angle in corners?

[baylensman]

Has anyone had the oppritunity to get a protractor or other device on one of our bikes as it heads into a hard left hander?

 

I hit the traffice circle on Clearwater beach a little too hot last weekend, almost 45 instead of the recommended 25. Well as one lane was occupied on the circle I was forced to go inside as I slowed. I heard two long scraps from the boards and felt the board push up against my foot during one of them. Well no biggy I got her down to 20 and exited the circle and headed south to the beach area. When we stopped I tried to lean the bike over to see far it was to make the board scarp like that. I couldn't lean it that far!! I had to have a little help getting her back up then three of us leanded it that far, I'd say with a little kentucky windage it was close to 50" definely more that 45". now my 96 Star was built closer to the ground so it scrapped a lot, but this is the first time with the '07. Now in another thread we we're talking about a guy who hit a corner too hard with a trailer on, in that thread they said the tip over angle is 36" on a RSV versus 52" for a gold wing, and I remember somewhere in that thread someone stating that the crash bars hit before the floorboards would , is that correct? I definetly didn't hit the crash bars, there's no scrap marks on them just on the floor board.

 

 

So how is this mythical angle measured? Is this a number from some magazine articles back in the 90's , when Honda could do no wrong according to magazine editors, and before we all got together here and made our bikes better? With the leveling kit, the shinkos and the shock changes this is not the bike that rolled out of the dealer as far as handling.

Edited November 8, 2016 by baylensman

[wizard]

I'm not sure how much of a angle before we hit hard parts, but in a sweeping turn the suspension will be compressed even more. When I grind the floor boards I just slow down. They are expensive.

[gggGary]

Yes Boards scrape before the front crash bars, I haven't hit the bars yet but give me time..... I finally got both tires good and fresh, and now the roads have leaves and spilled corn and the corners get gravel as the corn semis run the rear wheels on the inside shoulder. I know it CAN'T be my getting old. Still considering the rear suspension mod to raise it a bit, and need to check fork spring height.

Edit; gotta put the new steering bearings in also, I can feel the notch...........

Edited November 8, 2016 by gggGary

[MikeWa]

The floor boards not only hit first but they have hardened inserts in them to take the abuse where they hit. Also since the floor boards are spring loaded they allow some margin when scraping.

 

Mike

[Flyinfool]

There is someone that sells magnesium studs to put on your floor boards or whatever hits first, so that when you scrape you throw off a big shower of sparks to look cool.

[yamagrl]

Sign me up!

 

 

There is someone that sells magnesium studs to put on your floor boards or whatever hits first, so that when you scrape you throw off a big shower of sparks to look cool.

[Flyinfool]

Here ya go.

http://secure.billydump.com/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=263

These are Titanium which will make good sparks, But if you can find them magnesium makes even better sparks.

[Flyinfool]

Dang it anyhow.

Now you got me thinking again, We all know just how dangerous that can be..........

 

AND winter is nearly here which gives me time to act on my thoughts.............

 

Is there already a provision to mount a stud on the foot pegs of a 1st gen or the floor boards of a 2nd gen? (I am assuming that the boards are the first part to drag on a 2nd gen?)

 

I will have to go out tonight in the dark and see if I can figure out how to mount a set of sparkers on my 1st gen. I have sourced some magnesium bar stock to load up in the lathe...............

Is there any interest in a set of magnesium feelers to fit a 1st or a 2nd gen?

[baylensman]

Dang it anyhow.

 

 

Is there already a provision to mount a stud on the foot pegs of a 1st gen or the floor boards of a 2nd gen? (I am assuming that the boards are the first part to drag on a 2nd gen?)

 

Haven't looked at the 07 but the 96 did have removable wear plates on the boards!

look at item 7!!

[videoarizona]

My VStar 950t had those on the boards. They do sparkle at night!

I would be very hesitant to add those to the 1st gen. You can truly lean on that machine. Scary.

[gggGary]

[h=2]Richmond 0.7" x 44.375 "Magnesium Anode Rod for Water Heaters[/h]Model Number: RP11309C | Menards^® SKU: 6836088

 

 

$19.99

 

[Condor]

I've taken some corners pretty damn hot in the past and I have never ever scraped a floorboard. I may have come close, but never made contact. If it takes more than that I'm not interested. Scraping a board or peg or whatever and live to tell about it is pure plain luck. Any time a part of the frame hits the pavement it also lifts the bike and takes weight off the contact patch of the tire and it will decrease traction. The end result isn't pretty..... My 2¢

[Flyinfool]

I've taken some corners pretty damn hot in the past and I have never ever scraped a floorboard. I may have come close, but never made contact. If it takes more than that I'm not interested. Scraping a board or peg or whatever and live to tell about it is pure plain luck. Any time a part of the frame hits the pavement it also lifts the bike and takes weight off the contact patch of the tire and it will decrease traction. The end result isn't pretty..... My 2¢

 

That is why the oem foot pegs and floorboards are spring loaded and hinged. You WILL hear and feel the scrape and that is your warning to go no farther into the lean, the spring will allow the peg or floorboard to deflect and not reduce tire contact pressure, because you are right if the frame or other hard mounted parts scrape, they will lift a tire and then really bad things happen.

