So, you think you can ride a motorcycle?

SlowOldGuy · October 28, 2009, 01:39:44 PM

(I posted this on the Yahoo list, but it was just so impressive that I've got to share it here also.)

So, you think you can ride a motorcycle, do you? Well, prepare to experience the mind blowing sight of sheer speed. See these daredevil riders defy the laws of physics and be humbled by their mad skillzzz.

See what happens when you take a Texas rider on a literbike who has known nothing but flat, straight, boring roads all his life and put him in the twisty mountains of Arkansas. You'll see firsthand how the Texan instantly adapts to his new surroundings. The skilz he displays in advanced motorcycle control will astound you. Learn how the great riders from Texas (Schwantz, Polen, Edwards, Spies) got that way.

While staring transfixed at the video, unable to tear your gaze away, you'll ask yourself time and again:
"How do they do that??!!"

Normally we would change for viewing this video, but in the interest of helping my fellow riders, it's presented to you free of charge for your infinite viewing pleasure.

"How do they do that?"

You only wish you could duplicate their racing techniques;
Trail braking all the way to the apex (while remaining fully upright on the bike),
Maximum lane management and use of all available asphalt,
Advanced body positioning techniques (especially the guy at the 6 minute mark)

"How do they do that?"

You only wish you could set up a bike so well that it would instantly change lines at will in the middle of a corner.

"How do they do that?"

Experience the eyeball flattening speed on the straights. It's so real, you can almost smell the brake pads melting in the curves.

"How do they do that?"

Unfortunately, some things will forever remain a mystery. The video cannot answer that question and neither can I.

I have no idea how they can ride a motorcycle that slowly and keep it from falling over. :-)

Arkansas 10/17/09- NDFWS & TSR AR 123 - Group

DavidR.

Marsh White · October 28, 2009, 01:51:36 PM

Ha! Thanks for the laugh David!! Those guys SUCK!!! Are you sure this is not supposed to be in the Jokes section?

SlowOldGuy · October 28, 2009, 02:54:22 PM

Marsh,
The Jokes Section thought occurred to me after I posted it.

I can't begin to tell you how proud I am to be a Texan. This takes all the joy of Spies winning the WSB and totally deflates it.

I got the link from my local riding group. A few of my fellow members left comments on the video that evidently weren't too complimentary. The video owner deleted the comments and disabled the option.

I was hoping that as the camera guy (who appeared to be the only decent rider) got closer to the front, the riders would get better. Alas, that was not the case. I particularly liked the guy that scooted his butt to the inside of the curve then twisted the upper part of his body back upright.

The road they were clogging up, AR-123, is a really nice route up the side of a mountain. The run is much longer than the video and the good section was coming up. Unfortunately, those guys were so slow and took so long, I can only assume the camera ran out of memory before the good part. Either that or the riding was so ugly that it was edited out.

It's so bad, but I can't stop watching it. :-)

DavidR.

higbonzo · October 28, 2009, 02:59:15 PM

How do they do that..... "Drugs and Alcohol?"

craigo · October 28, 2009, 03:57:49 PM

Jeez David,

You had me all worked up for some great high preformance riding in the mountains of the midwest. Oh so dissapointed!!!!! On my worst day, I can blow by these guys. And I don't even go nutzo anymore. I'll bet I can take them on my old CX500 (a death machine in anyone's hands).

Too funny and thanks for the disapointment.

Craig

racerman_27410 · October 28, 2009, 04:06:49 PM

Damn i watched two minutes and couldnt take anymore......seriously.

i could feel my riding skilz slipping just by watching them "ride"

Frank

craigo · October 28, 2009, 04:14:46 PM

However, the road looks frickin awsome
Craig

SlowOldGuy · October 28, 2009, 04:33:56 PM

Quote from: racerman_27410 on October 28, 2009, 04:06:49 PM
Damn i watched two minutes and couldnt take anymore......seriously.
i could feel my riding skilz slipping just by watching them "ride"
Frank

You've got to give them a slight break, after all they are from Texas.
Actually they looked a lot like me on my first rally at The Gap, except I didn't see any of them putting their foot down

But watching it does sort of suck the skill right out of you.

The roads in that area are pretty incredible. I was up there about 6 weeks ago and got a 340 mile loop in. Took us the entire day and I was beat up by the end. Unfortunately the rain ran us off before we could get any more riding in and we had to pack up and go home early. :-(

It was probably best, though, I was sore for a week. Takes a while to get back in riding shape.

DavidR.

Fred · October 28, 2009, 04:36:51 PM

I resisted posting when I first watched the video. Not being the fastest rider in the world I like to think I could hold my tongue, unless I knew the guy was a real ass hat. The nicest thing I can say is next time leave the camcorder at home. No need to have evidence such as this floating around the web.

I now return to biting my lip.

threejagsteve · October 28, 2009, 06:15:54 PM

Yes, I'd like to think I wasn't THAT bad the first time I got back on AFTER SIX YEARS!

rossco · October 28, 2009, 11:56:24 PM

Like watching a trainwreck

FJmonkey · October 29, 2009, 12:31:42 AM

Quote from: rossco on October 28, 2009, 11:56:24 PM
Like watching a trainwreck

yeah, a train wreck, one corner at a time.....Over and over and over again..........

Thank God they ran out of footage, I jumped to minute 6 after 2.5 minutes and had enough. I cannot comment on 3JagsSteve on his first voyage after his 6 years off 2 wheels but, my last ride with him may not have been a knee-dragger event but he was smooth and kept his corners clean. May the Kookaloo clan be squid free and fail to document our errors and weaknesses.

threejagsteve · October 29, 2009, 02:22:37 AM

Quote from: FJmonkey on October 29, 2009, 12:31:42 AM

I cannot comment on 3JagsSteve on his first voyage after his 6 years off 2 wheels but, my last ride with him may not have been a knee-dragger event but he was smooth and kept his corners clean.

Thanks, Mark!

At my age and at this point in my career, that's all I can hope for - I've been mindful that ya gotta be smooth before you can be fast, so I've been working on getting that back first. Get smooth, and the speed will come!

I have to admit that 10 years ago I'd've been embarrassed at the width of the chicken strips still on that new Sport Demon. But now I'm getting to be an old man, and I don't have to prove anything to anybody!

FWIW, when I got home from that ride I noticed that I'd just barely crossed the 700-mi. mark since I first rolled out of my driveway in mid-June.

Cheers, and the duck says, "Kookaloo!"

andyb · October 29, 2009, 07:29:34 AM

Couldn't stand more than a short bit of that horror.

On the plus side, their group will be smaller as soon as the dude who can't stay inside the lines finds an oncoming car doing the same...

LA Mike · October 29, 2009, 12:09:29 PM

Marsh that riding looks and feels familiar... wasn't that how we were ridding the rode to Leggett

I watched almost all of the video then I had to turn it off and take a quick run to Palos Verdes to get my Psyche back. I know you are suppose to ride at your own comfort level....but damn did they ever get out of 2nd gear!!

News:

So, you think you can ride a motorcycle?

SlowOldGuy

SlowOldGuy

SlowOldGuy