Gut feeling or "60 horses and a duplex front brake"

[Ken in Oklahoma]

I’m not addressing any post in particular here, but as I read along I’m reminded of countless articles I’ve read about riding vintage motorcycles. The gist of the articles is usually that if the rider takes into account the reduced acceleration and braking capabilities of old motorcycles (by going slower and paying more attention), then it’s quite safe to ride the old machines in modern traffic situations.

I don’t think so. The argument would seem to make a lot of sense. A Ducati Monster might be able to split lanes, dive into holes, and otherwise create a safety cushion through acceleration and braking which (for example) a R75/6 with it’s single front disk and mild acceleration couldn’t. Of course, according to the dictum, the diligent airhead rider would simply avoid getting into those situations in the first place.

But where the dictum falls apart is situations that surprise the rider. Cruising along through the woods at 50 mph and having a deer jump from the bushes into your path would sorely test the bike’s braking power. The modern bike, because of its awesome braking, might come out the winner where an airhead wouldn’t. Similarly, an oncoming car that suddenly starts to turn left in front of you might be handled by a blast of acceleration from a modern bike that an airhead might not be able to muster.

It’s a small point I’m making here, perhaps vanishingly small. But because of it’s limited performance, an airhead is going to be, by degrees, inherently less safe than a modern bike, no matter how diligent its rider may be.

For this reason I’m all for improving the braking on airheads rather than presuming that I’m just as safe because I’m being more careful. Is my point statistically significant, if we somehow could put numbers to it? Maybe not. Maybe so.


Ken

[Deleted User 287]

It’s a small point I’m making here, perhaps vanishingly small. But because of it’s limited performance, an airhead is going to be, by degrees, inherently less safe than a modern bike, no matter how diligent its rider may be.

I knew it wasn't my fault!

[SteveD]

It’s a small point I’m making here, perhaps vanishingly small. But because of it’s limited performance, an airhead is going to be, by degrees, inherently less safe than a modern bike, no matter how diligent its rider may be.

For this reason I’m all for improving the braking on airheads rather than presuming that I’m just as safe because I’m being more careful. Is my point statistically significant, if we somehow could put numbers to it? Maybe not. Maybe so.
Ken

It's all relative I guess.

Compare the /5 to a scooter. Do we learn to ride according to what we're riding?

Maybe the real problem arises when we ride a /5 like it is a Monster. Maybe sometimes, the /5 approach is better used on the Monster to avoid certain problems that the Monster will find itself in, whereas the /5 might never get to that.

Would someone change their route, avoiding certain traffic situations on a particular bike?

[Zombie Master]

I Cruising along through the woods at 50 mph and having a deer jump from the bushes into your path would sorely test the bike’s braking power. The modern bike, because of its awesome braking, might come out the winner where an airhead wouldn’t. Similarly, an oncoming car that suddenly starts to turn left in front of you might be handled by a blast of acceleration from a modern bike that an airhead might not be able to muster.

It’s a small point I’m making here, perhaps vanishingly small. But because of it’s limited performance, an airhead is going to be, by degrees, inherently less safe than a modern bike, no matter how diligent its rider may be.

For this reason I’m all for improving the braking on airheads rather than presuming that I’m just as safe because I’m being more careful. Is my point statistically significant, if we somehow could put numbers to it? Maybe not. Maybe so.


Ken

e

Have to agree Ken. It was a deer jumping on the road directly in my path that convinced me to sell my /2. I really thought I was going to brake that cable!

[Major Softie]

It's all relative I guess.

Compare the /5 to a scooter.

Ridden a modern scooter? GOOD disc brakes (some with dual front discs, and ABS even) and much wider tires than the /5. It'll probably out-brake it by a long ways. Depending on the scooter, some will demolish the /5 in acceleration too.

[SteveD]

It's all relative I guess.

Compare the /5 to a scooter.

Ridden a modern scooter? GOOD disc brakes (some with dual front discs, and ABS even) and much wider tires than the /5. It'll probably out-brake it by a long ways. Depending on the scooter, some will demolish the /5 in acceleration too.

I'm thinking the 100cc things with wheels that disappear down potholes, as opposed to these....

[Zombie Master]

[quote="SteveD"][

Compare the /5 to a scooter.

No.....and you can't make me!

[Ridercam]

How about this to consider...Fear of deer and dears are one thing. Real world responsible riding is another.

A few years ago, I was riding through an city intersection and a large car doing 45 ran a red light smashing squarely into my bike. If it wasn't for those big beautiful jugs on the 600 that stick out... my leg would have been crushed. Instead, I was tossed and bruised. yes the bike was ruined leaving me with a piles insurance money to replace my loss. But I was able to walk away and get another when it was time.