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Rocketman
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 06, 2006 - 07:23 pm: | 
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Who the hell is Troy Freekin Frankfurter anyway, lol.
See you there Glitch.
Seriously though. I do believe it is possible at times to reach the limit of any bike on the open road simply because the open road will at times limit the bikes capabilities, not necessarily the riders.
Rocket |
Glitch
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 06, 2006 - 10:25 pm: |
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Seriously though...
Agreed! |
Diablobrian
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 06, 2006 - 11:19 pm: |
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I must really suck, I'm slower than I was 3 years and 3 days ago.
I know this for a fact.
I hate that kind of anniversary. |
M2nc
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 06, 2006 - 11:44 pm: |
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I don't care who you are, this is funny.
A guy that has several bikes including a beautiful Ducati 916 decided to join us for a ride. He was an acquaintance of a friend who had to leave in the middle of the ride for work. Another friend of mine on a Vulcan 1600 who knew the local roads, agreed to show us some of the better roads. I was on my Nighthawk and the guy on the 916 decided to join us. We started down some decent roads and the pace picked up. Since the Nighthawk was more capable in the curves than the Vulcan, I just averaged out the pace of my buddy and just let him pull away on the straights and run him back down the next tight curve. We both started to notice that the 916 would fall off on the curves and then try to catch up on the straights. After a few miles we had opened up a gap on the 916 and when we reached the end of the road at a stop sign we had to wait for him to get there. When he pulled up, my buddy on the Vulcan turned to the guy on the 916 and asked innocently, "Hey, I am I running too fast for you?" I did my best to keep a straight face. We still crack up every time we talk about it. |
Blake
| | Posted on Thursday, September 07, 2006 - 04:05 am: |
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"Well there are occasions where and when I've know I've had that 916 pegged over in a corner at some ridiculous three digit speed and nothing save Troy Bayliss could have passed me, if he were lucky."
If he were lucky? Dude. You have no idea. Question: Why DON'T you get out to the track with that bike?
I don't care how far you imagine you are pushing your bike, the truth is that Troy Bayliss would be flying by you so fast you'd think you had hit your kill switch. |
Blake
| | Posted on Thursday, September 07, 2006 - 04:25 am: |
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Sean,
Level with Rossi, just because it's on the street? Dude. Step away from the computer.
On the other issue. In my view, running off the road should rarely if ever be blamed on any limit of the motorcycle. I rider should know and understand what the capabilities of his bike are. If someone runs off the road it is because they either failed to lean it over enough to make the turn, or they came into it too fast; both of those are failures are on the rider.
M2nc,
In my view, it's just that kind of macho attitude that can push folks who are not comfortable riding aggressively into pushing themselves past their comfort zone and into a crash. Uncool. Very uncool. |
Rocketman
| | Posted on Thursday, September 07, 2006 - 06:04 am: |
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Question: Why DON'T you get out to the track with that bike?
Every time I've been on the track I always want to push harder and harder. I suffer from the red mist so bad that I know I'll end up in the kitty litter.
I put my TVR on the grass at Cadwell some years ago. I lapped much faster than a lot of quicker TVR's, but you know, it's an expensive business hitting the tyre wall or barrier in a TVR, and I came close.
I put the Buell in the kitty litter at Croix one time. Fortunately I stayed upright - no damage done.
The 916 on the track would be awesome but to be perfectly honest with you Blake, repetitive syndrome and arm pump aside, I know that one time at least I'd be off for trying to hard.
Truth is, I am a speed freak. I am impatient and I lack discipline on the race track. For me a race track offers me a safe environment - which leads me into a false sense of security. Combine that with my other ailments, speed freak and lack of discipline, and one has a recipe for disaster. The road on the other hand offers lots of dangers that are never easy to overcome. Being aware of those dangers keeps me disciplined. Take them away and I might try too hard.
The point is, and still is, you can only go so fast on the road. The frequency of different challenges of the road limits any bike. That is why the road rider becomes more equal to any other rider and the bike less able to achieve its own capabilities.
How do you imagine Bayliss would do at the TT? I imagine if he and I shared my 916 for a closed lap of the Mountain Course , he'd beat me. But there's a caveat to that. He might not beat someone else who we've never heard of. Maybe Glitch's mate on the Ducati? We all have off days (pun intended). But isn't it a tad silly to assume every biker that hits the dirt is an idiot or was acting the fool? That's still the point I'm trying to make. For all we know, Glitch's Duc riding friend (lol) might beat Bayliss around the Mountain on another day.
Think of it like this. There are thousands of very very talented musicians in the world. I'd wager there's an undiscovered guitarist as good if not better than Eric Clapton. A better vocalist than Mick Jagger. Ever heard of Andy Green? He broke the LSR in Thrust 2. He was an RAF pilot never having driven a race car of any sort before he took the seat in Thrust 2.
