Draggin pegs at the Dragon

[JWR]

The Batman and I toke a nice 150 mile ride Sunday.



http://www.postimage.org/aV1oTtOA.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aV1oTtOA)


http://www.postimage.org/Pq1nXrC9.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pq1nXrC9)


http://www.postimage.org/Pq1nXBAJ.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pq1nXBAJ)
Yes, the pegs and boots will get worn down while chasing a 1200 CC sportbike.

[Easy Rider]

http://www.postimage.org/Pq1nXrC9.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pq1nXrC9)


Yes, the pegs and boots will get worn down while chasing a 1200 CC sportbike.

The above picture is a good example of something I have mentioned on here (a couple of times, I think) before. If the rider would lean HIS weight more (toward the inside of the curve), the bike would lean LESS......and the parts would drag less often. :cool:

This is something you don't get to practice in "school" so one must work on the proper technique on your own. Watch a GP race or two for an extreme example of the technique.

I had that bad habit for at least 10 years of my 40+ years of riding. It is a hard habit to break after doing it wrong for that long. While not really important for less drastic curves, doing it wrong on the easy turns will result in a habit that will unconsciously carry over to the tight curves too.

[JWR]

With the location of the foot pegs it's hard to get more "off the seat".

[Easy Rider]

With the location of the foot pegs it's hard to get more "off the seat".

Shifting your rear is only one way to shift your weight......and it doesn't take much.

If you look at the picture, and draw a line up the center of the rear tire, I think it would come pretty close to your LEFT shoulder; it should come closer to your RIGHT shoulder in a tight left turn. Just that difference in upper body lean will make a BIG difference; anticipating the curve and shifting your tush on the seat just a bit will help even more.

The peg position on the GZ pretty much precludes dragging your inside knee.......and that's probably a good thing !! :tup:

[JWR]

Go back and look at the first picture. How many times would you shift your weight at 35 to 55 mph? There are 318 curves in 11 miles, with complete switchbacks.

Better yet, when you come down for the NASCAR race, drop by and show me how it is done.

[Easy Rider]

How many times would you shift your weight at 35 to 55 mph? There are 318 curves in 11 miles, with complete switchbacks.



I TRY to do it all the time, to varying degrees dependent on speed BECAUSE if you don't get into the habit you end up scrapping the pegs and other parts when it is NOT necessary.

While it may sound "cool" to say "I scrapped the pegs", it really isn't cool because it can be downright dangerous.

The number of curves says nothing about whether or not it is desirable to lean the RIGHT way.

The more curves and the tighter that they are makes it even more important to be using the correct riding technique. Leaning your body toward the outside of the bikes vertical axis is NEVER the proper technique........unless you are stunting and doing it to make sparks on purpose.

Bottom line: I really don't give a crap HOW you ride; it's your bike and your skin. You don't have to take my word for what the proper cornering technique is. If you care at all, look it up somewhere else. Ask an MSF instructor or check some of the good reference books mentioned here. I am not eating your ass out just for the fun of it, I am trying to be helpful......really.
Take it or leave it, as you see fit.

[mr. softie]

The pegs on the GZ are so close to the ground to begin with I found myself dragging my feet all the time on twisty roads. Usually my heels would drag first. With the GL650 my feet are way up in the air to start with and I haven't even come close to dragging anything even though I am riding the same roads 10mph faster.

I am going to try to come down to a camp out at TWO later this month (the 24th and 25th I think) and can't wait to get back on those mountain roads. Might make it to Deals Gap even.

[JWR]

You must be off your meds MR.Always Right.

I posted the pictures for all to see some of the great riding areas the we have.

Opinions and assholes, I did not ask for one, but got the other.

Now come on down and we will go riding...

[alanmcorcoran]

Question for you more experienced riders...

All this chitchat about dragging the pegs brought to mind something (I think) I've been experiencing on both bikes lately: I am, after about 5300 or so miles, starting to lean the bike over more than I did before, and, of course, I can make tighter turns at higher speeds. I also have noticed I lean both bikes more now at low speed too, like making a right turn, for instance.

