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Dnchevyman
Posted on Friday, June 22, 2007 - 12:40 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

i was just wondering as i was on a ride tonight with some buddies. we ride 2 sections, one is a fast fast section with big sweepers, mostly averaging between 90 and 110 (some of the guys do 120 through there on their jap bikes). and then we have a tight section that has a bunch of 15mph turn signs, i average 60-70 in the straights and 40 or so in the turns. its reallly tight turns. so i was wondering how many people go out on the "motogp" rides, we average 1 a week.

the roads we take are 1 way, no oncoming traffic
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Iamike
Posted on Friday, June 22, 2007 - 07:09 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

On some of our 'more spirited' rides we would run 40-45 over the posted curve speed signs. A good rider could probably go much faster but I keep saying to myself that those steel posts with the reflector on them wouldn't feel too good.
I don't know what criteria they use in assigning the suggested speed but around here some are ridiculously low, even for a car.
We found out in Arkansas that if it is a low number, like 10 or 15, to try it at least once before hitting it hard. We had a couple of 'pucker moments' before we figured that out.
Now that the harder riders are doing track days and racing we have toned it down a little. We are still on regular streets and don't want to get carried away. Pun intended.
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New12r
Posted on Friday, June 22, 2007 - 07:16 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Used to do about 2 a month, till I did a track day and realized how stupid I was with all the obstacles on the roads. One way is better but not good enough for me anymore.

Have fun and be safe, I choose to go slower.
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Gentleman_jon
Posted on Friday, June 22, 2007 - 07:31 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Race track speeds on the road, or anything near them is a recipe for disaster for all but the most skilled, (and lucky rider).

It is possible to enjoy sport riding without taking inordinate risks.

Here is an often quoted article, " The Pace", by former road racer, and author Nick Ienatsch which illustrates an very excellent way to approach street riding from the sport rider point of view:

The Pace

By Nick Ienatsch





A year after I joined the Motorcyclist staff in 1984, Mitch Boehm was hired. Six months later, The Pace came into being, and we perfected it during the next few months of road testing and weekend fun rides. Now The Pace is part of my life--and a part of the Sunday-morning riding group I frequent. The Pace is a street technique that not only keeps street riders alive, but thoroughly entertained as well.



THE PACE



The Pace focuses on bike control and de-emphasizes outright speed. Full-throttle acceleration and last minute braking aren't part of the program, effectively eliminating the two most common single-bike accident scenarios in sport riding. Cornering momentum is the name of the game, stressing strong, forceful inputs at the handlebar to place the bike correctly at the entrance of the turn and get it flicked in with little wasted time and distance. Since the throttle wasn't slammed open at the exit of the last corner, the next corner doesn't require much, if any, braking. It isn't uncommon to ride with our group and not see a brake light flash all morning.



If the brakes are required, the front lever gets squeezed smoothly, quickly and with a good deal of force to set entrance speed with minimum time. Running in on the brakes is tantamount to running off the road, a confession that you're pushing too hard and not getting your entrance speed set early enough because you stayed on the gas too long. Running The Pace decreases your reliance on the throttle and brakes, the two easiest controls to abuse, and hones your ability to judge cornering speed, which is the most thrilling aspect of performance street riding.



YOUR LANE IS YOUR LIMIT



Crossing the centerline at any time except during a passing maneuver is intolerable, another sign that you're pushing too hard to keep up. Even when you have a clean line of sight through a left-hand kink, stay to the right of the centerline. Staying on the right side of the centerline is much more challenging than simply straightening every slight corner, and when the whole group is committed to this intelligent practice, the temptation to cheat is eliminated through peer pressure and logic. Though street riding shouldn't be described in racing terms, you can think of your lane as the racetrack. Leaving your lane is tantamount to a crash.



