Pictures!

I take lots of pictures. Most are crap, some are cool.

Here are some I like

Wicked Twisties

Hayden Lake Road, where 35mph is too fast.

This is the most fun I've ever had in 2nd gear. I can't believe I'd never heard of this run, and it's just outside my backyard! A down and back around the lake loop full of decreasing radius, off-camber, flipflopping turns.

Got chicken strips?

I've been practicing my "ready-aim-fire" reminder to set up and carve through corners, and there is no lack of opportunity to test it out here. Unfortunately, many of these corners are harder because you can't see the other side of the corner, and usually, there's another corner right after it. And another. And another. The "fire" and the "ready" blend with the "aim" and there's not much demarcation between them.

I've also learned alot about trail braking which is making my turns smoother and faster. If I don't roll off the gas to Zero and keep it at about 5%, I can use my rear brake to take up the slowing energy. I can more finely modulate my speed (especially for those ones that get smaller and tighter as you go) and I'm quicker to exit because the throttle is already engaged.

There are many ideas and opinions about trail braking, some do it all the time and others are horrified at the thought of it. Like most things, I have to get a first hand taste to see how I feel, so far I can see the benefit from lightly incorporating it into my riding style. Its still one more thing to think about when I'm walking the razor anyway, but like anything else it will become second nature.

Cornering Smoothly - Ready - Aim - Fire!

Another blog I visit reprinted an article that reiterates the importance of smooth cornering technique. Cornering smoothly will not only save your life but make the ride more satisfying. I've spent the last few rides being mindful of the fundamentals as I continue to strive to be a better rider (and have more fun). A "ready, aim, fire" mnemonic works well for me.



Ready

• Look as far ahead as possible
• Slow down/speed up as necessary
• Stabilize the throttle

Aim

• Look as far ahead as possible
• Determine your line and apex
• Lean and steer

Fire

• Look as far ahead as possible
• Execute your plan
• Reset to "Ready" after the apex

You will, you will, you will - you will go where you look. If I look as far ahead as possible, I gather the maximum amount of visual information available. In a corner, I find that if my eyes follow the white or yellow lane striping, my tires will track to that line. If I look as far ahead as possible, I don't need to know exactly where the line is, because I'm not following it - I'm following the road. The lines become the parameters of your path and not obstacles in your path.

Stabilizing the throttle makes a huge improvement to my cornering confidence because it stabilizes the suspension. Rolling on the gas shifts weight to the rear. Decelerating shifts weight to the front. I want my only contact with the ground to be consistent and reliable, but that consistency changes depending on how much work either tire is doing. Having them do about the same amount of work each - and not suddenly more or less - allows me to predict very accurately how they will perform and how much more work I can add to them during the turn.


When I began riding the twisties, I used to dive and stab at the lane's edge. I was constantly adjusting my trajectory during the turn so as not to go off the road or cross into oncoming traffic. I did that less when I picked up the habit of looking as far ahead as possible. Still, I tended to creep too close to the edge in the middle of the turn and had to let off the gas, hit the brakes or steer away. My apexes were too soon. Recently, I have to consciously aim for a spot after the middle of the corner. When I do this, I reach the inside edge of the lane right as the corner is opening up. I can take corners noticeably faster and find myself less concerned about straying out of bounds

The Juke

I deserved every single ticket I've received. I've avoided dozens of others - not just some, but like 24, 36, 48, ... - but sometimes when I'm being respectful of the speed law they still try to give me a performance certificate.

The interstate between Spokane and Coeur d'Alene is two lanes in each direction with a wide grassy field between them. The Idaho State Patrol uses black Dodge Chargers with lo-pro roof lights and KA band radar. I had a couple of weak signal alerts before I passed him parked under an overpass.

I should mention that traffic was as heavy as it ever gets, maintaining the speed limit was a challenge and 5-10 over was difficult with so much traffic. On a long uphill grade I suddenly found myself the sole occupant of the fast lane and wondered why the right lane was so stacked up with cars. In the distance to the rear was a black car. "He did pull out after me after all," I thought. No radar alerts. Over the next few seconds, the black car made extremely good time and could have run over the top of me as fast as he was going. I was travelling at 10 over the limit maintaining a safe and constant distance from the miles of cars in front of me.

By now, I'm assuming that someone wants to give me a ticket and intends to pace me. I've been here before. This insanely unsafe practice of being tailgated at high speed usually ends with a court date and I didn't think I deserved one this time.

