Monsoon X
09-12-2004, 05:49 PM
Leaving DeVry Friday, night I was coasting down to a stop sign from about 30mph. Sometimes when the street is empty I sit up and take my hands off the bars and just relax (look Ma! No hands) and I just let it coast down. Well I guess I was going too fast and the R1 shook it's head at me. Didn't alarm me, I just put my hands back and came to a calm stop. No big deal but, I learned something.
Let's see, what else? Oh yeah. I made an emergency stop. While approaching the Braniff exit off 114 coming from DeVry, I decided to stop for the yellow light instead of going through the intersection. So I got on the brakes kinda hard (both at the same time) and the rear got squirrley and I lost traction. I applied the front brake a little more and controlled the little skid with some body english (sorta like riding my little Mongoose when I was a kid) and all was good. I'm glad I practiced that in the parking lot like Keith Code said to do. Gotta know how to control wheel lock-up. I did release the rear while it was in the skid because the rear and the front weren't out of alignment.
And today I just got back from riding around by myself for an hour. I finally expericenced WOT from 3rd gear- and an upshift into 4th. I really don't know what to say about that. This thing is ugly fast.(relatively speaking) I'm not doing that again until I get some leather pants. :D
Also, the service road inbetween Hampton and Polk St. running parallel to I-20 is a nice place to pick up some speed. ;) 94mph through the quasi-chicane on the West bound side. :D Why did I waste time fooling with them cars? I should've been on a bike a long time ago.
Drag racing is nice but, I am kinda leaning toward the twisties. I need to hook up with Hobie.
Let's see, what else? Oh yeah. I made an emergency stop. While approaching the Braniff exit off 114 coming from DeVry, I decided to stop for the yellow light instead of going through the intersection. So I got on the brakes kinda hard (both at the same time) and the rear got squirrley and I lost traction. I applied the front brake a little more and controlled the little skid with some body english (sorta like riding my little Mongoose when I was a kid) and all was good. I'm glad I practiced that in the parking lot like Keith Code said to do. Gotta know how to control wheel lock-up. I did release the rear while it was in the skid because the rear and the front weren't out of alignment.
And today I just got back from riding around by myself for an hour. I finally expericenced WOT from 3rd gear- and an upshift into 4th. I really don't know what to say about that. This thing is ugly fast.(relatively speaking) I'm not doing that again until I get some leather pants. :D
Also, the service road inbetween Hampton and Polk St. running parallel to I-20 is a nice place to pick up some speed. ;) 94mph through the quasi-chicane on the West bound side. :D Why did I waste time fooling with them cars? I should've been on a bike a long time ago.
Drag racing is nice but, I am kinda leaning toward the twisties. I need to hook up with Hobie.