There are a few things about riding a motorcycle that I wonder if more experienced riders do differently or have suggestions that might help some of the newer riders. Here are a couple of questions that I’ve been thinking about lately. Pipe up with your comments.
- You are at a stop sign. You want to make a sharp left and it is a narrow road. You need to head up a steep hill, and there is a blind corner just up the hill. How do you maneuver that?
- When braking, do you mostly use both brakes simultaneously except in special conditions?
- Do all true bikers have biker nicknames?
- When you park your motorcycle, do you leave it in neutral, or in gear?
- Wherever you stop, do you leave all your gear out on the bike, lock your gear up safely, or take it with you?
- What is the largest thing you’ve ever carried on a motorcycle, and how did you attach it?
13 comments:
Well, here's my answers, right or wrong.
1)You are at a stop sign. You want to make a sharp left and it is a narrow road. You need to head up a steep hill, and there is a blind corner just up the hill. How do you maneuver that?
1)Don't know till I see it.
2)When braking, do you mostly use both brakes simultaneously except in special conditions?
2) more front than rear, but still both most of the time.
3) Do all true bikers have biker nicknames?
3) only biker nickname I got is Mr. Motorcycle, except only bloggers, and my wife who also blogs, and gave me that name on her blog, calls me that.
Maybe I'm not a real biker... LOL!
4)When you park your motorcycle, do you leave it in neutral, or in gear?
4) 99% of the time Nuetral. If your bike is in gear, and your hand isn't on the clutch, when you start it, it'll lurch forward. Bad Deal. Using gear for stability is o.k. if on a hill. but I try to never park on hills if at all possible.
5) Wherever you stop, do you leave all your gear out on the bike, lock your gear up safely, or take it with you?
5) It depends on where I'm at, what kind of gear, how long I'll be away, and what kind of visibility I have to the bike and gear.
6)What is the largest thing you’ve ever carried on a motorcycle, and how did you attach it?
6) A person.... They hung on. LOL!
Great questions!
1) In this case, I would position by bike at an angle with my front wheel already pointing left up the hill. You can still do this if your doubled up at the intersection. When I take off, I give it plenty of throttle to lean hard, which makes the turn seem easier. One of the things my RTC instructor taught me is, "power is control". It takes serious concentration to give it more throttle when your instincts say "stop"! Trust me, it works.
2)I like to drag my back brake in curves. This lets me go into them a little stronger and maintain control. Front and back brake together on straights and front brake at intersections. I like both feet on the ground when I'm still. LOL!
3)Dunno. The ones I know have nicknames.
4) Neutral when it's flat. Sometimes I like to start it before I get on, and this makes it simpler. Always in first gear if I'm an angle at anytime. I once watched a guy park his BMW, a beauty I might add, on a slight incline. As he walked away, the damn thing just rolled forward and stayed up for about 2 seconds before it plopped over. Crash! Always in first gear for me.
5) Depends on where we are, if we can see the bike or not and how long we may be stopped. Sorry, probably not a good answer! LOL!
6) Me! And I just hang on to the grips! LOL! Harley carries all our stuff. He doesn't think I need to worry about the extra weight. Actually, I think he is more worried about it than I am. But, that's not a bad thing.
I certainly can't say that I am an expert, in any form of the word, and I cannot speak to every point, but...
I generally brake with only the rear for gradual slowing, then use the front as well for the final stop. But for a quick stop, yes, definitely, both-hands-both-feet like they emphasized in my MSF rider courses.
Parking--always in gear, and always with the rear end down hill.
As for luggage, we generally take all gear into the hotel room with us, and leave the saddlebags open. In this manner, there is nothing for thieves to take (short of the bike itself), and they won't brake anything trying to get in to find that out!
I ususally don't pay much attention to where the road goes after I round the corner, and get up the hill, but I have a hard time visializing a problem with getting around that corner and up the hill.
I generally use both brakes, at any given time.
I dunno any other bikers, except my self and I have not yet given myself a nickname.
I put on the parking brake if there is any chance of it rolling down hill. (Yes, it DOES have a parking brake. Doesn't yours?)
I generally leave the gear locked up in the top box.
My exwife is the heaviest thing I ever carried. I'll just stop right there.
1. I'm not 100% clear on your scenario, but I think I'd make the left normally when it's safe, accelerate up the hill so I'm carrying some speed when I get to the corner and brake appropriately.
2. I use both brakes when stopping unless I'm cornering, in which case I drag the rear brake lightly entering the turn. In low-speed situations, like parking lots, rear brake only.
3. Old school club bikers do. Road names are used for privacy and so you can't be forced to identify your buddies. "I don't know anyone named John Smith, your honor, the defendant's name is Red Dog." FWIW, my club calls me Two Buck.
4. If I'm at a club event I leave my gear on my bike because there are prospects watching them. Out in public I lock things in my saddlebags. I don't bother locking the helmet because A) I don't think anyone will steal it anyway, and B) I feel sorry for anyone who steals my stinky brain bucket.
