Triumphrat

Fixer166 · 11-16-2012, 02:33 PM

Eh Rats
Hope everyone had a good summer, bugs in yer teeth and rubber on the road.
A bit over 5k kms on the new Vic and lovin every one more than the last. I named her Mulligan.
Anyway, just checkin in.
Cheers form Northern AB.

Greaser · 11-16-2012, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fixer166

Eh Rats
Hope everyone had a good summer, bugs in yer teeth and rubber on the road.
A bit over 5k kms on the new Vic and lovin every one more than the last. I named her Mulligan.
Anyway, just checkin in.
Cheers form Northern AB.

I hear you did a 4 hour tour? How the heck did you manage? Those iron Butt Ralley guys could learn a few things from such a hard core biker like you.

spank86 · 11-16-2012, 03:47 PM

Glad your alive.

Sounds like you're getting towards the sort of mileage where you know the bike a bit.

Stay safe and enjoy yourself mate.

Fixer166 · 11-16-2012, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greaser

I hear you did a 4 hour tour? How the heck did you manage? Those iron Butt Ralley guys could learn a few things from such a hard core biker like you.

Did you hear the one about the guy who thought there was an egr valve on a motorcycle?

Fixer166 · 11-16-2012, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spank86

Glad your alive.

Sounds like you're getting towards the sort of mileage where you know the bike a bit.

Stay safe and enjoy yourself mate.

Thanks, and you're totally right. Really getting comfortable on it. Even started working on rolling burn outs a bit in the fall.
Sledding season up here now.
Run to the hills!

BKK Jack · 11-16-2012, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparky675

Okay, so ... how do I start?

Braking, yes! Um, "skilled" riders braking ...

You see, I bought a KTM 1190 RC8 yesterday while braking. Well, not the whole bike, just the smashed up parts and I'm not even sure how much I paid for it!

I crashed big time! Low sided--which would have been kinda okay except another rider who was following me too close slammed into me and sent me sailing, tumbling in every direction 4 times before I stood up and ran for the safety wall and climbed over.

I'm okay, just sore all over. My leathers are marred on every side but they held up fantastically well and absorbed most the shocks. My helmet is toast. My gloves (Knox Handroids, for which I am most grateful because they truly saved my hands) are probably spent, too. And my Sidi boots! Somehow my right boot got punctured on the bottom!

They're toast as well.

I will never, ever ride without full leathers. Anything less would have been disastrous.

Oh, and I really wasn't enjoying the bike. I was trying to connect with it--it's real edgy and super sensitive (especially the brakes!

) but I wasn't on my game at all. I should have known to back off more. I was only going 70 mph when it happened --meaning I wasn't going full speed like I normally do-- but I should have listened to my feeling of disconnectedness and backed off more.

I learned that my Triumph is more forgiving than other bikes, and the dangers of carelessly throwing an unfamiliar bike around the track. (I've got what I recognize from my teaching Hanggliding as Intermediate Syndrome where I think I'm better than I truly am. This exhibits as well a sense of false security and untouchability, and unfortunately only nature's course can cure this affliction.

)

I've been studying and practicing braking skills but I was not prepared to brake this bike so hard. Hubby says my 675 is unusually forgiving braking in corners. I was unaware of this as well as stupidly clueless as to the braking characteristics of the RC8. Investigating braking characteristics first is critical to successfully riding different bikes. I knew this before but now I intimately know it.

The guy following too close was unnecessary because there were only 15 riders in the group and it's a huge track. We could have all travelled without ever coming close to one another, really.

Hubby saw me tumbling and said he felt absolutely helpless. It was a wake-up call for both of us.

On a lighter note, I really enjoyed the Super Duke. But I'd much rather ride a Street Triple.

HAH! I was just bumping around, reading some threads to get a little more of a feel of the place, and I started reading the above post. RC8...hmmm...racetrack...hmmm...HOLD THE PHONE, I WAS THERE! I remember you, you were really bummed after the accident, but looked to be pretty okay physically. I and another SV riding buddy were in the Easy-Up right next to you, but I was riding in the slowest group. I doubt it, but you might remember my super-cool 90's AGV leathers.

Here I am gracefully, and veeeerrrrrry slowly arcing my way through "The Carousel."

Nice to meet you again. By the way, I almost dumped one when I was staging on the grid. I was paddling forward and touched the front brake and it was like I'd walked the front tire into a wall.

It was a great day, and the last time I've been on a real track. I really need to get out again next year.

Someone mentioned the control riders, or coaches. On that day, I thought I was in a pretty good groove, pressing pretty hard, but within my limits, and while entering one of the corners, I was looking to and through the apex when I saw the coach riding in front of me. He was turned halfway round in the saddle with one hand on the bars looking a me and giving a thumbsup. My ego was crushed.

Boldor · 11-16-2012, 05:32 PM

Hi Sparky,

I haven't been following your trials and tribulations, Jack bought me here. I have e-talked with Jack for a couple of years and now you've met him and I only have a pic of him in his ghastly leathers. The last two times I have read about your exploits you've been for a slide - major cred - double major cred since you're a chic!! Nothing says more about commitment to me than playing outside the boundaries. I am glad to hear this one has caused no major pains. How is your sternum healing?

spank86 · 11-16-2012, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fixer166

Thanks, and you're totally right. Really getting comfortable on it. Even started working on rolling burn outs a bit in the fall.
Sledding season up here now.
Run to the hills!

If only I had the tyre money for those sorts of shenanigans, ill stick to riding it hard and leaving the stunting to you.

Plus we only have rain, more rain, sunshine and showers, or heavy snow over here. Not a lot inbetween.

spank86 · 11-16-2012, 07:07 PM

How did I miss your post before sparky?

Ouch. I'm known among the regulars I ride with as one of the resident nutters but I ride like a newbie if you give me a strange bike. Fair play to you for having the guts to go for it on an unfamiliar motor even if it didn't pay off.

@BKK, the regulars I ride with are all off the sv650.org site, they are good bikes when fettle with, if you haven't changed the read shock I holy recommend it. A guy I ride with went from being left in the dust to chasing my tail after a switch to a kawasaki one.

BKK Jack · 11-16-2012, 08:01 PM

Spank,

One of the first things I did was sort the bouncy bits, despite that it was already a whole lot faster than me right out of the box. It has been a really great bike, but I think the move to the new Striple R will be a real step up. While I'm raiding the imageshack folders, here's a shot of us having a bit of fun.