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- Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
- Path: sparky!uunet!destroyer!news.iastate.edu!tomes
- From: tomes@iastate.edu ()
- Subject: Re: What would you ride on a long distance trip?
- Message-ID: <Bxw183.92L@news.iastate.edu>
- Sender: news@news.iastate.edu (USENET News System)
- Organization: Iowa State University, Ames, IA
- References: <BxvKzz.2n1@apollo.hp.com> <1992Nov17.203709.6242@spdc.ti.com> <1992Nov17.214052.460@mksol.dseg.ti.com>
- Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 01:24:01 GMT
- Lines: 39
-
- In article <1992Nov17.214052.460@mksol.dseg.ti.com> martinn@mksol.dseg.ti.com (niels r martin) writes:
- >In article <1992Nov17.203709.6242@spdc.ti.com> achenbac@epcot.spdc.ti.com (Jeff Achenbach) writes:
- >>(in the ads) nice examples going for under $3,000. I wouldn't for a minute
- >>consider a yacht like a Wing or Electraglide because it limits the places
- >>you can camp and ride. 10 or 20 miles of dirt and gravel can really get you
- >>to some fine areas that the Winnebarges can't reach.
-
- >I have never had trouble riding my 78 Goldwing on gravel/dirt--of course I
- >don't drive like a crazyman either.
-
- Well, I drive my 81 Wing on all sorts of roads... It's just a matter of
- practice and restraint. I happen to like an easy chair that will keep me
- off the ground if the Big Nasty (Tm?) happens. A full fairing and luggage,
- as well as case guards, goes a long way when the "harsh Realities" comes
- my way. If that means that I have a machine that is 100 pounds heavier and
- handles a little slower than a different bike, so be it. I happen to like
- comfort.
-
- BTW, for those about to flame me for riding a pig, that 'pig'
- can easily do the DOT test for the displacement range two sizes smaller, and
- seems to have no problem keeping up with the local twistie-loving crowd.
- What non'Wing riders don't seem to understand is that the flat four and
- transmission are within a foot and a half of the ground. Where is the CG
- of their sportbike's engine/trans? Angular momentum is the primary
- determinant of handling, about the pivots described by the tire contact
- patches. Sure, I weigh more, but the moment arm is shorter, so they tend to
- cancel out. Since the percent difference is lower for a heavier bike given
- the same load as a lighter bike, loading for long distance touring doesn't
- change the handling as much.
-
- CP Tomes
-
- I hate banks just can't stand them
- Give me a shovel, and man' I'll plant em
- Six feet under that's where they belong.
- I hate banks that's the name of the song.
- Think I'll rob myself one or two,
- I hate banks how 'bout you?
- Mojo Nixon
-