Five MC Myths

[sandy]

http://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/motorcycles/5-motorcycle-myths-that-need-to-die/ar-BBABnbd?li=BBmkt5R&ocid=spartandhp

Comments

[Chrisj CMA]

Agree, them needs Killin. Especially the one about front brakes!

[Robert]

What I have learned in all my years is, NOTHING is absolute when riding, there is not ironclad one size fits all kind of statements that can be made since in rare circumstances things happen. If you give someone an absolute and tell them its not possible then that is taken out of someones mind as something that can happen, this alone can lead to a dangerous scenario since the driver never anticipates an outcome. I do agree with the oil thing but have to say something on 2 other points.

Dont know if I would be so dead set on the gas statement. Yes in most cases regular gas is fine, but in some cases premium does make a difference. New bikes with fuel injection do have a knock sensor and that being the case if the fuel knocks it will retard the timing. This gives you less mileage and less performance.

The other one is the front brake idea, This is exactly how I went down once. I pulled the front brake to hard on a rolling stop and it was evidently on some kind of sand on the road and the bike went down. I will also remind some that a stoppie is nothing more than raising the rear wheel off the ground with to much front brake. Now does it happen all the time NO, but it can, its not an absolute.

I personally prefer not to limit my options of thinking unless it does in fact never happen since it takes away a possibility that can make you overly safe in a potential deadly situation.

[Alpha Dog]

Myth number Six.   I you ain't riding a Harley you ain't sh*t

[cookiedough]

Myth number Six.   I you ain't riding a Harley you ain't sh*t

Gee,  NEVER heard that one before?     I think that number 6 should be number 1 since have heard it the most, 2nd being loud pipes saves lives.  I think in instances loud pipes do help, but like said, not a catch all and fact you can rely on daily.   Sometimes I think loud pipes can be worse scaring the crap out of drivers causing them to swerve in odd/bad ways or taking their eyes off the road ahead briefly. 

I want to see someone do a stoppie on a Valkyrie, can it be done???  Somehow I think not, but been wrong before. 

[Gryphon Rider]

“Never use anti-seize (or grease) on a nut or bolt—it’ll make the threads slick, and they’ll come loose.” Like most myths, this one illustrates a fundamental misunderstanding of certain realities.


Think of a bolt as a spring; when it’s tightened, it stretches slightly and applies a predetermined clamping force to whatever you’re trying to hold together. To do its job prop­erly, the bolt must be properly torqued to a predetermined value. When hardware is assembled dry, some torque is used up overcoming friction between the threads. This generally leads to an undertorqued—read that as loose—bolt. Lubricating a fastener will reduce friction as the bolt is tightened and provide the proper torque setting. So unless the manufacturer states otherwise (and there are instances where they will), always lightly oil a threaded fastener before installing it.

He has this (the bold part) backwards. Published torque values are for dry threads, unless otherwise indicated.  Lubricating threads then torqueing to published values will lead to over-torqued, and possible broken or stripped, fasteners.

[The emperor has no clothes]

“Never use anti-seize (or grease) on a nut or bolt—it’ll make the threads slick, and they’ll come loose.” Like most myths, this one illustrates a fundamental misunderstanding of certain realities.


Think of a bolt as a spring; when it’s tightened, it stretches slightly and applies a predetermined clamping force to whatever you’re trying to hold together. To do its job prop­erly, the bolt must be properly torqued to a predetermined value. When hardware is assembled dry, some torque is used up overcoming friction between the threads. This generally leads to an undertorqued—read that as loose—bolt. Lubricating a fastener will reduce friction as the bolt is tightened and provide the proper torque setting. So unless the manufacturer states otherwise (and there are instances where they will), always lightly oil a threaded fastener before installing it.

He has this (the bold part) backwards. Published torque values are for dry threads, unless otherwise indicated.  Lubricating threads then torqueing to published values will lead to over-torqued, and possible broken or stripped, fasteners.

That's what I thought too. (Just too chicken to speak up)

[Black Pearl's Captain]

The other one is the front brake idea, This is exactly how I went down once. I pulled the front brake to hard on a rolling stop and it was evidently on some kind of sand on the road and the bike went down. I will also remind some that a stoppie is nothing more than raising the rear wheel off the ground with to much front brake. Now does it happen all the time NO, but it can, its not an absolute.

I personally prefer not to limit my options of thinking unless it does in fact never happen since it takes away a possibility that can make you overly safe in a potential deadly situation.

I'm pretty sure the only "stoppie" you will ever do will be called a "highside". Long live the don't use the front brake myth!!

[Robert]

As for using anti seize or grease in threads the case could also be argued that with a new bolt and new mating surface they are clean with no corrosion or dirt and may have a touch of oil still on them. But in the real world grease on threads may bring it back to a truer torque.

The article is not bike specific so stated opinion apply to all bikes including sport bikes.

