It ain't the tool...

[clint640]

True indeed. About the time I thought I was getting pretty good on my old TDR 250, had done a few track days & lots of riding on it, I met up with a guy with the same bike, pretty std like mine, on a twisty road I knew well. I had some good road rubber on, he was on adv style semi knobs. Hmmm... I'll have the edge with my sticky tyres thinks I...

Where'd he go?

Clint

[pete376403]

When I started riding speedway it was on an old JAP. I "knew" that if I had a better bike I'd go faster. Got a 2v Jawa just about the time when 4v motors where coming in.... I just "knew" that if I had a better bike I'd be faster. Got a 4v Weslake...then a 4v Jawa that used to be David Barghs (a very fast rider from the late 80's). No-one was going to catch me now... got totally blown away by Merv Hogson from Fielding riding a JAP.

[El Dopa]

we came up behind two young men on what appeared to be very new and expensive hyper-bikes. One was definitely a Hayabusa, and I think the other was a CBR of some kind, though it'd been repainted and all the badging was removed, so I couldn't be sure. Both bikes sported aftermarket exhausts, and from their sound, probably had their engines tricked out, too. The riders both sported very expensive racing leathers, color-matched to their machines, complete with titanium kneepucks and those stylish new "humps" on their backs, to reduce air turbulence from the helmet when you are "tucked in." In all, they looked like very serious riders.

However, the illusion was quickly dispelled as we went around a few curves together. Though their engines screamed a beautiful note as they revved up and downshifted, and each rider hung radically off his bike to touch a knee to the tarmac, their line through the curves was wide and undisciplined, and their bikes' lean angles were actually fairly moderate. Everything about their appearance gave the illusion of speed, except the actual speed just wasn't there. Nor was the control, as they exited each turn far too wide, and well out of position to set up for the next.

Despite all that, after following the two superbikes through a couple of more curves, when they swung wide through a long, right-hand sweeper, Walt simply downshifted the old Beemer and zipped past them both in a heartbeat - on the inside. He never changed his position on the seat, or did anything trendy like sticking a knee out. He just leaned over, nailed the throttle, and smoothly and quickly knifed through the turn. I don't think either of the guys he passed even hit the apex of their turns before Walt was out the other end, straightening up and accelerating away.

Sooo, what we're saying here is that its OK to overtake newbies on the inside on a public road, when they clearly don't know what they're doing and might not even know you're there. Doesn't matter if you scare the snot out of them and cause them to lose concentration.

Good lesson.

[90s]

Sooo, what we're saying here is that its OK to overtake newbies on the inside on a public road, when they clearly don't know what they're doing and might not even know you're there. Doesn't matter if you scare the snot out of them and cause them to lose concentration.

Good lesson.

Si tio.

With power and knowledge comes great responsibility ... livened up on the odd occasion by grinding the less-able into the dirt. Can you have total control of the tool and still be one?

[McDuck]

Nice artical. It is an atitude thing ultamatly. If you think you are the best you will never lern anything. If you are the best but reilise there are still things you do not know you may see a rider of over all lesser skill doing somthing and then you employ it and do it and become better. That is how the best keep improving not by goign to sombody better altho that can help.

[clint640]

Sooo, what we're saying here is that its OK to overtake newbies on the inside on a public road, when they clearly don't know what they're doing and might not even know you're there. Doesn't matter if you scare the snot out of them and cause them to lose concentration.

Good lesson.

Cutting up n00bs is indeed bad form, but if said n00b still hasn't realised you're there & let you past after 1/2 a km they probably need a wake up call anyway

People on big sprotsbikes (ie not a n00b in this country) can often be really good at going faster than anybody else down the straights, then painfully slow through the turns. Going round the outside is way more dangerous if they're all over the road than passing the noddy on the inside.

Clint