Chris, you're supposed to watch the video clip not treat it like a Porn dude!! :shock: :shock: :lol: :lol:
if you guys liked that and want some real race porn then you should get yourself some Northwest 200 DVD's....think a shorter Isle of Man circuit but with a simultaneous starting grid of 30 -odd guys in every class (and at least one woman in the 250's last year...now she's got brass ovaries!). It's the perfect thing to get you through the winter (and tell your women now because it's a perfect stocking stuffer!:wink. I couldn't even wait this year, after our last track weekend at Summit Point in October I had to watch our NW200 2005 the following weekend! Check it out: http://www.dukevideousa.com/Motorcycles/DVD/Street Racing except TT/Northwest 200 2005 DVD NTSC.aspx If you like it, be sure to pick up previous years, like when David Jeffries was alive (1999 was a great year for him...but that one may only be available on VHS). Seriously, though, it's really cool to see these proddy bikes at speed and I just love how differently they need to be set up to handle the rough village road surfaces. We are definitely putting Coleraine Ireland on our trip list one of these days... Anyway, happy shopping....this winter has to get cold sometime! Kath
Sweeet! My wife was just asking what I wanted for Christmas and if I don't give her some ideas soon I'm afraid she's gonna get me a dog :shock: I e-mailed her that page already. Thanks Kath
Buy a Ducati, the rear brakes don't do anything anyway so you don't have to worry about using it My driveway is 1/4 mile long (dirt) and VERY steep which makes me wish I had some rear brake every time I go down it. Other than that I don't ever miss it.
With a big twin, the engine is a rear brake. Before everybody jumps up sreaming, I am not advocating heavy use of compression brakeing My point is even with most slipper clutches, there is some compression brakeing. Used moderately and properly it works well. Used excessively and crudely it causes the same problems as a brake pedal. Those of us that still use the clutch for shifting can also use it as a rear brake lever. Except it works backwards, naturally.
i'm BACK! :lol: just got up to speed and had a couple thoughts... as ds41 said, "...If you are still on the brakes after turning in you are "trailing" the brakes..." technically then, even the "braking before turn-in" rider is trailbraking. that rider is releasing the brakes after turn in. the difference is that the brakes are being released as the bike goes to immediate full lean - as opposed to waiting while bending it in to the apex(whatever that's become :roll: ). the other thought... by releasing the brakes while turning in, there is no pogo action of the suspension. as the bike takes its 'set' at full lean from turn-in, the cornering forces hold it down. it has to be timed...mike(desmo) covered that previously when he stated it should be done as one smooth move. more thoughts... the front brake does indeed steepen your rake and make for a quicker turning bike. that's part of the beauty of using the "other" braking technique. with max braking, the rake isn't getting any steeper and it's steeper than the trailbrakers. at that point, a very quick turn is enabled. while traversing the turn, line corrections can be made with the front brake...2-3% effort will drop the front enough to have an effect. the rear brake may be used for similar effect. it will squat the front. an additional use of the rear is to squat the whole bike at the end of a straight, after which full force is applied to the front. slippers? engine braking?... IMO, slippers are a crutch for 'hurried' riding and engine braking is for cruising around. there is no slowing a bike down like that of using the brakes. the engine is made for accelerating. save the braking for the brake pads. they're cheap by comparison. if you're bouncing the rear around while downshifting, you need suspension help and/or a finer technique. nothing will screw you up faster than rushing yourself on the track. hence, it's a crutch.
there's a multi-time iom winner that's a regular over on the wera board if you wanna go squirt some more. shaun harris. goes by the username iomtt
Yes - it works nicely that way.... also post-apex if one is getting on the gas hard/reducing lean (simultaneously of course) and you want to maintain/tighten your line without affecting an ever-increasing throttle application... and yes, a thumb brake helps (especially on right hand turns). A thumb brake also helps when unloading your bike, but that's an expensive add-on for a marginal bit of additional ease :lol:
If I was still racing, I would try a thumb brake. Someday when the shifting becomes truly clutch free, I wouldn't be suprised to see thumb brakes proliferate and maybe see a small lever that is operated with one or two fingers instead of the thumb. It might be more natural that way or it may be more confusing. Who knows. I do know I find brake pedals awkward if you'r off one side or the other of the bike as we often are when brakeing in between two close corners. A CV joint for an ankle would help.
I never got used to the one I had on my CBR9. Probably partly because I never used the rear brake on any bikes in the first place, but also because using it and the clutch lever with the same hand at the same time just required to much thinking while I took the time to get used to it. Also, my setup was just too weak to be useful .I had to microscopic calipers on the rear disc, one operated by hand and the other by foot. Even squeezing both together wasn't as strong as a stock rear set up. So in the end, their only function was to pass tech inspection.
damn, and here i thought this place was running slow..... normally i just ride into a corner @ full tilt boogie until i saw "aw sh*t", grab the brakes ,turn, get on the gas when i feel comfortable. your results may vary regards, Pat
I almost never touch the rear brake on the track. I do commonly use it while leaving the hot pit lane and heading back to the corral. Typically I'll need to pump the pedal a couple times before I get brakes (the pistons are usually back in the caliper). If I needed it in an emergency I'd be SOL. I also drilled the life out of the rear disc to make it tougher to lock up the rear.
i have had to use the rear brake to tighten up my line when i've gotten in too hot and am starting to run wide, but i wouldn't recommend it - sems like a good way to get in trouble. perhaps with a thumb brake i would change my mind. my rear brake is not at all powerful, and is very progressive. one the other hand i've found that rolling off the throttle mid corner usually results in losing the front end.
\ Nah, if it's a cold day at the track you could drag you're knee through the inside of the turn and throw some sparks on some dry grass. Then, you would truly feel like you were getting you're rocks off in the pit of hell with burning flames all around. Not only that, but then us broke guys could park our bikes next to the fire and eliminate tire warmers. :twisted: :lol:
I'm not a big fan of those.. they scare riders and are a major distraction. In addition they are pretty "squiddy" IMO.
Yeah, I know Monte I think alot of people agree with you. I was just trying to make a joke. :wink: Yes, they are squiddy too.
I used to think they were ok until I almost binned it in because I thought a guy was dragging hard parts and it scared the poop outta me! BTW - Schedules up in the "other" thread.