Topic: Baby Boomer Riders

[TwoTired]

I don't care much for laws that tell me what I can and can't ride, but c.c. size regulations for beginners,
like they have in other countries may not be such a bad idea here. my .02

Well, I care even less for laws that punish the innocent and capable, for the limitations and poor judgment of others.

The slow march of incremental laws such as what was suggested has the logical conclusion of a law specifying every aspect of your life, "for your own good", of course, as defined by someone other than yourself.

It used to be a major concern of lawmakers many years ago, that new laws do no harm despite the possibility that they may do something good.  It's a pity this philosphy died some time ago.

[clarkjh]

I didn't really realize what was wrong with highway driving/ drivers until I took flight training.  There, you are taught not only how to handle the machine safely in routine situations, but what to do when things go wrong and when the airplane stops doing the normal things.  Emergency procedures and unusual attitudes are repeated until they no long frighten and are handle in a routine way.  Deal with the adrenalin later.  The first time a rider or driver on the highway gets any training about edge of performance limits on braking or cornering is usually just before the crash.  Survival optional.

I recall while in Illinois, the first thing I did when getting underway in the car after a snow or in icy conditions, was to test the traction of the tires in the car.  Tapping the brakes quickly on the snow or ice at very low speed teaches you how much to rely on the brakes, how much pedal pressure is safe, and allows adjustment of your safe traffic interval on the way to work.  It also shows you how the car handles both near and beyond tractive limits.  This is a concept totally foreign to ANY native California driver.  Who wants to waste time learning how to maneuver in a situation they never want to get into?

With anti locks I usually give it a quick shot, you'll feel the slip.  Also would put my truck in a skid on gravel, snow, and ice just to practice getting out of it when I was a kid, it has saved my ass once or twice. And no I'm not a boomer, just working on middle age.
James

[Uncle Ernie]

TT, older guys that are STILL riding learned on smaller bikes.  I still remember pulling into a parking lot on my BMW R60 and a guy comes over with his son and murmers, "Wow. Now there's a big'un."  600cc.  I remember looking at a 650 Triumph and wondering if I could ever hande all that.
I've always been more concerned with skill than horse power.  I still remember the day a guy remonstrated me by saying, "Any fool can go fast in a straight line."
I have to say, if there was a way to simulate bad situations on a motorcycle, I'd love to take that course.  Trial and error can really ruin your day.  You can get theory, but actual practice is hard.

[TwoTired]

I have to say, if there was a way to simulate bad situations on a motorcycle, I'd love to take that course.

I know there are car race schools that have a skid pad, which is a paved area with water or some kind of slippery surface where skiding and spinout control are practiced at low speed.

I wonder about the Motorcycle race schools.  Do they have something equivalent?  Maybe they have bikes with roll cages on them?  Something like that could be good survival training, just to know what it feels like to be on and beyond the brink of control.

[toycollector10]

With apologies to you pilots out there..

"There are old motorcyclists and bold motorcyclists, but no old, bold, motorcyclists".

And on the topic of ageing...

A young bull and an old bull are in a paddock overlooking a herd of cows. The young bull says, "Jeez, lets jump the fence and run down there and root one of those cows" and the old bull says "no son, let's use the gate, walk on down and root the lot of them" 

[Uncle Ernie]

Yess, well... good.  Right then-

Soo- TT. Track schools teach what to do and how to do it.  Recovery, can't be taught, but avoidance can.  I was thinking and I came to realize that that's a big part of experience- knowing how NOT to overcook a turn, not especiall how to save yourself while heading over the cliff.
The skid pad-type stuff comes with sort of sneaking up on the limits in q controlled environment.  Selling tires to people who race is fun.  They'll say things like, "I really like this tire because you can feel when you're starting to lose it, but it slides around a turn really nicely."
Gitty-up!

BTW- Serenity, you got me wondering which war you were talking about. There's been more than one...

[Serenity]

Well I believe the baby boom years were known as that after the 2nd world war...


What are the official years of the Baby Boom Generation?
 
1946 - 1964 saw a marked increase in the number of births in North America

These years were referred to as the *baby boom* .

Now if it were the boar war youd not be here riding your nice bike

[jabbadeznuts]

It's really interesting to see the demographics in the shop I work at.



BMW riders - typically 40+ and affluent
Ducati riders - late 20s to late 30s and somewhat affluent
Honda Riders (Except the Goldwing) - 18 to late 30s with average income


Dirt riders are an interesting bunch. Typically less affluent and a little sketchy.

[TwoTired]

Soo- TT. Track schools teach what to do and how to do it.  Recovery, can't be taught, but avoidance can. 

