Anarchy OT

[speedy2k4]

This week is mostly rainy, so my motorcycle jealousy is at a minumum right now. Good lookin bike though.

[Evil_Wayz]

Originally Posted by speedy2k4

This week is mostly rainy, so my motorcycle jealousy is at a minumum right now. Good lookin bike though.

Resume jealousy. 74 ironhead bored out to 1100.

[spydyrodeo]

Originally Posted by speedy2k4

This week is mostly rainy, so my motorcycle jealousy is at a minumum right now. Good lookin bike though.

It's ok, skinny people like you don't pilot vulcan 2000 classics anyways.


Evil, what an ugly hardley davichit.


What kind of motor is in it? I can't see the heads.

[4THDEGREE]

Nice rides all the way up the page. one will be better with seats and everything is better with flames.

[Evil_Wayz]

Originally Posted by 4THDEGREE

Nice rides all the way up the page. one will be better with seats and everything is better with flames.

It's way sweeter in person, the flames really pop. And don't hold your breath, that's all the seats that bike is going to get, nobody rides ***** on my scoot.

[spydyrodeo]

[speedy2k4]

One of my friends got a Ninja this month. Guy across the street actually got an R6 this week. I saw him trying to ride it. He stalled repeatedly trying to get going. It might not be the easiest bike to learn on, but how hard is it to stall one of those things? I feel like far higher power/weight ratio, wet clutch and hand controls would take some effort to kill compared to learning to drive a manual car.

[Evil_Wayz]

As with anything there's a learning curve, and the friction zone on those bikes can be quite big. Motorcycles are an interesting beast if you think about it, in addition to your eyes, you use both hands and both feet. It takes a awhile to coordinate them all together. I used to have a hell of a time downshifting and braking to a stop at the same time. I also sucked at left turns from a stop for some reason.

[A-5best]

Originally Posted by speedy2k4

One of my friends got a Ninja this month. Guy across the street actually got an R6 this week. I saw him trying to ride it. He stalled repeatedly trying to get going. It might not be the easiest bike to learn on, but how hard is it to stall one of those things? I feel like far higher power/weight ratio, wet clutch and hand controls would take some effort to kill compared to learning to drive a manual car.

I get the impression theyre easier to drive than a manual geo metro, thats for sure.

For some reason nearly every experienced motorcyclist manages to stall our FSAE car, so I assume they are used to a pretty easy start off.

Sweet decision pulling everything out. I want to, but don't have the balls. Maybe once Im a professional and have a DD...and start tracking a far bit.

[spydyrodeo]

Originally Posted by speedy2k4

One of my friends got a Ninja this month. Guy across the street actually got an R6 this week. I saw him trying to ride it. He stalled repeatedly trying to get going. It might not be the easiest bike to learn on, but how hard is it to stall one of those things? I feel like far higher power/weight ratio, wet clutch and hand controls would take some effort to kill compared to learning to drive a manual car.

R6's are like YZ85's or CR85's, or any 80+cc 2 stroke without a power valve. They have almost no low end. They're hard to get going and need quite a bit of RPM's to get everything turning.

[speedy2k4]

Originally Posted by Evil_Wayz

As with anything there's a learning curve, and the friction zone on those bikes can be quite big. Motorcycles are an interesting beast if you think about it, in addition to your eyes, you use both hands and both feet. It takes a awhile to coordinate them all together. I used to have a hell of a time downshifting and braking to a stop at the same time. I also sucked at left turns from a stop for some reason.

Yeah, but I mean you use both hands and both feet in a manual car. The hands not so precisely, but the feet more so. And in general people have more dexterity in their hands than feet. I'm able to smoothly operate a gear lever, steering wheel and all 3 pedals simultaneously, downshifting and braking when entering a turn. Took a little while to learn, but I can't imagine a bike being any more difficult. Just maybe a little more potential for disaster if you mess up.

Originally Posted by A-5best

Sweet decision pulling everything out. I want to, but don't have the balls. Maybe once Im a professional and have a DD...and start tracking a far bit.

You have to make sure you disconnect the battery before removing anything connected to the SRS system, and if you reconnect the battery before reconnecting SRS wiring (front seat airbags, pretentioners etc) you will get an SRS fault and light that will stay on until it is reset. Carpeting and other various clips like to break when you remove them, so it's worth having some extras. Other than that it's all pretty quick and simple, most of the interior panels are snap on/snap off. Wouldn't take more than an hour to get everything back in.

