Harley handling!

[Crasherfromwayback]

Nice skills this Plod has...

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[Maha]

......clear evidence that they do go around corners with ease.
Thats some skill for sure, wasn't mucking around either, but with a bike of that weight and size you wouldn't want to, would be a bastard to pick up.:corn:

Head position and momentum are the key elements.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Yeah he's keener than I

[Bald Eagle]

... would be a bastard to pick up.:corn:

They never fall all the way over, they land on the chrome :lol: made me dizzy watching it though.

[HenryDorsetCase]

impressive!

[Edbear]

Impressive! Wouldn't want to stall it, though. Says a lot for the motor's tractability... :innocent:

[jim.cox]

Love the sound of those footboards scraping

[The Lone Rider]

Is actually the crash bars scraping. And should he go right over, the crash bars would hold the bike fairly clear of the ground.

There are several groups of performing police officers, believe it or not, that tour shows at Laconia and Daytona etc.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Is actually the crash bars scraping...

Think you'll find it's the floorboards mate.

[Sable]

Hahaha. The crash bars are like chrome training wheels. It's impossible to fuck that up

[Crasherfromwayback]

Hahaha. The crash bars are like chrome training wheels. It's impossible to fuck that up

That ain't the crash bars dragging

[Spearfish]

The vid is similar (in a remote sense) to the "ride like a pro series" all done with big cruisers.
In that series of vids a rather slight woman picks one up and puts it on a stand by herself. But in no way do they fall as far as some.

[DingoZ]

Reminds me of the sedgeway obstacle course.

[The Lone Rider]

Yeap, is the floorboards touching down first now I've had a closer look.

Crash bars touch down to in a few places. And they'd still keep you upright for the most part, should you lean a bit to much.

[hellokitty]

Oh yeah.... that's what I look like on my Harley... (in my dreams)
Awesome skills!

[JimO]

like to see him do that eating a donut

[MadDuck]

Oh yeah.... that's what I look like on my Harley...

Thats exactly what I was thinking. I reckon we should get Mr Kitty, find us a carpark and do a video for you tube. We are just as good as that fella ..... :innocent:

[scumdog]

Hahaha. The crash bars are like chrome training wheels. It's impossible to fuck that up

And your time for that course is????:bleh:

[scumdog]

Imagine if he rode a motard through that course!!:shit:

[ktm]

It seems more of a memory test than a riding test. Where to next...? A running commentary from the rider identifying potential safety hazards would add to the experience haha, let's see our own pigs do that, priceless.

[scumdog]

It seems more of a memory test than a riding test. Where to next...? A running commentary from the rider identifying potential safety hazards would add to the experience haha, let's see our own pigs do that, priceless.

Give us Harleys then cowboy...:wings:

[Big Dave]

Not as elaborate, (There's a cop that's done a lot of cones) but I have seen NZ Police Officers do similar on Honda ST and BMW's.
For Bona Fide organisations or clubs the instructors will even demonstrate and instruct.

[Zamiam]

Pretty impressive altho having a lean indicator called floorboards probably makes it easier than first thought BUT I couldn't do it ain't no doubt about that - I'd kill 1 or 2 dozen cones at least

[schrodingers cat]

Pretty impressive altho having a lean indicator called floorboards probably makes it easier than first thought BUT I couldn't do it ain't no doubt about that - I'd kill 1 or 2 dozen cones at least

I'd clean out hundreds!
Remind not to do a runner next time I get pulled over at the maze

[ktm]

Give us Harleys then cowboy...:wings:

You own a Harley don't you? Looking forward to the video. Don't forget to brush your teeth and iron your uniform, Kiwi pride and all that.

[MikeD400]

Theres no question what this guy does during his doughnut break!!! Good effort tho Id probably have trouble riding a BMX threw that coarse not to mention remebering which way to turn at each cone! :puke:

[Geeen]

Impressive! Wouldn't want to stall it, though. Says a lot for the motor's tractor ability... :innocent:

Fixed it for ya :innocent: Was impressive riding to be sure, no way I could do that.

[Spearfish]

Apart from the rider what about the cones...all those bloody cones in neat rows and curves and only a few non metric units apart.

[merv]

To me the impressive thing is the tightness of lock that the Harley has that is as good as a decent dirt bike from what I could see. Try and run my road bike around that course and I'd be on the ground when the damn thing hit the steering stop.

[skinman]

im sure I could turn my bike that tight. But it would take about 1.5 minutes to do it 1 time and would involve both feet on the ground and a quick waddle.
& no having footplates as lean indicators would not make it any easier. I can put mine down on roundabouts but try not to.

[fokky]

To me the impressive thing is the tightness of lock that the Harley has that is as good as a decent dirt bike from what I could see. Try and run my road bike around that course and I'd be on the ground when the damn thing hit the steering stop.

Yip they have beautiful handling.Next time you see one have a look at axis of steering head to forks,fken genius.