Is leaning the bike more aggressively just something that comes with time? There's a curve on the 91 freeway near me that is kind of rough surface-wise. I distinctly remember slowing down to 50 on it early on, (possibly because I was afraid of leaning the bike over too far on a rough surface.) Now, if I think and lean and am a teensy aggressive (looking ahead, as well) I can do it at 70+, no prob.

When I went out on the Ortega Highway (kind of twisty) with Moedad and OC Hoosier they had to slow down for me because I was pretty timid in the curves. I haven't been back out that way for a while, but I'm wondering if I'd be a little quicker just with the passage of time. (It's not something I have specifically set out to practice, I just seem to have got more comfortable leaning the things over.)

Thoughts?

[Easy Rider]

Now come on down and we will go riding...

Not likely, Mr. Attitude.

[Easy Rider]

but I'm wondering if I'd be a little quicker just with the passage of time. (It's not something I have specifically set out to practice, I just seem to have got more comfortable leaning the things over.)

Thoughts?

Yes, that's usually the way it works. Practice/experience brings confidence.

How is your body positioned in relation to the vertical axis of the bike?
You have attended a MSF course (although the course seems a little suspect) and have a book on riding technique, right? What do they say about leaning......body versus bike?

[JWR]

Not likely, Mr. Attitude.

Me Mr. Attitude?????

This is the the internet where you are always right.

Riding motorcycles is the real world.

I still invite any and all to come to some of the best riding in the Eastern USA.

I will do my best to show you some great roads.

[JWR]

alanmcorcoran

Practice and riding with better riders are a big help.

Also find a good spot to watch others come around the same corner.
You will see a lot of different styles.

As you know all bikes handle quite different.
What is easy on the GZ will require effort on the Strat.

It is all about the weight and ground clearance.

[Water Warrior 2]

Did the Dragon on the 4th July weekend in 2007. Rented a KLR 650 and had a great time all weekend.

[Moedad]

How is your body positioned in relation to the vertical axis of the bike?
You have attended a MSF course...What do they say about leaning......body versus bike?

I attended the same course as Alan (on a different weekend though). Obviously in a parking lot there's only so much they can do with beginners, but they DID cover this subject in regard to tight turns at low speed (the box), i.e. shift your butt cheek to the outside and holding the bike more upright as you lean your body to the inside. I was on a little Kawasaki Eliminator and it had a good turning radius already, but I found the technique to be helpful. The instructors didn't talk about that technique in regard to riding larger, longer curves like you'd find on canyon/mountain roads--they were more focused on lining up the turn and looking ahead at where you want to go.

[mrlmd1]

I don't know why JWR and all you are taking such offense at what Easy said about body position, body lean, and bike lean. I'm not here trying to defend him, after all he pisses me off too once in a while, but I think in this instance he was trying to offer constructive criticism or actual instruction, on the correct way to take a turn. Opinions and assholes? Where do you get that from and where do you fit in? Why can't you stand to learn something?
It's not about weight and ground clearance.
The forces that come into play around a turn include centrifugal, centripetal, friction of tires on the road, gravity, the mass of the bike and rider, and the speed, and they all have to be balanced to stay upright and on the correct course or path around the turn. The bike has a better grip on the road surface when it is upright, and the more upright it can be around the turn, the faster and safer you can be. By leaning your body into the turn, the bike itself can be more upright. Leaning your body towards the outside of the turn by trying to keep IT upright, makes the bike have to lean over more. That makes it more prone to slide out, especially if you run over oil, gravel, wet spot, other shit in the road. etc. It's all about where the center of gravity is.
The pegs are designed to hinge and raise up if you hit the road - why do you think that is? If you hit a peg wrong it can lift the rear wheel off the road and you will leave a lot of skin and paint on the asphalt. You can ride the way you want, or you can do it the right way and be a little safer as well as faster if you do it the correct way. It's written in all the instructional books, it's all over the internet, but you do whatever you want and then don't make up an excuse if something goes wrong. Hitting a peg on this or any other cruiser bike probably means your body position was incorrect and should not be looked at as something macho. It's a warning. Watch the high speed racers on the track - they have their whole body leaned over to try and keep the bike leaning less, for traction around the turn. They may scrape a knee but never any part of the bike, and I know it's a different kind of bike. They move the center of gravity inside with their body lean instead of with the bike lean.

