Terminated
16th March 2007, 19:25
[This log maintained until 1000km are completed.]
Bike: 1994 Honda Shadow VLX600
[44059km when purchased]
As At 16 March 2007
Elapsed Time: 4 days
Distance Travelled 526km
Day1
Focus:
Engine Torque and gear changing up and down.
Bike balance and counter steering
Emergency Braking
Environment:
Quiet rural region, hills sweeping curves and also gradients up and downhill.
Quiet highway conditions.
Day 2
Focus:
Smooth controlled speed accelerating, down shifting and breaking to stop maintaining safety bubble.
Counter steering
12 second horizon hazard detection
Environment:
Morning - motorway and inner city also anticipating changing weather conditions to wind and rain.
Evening – small group ride [ 2 groups of 3 each] sunset, twilight and dark. [Haywards around inlet to Mana coast and return]
Day3
Focus:
Consolidating days 1 and 2.
Environment:
Morning – SH1 Lower Hutt to Carterton and return. Quiet traffic conditions over Rimutaka Hill.
Evening sunset – Blue Mountains Road up and down, Wallaceville and Mangaroa Hills, and Rimutaka Hill.
Day4
Focus:
Mirrors / Signals/ Headcheck, intersection turns, real hazard detection [How many will I see when I ride out of local valley? I often do this when leaving home.]
Environment
Morning: Quiet suburban district.
Evening: Busy Peak traffic.
General Observations:
The transition from the Suzuki GN250 to the Honda Shadow VLX 600, has been reasonably smooth, governed by the fact that I have been able to choose the time of day, and general traffic conditions from rural to inner city, motorway, and state highway as well as negotiating hills of varying degrees.
The benefits started to kick in on return from Carterton and back up the Rimutaka Hill. The traffic conditions were very light and many elements came together in particular throttle control, holding good lines, and counter steering. Of course it is noticeable the lower centre of gravity on the VLX and the longer wheel base, and it was a real pleasure finding a degree of smoothness in a reasonably short period of time. There are still moments of using the brake when approaching some tighter corners, a case of being aware of the mass and inertia forces, the rake and lean angle.
Heads Up and Enjoy
Bike: 1994 Honda Shadow VLX600
[44059km when purchased]
As At 16 March 2007
Elapsed Time: 4 days
Distance Travelled 526km
Day1
Focus:
Engine Torque and gear changing up and down.
Bike balance and counter steering
Emergency Braking
Environment:
Quiet rural region, hills sweeping curves and also gradients up and downhill.
Quiet highway conditions.
Day 2
Focus:
Smooth controlled speed accelerating, down shifting and breaking to stop maintaining safety bubble.
Counter steering
12 second horizon hazard detection
Environment:
Morning - motorway and inner city also anticipating changing weather conditions to wind and rain.
Evening – small group ride [ 2 groups of 3 each] sunset, twilight and dark. [Haywards around inlet to Mana coast and return]
Day3
Focus:
Consolidating days 1 and 2.
Environment:
Morning – SH1 Lower Hutt to Carterton and return. Quiet traffic conditions over Rimutaka Hill.
Evening sunset – Blue Mountains Road up and down, Wallaceville and Mangaroa Hills, and Rimutaka Hill.
Day4
Focus:
Mirrors / Signals/ Headcheck, intersection turns, real hazard detection [How many will I see when I ride out of local valley? I often do this when leaving home.]
Environment
Morning: Quiet suburban district.
Evening: Busy Peak traffic.
General Observations:
The transition from the Suzuki GN250 to the Honda Shadow VLX 600, has been reasonably smooth, governed by the fact that I have been able to choose the time of day, and general traffic conditions from rural to inner city, motorway, and state highway as well as negotiating hills of varying degrees.
The benefits started to kick in on return from Carterton and back up the Rimutaka Hill. The traffic conditions were very light and many elements came together in particular throttle control, holding good lines, and counter steering. Of course it is noticeable the lower centre of gravity on the VLX and the longer wheel base, and it was a real pleasure finding a degree of smoothness in a reasonably short period of time. There are still moments of using the brake when approaching some tighter corners, a case of being aware of the mass and inertia forces, the rake and lean angle.
Heads Up and Enjoy