Motorcycle Riding - what it is like

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

As a Biker myself I am always scouring You Tube for good videos about motorcycles, and keeping up to date with new models etc.

Tonight I was missing riding (I have been without a bike for a couple of years now ) so I went for some 'On Board' videos to get the juices flowing

Most of the videos are fairly average, but mainly they don't really show what it is like out ridin'.
They have the camera to the side, or too low, or it shakes too much etc. None of them show the ride from the riders eye view.

BUT! I found a spectacular one.

To experience the 'almost real' feeling of what it is like riding, set this video to FULL SCREEN and throw on some Headphones (at full volume). The Headphones make it sound more like you actually have a helmet on, makes the sound more 'real' and they add to the feeling of wearing a helmet (only slightly but it helps the illusion).
If you don't use Full Screen the illusion doesn't work either.

Please watch it all the way through (15 minutes).
Sit back and enjoy this ride on a Harley Davidson 1200cc Sportster (note: the speedo on the left is in MILES per hour, not KPH! Watch what he gets it up to sometimes ) but watch out for the car that moves across into his lane

Enjoy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCUqB9hak6o

[asimov (John)]

Hmmmm...No word of a lie; I went to bed tonight at 10:30PM but up again at 12:35AM. What woke me was a vivid dream...but the dream consisted of me having a race with someone, & we were both on highpowered late model road bikes thru a gigantic house! That includes up & down stairs, the works!

And then I log in & see this post. All very interesting!

I know why I had the dream but: I'm thinking of getting yet another bike.

[Waxing_Gibbous (Peter)]

Breathtaking. Scary as hell, but breathtaking. Its utterly addictive. My friends and I bought an ex Moto GP Yamaha way back in 1983 and campaigned it in Canada and the States. We were good. Very good.
But compared to others, we were crap!
I have the injuries to prove it!
Didn't matter.
I'm sure there's loads of things like it...but there's nothing like it!

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Go for it Asi
I am waiting for the day I can afford to ride again.

Peter, yep addictive.

As good as that video is, nothing, and I mean NOTHING! comes close to actually really riding.
The exhilaration can't be falsely experienced.

But this Video is the closest I have ever found for a Non-Rider to see what it is like.

[Waxing_Gibbous (Peter)]

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

The exhilaration can't be falsely experienced.

But this Video is the closest I have ever found for a Non-Rider to see what it is like.

I have a superb video somewhere of me doing the world's most awesome high-side!
I'm sure it gave rise to the expression "That's gotta hurt!"
Still.
Nothing ventured....

[desler]

Nice Ken,


It's nice and warm to watch from this perspective.

Although riding home at midnight tonight, I must admit, was a little brisk, to say the least!

The scary thing is the speed with which bike production / power and capability increase! When we started riding, things commercially available today, were pipe dreams of the rich and famous.

Exhilaration is one thing, laying on your back staring up at an ambo as they put a collar around your neck is another! safe riding to all!

Darren

[Shawn]

Mines still for sale guys if you ever have a moment of madness..

[casstony]

I rode dirt bikes for 20 years but stayed away from road bikes for two reasons; I was scared of car drivers and didn't have the self discipline to ride defensively on the road. We pushed the limit on every dirt bike ride and had plenty of spills - you can't do that on a road bike or you end up dead.

[scagman (John)]

Have you seen the videos of "The black Prince" or "ghost Rider".

Here's a couple
http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...ck+Prince&aq=f

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9FW6iAE35s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9BofCzc80U

Unfortunatly the Black Prince apparantly died triing to beat his own record.

[peterl]

YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!: scared:

I think I will stick to four wheels and astronomy...

LOL...
peter.

[kitsuna (Adam)]

Originally Posted by peterl

YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!: scared:

I think I will stick to four wheels and astronomy...

LOL...
peter.

personally I'm going to try 2 wheel astronomy. As soon as I can rig up some form of holster to the pillion footpegs for my tripod and a suitable strap/case arrangement for my scope, I will.

Ride somewhere dark through the twisties, set up, look, then ride back. Aww yeah.

[jenchris (Jennifer)]

I love M/Cs - The freedom and the raw energy that you unleash iwth a twist of the handle is amazing.
I've never owned a big bike but I've had a series of small trail bikes like this one

[casstony]

Originally Posted by scagman

Have you seen the videos of "The black Prince" or "ghost Rider".
.

I think maybe he needed to get his thrills another way - skydiving perhaps?

[Ric]

Great video Ken, loved it.

Hope you get back on two wheels soon, as a bike rider who rides everyday I can understand how it feels when your not able to ride.

I think nothing can beat the feeling of cruising up highway with a few mates just enjoying what nature has to offer.

It's all good.

[scagman (John)]

Originally Posted by casstony

I think maybe he needed to get his thrills another way - skydiving perhaps?

May have been safer.

[blink138 (Pat)]

if you want a real thrill look up joey dunlops fast lap at the isle of man tt race circa early 80s OMG!
passing through the town with an onboard camera while dunlop narrates scraping 15ft walls cranked over on his knees does not compare to a "boat anchor" (harley) lumbering around
pat

[blink138 (Pat)]

sorry further to the dunlop clip if anybody knows about a lap of the isle of man it is 26 miles!
when he is going down one of the straight roads at full throttle in 6th gear 180mph a small hump in the road and suddenly the camera is looking at the clouds above for what seems an eternity
thats what you call an adrenalin rush
pat

[M_Lewis (Mark)]

As a pilot, I regard riding a bike akin to the closet thing to flying but having 2 wheels on the ground. I sold my road bike a few months back, sorry I did. Hoping to replace it early next year with something fun again.

Liked the video muchly appreciated!

[erick (Eric)]

I watched him ride through the first two STOP signs and stopped watching after that. Hope he's never riding on any roads I'm travelling on.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Originally Posted by scagman

Have you seen the videos of "The black Prince" or "ghost Rider".

Here's a couple
http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...ck+Prince&aq=f

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9FW6iAE35s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9BofCzc80U

Unfortunatly the Black Prince apparantly died triing to beat his own record.

That is not a motorcyclist. That is an absolute idiot.
He puts others lives at risk for his own thrill.
What a Jerk!

Originally Posted by blink138

does not compare to a "boat anchor" (harley) lumbering around
pat

Those that don't understand, criticise.

These days now that I have learnt to use my brain cells better, I choose to Cruise, not bruise.

Don't come on with all that worn out clap-trap 'Harley boat anchor' tripe that so many Speed Freak Jap riding copycat boyracers come out with.
When I owned my Harley business I had Harleys in the shop that scared the daylights out of many a boyracer speed demon!

But these days, I prefer to sit back and cruise and leave suicide to the young and stupid.

This is the type of riding I am into nowdays: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9hQk...eature=related