Your Head and NECK should be vertical, your BODY should be leaned into the turn, especially at higher speeds, to keep the bike more upright and have better traction on the road.
And Alan - same thing. Don't take this too as a criticism, just friendly advice. Riding 70mph on a rough surface road and aggressively leaning the bike more?
You should be leaning your body into the turn more and trying and keep the bike more upright, 'cause you are aware of what can happen when you lose traction on the tires. It's obviously going to lean around the turn, but maybe a few degrees less if you lean your body mass to the inside of the turn, thereby having a better grip on the road.
And Moedad, the slow speed tight turn is not even close to what we are talking about here. You are shifting your weight to the outside in that instance to keep
balance and keep the bike from falling over with the wheel at full lock, and using the back brake to keep the bike up. This is with wheel or handlebar steering, not with the countersteering at speed, and there is no problem with losing traction on the road doing a low speed 2-3mph tight turn. This is a totally different situation. The bike has to lean with the wheel at full lock, it will never be upright.

Now you can all crap on me too. :cry:

[alanmcorcoran]

I didn't think I took Easy to task for his advice on the leaning. I took the same class as Moe, and what they said in his they said in mine - but it was in the context of the "box" test, one that I freely admit I could probably not pass two times out of three.

The degree to which I am leaning the bike now, vs. last year say, is more like the difference between "hardly at all" to a "little bit more than before." I don't think I have ever scraped the pegs on the GZ. I did scape the footrest once on the Strat, doing a simple right hand turn at lowish speed - it only happened the one time, and I'm not even sure how/why. I think maybe the road was slanted or there was a weird dip or something. I agree - it's not something I want to be doing regularly. Kind of surprises you when it happens.

I have seen the motocrossers and racers with their knees out and down, and trust me, their bikes are over WAY further than I have ever had mine. (They also seem to have much bigger tires... do they?)

Are you and Easy..... dating?

[mrlmd1]

NO, and don't even suggest that! :twisted: He said he was coming to Florida, I'm going to have to take a vacation back up to NY/NJ so I don't bump into him.

Those bikes ARE way over, they also have much better tires, different rubber (stickier compound), a smoother track, sometimes banked a little, but the only reason they can go that fast (100-150mph on the turns) is because the rider has his weight right off the ground. If the rider tried to stay upright, the bike would be on it's side sliding off the track. It's like watching those road racers in the sidecars leaning way over - shifting the center of gravity off to the side, or hiking out in a small sailboat to keep it from going over. Same idea, different application.
I'm not saying don't lean the bike -the bike MUST lean in the turn, it's the geometry of the steering linkage - what was trying to be said, again, is that is YOU lean to the inside, then the BIKE doesn't have to AS MUCH in the turn, so the traction of the wheels on the road is better, plus you don't hit a peg or something else to upset you and/or the bike.
You may have scraped the peg on the Strat because it could have been leaned over too far making a very slow turn, so if you had shifted your weight, like by sliding your ass to the outside of the seat during the turn, or putting your weight on the outside foot peg, you may have kept the bike more upright and not scraped. Again, shifting the center of gravity. It's basically opposite for low and high speed turns, kapish?

Maybe he'll take a trip out to CA and see you guys out there. :biggrin: :poke2: :lol:

[Easy Rider]

Maybe he'll take a trip out to CA and see you guys out there. :biggrin:

Come on up to Atlanta in 2 weeks. I promise not to bite. If I do, maybe someone could recommend a good doctor! :neener:

[mrlmd1]

Like a shrink? :techy: :lol:

[Easy Rider]

Like a shrink? :techy: :lol:

And how would you FEEL about that? :popcorn:

[BusyWeb]

Great photos.
I hope that I have a photo like above which me is in... ha ha ha.
The road looks very twisted... :cry:
I might go slow down instead of leaning the bike... :blush:
Thanks for the pictures.

