DarkSideR
Member
Posts: 1793
To be good, and to do good, is all we have to do.
Pueblo, Colorado
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« on: October 25, 2012, 08:00:27 AM » |
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While riding to Taos, NM on Highway 64 I encountered a gravel truck. He was traveling very slow so at the top of the pass I made a move to get around him. The move was made on the downhill portion of the road. I quickly got around him, but when I looked in my mirror to see if the coast was clear to my surprise the truck was right there with me! I speed up in efforts to get onto the right side of the road, and as I was doing this I was approaching a tight, sweeping right hand corner. I successfully got into my lane, but was now speeding at more than double the speed limit (with the gravel truck now right on my @ss  ). Well into the turn my foot pegs started to give me the feedback that they were in contact with the road (talk about puckering one up!)  . I stayed on course, and made it through the turn. A few miles down the road I pulled over to see if the truck driver wanted to discuss his lunacy (he didn't)  . While stopped I took a look at the rear tire (a Goodyear tripple tread) to find no drama what-so-ever. The car tire held! I now have 100% confidence in DarkSiding  |
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2001 Valkyrie Super Tourer VRCC#34410 VRCCDS#0263  |
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pacowboy78
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« Reply #1 on: October 25, 2012, 08:06:21 AM » |
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A few years ago when I had my 08 GL1800 I was running a Kumho run flat tire on it. While in Nova Scotia for a trip, we encountered monsoon rains. It was raining so hard my buddies VTX 1300 was sucking water through his air intake and the guy on the Road King with us hydroplaned and laid her down. That car tire kept me glued to the road with nary a slip. She shed water like nobody's business and cornered as well as any MC tire I've run. As soon as the Metzler tires my Tourer has on her are worn, I'll be going Darkside again. FWIW, the bike came with a rear tire on the front already, so I surmise the previous owner was darksiding as well.
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HayHauler
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« Reply #2 on: October 25, 2012, 08:21:19 AM » |
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Good story. Glad you survived. As for the Wing, I had a similar experience last year heading home from the Austin area in a downpour. That Kuhmo RF 195/55/16 held like no other. Hay  Jimmyt |
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DarkSideR
Member
Posts: 1793
To be good, and to do good, is all we have to do.
Pueblo, Colorado
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« Reply #3 on: October 25, 2012, 08:25:08 AM » |
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@ pacowboy - About wet riding.. agreed. While touring with the wife, we spent many a mile driving mountain roads in the rain. As you all know breaking on a motorcycle, on steep mountain road, while in the rain can be nerve racking. However knowing you have 6" of rubber on the ground is great.
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2001 Valkyrie Super Tourer VRCC#34410 VRCCDS#0263 |
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hubcapsc
Member
Posts: 16788
upstate
South Carolina
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« Reply #4 on: October 25, 2012, 09:06:25 AM » |
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A few miles down the road I pulled over to see if the truck driver wanted to discuss his lunacy
Glad you're OK, and it sounds like you're a good rider...
Physics might be as likely lunacy for the giant truck creeping up the hill and careening down it...
-Mike
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DarkSideR
Member
Posts: 1793
To be good, and to do good, is all we have to do.
