible to get a real adrenalin rush when caught up into a brisk pace. Perhaps setting a new personal best lap time, or winning a race, at a kart track can provide the same rush, but, I do not see the riders showing it if it does. They do fist pumps and act happy, and thank their sponsors, if they win. But, after some street rides, we sit and bench race and feel grateful that we survived for protracted periods of time. And, based upon discussions with others, I am not alone in my feelings about street riding.

And, as a last thought, if you get out powered on a street ride, there is absolutely no shame at all in that. It is still best to stay within your comfort zone, and, just realize that cubes are still cubes.

[jhwalker]

All this talk of loading pegs and counter steering and shifting weight and all the other technical stuff, really confuses me since I have always just ridden the motorcycle without the aid of science. I suppose that is why I am slow? But, I agree that street riding is a lot different than any track riding, since people learn tracks and can therefore push a lot harder than the average street rider ever will. Personally I am not into the degree of detail that goes into racing, or riding, at a known track. However, there are also street riders who learn the streets that they ride, and they too can push significantly harder than average, using their knowledge of the route. I am not a subscriber to learning roads and pushing to the max, since one never can be sure what awaits them when street riding. Anything from some vehicle that puked its oil all over the road to dogs and stalled vehicles and deer and sand and water, etc., can, and does, enter into the picture. So, I back off some when I can not see ahead. This sometimes drops me off the pace, but, staying in my comfort zone is also something that I feel is mission critical if one does not wish to crash a lot. Still, even at a lesser pace, a good street blast can lead to notable exhilaration as it is possible to get a real adrenalin rush when caught up into a brisk pace. Perhaps setting a new personal best lap time, or winning a race, at a kart track can provide the same rush, but, I do not see the riders showing it if it does. They do fist pumps and act happy, and thank their sponsors, if they win. But, after some street rides, we sit and bench race and feel grateful that we survived for protracted periods of time. And, based upon discussions with others, I am not alone in my feelings about street riding.

And, as a last thought, if you get out powered on a street ride, there is absolutely no shame at all in that. It is still best to stay within your comfort zone, and, just realize that cubes are still cubes.

OK Brakelate, untie Tetge and let him post.

[Brakelate]

[jhwalker]

What? You are surely thinking that there was PUI involved... Perhaps.

But I will clarify. By virtue of the reasonable nature of that post it was much more Brakelatian than Tetgian. So, then I was thinking that maybe ... oh forget it.

I will go look for more posts about which to banter.

[Brakelate]

Good luck.

[jhwalker]

Good luck.

Hmmm... schlimmm pickins. It is the rainy season, and yesterday we had two storms roll thru that were magnificent. The amount of water that can drop here is amazing. We were in a large grocery story for the biggest and the rain on the roof was so loud that you had to yell to be heard. Maybe a little slip and slide on the Suzuki is in order...

[Brakelate]

Uhhhh, if it were a Suzuki Quad that might be fun. But wet, mud packed tires on any two wheels is sucky. Heck, I was just pulling through St. George, UT making my final push in the moving van caravan and a huge storm cell tore through right in front of us. We just skirted the storm, but the town was slammed with tumbleweeds and stuff blown everywhere, standing water, lightning and the remaining big fat rain drops that like you said, can pour buckets in minutes, and then be gone.

This may take some getting used to. I don't think I would want to be out exploring the countryside on the DRZ when something like that hits, even if the temps are moderate. Without shelter, it would kick your ass. Much props to the madd wagon train folks that crossed this country barely 150 years ago. Being on foot, horseback or even in a covered wagon would be some tough ass shit in this country, especially should the 'weather' come up.

I did get treated to an all night lightning show out in the distance off my patio in return though, so it was well worth getting the Cobra soggy.

[Tetge]

Now we know that you apparently arrived well and safe to the new homestead. I have been in those storms and there are even legit dangers of flash floods. So, they are not to be taken lightly, especially in a Terminator with huge tires.

[Brakelate]

Dragman was kind enough to be driving the Terminator. I was in the Big Assed U Haul truck with the trailer, with a cab full of huge dogs!

But, it was a bit nutty. It rained so hard, the road was foaming up. Odd. Glad I didn't listen to all the panzy Cobra guys who mocked my mudflaps and intercooler grill guard dealio. When he pulled in, it was stuffed full of some very thick and nasty tumbleweed debris that easily could have punctured a coolant tank.


I will call in a bit. Perhaps tonight, while on the porch enjoying the view with a hand rolled cigar (legal style) after enjoying a steak and some live acoustic sets down at the steak house in town. But yes. The Eagle has landed!