Who rides motorcycles?

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Spent the last 2 days at a motorcycle training class to get my license reinstated and for an insurance discount. PIA not sure I could recommend it. Lots of new riders, crappy worn out bikes, and info you already know tried my patience.
But I did come away with something new to me. Counter steering

Nothing new. You've been doing it ever since you learned to ride a motorcycle.

 

[CalG]

I've been "pushing right to turn left" for more than 60 years.

Flat track will learn you quick.

But best is when that back end goes sidewise!

I've got a couple of dirt road corners,.... and the Honda VFR sport bike with low narrow bars is not ideal, But I still do it!

VaRooom!

 

[Grumpycat]

At first I was sceptical, but I kept running across you tube videos on it... so I tried it. It works faster than leaning.

But to lean one way you have to push off the other way because you are balanced on the center of your tires.

Counter steering uses traction on the road to make the motorcycle fall over the opposite direction, then you let the steering geometry turn into the turn to change direction.

Training muscle memory to counter steer (even if one is using leaning to counter steer) is what we used to call, "learning to ride a bicycle." Is not until one learns to steer the opposite direction one steers with training wheels that the magic of riding a bicycle appears.

And then some people "trike" their perfectly good Goldwings and totally defeat the magic.

 

[CalG]

Training wheels are worse than nothing!

Motorcycles, bicycles, airplanes, water skis and snow skis, all turn because YOU tip them.

Then "physics" takes over and YOU get to enjoy the sensation!

 

[not2old]

Learning to ride a snowmobile would give a good example of counter steering The speed at which you transition from turning into the turn rather than out of the turn happens at a much higher speed. If you've never ridden one before, it's quite a learning experience..

 

[CalG]

Learning to ride a snowmobile would give a good example of counter steering The speed at which you transition from turning into the turn rather than out of the turn happens at a much higher speed. If you've never ridden one before, it's quite a learning experience..

Works in snow, but not so much on iced over lakes

Like in "radar runs". ;-)

 

[redfin00]

2003 100th anniversary edition HD Duece.

 

[scootr]

2003 100th anniversary edition HD Duece.

Your bike, I assume. Pictures?

 

[not2old]

On holiday last August. I'm on the left, my son in the middle and grandson on the right. Grandson just turned 10 and that's his third m/c with the fourth arriving last month. I don't get to ride with them enough, once or twice a year.

 

[CalG]

Counter steering is like Ice Skating..

Skate blades have rocker, motor bike tires are round..

go figure! ;-)

 

[scootr]

On holiday last August. I'm on the left, my son in the middle and grandson on the right. Grandson just turned 10 and that's his third m/c with the fourth arriving last month. I don't get to ride with them enough, once or twice a year.

Nice to see everybody wearing the proper gear. Have fun, ride safe

 

[CalG]

It's why we ride

 

[scootr]

if you get bored ..... try this

 

[Milo]

It's a sad time of year here. I've been washing rather than riding motorcycles then parking them in the shop. Light snow the other day had the road crews scattering salt and spraying brine plus the days are short and cold. If we get a dry warm spell after a rain I'll take one out for a short ride but that's iffy.

I do enjoy getting them detailed and up to date on maintenance during winter and am blessed to have a warm place to work on them. They all will get oil changed, one needs new tires, 2-3 need coolant changed, and one will need a battery for next season. And then there's the airhead I need to get run.

Meanwhile I'll enjoy seeing the riding pics from you all further south.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Yeah riding season is over here.

SHOULD do a motor swap on one.

WILL do a valve adjustment on another.

 

[scootr]

Sad to hear riding season is over for a lot of you guys. But it does give needed time when maintenance is the only time you can spend with the bikes and that's beneficial... we ride year round and I think maintenance is not as rigorously followed because of that.
Chill and enjoy knowing the bikes will be fully ready to go in the spring time.

 

[scootr]

Been raining for 8-9 days....waiting to ride so I just painted my new to me HF lift table after some mods. Will post some pics later when I'm finished.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

It's getting to be that time of year again.

I bought myself a full race exhaust one year. Wrapped it and put it under the tree

 

[scootr]

Couple of pics. My refurbished HF lift table and 1st use, XT250 oil change was a breeze. No bending over, laying on the floor, etc

 

[Milo]

Lifts sure make it more enjoyable to work on a motorcycle.