Exact bike control has you using every inch of your lane if the circumstances permit it. In corners with a clear line of sight and no oncoming traffic, enter at the far outside of the corner, turn the bike relatively late in the corner to get a late apex at the far inside of your lane and accelerate out, just brushing the far outside of your lane as your bike stands up. Steer your bike forcefully but smoothly to minimize the transition time; don't hammer it down because the chassis will bobble slightly as it settles, possibly carrying you off line. Since you haven't charged in on the brakes, you can get the throttle on early, before the apex, which balances and settles your bike for the drive out.



More often than not, circumstances do not permit the full use of your lane from yellow line to white line and back again. Blind corners, oncoming traffic and gravel on the road are a few criteria that dictate a more conservative approach, so leave yourself a three- or four-foot margin for error, especially at the left side of the lane where errant oncoming traffic could prove fatal.



Simply narrow your entrance on a blind right-hander and move your apex into your lane three feet on blind left turns in order to stay free of unseen oncoming traffic hogging the centerline.



Because you're running at The Pace and not flat out, your controlled entrances offer additional time to deal with unexpected gravel or other debris in your lane; the outside wheel track is usually the cleanest through a dirty corner since a car weights its outside tires most, scrubbing more dirt off the pavement in the process, so aim for that line.



A GOOD LEADER, WILLING FOLLOWERS



The street is not a racing environment, and it takes humility, self assurance and self control to keep it that way. The leader sets the pace and monitors his mirrors for signs of raggedness in the ranks that follow, such as tucking in on straights, crossing over the yellow line and hanging off the motorcycle in corners. If the leader pulls away, he simply slows his straightaway speed slightly but continues to enjoy the corners, thus closing the ranks but missing none of the fun. The small group of three or four riders I ride with is so harmonious that the pace is identical no matter who's leading. The lead shifts occasionally with a quick

hand sign, but there's never a pass for the lead with an ego on the sleeve. Make no mistake, the riding is spirited and quick--in the corners. Anyone with a right arm can hammer down the straights; it's the proficiency in the corners that makes The Pace come alive.



Following distances are relatively lengthy, with the straightaways---taken at more moderate speeds--the perfect opportunity to adjust the gaps. Keeping a good distance serves several purposes, besides being safer. Rock chips are minimized and the highway patrol won't suspect a race is in progress. The Pace's style of not hanging off in corners also reduces the appearance of pushing too hard and adds a degree of maturity and sensibility in the eyes of the public and the law. There's a definite challenge to cornering quickly while sitting sedately on your bike. New rider indoctrination takes some time because The Pace develops very high cornering speeds and newcomers want to hammer the throttle on exits to make up for what they lose at the entrances. Our group slows drastically when a new rider joins the ranks because our technique of moderate straightaway speeds and no brakes can suck the unaware into a corner too fast, creating the most common single-bike accident. With a new rider learning The Pace behind you, tap your brake lightly well before the turn to alert him and make sure he understands there's no pressure to stay with the group.



There's plenty of ongoing communication during The Pace. A foot off the peg indicates debris on the road, and all slowing or turning intentions are signaled in advance with the left hand and arm. Turn signals are used for direction changes and passing, with a wave of the left hand to thank the cars that move right and make it easy for the motorcyclists to get past. Since you don't have a death grip on the handlebar, you left hand is also free to wave to oncoming riders, a fading courtesy that we'd like to see return. If you're getting the idea The Pace is a relaxing, noncompetitive way to ride with a group, you are right.



RELAX AND FLICK IT



I'd rather spend a Sunday in the mountains riding at The Pace than a Sunday at the racetrack, it is that enjoyable.



Countersteering is the name of the game, a smooth forceful steering input at the handlebar relayed to the tires contact patches through a rigid sport-bike frame. Riding at The Pace is certainly what the bike manufacturers had in mind when sport bikes evolved to the street.



