From: PAH112@psuvm.psu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.racing
Subject: F2vsGSXR600|Hockey/respect/sidestand complexity/crashing
Date: 17 Apr 92 13:23:49 GMT
 <18252@oasys.dt.navy.mil> <92107.114927PAH112@psuvm.psu.edu>
 <MACRO.92Apr16095206@hpcobr30.cup.hp.com>
Distribution: na
Organization: Penn State University

Just for the record,

In article <MACRO.92Apr16095206@hpcobr30.cup.hp.com>, macro@cup.hp.com (Patrick
MacRoberts) says:


>   Avoid Katanas, as they are too heavy.

>When compared to your Ninja?  <snicker>  Katanas are nice bikes.

Please make a distinction between "heavy" and "nice".  Katanas are to heavy,
and "nice" is a subjective term.  What's nice to you, may be ugly to me.  I'd
take my bike over some of the new ones.  By replacing the stock exhaust system,
I saved about 30-35 lbs, and the centerstand, a few more.  (Dry weight = 455
- 35 lbs = 420 lbs aprox.).

>Ignore the clown behind the curtain.  He thinks hockey equipment would
>make good racing gear.

Again, your memory fails you.  I merely offered a suggestion and wanted to see
if hockey equip. offered similar protection compared to racing safety equip.
I am referring to some of the elbow/shoulder pads that are available not the
shin/knee pads that are used (which contain plastic).  Have you ever  seen the
hockey equipment that I'm referring to!?

>You learn how to be SMOOTH.  You also learn how to twist your right
>hand (which is bad)...  The thing handles so badly that you scare
>yourself before you get in any REAL trouble.  The best thing about it

The best way to avoid "any REAL trouble" is not to go looking for it.  I never
did, and (amazingly) never found it.

>is: NO PLASTIC.  When I dropped it off the sidestand (as all of us DO
>once in a while) NOTHING was broken or scratched...
 :::::::::::::::
>I just did a similar test with my CBR600.  Fortunately, the plastic
>was ALREADY scratched so I didn't feel too bad.  When I CRASHED the
>CBR, the cost of replacing the plastic was $1500.  F2 plastic costs
>even more...

Or in your case, twice in a while.  Is the sidestand operation that hard of an
operation to perform?  Maybe we ought to alert the engineers over in Japan that
we cannot perform such complicated tasks.  I can't imagine anyone with any
gray matter dropping a bike of the side stand, or worse yet doing it TWICE???

How did you crash?  Were you going to fast?  Not paying attention?

I would rather get information from a person who merely offers alternatives
rather than from someone who: 1) can't get their bike off the side stand w/o
dropping it, or 2) obviously can't ride  3) can't accept different view
points.

>My $.02?  Take the MSF course.  Buy something CHEAP with no plastic.
>Ride it for a while (2-3000 miles).  Drop it, abuse it, beat on it,

Or try this, DON'T drop it, DON'T abuse it, DON'T beat on it.  Try learning
how to ride in a safe manner, on something you'll respect.  According to
Freddie Spenser (you do know who he is?), "you have to respect the power of
machines"(yes, that's a direct quote).  Without RESPECT, you are more likely to
crash.

>then get rid of it.  By then, you should have tried a few other
>people's bikes and can make a more informed decision about what you
>want.

I would be quite apprehensive about letting someone with a ragged out beat up
bike, ride my "nice" well kept machine.

It seems to me that he already knows what he wants.  Why do you continue to
insist that the probabilty of him crashing is 100%?  Maybe motorcycling was a
little too complex for you to learn, but don't underestimate the potential of
someone else.  It can be done (not crashing), if you have a little common sense
, respect, and coordination.  Either I'm exceptionally gifted, or you're just a
little "slow".

*******************************************************************************
* Peter Howard                *  " If the speed limit is 55 mph, why does my  *
* DoD# 0924                   *    does my speedometer go to 160 ? "          *
* 1985 Ninja 600              *************************************************
* EMAIL: PAH112@PSUVM.PSU.EDU *  " Slower traffic keep right."                *
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