digest number 1660

[Chris Krok]

> >She just completed basic MSF > > course here in Portland and says they discourage running high beams > > (save them until you REALLY need to get someones attention). > > They also don't recommend covering your front brake lever whilst > > riding! WTF? What do y'all do?

I loaned my manual to a friend, but I'm curious as to what it says. My recollection: If you're always covering the front brake, you don't have a good grip on the bars if you hit a bump or other road obstacle. You also don't have a good grip on the throttle, which can also get you out of a bad spot. I cover the brake (and clutch) if I'm approaching an intersection with cars, a car approaching the exit of a parking lot, etc. When you're gripping the throttle and transitioning to brake, the roll-off provides compression braking (and weight transfer to the front) before you get to the brake, at least in the gears I use around town. I think you'll also get better steering control gripping the bar rather than covering the brake, if you need to swerve. Don't recall their official line on the headlight, but I run low beam, to keep from blinding oncoming cars, like the other guys said. C -- Dr. J. Christopher Krok Project Engineer, Adaptive Wall Wind Tunnel Graduate Aeronautical Laboratories, California Institute of Technology MS 205-45 Phone: 626.395.4794 Pasadena, CA 91125 Fax: 626.449.2677

[jansbro@webtv.net]

Re: no windshield I tried the no windshield idea and found much increased wnd noise and buffeting. I don't know why it works for some people. I use a slipstreamer windshield clamped on the handlebars. Jim Richmond,Va.