But the machine isn't the most important aspect of running The Pace because you can do it on anything capable of getting through a corner. Attitude is The Pace's most important aspect; realizing the friend ahead of you isn't a competitor, respecting his right to lead the group occasionally and giving him credit for his riding skills. You must have the maturity to limlt your straightaway speeds to allow the group to stay in touch and the sense to realize that racetrack tactics such as late braking and full throttle runs to redline will alienate the public and police and possibly introduce you to the unforgiving laws of gravity. When the group arrives at the destination after running The Pace, no one feels outgunned or is left with the feeling he must prove himself on the return run. If you've got something to prove, get on a racetrack.



The racetrack measures your speed with a stopwatch and direct competition, welcoming your agression and gritty resolve to be the best. Performance street riding's only yardstick is the amount of enjoyment gained, not lap times, finishing position or competitors beaten. The differences are huge but not always remembered by riders who haven't discovered The Pace's cornering pureness and group involvement. Hammer on the racetrack. Pace yourself on the street.



The street is not the track - It's a place to Pace.



Two weeks ago a rider died when he and his bike tumbled off a cliff paralleling our favorite road. No gravel in the lane, no oncoming car pushing him wide, no ice. The guy screwed up. Rider error. Too much enthusiasm with too little skill, and this fatality wasn't the first on this road this year. As with most single-bike accidents, the rider entered the corner at a speed his brain told him was too fast, stood the bike up and nailed the rear brake. Goodbye.



On the racetrack the rider would have tumbled into the hay bales, visited the ambulance for a strip of gauze and headed back to the pits to straighten his handlebars and think about his mistake. But let's get one thing perfectly clear: the street is not the racetrack. Using it as such will shorten your riding career and keep you from discovering the Pace. The Pace is far from street racing - and a lot more fun.



The Pace places the motorcycle in its proper role as the controlled vehicle, not the controlling vehicle. Too many riders of sport bikes become baggage when the throttle gets twisted - the ensuing speed is so overwhelming they are carried along in the rush. The Pace ignores outright speed and can be as much fun on a Ninja 250 as on a ZX-11, emphasizing rider skill over right-wrist bravado. A fool can twist the grip, but a fool has no idea how to stop or turn. Learning to stop will save your life; learning to turn will enrich it. What feels better than banking a motorcycle over into a corner?



The mechanics of turning a motorcycle involve pushing and/or pulling on the handlebars; while this isn't new information for most sport riders, realize that the force at the handlebar affects the motorcycle's rate of turn-in. Shove hard on the bars, and the bike snaps over; gently push the bars, and the bike lazily banks in. Different corners require different techniques, but as you begin to think about lines, late entrances and late apexes, turning your bike at the exact moment and reaching he precise lean angle will require firm, forceful inputs ant the handlebars. If you take less time to turn your motorcycle, you can use that time to brake more effectively or run deeper into the corner, affording yourself more time to judge the corner and a better look at any hidden surprises. It's important to look as far into the corner as possible and remember the adage, "You go where you look."



DON'T RUSH



The number-one survival skill, after mastering emergency braking, is setting your corner-entrance speed early, or as Kenny Roberts says, "Slow in, fast out." Street riders may get away with rushing into 99 out of 100 corners, but that last one will have gravel, mud or a trespassing car. Setting entrance speed early will allow you to adjust your speed and cornering line, giving you every opportunity to handle the surprise.



We've all rushed into a corner too fast and experienced not just the terror but the lack of control when trying to herd the bike into the bend. If you're fighting the brakes and trying to turn the bike, any surprise will be impossible to deal with. Setting your entrance speed early and looking into the corner allows you to determine what type of corner you're facing. Does the radius decrease? Is the turn off-camber? Is there an embankment that may have contributed some dirt to the corner?



Racers talk constantly about late braking, yet that technique is used only to pass for position during a race, not to turn a quicker lap time. Hard braking blurs the ability to judge cornering speed accurately, and most racers who rely too heavily on the brakes find themselves passed at the corner exits because they scrubbed off too much cornering speed. Additionally, braking late often forces you to trail the brakes or turn the motorcycle while still braking. While light trail braking is an excellent and useful technique to master, understand that your front tire has only a certain amount of traction to give.



