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Titusand
| Posted on Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - 12:28 am: |
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How does the lean limit on a Blast compare to other motorcycles? The "Jerry 'The Motorman' Palladino" videos talk about learning the lean limits of your motorcycle, but he is always riding big Harleys and he shows in his videos the foot pegs scraping. Well, I've been trying to do that on the Blast, but I haven't had it so low I scrapped the pegs. Any comments from the Peanut Gallery here? |
Sycho
| Posted on Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - 01:20 am: |
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I can only get my left side peg to scrape. I think it's a psychological block on me leanin too far to the right. |
Gearheaderiko
| Posted on Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - 01:22 am: |
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If you can find an old spec sheet on the Blast (whether from Buell or Cycle World, etc.) it will give the lean angle. It is generous compared to Harleys, but not as much as most sport bikes. If you want to 'scrape pegs' go to an empty parking lot and try riding in a circle. With increased speed and lean, you'll scrape the pegs. If you wait long enough as you get faster on the street, you'll eventually scrape them (maybe). If you havent done it yet, you dont have much to worry about. Its just best not to panic when you do as not much is going to happen as the footpeg will flex upward when following the pavement.* You also dont have to be going fast to scrape pegs. *Within reason. Hitting a turn way too fast and having the nads to just lean it over enough to make the turn can cause jamming the peg into the ground and loosing traction. If you havent hit the pegs by now this isnt likely going to be your problem. Also, with the Blasts small footpegs, you are more likely to scrape your boots instead. There are books (and I'm sure some internet sites) that will give you tips on how to scrape the pegs or drag your knee. |
Gearheaderiko
| Posted on Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - 01:23 am: |
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Sycho: Nice! |
Titusand
| Posted on Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - 09:43 am: |
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The question arises out of training: from what I understand, one should practice turning so far so as to scrape the pegs, so that you know what the lean angle is and can take advantage of it when needed, for example in emergencies. |
Crackhead
| Posted on Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - 11:51 am: |
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don't try and scrape the pegs to scrape the pegs. pratice muscle memory for proper rider position while turning. you can scrape pegs leaving parking lots if you turn and are in the wrong position. but then you will look like a squid. |
Gearheaderiko
| Posted on Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - 12:12 pm: |
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Anything to be a better rider is good. Knowing the lean angle is good, but I'm not sure what kind of emergency would happen where you would have time to think about the lean angle and then use it to your advantage. I'd practice with the intent of getting proficient. Scraping the pegs will follow (and best not to panic when it happens). Just being able to scrape the pegs or drag your knee wont necessarily make you a better rider. Its a skill. There are more important ones when day to day riding is concerned. At least, for any new rider out there, I wouldnt worry if you cant scrape the pegs. Its not mandatory or necessary that you be able to. Again, with the Blast its not real easy to scrape the pegs with normal riding. If you want to learn how to just go fast, then there are some other skills that are important. One being how to NOT scrape the pegs (but it is good to know where they are)! My opinion. On YouTube there's a guy on an FXR (I think) dragging knee in a parking lot and he's not going real fast! |
Gearheaderiko
| Posted on Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - 12:13 pm: |
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Or what Crackhead said! |
Ezblast
| Posted on Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - 01:33 pm: |
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Gee - I never scrape my pegs - lol - I better try harder!
EZ |
Themagster
| Posted on Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - 09:38 pm: |
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DO NOT PANIC – such great advice. I got into motorcycle riding by way of riding on the back of my dad’s Gold Wing and scraping pegs was something I got used to feeling from day one, so first time it happened to me (V-Star) it just felt natural, no panic. Not as easy to do on the Blast, but not a big deal for me when it does happen. However, years back when first learning the mountain roads in Georgia as time went on I got more comfortable and thus, more confident. Cruising into one particular tight curve + speed, factor in the banking of the road and…contact! In one swift moment I thought to myself “wow, I’m really leaning into this corner” and then I thought “WOW I’M REALLY LEANING…OH, CRAP”…Moral of this story: don’t panic and never second guess yourself and look to see where the edge of the road is. You know the rule, you go where you look. Great lesson. Can’t be without a ride, I am much more careful nowadays. |
Swampy
| Posted on Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - 11:23 pm: |
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I end up scraping my boots instead of the pegs, I imagine if I took my foot off the peg I could lean it over a little more and start scraping the peg. |
Sycho
| Posted on Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - 11:50 pm: |
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Yea, I scrape part of my boot as well. Ed you probably don't scrape cuz ya got rearsets. And I can't think of any sudden move or emergency maneuver that would require such a lean angle as to scrape a peg unless you are haulin' a**. My scraping is due to a series of left handers that I can take at a fun and fast pace, nothing too risky or hazardous.(unless it gets slippery) lol. |
Crackhead
| Posted on Thursday, July 22, 2010 - 08:50 am: |
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I have only scraped pegs / boots 2 times. First time it was leaving a subdivision on a off camber road, giving a healthy amount of throttle. The second time, I was riding 2 up and my wife all of a sudden freaked out and sat straight up just before the apex of the curve. Lets just say I learned how to put my helmet outside the mirror, lost the out side edge of my left boot, almost had a knee down wearing textile pants, and shit my pants after the turn. I asked her "WTF just happened" and she said I was afraid that I would fall off. |
Jugallo94
| Posted on Thursday, July 22, 2010 - 01:04 pm: |
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I have only scraped my pegs a handfull of times. I have rearsets is mostly the reason. I usually dont scrape boot, cause I ride on the balls of my feet. I feel more control riding that way then on my insteps. Plus when I do lean enough to scrape its my pegs and not my boots making contact. |
Zane
| Posted on Wednesday, August 25, 2010 - 12:47 pm: |
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Former Blast owner here. The Blast is ready willing and able to scrap the pegs. Heck, I did it more than once riding 2 up with my son on the back. These things are great little bikes. I loved mine and have been thinking about getting another one. |
Themagster
| Posted on Thursday, August 26, 2010 - 08:25 pm: |
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Zane - nice to hear from you. Hope you are doing well and are soon Blasting around Florida again. Keep us posted. |
Ezblast
| Posted on Friday, August 27, 2010 - 03:09 am: |
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Yes - welcome back! EZ |
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