Page 4
February Article
January 11th Captain Reports
February Newsletter
For January's ride (thanks Mike) I chose to take the Club to the famous Rock Store, a well-known biker hang-out, on Mulholland
Highway near Agoura Hills. With such an unseasonably warm and sunny day, more like May than January, that seemed like a good
putt, particularily since the Club has so many new members that have never been there. After a lively and fun-packed meeting, with
more sign-ups than ever before in the history of our Club, the group formed up in front of Chaparral Motorsports. The number of
bikes I heard last was twenty-four, a lot for January. After leaving Chaparral Motorsports, the group became somewhat broken up
while heading for the freeway, due to having to pass through two traffic lights. However, everyone joined up together once they got
on the 10 West. From there it was north on the 15, then west again on the 210 (thanks for the suggestion Rod). Traffic was fairly
light and all the bikes looked realy cool going along the freeway together. After a quick gas and comfort stop at the sixty mile mark,
it was back on the 210 freeway west to Pasadena and the 134. The 134 soon merged with the 101, and after what seemed like a
short hop, we arrived at the Los Virgenes turnoff. Another pause to collect some members who had become seperated on the
freeway, on we went towards our ultimate goal of the Rock Store. Shortly thereafter, some members decided on their own to take a
different route and left the group. After hearing from Larry that some bikes had turned away, I stopped the group and turned it
around and we rejoined the others at the Rock Store. Parking was at a premium, with bikes parked on the sholder of the road for
some distance in either direction from the restraunt, and it was everyone for themselves finding a spot. The crowd was also evident
in the restraurant, having to stand in line for some time waiting to order lunch, and then waiting even longer to finally get that burger.
All was forgiven as the lunch was worth the wait, however, I spent some time wandering around looking at some of the old celebrity
photos and the eclectic collection of motorcycles parked out front, from $70,000 West Coast Choppers to 1974 Honda CB500's, and
everything in between. About 3:00 o'clock our group started to head for their bikes, and in several small groups, worked their way
back to the 101 and eastward bound towards home. All together an outstanding winter day for riding, we can only hope we're so
lucky in February. Ride Safe, John Wilson.
Highway near Agoura Hills. With such an unseasonably warm and sunny day, more like May than January, that seemed like a good
putt, particularily since the Club has so many new members that have never been there. After a lively and fun-packed meeting, with
more sign-ups than ever before in the history of our Club, the group formed up in front of Chaparral Motorsports. The number of
bikes I heard last was twenty-four, a lot for January. After leaving Chaparral Motorsports, the group became somewhat broken up
while heading for the freeway, due to having to pass through two traffic lights. However, everyone joined up together once they got
on the 10 West. From there it was north on the 15, then west again on the 210 (thanks for the suggestion Rod). Traffic was fairly
light and all the bikes looked realy cool going along the freeway together. After a quick gas and comfort stop at the sixty mile mark,
it was back on the 210 freeway west to Pasadena and the 134. The 134 soon merged with the 101, and after what seemed like a
short hop, we arrived at the Los Virgenes turnoff. Another pause to collect some members who had become seperated on the
freeway, on we went towards our ultimate goal of the Rock Store. Shortly thereafter, some members decided on their own to take a
different route and left the group. After hearing from Larry that some bikes had turned away, I stopped the group and turned it
around and we rejoined the others at the Rock Store. Parking was at a premium, with bikes parked on the sholder of the road for
some distance in either direction from the restraunt, and it was everyone for themselves finding a spot. The crowd was also evident
in the restraurant, having to stand in line for some time waiting to order lunch, and then waiting even longer to finally get that burger.
All was forgiven as the lunch was worth the wait, however, I spent some time wandering around looking at some of the old celebrity
photos and the eclectic collection of motorcycles parked out front, from $70,000 West Coast Choppers to 1974 Honda CB500's, and
everything in between. About 3:00 o'clock our group started to head for their bikes, and in several small groups, worked their way
back to the 101 and eastward bound towards home. All together an outstanding winter day for riding, we can only hope we're so
lucky in February. Ride Safe, John Wilson.
Lets Keep Riding Safe and Fun
Stop the Machine!
by Robert Vaughan
Screeeeeeeeech! Beeeeeeeeeeeep!
"Did you see that car? He came from behind that 18-wheeler and ran the red. I almost hit him."
Has this ever happened to you? Ever wonder just how fast you can stop your bike?
With a few good techniques and a little practice the answer is a lot faster than you think. The two main techniques are squeezing the
front brake rapidly instead of grabbing it, and taking advantage of the weight shift to use even more front brake. The practice takes
just a few minutes in a parking lot about three times a year.
As you start braking, about half your weight is on each wheel. If you apply both brakes hard without grabbing the front brake, your
weight will shift forward and you can squeeze the front brake even harder, while you let up a little on the rear. It takes only about
half a second for your weight to shift so you can add more front brake. It is because of this weight change that about 70% of your
braking power is on the front. When all the extra weight shifts forward, the front tire gets harder to lock, while the rear gets easier to
lock.
If you ever lock the front tire, release the front brake and come right back down on it. This is exactly the opposite of what you want
to do with the rear if it locks. You can release a locked rear if you're perfectly straight, but if you've turned sideways and you unlock
the rear wheel, you can do a highside--not something you do for fun!
A parking lot is the perfect place to practice-an empty parking lot that is. No need to terrorize the populace while they're trying to
use the lot. Start out at 10-15 miles per hour. The techniques are the same for any speed, but you don't need as much room to
practice in if your speed is lower.
These few techniques and a little practice should get your stopping off to a good start
by Robert Vaughan
Screeeeeeeeech! Beeeeeeeeeeeep!
"Did you see that car? He came from behind that 18-wheeler and ran the red. I almost hit him."
Has this ever happened to you? Ever wonder just how fast you can stop your bike?
With a few good techniques and a little practice the answer is a lot faster than you think. The two main techniques are squeezing the
front brake rapidly instead of grabbing it, and taking advantage of the weight shift to use even more front brake. The practice takes
just a few minutes in a parking lot about three times a year.
As you start braking, about half your weight is on each wheel. If you apply both brakes hard without grabbing the front brake, your
weight will shift forward and you can squeeze the front brake even harder, while you let up a little on the rear. It takes only about
half a second for your weight to shift so you can add more front brake. It is because of this weight change that about 70% of your
braking power is on the front. When all the extra weight shifts forward, the front tire gets harder to lock, while the rear gets easier to
lock.
If you ever lock the front tire, release the front brake and come right back down on it. This is exactly the opposite of what you want
to do with the rear if it locks. You can release a locked rear if you're perfectly straight, but if you've turned sideways and you unlock
the rear wheel, you can do a highside--not something you do for fun!
A parking lot is the perfect place to practice-an empty parking lot that is. No need to terrorize the populace while they're trying to
use the lot. Start out at 10-15 miles per hour. The techniques are the same for any speed, but you don't need as much room to
practice in if your speed is lower.
These few techniques and a little practice should get your stopping off to a good start