Pueblo, Colorado
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« Reply #5 on: October 25, 2012, 09:28:09 AM » |
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@ hubcapsc - Agreed, physics would typically play a role, but in this scenario the truck drivers speed was excessive. Take into account his window was down, my pipes are loud, and I was clearly visible, he had a special vendetta on mind  . My bike is a rocket, I know I would have cleared a vehicle under normal circumstances. |
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2001 Valkyrie Super Tourer VRCC#34410 VRCCDS#0263 |
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hubcapsc
Member
Posts: 16788
upstate
South Carolina
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« Reply #6 on: October 25, 2012, 12:02:53 PM » |
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@ hubcapsc - Agreed, physics would typically play a role, but in this scenario the truck drivers speed was excessive. Take into account his window was down, my pipes are loud, and I was clearly visible, he had a special vendetta on mind . My bike is a rocket, I know I would have cleared a vehicle under normal circumstances. Some people just nail it when you go to pass them... I've gone around a couple of curves on the Cherohala faster than I would have liked after some slowpoke in a pickup truck put the pedal to the metal after they saw I was commited to pass... -Mike |
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Joe Hummer
Member
Posts: 1645
VRCC #25677 VRCC Missouri State Representative
Arnold, MO
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« Reply #7 on: October 25, 2012, 12:17:08 PM » |
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@ hubcapsc - Agreed, physics would typically play a role, but in this scenario the truck drivers speed was excessive. Take into account his window was down, my pipes are loud, and I was clearly visible, he had a special vendetta on mind . My bike is a rocket, I know I would have cleared a vehicle under normal circumstances. Sorry to hi-jack the thread a little...but after seeing that he wasn't going to let you pass...why didn't you just back off and ride at a reasonable speed around the corners and let this person go on about his business? It would have been no different that if after pulling out to pass him, you noticed that a car was coming your way and you couldn't complete your pass. Would you have expected him to slow down to let you in ahead of him?? JMHO... It seems to me that the danger of your actions was not worth the price you could have paid if something happened. Trust me...I have been in this situation before and I have let off to let the asshole have his way...only to over take them when the conditions were more in my favor. I am glad that your CT made you feel more confident to handle that turn. Joe |
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1999 Valkyrie Interstate
You pay for the whole bike, why not use it Jerry Motorman Palladino
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Reb
Member
Posts: 2363
Don't threaten me with a good time
Greeneville, TN
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« Reply #8 on: October 25, 2012, 12:50:59 PM » |
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They work, and work well. I'll most likely never go back to an MC again (Bridgestone Potenza)  |
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2022 Honda Goldwing Tour DCT
1999 Honda Valkyrie IS
1997 Honda Valkyrie Standard *Supercharged*
1972 Honda CB350F
1978 Honda CB550K
1968 Honda CL175 Sloper
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BigAl
Guest
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« Reply #9 on: October 25, 2012, 03:30:23 PM » |
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While riding to Taos, NM on Highway 64 I encountered a gravel truck. He was traveling very slow so at the top of the pass I made a move to get around him. The move was made on the downhill portion of the road. I quickly got around him, but when I looked in my mirror to see if the coast was clear to my surprise the truck was right there with me! I speed up in efforts to get onto the right side of the road, and as I was doing this I was approaching a tight, sweeping right hand corner. I successfully got into my lane, but was now speeding at more than double the speed limit (with the gravel truck now right on my @ss ). Well into the turn my foot pegs started to give me the feedback that they were in contact with the road (talk about puckering one up!) . I stayed on course, and made it through the turn. A few miles down the road I pulled over to see if the truck driver wanted to discuss his lunacy (he didn't) . While stopped I took a look at the rear tire (a Goodyear tripple tread) to find no drama what-so-ever. The car tire held! I now have 100% confidence in DarkSiding Sounds like the Motorcycle tire on the Front did its job as well. Any confidence in it you would like to express. Like what kind was it, and what air pressure you ran in it. THat must have been a turbo charged gravel truck to catch that Valk that easy. |
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DarkSideR
Member
Posts: 1793
To be good, and to do good, is all we have to do.
Pueblo, Colorado
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« Reply #10 on: October 29, 2012, 08:01:51 AM » |
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@ BigAl - the confidence in the the front MC tire was a given. I use the recommended pressure in the front and 36psi in the rear car tire. I think the truck was running empty, thus the speed.
@ Reb - That is a great Pic!
@ JoeValkIS - I didn't mention I had another riding who made the move with me. So having another rider behind me, backing off in a corner(?), and having safely assumed with the line of cars behind the truck my previous spot would have been gone thus I wouldn't have been able to slip back in, all made backing off a bad option. Please remember I had no idea going into pass, that a truck previously doing well under the speed limit (for many many miles) was going to suddenly exceed the speed limit.
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2001 Valkyrie Super Tourer VRCC#34410 VRCCDS#0263 |
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