The "Cone" Rider

[Prisoner6]

Thanks, LoHo and motoman, for the heads-up to all of us. This is something we all need to be reminded

of now and then. I've had a few "scary" moments over the years on painted lines ...

[motoman]

When I took the MSC in the 90s, they had loaner bikes from local dealers. They were 200s and 250s and then one 600. The instructor gave me the 600 since he saw me ride in on the XS and figured I was used to bigger bikes.

In our group was a guy who had ridden for twenty years, taking the course with his wife and son, who were newbies. He was hitting all the marks and was a skilled rider, but was also the only rider to go down: in the quick-turn-short-stop event, where one makes a 90 degree turn at surface road speed, then has to stop in about twenty feet, he was over so far in the turn that he nicked the inside painted line and did a lowside at about twenty. No harm, no foul, but ever since I watched that, I am cautious of turning on painted lines. When it was my turn, the Instructor mentioned that "That may be the slowest turn I've ever seen."

Good point!..........Highway striping has semi-flotation glass beads added with a glass bead 'gun' directly behind paint gun. These give the lines reflectivity at night. Being semi-flotation, they are throughout paint thickness to still reflect as paint wears. I did the highway striping here in Colo. for 15yrs. of my 31yr. career at CDOT. So, yes, those lines CAN put you down. Also, exert caution at intersections where cross-walks are located. Alot of these are thermo-plastic inlays and even slicker than the striping.

[LoHo]

When I took the MSC in the 90s, they had loaner bikes from local dealers. They were 200s and 250s and then one 600. The instructor gave me the 600 since he saw me ride in on the XS and figured I was used to bigger bikes.

In our group was a guy who had ridden for twenty years, taking the course with his wife and son, who were newbies. He was hitting all the marks and was a skilled rider, but was also the only rider to go down: in the quick-turn-short-stop event, where one makes a 90 degree turn at surface road speed, then has to stop in about twenty feet, he was over so far in the turn that he nicked the inside painted line and did a lowside at about twenty. No harm, no foul, but ever since I watched that, I am cautious of turning on painted lines. When it was my turn, the Instructor mentioned that "That may be the slowest turn I've ever seen."

[Crusty Snippets]

Clarity

This is troubling for me.
I would have much preferred for anyone to ask me to clarify what I meant, rather than interpret in a manner that was not intended.
It would have allowed the conversation to continue if needed, rather than kill it.

Unkle Crusty

[madmax-im]

A lot of the city cops are really good at that sort of stuff. I used to know a few and watch their training sessions. The course is tough. A lot of dropped and scratched bikes.
They will shame the rest of us around the pylons.
But they are toast at high speed stuff, and I mean faster than those things can go.
Unkle Crusty

ok whatever high speed stuff is...

[Crusty Snippets]

[QUOTE=MPittma100;430270] The reply was no. So he left the test facility and returned with a Honda Elite (80cc) and passed the test with that. LOL

Kinda makes you wonder what the qualifications are for the people who design these courses? Quote.

I always advised the newbies to take a 250 dirt bike or 200 cc street bike, if the test involved going around the cones. It is too difficult for a new rider to handle a big bike in that situation. They probably should not be riding a big bike anyway. I think most of us would have trouble doing it on our Yamahas. Even though it is a skill, I think it is not as important as several other skills. But I suppose the licencing people have other ideas. Not much sense asking those with experience.
BTW. I was the rider inspector at Westwood road race track in the early seventies. That is how I came to provide input to the BC rider instruction programe. All the riders I taught to ride, was done in the dirt. I wanted them to get the feel of the bike moving around under them. And having the wheels lock up in a turn, which usually resulted in falling down.

Unkle Crusty

[Crusty Snippets]

Pursuit

It is about rider's skills ...you're the one who mentioned high speed pursuits...as i said earlier this is 90% rider's skill and 10 motorcycle...Have a nice day...

Please read my original message again.
Not one word about pursuit.
I suppose I could have used more words, but I generally try to keep it simple. Can always elaborate later, which I have done.