[mrlmd1]

Anyone who bites somebody needs a shrink. :techy: (That's Freud).
Oh. did you mean a doctor for the bite victim? :??:

The thread is getting sidetracked and highjacked. Not proper etiquette. :cry: :shocked:

Busy Web - slowing down on those roads with the poor visibility around the corners and turns is a good idea rather than pushing it and seeing how fast you can go. Even in a cage (car),

[mr. softie]

Seriously JWR... Louisville, TN is just off I81, just about directly on my route to Suches Georgia, where TWO (two wheels only) is. I might be riding within a few miles of you later this month. I will be coming down I81/40, and getting off at Knoxville and taking 411 and 68 I think. I also want to swing by Asheville NC on the way back, where I lived for 8 years.

[alanmcorcoran]

I would also like to get one of those cool pictures. Re the shifting weigh thing, to be honest, I kind of agree with the guy that asked the question, "Would you shift your weight XX number of times", not because I don't think it's a good idea, but, because I'm basically lazy, and I probably would not.

On a more positive note, although I understand things pretty quickly I am somewhat of a slow learner for anything other than the obvious. I find that I can really only really think about/work on/improve one thing at a time. As I get some other issues under my belt (right now I am very focused on smooth stops/starts on steep hills with the heavy bike - next up is Patrick's slalom course with the green balls...) I will come back around to integrating the proper body weight shift into my "auto-pilot."

Ever since (softie?) posted about the gyroscopic effect and someone else talked about angular momentum, I have been more conscious of the relationship between having the rear wheel under power and traction/stability. I previously learned it is generally NOT good for stability to be leaned over and not be under power (or braking!) (seems obvious, but, for me, sometimes it takes a little "incident" to get it into the muscle memory) Now I'm noticing that it is much easier to corner under steady power to the rear wheel (as opposed to coasting) because you lose traction and (something else??) when you are not under power.

[mrlmd1]

Now you're getting it. If you remember from the MSF course or those Proficient books for instance, it's slow, look, lean, and roll on going around a curve. You slow down, either easing off the throttle or braking (on the straightaway before the turn), look ahead around the corner, lean the bike to start the turn, then halfway through the turn roll on the throttle for increased traction to complete the turn. You should be under power around the turn, enough to keep you going at the proper speed, not coasting.

[Easy Rider]

I previously learned it is generally NOT good for stability to be leaned over and not be under power (or braking!) (seems obvious, but, for me, sometimes it takes a little "incident" to get it into the muscle memory) Now I'm noticing that it is much easier to corner under steady power to the rear wheel (as opposed to coasting) because you lose traction and (something else??) when you are not under power.

Whether or not that is really important depends mostly on conditions present; how fast you are going, how tight the turn is, etc. Being under power gives you more options to make corrections that might be needed. It really isn't a matter of better traction; it is more like better stability of the gyroscopic forces.

More later if you want it and nobody else chimes in. Wouldn't want to appear condescending, after all.

[mrlmd1]

Alan, you've seen pictures, but watch this video and try not to get too sick or nauseated watching these guys speed around the curves, You can hear the bikes slowing, backing off the throttle going into the turns and rolling it on through the turn as well as seeing them shift their whole bodies to get the weight on the inside to try and get a few more degrees of uprightness to the bike. Extreme, but exciting and instructional to see.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CP2xtq6kts

Don't try this at home. Not for me.

[Moedad]

And Moedad, the slow speed tight turn is not even close to what we are talking about here.

Sorry, dude. My take on the topic was shifting weight. I guess I didn't follow the highly advanced direction that this thread was actually going.

