Author |
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Jim_sb
| Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 06:04 pm: |
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When in doubt......... PIN IT! Jim in Santa Barbara |
Etennuly
| Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 06:21 pm: |
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When in doubt......... PIN IT! ABSOLUTELY!! If you are gonna bite it do it with style! Why waste a crash and possible injury in a wreck where it looked like you just tipped over! Besides, you might recover by whacking it some! |
Miamiuly
| Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 06:25 pm: |
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As they say, more throttle will either solve the problem- or end the suspense. |
Fwiw
| Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 06:33 pm: |
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When in doubt......... PIN IT! Pardon a slight OT digression. I used to do a lot of whitewater kayaking. I've run the Grand Canyon twice and the Rio Bio-Bio in Chile once (hey, I _AM_ and adventurer!). Anyway, my policy was if I was caught in a hole and it was obvious I was going to get trashed, I'd throw my paddle at my buds and make an effort to hand surf. That way when I got trashed, I could brag about trying to hand surf the impossible. Needless to say, I totally embrace the go out in style mentality! |
Fwiw
| Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 06:35 pm: |
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Pink fluffy bike, catching air on the gravel?... I think I am in lust with her! Stand in line Cityxslicker, stand in line! I see divorce #3 coming! |
Jim_sb
| Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 06:53 pm: |
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On a more serious note....... Steering damper - I don't know if it would help or not as I haven't tried it yet. I sincerely believe it would help on this particular issue. If not, I'd love to hear from someone who has tried one and been unhappy with the results. Dirt riding - I've been riding street since '99 - and in 2004 I bought a DRZ400S because I was starting to slide my bike a bit on the street and wanted to learn proper control of my bike in situations where the front and rear tires were sliding. Dirt, IMHO, is the place to learn and hone those reactions. First year on the dirt was an eye opener - had some fun but had some nasty crashes. 2nd year was much better and the 3rd year was the best yet. Still learning more every time out. Now I cruise through terrain that a year ago would've tossed me onto the dirt. So, I say PIN IT partially in truth and partially in jest. On a dirt bike momentum can be your friend - or your enemy. A guy who had too much momentum going down a steep switchback with a step in it last weekend up at Kennedy Meadows ended up cartwheeling off the trail. He did one cartwheel while on the bike - the bike did 2 more after he was ejected from the vehicle. Bike and rider were fine - but it took help from a lot of guys to get him going again. In other situations momentum will often make the difference between success and failure. The throttle is your friend when used properly. Best advice I got when learning to dirt ride was - if the bike is going down - LET IT GO! And get yourself clear of the vehicle. Wear proper safety gear of course. Knee pads, riding boots, elbow, shoulder and back armor are important. The bike likely won't be hurt as badly as you think - and some really nasty injuries are caused when riders try too hard to save a bike that is already too far gone. Enjoy, Jim in Santa Barbara |
Bigdaddy
| Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 08:13 pm: |
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More throttle may, or may not, help the immediate situation, but it'll end the suspense. When in doubt it pin it. |
Ejc
| Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - 05:13 pm: |
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This may have been touched on earlier, but its worth reiterating. Reserve the front brake for situations where you are traveling straight. Turning on loose gravel and applying the front brake could cause an easy wash out of the front tire putting rider and bike on the ground. In keeping with the theme of the thread, the throttle will more likely get you out of an upset situation than the brake. |
Lorazepam
| Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - 07:55 pm: |
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18-20 psi in the tires will make gravel much easier. Just dont try to drag the pegs or do wheelies with the pressures that low. Your tires will ride over the rocks, and not kick them away. |
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