Almost-Rider Down

[DGXSER]

Hey G,

I know in my course they described how to use only the back brake and lightly drag it to bring your speed down if you go in to hot. But really, when you got folks who have never been on a bike before, and some that are still scared to death of it, there is no way to have folks purposely attempt to go in hot and try to fix it!! They would need an ambulance or two on site. Bad thing is, the BRC has become so popular around here, they no longer teach the ERC because they need the classroom and course time for the BRC. Since the Ohio law requires anyone under 18 to take it, they get in free and bump older folks wanting to take the course.

[je2wheeler]

Riding comes easy, but....

Riding comes easy to most, but there are a few poor souls who are not equipped to ride. My wife was never able to master the skills to ride safely, even with an entry level CB250 and beginning rider courses. She wanted so much to ride but eventually realized she just could not do it. We both had dreams of seeing the country on our bikes. We did ride two up and bonded even more on my GL. Heres to a fast recovery for your friend and that she finds her stride.

[crazy steve]

Well, she came home today. Big-a** cast for her thumb (all the way to her elbow!), and her knee still looks pretty nasty. But she's in pretty good spirits, and the first thing she asked me was 'how much do you think it will cost to fix the bike so I can ride it?' So she's obviously ready to get back on the horse, admitted to the mistake ('I'll know better next time!'), and wasn't scared off by the experience. Of course, this summer is gone for her by the time she's healed up enough to give it another go, but she seems determined. So she's got her genuine 'biker scar', figures she needs the bike to go with it...

[g15usmc]

Well, she came home today. Big-a** cast for her thumb (all the way to her elbow!), and her knee still looks pretty nasty. But she's in pretty good spirits, and the first thing she asked me was 'how much do you think it will cost to fix the bike so I can ride it?' So she's obviously ready to get back on the horse, admitted to the mistake ('I'll know better next time!'), and wasn't scared off by the experience. Of course, this summer is gone for her by the time she's healed up enough to give it another go, but she seems determined. So she's got her genuine 'biker scar', figures she needs the bike to go with it...

you might be surprised though...how long does she need to keep the cast on for? If you can have the bike up and running she might be able to be back out there by the end of the summer...my cousin was the passenger on a bike that hit a van that pulled out in front of her, she broke 90% of the bones in her body, was never expected to walk again. Her BF at the time was killed almost instantly...I saw the video from the news and the bike you could see was in pieces...i doubt there was a useable part left...but anyway, she was walking 2 months after...with the aid of a walker and crutches etc of course, but still very miraculous if you ask me...but she climbed onto the back of my bike at that point and was holding onto me tighter than anything i've ever felt...but she told me she NEEDED to do it, and I was the only one she dared to get on with...I tryed to convince her to wait a few more months but she insisted!...so I took her down a nice straight road at a cool 35 MPH where there was very little traffic turned around at a gas station so we wouldn't have to do too much leaning and brought her back to her car...a total of a 5mi trip...When she got off the bike, her statement was, YUP STILL LOVE IT!...

So with all that being said, she sounds very possitive, which sounds to me like she might get another ride in before riding season ends, if shes got a bike that is...

[3Phase]

Right on, she's okay and that's the most important part!

[xs11jack]

I too am wishing her a speedy recovery. I don't know much about Buells, but I read somewhere that large bikes have a zone at about 25 or 30 mph where the front end will start to shimmy and its hard to regain control. I had that happen to me on a 85 Gold Wing with all the factory they could hang on it. Turned a corner out of a parking lot and crusied away, when the speedo hit thirty, the front end started to shake badly. I hung on tight, got off the throttle, and applied rear brake only. It stopped in about 30 feet and at about 20 mph. Maybe this is what she experienced. Also now Harley owners are reporting to have had the shakes at higher speed. The reporter called it the Harley Death Shake.
Ole Jack

[Shacknasty]

Jack, that is not specific to Harley's or large bikes in general. It happens a little quicker and easier with a heavy bike, but any bike that is improperly loaded, has bad neck, swingarm, or wheel bearings, has the neck out of adjustment, unbalanced tires, or several other things, will exhibit head shake. A little head shake can send you home to the garage, a full-on tank slapper at 90 miles per will often send you to a completely different place.

Steve, glad the chickie was ready to ride when the war wounds heal. She's got game!

[planedick]

Common for XS11's

I have had two XS's and both had the same problem. Mostly going fast in corners and can become a "tank slapper" real fast. Just what you DON"T want in a corner at speed. It appears to be more intense when the rear shocks are set at the most ridged setting. Like when set for extra weight back there and not so much when set for a soft ride.

[planedick]

Common for XS11's

I have had two XS's and both had the same problem. Mostly going fast in corners and can become a "tank slapper" real fast. Just what you DON"T want in a corner at speed. It appears to be more intense when the rear shocks are set at the most ridged setting. Like when set for extra weight back there and not so much when set for a soft ride. But then things drag sooner.

[planedick]

Double

Got a double post, how does that happen?

[cywelchjr]

I used to get that in hard cornering a LOT more, but with the XJ shocks it seems like I get stuff like that a LOT less. I also like the ability to adjust in small increments with air pressure changes, of course it would be easier if I carried a small hand pump with me, but I use my compressor at home (don't get alarmed, I use it's pressure control to control the output pressure to the pressure I want things set to, works great).

[Mendizale]

Glad to hear she's mostly okay, and game to get back in the saddle. As concerned we all are for beginning riders--and for your friend, in this particular instance--I was more concerned that you would beat yourself up about it, and feel responsible. Hope that's not the case, but if it helps, it sure sounds like she could use your years of experience to learn the finer points of ridecraft. Might be cathartic for you to get her on the right track in a few months...