That sounds kinda cranky. My point is, as I understood the topic, shifting weight helps keep the bike more perpendicular with the road surface. Yeah, it's used in two different ways in low speed turns and higher speed curves, but the theory is the same, isn't it? I'm not addressing throttle and braking issues (they certainly apply, but they aren't my focus here), I'm talking about weight transfer and the angle of the bike. At low speed, tight turns, you want to keep the bike upright so it doesn't tip over as you negotiate the turn. At higher speeds you want to keep the bike as perpendicular as you can maximize traction, no? Yeah, you're going to be applying brakes and throttle differently in each type of turn, but that wasn't what I was getting at. Tight, slow, low speed turns are different from high speed curves, but the theory of weight transfer to keep the bike more upright is what I'm addressing, and what was discussed in our class.

[mrlmd1]

Moedad - if you read your post:

"I attended the same course as Alan (on a different weekend though). Obviously in a parking lot there's only so much they can do with beginners, but they DID cover this subject in regard to tight turns at low speed (the box), i.e. shift your butt cheek to the outside and holding the bike more upright as you lean your body to the inside. I was on a little Kawasaki Eliminator and it had a good turning radius already, but I found the technique to be helpful. The instructors didn't talk about that technique in regard to riding larger, longer curves like you'd find on canyon/mountain roads--they were more focused on lining up the turn and looking ahead at where you want to go"

You never mentioned at all what we were talking about, and that was making higher speed turns and shifting body weight to the inside. You didn't say anything about high speed turns and you even said the instructors didn't talk about it, and it could have been taken by someone reading your post who didn't know better, to keep your butt or your body weight to the outside whenever turning, at low or high speeds. And I can't see how you shift your butt to the outside and your weight to the inside like you said - that makes no sense and is wrong. What holds the bike more upright in that situation is shifting your whole weight to the outside, not just your butt. You can also do that by standing on the outside peg, shifting weight to the outside in a slow turn.
So DUDE, it wasn't "cranky" - it was truthful, I was explaining the difference and trying to educate someone who may have not understood this, like to newbies on here, which you just again tried to explain correctly this time. If you wanted to say that then, instead of criticizing me for saying what I did, then why didn't you do it back then? And read your post before criticizing someone who comments on it.

Now educate me - what's with the "dude" thing? What exactly does that mean? It it meant as a term of affection, something implying disdain or a derogatory
connotation, a generality that means nothing, an age thing for lack of better words? Please tell me what it means. Thanks.

And anyone else's comments are always welcome. :)

[patrick_777]

Do you have a problem being called "dude", dude?

[JWR]

http://www.postimage.org/Pq1xQKS9.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pq1xQKS9)

http://www.postimage.org/gxRFMLS.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gxRFMLS)

http://www.postimage.org/gxRFRL9.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gxRFRL9)

[Moedad]

So DUDE, it wasn't "cranky" - it was truthful

No, I meant MY first line sounded cranky, with the "dude" and the crack about "highly advanced direction." I tried to elaborate and I'm obviously just screwing it up more, so I'll just drop it.

Now educate me - what's with the "dude" thing?

In this case it's having a 22 year old daughter and living in Southern California, and secondarily a term of affection out of respect for your mentorship of us newbies.

[JWR]

http://www.postimage.org/gxRGfHA.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gxRGfHA)

http://www.postimage.org/gxRGibJ.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gxRGibJ)

[JWR]

mr.softie

When you are get off I-40 at Knoxville, take 129 South, this is the airport exit.

129 South splits with 411 South about 5 miles outside of Alcoa/Maryville.

129 will take you to the Dragon and Cherohala Skyway. Then to Tellico Plains where 68 picks up.

Depending on the time of day that you get here, which route you should take.

I live 5 minutes from the Airport, off 129.

From the airport:: 129 Dragon= 42 miles
411-68 Tellico Plains 50 miles
TWO 125 miles

We ride to TWO just for a sandwich and some of the best sweet tea you will ever taste.

Let me know your time schedule.