If you use a majority of the front tire's traction for braking and then ask it to provide maximum cornering traction as well, a typical low-side crash will result. Also consider that your motorcycle won't steer as well with the fork fully compressed under braking. If you're constantly fighting the motorcycle while turning, it may be because you're braking too far into the corner. All these problems can be eliminated by setting your entrance speed early, an important component of running the Pace.



Since you aren't hammering the brakes at every corner entrance, your enjoyment of pure cornering will increase tremendously.

You'll relish the feeling of snapping your bike into the corner and opening the throttle as early as possible. Racers talk about getting the drive started, and that's just as important on the street. Notice how the motorcycle settles down and simply works better when the throttle is open? Use a smooth, light touch on the throttle and try to get the bike driving as soon as possible in the corner, even before the apex, the tightest point of the corner. If you find yourself on the throttle ridiculously early, it's an indication you can increase your entrance speed slightly be releasing the brakes earlier.



As you sweep past the apex, you can begin to stand the bike up out of the corner. This is best done by smoothly accelerating, which will help stand the bike up. As the rear tire comes off full lean, it puts more rubber on the road, and the forces previously used for cornering traction can be converted to acceleration traction. The throttle can be rolled open as the bike stands up.



This magazine won't tell you how fast is safe; we will tell you how to go fast safely. How fast you go is your decision, but it's one that requires reflection and commitment. High speed on an empty four-lane freeway is against the law, but it's fairly safe. Fifty-five miles per hour in a canyon may be legal, but it may also be dangerous. Get together with your friends and talk about speed. Set a reasonable maximum and stick to it. Done right, the Pace is addicting without high straightaway speeds.



The group I ride with couldn't care less about outright speed between corners; any gomer can twist a throttle. If you routinely go 100 mph, we hope you routinely practice emergency stops from that speed. Keep in mind outright speed will earn a ticket that is tough to fight and painful to pay; cruising the easy straight stuff doesn't attract as much attention from the authorities and sets your speed perfectly for the next sweeper.



GROUP MENTALITY



Straights are the time to reset the ranks. The leader needs to set a pace that won't bunch up the followers, especially while leaving a stop sign or passing a car on a two-lane road. The leader must use the throttle hard to get around the car and give the rest of the group room to make the pass, yet he or she can't speed blindly along and earn a ticket for the whole group. With sane speeds on the straights, the gaps can be adjusted easily; the bikes should be spaced about two seconds apart for maximum visibility of surface hazards.



It's the group aspect of the Pace I enjoy most, watching the bikes in front of me click into a corner like a row of dominoes, or looking in my mirror as my friends slip through the same set of corners I just emerged from.



Because there's a leader and a set of rules to follow, the competitive aspect of sport riding is eliminated and that removes a tremendous amount of pressure from a young rider's ego - or even an old rider's ego. We've all felt the tug of racing while riding with friends or strangers, but the Pace takes that away and saves it for where it belongs: the racetrack. The racetrack is where you prove your speed and take chances to best your friends and rivals.



I've spend a considerable amount of time writing about the Pace (see Motorcyclist, Nov. '91) for several reasons, not the least of which being the fun I've had researching it (continuous and ongoing). But I have motivations that aren't so fun. I got scared a few years ago when Senator Danforth decided to save us from ourselves by trying to ban superbikes, soon followed by insurance companies blacklisting a variety of sport bikes. I've seen Mulholland Highway shut down because riders insisted on racing (and crashing) over a short section of it. I've seen heavy police patrols on roads that riders insist on throwing themselves off of. I've heard the term "murder-cycles" a dozen times too many. When we consider the abilities of a modern sport bike, it becomes clear that rider techniques is sorely lacking.



The Pace emphasizes intelligent, rational riding techniques that ignore racetrack heroics without sacrificing fun. The skills needed to excel on the racetrack make up the basic precepts of the Pace, excluding the mind-numbing speeds and leaving the substantially larger margin for error needed to allow for unknowns and immovable objects. Our sport faces unwanted legislation from outsiders, but a bit of throttle management from within will guarantee our future.



