How bout some bowel emptying head shake at 170+

[Brian Stirling]

We're coming to the end of a long winter and those of us that ride motorcycles may be just about now starting to think about getting the bike on the road -- well, here's some inspiration for you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmNXCJt7K3Q

This is, in my view, the most amazing race on the planet. There are similar street type races, mostly in Northern Ireland, but this one is the grand daddy. Each lap is 37.73 miles with over 200 turns and substantial elevation change. But, the thing that boggles my mind is the tunnel vision while riding, at nearly 200mph, through tree lines roads that in some places are little more than a single lane wide. The amount of visual processing needed for this is insane. You could gang up four Nvidia Titans in SLI and you'd get a popup that says "no fucking way -- you're on your own!"

I also find myself leaning into the turns and I wonder if other riders do the same.

So, check out this video and others on the TT, turn up the volume and wear your Depends!


Brian

 

[heymrdj]

"I'm pretty sure this next curve is a 30 degree."


"Or was it 70 OH SH--!!"

 

[yh125d]

I can't watch bike videos like this, I get too anxious and it's sort of too abstract for me too, like I know for sure I will never do anything close to that.

This one in an STI though, more of my style
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7gmbQ8KxM4

 

[JulesMaximus]

It never ceases to amaze me when I watch those Isle of Man TT videos. How long must it take just to learn a 37 mile long course? Must take an amazing amount of concentration.

:thumbsup: I love it.

 

[shabby]

It never ceases to amaze me when I watch those Isle of Man TT videos. How long must it take just to learn a 37 mile long course? Must take an amazing amount of concentration.

:thumbsup: I love it.

Pfft they just wing it...

 

[Zivic]

Pfft they just wing it...

I think it would be more fun if you wing it vs learning it. if learned, all you are doing is going through the motions -> brake, throttle on, lean, etc.

 

[marincounty]

Watch "V for Victory" , the late Joey Dunlop. Totally insane.

 

[Greenman]

I think it would be more fun if you wing it vs learning it. if learned, all you are doing is going through the motions -> brake, throttle on, lean, etc.

Wing it at those speeds and you will die.

I wound my V-Rod up to around 110 on a long straight 4 lane freeway and nearly shit myself. All I could think about was how much it was going to hurt if any one of a hundred things went wrong. Speed like that is for young stupid guy's that think they're indestructible.

 

[Zivic]

Wing it at those speeds and you will die.

I wound my V-Rod up to around 110 on a long straight 4 lane freeway and nearly shit myself. All I could think about was how much it was going to hurt if any one of a hundred things went wrong. Speed like that is for young stupid guy's that think they're indestructible.

that's kind of my point, if for fun, it doesn't have to be at insane speeds

 

[Brian Stirling]

I just had a new TT video pop up in the suggested videos on Youtube. Some pretty amazing power slides and other awesomeness...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9v8C7mT-Tk


Brian

 

[Phanuel]

Wing it at those speeds and you will die.

I wound my V-Rod up to around 110 on a long straight 4 lane freeway and nearly shit myself. All I could think about was how much it was going to hurt if any one of a hundred things went wrong. Speed like that is for young stupid guy's that think they're indestructible.

Race bikes just start to feel in their element north of 100mph though. They're designed for it. First gear on one of my bikes runs out at 90. It's extremely easy to hit triple digits without realizing it. Once you do though, yeah, if anything goes wrong it's all over, but the bike feels at home north of 10k rpms.

 

[Brian Stirling]

I've topped out at 144mph in a car but 153mph on a bike. If you hit anything at those speeds it's pretty much all over in a car or bike. On a bike, OTH, you can lay it down and so long as you have the proper gear you can slide until you stop then get back on your feet. I'm not saying you won't be hurt, but so long as you don't hit anything a good set of leathers, gloves, boots and helmet will go a long way to protecting you. Not many folks driving a car wear any protective gear but few ride bikes without it.

