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Limits?
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In a sort of reply to oasysco fellow (whom I am slightly worried about), I
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I appreciate the concern, but like you imply below, the bike will
always outperform the rider.
Understanding that is key, imo, to knowing the bike can do whatever you
can do and more and there's some relief in that.
I'm reminded of the vid of that guy on the big Harley leisurely
cruising over the side of the mountain at Deal's Gap. He didn't realize
that he could countersteer that bike back on the road and the bike
would have responded beautifully. Instead, he rode down the side of the
mountain.
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now have a bike that I am capable of knowing about 1/3rd of it's "limits".
That is the K1200GT. It is WAY beyond anything I've ever ridden in 31 years
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I've been drooling over the GT since I first saw it's pics and spec sheet.
I'm just wondering if it is as comfortable two-up as my venerable '95
K11LT...
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of riding. It's going to take me some time to really get to know and be
comfortable with the "limits" of this 153 HP motorcycle. There is no
magazine or blog that will help me. The only way I will really learn to know
it is to ride it.
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That is true, but that is sortsa like saying that given an M16, you
don't need to read up on it before using it. A little foreknowledge and
understanding of any topic can help increase your confidence level that
might just let you test the limits of whatever it is more than if you
didn't know what it could do by having read about it first *or* you can
wait and experience it later.
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Thankfully it is a BMW and has probably the best suspension and braking of
any superbike on the road. I rode a Hyabusa once for about 10 minutes and
wouldn't ride it again. The BMW is not like that. It is firm and solid at
any speed and in any curve. It will also stop on a dime with ABS link (front
lever) brakes. and an ABS rear. So, your never too old or have ridden long
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Most any new(er) bike will stop on a dime, imo. When I took my driving
test, I had to do a panic stop from 15mi/hr. You accelerate to a
painted bar and then apply the brakes to see how long it takes you to
come to a full stop. You can even skid if you want.
The graduated measure painted after the start-to-stop mark starts at
10' and goes to 30'. I stopped just about halfway between the
stop-to-stop mark and that 10' mark; no skidding. The examiner was
scratching her head (figuratively speaking) trying to figure out what
to write on the test since I didn't even reach the minimum measure and
I don't have linked or ABS brakes. In fact, I've got a stinkin' drum
brake on the back. She remarked, "my goodness that was a fast stop".
I've tested this same stop on the road when it is clear enough for me
to practice and I truly am amazed at how fast I can stop. Granted at
higher speeds, I'm downshifting as well.
That's why I said in another thread that I need to learn *not* to stop
on a dime when confronted with a yellow light. While I can easily do
it, the guy behind me probably can't.
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enough not to learn more.
I'm now considering some sort of Superbike School at Willow Springs. I think
that might improve my riding ability on this thing.
I still wear a half helmet. DOT approved, of course.
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Half your brain tied behind your back, or half wit?
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So Ya Hooo!
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Sign up for Superbike school at streets of willow.
It fun as hell, and you'll learn stuff you never learned in your 31
years on 2 wheels.
You'll enjoy the school, and you'll see how the bike will perform over a
lot of different surface types.
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