5. Camping gear. I bungied it on.
I am not a trusting person. I lock the gear to the bike. I also put it in first gear as to make it more difficult to roll the bike away. Also makes the bike more stable since it can't roll. I favor the front for gradual slowdown and then bring in the back for simultaneous braking.
1. I'd low-speed steer my bars left as I started, and then roll the throttle through the turn. Whatever side of the street the blind corner was on, I'd steer as much to the outside of it as I could on the approach to give myself as much a view into the blind as possible.
2. I always use both brakes together when decellerating to a stop in normal conditions. To stop faster, more front brake. Low speed manuvering is all rear brake. I will also tap/drag the back brake to slow myself in a corner if I have to, but ideally, I slow before the corner, and roll on the throttle while taking it.
3. I think you knew the answer to that before you asked it. No.
4. I always leave it in gear out of habit. Habits, good or bad, end up playing a bigger part in being a biker than a lot of us realize. In gear, the bike won't roll. It also gives birth to another good habit - always pulling the clutch in before pressing "START."
5. My saddlebags lock, and I lock them more often than not. I usually just leave my brain bucket on my mirror.
6. Her name was Laurie and she damned near put the back fender down to the tire. I told her to get on, shut up, and HOLD ON. I've also since cut way down on my drinking.
Here's some input from a trainer if you're interested.
Joker's pretty much right on with the turning thing and the brakes.
For turns where you're concerned about staying in your lane:
To turn, the bike needs to lean. Turn the bars pretty much full lock in the direction you want to go. Lean the bike against your inside thigh a little. Keep your head and eyes up, looking well ahead. Then ease the clutch out and go. Remember that power does hold the bike up, like someone else here mentioned.
The advice to stay wide as you approach the corner is excellent, Joker. On any corner, if you can't see the exit, stay wide until you can. Never commit to an apex until you have all the information about the corner.
As to using both brakes, the advice to always use both brakes is sound. What people overlook is that we tend to develop habits when we ride.
When we get into a high adrenaline situation, like when every orifice in our body wants to pucker, what do we fall back on? Yep, whatever our habit is. Using both brakes is the most effective way to stop. That needs to be our habit so that it serves us well in emergencies.
As to braking in corners, the ideal situation is to set the entry speed such that we never feel compelled to use brakes while cornering. If that happens, our entry speed is too fast.
Thanks all for the varied and interesting comments and advice. Looks like everyone has their own way of handling certain situations, but similarities in some cases too. I found a couple of things I will try when given the right situation. Every time I ride is a new experience, which I relish and try to come home with something learned in each case. Thanks again for the advice from the real bikers out there.
Bikerchickz
Errr....hmmmmm.
1) Thats a loaded one. If the blind corner is really close and you're really uncomfortable with the situation, why not take a right downhill and turn around when you get a chance? Me, I just hang my ass off the left side of the seat a bit and shift my weight left so I can keep the bike upright a bit more to compensate for the grade as I throttle into the turn. Sounds stupid but I might blast the horn a couple of time just before I start out. Never hurts.
2) I always use both, except for special conditions...like gravel or dirt roads. lol.
3) Ride enough and you will get a name. (hopefully one you can live with) Bikers ride.
4) I always gear it. Flat or hill.
5) Depends on where I am at. Most of the time I just leave it out. My stuff is so worn no one in their right mind would want it.
6) Passenger, other than that, 80 pounds of ice with a cargo net.
* When braking, do you mostly use both brakes simultaneously except in special conditions?
If you don't have integrated brakes (like I have on the GT) you should be using both brakes. If you are heading down a steep hill, say a mountain road ;) , use the engine to brake if you must brake more, use the rear.
* Do all true bikers have biker nicknames?
The concept of a "true biker" is useless. We all ride. We all enjoy participating in various degrees. I know many of my BMW friends by their forum name.
* When you park your motorcycle, do you leave it in neutral, or in gear?
Always in gear, I sure don't need it rolling away. My SO always leaves his HD in neutral, I don't know why. But he knows if I've moved it...cause I leave it in first. :)
* Wherever you stop, do you leave all your gear out on the bike, lock your gear up safely, or take it with you?
It depends where I am. I keep a cable lock on the bike and usually always lock my helmet.
* What is the largest thing you’ve ever carried on a motorcycle, and how did you attach it?
My daughter...she just sat there. :P
Hi,
I ride as cautiously as I can and stay as wide as possible away from any danger.
Braking, I use two.
Hmm. I have nicknames, but they aren't biker names.
I have locking side bags and use a cable to lock a large duffle to the bike if I am camping, which is usually.
The winter before last when i was touring, I ended up carrying a couple of duffle bags as I was having trouble with the weather being hot during the day and extremely cold at night. I use bungee cords and nets, making sure to keep the weight as low as possible and always making sure I connect the larger cords with the frame.
My computer and cam corder goes in a type of hand made tank bag as I it's heavy and I like the weight there.
Marty
wow lot of people know about this.
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