Brad J. Morris replied:
> > What is most important?
>
> Avoiding people pulling out in front of you (or turning across traffic)
> at intersections.
Ok, you have already used the braking method of avoidance in practice.
What else is there? Countersteering. What might you use to get through
a slalom? Countersteering.
The actual speed at which a bike changes from being steered just by
turning the bars in the direction you want to go, to needing counter
steer, is debatable but it is around a few mph/kmh.
In theory, if you rode slow enough through the slalom then you might
not use countersteering at all.
If your slalom test includes a maximum time component then that would
suggest
the the time given takes into account a reasonable minimum average
speed that would likely require _visible_ (to the examiner)
countersteering technique to complete the test.
It could be argued that the minimum required speed in this case is
far below "normal" road speeds and has no relevence to real-world
riding, but the speed would take into account various weather
conditions as well. You should be able to complete the test
in rain or shine.
For example, a slalom is set up with a minimum speed of 35mph required.
Ok, what if the track is wet from rain? Ok, set a lower speed, but
what do you set it to? And how wet is wet? Damp? Kinda soggy? Soakin'?
And those witches hat don't look like cars, so replace the hats with old
car bodies. Whoops, some unco student gets it wrong and headbutts a
car-body
slalom marker at 30mph and the deceased estate wants to sue somebody,
anybody.
Actually, you could argue that the other tests are artifical too
and you would be correct, most of us don't spend much time dodging
witches hats on a slab of bitumen devoid of cars or riding in circles
inside a painted box, regardless of the fun it may be.
Part of the problem is that it _is_ a "test" which has to be
reproducable,
consistent, does not rely too much on subjectivity etc, is not unduly
influenced by variable weather and the people who fail only lose points
instead of skin.
Realistic speeds in braking tests may require more space to accelerate
and ultimately stop.
> But then that would require a big course that
> wouldn't fit in the alley next to the Secretary of States Office.
Ooh yeah. Car drivers don't necessarily need to be tested off public
roads. Drivers are cheap to test in comparison to riders.
And that's what it all boils down to, money.
> > > I've been riding the thing for a month now and even had to lock it up once when someone blew a stop sign right in front of me. I
> > > never even came close to losing control of the bike. Though I did come close to losing control of my bladder.
> >
> > If your braking was technically correct then you wouldn't have locked
> > it.
>
> Really? Thanks for the tip, I'll remember that...
I wouldn't have mentioned it if you hadn't said "had to lock it up".
[...]
> Take care,
> Brad < - - The one who thought he was a friendly enough guy until he
> posted his question on the KLR list only to find out he's really an
> ignorant, nationalist, ogre who doesn't care about his or other's
> safety. Tough List.
Just as well you didn't ask what is the best jacket to wear to a skills
test, or what oil and how much to use during the test.
Mister_T
Melbourne Australia
Dale in So-Cal, feelin sorry for the guy living in Ill, (my parents
live there) YUK not my cup of T.. I had my fill of Paris Ill,
Decauter Ill, and Urbana Ill. too hott n stickey in the summer and
too cold in the winter.. (for me anyway)
JMHO