The guys doing the TT are not entering corners as fast as they might if it was a dedicated race course -- perhaps 96% versus 99.9%. But, losing it at 150+ and hitting a tree, or rock wall, or almost anything is likely to end badly and sadly many have perished at the TT. It used to be part of the international GP race series but by the mid 70's the TT was considered to be too dangerous and was removed from the series. I can't say I blame them.

Still, watching the top guys wind there way around the 37+ mile mountain course at speeds often exceeding 200mph is nothing short of breathtaking and as I said, it's on my bucket list!


Brian

 

[pcgeek11]

Death Wish.

That looks like death eating a cracker...

 

[Charlie98]

Wing it at those speeds and you will die.

I wound my V-Rod up to around 110 on a long straight 4 lane freeway and nearly shit myself. All I could think about was how much it was going to hurt if any one of a hundred things went wrong. Speed like that is for young stupid guy's that think they're indestructible.

I had my CBR1000 up to 135MPH one time. One time. I could cruise on it at 90-100MPH without problems (I joke with people that I would be riding 80MPH going to work on the Dallas North Tollway... and I was getting passed!) but there's a line where speed becomes iffy and you are just hanging on for the ride. In a closed circuit environment (race track, etc) it might be different, everyone is there doing the same thing and you would have the ability to grow into that kind of speed, but not on the street.

Here in Dallas there is a huge scooter trash contingent, they race around in gangs, 30 bikes doing triple digits through town or wheelie contests through rush-hour traffic... it's insane.

For you literary types, Hunter S. Thompson wrote a short story called Midnight on the Coast Highway that has his version of The Edge on a motorcycle; it's pretty good.

 

[cbrunny]

That's cool and all but I really don't understand why anyone would ever want to do that. One mistake and you're dead. Or one not-your-fault-someone-threw-something-at-you and you're dead. I don't get it.

 

[pauldun170]

I've had my ZX-11 up to where it just doesn't want to accelerate anymore. About 180 indicated...so probably somewhere around 170 ish to accomodate for speedo error).
Very calm and completely stable. One time at the old Grumman runway out on Long Island and once again at a time and place where no one is going to notice some idiot maxxing his bike out. Balls out on that bike was easy.

On my CBR1K, I've had it up to 170 something. Did it once just to see what it'd do. Nowadays the most I'll go on it is 150 and that's usually a very rare quick burst to escape my own farts and then back down to speed whatever the posted speed limit is. Deep into the 100's is not something I enjoy on that bike and I have a hell of lot more fun at sane speeds through the twisties on that bike.

My first bike, 85MPH federally mandated Speedometer and all was a borderline terrifying. CB750 with a top end of maybe 115. That thing was 550+lbs of wallowing naked fury. A butterfly fart across the front end while in a mild lean would kick off a tank slapper.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Wing it at those speeds and you will die.

I wound my V-Rod up to around 110 on a long straight 4 lane freeway and nearly shit myself. All I could think about was how much it was going to hurt if any one of a hundred things went wrong. Speed like that is for young stupid guy's that think they're indestructible.

I've had my Monster and my Multistrada up over 130mph. They felt just fine at those speeds and capable of more.

But yeah, you couldn't be competitive at the Isle of Man TT if you're just winging it. Just listen to those guys who have competed there talk about the course, they KNOW that course, they know every turn, they know what gear to be in, where to turn in, where to brake. You'd be dead if you didn't.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

For my money the sidecar racing is even more insane.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqUa0dduw9o <----- don't blame me for the horrible music

 

[BUTCH1]

I've had my Monster and my Multistrada up over 130mph. They felt just fine at those speeds and capable of more.

But yeah, you couldn't be competitive at the Isle of Man TT if you're just winging it. Just listen to those guys who have competed there talk about the course, they KNOW that course, they know every turn, they know what gear to be in, where to turn in, where to brake. You'd be dead if you didn't.

