High Speed run Yesterday, learned what I already knew

[Cdogman]

In light of the 145mph Post by feejer222 seeing so much attention I thought I would post what I did Yesterday.

I learned a few things.

I was on my way back from looking at a job (I am a contractor and had my bike because I did NOT think I had to look at jobs that day). This job was up in Silvercreek Junction past Park City Utah from Salt Lake.

My run up was fun, dabbling in the 95-110 range. 4 Lanes almost no one around and super sight distances.

On my way back down the canyon dabbling again in the 95-110 range and huge sweepers, nice asphalt, enjoying it. I let me concentration laps for what could not have been more than .25 seconds and I looked up again and I was heading for the dirt. I was at about 105 110 or so. The bike started wobbling as it crossed over the rumble strip at speed.

I did not really panic [SIZE=8pt](OK for 1/10th of a sec I went holy fff)[/SIZE] but I do remember immediately planning a recovery strategy.

I let the bike finish its course over the rumble strip not trying anything.

The bike hit the 6-7 foot wide asphalt emergency lane and stabilized and I gave the bar a gentle push to stop my drift off into the side of the mtn looking for debris in my new path.

Gently tipped it back on the rumble strip and out onto the road.

Here is what I learned.

1. If I am not going to pay TOTAL attention I need to not do that.

2. Rumble Strips make the bike float under me

3. Conscious practice of the techniques and repeated training in not panicking saved my ***

4. I will never allow myself to lose my concentration again when riding that fast down a canyon

5. I could have been hurt pretty bad or dead

6. ATGATT is a good thing

7. It is time for new tires

7. That was a fun ride

I don't think taking someone on a ride to amuse yourself at high speeds is being responsible. When I take most passengers (and not often) they must have gear, even if borrowed, In fact I have spare sets of gear in a couple different sizes including helmets for this purpose.

My goal is for them to have FUN, not to scare the **** out of them. To most, having fun on the back of a bike is going UNDER the speed limit by quite some margin, especially in turns

Now in contrast

My Girlfriend LOVES to ride fast up canyons and with me. We often hit canyons and exceed trip digits leaning way over, even ground a peg a few times at the Buck 10 or so with her on board. We have autocom and she is laughing happy, and quiet when leaning as she is trying to work with me.

We BOTH know the risks and she does not want to drive a bike. She will from time to time walk out of the bedroom holding her Shoei and Frank Thomas gear and say "Honey, Take me out on the bike, that thing is a blast" (at least once a week)

Here is the deal for me.

Riding my bike is a sport to me. With all the inherent risks and I accept them. My Girlfriend accepts them too and practises consciously being a good passenger and leaning as I do. We love it. It is our choice and we accept the risks.

That is my choice.

That is just me

99% of the time I am at the speed of traffic

//Cdog

 

[radman]

She will from time to time walk out of the bedroom holding her Shoei and Frank Thomas gear //Cdog

Ah, the image this presents.........

Glad to see you're not writing this from a bed in the TDub-Skooter Wing of the local hospital.

 

[feejer222]

In light of the 145mph Post by feejer222 seeing so much attention I thought I would post what I did Yesterday.
I learned a few things.

I was on my way back from looking at a job (I am a contractor and had my bike because I did NOT think I had to look at jobs that day). This job was up in Silvercreek Junction past Park City Utah from Salt Lake.

My run up was fun, dabbling in the 95-110 range. 4 Lanes almost no one around and super sight distances.

On my way back down the canyon dabbling again in the 95-110 range and huge sweepers, nice asphalt, enjoying it. I let me concentration laps for what could not have been more than .25 seconds and I looked up again and I was heading for the dirt. I was at about 105 110 or so. The bike started wobbling as it crossed over the rumble strip at speed.

I did not really panic [SIZE=8pt](OK for 1/10th of a sec I went holy fff)[/SIZE] but I do remember immediately planning a recovery strategy.

I let the bike finish its course over the rumble strip not trying anything.

The bike hit the 6-7 foot wide asphalt emergency lane and stabilized and I gave the bar a gentle push to stop my drift off into the side of the mtn looking for debris in my new path.

Gently tipped it back on the rumble strip and out onto the road.

Here is what I learned.

