Is motorcycling allowed?

[Andrew_Smith]

Tried some braking drills, something I really need to work more on. The bike doesn't have ABS, so good technique is quite important. Still a white belt, started slow and went up to 40kph emergency brake in 3m block with the cones.

The bike feels fantastic with the new serviced shock, I can now easily gun over speed bumps, previously it felt like the bike wanted to throw me over like an angry horse.

Still need to get her off-road.

[Spokey]

On 5/15/2022 at 11:12 AM, Hairy said:

Random question .... what is the ride on the N1 like from CT to JHB, or the other way around again?

It looks like I am going to be traveling to JHB a lot in the near future and I like the idea of doing the route by bike at least once. Given work and time commitments it would have to be a one day ride straight through for each trip.

I have done Hoekwil to Josie and back on the bike twice, despite the fact that my company would pay the return flight to go for my FAA medical. I do stop over though. Normally Bloem on the way up and Middleburg on the way back. I would not do CT to Josie in one hit…..and I do like riding my bike! I am planning a largely dirt road trip for next time. 
N1 is horrible with trucks if you have crap weather……hard passing in the spray. Colesburg to Bloem I take the road that parallels the N1. Bloem to Josie is mostly boring. 
 

[mazambaan]

22 hours ago, Andrew_Smith said:

Tried some braking drills, something I really need to work more on. The bike doesn't have ABS, so good technique is quite important. Still a white belt, started slow and went up to 40kph emergency brake in 3m block with the cones.

The bike feels fantastic with the new serviced shock, I can now easily gun over speed bumps, previously it felt like the bike wanted to throw me over like an angry horse.

Still need to get her off-road.

Maybe think about doing one of the BMW etc training courses (if you haven't done one)?  Always a good bunch of guys and girls, you always (in my experience) learn something and can slot in (if you want to) for out rides.

With no ABS, a good drill is to practice just locking (and immediately releasing slightly duh) the front wheel. That is maximum braking.

[Andrew_Smith]

2 hours ago, mazambaan said:

Maybe think about doing one of the BMW etc training courses (if you haven't done one)?  Always a good bunch of guys and girls, you always (in my experience) learn something and can slot in (if you want to) for out rides.

With no ABS, a good drill is to practice just locking (and immediately releasing slightly duh) the front wheel. That is maximum braking.

Definitely on the bucket list, would love to join one since I am still fairly new to the world of motorcycling.

Sadly, in my current phase of life with part-time studies and internship I cannot justify spending R2000 on a course at the moment.

One day when I am big! For now, basic drills will have to do and the playlist of Mr Chris Birch.

[Hairy]

2 hours ago, mazambaan said:

Maybe think about doing one of the BMW etc training courses (if you haven't done one)?  Always a good bunch of guys and girls, you always (in my experience) learn something and can slot in (if you want to) for out rides.

With no ABS, a good drill is to practice just locking (and immediately releasing slightly duh) the front wheel. That is maximum braking.

Would it be worth / the same if you also take your MTB on loose gravel and then apply the same tech. as on the bike .... this would = low consequence training that would benefit both on the bike and MTB? 

[mazambaan]

21 hours ago, Hairy said:

Would it be worth / the same if you also take your MTB on loose gravel and then apply the same tech. as on the bike .... this would = low consequence training that would benefit both on the bike and MTB? 

I think so except a motorbike is so much bigger and heavier but getting used to a bit of a skid from the front wheel is, I think, beneficial. Thinking through the fingers of the right hand. That, as well as looking where you want to go, weighting the outside pedal or footpeg round corners and standing on a bike in various positions have really helped me over the years.

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

30 minutes ago, mazambaan said:

I think so except a motorbike is so much bigger and heavier but getting used to a bit of a skid from the front wheel is, I think, beneficial. Thinking through the fingers of the right hand. That, as well as looking where you want to go, weighting the outside pedal or footpeg round corners and standing on a bike in various positions have really helped me over the years.

Interesting, and off topic, to hear how the aero in MotoGP is leading to front wheel lock ups. And the *** Michelins contributing too.
They asked Pecco this weekend and he said the front doesn't occasionally lock-up, it is pretty much happening in every hard braking zone, on every lap. They simply manage it......