Yea, you can tell they are pushing those machines right to the limit in every possibly way. Geez, it would suck if a pine-cone fell on the track or they hit anything in one of the corners that might affect tire grip.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Yea, you can tell they are pushing those machines right to the limit in every possibly way. Geez, it would suck if a pine-cone fell on the track or they hit anything in one of the corners that might affect tire grip.

Well, a number of racers have died or been seriously injured competing in the TT. Valentino Rossi visited the TT a couple years ago and rode the course on a Yamaha R1 but not at race speeds and he commented how dangerous and crazy it was.

 

[yh125d]

I've topped out at 144mph in a car but 153mph on a bike. If you hit anything at those speeds it's pretty much all over in a car or bike. On a bike, OTH, you can lay it down and so long as you have the proper gear you can slide until you stop then get back on your feet. I'm not saying you won't be hurt, but so long as you don't hit anything a good set of leathers, gloves, boots and helmet will go a long way to protecting you. Not many folks driving a car wear any protective gear but few ride bikes without it.

The guys doing the TT are not entering corners as fast as they might if it was a dedicated race course -- perhaps 96% versus 99.9%. But, losing it at 150+ and hitting a tree, or rock wall, or almost anything is likely to end badly and sadly many have perished at the TT. It used to be part of the international GP race series but by the mid 70's the TT was considered to be too dangerous and was removed from the series. I can't say I blame them.

Still, watching the top guys wind there way around the 37+ mile mountain course at speeds often exceeding 200mph is nothing short of breathtaking and as I said, it's on my bucket list!


Brian

At those speeds it seems to me it would be damn near impossible to stop from rolling over instead of just sliding, and once that starts pretty good chance you're done for.

I once went an (indicated) 145 in a 2000 Saab 9-5 down a 2-lane county back road with no shoulder at about midnight. Not sure how I didn't died. I did pop a head gasket though. I've never ridden bikes on the street, but going 30 through some back trails can get a little hairy sometimes, it's been years though. I miss it

 

[Brian Stirling]

The MotoGP riders fairly routinely drop it and slide at 150+ and so long as they don't hit anything they pretty much get back up. When they hit the grass and tumble it can be a lot worse.


Brian

 

[Charlie98]

My first bike, 85MPH federally mandated Speedometer and all was a borderline terrifying. CB750 with a top end of maybe 115. That thing was 550+lbs of wallowing naked fury. A butterfly fart across the front end while in a mild lean would kick off a tank slapper.

I had an '82 CB750 Custom, with the F-motor and idiot 85MPH speedo... I was chasing my buddy on his ZX10 down I-25 once and had the speedo buried... and then it felt like the back end lifted up. I couldn't get that thing to slow down fast enough, and I never took it above 85 again.

 

[Brian Stirling]

Probably my scariest MC incident was while riding on I-95 in Florida. I was cruising around 80mph and came upon two tractor trailers, one in the right lane and the other in the left lane so I took the center lane to pass them. I get midway between them and I feel the bike kind of swimming and guessed, at first, it was buffeting from the trucks. But, it got worse and it occurred to me it might be something else, something like a flat tire, and I didn't want to be run over by either truck so I eased off the throttle and made it to the side of the rode. It was a flat rear tire.

I don't even want to think what might have happened if it had been a front tire.


Brian

 

[Charlie98]

Probably my scariest MC incident was while riding on I-95 in Florida. I was cruising around 80mph and came upon two tractor trailers, one in the right lane and the other in the left lane so I took the center lane to pass them. I get midway between them and I feel the bike kind of swimming and guessed, at first, it was buffeting from the trucks. But, it got worse and it occurred to me it might be something else, something like a flat tire, and I didn't want to be run over by either truck so I eased off the throttle and made it to the side of the rode. It was a flat rear tire.

I don't even want to think what might have happened if it had been a front tire.


Brian

Lost a good friend that way... I had told him two weeks prior the threads were showing through is rear Gold Wing tire... he said '...ah, I'll get to it eventually.' ...except, he didn't.