THE PACE PRINCIPLES



Set cornering speed early. Blow the entrance and you'll never recover.



Look down the road Maintaining a high visual horizon will reduce perceived speed and help you avoid panic situations.



Steer the bike quickly. There's a reason Wayne Rainey works out - turning a fast-moving motorcycle takes muscle.



Use your brakes smoothly but firmly Get on and then off the brakes; don't drag 'em.



Get the throttle on early Starting the drive settles the chassis, especially through a bumpy corner.



Never cross the centerline except to pass. Crossing the centerline in a corner is an instant ticket and an admittance that you can't really steer your bike. In racing terms, your lane is your course; staying right of the line adds a significant challenge to most roads and is mandatory for sport riding's future.



Don't crowd the centerline Always expect an oncoming car with two wheels in your lane.



Don't hang off in the corners or tuck in on the straights Sitting sedately on the bike looks safer and reduces unwanted attention. It also provides a built-in safety margin.



When leading, ride for the group Good verbal communication is augmented with hand signals and turn signals; change direction and speed smoothly.



When following, ride with the group If you can't follow a leader, don't expect anyone to follow you when you're setting the pace.



Nick Ienatsch Sport Rider Magazine June 1993
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Daves
Posted on Friday, June 22, 2007 - 07:38 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

If they are your friends you should try to get them to keep the really fast riding on the track. To ride at 100% (or above) on public roads is asking for trouble.

I usually ride between 50-70% on the road.
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Etennuly
Posted on Friday, June 22, 2007 - 08:20 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Gentjohn,

Thanks for the read about the Pace. That is a very accurate description of how my riding buddies and I ride on the streets. Seeing it verbalized like that will make it easier to help some other fellow riders understand how I enjoy touring the mountain roads and even the Dragon.

I am totally in agreement that if riding is about speed, you need to be on a track. If you ride for the rush and grin factor look me up.

Thanks for posting that, I gonna have my son read it.
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Dano_12s
Posted on Friday, June 22, 2007 - 08:43 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Jon, Haven't read that in awhile.Great street advice,hopefully many will take a moment to understand it.
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Ducxl
Posted on Friday, June 22, 2007 - 09:09 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

In the twisties? Away from traffic? UTTER ABANDON!!!!
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Spuds
Posted on Friday, June 22, 2007 - 09:24 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Jon, thanks for posting that - saw it once last summer, and it's good to re-read it now and then. Great advice/approach - I for one love to run thru the corners as quickly and smoothly as possible (there's SOOOOO much to learn!!!) and when we show maturity and sensibility in the eyes of the public and the law (and our family and loved ones) it can only be good.
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Spiderman
Posted on Friday, June 22, 2007 - 09:42 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

As fast as the slowest guy in the group.
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Ft_bstrd
Posted on Friday, June 22, 2007 - 05:20 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

The Pace

70-75 in the straights (or less based upon traffic or conditions)

70-75 in the corners

We occasionally run a little faster, but I try to keep it under control.

Some of our friends run harder. I usually let them slip out of sight and catch them at the turn.
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Djkaplan
Posted on Friday, June 22, 2007 - 05:35 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I know for a fact I was riding over my head to keep up with two riders at the last MB. One was Buell mounted and the other was SV650 mounted. It was the cornering speed of the Buell rider and the late braking of the SV rider that blew me away. I've never entered corners that fast or stoppied entering corners before.

You guys know who you are.
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Lost_in_ohio
Posted on Friday, June 22, 2007 - 06:14 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I ride the speed I am comfortable with irregardless what the group does, now but that was not always the case. I will let the group go.....been on a ride or two that ended up like that way too fast. Blind corners at speed's that IMHO were unsafe for public roads.