[Hairy]

41 minutes ago, mazambaan said:

I think so except a motorbike is so much bigger and heavier but getting used to a bit of a skid from the front wheel is, I think, beneficial. Thinking through the fingers of the right hand. That, as well as looking where you want to go, weighting the outside pedal or footpeg round corners and standing on a bike in various positions have really helped me over the years.

AND we are assuming that riders are mounting their MTB brakes correctly, with the front brake on the right hand side

[mazambaan]

On 5/19/2022 at 7:59 AM, Hairy said:

AND we are assuming that riders are mounting their MTB brakes correctly, with the front brake on the right hand side

Well said; many, many mtb'ers etc have the front on the left and I hopped on one the other day and had to recalibrate very quickly. Not a good idea to start on a steep downhill.

[Hairy]

 

[sawystertrance]

Hairy and Mazambaan,

For what it's worth, I think you guys are both wrong - depending on how you ride. I think most folk are right handed and it's better to use your dominant hand to activate whichever brake is better for your style of riding. Don't know about you but I  - when I still had the energy to ride MTB - used my back brake far more often than my front and liked having the fine control of my right hand. Also, in an unexpected emergency, my reaction - perhaps due to motorbike riding - was to grab a handful with my right hand. I preferred that to be back brake and I could then follow up with front for more stopping. 

Motorbike was the opposite, with front brake being the brake of choice. That's for road riding, anyway. I find on gravel it's still my reaction to grab the right hand brake and that being front, it does catch me out.   

Comments?

[Hairy]

2 hours ago, sawystertrance said:

Hairy and Mazambaan,

For what it's worth, I think you guys are both wrong - depending on how you ride. I think most folk are right handed and it's better to use your dominant hand to activate whichever brake is better for your style of riding. Don't know about you but I  - when I still had the energy to ride MTB - used my back brake far more often than my front and liked having the fine control of my right hand. Also, in an unexpected emergency, my reaction - perhaps due to motorbike riding - was to grab a handful with my right hand. I preferred that to be back brake and I could then follow up with front for more stopping. 

Motorbike was the opposite, with front brake being the brake of choice. That's for road riding, anyway. I find on gravel it's still my reaction to grab the right hand brake and that being front, it does catch me out.   

Comments?

Look you are absolutely right do what is comfortable for you, but you are still wrong

[WaynejG]

3 hours ago, sawystertrance said:

Hairy and Mazambaan,

For what it's worth, I think you guys are both wrong - depending on how you ride. I think most folk are right handed and it's better to use your dominant hand to activate whichever brake is better for your style of riding. Don't know about you but I  - when I still had the energy to ride MTB - used my back brake far more often than my front and liked having the fine control of my right hand. Also, in an unexpected emergency, my reaction - perhaps due to motorbike riding - was to grab a handful with my right hand. I preferred that to be back brake and I could then follow up with front for more stopping. 

Motorbike was the opposite, with front brake being the brake of choice. That's for road riding, anyway. I find on gravel it's still my reaction to grab the right hand brake and that being front, it does catch me out.   

Comments?

I am the same as you. My MTB brakes are rear on the right and front on the left. When on the MTB my main brake is the rear so my dominant right hand is in control. Same as when on a motorbike. I have gotten so used to it and the muscle memory is so I grained, if I had to swop the brakes on my MTB to match a motorbike, that would totally screw me over.

[sawystertrance]

2 hours ago, Hairy said:

Look you are absolutely right do what is comfortable for you, but you are still wrong

Hahaha. Harley riders eh?

Edited May 20, 2022 by sawystertrance

[sawystertrance]

Wayne, you're lucky to have muscle memory. My muscles are so far gone, all I have is memory

[mazambaan]

On 5/20/2022 at 8:27 PM, WaynejG said:

I am the same as you. My MTB brakes are rear on the right and front on the left. When on the MTB my main brake is the rear so my dominant right hand is in control. Same as when on a motorbike. I have gotten so used to it and the muscle memory is so I grained, if I had to swop the brakes on my MTB to match a motorbike, that would totally screw me over.

I suppose it depends whether you want the brakes to stop you or initiate a slide or even trail braking. Obviously on most motorcycles (some are linked (BMW?) and some have a left hand rear brake - Rekluse clutch equipped etc) the rear brake is right foot controlled so very different to a bicycle.