DSN_KLR650
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transalp 1
- Posts: 203
- Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2009 12:07 am
Post
by transalp 1 » Mon Nov 30, 2009 3:06 pm
It's a perverse sort of fun. But, one of the things I do when I get a new bike (after a break in period for tires and brake pads) is to deliberately see how hard I have to brake to lock either tire. On a softly sprung forked bike like our KLRs, it's more a test to see how much dive can be induced before things get scary-scary.
But, locking a rear tire on a dusty road to understand what a slide feels like and how to recover is something dual prupose riders do on a regular basis without trying.
I've heard it many times from varied sources: A good way to be a better street rider is to get a dirt bike.
Power slides are fun on a big trailie down a gravel road,too. Not so on a touring rig leaving a toll station with oil on the road. I once had my Honda PC800 crossed up like that on Ga. 400 in Atlanta. It wasn't pretty and I bet I worried a few drivers. But, I made it - barely. It took a pair of channel lock pliers to get the chunk of seat foam out of my *** later. . .
Point is, there's a real need to practice braking harder and harder from time to time. I'm not talking the MSF 15-20mph skid either. HOWL them knobbies! =)
Scaring yourself a little now might take the panic out of a bad situation later.
"Lay 'er down for safety"? That's a myth from the bad old days of hard tires and wimpy brakes.
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Tengai Mark Van Horn
- Posts: 1922
- Joined: Tue Nov 19, 2002 8:31 pm
Post
by Tengai Mark Van Horn » Mon Nov 30, 2009 7:59 pm
The pants sold, but I still have the XXL Olympia jacket. I also have
an XXL Belstaff Discovery in gold available.
Current model Olympia AST Jacket, Hi-Vis yellow, excellent shape and
only hand washed (twice) with powdered Ivory soap and line-dried to
maintain the waterproof membrane's integrity. It could use a wash
again and I'll do that before I ship it, or you can do it if you
prefer. Comes with
nice zip-in insulated liner that is also a casual jacket in itself.
Size XXL
$175.00 shipped anywhere in the lower 48.
XXL Belstaff Discovery in gold: It has a minor crash damage on the
underside of the forearms but the jacket is still very sound and it
didn't wear down through the 2nd layer (waterproof layer). This
jacket runs a half size smaller than the Olympia. It has a zip-in
liner, removable giant rear pocket and a neck gaiter.
$115 shipped anywhere in the lower 48.
There is no warmer jacket available than the Discovery. However, the
Olympia AST is also very warm has superior venting for 80F+ days.
I have used both jackets on long expeditions and like 'em both.
Thanks for lookin',
Mark
PS: I can ship via post to Canada for an extra $15 USD
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