1. If I am not going to pay TOTAL attention I need to not do that.

2. Rumble Strips make the bike float under me

3. Conscious practice of the techniques and repeated training in not panicking saved my ***

4. I will never allow myself to lose my concentration again when riding that fast down a canyon

5. I could have been hurt pretty bad or dead

6. ATGATT is a good thing

7. It is time for new tires

7. That was a fun ride

I don't think taking someone on a ride to amuse yourself at high speeds is being responsible. When I take most passengers (and not often) they must have gear, even if borrowed, In fact I have spare sets of gear in a couple different sizes including helmets for this purpose.

My goal is for them to have FUN, not to scare the **** out of them. To most, having fun on the back of a bike is going UNDER the speed limit by quite some margin, especially in turns

Now in contrast

My Girlfriend LOVES to ride fast up canyons and with me. We often hit canyons and exceed trip digits leaning way over, even ground a peg a few times at the Buck 10 or so with her on board. We have autocom and she is laughing happy, and quiet when leaning as she is trying to work with me.

We BOTH know the risks and she does not want to drive a bike. She will from time to time walk out of the bedroom holding her Shoei and Frank Thomas gear and say "Honey, Take me out on the bike, that thing is a blast" (at least once a week)

Here is the deal for me.

Riding my bike is a sport to me. With all the inherent risks and I accept them. My Girlfriend accepts them too and practises consciously being a good passenger and leaning as I do. We love it. It is our choice and we accept the risks.

That is my choice.

That is just me

99% of the time I am at the speed of traffic

//Cdog

I am also a contractor.......is this a contractor thing?

 

[Cdogman]

She will from time to time walk out of the bedroom holding her Shoei and Frank Thomas gear //Cdog

Ah, the image this presents.........

Glad to see you're not writing this from a bed in the TDub-Skooter Wing of the local hospital.

Mister you have no idea, You would so want to be me, I promise

Hey 222

This could well be a contractor thing :lol:

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

Choices, we all make em. There are times and places where 3 digit speeds represent what I consider reasonable risk. I have to admit, I don't think I've ever scraped a peg at 100 mph plus. I have done 136 with a passenger on board. The area was...remote.

 

[Cdogman]

Choices, we all make em. There are times and places where 3 digit speeds represent what I consider reasonable risk. I have to admit, I don't think I've ever scraped a peg at 100 mph plus. I have done 136 with a passenger on board. The area was...remote.

I was not out to scrape a peg, it happened when I was leaning and hit a slight depression in the road. The suspension compressed coming out of it and that is when it touched down one time. I dont do it on purpose, it just happens

 

[feejer222]

Hey 222
This could well be a contractor thing :lol:

OK lets work together here, you see that nail? when I nod my head you hit it

Choices, we all make em. There are times and places where 3 digit speeds represent what I consider reasonable risk. I have to admit, I don't think I've ever scraped a peg at 100 mph plus. I have done 136 with a passenger on board. The area was...remote.

I was not out to scrape a peg, it happened when I was leaning and hit a slight depression in the road. The suspension compressed coming out of it and that is when it touched down one time. I dont do it on purpose, it just happens

Scraped a knee at 80................... any good? Never scraped anything at 100 plus.

 

[Cdogman]

Hey 222
This could well be a contractor thing :lol:

OK lets work together here, you see that nail? when I nod my head you hit it

Choices, we all make em. There are times and places where 3 digit speeds represent what I consider reasonable risk. I have to admit, I don't think I've ever scraped a peg at 100 mph plus. I have done 136 with a passenger on board. The area was...remote.

I was not out to scrape a peg, it happened when I was leaning and hit a slight depression in the road. The suspension compressed coming out of it and that is when it touched down one time. I dont do it on purpose, it just happens

Scraped a knee at 80................... any good? Never scraped anything at 100 plus.

How long did it take for your knee to heal?? :yahoo:

I try not to scrap my knee, I dont have pucks on my gear and I think I would not like the experience :blink:

 

[kaitsdad]

 

[Cdogman]

[SIZE=36pt]ROGER THAT! ![/SIZE]

Just sent him a deposit yesterday

 

[feejer222]

How long did it take for your knee to heal?? :yahoo:
I try not to scrap my knee, I dont have pucks on my gear and I think I would not like the experience :blink:

Twas a long time ago, on a track.

 

[Cdogman]

How long did it take for your knee to heal?? :yahoo:
I try not to scrap my knee, I dont have pucks on my gear and I think I would not like the experience :blink:

Twas a long time ago, on a track.