Unkle Crusty

[MPittma100]

Big Bike

My brother went to a SC motorcycle driving test with a BMW 1200LT (full dress beamer) years ago. He looked at the course and told the instructor - "NO WAY, this bike will not turn that far". Instructor told him that he had to do the course to get his license. He asked the instructor if it mattered what size bike was used for the test. The reply was no. So he left the test facility and returned with a Honda Elite (80cc) and passed the test with that. LOL

Kinda makes you wonder what the qualifications are for the people who design these courses?

[madmax-im]

Agreed, that's what radios are for. If you are referring to catching folks exceeding the speed limit.
However I thought the subject matter was about riding ability.
To that end I had praise for the ability of city cops to maneuver their bikes.

When I helped set up the BC riding schools back in the early 70s I suggested the benefit of small light bikes. And I wanted the learners to ride around cones and over teeter totters. We used Honda CB200 for the first courses.
I really wanted to do the training on dirt bikes in the dirt, but was out voted on that issue. After the beginner courses I wanted higher speed courses to learn how to jump on the binders. The ability to stop in a hurry is an essential asset in my opinion. This is now being taught along with heavier bikes around the cones.
How many riders have T boned a vehicle that pulled out in front of them?
Two items are at fault IMO. One, not expecting the idiot to pull out in front of them, and two, not being able to jump on the binders and take evasive action.
Another problem for many riders is passing big trucks, sometimes in the rain.
If they have never been fast, and or in the rain, it can be traumatic.

But that is just my opinion.
Unkle Crusty

It is about rider's skills ...you're the one who mentioned high speed pursuits...as i said earlier this is 90% rider's skill and 10 motorcycle...Have a nice day...

[xs11jack]

I am impressed. I did take the Missouri motorcycle driving test in a full dress 85 Honda Gold Wing and passed with a 100% score. The State Trooper giving the test said that he didn't think I would make it, the bike was too big for the course. He was impressed.
Ole Jack

[Crusty Snippets]

Riding

Thats what radios are for...

Agreed, that's what radios are for. If you are referring to catching folks exceeding the speed limit.
However I thought the subject matter was about riding ability.
To that end I had praise for the ability of city cops to maneuver their bikes.

When I helped set up the BC riding schools back in the early 70s I suggested the benefit of small light bikes. And I wanted the learners to ride around cones and over teeter totters. We used Honda CB200 for the first courses.
I really wanted to do the training on dirt bikes in the dirt, but was out voted on that issue. After the beginner courses I wanted higher speed courses to learn how to jump on the binders. The ability to stop in a hurry is an essential asset in my opinion. This is now being taught along with heavier bikes around the cones.
How many riders have T boned a vehicle that pulled out in front of them?
Two items are at fault IMO. One, not expecting the idiot to pull out in front of them, and two, not being able to jump on the binders and take evasive action.
Another problem for many riders is passing big trucks, sometimes in the rain.
If they have never been fast, and or in the rain, it can be traumatic.

But that is just my opinion.
Unkle Crusty

[madmax-im]

A lot of the city cops are really good at that sort of stuff. I used to know a few and watch their training sessions. The course is tough. A lot of dropped and scratched bikes.
They will shame the rest of us around the pylons.
But they are toast at high speed stuff, and I mean faster than those things can go.
Unkle Crusty

Thats what radios are for...

[Mathh]

Look for gymkhana motorcycle vids on the net. You'll find lots of Jap police bikers doing the same. It' s becoming more common now. This is a neat one as well : click

[IanDMacDonald]

If any of you guys have been to "Bikes on the Bricks" in Flint, MI, they do this every year, from police departments all across the five state region, including Canada. I actually took a high-speed motorcycle course in San Diego by the CHP Motor Division a few years ago. Taught me a lot more than those community college courses I took as a teen.

[Crusty Snippets]

Skill

A lot of the city cops are really good at that sort of stuff. I used to know a few and watch their training sessions. The course is tough. A lot of dropped and scratched bikes.
They will shame the rest of us around the pylons.
But they are toast at high speed stuff, and I mean faster than those things can go.
Unkle Crusty