But of course you're right. Bayliss or anyone of his ilk would wipe the floor with me on the road or track. I was making a point that is too often quoted by bikers on bikers when one biker throws it down the road, or rides to the point of (for some reason usually unbeknown) annoying his fellow riders. Why does the rider who falls off trying get called an idiot or a fool? I just don't see it that way. Unless a rider is very obviously being a total prat, I'm absolutely in sympathy with them for trying to go up to and beyond the envelope. That is why surely the manufacturers bring to the road the latest and greatest in sports machinery.
Bring it on, and don't expect me to give anyone that 'old man' 'experienced wise biker' attitude 'I'm growed up now so you must be a squid if you haven't'. You know what I mean.
Rocket |
Blake
| | Posted on Thursday, September 07, 2006 - 07:05 am: |
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I know what you mean, and I spent a week in hospital myself for being a fool. Entirely my fault. My view is that it is no better than gambling to push the envelope on the street, gambling with your own life. If you think the track is "safe" please think again. It is just not near as dangerous as the street. A fellow crashed and died at my cherrished Oak Hill Raceway. He was riding an SV650 and went down on a 50-60 mph turn. Wide open grassy run-off. But he was killed. It ain't safe. But it isn't near as risky as the street.
Take it to the track. Your excuses are silly. Once you crash at the track, if you can get back up or convalesce and recover and get back out, you'll see fit to be more rational and not so eager to succumb to the red mist. I think the "squid" moniker truly applies. Hey! You said it! LOL! 
I'm much the same way. |
Dago
| | Posted on Thursday, September 07, 2006 - 08:16 am: |
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I think it's fun to low-side. It feels like you're on a big wet banana!
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Ceejay
| | Posted on Thursday, September 07, 2006 - 09:22 am: |
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Bomber
| | Posted on Thursday, September 07, 2006 - 09:26 am: |
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No old man and your a squid if you're not me stuff from this corner Rocket -- you make some good points, no doubt --
good choice to avoid the track if you indeed lack the discipline to control your riding/driving at a safe (not necessarily sane) level -- I, too, am prone to the red mist syndrome, and try to know when to pit (at the track) or stop of coffee (if on the road) -- I don't always succeed at this, but I think I understand where you're coming from
I read an interview with the then world champion surfer named Micky Munoz years ago -- he claimed that, while he was the champ, there was undoubtedly a better surfer somewhere in the world who'd not made it to the competitions -- same as your point about guitarists et al
seems to me, now that everyone (including me {grin}) has restated there positions several times, that we're pretty much all in violent agreement, and we've moved into the urination contests over word choices and semantics -- yawn
break break
Aesquire -- bless your heart for the services you can and do provide -- truly generous acts! |
Rocketman
| | Posted on Thursday, September 07, 2006 - 06:31 pm: |
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I daren't take the 916 to the track for a more valid reason,,....,.,,,ah,,,em,,excuse,cough,,excuse. It has never been dropped EVER. Not even off its side stand. You think I want to tempt fate after 11 years of my 916 staying upright? Especially with my falling off the Buell history, lol.
I'll wager you this much. I'm too heavy at moment to be comfortable riding the 916, but I'm down to 5 micrograms every other day now of the ole steroid, soon to be off for good. I'm consciously trying to eat better and less. My right foot is not far from regaining all its feeling and motion after crushing a nerve in my leg 18 months ago. My back ache is still mysterious and we're still looking into that one but if the weight comes down and my health continues to improve, I'll do a track day, ok.
Me and some of the lads actually discussed taking some bikes to Valencia in a van last year. We were close to organising, but some dropped out one by one until the remaining left it to late to put it together. Maybe that's where we'll end up next year instead. This thread if nothing else gives me reason to mention it the next time we go out for a session.
Rocket |
Gmc310
| | Posted on Thursday, September 07, 2006 - 06:42 pm: |
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I wake up at 5 am every morning and tell myself that I will cruise to work at 70mph and relax , next thing I know Im tucked behind the fairing flirting with 110 , I have a PROBLEM and I need some help ,There, I said it ,My name is Gary and i am a BUELLaholic ,I feel so much better now ,
I'm going for a ride. |
Eboos
| | Posted on Thursday, September 07, 2006 - 06:50 pm: |
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My knee is getting closer and closer. My chicken strips are getting smaller and smaller. |
Rocketman
| | Posted on Thursday, September 07, 2006 - 07:36 pm: |
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That's the spirit.
Rocket |
Glitch
| | Posted on Thursday, September 07, 2006 - 08:02 pm: |
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I'll admit I enjoy running the Buell out.
I don't really feel satisfied until I feel I've ripped it up a bit.