Originally Posted by spydyrodeo

R6's are like YZ85's or CR85's, or any 80+cc 2 stroke without a power valve. They have almost no low end. They're hard to get going and need quite a bit of RPM's to get everything turning.

It looked like he was flaring the throttle quite a bit, then it just died when he would let the clutch out, just a little rock forward. It was as if he left the parking brake on. I don't have a great ear for bike rpm, but if I were to guess I would say he was putting it in the 3000-4000 range. Not sure how high it should be to get rolling, I know they have stupid high redlines.

[Evil_Wayz]

I'm curious why you brake when you downshift. let the engine brake for you.

[spydyrodeo]

Originally Posted by JasonA

I think he wanted to impress you with his ability to digitally manipulate multiple objects at once.

I like where this is going.

[JasonA]

I think he wanted to impress you with his ability to digitally manipulate multiple objects at once.

[speedy2k4]

Originally Posted by Evil_Wayz

I'm curious why you brake when you downshift. let the engine brake for you.

I don't all the time, mostly for off-ramps or before a fast turn. Engine braking alone would take too long to slow you down enough, but you want to be in lower gear to accelerate out of the turn. Brake, clutch in, gear down, tap throttle with right heel, clutch up, off brake and go. Once you get used to it and can rev match well enough on the shift, it all becomes one smooth motion. No getting off the brake to shift and no jerk when you shift.

[Evil_Wayz]

I dump my honda into second gear all the time to slow down in a hurry, you just have to have good awareness of your clutch, and a good clutch. Try it some time, it's fun, and you can slingshot around turns.

[speedy2k4]

If I dumped my Honda from 6th into 2nd gear at 50mph, I would probably injure myself. Means going from around 2000rpm to 8000rpm, so the gearbox doesn't care for it either. 6th-4th-2nd while lightly braking is much more comfortable.

When it comes to driving in the mountains on the other hand, I do rely almost exclusively on engine braking. Rarely will you see my brake lights come on, even when the guy in front of me rides his brakes all the way down a slope. 11:1 compression goes a long way in keeping a lightweight car from running away down a hill, keeps my brakes cool in case I really need them.

[4THDEGREE]

Originally Posted by Evil_Wayz

I'm curious why you brake when you downshift. let the engine brake for you.

Cause brake lining is cheaper than transmissions and engines....

[A-5best]

Originally Posted by speedy2k4

I don't all the time, mostly for off-ramps or before a fast turn. Engine braking alone would take too long to slow you down enough, but you want to be in lower gear to accelerate out of the turn. Brake, clutch in, gear down, tap throttle with right heel, clutch up, off brake and go. Once you get used to it and can rev match well enough on the shift, it all becomes one smooth motion. No getting off the brake to shift and no jerk when you shift.

Im pretty sure every time you hit a perfect heel-toe an angel gets its wings.

[speedy2k4]

Originally Posted by 4THDEGREE

Cause brake lining is cheaper than transmissions and engines....

It is definately a lot cheaper to replace brake pads than a clutch, synchronizers or engine internals. But if you don't slip the clutch, rev match well to save the synchros and don't overrev it on downshifts, no harm done.

Plus brakes heat up a ton if you ride them down a hill or to a stop from high speed, and when they get really hot their coefficient of friction is greatly reduced. Especially drum brakes. And if you use cheap brake fluid it can start to boil, creating pockets of compressible gas in the lines that makes the pedal feel soft and reduces the hydraulic pressure on the brakes as well. Not an issue in the city, but very problematic in the mountains or on a track. This is where engine braking becomes very handy.

Originally Posted by A-5best

Im pretty sure every time you hit a perfect heel-toe an angel gets its wings.

It becomes second nature after a while, you forget you are doing it. Just like shifting a manual in general. Although the throttle being hinged at the bottom rather than top and offset pretty far back from the brake makes it a little more challenging to learn in new Civics. Depending on what shoes I'm wearing, I might heel-toe, toe-heel or just use the sides of my foot.

If you wear shoes with soft rubber soles, you get some interesting wear around the edges.