🚀 go-pugleaf

On Thu, 12 Nov 1998 22:35:45 -0800, Siddiq <siddim01@student.ucr.edu> wrote:
><<>>in a weird squirrelly cavitation, the rear wheel yawing rapidly.  I
>tapped
>>>the brakes, expecting him to cut in front of me, but he actually managed
>>>to bring it down to 65, then dropped back behind and around the beetle.
>>>The Aspencade "flinched" left (no shoulder in carpool lane), I don't
>know
>>>whether I startled him by slowing or he saw the beemer situation.  I
>>>was quite amazed that nothing newsworthy happened.
>>
>>Their new BMW bikes are supposed to have ABS.  Did it look like it worked
>>okay, or did it look like a scary option to have, handling-wise?
>>
>
>My definite impression was it required a >great deal of skill which the
>fellow >possesed.  It looked like the kind of scary you see watching GP
>bike races - those guys can handle it, but _I_ would be intimidated,
>perhaps
>to the point of losing it.  I assume chippies have track time before they
>take the new bikes on the street.  It looked as though the bike becomes
>more sensitive to body english as it cycles through small skids.>>
>	Hmm, can you explain the "body english?" What is that? Thanks.

When riding a two-wheeled vehicle, some amount of steering can be performed
by shifting weight around.  "English," in this context, means small amounts
of physical force applied to an object to change its trajectory.  You
can ride a bicycle with no hands and steer by slight leaning, for example.
On a motorcycle, small amounts of body movement can make a big difference
in where the bike goes.  The less traction you have the more effect body
english has.  I'm guessing that the small skids that ABS allows creates
periods of greater body english effect.  I'm sure you realize that ABS
works by releasing brakes when it senses a skid, then quickly reapplies
the brakes.  The alternative of skidding can mean falling down on a 
motorcycle, which could be brutal at the extreme speeds we are talking
about here.  ABS doesn't necessarily stop faster than a well trained 
driver, but is supposed to allow more control or steering during a maximum
braking maneuver.  I know it has saved my butt and a number of small
animals when I've had it in cars, so the obvious question is "is it as
useful on motorcycles?"  The observation I've made in this case (which
may well not apply to the average guy on a bike), is that it worked but
appeared to require a lot of skill.  The answer to "did it save him
from bouncing off cars at 100MPH" is less obvious.

>
>--
>Siddiq's random thought for the 12th of November:
>	43 font types are 42 too many.
>

jg
-- 
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