Thats good.

 

[luvtoride]

On my way back down the canyon dabbling again in the 95-110 range and huge sweepers, nice asphalt, enjoying it. I let me concentration laps for what could not have been more than .25 seconds and I looked up again and I was heading for the dirt. I was at about 105 110 or so. The bike started wobbling as it crossed over the rumble strip at speed.
I did not really panic [SIZE=8pt](OK for 1/10th of a sec I went holy fff)[/SIZE] but I do remember immediately planning a recovery strategy.

I let the bike finish its course over the rumble strip not trying anything.

The bike hit the 6-7 foot wide asphalt emergency lane and stabilized and I gave the bar a gentle push to stop my drift off into the side of the mtn looking for debris in my new path.

Gently tipped it back on the rumble strip and out onto the road.

//Cdog

I'm glad that I'm not the only one this has happened to... there are a few differences. I was only going 60, there was no rumble strip & no runoff/shoulder. There was however a deep ditch... & I did freak out. Actually, I didn't freak.. but I froze. Not much time to do/think of anything but getting off of the bike... which I did.

Cdog, glad that you are ok, man. Your incident could've been devastating.

What I learned... NEVER look at the tank bag/map even while in the very slightest of curves. I took attention away from what I was doing for less than a second & I paid the price.

We sure do take a lesson away from avoided & not avoided accidents, don't we? Glad you were writing that post as opposed to someone else.

Heidi

 

[Cdogman]

On my way back down the canyon dabbling again in the 95-110 range and huge sweepers, nice asphalt, enjoying it. I let me concentration laps for what could not have been more than .25 seconds and I looked up again and I was heading for the dirt. I was at about 105 110 or so. The bike started wobbling as it crossed over the rumble strip at speed.
I did not really panic [SIZE=8pt](OK for 1/10th of a sec I went holy fff)[/SIZE] but I do remember immediately planning a recovery strategy.

I let the bike finish its course over the rumble strip not trying anything.

The bike hit the 6-7 foot wide asphalt emergency lane and stabilized and I gave the bar a gentle push to stop my drift off into the side of the mtn looking for debris in my new path.

Gently tipped it back on the rumble strip and out onto the road.

//Cdog

I'm glad that I'm not the only one this has happened to... there are a few differences. I was only going 60, there was no rumble strip & no runoff/shoulder. There was however a deep ditch... & I did freak out. Actually, I didn't freak.. but I froze. Not much time to do/think of anything but getting off of the bike... which I did.

Cdog, glad that you are ok, man. Your incident could've been devastating.

What I learned... NEVER look at the tank bag/map even while in the very slightest of curves. I took attention away from what I was doing for less than a second & I paid the price.

We sure do take a lesson away from avoided & not avoided accidents, don't we? Glad you were writing that post as opposed to someone else.

Heidi

Yea, I was glancing at my Speedo to see how fast I was going, That is how I know I went off at 105-110 (indicated)

Sorry you got off. Glad you are here to tell the tale too

 

[Big Sky]

Yes, glad your cool head saved the day. That kind of thing only comes with experience.

As for having your girlfriend lean with you in turns... My wife has been riding pillion with me for about 25 of the 30 years I've been riding. From day one I instructed her to NOT lean - never - one direction or the other; to only remain completely upright relative to the machine, the line of her shoulders exactly parallel to the line of the seat. When the bike tips, she will tip, but only then. My reasoning - and this works for us - I am the operator of the machine and I want no help from anyone else at any time in determining the exact attitude of the machine relative to the road. I don't want her help - or hindrance - in steering. Many novice passengers, unfortunately, lean away from or out of the turn, exactly countering the driver's inputs. That can be disastrous. Conversely, a passenger leaning into the turn - perhaps suddenly, unexpectedly, excessively - could again throw off or disrupt my own steering inputs. So, to my passengers, "Please, leave the driving to me."

Now, you sound like a fortunate guy. The picture of your SO coming out of the BEDroom with her gear practically begging to go for a ride... well, that's something to conjure. AND a girlfriend who is so in tune with the machine, driver and road that she actually contributes - safely - to the drive, more power to ya!