I was thinking special equipment could help.  So, I went searching and found these:
http://www.superbikeschool.com/machinery/braking-bike.php
http://www.superbikeschool.com/machinery/slide-bike.php
http://www.superbikeschool.com/machinery/lean-bike.php

I think you CAN teach recovery with this equipment.  As well as learn the signs for the limits of the machine, etc. in order to avoid the need for recovery.  At the very least, you'll learn that if the rear end starts to slide, the rear brake is unlikely to improve matters.

If I were interested in a high performance machine, I think this could also be a survival course.

I'm not sure how much it would help the feet forward crowd.  But, such a school wouldn't be viewed as cool with them anyway, I'd guess.

They say you can bring your own bike.  I wonder if you showed up with a chopper, would they even let you on the course with it?

There's a concept...Chopper racing on a road course.  I want the TV rights. 

Cheers,

[tsflstb]

I was about to post that "slide bike" with outriggers.  I think that would be a strange feeling to crash, but not really crash.

I took this class a few years ago.  www.americansupercamp.com

It's kind of like the MSF course on crack.  You get an XR100 to slide around a rodeo arena.  It's low speed and on dirt.  You are expected to crash repeatedly and learn about bike control.  I did and I did.  I want to again.  They also have great instructors.  This guy named Nicky Hayden was teaching when I took it.  I showed him a few things and I hear he's riding pretty good now.

I sold my VFR at age 27 and my current "big" bike is a 1990 Kawasaki 550.  It seems huge compared to the 400, but it's considered a woman's bike now.  I already eat dinner at 4:30.  I'll watch Wheel of Fortune and listen to Paul Harvey if it's on.  I've looked at the walking shoes with velcro straps and thought "wow those look comfortable".  God help me, it's happening already.

[Gordon]

I've looked at the walking shoes with velcro straps and thought "wow those look comfortable".  God help me, it's happening already.

Don't worry, it's not completely over until you buy a pair of these.

[okie]

First I get crap from my kids.  Now it is tsflstb.  I happen to like those walking shoes with velcro straps.  In fact, I'm wearing them in the picture on my avatar.  I'm old and like to be comfortable, but I ain't dead yet. 

[Einyodeler]

I totally agree..laces and chains don`t mix 
I had to buy a pair of them last year while I was having the skin grafts done to my hand after the accident,couldn`t tie laces.
One of the nurses actually said" aren`t you too young to be wearing those kind of shoes?"

[tsflstb]

If you're riding a wheelie and not "mall walking" you don't fall into the demographic I fear.  Rock on Captain Velcro. 

Laces are known to get caught in footpegs causing one to look like a complete dumbass at a stop light when you can't get a foot down.  I wouldn't know anything about that.

[BobbyR]

I wonder if Depends would cushion the seat and allow you to ride more miles.

[upperlake04]

Laces are known to get caught in footpegs causing one to look like a complete dumbass at a stop light when you can't get a foot down.  I wouldn't know anything about that.

-supposedly idiot and geezer-proof when the tails are also tucked into socks or the top of the boot..

[Bob Wessner]

I wonder if Depends would cushion the seat and allow you to ride more miles.

Don't know about that, but they help if you are driving 900 miles without stopping.

[gerhed]

Hey, leave the poor girl alone!

[Einyodeler]

I wonder if Depends would cushion the seat and allow you to ride more miles.

Don't know about that, but they help if you are driving 900 miles without stopping.

They are a must have for the Iron Butt Rallies 

[clarkjh]

I wonder if Depends would cushion the seat and allow you to ride more miles.

Don't know about that, but they help if you are driving 900 miles without stopping.

They are a must have for the Iron Butt Rallies 

I thought thats what leather chaps and foot pegs where for, just stand up and moon the world.

James

[Bob Wessner]

That would be totally unacceptable behaviour for an astronaut.

[Snowdigger69]

If you realy want to ride, a tank of fuel on a 78 750k is good for about 2 hours, at somewhat above the posted speed. Wear bicycle shorts under your jeans... skip the depends. Good for an easy 600 mile day. That's just under an 8 hour ride..

80 mph eats up fuel... what do you want... she's old.. not dead..

[BobbyR]

If you realy want to ride, a tank of fuel on a 78 750k is good for about 2 hours, at somewhat above the posted speed. Wear bicycle shorts under your jeans... skip the depends. Good for an easy 600 mile day. That's just under an 8 hour ride..

Two hours. Dude you must have raw fuel coming out the exhausts or running like 8K rpm.

[burmashave]

I wonder if Depends would cushion the seat and allow you to ride more miles.

Don't know about that, but they help if you are driving 900 miles without stopping.

I thought real men wore a Stadium Pal type of device while doing endurance runs.

[Bob Wessner]

I wonder if Depends would cushion the seat and allow you to ride more miles.

Don't know about that, but they help if you are driving 900 miles without stopping.

I thought real men wore a Stadium Pal type of device while doing endurance runs.

Er, not a good fit for the astronaut in question anyway.