In praise of slow riding

[EJK]

I'm OK with taking it easy and riding at a safe speed, but how do I ride such a bike at a legal speed?
It might just test my self control to the limit.
er, theoretically of course.

Lots and lots of self control.

Really, there is not much place to ride a supersport bike properly where there is law.

[awayatc]

Lots and lots of self control.

Really, there is not much place to ride a supersport bike properly where there is law.

Supersport....?

Hard enough to ride my tractor where there is law.........

[Banditbandit]

It shouldnt be _that_ hard to slow down..

You'd think not aye ...

I use an android phone with an app called "Navier HUD" - it looks a bit TRON like, and has a huge digital speedo - as well as an accelerometer and stuff. I set the speed limit to 110, and so I know if I can see a big red glow, I need to slow down (no need to really look at it either, you can see the glow).

I'm not into technology ...

Also, I look at the accelerometer from time to time and make sure that the acceleration/deceleration peaks are nice and smooth, and that in between is as flat as possible.

Yeah .. I do that ...

I find when I manage that, I have had a much better, safer, smoother ride.

There is a lot of skill required to "ride smooth" - its a lot harder than merely riding fast..

Recently I've been deciding what indicated speed I want to sit on ..and then try to stay at that speed no matter what .. so if I decide 112 on the clock, then I try to hold that speed (my speedos are about 10% inaccurate - I believe 109 indicated is 100 klicks actual) .. that's harder than it appears .. throttle off and on for up hills and down hills, changing gears to keep the revs and the handling up in the sharper corners ... (and never usingthe brakes)

Yes, it does make my riding more smooth ... and yes it is harder than riding fast ... and yes, in tight corners the adrenalin kicks in when your cranked over trying hold 112 klicks ... and yes, it's a litle twisty riding to and from work, but 112 klicks constant is possible ... I've never managed it in one hit .. but I have managed 112 klicks on all parts of the road at some time ... so putting together a total run like that is possible ..

[Drew]

There is a lot of skill required to "ride smooth" - its a lot harder than merely riding fast..

I know lots of slow smooth riders at the racetrack. Funny, no one in the stands has ever mentioned how much of a better rider those people are, than the front runners.

[iYRe]

I curious about the mounting of the phone - what do you use to mount it and how do you do it?
This could be handy on a bike with the larger writing on the speedo being in MPH.

I got a bicycle phone mount, and made a bracket to mount it to the handle bar clamps. Took about 5 mins with a hacksaw and a drill.

You'd think not aye ...

It really isn't. Its all about self control, either you have it or you dont. If you dont, chances are you're gonna end up hurt or dead.

I'm not into technology ...

Embrace it. It loves you :P

Recently I've been deciding what indicated speed I want to sit on ..and then try to stay at that speed no matter what .. so if I decide 112 on the clock, then I try to hold that speed (my speedos are about 10% inaccurate - I believe 109 indicated is 100 klicks actual) .. that's harder than it appears .. throttle off and on for up hills and down hills, changing gears to keep the revs and the handling up in the sharper corners ... (and never usingthe brakes)

Yes, it does make my riding more smooth ... and yes it is harder than riding fast ... and yes, in tight corners the adrenalin kicks in when your cranked over trying hold 112 klicks ... and yes, it's a litle twisty riding to and from work, but 112 klicks constant is possible ... I've never managed it in one hit .. but I have managed 112 klicks on all parts of the road at some time ... so putting together a total run like that is possible ..

I do a similar thing in traffic. I try to hold a constant speed (judging by engine sound because I'm never going to look at the speedo). It allows me to focus on what's going on around me, and control my environment. Although, that doesnt necessarily make you ride slower (just safer), and mr popo does not accept that as an excuse for the speed you were travelling..(yes, I got sprung twice - although, twice in 30 years isnt too bad)

[Katman]

...and yes, in tight corners the adrenalin kicks in when your cranked over trying hold 112 klicks...

If adrenalin kicks in "when cranked over trying to hold 112 klicks" then you're trying too hard.

[iYRe]

I know lots of slow smooth riders at the racetrack. Funny, no one in the stands has ever mentioned how much of a better rider those people are, than the front runners.

hey.. down at Paeroa this year there was the girls riding the sidecar... we watched them slowly get faster in the last race, pushing their bike to the limit slowly catching the bike in front, like a metre or 2 a lap until they eventually caught and past them. You could tell they were riding smoother, more confidently etc.. we gave them the biggest cheer of anyone in the whole day..

