roadcraft site

http://www.datacraftsystems.co.uk/techniques/index.html

Interesting stuff, especially for new riders.

Zebee

 

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/downloads/motorcycleridershandbook_dl1.html

 

In aus.motorcycles on Sat, 16 Feb 2008 21:16:09 +1100

Not on Guzzi's it's not. Or so people I trust tell me.

Zebee

 

"Advantages of the clutchless gear change is that it is quicker, smoother

that book would make good fire starter.

Good for practicing ... what?

 

Well, as someone once said, if it hurts, you're probably doing it wrong.

It varies from bike to bike.

IMHO, folk should at the very least try changing gears without the clutch.

Clutches can fail, and riding without the clutch working is better than
being stuck at the side of the road.

Most modern bikes will change up very smoothly and quickly, if you do it
right, and I'd tend to believe that there isn't damage being done.

regards,
CrazyCam

 

I have reservations about the reference to the Two Second Rule on this site.
I completed the NSW Pre-Learner's Course some time ago. They stated that
Crash Avoidance Space consisted of Reaction Time and Braking Time. They
stated that reaction time was an average of 1.5 seconds. Leaving a two
second gap allows only a 0.5 second gap in which to give yourself the space
to stop (my interpretation). You travel at 27.8 m/s at 100 km/h. A 0.5
second gap means that you have allowed only 13.9 metres to stop at 100 km/h.
May the Force be with you.

A gap of 4 seconds at 100 km/h is more realistic in my opinion. A three
second gap means that you will have to stop from 100 km/h in 42 metres.
This is a 0.94g stop. Allow a 3 second gap if you can reliably do 0.94g
stops, otherwise allow a 4 second gap at 100 km/h.

48% of all collisions in the ACT are rear enders.

What any rider does is up to him or her.

John Dwyer.

 

I know what you mean, but if you look on the road and see how many
people actually are two seconds behind someone, I'd just love to see
two seconds come in. The practicality of getting people to four
seconds is gunna be damn near impossible. Us human beans are impatient
buggers.

 

So put it up a gear AND cut the motor off at the same time ? Be an
interesting stall..

 

I think you've oversimplified. Don't forget that you are following a
vehicle who also will take time to come to a stop. You don't only have
the immediate gap between you and he, you also have that extra space
taken for him to come to stop. A two second gap is more than adequate
for those with average reaction times and reasonable stopping skills.

As it is, a 2 second gap is taken up by people merging, thus putting you
in a position of having to drop back even further to maintain that 2
second gap, which opens up a slot for someone else to merge and........

Having said all that, if road/weather conditions are a problem, I do
tend to drop back even further.

 

Not always. The car ahead of you can collide with an object and stop almost
immediately. Staying only two seconds behind will ensure that you will
become part of what has just happened ahead of you at some stage. You are
relying on external intervention that may defy the laws of physics if you
maintain a two second gap.

John Dwyer.

 

Being an impatient bugger is a significant contributor to the ACT's having
48% of all collisions being rear enders. Keep gap ahead of you that will
allow you to react and stop under present the road conditions and speed.
You will then substantially increase probability of being able to stop, as
well as reducing the incidence of frights and bent machinery. Keeping the
required gap is not easy, but the returns on effort are extremely
worthwhile.

John Dwyer.

 

I suggest you get a copy of that book and burn it. Clutcless changes will
**** your box. You will eventually break the corners off the dogs and it
will then jump out of gear, (but only on full throttle). It may not happen
overnight, but it will happen.

Theo

 

That's a common myth, so common I believed it myself for a while. The clutch
on a Guzzi certainly spins at engine speed, but the gearbox input shaft is
immediately reduced to the gear-shafts, so that the shafts on which the
shifting takes place are turning no faster than in any UJM. The 5 speed
Guzzi is just a clunky box, partly because of the massive bits of metal
rotating around inside it. The 6 speed, as fitted to the Norge, is
"Japanese" quiet and smooth, but the clutch and input shaft still turn at
engine speed.

Theo

 

Which can be mitigated by watching the traffic ahead, and giving
yourself an escape route if things get tight. I'm far more concerned
about some dickhead rear-ending me than I am of running up some-ones
arse.

Bill

 

All fair enough, but your anticipation must be error free or you will still
run up the back of the person in front of you. Looking ahead of you still
leaves the possiblility of a vehicle entering from a side street, with
visibility being obscured by buildings or shrubbery. Being tail gated is
another issue that is not dealt with by the two second rule, the issue that
started this part of this thread.

John Dwyer.

 

In aus.motorcycles on Sun, 17 Feb 2008 16:45:23 -0800 (PST)

I've done it when the clutch cable broke, it is good to know how to do
it in case of emergency.

But it is only for emergencies...

Zebee

 

I used to power shift my modded water bottle when racing all the time ,
it had a gut full of BelRay and lots of practise , most bikes wont last
so well.

 

Just checked and it's not much 1.235 with a rear ratio of 4.125. No idea
what Jap bikes run. The Cali runs the 1.235 and has the clunky 5 speed, the
Norge runs 1.458 and is silky smooth.

Theo

 

Last time I rear-ended someone was a fucking long time ago, I'd just
come back into town after a long stint out bush, I was tired, I wasn't
coping well with traffic and I wasn't paying attention. I hit the
vehicle ahead doing a couple of Ks (from memory on a 75/6).

Your name isn't really Allan Kirk by any chance is it? (1)


(1) Yeah, Yeah, I know, mentioning the unmentionable is considerably
worse that saying Norge three times in a thread



Bill

 

That you have not rear ended someone for a long time means that you are
doing something right. You acknowledge that, when you last rear ended
another vehicle you were fatigued and distracted. These factors will
increase your reaction time.

It does not change the ACT statistics that 48% of all collisions are rear
enders. These collisions are normally caused by not looking and/or not
allowing sufficient space between the rider/driver the vehicle ahead of
him/her. While you may exercise sufficient discipline to prevent you rear
ending others, others may well rear end you. Requiring others to use
effective observation skills and to leave sufficient space between them and
the vehicle ahead of them will reduce the number of rear end collisions.

What is the likelihood of this situation changing? Low with present
policies. Riders/drivers who were originally licenced more than 20 years ago
were probably not formally taught to ride or drive. They have no concept of
the components that make up the required space that is required between a
given vehicle and the one ahead. This situation is compounded by re-issue
of licences, normally every five years, requires assessment of neither road
rule knowledge nor driving skill.

John Dwyer.