Manawatu Rant n Rave

[cbfb]

I wrote this up earlier today and put it on my BookFace, pointless as more people here will appreciate it and understand.

Gassed the bike up after uni today and went for a great ride. Put what I had read in "Twist of the wrist II" into practice.... And what do you know? Smoother, more stable and faster riding. Less stress on the arms, wrists and mind.
Found a few survival reactions were stronger than I thought. Using the throttle to manipulate the weight bias on a bike is just brilliant, what a massive difference it makes.I was having problems with front end feel and confidence. This was too much weight on the front end, backing off the throttle into the apex was making the Honda run wide, which triggers the reaction of tightening the arms and weighting the bars, this sets the bike of it's natural balance and the front looses feel and goes even wider. By being relaxed and having all my weight anchored against the outside of the tank in a corner the bar weight is reduced and the wheel/tyre/suspension are free too oscillate and move as they need to.
If you ride and haven't read the books, get off your arse and do it (I have number two in PDF form and can email to anyone)
Looking forward to getting even smoother and more confident.


Part Two!
I went out this evening just to carry my grin inducing euphoric moment further again, ended up doing 340km Just riding, the bike and myself, happy as that twat Larry. I kept practising the throttle control, sliding my arse off the seat BEFORE I drop the bike in, not during ( No wonder the fuckin' thing hated me...) and generally trying to start the process of obliterating 160,000km (I think, may be more? I've just clocked up 10,000k on the CB as of today) of dumb fuck mistakes and habits.
I am fairly confident my body positioning is correct, not twisted away from the bike, either up or down.



The bike is feeling so much nicer to ride, I did the tyre pressures as per norm today, only 1psi out each end, not a worry!
As I type this I am not worn out, I've got all my "I am Rossi, watch me break my pelvis and get nerve damage" business going on and the semi numb, semi tingly fingers. But mentally, I didn't get worn out and I did not once pump my arms up.
My shutting the throttle instinct got me once and in comparison it felt wobbly and wanted to run wide, usually I'd stiffen up (Tehehehe), but I made myself stay relaxed and gently roll on, then I could tighten the line and carry on.


Fuck I can ramble....I want more rides! I am off to Eketahuna on Sunday so I can look forward to that. If you read all this you must be bonkers.

Ha ha good stuff, glad you're enjoying yourself.

Have you got the first book? Let me know if not will flick it over.

[ducatilover]

Ha ha good stuff, glad you're enjoying yourself.

Have you got the first book? Let me know if not will flick it over.

Haven't got the first one, I'll go search and try find it

I must be bonkers - I read it all! Good stuff!

I could have gone on for even longer. I'm going to re-read it today

[bogan]

Yeh always a good plan to re-read books like that. I have one of Lee Parks to flip through every now and then, haven't done his empty car park training ones yet, maybe when I get my bike set up as I like it.

[ducatilover]

Yeh always a good plan to re-read books like that. I have one of Lee Parks to flip through every now and then, haven't done his empty car park training ones yet, maybe when I get my bike set up as I like it.

I'm meaning to get Lee Parks book and there was one other.
We could use Bunnings car park perhaps? O do you know of a better suited area? I'm keen to get some sort of practise going on, might have to stick the knee sliders back on
I've got to work on my unstable feeling at low speed turns, never really felt comfortable leaning the bike over at, say below 35-40k

[cbfb]

I'm meaning to get Lee Parks book and there was one other.
We could use Bunnings car park perhaps? O do you know of a better suited area? I'm keen to get some sort of practise going on, might have to stick the knee sliders back on
I've got to work on my unstable feeling at low speed turns, never really felt comfortable leaning the bike over at, say below 35-40k

Let us know if you wouldn't mind me tagging along (would have to be weekend tho some of us have jobs y'know).

What about Orchard Road CP after hours?

[ducatilover]

Let us know if you wouldn't mind me tagging along (would have to be weekend tho some of us have jobs y'know).

What about Orchard Road CP after hours?

Not sure where that is? But I am up for any nice open area.
Jobs? I could do with one of them, studentism is horrid.

[bogan]

I'm meaning to get Lee Parks book and there was one other.
We could use Bunnings car park perhaps? O do you know of a better suited area? I'm keen to get some sort of practise going on, might have to stick the knee sliders back on
I've got to work on my unstable feeling at low speed turns, never really felt comfortable leaning the bike over at, say below 35-40k

Bunnings sound like it could be a plan, the ones round massey have a bit more of a camber on them which isn't ideal. Will look through the book again see what might be needed.

[cbfb]

Not sure where that is? But I am up for any nice open area.
Jobs? I could do with one of them, studentism is horrid.