Jerry

[JWR]

TWO
http://www.postimage.org/Pq1yfwG9.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pq1yfwG9)

[mrlmd1]

Patrick - just wanted to know what it means, to be politically correct if I ever use it. :roll:
Moedad - explains it (the dude thing), and his post to me, and everything else actually very well. The "dude" threw me off. Sorry if I got off coming back too hard. It's all in the words and how they're put together, and how they're perceived by the reader. And our point is made just the same. :)
JWR - nice bike. What is that? :??:

Not to belabor this business of leaning body weight into the turn, but I would think that most of us ride like what is shown in those last few JWR pictures. Because the bike tips over going around a turn at speed, we tend to want to try and stay upright and actually lean a little to the outside thinking this will help straighten up the bike, making the bike tip even more to the inside on the turn. It should be resisted to do this, we should all make a conscious effort to shift body weight into the turn and keep the bike a few degrees more upright, rolling on the throttle some coming out of the turn.

The end. :horse: :cool:

[JWR]

http://www.postimage.org/aV1zk49i.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aV1zk49i)

http://www.postimage.org/Pq1yhdWi.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pq1yhdWi)

[JWR]

The white bike is a 1989 Honda Pacific Coast.

I do not lean into all of the curves because I do not want to.....OK.

Sometimes I do the work, sometime I make the bike do all of the work.

As always, right time and place for everything...

I wear all the gear all the time ATGATT.

I WILL NEVER make a post about another person's gear.

Some things do not translate well on the internet so i will stop here.

[patrick_777]

I just have to say it's awesome seeing a GZ250 on the Dragon.

[JWR]

patrick_777

How do you like this daily rider????
He has two of them, the other one has less than 300 miles.

http://www.postimage.org/Pq1yz2nA.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pq1yz2nA)

[JWR]

This was a day ride to meet up with Batman's Uncle. We rode around Center Hill Lake, about 20 miles west of Cookville, Tn. 300 mile day round trip.
http://www.postimage.org/aV1zEve0.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aV1zEve0)

[JWR]

Cut-off rode between Deals Gap and Cherohala Skyway

Directions: Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest is located about 15 miles from Robbinsville in the western part of Graham County. From Robbinsville, take Highway 129 North for 1½ miles to the junction with Highway 143 West (Massey Branch Road). Turn left and proceed West on Highway 143 for approximately 5.0 miles to a stop sign. Turn right onto Kilmer Road. You will drive for about 7.3 miles and arrive at the top of Santeetlah Gap and the junction with the Cherohala Skyway. Bear to your right and continue on for another 2½ miles to the entrance of the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. Turn left into the entrance and it is about ½ mile to the parking area. There are picnic tables, grills, and restrooms available.
http://www.postimage.org/Pq1yKmLr.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pq1yKmLr)

[JWR]

Bike Night every Tuesday year round.

http://www.postimage.org/Pq1yNuOJ.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pq1yNuOJ)

http://www.postimage.org/gxSbu4S.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gxSbu4S)

[Easy Rider]

we should all make a conscious effort to shift body weight into the turn and keep the bike a few degrees more upright, rolling on the throttle some coming out of the turn.


This is important for (at least) two reasons:

1) When you lean the wrong way and parts are scraping, your margin for error correction is GONE.

2) You need to at least MAINTAIN the throttle throughout the turn because slowing down (with or without brakes) tends to make you go wide.......which is counter-intuitive. That probably is explained in the "books"; no need to go into it further here since nobody seems to care about the details.

Wouldn't want to be pretentious or condescending......... :cool:

[JWR]

:whistle:

[mr. softie]

mr.softie

When you are get off I-40 at Knoxville, take 129 South, this is the airport exit.

Let me know your time schedule.

Jerry

Thanks Jerry. I am not 100% sure I am going to this but more like 100% sure I am going to try my best. I will let you know, Steve

[JWR]

I would welcome the opportunity to show you around the Great Smokey Mountains.....

[mr. softie]

Very cool Jerry, Thanks

[Chris]

mr. softie, jwr, others,

Is anyone planning to go on the motorcycle weekend near Tellico Plains, TN?
It is at Camp Living Stones on April 24 for three days.
I'm planning to go if the weather is good. I really am looking forward to it.