I do as you do.
I know the limits, and stay within them.
The last time I was at the Dragon, I never touched a knee down. I wasn't feeling "in the groove."
I'm riding in the Great North Georgia Mountains this weekend.
I really hope I'm in the groove.
And to your point, I'm sure there are those out there that feel I'm acting the fool.
Thanks for making me think, and not letting me get away with thinking "I know it all"  |
M2nc
| | Posted on Friday, September 08, 2006 - 12:03 am: |
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In my view, it's just that kind of macho attitude that can push folks who are not comfortable riding aggressively into pushing themselves past their comfort zone and into a crash. Uncool. Very uncool.
Well, that was why my buddy asked the question, but I still can not help but find it funny that a guy on a 700# Cruiser with a 30° lean angle asked a guy on a 916 if he is going too fast for him on a twisty road. I kept the face shield down, but I was giggling inside. Cool or not, that's funny. |
Captpete
| | Posted on Friday, September 08, 2006 - 03:31 am: |
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Did you ever consider that the guy on the Duc had just completed the wildest envelope-pushing ride of his life and was trembling inside from the overdose of adrenalin coursing through his body when he pulled up next to that cruiser? That he was the least experienced of the group, but the one who had just pulled the greatest handful of moxie out of the bag? |
Old_man
| | Posted on Friday, September 08, 2006 - 04:43 pm: |
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If I can't see the road around the bend, I ride at a speed that I can safely stop, if need be, in the bend.
I have, at times, come upon two vehicles stopped on a bend conversing.
To do otherwise is like playing Russian Roulette. |
M2nc
| | Posted on Saturday, September 09, 2006 - 12:30 am: |
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Did you ever consider that the guy on the Duc had just completed the wildest envelope-pushing ride of his life and was trembling inside from the overdose of adrenalin coursing through his body when he pulled up next to that cruiser?
And the reason this story fits so well. The 916 was definitely the most capable bike of that trio, but my buddy who has been riding since he could walk, was the most capable rider. The Vulcan, now gone, was his first and only cruiser and on equal bikes, I would not stand a chance against him. So, for the capability of rider versus bike, the rider was the bigger factor that day. |
Rocketman
| | Posted on Saturday, September 09, 2006 - 01:31 pm: |
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It beats me how you can say that. You don't know the 916 rider. For all you know he could have just completed the wildest envelope-pushing ride of his life and was trembling inside from the overdose of adrenalin coursing through his body when he pulled up next to that cruiser? 
Maybe he just bought it? It took me about a month to get dialed in to my 916. Don't think I'm just saying that either. I said as much at the time on BadWeB. In fact, at first I thought 'what's all the fuss about'. Then you learn, and it became one of the most rewarding bikes I've ever ridden. Still is.
Rocket |
Captpete
| | Posted on Saturday, September 09, 2006 - 09:06 pm: |
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I'm not sure I understand your point, Sean. Is it that I left out the word “maybe?” It was implied, but I suppose I could have been clearer by including it.
How could I say that? Easy. I was drawing on my own riding experience, the same as you when you opined that maybe he had just bought it.
Anyway, when I read that little story, I could see myself in that guy’s place. And I can see how he could have caused a little giggling behind the face shields. That’s human nature. But I could also see the possibility that he had just pushed his personal envelope and might be pretty proud of himself.
I try to look for another side of the story – sometimes.
And speaking of pushing envelopes… you’re kind of pushing the phone camera one a little bit, ain’t ya? I’ve got a little inexpensive digital job that I bought to get me by when I was between better models. I never use it anymore. You want me to send it to you until you get something else sorted out? It takes ok pictures, just doesn’t have any bells or whistles on it. It would be good enough for posting pictures of your S1W. |
Rocketman
| | Posted on Sunday, September 10, 2006 - 08:44 am: |
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Capt, I think me and thee are in agreement on the 916 rider scenario. You misinterpret my meaning. That is to say, I am in sympathy for the 916 rider as no one relating the story here knows exactly why he rode in such a manner that prompted the comments made by M2nc.
I like the phone camera. I'm waiting to buy a particular camera I really like for all sorts of reasons that suit my needs. Problem is, they were discounted down last year, and everywhere I've looked recently (just before I went on holiday) I couldn't find one locally. They were such a bargain they've all sold. I'm in no real hurry either.
My friend has this camera, but I forget which it is. I think it's a Nikon Coolpix S2. But you know what Pete, anything around 3 or 4 million mega pixel and dead simple to use is perfect for my needs. The smaller and more compact the better. I have little time for gadgets unless they really interest me. I can take a good picture without all the bells and whistles. That is to say, if the quality is good enough for the camera manufacturer to take care of for me, I can point and shoot good enough I think.
Rocket |
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