FJ reminded me today it ain't no pussy cat....

[great white]

Been riding the 1200 for a couple months now.

So far, its been a pussy cat. Easy to ride, controllable power and no nasty handing surprises.

I do push it on occasion, but I am always mindful there's a fair bit of "go baby go" connected to that throttle.

Well today the bike wanted to make sure I knew what i was dealing with. Nothing horrible, just reminder.

I was carving into a right merge at a set of lights and (admittedly) I was going in a tad hot. Nothing stupid, I was just carrying a bit more speed than normal.

As I was enjoying leaning it over and rolling on the power to squirt out of the merge, the rear tire hit a small pothole.

That was just enough break in traction for the stock 150 tire to break loose. The bike gave a big ol side slide as the rear tire stepped out and clawed at the pavement.

Luckily, I've got some amatuer racing in my background so it didn't faze me to have the back tire break looseand the rear end to step out on me. I just rode it out with a little throttling and a touch or rear brake. I just let the bike move around under me until it regained its grip.

No big right?

Later that day I went through the same intersection and saw my tire  mark.

About 4-5 feet of rubber and almost like a question mark starting right at the little pothole.

Yeah, theres just a few ponies hiding in that big 4 cylinder block..... Ain't no pussy cat hiding in there..

[Mark Olson]

Good job.. I remember those days with the stock 150 bias rear ....lots of rubber put down.

when in trouble "pin it". 

[Charlie-brm]

A good read. I'm still on my 150 bias ply ('84 1100).

I'm not much of an aggressive rider, to be sure. I just like to be out on it for hours at a stretch until I figure I should turn around so I have money left for rent.

I do better at those oh crap moments when I don't have time to anticipate and tense up, because I doubt my ability to always choose the right response in advance. Fortunately my bikes were able to sort themselves out if I didn't meddle and upset the balance. Hitting gravel or sand on pavement unseen in the dark often gave me less stress and I rode through it faster and smoother than when I saw it coming. But five feet of black rubber burn? No thanks.

[RichBaker]

BIG pussycat, like a Bengal Tiger.....