Topic: The Motorcycling Thread

[Arthur Dent]

Way better to put two feet down than drop the bike if its a weird angle in my opinion!

I failed my first time as the tester claimed I rolled through the stop sign. Even though I had my foot down on the ground.  I'm still bitter.

[PJungnitsch]

I could not make it through the parking lot course with the bike I had at the time, combo of running lean, soft forks, a tall first gear and inexperience meant I just could not do that slow speed stuff.

Failed that test twice, said to hell with it and went on a month long motorcycle trip, then I was good enough the parking lot thing was fine but I failed the road course test due to straight nerves (turned into the wrong lane at an intersection, flashback to riding in England the year before

Made it the fourth time! A humbling reminder that nerves are a real thing

[Jaeger]

^^^ I love reading honest accounts like this. Not everything comes easy, every time.  I tune out the guys patting themselves on the back endlessly for being badass hardcore "real" riders. But there's actually something to learn from posts like yours.

[ktm525]

With bikes it is better to fail and then master it rather than get an easy pass that puts you into the real world too soon. A few attempts is nothing to be ashamed of. I got some got real good advice early from an exceptional rider:  In order to ride fast you first need to learn how to ride slow.

[Jaeger]

With bikes it is better to fail and then master it rather than get an easy pass that puts you into the real world too soon. A few attempts is nothing to be ashamed of. I got some got real good advice early from an exceptional rider:  In order to ride fast you first need to learn how to ride slow.

 

[rrocket]

With bikes it is better to fail and then master it rather than get an easy pass that puts you into the real world too soon. A few attempts is nothing to be ashamed of. I got some got real good advice early from an exceptional rider:  In order to ride fast you first need to learn how to ride slow.

I started off on dirtbikes.

Lots of failing (falling) and eating dirt!! LOL [emoji38]

[ktm525]

If the garage allows I may pick up a trials bike again after I get the new 300 home, I feel like my trials skills have waned. Then I just need a long distance off road tourer (not the technical tourer FE501). I was going to go T7 and then DR650 but know considering DRZ400.

So current quiver is looking:

Husq FE501
Husq TE300
"Trials bike"
"DRZ 400 or 650

I have kicked around the idea to get an old Goldwing and trailer to drag my 300 or 501 to my staging campground.  This is a stretch target.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

towing a motorcycle with a motorcycle?  You MUST make this happen...!!!!

Like this?

[ktm525]

Exactly!

[JohnnyMac]

I wonder how stable towing a trailer is behind a motorcycle.  Mind you a big ass Goldwing towing is likely heavier than the trailer and bike in that picture.  I've seen little cargo trailers and maybe the odd little tent trailer, but never a utility trailer.

[ktm525]

I wonder how stable towing a trailer is behind a motorcycle.  Mind you a big ass Goldwing towing is likely heavier than the trailer and bike in that picture.  I've seen little cargo trailers and maybe the odd little tent trailer, but never a utility trailer.

Just need to get on throttle if it starts to sway.

[Fobroader]

Nice! I found it particularly nerve wracking, took me a few tries

The whole earpeice thing can be quite distracting. IIRC I got points off for riding too slow. I purposely drove 5 km/h under the limit. It was easier as you had time to react to the earpiece instructions.

I got docked points for putting 2 feet down at the stop sign cuz the road was weird angle,
And not proceeding thru unprotected left turn on yellow…. Though I would have in a car but it’s more scary to be in intersection waiting for traffic to die down to proceed left on bike…

Good on ya, congrats. I almost failed for going to slow, I live in Beaumont where everywhere residential is 40km/h Edmonton is 50, and for "not keeping my lane" while I was swerving around potholes and manholes. Don't worry about it, its stressful and now it doesn't matter.

[No H2O]

I wonder how stable towing a trailer is behind a motorcycle.

Probably just done for the photo.

That trailer is about 100 pounds and the bike another 300+ pounds. About half the weight of the GW.

[ktm525]

I wonder how stable towing a trailer is behind a motorcycle.

Probably just done for the photo.

That trailer is about 100 pounds and the bike another 300+ pounds. About half the weight of the GW.

No problem. Video for you doubters. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF2mo-lhVwY

[rrocket]

I saw a Goldwing trailering the smallest A-liner rigid walled camper. 400lbs

Image is the trailer, not the exact bike I saw towing.

I also saw a Busa towing an interesting one wheeled trailer.

[Jaeger]

I wonder how stable towing a trailer is behind a motorcycle. 

I can tell you I have zero interest in ever finding out.

[No H2O]

No problem. Video for you doubters. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF2mo-lhVwY

I wonder about the legalities. Anyway, better them than me. I'd hate to have all that extra weight and loss of maneuverability when you need it most.

[ktm525]

No problem. Video for you doubters. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF2mo-lhVwY

I wonder about the legalities. Anyway, better them than me. I'd hate to have all that extra weight and loss of maneuverability when you need it most.

It's a Goldwing, I bet no worse than towing with the Ridgeline. 

[rrocket]

It's a Goldwing, I bet no worse than towing with the Ridgeline. 

You ever see the torque curve on a Wing?

100+lbs/ft torque off idle.

That's bananas.

[Fobroader]

No problem. Video for you doubters. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF2mo-lhVwY

I wonder about the legalities. Anyway, better them than me. I'd hate to have all that extra weight and loss of maneuverability when you need it most.

It's a Goldwing, I bet no worse than towing with the Ridgeline. 

 

Goldwings are ridiculously overpowered. One of our instructors at my bike safety course had one, ex bike cop, and took it out on the course to show us what a big bike can do. Thing was ridiculously quick and nimble. Still don't know how safe I would feel with a trailer behind a bike, especially if it starts to sway.