08-01-2016, 07:37 AM
(08-01-2016, 05:05 AM)ChipBeck_imp Wrote:(08-01-2016, 02:44 AM)The ferret_imp Wrote: I would have liked to seen Chip, riding Charley's Ducati with legs splayed like outriggers thinking, " OK...I'm going to do this! " lol
Mick,
That is EXACTLY how it was. The first several times I chickened out and my brain just wouldn't let me squeeze that lever hard enough. It was a head trip. All of us former dirt bikers know how fast you go down when you lock the front tire. Locking the back just causes it to start sliding to the side and that's not so bad but locking the front causes an almost instant crash so it's really hard to do it intentionally. And I did have my legs sticking out and down like outriggers but I'm not sure I was strong or quick enough to keep me from going down. Once I finally got the front to lock up and activate the system I did it several more times with increasing confidence.
I can say that if I had done this before I bought my CB1100 I would have sought out a CB11 with ABS. I've been a believer in ABS and traction control on cars for some time. I now think it's a great idea on motorcycles as well. Perhaps even more valuable on a bike. Cheers.
Chip
Mick,
That is EXACTLY how it was. The first several times I chickened out and my brain just wouldn't let me squeeze that lever hard enough. It was a head trip. All of us former dirt bikers know how fast you go down when you lock the front tire. Locking the back just causes it to start sliding to the side and that's not so bad but locking the front causes an almost instant crash so it's really hard to do it intentionally. And I did have my legs sticking out and down like outriggers but I'm not sure I was strong or quick enough to keep me from going down. Once I finally got the front to lock up and activate the system I did it several more times with increasing confidence.
I can say that if I had done this before I bought my CB1100 I would have sought out a CB11 with ABS. I've been a believer in ABS and traction control on cars for some time. I now think it's a great idea on motorcycles as well. Perhaps even more valuable on a bike. Cheers.
Chip Given the number of riders buying a big, heavy bike for a first ride, I sure agree with that.
Being a long-time former dirt-biker I can vouch for the fact that it teaches one excellent control and reactions using the brakes.
I will say this: there is no real issue skidding the front tire on pavement as long as the motorcycle is straight up and down and you release the brake at the first sign of skidding.
In fact it is entirely possible to leave a straight skid mark with the front tire, just as with the rear, doing this.
It's much harder to do now because the tires have so much grip. But I recall back in the late 1980's when grip was lousy that I could lock the front and leave a black mark a couple of feet long; this was particularly easy with a bike with a long wheelbase.
With the grip we have these days it really takes some uneven pavement where a bit of daylight comes between the front tire and the pavement in order to get a squeal from the front.