Learning "The Touch"

[mark4Jesus]

Well we have about 700 miles on the Spyder now. I am learning what I will call "The Touch." For me, the Spyder requires a little more finesse when going through curves than a two-wheeler. Friday, my wife and I rode 94 miles, part of which was in some fairly curvy roads. I am beginning to develop "The Touch" when maneuvering. As I went through the curves I began to sense the proper pressure on the handlebars that translated into a smooth turn with no wavering. I have begun to learn what it feels like when I have the proper input applied. Several times I stopped turning when I felt, what I will call, the proper pressure on my hands. It was not the amount of turn applied, but how the grips felt in my hands when I knew I was in the sweet spot in the turn. I will describe it as feeling solid in my hands.

I am enjoying learning the feel of our Spyder. For me, much of the fun I experience on a new machine is learning how it feels when the turn is entered into perfectly, coming out of the turn and applying the throttle to accelerate out just right. Learning the feel of the brakes so that stops are smooth with no excessive g's. In short, learning to precisely control the bike without having to think. There is joy in control. I'm getting there and having fun on the journey.

 

[ARtraveler]

:bowdown::bowdown::bowdown: :firstplace::firstplace::firstplace:

That is what some of us have been talking about. 700 miles? Your good. It took me almost 1500 miles back in 08. :thumbup:

 

[mark4Jesus]

:bowdown::bowdown::bowdown: :firstplace::firstplace::firstplace:

That is what some of us have been talking about. 700 miles? Your good. It took me almost 1500 miles back in 08. :thumbup:

Don't give me too much credit! I am not there yet! I used the words "beginning to develop", and "begun to learn." Didn't mean for the post to give the impression I am already there! But, I am enjoying getting "there"! I am learning what it feels like, but I don't feel it all the time LOL!

 

[ARtraveler]

Don't give me too much credit! I am not there yet! I used the words "beginning to develop", and "begun to learn." Didn't mean for the post to give the impression I am already there! But, I am enjoying getting "there"! I am learning what it feels like, but I don't feel it all the time LOL!

That is the way I took your post--not a brag, but a work in process. I am trying more these days to not analyze every word and nuance--putting things into peoples posts--that they were not implying.

It is a learning process and it takes time to get it. I have to re-learn, each new season--five months of layup makes one a bit rusty.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

FINESSE

Well we have about 700 miles on the Spyder now. I am learning what I will call "The Touch." For me, the Spyder requires a little more finesse when going through curves than a two-wheeler. Friday, my wife and I rode 94 miles, part of which was in some fairly curvy roads. I am beginning to develop "The Touch" when maneuvering. As I went through the curves I began to sense the proper pressure on the handlebars that translated into a smooth turn with no wavering. I have begun to learn what it feels like when I have the proper input applied. Several times I stopped turning when I felt, what I will call, the proper pressure on my hands. It was not the amount of turn applied, but how the grips felt in my hands when I knew I was in the sweet spot in the turn. I will describe it as feeling solid in my hands.

I am enjoying learning the feel of our Spyder. For me, much of the fun I experience on a new machine is learning how it feels when the turn is entered into perfectly, coming out of the turn and applying the throttle to accelerate out just right. Learning the feel of the brakes so that stops are smooth with no excessive g's. In short, learning to precisely control the bike without having to think. There is joy in control. I'm getting there and having fun on the journey.

After 9 years riding Spyders I disagree with your assessment on this ...... Spyders are a lot more forgiving when riding " Curvey " roads .... On a TWO wheeler ( especially ) a touring bike .... not getting the Proper line and having to correct ... often leads to the " pucker " brush in more ways than one :lecturef_smilie:, :roflblack: .......... Mike :thumbup:

 

[Chupaca]

Well your closer to there.....