I appreciate skill, commitment, etc. I dont have any (skill, that is), but I can recognise it.

[iranana]

+1 on the slow riding. I ride like a damn grandpa if the roads are wet or I'm tired. I've had my fair share of injuries and I'm not really very keen to crash my bike. If the roads are dry or empty... then well yeah I like to rip things up but I rarely speed. I am, however, quick to reach the speed limit. I get so sick of speeding cagers and, tailgaters but fuck em, they can wait... I prefer to leave them in a cloud of blue smoke at the lights

[Drew]

hey.. down at Paeroa this year there was the girls riding the sidecar... we watched them slowly get faster in the last race, pushing their bike to the limit slowly catching the bike in front, like a metre or 2 a lap until they eventually caught and past them. You could tell they were riding smoother, more confidently etc.. we gave them the biggest cheer of anyone in the whole day..

I appreciate skill, commitment, etc. I dont have any (skill, that is), but I can recognise it.

Not a great example I'm afraid.

Pinky had some set up issues in the morning, and the girls had a very close up look at the bales on the inside of the hair pin when it all went tits up.

Of course they eased into the rest of the day.

Anyway, that isn't the approach to winning races usually, unless one is so much faster than the rest of the field they can cruise a few laps. Not an option on a 600cc outfit, up against mostly 1000cc rigs.

[iYRe]

Not a great example I'm afraid.

Pinky had some set up issues in the morning, and the girls had a very close up look at the bales on the inside of the hair pin when it all went tits up.

Of course they eased into the rest of the day.

Anyway, that isn't the approach to winning races usually, unless one is so much faster than the rest of the field they can cruise a few laps. Not an option on a 600cc outfit, up against mostly 1000cc rigs.

it was just the first example that came to mind

[Corse1]

Worth a read.. I concur with his sentiments 100%

http://www.odd-bike.com/2013/06/in-praise-of-slow.html
I fall into another, seldom mentioned category of rider – seasoned, skilled, and having a strong sense of self-preservation. I am a slow rider. And I am here to proselytize my style of riding, and speak in praise of slow. [..]

Didn't read all the replies but hey ride your own pace has been around for ages. Group rides suck. One or two like minded friends makes it much more enjoyable and safer.

My ideal group is "seasoned, skilled, and having a strong sense of self-preservation"

Everyone is happy at the end of the day

[rocketman1]

Just to say that crashing at 40 kmh when you lose the front, you hit the deck in a millisecond, bang shoulder dislocated, ribs cracked, huge bruise on the leg and hurt my back bad.
I know just recovering after 2 months and this happened off road on a trail bike.
I would just like all those that dont give a f--k about fast, just remember who is going to look after you while you recover dude?
Think of those may leave you behind at the cemetry.
Take 5 seconds too think about what you are doing when you are being silly.

Life is good, riding is the best fun.
Fast is for the track

[Wayz]

I was given my first bike at 14, it was my personal goal to get my beast to move as fast as it could go, that was fun for the first week....it grew old fast. Then my approach changed, even at 14 I knew there was more to riding than moving through the gears and opening it up, any one is capable of that.

[BigAl]

.....
Fast is for the track

I take it you've never been to a road race then?

One mans opinion of fast is another mans idea of safe and steady.

[MarkH]

I was given my first bike at 14, it was my personal goal to get my beast to move as fast as it could go, that was fun for the first week....it grew old fast. Then my approach changed, even at 14 I knew there was more to riding than moving through the gears and opening it up, any one is capable of that.

I didn't get my first bike until 18 and I was probably more reckless and stupid at that age than you were at 14. I had some scary moments in the wet which made me realise that I like traction and it isn't a good idea to push things to the limit in poor conditions. Fast is best left to places where it is safe to open up a little, care should be taken where it is warranted.

Coming home today on my RF900 I was ticking along at 4,000 rpm in 5th and it felt just fine, speedo was reading somewhere around 105kph. I'll have to run the GPS when I figure how to mount it to find out the relation between actual speed & indicated speed. I did pass 3 vehicles at one point and it is possible that the speedo was indicating slightly above the 110kph level but it was a nice straight part of the road with good visibility so I felt quite safe, I did quickly easy off and settle back to 4,000rpm before I got myself into any trouble. My current goal is to not crash and to also not get any speeding tickets over the next couple of years - I don't need any of that hassle.