Chris, retired near Atlanta

[JWR]

With special thanks to Killboy


http://www.postimage.org/aV1FkHrr.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aV1FkHrr)

http://www.postimage.org/Pq1EkbnS.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pq1EkbnS)

Rolling Roadblock

http://www.postimage.org/aV1FlGO0.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aV1FlGO0)

[JWR]

[quote="Chris"]mr. softie, jwr, others,

Is anyone planning to go on the motorcycle weekend near Tellico Plains, TN?
It is at Camp Living Stones on April 24 for three days.
I'm planning to go if the weather is good. I really am looking forward to it.

Chris, retired near Atlanta[/quote

I am sure I will be riding that week-end.
PM me for my cell # and maybe we can meet up.

Jerry

[mrlmd1]

That middle picture above shows much better almost perfect body position around a curve - head up and vertical, body leaned to the inside. At about 45 degree lean, you can see how little more this bike can go before hitting the peg on the road.
The only way to get around the turn faster would be to get more body weight to the inside, otherwise you risk scraping the peg and sliding out.

[JWR]

http://www.postimage.org/Pq1IKhzi.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/)

[Chris]

If interested in the motorcycle weekend at Camp Living Stones please email me at:

miller1155@bellsouth.net


Before anyone asks, I have no interest in this camp, never been there.

Chris, retired near Atlanta

[Sarris]

We stayed at Fontana Dam Resort at the top of the Hellbender and took our Harleys through the Dragons tail and the Hellbender a few times last August. I'm going to try to go again this August if possible.

It's the most beautiful scary riding I've ever see. Being born, raised, and spending most of my life in Florida, the place scared the shit out of me

http://www.postimage.org/aV1KClOJ.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aV1KClOJ)
My Fat Ass in Front of the Sign

http://www.postimage.org/aV1KCDgJ.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aV1KCDgJ)
At The Tree of Shame w/ My Riding Buddy

http://www.postimage.org/aV1KDlai.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aV1KDlai)
My Fat Ass at Fontana Dam, NC w/ Bike

:)

[Easy Rider]

the place scared the shit out of me


It appears that you have since recharged !!!! :shocked: :crackup

I'm not all that fond of the "twisties" myself. Illinois is about as flat as Florida.....just a few feet higher overall.

[JWR]

Yea, it used to get wild before all the Cop Crackdown.

The Cherohala is a much more relaxing ride.

Highway 28 is all good.

Enjoy and give me a shout if you come up this fall.

Jerry

[JWR]

http://www.postimage.org/gxY0D0A.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gxY0D0A)



http://www.postimage.org/Pq1JzN2J.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pq1JzN2J)


http://www.postimage.org/aV1KRNBr.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aV1KRNBr)

[patrick_777]

Sarris, I was thinking about your pic thread from the Gap when reading through this, and was going to post a link, but I was too lazy to use the search function.

IIRC, you trailered your HD for the ride, right? :redflip: :crackup

[Sarris]

Yep. Trailered up.

Clothes and supplies for a 10 day stay at my buddy's timeshare filled the back of his Nissan Titan pickup. If it would have been a 3 or 4 day trip we would have ridden. We had way too much stuff to carry safely on the bikes.

And no, I didn't trailer the HD FOR the ride. We trailered them TO the ride.

Smartass. :) :neener:

JWR, was that a SCOOTER????

:facepalm:

[JWR]

Yes, a 600cc Honda Silverwing.

Very comfortable touring scooter.

500 mile days were easy, cruising at 70+, no problem.

Fuel injected and limited to 110 mph.

[Dupo]

Mental note to self:

Never, ever post a picture of myself riding while cornering on this forum. Even if it was cornering on the edge of hell with satan pictured in the background trying to suck me in .... i'd probably be cornering improperly. :poke2:

[adrianinflorida]

Mental note to self:

Never, ever post a picture of myself riding while cornering on this forum. Even if it was cornering on the edge of hell with satan pictured in the background trying to suck me in .... i'd probably be cornering improperly. :poke2:
Valentino Rossi would be sent away crying by some of the critics here.

