knowing what to do versus doing it

[Jim Huber <jhuber@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

>  From: "David Arnett" <DArnett@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, on 05/08/2000 13:57:
>  Think of tire loading when hitting the front brake in a turn...  assuming
50/50 weight distribution on the tires.... front tire's contact patch makes up
40% of the bikes total availible traction, and the rear accounts for 60% of the
bikes available traction.  When 'coasting' through a turn with 50/50 weight
distrubution, the front tire's available traction is being used much more than
the rear's.... then you hit the front brakes???????????  I want my bike stood
up when braking.....
>  
>  in too fast???? deal with it...look at the options:  Brakes = crash   Other
option: crank it over farther and get on the gas immediately and STAY on the
gas and relax your ever tightening grip.... worst case is that the pegs will
scrape, and you may slide a little.... better than running off of the road.  If
you anticipate that you are about to enter too fast, get you butt over on the
seat so that you will be 'hanging off" through the turn before you snap it in,
which will buy you more lean angle.  Just do not roll off in the turn.  Rolling
off will compress the suspension, thus lessening ground clearance and worsening
your problem. 

	It's sound advice. Keith Code's books teach the same thing. I haven't
yet had an opportunity to go to his track school, but I figure his story hasn't
changed. I also figure most of us have seen this advice, or something very
similar to it, somewhere before. My only comment would be "easier said than
done".
	Yes, your survival reactions work against what the bike is designed to
do, but it's difficult to convince yourself this will really work, and you have
to do it gradually. There's still the nagging thought in the back of your mind
that it would only take one pebble, one leaf, one anything in the path of your
tire to send you into the oncoming lane with the bike on it's side and you on
your back.
	I know a bit about overcoming survival reactions that don't work. I've
spent three and a half years studying Aikido, and much of what we have to spend
our time on is overcoming our "natural" reactions that are counterproductive.
Three and a half years isn't nearly enough to master either Aikido or sport
riding.
	So I guess my point is that the advice is good, but don't expect this
bit of knowledge to suddenly turn you into Miguel Duhamel. That takes hours and
hours and hours of practice while paying close attention to what you're doing.

YMMV,

	"Jedi Dawg"  Jim Huber
	'00 blue ST  "Rhiannon"
	Spring, Texas, USA

     *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *
      The ST/RS Mailing list is sponsored by Jack Lilley Ltd.
          http://www.TriumphNet.com/st/lilley for more info
   http://www.TriumphNet.com/st for ST, RS and Mailing List info

=-=-=-= Next Message =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=