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Message started by Gideon1986 on 05/15/09 at 19:27:24

Title: First Ride
Post by Gideon1986 on 05/15/09 at 19:27:24

It was a perfect day today and it so happened that I only worked 4 hours, so I took my bike for a ride. It was fun. This was my first REAL ride. I must admit, there were a couple of turns/swerves that I think I was going too fast. I panicked a little. The motor died on my at least two times during throttle from a deceleration. The fastest I was going was 60MPH. In Ohio, there are a lot of a mixture of country and city roads. I was having a blast.... :D

Title: Re: First Ride
Post by Jay on 05/15/09 at 23:09:40

The first of the "smiles per gallon". Congratulations. It's a great feeling. That bog on decel will no doubt get the attention of some of the gurus here, who can tell you what needs done to the carb to stop that.
It's gonna be a great summer! :)

Title: Re: First Ride
Post by Rocco on 05/16/09 at 11:23:56

congrats! i'm still in the "wow this is new and awesome" mode!

be happy u have back roads, in south florida it's either the beach...or bumper 2 bumper.....that's y i ride @ night!!

and there's so many stop lights i have gotten very good @ start, stop, down shift....etc etc....except when i fish tail lol

Title: Re: First Ride
Post by marshall13 on 05/16/09 at 11:28:16

1F222E2E224D0 wrote:

rte 27, okeechobee rd (awesome twisties), and just about any road in western martin county!!

Title: Re: First Ride
Post by Rocco on 05/16/09 at 11:31:11

from jog take okeechobee....then a left or a right? cuz greenacres and lake worth are slacking on scenery haha

Title: Re: First Ride
Post by marshall13 on 05/16/09 at 13:00:53

033E32323E510 wrote:

from jog take okeechobee....then a left or a right? cuz greenacres and lake worth are slacking on scenery haha

west and north... towards the lake... redneck cattle country.... most of the cross peninsula state and old fed roads would make good rides (north of PB county).... it's just us "way down south boyz" that get ripped off for scenery.... 27 is great for winding her out on long straights.... just be mile and fuel concious, there aint lots of texacos out in the toolies...lol and check the reasonably local "wildlife management areas" (john lloyd, etc), most have great roads through them, and real nature kinda stuff... not alot of old cypress growing along "calle ocho"... the one place to avoid is hialeah... you take your life in your hands piloting a cage through that neighborhood, let alone a bike...rofl

edit: just remember, most of those rural roads are tarred macadam down here, not smooth asphalt... less actual tire patch contact, so less traction.... for those with question marks floating over their heads, Macadam "invented" the gravel road... "tarred macadam" is those gravel roads that are glued together with asphalt...

Title: Re: First Ride
Post by PTRider on 05/16/09 at 13:21:18

Quote:

"tarred macadam" is those gravel roads that are glued together with asphalt...

Called "chip seal" in this part of the country. John Loudon McAdam (1756-1836) is the guy, and when you hear pavement referred to as tarmac, you're hearing a reference back to this Scottish engineer.

Title: Re: First Ride
Post by doc5446 on 05/16/09 at 18:29:30

78565B5A50510E0607093F0 wrote:

What parts of NE Ohio you from? I'm close to Ravenna.

Title: Re: First Ride
Post by Rocco on 05/16/09 at 19:14:33

sweeet! my friend rides lake okeechobee all the time and he says it beautiful!

i love a1a near the inlet, but there's just 2 many stop lights around here....i'll def be looking for room here shortly...speaking of which..gonna check the weather and roll on!

Title: Re: First Ride
Post by Jay on 05/16/09 at 19:47:36

282F30630 wrote:

Quote:

"tarred macadam" is those gravel roads that are glued together with asphalt...

Called "chip seal" in this part of the country. John Loudon McAdam (1756-1836) is the guy, and when you hear pavement referred to as tarmac, you're hearing a reference back to this Scottish engineer.

I've always wondered about the origin of "tarmac". Thanks for sharing that one PTRider.

Title: Re: First Ride
Post by Gideon1986 on 05/16/09 at 20:28:58

[/quote]
What parts of NE Ohio you from? I'm close to Ravenna.[/quote]

I live in Cortland. I rode route 305, Route 87 and Route 322... It was a blast.... :D

Title: Re: First Ride
Post by drums1 on 05/17/09 at 10:04:37

My wife is from Liberty, just outside of Youngstown. There are some good country roads in that area too. Or just cross over into Penn., and visit with the backroads Amish. Some nice scenery there.

Title: Re: First Ride
Post by marshall13 on 05/18/09 at 12:12:07

oh, and Gideon, buy a "firm" toothbrush.... much easier to scrub the accumulation of bug-guts on your teeth from that ear to ear grin...

Title: Re: First Ride
Post by Duane on 05/18/09 at 12:19:34

As far a bike dying on decel, I'd just bump up my idle a little bit and see if that helps.

Title: Re: First Ride
Post by Gideon1986 on 05/19/09 at 04:42:23

1E2F3B343F5A0 wrote:

As far a bike dying on decel, I'd just bump up my idle a little bit and see if that helps.

pix would help me a lot... i am mechanically challenged ;)

Title: Re: First Ride
Post by PTRider on 05/19/09 at 06:45:24

Look on the left side of the carburetor. You'll see a screw with a really big head that you can turn with your fingers. With the engine warmed and running, turn that a bit. Turning it tighter (clockwise) will make the engine idle faster. Of course, too fast an idle will make very slow riding not-so-slow.

About very slow riding. Do parking lot practice. Your clutch is made to allow you to part-engage/release/part-engage/release so you can ride very slowly. It's in oil. Practice riding as very slowly as possible in an empty parking lot. Ride straight slightly engaging your clutch for a momenht for a bit of speed, then squeeze the clutch lever to coast very slowly. When you can do this straight, make very slow turns. Make them as big as you need. After you get your balance improved, make the turns tighter. Here's more about the Friction Zone of your clutch (http://www.msgroup.org/Tip.aspx?Num=241&Set=). Here's a very good routine for parking lot practice (http://www.msgroup.org/Tip.aspx?Num=194&Set=&SearchTerms=parking).

Quote:

there were a couple of turns/swerves that I think I was going too fast. I panicked a little.

Never, ever panic. Always know what you want to do, where you can go, and do your best to accomplish those.

LOOK at where you need to go, NOT AT THE PROBLEM; see that in your peripheral vision. You'll drive where you're looking.

You MUST slow as needed before entering a turn. Go deep into the turn, THEN TURN. Do not start a turn early. Slow as needed, go deep, turn somewhat sharply, smoothly roll-on the throttle gently*, and straighten as you come out of the turn. Try to never need to brake in the turn. If you are running wide push harder on the inside handlebar and lean your body into the turn (to lean the bike less and try to avoid dragging the pegs). Here's More (http://www.msgroup.org/Articles.aspx?Cat=1). If you need to turn AND panic brake, you're in deep trouble. Panic brake only when straight and upright. If you need to panic brake while turning, keep your mouth shut to keep the gravel out.

*Too much throttle while turning will make you run wide. Just a bit of roll-on adds stability in the turn. Cutting the throttle in the turn makes the bike turn tighter, but you should'a planned for this in advance, got your speed down, turned tighter to start, and rolled-on the throttle as the turn progressed.