Jump to content

Solo

Registered users
  • Posts

    54
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by Solo

  1. If you had a problem standing the bike up after dropping it, get together with an experienced rider to review the procedure with you. The technique I learned works for me, but it's a little hard to describe, and I don't want to confuse you. Don't be discouraged. Dropping a bike is normal, especially for a new rider.
  2. You'll get used to the weight after awhile. If you're anxious about dropping it, by using the proper technique you'll probably manage to lift it without help.
  3. Solo

    Highway Safety

    I respect your other half's opinion, especially as I don't know what the weight of the lorry was. If I read the article right, it seems the lorry driver didn't even get out to investigate the cause of the bump, until the two passing motorists stopped for a look. Thanks for the Google map scan. That's a helpful resource.
  4. Solo

    Highway Safety

    Thanks for the photo, Throttled. Have you found the original news articles reporting on the crash? Is that where you found the photo? It helps in trying to imagine what that lay-by would have looked like to the driver approaching it in the dark. Are hazard flashers required when vehicles are stopped in a lay-by? What did the accident reconstructionist conclude was the cause of this accident? The lorry driver felt only a bump, which may suggest that excessive speed wasn't involved.
  5. Disturbing article in the Telegraph, Saturday, April 7, 2012, about unsafe lay bys. The headline is: Highway of death: Clare Mann's safer lay bys campaign. Government inertia sometimes prevents it from protecting its citizens. Safety and protection, of course, being the primary purpose of government. I'm not singling out UK government, mind you. My own country and state gov'ts are more likely to explain why they can't do the right thing, than in just getting on with the job and making things better.
  6. The ONLY thing we have to fear is FEAR ITSELF ....and spiders.
  7. Solo

    W@nk*r

    Seems likely the van passenger intended to dump that liquid on you. No other explantion I can think of to pour it out the window while the van is moving. On second thought, maybe he was incontinent and needed an empty container to avoid messing his pants. That's not a good excuse for dousing you, though. I'm going with the theory that he did it deliberately, with malicious intent. Round up your mates, hunt him down and administer an enthusiastic behaviour modification lesson.
  8. You are in serious need of a minder, Alex. Or at least a mentor who you can call at all hours to come over and talk you out of your suicidal impulses. Did your instructors stress showering before a ride? Or was it checking the tyre pressures? What's next? Taking your hands of the bars at 80 mph, while standing up on the pegs - backwards and with your eyes closed?
  9. I've experienced front wheel wobble on my FJR1300, with hands off the bars while coasting from about 40 to 30 mph. The first time it happened I took it to the shop. The techs didn't find anything wrong. No loose bolts, bent suspension or wheel, etc. And on a test ride the tech was unable to get the wheel to wobble. Since then, I occasionally let go the bars, with one or both hands, at speeds under 40 to see if the wobble is still there. Sometimes it wobbles but usually not. And I don't think I'm experiencing as severe a wobble as you describe. I've had the bike up to (indicated) 150 mph with no hint of instability (both hands on the handlebars). I've concluded that my bike prefers that I keep my hands on the handlebars, at all speeds. If your bike has the same expectation of you, maybe the wobble fix is simply to get a grip.
  10. The ATGATT rule isn't adhered to by most bikers in southern Arizona. I do have one friend who wears full leathers all year round. He claims to be comfortable until temps are above 35, which is every afternoon here in southeast Arizona from April through September. It helps that the humidity is very low most of the time. When the temps are above 22 I wear a long sleeved white shirt, jeans and leather chaps. The chaps are mainly to keep engine heat off my legs when I'm on the Nomad. Also, my daughter thinks they look cool. The US uses fahrenheit, so I'm using a conversion chart to find the celsius equivalents. Hope I got them right.
  11. There's lots of information on this bike on the internet. Search for it on Google. I've watched it being ridden on some YouTube videos. The tiny speakers on my laptop can't really duplicate what I'm sure is an awesome sound. I think there is a CBX1000 owners club in Europe. You might look them up and ask for a demonstration.
  12. Solo

    USA

    I haven't been to Monument Valley yet. I don't ride off road or camp anymore. Several members of my local bike club are avid off-roaders and occasional campers. I can put you in touch with them if you'd like. PM me if you're interested. I hope you won't have to wait too much longer to live your dream. The scenery in the American southwest is spectacular and so different than where you live I understand its attraction for you. But IMO, the best motorbiking in the USA is in California. If I could take only one riding tour anywhere in the world, I would choose to ride the length and breadth of California. Straight, hot desert highways to serpentine coast roads with the natural air conditioning of dependable fog. Snow-capped mountains and redwood forests. I've already lived that dream - and I hope I can do it again sometime.
  13. I was intrigued by the CBX's 6 carburetors. They would be a challenge to tune, I think. How would you even access them without removing the gas tank? When I used to maintain my own bikes, I remember fiddling with just two carbs and feeling a sense of accomplishment when I got them synchronized. Contemporary reviews of the CBX1000 record sub-12 seconds in the quarter mile. Pretty good performance for a 1 liter bike weighing 600 lbs. I'd love to hear that engine at full song.
  14. My Honda-Yamaha dealer recently added a pristine 1980 CBX1000 to his collection of vintage bikes. Here's an image from the web of a similar bike. http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/photogallerys/honda-cbx.jpg I've read that an inline 6 engine has perfect dynamic balance. Does anyone in this forum have one of these? If so, how about a review?
  15. Solo

