Where is everyone #5

How far can you typically lean a bike over before you need to start worrying about it slipping out on you? My tires were new 2 years ago, probably about 70-75% tread left on them.

 

Well it's more how comfortable you are. You should be able to grind the pegs on that 450. Know take alittle metal off the foot pegs. Chance is the bike will go further than you want it too.

 

I've never had to go that low even on dry pavement. Could have just been me being a bit jumpy. It seemed like the bike didn't feel quite as glued to the road as I would have liked when going through some of the wet corners at or under the limit/recommended speed. My buddy on his Harley had no trouble. He's also got about 100 lbs more weight on the tires than I do with the bigger bike.

I'm starting to realize that the body doesn't heal as well as it did 15-20 years ago so I don't do as much stupid stuff as I used to. Its also impossible to find cosmetic parts for that bike so I'd rather not wreck it by being an idiot lol.

 

You will usually run out of nerve before you run out of traction as a new rider. After I got my first Vision I kept pushing the limit around a 20mph curve going to work daily, I finally drug the floorboard doing 57mph and bike was still planted. The lean angle on a Vision was incredible, most other bikes were dragging parts long before I was.

 

Exactly. My bike that you saw, already has had those replaced once...and I'm working on make this set razor sharp.

 

The point he's making, is that you have to be comfortable taking the bike where it can go. The logic behind the scraping the footpeg/footboards is that if you are comfortable enough with your riding skills, you can achieve, through the use of speed, balance and lean, make that bike angle so much you can accomplish that. Purpose is if you're in sharp turns, corners at lights making turns...especially if riding side by side, is to be able to make that inside corner turn without going out into the opposite or far side of your lane, or your half of the lane when riding abreast...you have complete control and, especially when needed, make one hell of a sharp turn.

I agree, don't override your abilties, respect the bike, but don't fear it. Wife and I took the Harley Riders Course, and if you get a good instructor, you'll learn what you need to know, and they'll help you understand and get the skill.....or they fail you. It's not a familiarity riding course. They teach you some serious skills, serious enough that if you successfully pass the course, you can get a discount on your insurance, because it attests to the fact that you're not an untrained rider.

It costs, but it's well worth it in my opinion. I used to ride the dirt bikes and smaller cycles, and that course taught me stuff and untaught me some of my bad habits..so I consider it money well spent, and it has served me since taking it in 2005. I rode in two HD chapters, on their road crews from 2005-2007 racking up approx 25,000 miles on my Harley, and they taught me even more....so enjoy the education and become comfortable...but don't fear it, or you'll end up being a deer in headlights in an emergency.

 

As others have said you can drag the pegs on that 450. First time it happens it'll freak you out , you think the peg is going to dig in the roadway and flip the bike. The more you ride the more comfortable you'll be with leaning in the curves. I've got a 2002 harley bagger , riding the mountains in north Georgia and North Carolina I'll drag the floorboards occasionally. I've got friends that take great pride in dragging them until they need replacement, I'm just too cheap to do that for bragging rites.

 

My comment means no disrespect. I have forward controls with road rash. But the older I get, the less I'll push it. I'm not as good as I was in my 20's. I'll admit that. Now I like mild cruises. Now unlike trucks, I'm hard on accel on a bike. And current bike has some TQ. I square off back tire alot. You feel it, and you best respect that. It's my fault. Anymore for fun, I like leaving hard! I don't recommend, it's hard on equipment. But I enjoy it. Most bike will out perform most riders. I was always taught to ride your own ride, race your own race.

 

I'm decent on twisty roads when its dry. With a light film of water running across the road can you still lean it over that far without it slipping out from under you?

I know 100% for sure if it were dry pavement I could have cooked along that route no problem.

 

Where did you go?