This site has suggested 300 to 500 miles to get comfortable but never seen a figure for Mastery of the Art...:roflblack: I'm only at 38,000 + miles and still learning things I can do and not do...but loving it..:clap:

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Well we have about 700 miles on the Spyder now. I am learning what I will call "The Touch." For me, the Spyder requires a little more finesse when going through curves than a two-wheeler.

I don't know if you've read my take on Spyder vs two wheels in cornering, but here it is. My experience determined that on a two wheeler, largely because of the gyroscopic effect of the front wheel, there is a "sweet spot" in going around curves. With the right combination of lean, speed, and sharpness of curve a two wheeler will go around the curve on its own, with no push/pull needed on the handlebar. Learning what that sweet spot is is what makes it a challenge to learn slow speed turns, i.e., 20 ft circle at 5 mph. So on a two wheeler cornering, at the right speed, is effortless because the pull of gravity on the bike/rider combination is perfectly offset by centripetal force wanting to push the bike/rider combination outward plus the gyroscopic precession force acting on the front wheel. With the Spyder however, steering is a full time job. You have to steer all the way through a turn. The only time there is no input needed on the handlebar is going in a straight line with properly aligned wheels. The act of working, i.e., pushing and pulling and shifting your body, going through a curve with a Spyder is a thrill that replaces the thrill of leaning on a two wheeler.

 

[RinconRyder]

I've always liked the effortless two-finger counter steering. No muscle required.

 

[Easy Rider]

After 9 years riding Spyders I disagree with your assessment on this ...... Spyders are a lot more forgiving when riding " Curvey " roads .... On a TWO wheeler ( especially ) a touring bike .... not getting the Proper line and having to correct ... often leads to the " pucker " brush in more ways than one :lecturef_smilie:, :roflblack: .......... Mike :thumbup:

And I have to disagree with YOUR assessment.

IMHO, anybody who makes a statement like that never learned to ride on 2 wheels properly.

And......I am not saying that to start a fight or to throw a personal insult.
I honestly believe it to be true.

 

[Easy Rider]

I've always liked the effortless two-finger counter steering. No muscle required.

IF you are talking about the Spyder, there is NO counter steering involved.......unless maybe the back end is sliding out.

 

[missouriboy]

...centripetal force wanting to push the bike/rider combination outward...

GRRRREAT description, that! Except the word you want here is centrifugal, not centripetal.

[h=2]Definition of centripetal[/h] 1 :proceeding or acting in a direction toward a center or axis

(I can still picture my 8th grade science teacher emphasizing that difference... ~65 years ago!)

 

[canamjhb]

I agree with the OPs thought about having fun while learning to smoothly ride the Spyder. I bought mine in mid-May and have since put a little over 9K miles on. During that time there were several tweeks to the bike resulting in varying degrees of difference of the riding experience. After getting the new shocks dialed in, real tires installed, and the bike Squared Away, it now handles the way I like. I can get on it now and have it handle the same as it did the previous ride. Working on improving my riding skills is now a journey that is very enjoyable. A journey that will probably never end.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

GRRRREAT description, that! Except the word you want here is centrifugal, not centripetal.

Definition of centripetal

1 :proceeding or acting in a direction toward a center or axis

(I can still picture my 8th grade science teacher emphasizing that difference... ~65 years ago!)

Well, you are somewhat correct, except the problem is that centrifugal force is an "apparent" force, whereas centripetal is real!

From this page: https://www.livescience.com/52488-centrifugal-centripetal-forces.html. Hey, it has to be right! It has "science" in the URL!

“The difference between centripetal and centrifugal force has to do with different ‘frames of reference,’ that is, different viewpoints from which you measure something,” according to Andrew A. Ganse, a research physicist at the University of Washington. If you are observing a rotating system from the outside, you see an inward centripetal force acting to constrain the rotating body to a circular path. However, if you are part of the rotating system, you experience an apparent centrifugal force pushing you away from the center of the circle, even though what you are actually feeling is the inward centripetal force that is keeping you from literally going off on a tangent.

