Chicken Strips / Lean Angle

[Red Mist_imp]

Too old to play those games anymore and not many roads to practice the craft in south Georgia. That said, the CB handles well and with some sticky tires would acquit itself well on a challenging road I think.

Keith Code has an article on "Chicken Strips" in the May edition of MotorCyclist. He acknowledged that for a lot of riders (squids) the strips are nothing more than what might be called "penis measures."

But he made another point: "accurately gauging lean angle and traction is a critical safety point. If a cornering situation demands more lean angle than you can safely deliver, you become road bait... The ability to use all of the available lean angle expands your options."

Keith Code has an article on "Chicken Strips" in the May edition of MotorCyclist. He acknowledged that for a lot of riders (squids) the strips are nothing more than what might be called "penis measures."

But he made another point: "accurately gauging lean angle and traction is a critical safety point. If a cornering situation demands more lean angle than you can safely deliver, you become road bait... The ability to use all of the available lean angle expands your options." That was a terrific essay. Code is the best writer in the motorcycle business today. He doesn't need to sugar-coat everything in order to be "liked" or published. Only other exception is Freddie Spencer (who doesn't use a ghost-writer, BTW).

May I state for the record I didn't start this thread...but the question asked is very legitimate. A good way to quickly start touching those peg feelers down is to take one of Keith's schools!

Here's a link to the article:

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/featur...Pg.twitter

I just re-read it and it is so, exactly, correct. The particular issues with the CB1100 are 1) The bike handles quite well and the wide bars encourage quick turning, so despite the heavy weight of the bike, it can be heeled over very quickly, right to the maximum lean angle and more; 2) The suspension is soft, so once leaned in, the force of turn-in and/or any bumps in the road quickly eat up your cornering clearance; 3) Whilst cranked over to maximum lean, bumps tend to feed steering input to the handlebars because they're wide, creating a lot of little errors in your line, which are exacerbated yet again by the soft suspension.

The solutions are (much) better rear shocks, a bit thicker fork oil, and perhaps a fork brace, which would allow the bike to hold a tighter, smoother line, but the first order of business is the ride the thing within its limits.

Problem is that magical engine saying "Rev me, rev me, rev me..."

P.S. I also recommend Reg Pridmore's CLASS.

Did it again this morning, left peg scraping. Standard weight rider (~160 geared up), shocks set to standard (step 2).

The bike is quite easy to turn with those wide bars and narrow tires. The lean angle sensor in my brain is not calibrated to Cap'n Kidd. He likes to turn but starts digging in early.

I guess yer gotta keep the preshar on him sos he doesn't turn around and bite yer!

I guess yer gotta keep the preshar on him sos he doesn't turn around and bite yer! I gotta thump him in the skull and bust him acrost the jaw wunst in a while to keep him in line.

Hey you'd really like to read about my buddy Steve Costigan, too!

Did it again this morning, left peg scraping. Standard weight rider (~160 geared up), shocks set to standard (step 2).

The bike is quite easy to turn with those wide bars and narrow tires. The lean angle sensor in my brain is not calibrated to Cap'n Kidd. He likes to turn but starts digging in early.

I like that turn of phrase. I always read your posts in a sort of 'authoritative drawl', if you'll excuse me saying so. I'm around 200lb and have mine set on click 3 at the back and tweaked half a line firmer on the forks.

With only 422 miles racked up of which I did only 318 I suspect I'll settle in to the bike and become a peg grinding guru.

I must admit, this evenings ride was more natural feeling and I think I'm getting my groove with Dixie.

I like that turn of phrase. I always read your posts in a sort of 'authoritative drawl', if you'll excuse me saying so. I'm around 200lb and have mine set on click 3 at the back and tweaked half a line firmer on the forks.

With only 422 miles racked up of which I did only 318 I suspect I'll settle in to the bike and become a peg grinding guru.

I must admit, this evenings ride was more natural feeling and I think I'm getting my groove with Dixie. Yep, I'm just channeling Robert E. Howard's "Breckinridge Elkins" from time to time! Cap'n Kidd bein' Breck's crazy, unruly horse which can ride faster and farther than any hoss that ever lived, but needs to be slugged on the jaw and punched on the nose to keep him in line. That ain't abuse because Cap'n Kidd generly bites a chunk or two outa Breck's leg and then tries to buck him clean off like there was a painter on his back!

Post Oaks and Sand Roughs? I'll try it sometime.

Post Oaks and Sand Roughs? I'll try it sometime. Let me know if you can find it! Seems to be out of print, even in digital...

If you want to pay big bucks for a collector's edition, Amazon has it http://www.amazon.com/Post-Oaks-Roughs-R...0937986933

I'll keep searching.

If you want to pay big bucks for a collector's edition, Amazon has it http://www.amazon.com/Post-Oaks-Roughs-R...0937986933

I'll keep searching. Saw that, yep, I'll hold off until the Nook edition comes out! Now, about them chicken strips, I'll take a triple-order with a side o' bakin grease...