Its also twice as long as ya jappers:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

[hellokitty]

Thats exactly what I was thinking. I reckon we should get Mr Kitty, find us a carpark and do a video for you tube. We are just as good as that fella ..... :innocent:

Yes, and we could also have a blooper and out-takes video of the pink retard on the taller white Harley going out of control, falling down and having a little cry... :shit:
and the smaller hobbity one on the shorter Harley laughing :woohoo:

[Big Dave]

I can put mine down on roundabouts but try not to.

It's like wheelstands on a Buell. No cred involved.

[skinman]

yep, far to easy

[hellokitty]

It's like wheelstands on a Buell. No cred involved.

I did a wheelie on a GN250 by accident - does that count?

[awa355]

I noticed the rider was staying upright and leaning the bike under him. A bit like a dirtbike rider.
I still haven't worked out whether thats better than keeping my cruiser upright and moving my weight inside the bike centreline while tight manouvering. ( I guess the video answers that for me)
Been meaning to go down to a big carpark and get confident at tight u turns etc. I can keep my head up and looking where I want to go, just find it hard to keep the speed up.

[Spearfish]

I noticed the rider was staying upright and leaning the bike under him. A bit like a dirtbike rider.
I still haven't worked out whether thats better than keeping my cruiser upright and moving my weight inside the bike centreline while tight manouvering. ( I guess the video answers that for me)
Been meaning to go down to a big carpark and get confident at tight u turns etc. I can keep my head up and looking where I want to go, just find it hard to keep the speed up.

I'm not trying to tell you how to suck eggs but see if you can find a video called Ride Like a Pro http://www.ridelikeapro.com or do a search on youtube. Its exactly the same type of riding but actually how to do it and set up the courses for your own practice. Probably a hell of a laugh with a few mates.

Its in feet and inches though so I don't know how a metric bike will get on:facepalm:

[Big Dave]

'Harley Handling'

The quality of the vehicles suss pension components is far more important than the badge on the tank.

[awa355]

I'm not trying to tell you how to suck eggs but see if you can find a video called Ride Like a Pro http://www.ridelikeapro.com or do a search on youtube. Its exactly the same type of riding but actually how to do it and set up the courses for your own practice. Probably a hell of a laugh with a few mates.

Its in feet and inches though so I don't know how a metric bike will get on:facepalm:

Grew up with the imperial system.
Thanks for the video tip.

One of the American riding courses calls for a u turn in a 10' deep by 20' wide box for bikes upto 600cc. 10' by 24' for larger capacity bikes.

Most of the videos on tight manouvering is done , sitting up on bikes with the high wide handlebars. Wonder how/if it would be harder on a big sports bike with a lean forward style and clip on handbars?

[Spearfish]

Grew up with the imperial system.
Thanks for the video tip.

One of the American riding courses calls for a u turn in a 10' deep by 20' wide box for bikes upto 600cc. 10' by 24' for larger capacity bikes.

Most of the videos on tight manouvering is done , sitting up on bikes with the high wide handlebars. Wonder how/if it would be harder on a big sports bike with a lean forward style and clip on handbars?

I'm sure peg scraping is less comfortable lol

[Crasherfromwayback]

'Harley Handling'

The quality of the vehicles suss pension components is far more important than the badge on the tank.

Funnily enough I was meaning how to handle a Harley!

[Spearfish]

'Harley Handling'

The quality of the vehicles suss pension components is far more important than the badge on the tank.

I think some would beg to differ.




Don't some words look strange written or typed?...differ....d....i...f...f...e...r. Then your mind wanders off in tangents...... is a differ a transmission technician who specialises?...Guy wander into a mechanics workshop and tells them he has a noise in the rear that gets louder when turning hard, the mechanic replys "no worries sir we have one of the best differs in the country"
then after another passing thought....
it that what a budding mechanic had to do to his boss to become one, beg?
sorry, carry on that was way off topic.

[Flip]

The glides have a backwards facing triple clamp, the stearing head axle is in front of the forks, at slow speeds they don't drop into corners the way that other bikes do. They also retain heaps of felt caster without the effects of centrifugal stability on the front wheel.

It takes practice but my bike is basically very stable at slow speed. Its also heavy and has a low CoG which helps.

[Big Dave]

I think some would beg to differ.

That's OK - I thought I was wrong once too.

Handling is a different issue to ground clearance. There isn't much difference in handling in all large modern cruiser motorcycles. (Victory hammer excluded).

They are all pretty good until the cornering clearance is all used - or they have a back tyre so wide it starts to mess things up.

Touring Chassis Harleys and the XR1200X are actually very tidy turners and quite nimble at low speed. Low COM.

[Big Dave]

Funnily enough I was meaning how to handle a Harley!

I wasn't aiming at you Mr Paranoid.

[Spearfish]

That's OK - I thought I was wrong once too.

Handling is a different issue to ground clearance. There isn't much difference in handling in all large modern cruiser motorcycles. (Victory hammer excluded).

They are all pretty good until the cornering clearance is all used - or they have a back tyre so wide it starts to mess things up.