Jon thanks for the post. I had not read that before.
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Bdabuell
Posted on Friday, June 22, 2007 - 06:32 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I know for a fact I was riding over my head to keep up with two riders at the last MB

yeah but, I saw you pull a wicked wheelie on the Dragon at the last MB ; )
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Hammer71
Posted on Friday, June 22, 2007 - 06:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

As fast as traffic,road conditions and safety allow. Dont look at the spedo much but we manage a good pace.
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Slaughter
Posted on Friday, June 22, 2007 - 07:27 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I really appreciate the "need for speed" - it's why I race.

Our little group of regulars will keep it pretty legal on the roads and try to encourage new riders to join us and try out some of the roads here in SO Ca that have such bad reputations because so many people "race" through them.

A couple riders are killed every weekend during the riding season here in the Angeles Crest and Palomar complexes and they medevac at least a half dozen more. Counting falls which are evacuated by their own friends/trucks/trailers, I'd bet you have nearly a dozen alltogether.

Last Friday - a working day fercrissakes - there were two. Coulda had an R1 if I'd been there earlier.

So often the newbs will say "NO WAY" am I gonna ride the Crest or Palomar or the other roads because of all the people who get killed on them - yet they'll gladly ride a more remote road which is tighter/twistier/longer and is known for grazing cattle. They'll seem to do it just because you don't read about people getting airlifted as often BECAUSE fewer people ride it - NOT because it's less twisty or "safer!"

Too many people ride in group rides in which are paced by the fastest rider - and that all too often is NOT the best rider. We try to encourage newbies to ride with our group here - HALF of whom are licensed racers and have no reason to go speeding - since a few days a month, we're spending hours and hours on a racetrack where AVERAGE speeds are over 100.

I've been first on the scene too many times on the street - and having raced and "gotten off" at the track, I know how far my body travels even at the "slow" speeds of about 50-70 and I know the rail is less than a fifth of that distance. Doesn't even take a high school math student to do the subtraction.

I've long ago learned which dealers and insurance companies to call for salvage deals when I see a bike get wadded up - I'm always looking for spare parts for my racebike and for my racing buddies' bikes.

I've learned that it's just not worth the effort to convince people to ride within their abilities and to take the unexpected into account. I'll be waiting for their parts and pieces because the unexpected WILL happen. If you're riding to 90% of your ability and need another 20%, you lose.

There are 4 insurance companies and a half dozen dealers in my area who have my contact information for salvage bids.

Ride well!
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Teeps
Posted on Friday, June 22, 2007 - 08:04 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)


Slaughter
Posted on Friday, June 22, 2007 -

I really appreciate the "need for speed" - it's why I race.

Our little group of regulars will keep it pretty legal on the roads and try to encourage new riders to join us and try out some of the roads here in SO Ca that have such bad reputations because so many people "race" through them.


Amen,
Once you been on the track; you'll never go back... to your foolish street ways.
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M2nc
Posted on Friday, June 22, 2007 - 09:22 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I have ridden hard on the street but 80% is about it. I rarely (once) actually put a leg down through a curve and the pegs are usually the max I will push a bike through a curve. To me the problem is Line of sight and the vanishing point in a curve. Too many riders ride into a blind curve only to find themselves in trouble because of a decreasing radius curve, gravel, car, dog, people who knows.

For me the fun is riding the curves so straight line speed is not that important to me. I have tried out the bikes a few times. I rode my Honda to 120mph once and the M2 and Uly to 130mph once each. I usually keep it under triple digits. A fun ride for me is 70mph and maintaining speed through the corners if I can see.

As for group rides, I like the smaller groups. Aydenxb9 is my best riding partner. We have known each other for a long time and have played follow the leader in everything from mopeds and motorycles, to cars. Talk about pushing it too hard, the stories we can tell, just don't take one of Ayden's short cuts if your in a hurry. There are several 'ers that seem to ride at about the same pace as me so each time I ride with them its a blast.

