RE: [ST] U-turn diameter

["Val Burton" <vcburton@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Bummer you had to do it on the ST.  I got most of the drops under my belt on
my last bike, it was an 800 lb Yamaha royal star.  I didn't like it very
well so dropping it didn't piss me off all that much.  It would really frost
my cake to drop the ST.  No doubt the first drop has made you more tense
than you need to be for u-turns.  I've only been riding for 2 years so I
really don't have any suggestions just sympathy, sorry Val

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-st@elscomom [mailto:owner-st@xxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of
Michael Young
Sent: Monday, April 22, 2002 7:05 PM
To: ST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ST] U-turn diameter


Two weeks and 1500 miles into things, I still feel like such on dork on the
ST. I dumped it in a gas station Saturday evening turning around to get to
the other side of the island. It has always felt a bit ungainly at low
speeds.

So, tonight, I rode out to the empty church parking lot where I once long
ago rode many hot, sweaty miles. I was shocked to find that I would fail the
m/c license test if I were to take it at this moment. The best u-turn I
could manage was a touch over 20', and that's sweating bullets, slipping the
clutch, and riding the rear brake. At no point was I comfortable turning
with the bars at full lock.

Maybe I'm just gun-shy after the recent "off". Or I just forgot how to ride
over the winter lay over. I have it half in my mind to tape moving blankets
on the plastic and ride little circles until one of us gets it right.

Does anyone else have this "problem"? I think it's a matter of getting used
to the bike, but the seating position and tall gearing makes it somewhat
more difficult.

(Not a *real* big deal on the spill and its aftermath. Some inch long
scratches through the paint, and the brake lever is bent almost 90 deg. I
didn't even notice the lever until this evening, 2 days and 300 miles later.
I don't know if the gear made a big difference. When it went, it went over
really fast, pitching me into a tumble to land on my feet, like a Hollywood
stuntman. )




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