[scooperhsd]

Myth number Six.   I you ain't riding a Harley you ain't sh*t

Gee,  NEVER heard that one before?     I think that number 6 should be number 1 since have heard it the most, 2nd being loud pipes saves lives.  I think in instances loud pipes do help, but like said, not a catch all and fact you can rely on daily.   Sometimes I think loud pipes can be worse scaring the crap out of drivers causing them to swerve in odd/bad ways or taking their eyes off the road ahead briefly. 

I want to see someone do a stoppie on a Valkyrie, can it be done???  Somehow I think not, but been wrong before. 

It's going to take someone crazier than me to do a stoppie  on a Valk.  You'll really have to be haulling a**, Then have a nice enough road  and enough space to keep it all under control. I'm sure most of us have locked the rear wheel on some bike (maybe even your Valk ?) at some time in our riding.

[Moonshot_1]

Myth number Six.   I you ain't riding a Harley you ain't sh*t

Gee,  NEVER heard that one before?     I think that number 6 should be number 1 since have heard it the most, 2nd being loud pipes saves lives.  I think in instances loud pipes do help, but like said, not a catch all and fact you can rely on daily.   Sometimes I think loud pipes can be worse scaring the crap out of drivers causing them to swerve in odd/bad ways or taking their eyes off the road ahead briefly. 

I want to see someone do a stoppie on a Valkyrie, can it be done???  Somehow I think not, but been wrong before. 

As to "Loud pipes save lives" I can pretty much dispute that. Sure you can come up with some kind of isolated scenario where if the sun, planets and stars all line up it might, but in the general sense loud pipes are dangerous.

The only one that can really hear them is the rider. And the rider hears them to the exclusion of all other sounds. Like the semi coming up from your rear quarter. I've had loud pipes on a bike. Thought they were cool. Had some interesting encounters from not being able to hear traffic noise. Got the valk and I can hear lots of stuff. So I am a big fan of, at least quieter, bikes.

As to front brakes. Using the front brake effectively on a cycle takes practice. For most riders, it is not the brake they start out learning to use. It should be. When it is the first thing you grab when you need to stop right now it works pretty cursed well. When you make it a habit to use it everyday, all the time it works even better. On the other hand if the first time you use it is in your first panic stop, an ambulance ride is likely.

What is a Harley?

Gas. Higher octane has it's applications. Rarely a necessity except for those applications.

Synth. oil. It apparently works well.

And just remember to properly tighten the nut behind the handlebars and you'll be OK!

[BobB]

There are times that I reflect on the manor that I learned to ride a motorcycle.  Friends explaining where all the controls are and telling me to NEVER touch that right hand lever.  I went forward thinking that the front brake was only for emergencies, and did not train myself to use it. 

Things changed in 1966, after I t-boned an oncoming car that made a left turn in front of me.  Some self examination afterword lead me to the conclusion that I never touched the front brake and locked up the rear brake.  The result was that I slid the bike to one side, keeping it upright and hit the car with the side of the bike.  Front and rear crash guards on the H-D protected my left leg and a leather jacket guarded against cuts as I pushed an elbow through the passenger side window.  Bruised but nothing broken on my body.  Couldn't say that for the bike.

From that point on, I have used the front brake for just about all slowing situations, training my muscles to use it properly.  Who knows, I may have avoided that 1966 collusion altogether, if I could brake as well as I do today.  But probably not with those drum brakes.

As for doing a stoppie with a Valkyrie, I have no doubt that it's possible.  I have been forced to brake hard enough to bring my butt out of the saddle with no skidding or lock ups...

[..]

http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcycle-Safety/braking-tips.htm

[NewValker]

That's what I thought too. (Just too chicken to speak up)

Now, really Meathead, why would that be???   
Craig

[The emperor has no clothes]

That's what I thought too. (Just too chicken to speak up)

Now, really Meathead, why would that be???   
Craig

I'm trying to be a new, better me. That and it seemed like the guy in the article knew what he was talking about. Most of what I have learned about working on vehicles was from my Dad. I think he learned from my Uncle.

[vanagon40]

. . . . As for doing a stoppie with a Valkyrie, I have no doubt that it's possible. . . .

I have my doubts. I think most tires will skid prior to raising he rear wheel off the ground. Kind of like an automobile.

BUT, as stated by another skeptic, it would not be the first time I've been wrong.

. . . . I'm sure most of us have locked the rear wheel on some bike (maybe even your Valk ?) at some time in our riding.

I've locked up the rear wheel at some point on every bike I've owned (even the Valk).

[Gryphon Rider]

Regarding stoppies, assuming strong enough front brakes, whether a bike can do it depends on the angle from the front tire patch to the centre of mass of the bike and rider.  When I was instructing, some of the school's bikes could lift the back tire off of the pavement, and others would have the front tire sliding well before a stoppie was a possibility.  I can tell you that my Valkyrie will slide its front tire rather than lift the back tire.  I've stopped hard enough that both tires were sliding the last 10-14 inches.