Target fixation, rain and failure to negotiate a curve :(

[Gz Rider]

...

[greatmaul]

Originally Posted by JWR

This picture is after the fog had cleared enough to resume riding.
That is Ed with a yellow rain jacket at the end of the pull off.

wow! I can actually barely make out a yellow jacket there. Can't imagine what it was like *before* it cleared up. Thanks for the advice on rain riding. I just have to trust the bike and the tires. So far they've always been more than up to the task!

[Water Warrior 2]

Originally Posted by JWR

This picture is after the fog had cleared enough to resume riding.
That is Ed with a yellow rain jacket at the end of the pull off.

That is just plain frightening.

[Water Warrior 2]

Originally Posted by JWR

The bike will usually handle beyond our ability to ride it.

No truer words have been spoken. I "thought" I had a good handle on the Vstrom in the twisties. Then I changed my riding position and used more body english in curves. I was very surprised how much more speed I could maintain and never feel that the bike was reaching it's limits. But I did find my limits. I won't be going there again any time soon. But it was fun while it lasted.

[JWR]

The tires that I am running now have a 50 degree lean angle in the dry and 41 in the wet.

More than enough for an old and slow rider.

[greatmaul]

Originally Posted by JWR

The tires that I am running now have a 50 degree lean angle in the dry and 41 in the wet. More than enough for an old and slow rider.

wow, you can look stuff like that up?? I had no idea. I'm going to look for my tires. It might give me a bit more confidence. I thought I was shooting for maybe a 10 or 15 degree lean as max in the rain.

[JWR]

Interesting read.

Sometimes the motorcycle tire makers will give a maximum lean angle for a particular tire. For instance, in May 2009 Michelin claims a maximum lean angle of 50.6 degrees on dry pavement and 41.9 degrees on wet pavement "as measured at the Michelin test track" for their Pilot Power sportbike tires. One might guess that the Michelin test track's pavement has less sand and better maintenance than standard street pavement, but that's purely a guess. In any case, that gives a coefficient of friction of 1.2 on dry pavement and .90 on wet pavement.

BMW's S1000RR sportbike has a traction-control mechanism which measures lean angle and restricts power when the angle exceeds a predetermined limit. Rain mode allows 38 degrees of lean, corresponding to a coefficient of friction of .78; sport mode allows 45 degrees, ? = 1; race mode allows 48 degrees, ? = 1.1; and slick mode gives 53 degrees, ? = 1.3

[Water Warrior 2]

Modern Research and Design sure beats the old Trial by Error method.

[mole2]

Originally Posted by Water Warrior

Modern Research and Design sure beats the old Trial by Error method.

Except when it breaks and the rider has never developed the skills to deal with it.

[Way]

Originally Posted by greatmaul

That's a very good idea. I'll definitely do that. I think a big part of the problem I had was that I was not concentrating on riding but on other things.

good point! I've had the MSF class and was actually hoping it would be raining then, because I've heard that if you take the basic rider course in the rain it helps teach you not to be afraid of and over-react to the rain. Maybe I should sign up for the ERC. I do have a couple thousand miles under my belt.

Thanks everyone for the good thoughts and wishes. Much appreciated!

Even though I've passed the motorcycle license course and have my endorsement, I still do slow speed maneuvers every now and then in season just to keep sharp. It's also kind of fun. Might help you as well to keep in touch with the bike. I plan on more when Spring comes around too.