cheapnewb24 wrote on 07/14/16 at 07:32:08:


That's actually a pretty good strategy and I know other cruiser riders who do it, feeling the road with the heel of their boot gives some warning the pegs are coming close. Well played.

For me, it depends where, when and what I'm riding. Most of my bikes are slow and our local twisties are quite tight, the kind you can drag pegs and knees at sane speeds. I'd compare my local with the vids I see of Mulholland and the Dragon. So I feel pretty comfortable going nuts in the hills, up to a point. I try to leave a bit in reserve for an escape route. Some guys I ride with go harder than me, but leave nothing in the "luck jar". So I'll call my style 7 out of 10. I know I can go harder, but I choose not not to. My "fast" bike, I'd call 6, because it can do things at speeds I don't care to do and at my (safe) speed it's too easy. Falling off is no fun and best avoided. I guess everyone's idea of performance riding is different. My mate with a 750 Virago think's he's on fire if he decks a saddlebag. I don't think a 10 is warranted unless your footpegs are ground to little nubs and tyres are flayed smoking carcasses.

I love the cabbage because you can ride like a nut and feel like your going hard, but at mostly legal speed. Plus, you look good when you round up a sportbike on one. Same with the Enfield.

When I took my motorcycle riding class, I remember the instructor talking about ability.
He explained it in a manner that assigned a number to it, 10 being the most extreme, or top, of your ability.
Now I am certain my 10, or ability is not as high as say, versy's or dave's, 10, but that doesn't matter, my 10 is only in reference to me.
He said to improve on that number, we need to push it.
Not recklessly, but we need to not be afraid and by challenging our riding skills, we become better riders.
I have never felt I pushed a 10, perhaps 8, dragging a peg and staying on the throttle and not leaving my turning arc/path.
I mostly ride around 6 I would venture to say....

Anyway, last weekend a guy at work was killed riding. A very nice guy.
Had another person, a co-worker who I know as well, a single mom....
He lost it in a turn  
I know she lived, but I don't know the extent of her injuries....

It got me to thinking about the 10, again.

No other vehicles involved, nor weather, road conditions, just ride out of his ability is my guess. Not fair when you have another seated behind you with no say....

Using the 10, what do you all normally ride, and how often do you push it?

Thanks.