I sped up to position myself next to a healthy gap between two slow lane occupants (I'm sure that got his blood up, "maybe he'll run!"). Just before he came into position to pace me, I did what any responsible motorist would do, and yielded to an emergency vehicle. Except I did it with a flick of the grips, without warning, and dropped 20 mph at the same time.

He sailed by, hard on the brakes. I laughed out loud. Of course he would have had to stomp on the brakes anyway, because I had previously been tail-end to the rest of the herd - there was nowhere for either of us to go. As he flew by, I saw that he had his rear-facing emergency lights on.

Why would a State Patrol be screaming down the highway with only his rear flashers on? To tell everyone behind him that he's about to do something dangerous? Before I had been caught doing something wrong, he already knew he was going to cite me.

The ISP LEO had taken the traffic slot that I was previously occupying. I changed lanes to occupy the slot behind him and flicked on my hi-beams; they are very bright and tend to shine in the rear view mirror. I meticulously dodged every line, seam, pothole and bump on that blacktop. I'm told this is extremely annoying to the drivers ahead.

We drove like this for more than 10 miles. There was nowhere to go, traffic was thick and my exit was still miles away. When I reached my exit, I had to speed up to pass the car on the right and take the slot in front of him so I could exit the freeway. As soon as I touched the gas, 100% strong radar alert came on. I resisted the urge to wave with one finger and took some satisfaction in knowing he wasn't gonna git me this time.

Funny sign

I've been meaning to take a picture of this sign for several years. How many miles before they were cars?

Apres-work relaxation

100 miles after work is better than a martini.

Afternoon spins

A fellow rider from the ST-Owners forum and I went for a quick ride around a local loop.

Another day, another friend to ride with.

Fix or Replace?

My 1996 Honda ST1100 is the best bike I have ever owned. I want it better.

If I could change anything about my bike, I would increase power and handling. As it turns out, squeezing more power is a money pit without significant return.


Upgrading the handling through the suspension.....now there are some low-cost modifications that could make me happy. I have already installed Progressive fork springs (resistance increases as they are compressed). I'm looking to add a SuperBrace to keep the forks from flexing laterally and lastly I will replace the rear shock/spring unit.



The new fork springs have 85 lbs of resistance at rest which is more than the stock springs. Immediately, I saw that the front end didn't bottom out on hard stops, freeway bumps, potholes and the occaisional curb jump. It also reduced the "wallowing" in corners - a lateral movement that feels like your bike is not paying attention. Some of that feeling comes from the rear suspension that is now 12 years and 70,000 miles old. The part is $400. Saving....


Front suspension is not only two forks sliding back and forth. Those sliding tubes actually bend outward under the extreme forces of hard riding and will become momentarily bowlegged. This can be sensed as a "mushiness" or lack of precision when I am keeled over at a high speed. Not a time and place for vagueness. A SuperBrace is just a bar that connects between the front forks just above the wheel or fender and keeps the forks parallel throughout their range of motion.


The amount of tire rubber meeting the road is similar to a pair of men's shoes. I would not subject any shoe rubber to the forces that I put my tires under and expect them to save my life. Most riders I know have fierce brand loyalty when it comes to tires. We know what works, how we're going to use it and what they cost. I had to get new tires anyway, so I took a leap of faith to try a different product that I am not convinced is better.

Michelin's Pilot Road 2 tires have three different rubber compounds: soft, medium and hard. Each is placed to maximize performance and durability; the sides of the tire are softer/stickier than the center of the tread which is harder/longer lasting. After 1000 miles they feel like any other good tire - I have zero complaints. I only expect the new technology to justify the extra cost in the worst situations.

Back on 2

Last year, I hit a deer. I didn't go down, but it wiped most of the tupperware from the front of my bike. After the insurance company paid Ed's Motorcycles to find and replace the parts, you couldn't tell that my Sierra Tango had had a close call.

It is now mid-April and we should be past the snow, ice and non-riding weather of winter. Someone forgot to pass the word to someone else, because snow is forecast again today.

Although snow was forecast yesterday, I saw sunshine, put my gear on and rolled out. It was kind of an angry ride, I went a little too fast on some corners (and straights) hung it out there more than I usually do and trusted blind corners. I know its not a good idea to tease the motorcycle gods, one would think I'd learned the lesson after totalling out several bikes.

Summer 2007 ride

Oregon

California

Montana

Idaho

Hit a deer