Author |
Message |
Buellboiler
| Posted on Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 11:22 am: |
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OK. The other day I was riding down the highway and about to take an exit when I see this young guy on a cafe bike going maybe 70 mph and he is hunched over the tank with his head barely clearing the bars. It wasn't cold or raining and I don't think there was a 10X gravity anomaly occurring in the fast lane. So, why do some bikers ride like this???? Inquirering minds need to know. |
Mr_grumpy
| Posted on Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 11:26 am: |
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wanker's cramp? |
Yohan
| Posted on Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 01:04 pm: |
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When I was commuting, I would do this. I would get 25 - 30 more miles out of a tank of gas. I could also ride faster with more comfort since I wasn't fighting the wind. |
Jaimec
| Posted on Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 01:07 pm: |
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It looks cool, and he probably isn't worried about getting a pinched nerve in his neck at that age. |
Yohan
| Posted on Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 01:11 pm: |
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I imagine that I must have looked ridiculous doing it....certainly not cool, anyway. |
Froggy
| Posted on Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 02:56 pm: |
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I will have to try that and see if it improves my Ulything's mpg. Might be more comfy if I put lower bars on it. |
Fresnobuell
| Posted on Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 03:38 pm: |
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"Look at me" syndrome |
Pkforbes87
| Posted on Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 04:11 pm: |
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I do it in short spurts to either stretch/change positions on a long trip, or to avoid turbulence when passing semis. Stock X1 bars are way too high to allow a riding position like that without my hands being up next to my ears |
Ochoa0042
| Posted on Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 06:17 pm: |
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wind sucks. If I have the throttle in a locked position, going like 70mph, and then tuck in, the bike straight up to like 80mph. |
86129squids
| Posted on Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 06:43 pm: |
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This is the main problem with "sportbikes". Most of the mainstream sportbikes and superbikes force you into a racer's crouch, which is aerodynamically optimal. We're not racers, and we shouldn't think/act/look like we are on the street. Not so much for comfort or longevity in the saddle. He was probably doing the right thing, given the circumstances- getting out of the wind and making time. |
Valiant_duke
| Posted on Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 06:44 pm: |
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i have to say, I do it on occasion just to reduce wind noise. I have a 'bolt, so i tuck behind the fairing and let the puurr of the motor come alive over the wind. |
Bhillberg
| Posted on Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 07:12 pm: |
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I will do it when it is cold out to stay a little warmer on the interstate or to switch positions a bit like previously stated. I do usually NOT do it when there are other cars around so that I don't look like a jackass |
Xb12xmike
| Posted on Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 07:52 pm: |
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(Message edited by xb12xmike on June 21, 2009) |
Ft_bstrd
| Posted on Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 07:52 pm: |
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I will usually do it above 100mph. |
Bigdaddy
| Posted on Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 08:44 pm: |
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"I will usually do it above 100mph." Me too. The Uly w/stock bars makes it a really hard sale if you're bigger than 6 foot tall, but on the M2 you can just lay down and roll |
Ulynut
| Posted on Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 10:34 pm: |
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I do it on long high speed runs. It seems to stabilize the bike a little over 100 mph, like stated above. Also stretches the back a little, and you can hear the motor better. Who cares how you look? |
Buellboiler
| Posted on Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 11:25 pm: |
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Well as I noted he was going 70 mph in the 3rd (inner lane) of the interstate. Hell, VWs pass you at 70 mph in the slow lane. There was no rain and it was a nice 78F. He was wearing shorts! But he had his helmet on. It looked so strange it had to comment. Just watched the Buell interview on Speedvision. Nice but too short. |
Prof_stack
| Posted on Sunday, June 21, 2009 - 10:52 am: |
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My Blast had the Buell accessory windshield that basically moved the wind to my helmet which was a real pain at highway speed. So for some long rides I found myself hunched over for more comfort and better performance on the Blast. Who cares what I looked like? |
Panhead_dan
| Posted on Sunday, June 21, 2009 - 12:05 pm: |
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I noticed that when I tucked down on my Lightning, the bike's speed would increase 10 mph due to reduced wind resistance. |
Xl1200r
| Posted on Sunday, June 21, 2009 - 12:23 pm: |
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I do it in short spurts to either stretch/change positions on a long trip +1 Not everyone who tucks is a squid. |
Firebolt020283
| Posted on Sunday, June 21, 2009 - 12:29 pm: |
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when i had my crossroads bars on my M2 I had to tuck in on a long ride or my wrist would be killing me. |
Jaimec
| Posted on Sunday, June 21, 2009 - 01:32 pm: |
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I've done it primarily when crossing bridges or long stretches of wide open highway with strong, gusty crosswinds. The less surface area I present to the wind, the better. Can't do it too long because my neck gets sore holding my head at that angle too long though. Funny, when I was younger and rode a bicycle with dropped bars, it never bothered me. Time marches on... |
Buellhusker
| Posted on Sunday, June 21, 2009 - 01:43 pm: |
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When I used to ride my S1WL to work (45 miles each way) I would lay my chin on the tank bag hold onto the lower fork legs and hang my feet over the back pegs and ride that way between towns, (about 10 miles apart). But I quit doing that after I fell asleep one hot evening coming home from work. |
Spiderman
| Posted on Monday, June 22, 2009 - 07:35 am: |
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I like how everyone is ripping on this guy and has no idea who he is or why he is doing it... I know when I am on long trips I do it once in a while when I need to stretch or I am tired of fighting the wind.... |
Ausbuell
| Posted on Monday, June 22, 2009 - 08:24 am: |
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We do it in the top end of Australia to get away from the hot wind, hot enough to melt visor on helmet. |
Froggy
| Posted on Monday, June 22, 2009 - 09:49 am: |
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I have set my throttle lock then use my tank bag as a pillow, does that count? |
Mortarmanmike120
| Posted on Monday, June 22, 2009 - 10:37 am: |
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I do it all the time on the interstate. It's a PIA to do head checks so I usually only do it when I'm planning on staying in one lane for a long time. There is a pretty substantial difference in wind resistance even on my S model. Of course I've also been known to stand up on the pegs for miles at a time to stretch my legs. People really look at you funny when you stand up at 80mph. |
Loki
| Posted on Monday, June 22, 2009 - 11:06 am: |
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I have, I do, I will..... The S1 makes it so easy. |
Fast1075
| Posted on Monday, June 22, 2009 - 11:29 am: |
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I always ride in a semi-tucked in position..that happens when you are on a bike designed for "Joe Average" and you are a short S**T...but not laying on the tank tucked in...except at the dragstrip...where I try my best to become a layer of paint on the tank.. |
Greenlantern
| Posted on Monday, June 22, 2009 - 11:41 am: |
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People really look at you funny when you stand up at 80mph. That's only because they don't know you like we do. |