Lean Angle

[Bikernoob]

How many of you regularly take the Rocket to its limits in terms of lean angle (scrapping metal)?

I’m still learning what the bike (and me) can do in the twisties, and I have to admit that I’m a bit tentative leaning this big beast too much in the corners. I have the floorboards so I have a bit more lean angle than factory pegs but I haven’t even come close to scrapping because hard leans make me feel like this bike is just going to slip right out from under me.

Help me through this….how well will the Rocket grip in the turns? How low will you take it while still feeling confident it won’t slip? How much faster than the posted speed limit in a turn will you go with confidence (for example, a turn is posted as 35mph, do you feel good about 10mph over? 20?)? General thoughts?

Thanks

[Ugarte]

I've scraped my Rivco floorboards a few times. The Rocket hangs in there fine and will do more lean if necessary. The best place to get the first scrape is on a 270 entry to a freeway where you can speed up continuously till you scrape the board.

[sully]

Gone over enough to scrape the exhaust .

The bike handles good for a big beast , have uprated shocks for better everything .

[Jamie]

Scrapes all the time. That's solo riding, w/o baggage. Of course (pardon the cliché) Switz. is the land of twisties. But inadequate cornering clearance remains my only disenchantment about the RIII. Problem is that I have yet to find a remedy: Raasks peg relocation kit too radically up and backwards (although adjustable), Basset kit --which I helped develop-- eventually requires a higher seat, Palatina kit only comes with a much higher seat, etc. Thought the Wilbers shocks would alleviate the problem but, in fact, they are so good and so sporty that they invited me to charge harder. So? So I am learning the ride the RIII in a more sedate fashion.

[ This message was edited by: Jamie on 2005-11-04 11:07 ]

[sbljr]

On 2005-11-04 08:44, Bikernoob wrote:
How much faster than the posted speed limit in a turn will you go with confidence (for example, a turn is posted as 35mph, do you feel good about 10mph over? 20?)? General thoughts?

Rest assured nothing disastrous happens when you touch down the boards or pegs on a Rocket. You have to lean considerably farther than that before things get precarious.

But please don't take anybody's advice on above question even if they think they know what they're talking about. You should never judge an appropriate speed by those signs because they are very inconsistent. Here in Kansas there are curves I can take at 3 times the posted on a Harley road couch, and there are others with camber so contorted I myself would not push too far above it even on a true sportbike (a more skilled rider than I might though). I'll be the first to admit I can't say what would be safe for you.

That is my general thought on that issue--don't believe anybody's general thoughts on it.

[Aussiebikerdave]

On 2005-11-04 13:03, sbljr wrote:

Rest assured nothing disastrous happens when you touch down the boards or pegs on a Rocket. You have to lean considerably farther than that before things get precarious.

But please don't take anybody's advice on above question even if they think they know what they're talking about.

sbljr sums up this thread well with a correct statement and well worded warning at the end!

Take heed, ride your own pace and live a long life!

Davo

[Flydive]

On 2005-11-04 10:46, Jamie wrote:
Scrapes all the time. That's solo riding, w/o baggage. Of course (pardon the cliché) Switz. is the land of twisties. But inadequate cornering clearance remains my only disenchantment about the RIII.

Move your ass Jamie. :-D

Seriously, it's not easy with the forward pegs of the Rocket, but if you move on the seat to the inside of the turn you can really take them faster leaning the bike less.

Would be easier with rear sets of course.

ciao

[Jamie]

Flydive: Moving my a**? Mine?

A**-moving- wise, you're not aware of the biking trade show business (Paris "Mondial du 2 Roues", Birmingham NEC , going on until Nov. 6, BTW) fondness for " undraping " young girl a**es before --or aboard-- displayed motorcycles, are you?

As another very junior ("it's only a bike show, don't you see? " ) British journalist commenting on Birmingham NEC put it: " That's lovely. Glimpses of feminine persuasion. Physically loquacious (sic). I am excited as everyone else. I've had only a few glimpses before (before WHAT? that was when he was reporting on hog futures or ag equipment trade fairs ?) But... where and which are the brands and bikes I am supposed to report on ? (his belated PM to his chief editor back in London)?"

He did send that " please-need-guidance-thank-you-in advance" PM to London while sipping yet another pint. But with an a**- covering caveat that read: "I am led into suspecting that there might be too much gratuitous flesh on display"

Love Great Britain. For its bikes. And its bombastic and hilarious manners. Don't you?


[ This message was edited by: Jamie on 2005-11-05 16:06 ]

[SteveRed]

If I'm really going hard in the twisties I take the inside foot and place it back on the passenger peg so 'when' the rider peg scrapes it has free play. The Rocket has excellent hold with that big FAT on the back... Better with my progressive 440's.

Do yourself a favor and enroll in a rider training (Braking & Cornering) day or weekend course... you won't regret it.

SteveRed