What did you do today?

[DRKWNG]

Like I said in the sms last night, getting new forks/shock for that bike is a bit overkill unless you really intend on tracking it.  You'll find that the Ohlins that you mentioned will offer a VERY firm ride on the streets we have around here.  You'll feel ever nuance to the road, but you'll feel every nuance to the road. 

I'd be looking at making sure the spring weights are adequate for your weight, and then looking at those OZs if anything.  That's just me though.

[tocino]

Nuance - that's fancy-talk for bumps, seams and holes?

[Artful]

Nuance - that's fancy-talk for bumps, seams and holes?

"texture"

[tocino]

"texture"

Ha! Also known as "character".

[Slide Panda]

No no texture is texture... it's an Art thing... you wouldn't understand.

 

[tocino]

I see, so character is what you become after experiencing too much texture?

[Meerkat]

Scared the shit out of a girl in the parking garage...to the point where she backed out of her space and left the garage.


...and I was trying to be nice and tell her that her make the beast with two backsing brake light is out! Idiot! If you're that make the beast with two backsing scared in the city...move!

[Autohag]

Confucius say, "man who scare girl in garage..."

Played "sick" today and took care of the bike. New rubber and a little tweak to the suspension. Picked up some Drayko jeans for the street, and some armor for an impending track day. Finally fitted the tank bag and ordered some fairing stays. Found the correct resistors for the tail light at The Shack.

I did my best to scrub in the new tires but ran out of time. I might be sick again tomorrow.

[Zulu]

Well this is more like What I did yesterday.

Went to ducpond, temp was at 104 on my bike . Did the handlebar, bar risers, and mirrors. It made a big difference , When I was riding back I felt like I was riding a totally different bike . Thanks sad panda for advice of bar risers .

Why does it always rain on my way back from ducpond  , this is the third time i been there and back and it had rained every single time I'm riding back . But the rain helped , I was wet , and I start gettin closer to chantilly myan was it hot, but I felt the coool breeze thru my wet suit ..

Day was awesome until I got home and was parking my bike, I shud get myself used to the higer bars, while pullin back , think i pulled the front brake lever little too hard... the bike just went to ride and altho was trying my best not to drop it .. I did  . Just a lil scuff on the front brake lever on side, as I kinda of lay her down at ease.

[Zulu]

Jus wanted to post seperately.

On my way to ducpond , at route 50 around chantilly I almost went underneath a 18 wheeler. I'm going to try to potrait the scenario to the the best I can remeber , would appreciate some input .

Three lane road I was on far left , two  semi on far right. Speed was around 40 mph. There was some other cars in center lane .. Space opens up on center lane ,one of the truck changes lane and gets into center lane. As he picks up his speed and creates some space, I decided to change lane and go to center lane, than saw the other semi from far right signallin to get in to center lane from right lane. I let him in and followed him to center lane.

What happened next was real quick . As the truck was right infront of me . I couldn't see the traffic light or anything. As the big white truck hit is brakes. I hit both the brakes, most likely a little harder on the rear brakes. I pulled in the clutch and lowered the gear ( If I felt I was definately gonna hit the truck, I was gonna let go of the clutch and hope engine braking would slow me down. not sure if that is the right thing to do ) . Good thing I was on the left edge of the lane, coz I noticed a little space between the car on the left lane and the truck in center lane( which i was right behind). I swerved in between them and came to complete stop two car ahead in between the semi and car.

While was trying to get inside the gap , I heard my rear tire go screeeeeeeeetcccchhh. and felt the rear tire dancing on its own , I let go of both breaks for a second and pulled them gently to come to complete stop. Cant remeber exactly but i might have gone in between the truck and car little sideways like some kind of stunt.


Things I did right : didnt have target fixation altho All my view was block by rear of white truck , and saw the little gap and got in it.

things I did wrong: Please add in , so i know better next time. I was definately following too close, especially knowing I couldnt see much while i am behind a semi.

My question , did the rear tire went dancing and screaming coz i hit the rear braketoo hard?. Also could it have been that since i pulled the clutch it aided on rear tire going all over the place?

[Zulu]

^^ posted under riding technique too , jus so I can get different perspectives, and more input on what I could've done better.

[Slide Panda]

Sounds like you locked up the rear. Remember that the weight of you and the bike transfers forward when on the front brakes. Which in turn lightens the rear making it easier to lock up or skid the rear

[Zulu]

Sounds like you locked up the rear. Remember that the weight of you and the bike transfers forward when on the front brakes. Which in turn lightens the rear making it easier to lock up or skid the rear

so, let go of brakes , straight your bike and apply brakes gently is the right thing to do ?

[Autohag]

Just stay in your lane and always have a "brake and escape" plan. On roads like that - stop and go, 2+ lanes, with turning lanes, etc... I just pick a lane and stay in it (unless I'm turning off soon, of course). Everyone is frantically trying to find the best lane to be in and sh!t happens. Just chill until the road opens up. Easier said than done, though, particularly when you're on your way home.

Never pull in behind a semi (or any vehicle of significant size) if you have a choice. Not only are you blind to the road ahead, all kinds of crap gets thrown at you from all directions.

[The Mad King Pepe']

Never pull in behind a semi (or any vehicle of significant size) if you have a choice. Not only are you blind to the road ahead, all kinds of crap gets thrown at you from all directions.

I'd like to expand on that and point out how you / me / everyone should always have a buffer area. Not just in front of you but behind you and to your sides as well. And the higher the speed the bigger buffer you need.