This apparent outward force is described by Newton’s Laws of Motion. Newton’s First Law states that “A body at rest will remain at rest, and a body in motion will remain in motion unless it is acted upon by an external force.” If a massive body is moving through space in a straight line, its inertia will cause it to continue in a straight line unless an outside force causes it to speed up, slow down or change direction. In order for it to follow a circular path without changing speed, a continuous centripetal force must be continuously applied at a right angle to its path. The radius r of this circle is equal to the mass m times the square of the velocity v divided by the centripetal force F, or r = mv[SUP]2[/SUP]/F. The force can be calculated by simply rearranging the equation, F= mv[SUP]2[/SUP]/r.

But are we sure we want to trust a University Physics Professor? After all, they do spend a lot of time contemplating the inexplicable:roflblack:!

 

[mark4Jesus]

After 9 years riding Spyders I disagree with your assessment on this ...... Spyders are a lot more forgiving when riding " Curvey " roads .... On a TWO wheeler ( especially ) a touring bike .... not getting the Proper line and having to correct ... often leads to the " pucker " brush in more ways than one :lecturef_smilie:, :roflblack: .......... Mike :thumbup:

I was not referring to two-wheelers being more forgiving. I was talking about finesse in the turn. I small amount of input on the handlebars of a Spyder will cause some movement, not dangerous movement, just enough movement to have to counter to keep the same line. All recommend a light grip on the Spyder for this reason, as I have learned. My definition of a smooth turn is when you input your steering and do not have to adjust until coming out of the curve. Learning that on the Spyder is, as all have said, different than on two wheels. Having to hit the brakes on a Spyder in a curve is more forgiving that on two wheels, I agree.

 

[mark4Jesus]

The act of working, i.e., pushing and pulling and shifting your body, going through a curve with a Spyder is a thrill that replaces the thrill of leaning on a two wheeler.

I agree whole heartedly.

 

[mark4Jesus]

Working on improving my riding skills is now a journey that is very enjoyable. A journey that will probably never end.

:thumbup: I got my pilot's license, haven't flown in years. Every landing was a unique event. Some were squeakers, some a little bumpy. Every landing received its own grade. I never took for granted that squeakers were not automatic, they took concentration. Let up on the concentration, and you get to hear "bump" instead of "squeak." In my time on two-wheels I viewed each curve in the same way, and now on the same on my Spyder. Each curve receives its own grade. On the Spyder, my average is increasing, but definitely not straight A's! As with flying, you learn from each grade you give yourself. "A journey that will probably never end."

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

ALMOST INSTANT EXPERT

And I have to disagree with YOUR assessment.

IMHO, anybody who makes a statement like that never learned to ride on 2 wheels properly.

And......I am not saying that to start a fight or to throw a personal insult.
I honestly believe it to be true.

I'm so glad you have learned the intricacies of the Spyder's ....especially in the short time you have been operating one :yikes::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack: ............. Annnnnnnnnd you have also mastered the ART of negativity to a degree that is only shown by a FEW others on this Forum :clap::clap::clap:.........LOVE ....Mike :thumbup:

 

[Bfromla]

:congrats::2thumbs: And as I understand it all changes again if you upgrade & get the
BaJaRon swaybar I do not have one "yet" but is on the list :thumbup:

 

[mark4Jesus]

:congrats::2thumbs: And as I understand it all changes again if you upgrade & get the
BaJaRon swaybar I do not have one "yet" but is on the list :thumbup:

Upgrade fever is rampant among Victory owners. It had begun to infect me. I have realized that the same fever is a real threat with my Spyder!

 

[classicvw]

I'm so glad you have learned the intricacies of the Spyder's ....especially in the short time you have been operating one :yikes::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack: ............. Annnnnnnnnd you have also mastered the ART of negativity to a degree that is only shown by a FEW others on this Forum :clap::clap::clap:.........LOVE ....Mike :thumbup:

One could say your post is insulting.
Jeez, he said it's what he believes and that he means no insult.