| Author |
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Jedipunk
| | Posted on Sunday, August 05, 2007 - 11:36 am: | 
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Hi guys, I'm new to the board and just had to comment on this issue. I test ride bikes all day and I have to say too many idiots are on the road to put your bike in neutral at stoplights. Last month I was stopped at a light and heard screeching brakes behind me. I looked over my shoulder, and here was some fool who wasn't paying attention locked up sliding up to my backside. I pulled out of the way to save myself. If I had been in neutral I would have been crushed. When i went on the same test ride later that day I checked the skid marks. They were about 40-50ft long and went past where I was stopped. damn cellphones |
1324
| | Posted on Sunday, August 05, 2007 - 12:02 pm: |
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I hear that. Although I've only been riding about a year now, I've had my share of close calls. I am fortunate enough to live in an area where twisty roads are either a left or right turn out of my driveway away. It also means that I live on a secondary state road (40 MPH speed limit) where people are frequently driving in lala land beyond their abilities. One such instance I was getting ready to pull into my driveway. So I give three short brake pulses to blink the taillight and proceed to slow and signal. As I get closer and I'm downshifting (on my old bike with a fairly load exhaust), I flash the tails again to further emphasize my actions. Just as I'm getting ready to turn, I hear the sound of screeching rubber. I was lucky that I heard his tires give way because it allowed me to throttle up and fly into my front yard across my gravel driveway. I didn't go down and no one was hurt, but the snaab in his saab was too oblivious to know what just happened.
After reading Proficient Motorcycling, I started to consciously incorporate safety measures into my riding...like late apexing into turns and such. Good thing, because in the past two days while riding through my area (in the Poconos where plenty of dismayed tourists call home for a week), I was confronted with SEVERAL cars completely over the center line. If I were apexing like I do at the track, I'd be roadkill today. |
Tom60
| | Posted on Sunday, August 05, 2007 - 12:39 pm: |
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If I cant get to neutral
- with engine running, raising revs slightly always helps,
with engine off, rocking the bike does it.
Also, I make myself more visible when stopped at traffic lights by repeated "braking" even when stationary -so that the brake light would go on and off. |
Surveyor
| | Posted on Sunday, August 05, 2007 - 03:15 pm: |
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I'm kinda with JBQ on this one, as a result of an experience many years ago I always engage neutral at a light and I agree it can be difficult but it's easier on my Buell than my Ducati.
My early experience....?
While sitting at a light in first with the clutch disengaged I was happily revving to encourage my pal into a little dragstrip action when the clutch nipple at the lever end let go, the bike (an XT500 Yamaha) launched into the traffic leaving me on my ass - amazingly no one got hit or hurt. |
1324
| | Posted on Sunday, August 05, 2007 - 05:17 pm: |
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^^^But one can argue that it is a bit unwise to rev the engine at idle, both for the unloaded engine's sake and the squid factor |
Surveyor
| | Posted on Sunday, August 05, 2007 - 06:51 pm: |
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^^^But one can argue that it is a bit unwise to rev the engine at idle, both for the unloaded engine's sake and the squid factor
It was a long time ago....squids hadn't been invented....or no one told me. |
M1combat
| | Posted on Sunday, August 05, 2007 - 07:19 pm: |
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Ah HAH!!!
Paul INVENTED the SQUID!!!
Good going PAUL... |
Diablobrian
| | Posted on Sunday, August 05, 2007 - 07:44 pm: |
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That's something that has impressed me at the last two homecomings....the lack of rev happiness at every stoplight and sign. |
Manimal
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 07, 2007 - 04:33 am: |
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OK, so i origanlly posted this thread and i thought i'd drop a little update. I adjust my clutch cable and now it pops into neutral with ease. hot or cold. I've read a few of your guys posts and i agree you shouldnt sit in neutral at lights where traffic is moving. I only use neutral at very long lights where traffic is stopped in front and behind. Otherwise my left hand get pi55ed off.  |
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