With a larger group I do not like to lead. I have proven not to be a good leader or follower. Groups much larger than five motorcycles become hard to keep track of for everything short of just HD-style-highway-parade. I do better with the smaller crowd and as experience has knocked me over the head, I am finding what my limits are and where I need to place myself in the group. Usually with a new group I fall to the back. As I start to size up the other riders I move up and usually end up toward the front half but not the lead.

(Message edited by M2nc on June 22, 2007)
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Paint_shaker
Posted on Friday, June 22, 2007 - 10:02 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

If I am leading, I'll advise people to ride a pace comfortable for them. I'll then try and keep the pace challenging for both the more experienced and the lesser experienced riders. I judge the pace to set by feedback after the first leg.

At MB IV I provided maps of the route and planned pit stops along the way to help out in the event someone got behind. Apparently I set a good enough pace for everyone (9 bikes I think) and we pretty much stayed together, or had planned partings. Best of all is we arrived safely back at T.W.O. without incident!!

Another good tactic I have seen is to spread riders that are aware of the route through out the formation. This also helps people arrive at the same destination.

If I follow, I ride a pace that is comfortable to me and usually bring up the rear. I can hang with the faster guys in the corners, but generally could care less about straight line speed (which is where I usually get left behind... LOL)!!!

Anymore than 5 bikes generally gets to be a pain and becomes hard to keep track of everyone, but it can be done!!

Anybody up for a ride at T.W.O. in Oct... local roads... dragon... cherahola... in one day... ???
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Nevrenuf
Posted on Friday, June 22, 2007 - 11:47 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

i'd like to do that again with you paint. i've said it once and i'll say it again, that was the best ride i had ever been on. bar none. so far the job up here in chattanooga is going pretty good and hope to be around a while. i did push the bike a little hard and scraped the bottom edge of the muffler off pretty good and warped the front rotor. luckily i had the old one from the wrecked m2 and ended up having to get another muffler because the other one fell apart. but were all back together and i just have to readjust the primary chain tomorrow morning.
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Jumpinjewels
Posted on Sunday, June 24, 2007 - 08:59 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

My hubby and I joined a group of Buellers today for the first (and last) time. I thought I was a decent rider but after today I don't know.

There were eight of us, all guys except me, the lone woman. They were doing at least 100mph or more in the straights and who knows how fast in the curves.

All I know is that by the time I would come around the corner they were gone.

I'm headed to the track on Tuesday to learn a whole bunch of stuff, only women, no testosterone. Hopefully this will help me be a better rider on the street, not necessarily faster (unless I feel comfortable with it).

I appreciate the guys ability to ride hard and fast, but it's not for me. We bailed from the group and continued on our merry way in a much more comfortable pace.

Safety was in my mind!
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Tank_bueller
Posted on Monday, June 25, 2007 - 03:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Jewels,
You WILL learn a whole bunch of stuff at the track. I have actually slowed my street riding quite a bit since I started going to the track last year. There's just too much that can go wrong, and you won't fully realize everything until you get on track and the hazards are not there.

Go fast, be safe, and most of all have FUN!


Oh, I agree with Spidey. Only as fast as the slowest rider.
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Iamike
Posted on Monday, June 25, 2007 - 07:49 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Julie,

Not to change the subject but...my son is dating a girl from Pueblo and will most likely end up out there after they graduate next year. I went out there twice last summer to help him find an apt. and then to move back. I did quite a bit of riding those two weeks. He couldn't afford to come again this year.
There are a ton of back roads that I'd love to explore next time I'm out there. I'll give you guys a jingle next time I'm in the neighborhood and maybe we can ride a day or two. I have backed off on the fast riding because hey, it is supposed to be a vacation, right?
Mike
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Jumpinjewels
Posted on Monday, June 25, 2007 - 08:34 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Mike

Would love to show you around. We're going on a bike trip the third week of July thru Colo and hopefully some of Utah. Looking for the twisties.

Am excited about track day tomorrow. Will hopefully post some pictures on a new thread.

Go fast, be safe, and most of all have FUN! AMEN
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