Becoming a Biker, Part 2: Learning to handle the new Harley

Union Leader ^ | June 9 2002 | JEANNE MORRIS

[sleavelessinseattle]

I told you he was a cool biker...What was that Wager 2T?

[2Trievers]

If life is just a road, then the soul is just a Porsche.

I've been known to pick up hitch hikers. LOL &;-)

[2Trievers]

That's Merritt Parkway ... no finer road to Manhattan for the "C" ... Yes sir! &;-)

[2Trievers]

Wager? Who said anything about a wager? I'll have my attorney ring your attorney ... or was it flute lessons? &;-)

[vetvetdoug]

When my 71' Lemans Sport threw craps I bought a 400 Yamaha in 1977. I put a faring on it with crash bars and rode it for six years while in college at UT Knoxville. I looked at every car driver like a paranoid schizophrenic and imagined they were out to get me. I believe Knoxville is where the world should train Kamikaze wannabes. The bike had a kick start which was a bitch when the temperature was below 32 degrees and I walked whenever there was snow or ice on the road. I only got run off the road once on Neyland Drive and ended up in the Tennessee River. Luckily Folks helped me and my bike out and the river dropoff was not too bad there. My most serious crash was on Clinch Mountain when I hit a chuckhole that was bigger than my front wheel (Now I know the origin of the word chuckhole). It flipped me over but since I wore gloves, a field jacket, full coverage helmet, and combat boots I only suffered a few road rashes. I made a serious error by following too closely behind a car which kept me from seeing the hole until it was too late.

I am going to get a Harley probably soon, I don't care if its a Sportster or else...I suffered radial nerve paralysis by riding the 400 Yamaha across country so I think the Sportster would be quite a step up...

[Jeff Gordon]

Gordon's Rules for riding a motorcycle. (Over 20 years of daily riding without scratch.)

Rule #1: When it comes to handle bars and turning, right is left and left is right. Turn the bars left to go right. Most bike newbies crash on a gentle, 50-mph curve. If the road curves left, they try to turn the handlebars left and the bike move right. It appears that an invisible force is pulling you off the road.

Rule #2: Motorcycles are invisible to any vehicle with four or more wheels. Never expect or count on the driver of car to see you. Never

Rule #3: Keep your margins. When performing any bike maneuver on the road, give yourself a decent margin. If your ability to perform the maneuver is 10, do it as if your ability was a 7. If you do this you will have some reaction margin when the unexpected happens.

[Jeff Gordon]

Anybody who rides long enough ends up on a BMW.

I have over 100k miles on my '92 K75RT. It looks and runs brand new.

[medved]

That's what I ride these days also. The K bikes often go to a quarter million miles; I actually like them better than the new ones.

[harrowup]

...I have known trees, bushes and rocks that traveled miles to get in front of me.

Those dunes are great places to lurk.

[blackie]

I've never owned a Porsche, the only sports cars I've owned were: '54 Corvette, '56 Austin Healey LeMans and a '60 Lotus Super 7.
I've owned two rear engine cars: '64 Corvair Monza Turbo Spyder and a '69 VW BajaBug that I built in '89 and totaled (along with our '93 Bounder motorhome) in '01... :o)

What road do you less travel so I'll know where to stick out my thumb ?? :o)

[blackie]

Oop's, built the BajaBug in '99...sigh...damn senior moments...:o)

[maxwell]

Rule #1: When it comes to handle bars and turning, right is left and left is right. Turn the bars left to go right. Most bike newbies crash on a gentle, 50-mph curve. If the road curves left, they try to turn the handlebars left and the bike move right. It appears that an invisible force is pulling you off the road.

I got told "if you want to go left, PUSH left. And vice versa." I even tried it out on a bicycle once and it worked, dude... I always remember that going around curves on the motorcycle...

[2Trievers]

"What road do you less travel so I'll know where to stick out my thumb ?? :o)'

LOL ... most any route north to ME or NH these days ... or pulled over by a trooper on I-91, I-395 ... my vanity is "VROOM" &;-)

[blackie]

VROOM was a nick given to me by an old e-mail Navy fighter pilot when I bought my last Harley...it'sa small world...

BTW, here's what I wouldn't mind tooling around in, now that Ford has decided to put it in production:

Ford GT40.

[2Trievers]

VERY good looking ... will it run with the 425? I need to know what I am up against at the next traffic light! LOL &;-)

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I've owned two rear engine cars

Whats a car? :)

(1994 FLHTC :)

BigMack

[sit-rep]

lol...

[blackie]

I've owned 20+ motorcycles over the years 3 were Harley's...I've owned bikes on and off since 1948...

[blackie]

I don't know what it'll do, I haven't driven it...I think I read that it has over 500 hp, I'll do some more checking...my Lightning has only 425 hp...sigh...

[blackie]

Here's a GT40 link.