"Whatta they mean I corner like a leetle girrl?"

[Dupo]

lol.

[patrick_777]

"Whatta they mean I corner like a leetle girrl?"


:haha2: :crackup :haha2: :crackup :haha2: :crackup

[JWR]

What I like is the folks that would probably be scared to death if they saw this road in action giving me advice.

Check out http://killboy.blogspot.com/and go to the Highlights pictures......

Remember on any given weekend there is anywhere from 100 to 500 motorcycle and cars on this same 11 mile twisty road.

There is also about 3 to 7 different photographers to get your picture.

Try Yellowwolf on you tube.

He did a saddlesore on a Goldwing. 56 round trips in 24 hours.

For those of you that have ridden the dragon.....try this at night, at speed!!!!

I think this like works OK.
http://killboy.blogspot.com/

[Easy Rider]

For those of you that have ridden the dragon.....try this at night, at speed!!!!

Yep, THAT really sounds like good advice! :skull:

Oh, but I've never done it so I guess I'm not qualified to comment. :neener:

[JWR]

It is not for everyone!!!

Timid need not apply.

Same goes for other sports. skydiving, base jumping.

It just happens to be a playground that is tied to motorcycling and is close by.

I like it, some don't......not judging anybody.

[JWR]

You would probably enjoy the Blue Ridge Parkway.

I hope to ride all of it this year.


Jerry

[JWR]

Three States---318 miles = a good time.
Two 1200 Kaw
One 500 Honda
One GZ

Deals Gap NC.


http://www.postimage.org/aVgxxqA.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aVgxxqA)



http://www.postimage.org/Pqks1ZA.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pqks1ZA)

TWO

http://www.postimage.org/aVgxYS9.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aVgxYS9)



http://www.postimage.org/gx248jZr.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx248jZr)

[JWR]

I did not see another 250 all day??

http://www.postimage.org/aVgGhG9.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aVgGhG9)



http://www.postimage.org/aVgGwE0.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aVgGwE0)

[Chris]

Just got back from the three day motorcycle weekend in eastern Tennessee. Rode about 400 miles in three days. The guys on the Harleys rode much farther, sounds terrible to me.
Rode the Cherohala Skyway (5300 feet high) over to #129 and then rode the Dragons Tail. Never do the Tail again. Very scary, a lot of high speed motorcycles passing you in the turns and coming at you on your side of the yellow line. Really dangerous. Not my idea of fun.
I think I am happier doing easy enjoyable rides on my GZ than the Harley guys are blasting around at high speed. One group at the weekend retreat (church camp) did 350 miles in one day. For fun?? Not for me. All they talk about is how fast they went, how close they came to wrecking, and how they dodged the police.

Chris, retired in Atlanta

[Water Warrior 2]

Chris, group rides tend to evolve into a race and/or a lot of dangerous antics with some riders getting in over their heads. I rode the Dragon a couple years ago and had a great time without competing or going fast. Weekdays are probably less traffic filled and more enjoyable too.

[alanmcorcoran]

Try my rule of three: avoid group activties with more than three people. I am generally most happy riding solo, but I did have a very nice time on two trips with Moedad and one with OC hoosier and I hope to do so again. I was probably the slowest of the three, but there was no pressure for me to keep up and overall, it was a pleasant change of pace from solo rides. There's really not much opportunity for chit chat or bonding, but sometimes it's nice to have the buddy system on longer rides. If I had wrecked out in the middle of Joshua Tree, nobody would have known for days.

I'm still a bit inconsistent and tentative in the tight twisties so I probably wouldn't enjoy Dragon's Tail either. But, maybe eventually. The crossing over the center line business, though, sounds like classic riding beyond one's ability and is going to take out innocent parties. Mr. Hough says motorcycle on motorcycle head on collisions are frequently fatal for one of the parties and inability to maintain one's line is often the contributing factor.

[JWR]

You have to pick your time and place.

We left my house at 7:30 and was thru the dragon at 8:30.
I only passed two bikes going through.

Some days are wilder than others there.

Jerry