    USA

    That's quite a story, Throttled! I'm glad you survived unhurt, but I'm looking at your avatar and wondering if the lightning strike might have had a lasting effect on you. Anyway, back to the subject of riding in Arizona during the thunderstorm season. Moisture in the atmosphere creates spectacular clouds. Amazing sunrises and sunsets. But when it's not raining it's very hot, especially at lower elevations, like around Phoenix and Tucson. That time of year is better for the photographic opportunities than for riding. I recommend spring for the best riding weather.
  16. Solo

    USA

    Spectacular... and deadly. Last summer a biker was killed when a lightning bolt struck and split his helmet and knocked him off his bike. http://www.9news.com/news/story.aspx?st ... &catid=339 Another biker was killed by a lightning strike that blasted out a chunk of pavement, 18” x 8” x 4” deep. http://www.wesh.com/news/9411396/detail.html
  17. Solo

    USA

    Daylight hours are longer in May, so that might be a consideration for anyone planning a tour. I should also point out to anyone considering riding Arizona in summertime that July and August bring thunderstorms. That's when Arizona gets most of its annual rainfall. I know that rain won't deter you UK bikers, but it's not a good idea to be on a bike when lightning is flashing all around you.
  18. Solo

    USA

    After driving near these places in an air conditioned car last year, I do not think I could ever do it on a bike Riding around Las Vegas and Death Valley isn't advisable in summer. But the roads around the rim of the Grand Canyon are at higher elevations, so temps are usually Ok for riding from May through October.
  19. Solo

    USA

    Terrence, if your trip takes you into Arizona, pm me with your itinerary if you'd like me to ride with you for a day or two. Arizona is a good place to ride in the summer if you stay at higher elevations.
  20. An anwer to the PC police is to use gingerbread cookie cutters that are gender-specific. They don't have to be anatomically correct. Straight legs on the male, and a skirt on the female. It would be an easy adjustment for the cafe to make, if the owner is really interested in preserving his or her right to conduct business without surrendering to the madness of the crowd. I'll bet, though, that the cafe owner is really making a protest statement by calling the cookies gingerbread persons.
  21. Solo

    Benefits cap

    Granted, that there's abuse of government welfare. And many of us can cite an example of a person who has made poor choices and whose irresponsiblity made them dependent on the dole. But until you have been disabled by illness, injury and/or the debilitating effects of old age - you might be surprised to learn how much money is required to keep yourself alive. It's a terrible thing to be utterly dependent on charity, and to be judged unworthy of that charity.
  22. 1. Finish reading and transcribing my mother's journals. Discover where she hid the family's treasure. 2. Do some serious motorcycle touring with a friend. Already have the bike. Just have to find a friend. 3. Become more proficient with my Nikon D7000. Bore my family with road trip pics.
  23. 1. Joined this forum and discovered it to be, with a few exceptions, a friendlier place than some of the US-based motorcycle forums I've been on. 2. Got my passport. Now I just have to summon up the courage to use it. The world seems to be a much more dangerous place than it was last year. 3. At Throttled's suggestion, I visited the Grand Canyon. I hope to return when I have more time, and take a mule ride to the bottom. 4. A 34,000 acre wildfire raged near my home for 8 days last summer. That was a first for me - and I fervently hope it's the last time I ever experience anything like that. The fire came to within a few hundred yards of my house. Flames were 40 feet high and the smoke was choking thick. Air tankers were flying about 300 feet over my house and dropping fire retardant on the fire. I had to evacuate and leave almost everything behind. I took the motorcycles with me, though.
  24. R3pilot, I've taken the liberty of editing your message. Cage drivers are its intended audience and I think my version will be more useful for them. If you are a cage driver, you have stumbled onto the wrong forum. If you're here simply to annoy us, we understand that you are secretly envious and angry that you're not a biker, yourself. In that case, read on. Understanding the Biker when you see us moving past you quickly: In truth, we really don’t care whether you understand us or not. We're passing you at the speed we think is appropriate to the situation, and passsing you as quickly as we can because we know you are prone to acting unpredictably. When you hear our horn: If you hear the average wimpy motorbike horn your hearing is excellent! Congratulations. When you hear our loud pipes: You have a good reason to be annoyed. They most certainly do not save lives, and may simply be an expression of a sociopathic personality. You would be well advised not to have a confrontation with a sociopath. When you see us in our clothes: We think you look funny, too. When you see us in a restaurant: Leave us alone. We don't care what you think about our riding attire, our motorbikes, or that you once had a motorbike yourself. If you're not a biker now, you're an "other" and we prefer not to be distracted from what's really important in a restaurant - eating. When you see us in a parking lot: We see you, too, and we will defend ourselves if you act out. When you see aggressive riding bikers: You are envious. When you see a group of bikers on the roadways: Bikers have friends with whom they like to associate. I know, it's complicated. Return your attention to texting your virtual friends with whom you never have to relate in person. When you are turning right or joining a dual carriageway/motorway: You will not see an approaching motorbike because you are not concerned with the safety of others. We know that, and we will try to stay alive by practicing good defensive driving techniques. When you are behind us: That is the proper position to assume when sharing the streets and highways with motorbikers. We are your superiors and it’s only proper that you show us the respect we deserve. When, and if, you experience road rage: Some might suggest anger management counseling, but a more effective treatment might be to become a biker, yourself. Motorbiking is the best therapy for achieving a mature relationship with the world. Rage is ineffective at best, and counterproductive at worst. When you have an opportunity to talk to us: Stifle the urge. Go away! Don’t even try to listen to conversations we're having among ourselves. You will not understand, you will not learn anything of value to your caged life, and – it’s just rude. ________________ Solo
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use Privacy Policy Guidelines We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

Please Sign In or Sign Up