Fine Jumping Ride???

[Ari Rankum]

About a month ago, I was waaaay out in western Maryland at the foot of the Appalachians. A bridge was out for repair and I got routed through a passel of bucolic byways. As the Feej and I were wending our way along, my eyes, always keen for bodysurfing opportunities, even if well out of context, spied an approaching set of three 7-footers. If I had a camera at the time, I could show you a picture perfect wave train made out of asphalt. I can't imagine an engineer inspected this abortion and signed off on it, but it persists and has the look of having been there for a long time. But I digress. I went over the first one somewhat gently and right at 30 MPH. Hmmm, says I, as I pass through 0 Gs. I wick it up by 5 for the second one, and launch the front. At the base of the last one, the stupid gene takes over, and I goose it. The Feej launched right off the apex. It was really graceful and sparrow-like for about a second before returning to fat pig mode on landing.

You know how usually, right after you let one rip, you then look around to see if the coast is clear, only to meet shame? Welp, this time, I looked around and I was still all by myself. Just like under the covers, some of life's stinky moments are best enjoyed alone.

 

[HaulinAshe]

In the late spring of this year, I was crossing a four-lane section of NC-87 with a large divider. I was running late to meet someone out in the boonies and had pretty much lost my way trying shortcuts to make up time. I stopped at a convenience store and got those really complex directions, you know "go straight across over there, turn right at the green store, then take the next left after the third dirt road" kinda thing. Jeeesh! I'm colorblind lady!

Anyway, so I pulled out from the store and romped on the throttle HARD to cross all four lanes, divider and all, just like the nice lady said. As I passed the far edge of the four lane there it was. A nice 2-3 foot change in surface. Let's just say I was traveling briskly by that time.

I have NO idea how high the FJR got, but it was a LOOOONG smooth ride for a couple seconds. The landing was not bad and thank God the side road was straight. I actually had time to rev the engine and raise the nose a bit before it touched down. In dirt racing we call that the Panic Rev. That it damn sure was!!!

On dirt, I've spent a major portion airborne. Here's the proof:

 

[bandito]

Well, I say as the years pass those airborne stunts get less frequent, whether on motorbikes, snowboards, mountain bikes or whatever. I think because the landings get harder somehow. Haven't gotten off the ground with the FJR (yet), the last time was on the bandit, pulling hard on the throttle off of a light, only to find too late a HUGH speed bump with all the warning paint worn off. One of those 3 foot wide ones, only had time to stand on the pegs, and WHEEE -- WHUMP . then SH*T why did they put that there?

 

[squeezer]

One of my routine circuits has an upward right bend with a whoop-d-du at the end of the bend. I've learned that at about 80MPH (speed limit is 40) I can get both wheels airborn about 3". If I'm accelerating too hard the front wheel climbs up and I can ride it out a bit longer. I am still leaned over a little as well. Bike remains stable and miles of smiles continue.
There are other locations for this too where I live, but that one has the smoothest road.

Okay, Sport -- now you gotta tell us other PA'ers where that road is.

 

[Bustanut joker]

I was out with my cousin a fine young tang. I was a ferry IIRC.
I came clean Thank goodness. cyoungmo wasn't around then.

.
whooo whooo! Tales of your sordid youth. :blink:

But how much air did your FJR get ??????

:jester:

 

[feejer222]

OK got a good one for you here.

When I was about 18 I was out with about a dozen guys on the way to a bike rally in Derby. We came to a long straight road with a hump back bridge half way. It was a narrow road so we formed an orderly queue to go over the bridge all doing about 50mph. I was on a Suzuki 500 twin 2 stroke at the time, known here as a GT500. When I got to the bridge having had lots of dirt bike experience throughout my teens, the jump was a formality. I left the ground and landed 20 feet further on, back wheel first smooth as silk.

What I had forgotten was that I was giving a lift to someone....and he was carrying the tent poles across his lap. As we left the ground I felt his fingers in my ribs, as we landed I looked in my mirrors to see tent poles bouncing everywhere.

We slept under the stars that night

 

[Knifemaker]

I always like how in movies if the rider on the street bike "catches some serious air" you look closely and see the bike is a dirt bike made up to look like a streetbike....

In the Bond movie "Never Say Never Again" they had 3 bikes , one a sportbike with fairing work, one a dirtbike with matching body work and a bike for close ups on the "gadgets".

I am not sure I'd want to get a 600 lb bike with limited suspension travel airborne for any great height...

KM

 

[GunMD]

I wonder how many suspension manufacturers / retailers / distributors are reading this thread and vowing to never honor another warranty when their products are installed on a Feej??

 

[feejer222]

How about....................

Jonathon Rea going over 'The Mountain' at Cadwell Park this year after his win, and some others.

More of Cadwell Mountain, Makes you feel kind of ineadequate eh?

 

[Honzo]

H S! Will look on youtube later, but any other sites showing videos of track jumps? Would like to see the full arch.

 

[feejer222]

H S! Will look on youtube later, but any other sites showing videos of track jumps? Would like to see the full arch.

 

[Honzo]

Thank you feejer222. Remind me not to jump my bike anymore OK.

 

[Cal24Master]

West bound Hwy 58 about 2 miles before California Valley. Going through the Whoops, if you hit the highest one at about 90-95 you will get air. I did it once passing a buddy at about 120, two up and he said the back tire looked like a airplane landing, it smoked when it came down. I guess I was still on the gas.....

 

[feejer222]

Our very own Howie Mainwaring at Cadwell.

Last year (06) the front wheel shattered on landing and Howie went A over T. A piece of the wheel hit Ryuichi Kiyonari and brought him off too. Kiyo san went on to win the title. Howie broke a bone in his wrist, but soon recovered...as he does.

The problem was blamed on his main sponsor lending the bike (Honda Fireblade), to an Irish rider to race in the North West 200 in Ireland in between BSB rounds. Because the open roads are so bumpy most teams use road wheels, but the sponsor left Howies 'more delicate' race wheels on which were weakened to the point of collapse.

It is common for drive chains to come off whilst in mid air due to the wheel hanging and the chain going loose, if there is and sideways inertia the chain slips off the sprocket.