[gggGary]

I don't think anyone wants anyone else to ride outside their comfort zone. These make a good read and make sense whether you're in a group that's pushing or you are pushing yourself to be a better rider.

 

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/pace

 

A few years later he revised it a bit and added a few tidbits.

 

http://www.cycleworld.com/2013/09/16/become-a-better-street-rider-with-the-pace-motorcycle-safety-and-riding-skills

 

Even these big berthas can be ridden at a pace that will embarrass riders who aren't practitioners of the art of motorcycle riding.

 

Some tips on street braking and steering even talks about braking a wallowing hippo...

 

http://www.cycleworld.com/2015/03/11/motorcycle-control-skills-for-safer-street-riding-ride-craft-motorcycle-tips

Edited November 13, 2016 by gggGary

[vzuden]

I have scraped my floor boards on the Road America racecourse after the first few laps. There were no negative results and as stated above, the floorboards are springloaded and hinged with rub blocks on the underside. The scrape sound is very noticeable so the driver will know without doubt.

This is not my normal riding style as I don't think I would ride that aggressive on a public road. There's too much chance of road debris and other hazards when away from a controlled surface for me.

[gggGary]

I have scraped my floor boards on the Road America racecourse after the first few laps.

 

Wait you were riding a Venture around road america?

[snyper316]

Wait you were riding a Venture around road america?

 

 

 

I did not notice myself till you pointed it out

[bongobobny]

Well, to echo off of Condor, I did find that you can lean a 2nd Gen a lot further than you think you can! I too never scraped the floorboards but betcha I came damned close a couple of times...

[Woody]

When I was riding my 06 Venture I scraped the floor boards a few times but never on purpose and I never but once scrapped them for more than a couple of seconds and the one time I held it to the pavement I was following Mark and he knew the roads but I didn't and the dump truck on the other side of the curve was riding the yellow line if I had raised up or slipped any it would have been a bad day. No doubt the Venture is a great bike.

[vzuden]

Wait you were riding a Venture around road america?

 

yes. I was wondering if anyone would catch that. My son and I ride our bikes there every year in June for vintage cycle racing. Have been doing that for the past 8 years or so.

I'm not sure if they do it each day of the weekend's events because we only have attended on Saturday but if you are there early enough they allow spectators to ride the track. You pay an extra fee and are directed to a certain turn along the track for a brief meeting. The rules are a pace car leads the group and another brings up the rear, no passing, and 45MPH top speed. They said they had track monitors stationed along the 4 mile+ track. If any rules were broken they would escort us off the track.

The last time we did it, about 3 years ago, we (son, my brother in law, and I) were in the middle of the group of maybe 30. Of the three of us, my son was on his Honda CB750F, me on the my RSTD, b-in-law on a late model Goldwing) and in that order. As it worked out there was an antique bike, maybe '20's vintage in front of my son. The vintage bike was pretty slow so from our little group to those in front of him a large gap appeared in pretty short order.

On a particularly sharp corner the vintage bike went wide and almost or even touched the safety sand. He backed off and kept it upright but my 23 year old son took the opportunity to pass as did at least 4-5 more bikes. I never saw my son's bike after that. He said later he was well over 100 at times. Anyway, brother in law and I being much older did crank it up too but I don't think we ever were over 85MPH. Our speed did increase with each lap as we got more comfortable leading to my floorboard scraping in the tight corners. It was truely a blast but would have been more fun 40 years ago on a sportier bike. We were never reprimanded nor saw any sign of anyone trying slow us down. I don't recall how many laps it was but I think we were on the track for 15-20 minutes. I think we did eventually close the gap to the leaders but it was just before the end of the ride.

[garyS-NJ]

Wow, I have a Honda cb750f3 but apart for top end. Loved that bike, and it was very sure footed and predictable. My '84 xvz12 is a slob and I suspect because one bad fork seal and that scrappy oem fork brace. I was thinking about getting one machined out of titanium or magnesium if I could find the material...

 

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