LOL it's the big CP up at Massey. Seen people do rider training there when I've been to the gym (I know, stupid idea didn't go for long).

The ones at Hokowhitu are good but in use during the week.

[ducatilover]

Bunnings sound like it could be a plan, the ones round massey have a bit more of a camber on them which isn't ideal. Will look through the book again see what might be needed.

bikes, babes and beer?

LOL it's the big CP up at Massey. Seen people do rider training there when I've been to the gym (I know, stupid idea didn't go for long).

The ones at Hokowhitu are good but in use during the week.

cool, we shall make a plan!

[bogan]

actually bunnings is in use often as, the massey one is probly a better bet, can just go with the camber to be on the safe side I guess.

bikes, babes and beer?

hmmm, it doesn't specifically state either of the later two, but we gotta use something for cones right?

[ducatilover]

actually bunnings is in use often as, the massey one is probly a better bet, can just go with the camber to be on the safe side I guess.

I suppose Bunnings is a bit busy, the lack of light in the evenings is the problem methinks.
Massey may be the plan Let's hope I can work on low speed stability, I want to be able to confidently drop the bike on it's ear at low speed, I think I tense my arms too much.

hmmm, it doesn't specifically state either of the later two, but we gotta use something for cones right?

My thoughts exactly! Plus we need to work on our abilities to not be distracted.

[bogan]

I suppose Bunnings is a bit busy, the lack of light in the evenings is the problem methinks.
Massey may be the plan Let's hope I can work on low speed stability, I want to be able to confidently drop the bike on it's ear at low speed, I think I tense my arms too much.

I found when I last did this sorta thing with Mowgli and RoadKing theres kind of a point where it still feels like normal, but shit steering, then push past that to tip it over heaps and feels a bit more like off road styles. We just did the BHS test slalom and quick stops. Could go with full lock u-turn pratice too, used to do them on my 250, but bros's extra chain slack adds a bit of challenge.

My thoughts exactly! Plus we need to work on our abilities to not be distracted.

Indeed, though I may need to bring a spare brake lever if I can't cope

[ducatilover]

I found when I last did this sorta thing with Mowgli and RoadKing theres kind of a point where it still feels like normal, but shit steering, then push past that to tip it over heaps and feels a bit more like off road styles. We just did the BHS test slalom and quick stops. Could go with full lock u-turn pratice too, used to do them on my 250, but bros's extra chain slack adds a bit of challenge.

Yeah, I'll have to get over the idea of the bike falling over and put it into a semi-low speed turn or circle. Will help for the hairpins, I'm not so brilliant through the tight one on this side of the track, I used to get the GN and BROS on the pegs with the knee touching very once in a while, but since I splatted the BROS I haven't been able to grow the nuts.

Indeed, though I may need to bring a spare brake lever if I can't cope

Just do left hand turns, you don't need the clutch haha

[banditrider]

Porn alert...

[banditrider]

And now with pics....

I raced a Harley today and after some really hard riding I managed to PASS the guy. I was riding on one of those really, really twisting sections of canyon road with no straight sections to speak of and where most of the curves have warning signs that say "15 MPH".

I knew if I was going to pass one of those monsters with those big-cubic-inch motors, it would have to be a place like this where handling and rider skill are more important than horsepower alone.

I saw the guy up ahead as I exited one of the turns and knew I could catch him, but it wouldn't be easy. I concentrated on my braking and cornering. Three corners later, I was on his fender. Catching him was one thing; passing him would prove to be another.

Two corners later, I pulled up next to him as we sailed down the mountain. I think he was shocked to see me next to him, as I nearly got by him before he could recover. Next corner, same thing. I'd manage to pull up next to him as we started to enter the corners but when we came out he'd get on the throttle and outpower me. His horsepower was almost too much to overcome, but this only made me more determined than ever.

My only hope was to outbrake him. I held off squeezing the lever until the last instant. I kept my nerve while he lost his. In an instant I was by him. Corner after corner, I could hear the roar of his engine as he struggled to keep up. Three more miles to go before the road straightens out and he would pass me for good.

But now I was in the lead and he would no longer hold me back. I stretched out my lead and by the time we reached the bottom of the canyon, he was more than a full corner behind. I could no longer see him in my rear-view mirror.

Once the road did straighten out, it seemed like it took miles before he passed me, but it was probably just a few hundred yards. I was no match for that kind of horsepower, but it was done. In the tightest section of road, where bravery and skill count for more than horspower and deep pockets, I had passed him. though it was not easy, I had won the race to the bottom of the
canyon and I had preserved the proud tradition of another of America's best bikes.

I will always remember that moment. I don't think I've ever pedaled so hard in my life. And some of the credit must go to Schwinn, as well. They really make a great bicycle...