Touring Chassis Harleys and the XR1200X are actually very tidy turners and quite nimble at low speed. Low COM.

Horses for courses, but not always.

[Crasherfromwayback]

I wasn't aiming at you Mr Paranoid.

Nothing paranoid about my comment either! It was actually a dig at the fact that most people had missed the point of my post.

[Big Dave]

Nothing paranoid about my comment either! It was actually a dig at the fact that most people had missed the point of my post.

>insert sound of fishing reel zinging here< with lolocopter.

[Crasherfromwayback]

>insert sound of fishing reel zinging here< with lolocopter.

Cheeky Coont. Is that like a plopocopter?

[Big Dave]

Cheeky Coont. Is that like a plopocopter?

If it's anything like 'going the helicopter' I don't want to know about it.

More like lolcano.

[awa355]

The glides have a backwards facing triple clamp, the stearing head axle is in front of the forks, at slow speeds they don't drop into corners the way that other bikes do. They also retain heaps of felt caster without the effects of centrifugal stability on the front wheel.

It takes practice but my bike is basically very stable at slow speed. Its also heavy and has a low CoG which helps.

Flip, Do you own a Road King? If so, can you tell me the wheelbase please?

Have been told that my XVS650 has the same wheelbase. 64" or 1625mm. Has a min turning radius of 3.5m. I'd like to compare with a lager cruiser. Thanks.

[Big Dave]

I think interesting is that Yamaha claims their Star series motorcycles are very good handlers because they have been able to get over 50% of the vehicles weight to the front wheel.

[Spearfish]

I think interesting is that Yamaha claims their Star series motorcycles are very good handlers because they have been able to get over 50% of the vehicles weight to the front wheel.


Whats the bias for the XR1200X in comparison?

[Big Dave]

Whats the bias for the XR1200X in comparison?

Don't have that data sorry.

It's not that good an example for comparison though. It doesn't have the pre-requisite slammed rear end of a normal cruiser - it's more a 'standard' in term of rear suspension travel and ergonomic. The rider can get more weight over the bars accordingly.

[awa355]

I think interesting is that Yamaha claims their Star series motorcycles are very good handlers because they have been able to get over 50% of the vehicles weight to the front wheel.

As far as modern cruisers go, I had only ridden a '98 Marauder, which was a pig to ride after years of lightweight bikes. My Yamaha 650 felt like a whale to start with but now I'm flicking it through corners and enjoying it.

I do think my model Yammy does handle well, but will ride a bigger cruiser one day just to compare.

[Spearfish]

Don't have that data sorry.

It's not that good an example for comparison though. It doesn't have the pre-requisite slammed rear end of a normal cruiser - it's more a 'standard' in term of rear suspension travel and ergonomic. The rider can get more weight over the bars accordingly.

I've been done some more learnin..

Ok so the XR is out as far as comparison its more sports than I thought..what about the others. Surly over the centuries of development the rear bias has negligible effect when comparing Yamaha balanced(?) bias over traditional cruiser bias?

I have to admit, I find myself going back to the yam 650, dunno why yet, I'll just say it must be the shaft drive for now. LOnot so L

[Spearfish]

As far as modern cruisers go, I had only ridden a '98 Marauder, which was a pig to ride after years of lightweight bikes. My Yamaha 650 felt like a whale to start with but now I'm flicking it through corners and enjoying it.

I do think my model Yammy does handle well, but will ride a bigger cruiser one day just to compare.

Just for interest- what size/type do you call lightweight?

[fokky]

I think interesting is that Yamaha claims their Star series motorcycles are very good handlers because they have been able to get over 50% of the vehicles weight to the front wheel.
is 50 50 weight distribution unusual?

[YellowDog]

Nice skills this Plod has...

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"If you take this training course, you'll be able to ride a motorcycle just like that!"

Yeah Right :no:

[awa355]

Just for interest- what size/type do you call lightweight?

,If you are looking at the physical weight of a cruiser, they are all heavyweights. Except for the 250cc class maybe.

At 246kg fueled, I dont think my 650 is a lightweight bike by any means. To move around, its a heavy bike.

Engine wise, 650 maybe a 'lightweight' compared with the 1600-2000cc bikes. Engine size doesn't make the smaller bike any less of a bike tho.

[Spearfish]

,If you are looking at the physical weight of a cruiser, they are all heavyweights. Except for the 250cc class maybe.

At 246kg fueled, I dont think my 650 is a lightweight bike by any means. To move around, its a heavy bike.


Ahh OK, thought you meant you had changed to cruisers from another type

[Big Dave]

The Yamaha claim on the 950 I tested was 56% on the front wheel - 'considerably more than a standard cruiser'.

Re the marauder - All I can point to is the previous point that the quality of the suspension components has a great bearing on the way the bikes handle and cornering stability.

The standouts for me have been the Yamaha and the Triumph Speedmaster/America, but they are middleweights by comparison to the Street Glide eg, which doesn't lag too far behind in the chucking it aboot stakes.

But really you can throw a blanket over most of those that have similar specs and mass.