I had never dropped a bike until I bought the Goldwing… the day after, I dropped it with the Mrs. on the back… in her parents driveway… in front of her parents.Tell the lovely Mrs that my bike has laid down in my gravel driveway more times than I'd like to admit.
Thats why we have crash bars, bark busters, sliders and protected corners on the Trax cases, right?
That road takes a concentration level like no other I can think of. Some people just don't have that level.I missed the tail of the dragon trip this year with several friends. One friend went down. He is OK. His bike not so much.View attachment 146955
But you are older now. . . I haven't done it on the CB yet but it's also about 150 lbs lighter so it should be easier.
It's definitely a mental and physical workout. Someone we talked to went down when we were there, and got the t-shirt that says, "sometimes the dragon wins".That road takes a concentration level like no other I can think of. Some people just don't have that level.
At just under 5'2", I've had some of those oopsies, plus one forgotten kickstand drop at a gas station. We used to go to Hogrock, those roads can be tricky, especially if it rains.Never forgot to put the stand down, but I have dropped my bikes on several occasions.
once on a group ride I was leading and at a photo stop went to put my foot down and was right next to a catch basin in the road that happened to be about 6" low. By the time my foot hit I was too far over and so sudden it and I went over. Another time last Sept on my trip to Texas stopped and went to push backwards into a parking space and gravel under my foot caused my foot to slide and down we went. I'm too old now to pick up a 950 lb bike so had to get my buddies to help.
Then there was the time on a rutted up road at Hogrock Biker rally and slow traffic and two topless gals on my bike and I did a slow motion over onto the the side of the road, then...oh well I have never wrecked one.
I'm looking at this one, it is the most ventilated I can find and it is a CE 2It's a First Mfg. one. The other D30 one you gave me is too long for either of the leather jackets that I have(also FM) and I don't know if you can trim them and retain their integrity, so that one lives in my Joe Rocket one which rarely gets used. The FM ones are CE Level 2
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I'm barely at 6' and just comfortably can flat foot mine, but there is virtually no air gap between me and the seat; probably just enough space to slip a dollar bill between the seat and my pants. Such is the nature of the ADV-Touring style bikes. They tend to be tall in the seat, even the most docile of the ADV-Touring bikes is "tall" in the saddle and if you look at the new H-D PanAmerica offering it actually has a hydraulic lowering option to bring the bike down when you come to a stop!
That road takes a concentration level like no other I can think of. Some people just don't have that level.
It's definitely a mental and physical workout. Someone we talked to went down when we were there, and got the t-shirt that says, "sometimes the dragon wins".
At just under 5'2", I've had some of those oopsies, plus one forgotten kickstand drop at a gas station. We used to go to Hogrock, those roads can be tricky, especially if it rains.
I'm also getting older, and found I wasn't wanting to ride much anymore. I love bikes, but it was becoming stressful. Decided to sell both of my bikes and get a trike. It has taken some getting used to, but I'm enjoying riding again, and don't get anxious about taking off by myself now. Not putting my feet down and having reverse is so freeing!
I'm hoping to get to the Triangle and the Moonshiner 28 this year. Both good rides I'm told. I think the thing about the Dragon is it never lets you rest. The curves keep coming!It can, but the Devil's Triangle in Tennessee and up the winding switchbacks of Pikes Peak were a bit more difficult for me. Plus going up Pikes Peak I had a buddy's wife on the back and being a plus size gal definitely made the uphill switchbacks a real adventure.