 

[Cdogman]

Yes, glad your cool head saved the day. That kind of thing only comes with experience.
As for having your girlfriend lean with you in turns... My wife has been riding pillion with me for about 25 of the 30 years I've been riding. From day one I instructed her to NOT lean - never - one direction or the other; to only remain completely upright relative to the machine, the line of her shoulders exactly parallel to the line of the seat. When the bike tips, she will tip, but only then. My reasoning - and this works for us - I am the operator of the machine and I want no help from anyone else at any time in determining the exact attitude of the machine relative to the road. I don't want her help - or hindrance - in steering. Many novice passengers, unfortunately, lean away from or out of the turn, exactly countering the driver's inputs. That can be disastrous. Conversely, a passenger leaning into the turn - perhaps suddenly, unexpectedly, excessively - could again throw off or disrupt my own steering inputs. So, to my passengers, "Please, leave the driving to me."

Now, you sound like a fortunate guy. The picture of your SO coming out of the BEDroom with her gear practically begging to go for a ride... well, that's something to conjure. AND a girlfriend who is so in tune with the machine, driver and road that she actually contributes - safely - to the drive, more power to ya!

It took a while for her to understand what I wanted. I instructed her thusly "Look over my downhill shoulder" that is all. I sometimes have to hang off a bit and she does not hang off with me obviously but does lean to be in line with my posture as much as possible. ALSO and this is important to note, we had a "learning curve" and since we can talk, we can discuss each turn after to see how we did.

The learning curve was

1. I will start to get in shape for a curve before entering it

2. She is to get in shape for it when I do and all movements are dead smooth, no sudden moves

3. If I get in shape and she is not ready, she is to FREEZE!!!! no moving at all once we enter and curve

The freeze thing was one that had to be learned pretty suddenly as in the early stages of this she was out of shape on an easy freeway onramp, I was not pushing it but we were slipping along at a fair rate and it was a fun 270 deg loop, but she got caught off guard and tried to get in shape mid turn and the bike got ALL!! pissed off at me for a second, had a pucker moment, She thought she would get in shape "Fast" since she was caught out in mid curve. We discussed it, and she does get caught off sometimes since she is not driving, and she does exactly like you said FREEZE. She scared the **** outta me that one time

Now I cannot even feel her back there. She hangs on to the bike, not me, moves with me, not after me, and it feels more like a dance. I mean the bike is heavier obviously but feels like it is handeling the way it would with me alone

This bike is my favorite damm desiese (kinda got that from a Nickleback Song I think)

 

[Big Sky]

The instant communication thing would be essential in the learning phase. And it sounds like you've both mastered the tricky aspects of this. I know the pleasure of ripping down your favorite piece of twisty tarmac, all leaned over and having a helluva good time, then remembering, "Oh yeah, I've got a passenger." It's not that I'm inconsiderate or forgetful; rather, she has become so much an integral part of the ride that it's almost as if I'm soloing. THAT's a good passenger!

And, in our case, we do this WITHOUT the intercom! We decided a long time ago that while underway we both get to enjoy some solitude, with the exception of taps and pats and other hand signals. At a stop is where we engage in the talk.

I once likened motorcycling to my hunting experiences: get up early, make all the preparations, lot's of socializing with partners, but once to the spot and out of the rig, it's just me for the next several hours (just me and the Creator, anyway). But once the hunting party regroups, its all talk and story swapping and blah blah blah socializing again: the best mix of solitude and society. And I DO enjoy my own company.

The important thing is, you and your squeeze have figured out the way to maximize your riding pleasure (no pun intended): slightly different means, same end.

 

[Cdogman]

The important thing is, you and your squeeze have figured out the way to maximize your riding pleasure (no pun intended): slightly different means, same end.

Yea, We like the motorcycle too

 

[HaulinAshe]

CDog, I concur with the pleasure of having a SO/GF that actually enjoys the speed and handling of the FJR. That's been a new and welcomed experience for me. I now believe that all SO candidates should be pre-screened on a big rollercoaster first.

I've always instructed my passengers to "move with the bike and ignore me". I tell them to "stay as straight with the bike as possible, don't lean off one side or the other and definitely don't try to follow what I do".

My Chatterbox units are radio connected, not wired. So there is that unavoidable (you-talk, I-talk, you-talk, I-talk) comm taking place. The delay makes rapid realtime communication not practical.

Is there anything special you two have developed for communication in corners etc. that you care to share? I don't want to know about the kinky stuff (unless you have video).