How long can you balance

[odot]

What about stopping next to a tree and using your hand to hold you up......does that count?

 

[madmike2]

What about stopping next to a tree and using your hand to hold you up......does that count?

Somehow I have a mind picture of Odot next to a tree, very similar to Lee Marvin and his horse leaning against the hotel wall in the movie "Cat Ballou". :lol:

 

[Mike-H]

+1 :lol: ....ya mm2 I can see that....

 

[racer157]

Just curious about this one. Like all of us, I'm sure, when stopping at red lights, etc. I'll often try and see how long I can stay balanced before having to put my feet down. As I focused more on this endeavor, I found myself getting a little better at increasing my times.....but still only reaching 3-4 seconds under ideal conditions ( no wind or other extraneous influences ). The type of tire has a lot to do with it. Big, fat tires like one would find on a cruiser would be a big help. Our more performance oriented tires with somewhat of a " point " on them don't help matters.
In any event, I reached a personal record today of approximately 10 seconds. I say approximately because I was using the old one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two timing system....could hardly look at my watch. I wonder if any cagers around me found my body maneuvering interesting as I was trying to hang on as long as I could. I'm claiming a world record.

Congradulation! You are not alone in this. I suggest you attend a trails event. By the way if you move the front end slightly a few degrees left then right etc. you will be surprised with the results. In the motor cycle classes I taught for over 20 years we taught the students to use the rebound of the front end to allow the placement of the left foot on the groung to allow the right foot to cover the rear brake for safety. Let us know when you can balance for the whole light it's a rush, but nerve racking.

 

[James Burleigh]

I think that putting one foot down is how the CHP determines you've come to a complete stop, so one would need to be extra careful.

In Friction Zone the CHP officer who has a column said there is no requirement to put your foot down; only that you "stop."

 

[James Burleigh]

...Lee Marvin and his horse leaning against the hotel wall in the movie "Cat Ballou". :lol:

I plan to do a video one of these days where my daughter helps me get dressed in all my gear a la Lee Marvin as he's getting dressed to take on his alter ego. I can even score the video to The Ballad of Cat Ballou!--"It's a HANGIN' day in Wolf City, Wyoming....!"

Jb

 

[FJR_pig]

I think that putting one foot down is how the CHP determines you've come to a complete stop, so one would need to be extra careful.

In Friction Zone the CHP officer who has a column said there is no requirement to put your foot down; only that you "stop."

This is true in Oregon as well. There is no language in the law related to stop signs or red lights that describes how to stop a motorcycle properly, nor any mention of feet. It is pretty broad, requiring only a "stop." I bump stop all the time up here, though when I worked on a bike, I'd put the obligatory foot down.

Our motor officers are trained to only drop the left foot, not both. The right foot is covering the brake so our right hand is free. The left foot is on the ground and the left hand is sucking in the clutch so that the bike can remain in gear...for when dummy comes flying up from behind too fast and I want to get out of the way.

 

[cougar8000]

This is true in Oregon as well. There is no language in the law related to stop signs or red lights that describes how to stop a motorcycle properly, nor any mention of feet. It is pretty broad, requiring only a "stop." I bump stop all the time up here, though when I worked on a bike, I'd put the obligatory foot down.
Our motor officers are trained to only drop the left foot, not both. The right foot is covering the brake so our right hand is free. The left foot is on the ground and the left hand is sucking in the clutch so that the bike can remain in gear...for when dummy comes flying up from behind too fast and I want to get out of the way.

It might be a rule/law, but in reality in court you are told that if the PO did not see car rebound/ biker put his foot down you did not made a full stop. Go prove now that you did.

Hmm, are you MO taught by the MSF instructors? because that is what we teach in the MSF course with the exception of the right hand. We do not have cool toys to play that you guys have.

I do balance on the bike. It goes back to the days when I used to race bicycles on the oval trek. there was a race in which you would "PARK" the bike in the corner and balance it. the first one that blinks usually looses the race. But I find that using this technique on the street at the stop signs could be a killer. Caught my self few times not noticing the car and had to slam on the brakes a bit too abrupt for my taste. So, I tend to not use it on the street with the exception for the traffic jam.

 

[pickax]

FJR pigs description is exactly how we learned in Fla. too. We also practiced "slow races" , the slowest time between two points.

The Harleys beat the Kaw Z1000 every time. (They gotta be good at something) By the way, 10 seconds dead stop on the FJR is outstanding!

 

[dcarver]

Here ya go.. balance forever. This is the special order TWN is placing for his new beemer!

 

[Toecutter]

Our motor officers are trained to only drop the left foot, not both. The right foot is covering the brake so our right hand is free. The left foot is on the ground and the left hand is sucking in the clutch so that the bike can remain in gear...for when dummy comes flying up from behind too fast and I want to get out of the way.

So how are they taught the low-speed balance skills? I usually marvel at the balance of the motor officers, especially CHP. What's the drill like?

 

[Scab]

It might be a rule/law, but in reality in court you are told that if the PO did not see car rebound/ biker put his foot down you did not made a full stop. Go prove now that you did.

I thought the burden of proof was on their back? Anyway, our local Military installation (now closed) had the definative answer to whether or not you stopped. They hid and put the radar on you. No zero, no stop. They didn't care what you did with your feet.

 

[cougar8000]

I thought the burden of proof was on their back? Anyway, our local Military installation (now closed) had the definative answer to whether or not you stopped. They hid and put the radar on you. No zero, no stop. They didn't care what you did with your feet.

It is said that you are not guilty until proven...however when it comes to traffic court. most of the time PO says you did something wrong and now you have to prove you are not guilty. I think I will have a better chance convincing my wife that me going on the long trip alone is good for her then winning this case in court. Tried the later in court and lost. Cop said that he did not see my bumper bounce back and that was it.

 

[Scab]

I think I will have a better chance convincing my wife that me going on the long trip alone is good for her then winning this case in court.

By chance the "WFO" talks have begun?

 

[cougar8000]

I think I will have a better chance convincing my wife that me going on the long trip alone is good for her then winning this case in court.

By chance the "WFO" talks have begun?

Not yet. waiting for the right moment.

 

[Cdogman]

What about stopping next to a tree and using your hand to hold you up......does that count?

Counted to 30 like that once. Arm was gittin tired. Di winit??

 

[Feejer/Weejer man]

If they want you they will get you. Sometimes its just blind ass luck that either gets you a ticket or not.

 

[SkooterG]

If they want you they will get you. Sometimes its just blind ass luck that either gets you a ticket or not.

Luck? Nah.

While some may not like hearing it, luck is not the primary factor - attitude, and how you communicate with the LEO has a much more profound effect.

 

[user 3386]

Here ya go.. balance forever. This is the special order TWN is placing for his new beemer!

Those aren't training wheels! THESE are training wheels!!

 

[Scab]

If they want you they will get you. Sometimes its just blind ass luck that either gets you a ticket or not.

Luck? Nah.

While some may not like hearing it, luck is not the primary factor - attitude, and how you communicate with the LEO has a much more profound effect.

I have to agree with skoot. It's amazing just how far a little humility and a few well placed "yes, sir's" will get you.