R
Regis
Guest
While wandering around in Barnes and Noble, I spied this book and remembered the many references to it on this site. Paging through it and skimming here and there, I was impressed and purchased it. Over the next couple o' weeks, I read and reread this most excellent book and though I no longer ride a GS, the info applies to just about anything on two wheels.
The author, David Hough uses common sense language that makes all the seemingly strange, suddenly familiar and soon I was practicing it out in the canyons on my 2003 HD Softail Standard, (which handle way better than they might appear). Countersteering and pushing on the handlebars became a natural thing, as well as rolling on the throttle through the corners and me and the big HD slalomed through the corners with the greatest of ease.
I purchased the new 2nd edition, which is now full color along with even better illustrations and additional material. I UPS'd my old copy to my little brother, who now owns my 83' 1100E. Though he turned me on to street bikes back in the 80's and owned an absolutely bad-a$$ GS1000E, he has never tried the countersteering thing and is somewhat reluctant to push on that handlebar. I told him, that is probably the quickest way to move a bike on the streets and it saved my butt a couple of weeks ago.
Coming up towards a red light, the far right lane was stacking up with cars, while the left and middle one had only a couple of cars each. You can almost always count on 'lane change play' as the cagers want to be in the line with the least cars. I was in the middle lane, when suddenly a vintage Camaro jumped out right in front of me from the stacked right lane and I pushed hard on the left bar, veering hard around him and because I had a little more speed than him, I countersteered by pushing the right bar and cleared him. He was a coworker believe it or not (still haven't seen him on the plant yet).
Tis' a good thing to practice hard evasive manuevers whenever you can and I practice in uncluttered traffic areas (when nobody's around) and use manhole covers as simulated car targets. Thanks to Earl for the excellent wisdom of watching any motion, anywhere, as he has me looking through fences of houses on adjacent side streets (and seeing cars too!). Thanks to the rest of you for providing the close call tales as well.
The author, David Hough uses common sense language that makes all the seemingly strange, suddenly familiar and soon I was practicing it out in the canyons on my 2003 HD Softail Standard, (which handle way better than they might appear). Countersteering and pushing on the handlebars became a natural thing, as well as rolling on the throttle through the corners and me and the big HD slalomed through the corners with the greatest of ease.
I purchased the new 2nd edition, which is now full color along with even better illustrations and additional material. I UPS'd my old copy to my little brother, who now owns my 83' 1100E. Though he turned me on to street bikes back in the 80's and owned an absolutely bad-a$$ GS1000E, he has never tried the countersteering thing and is somewhat reluctant to push on that handlebar. I told him, that is probably the quickest way to move a bike on the streets and it saved my butt a couple of weeks ago.
Coming up towards a red light, the far right lane was stacking up with cars, while the left and middle one had only a couple of cars each. You can almost always count on 'lane change play' as the cagers want to be in the line with the least cars. I was in the middle lane, when suddenly a vintage Camaro jumped out right in front of me from the stacked right lane and I pushed hard on the left bar, veering hard around him and because I had a little more speed than him, I countersteered by pushing the right bar and cleared him. He was a coworker believe it or not (still haven't seen him on the plant yet).
Tis' a good thing to practice hard evasive manuevers whenever you can and I practice in uncluttered traffic areas (when nobody's around) and use manhole covers as simulated car targets. Thanks to Earl for the excellent wisdom of watching any motion, anywhere, as he has me looking through fences of houses on adjacent side streets (and seeing cars too!). Thanks to the rest of you for providing the close call tales as well.
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