BMW airhead handling technique?

[weasel01]

The gyroscopic force of the engine is the hardest thing for me to get used to compared to riding a "standard" engine location design.

Turning right is no problem but turning left especially under acceleration felt REALLY wierd (feel like I'm fighting it sometimes) to  me then I discovered how much directional control one has by using the throttle.

I fly RC helicopters as a hobby if the rotor speed is kept constant the reversing directional control (fast in one direction labored in the opposite) is similar to riding the BMW.

To increase directional control on the RC choppers you "blip" the throttle while simultaneously changing direction and the aircraft instantly responds...soon you learn to use the torque of the engine to dominate the steering control and it makes the machine respond lightning fast.

With this technique in mind I applied it to my bike and whammo it is like a whole new echelon of steering control.

Wondered if you all were already familiar with this or do you do something different.

[Justin B.]

Hmmm, interesting observation but I really never "think" about any mechanics when riding I just do it!  I just stay planted in the seat and let counter-steering do all the work...

[Lucky_Lou]

I must confess if I'm cornering hard i avoid gear changes drop a gear going in and don't accelerate until coming out if possible wether its left or right.
Lou

[Dave 2]

This is interesting I know I feel more comfortable on right hand turns, but on any bike, maybe because I'm right handed and have a dominant right eye :-/. I know I usually accelerate through the corner, rather than coming out of the corner, unless I have gone into the corner too fast [smiley=shocked.gif]. I know the force of acceleration (centrifical force?) through the corner helps me exit the apex and enter the next aspect of the road straight up[smiley=thumbsup.gif]. I'll see if I can figure out what a blip of the throttle is on the left hand turn and how my bike responds.

[Bengt_Phorqs]

For me, one of the cautions I'm mindful of on every BMW I've ever ridden is to not downshift in a lean.  The flywheel/clutch combo seems to grab the back wheel and make it want to scoot out from under me.  I always downshift to my exit gear, scrub off enough speed as I enter the corner, then accelerate out of the corner.  

But so much of it depends on the frame geometry of the bike.  My old K100RT and my R100GS have long wheelbases and it requires what I refer to as a "swoopy" cornering style.  My R1100RT and Guzzi Cali SS are rather athletic and love to cut and thrust through the corners.  I haven't noticed a difference between left and right handers.

[Motu]

I don't notice any effect on the BMW,but it was very noticeable on the Guzzi's I used to ride in the early '80's.Maybe they are more sports orientated,they would really pull down to the right,and coming out of a left hander they would pull up by themselves.Under hard acceleration in 1st gear,the bike would lurch sideways as you throttled off changing to 2nd...opposite lock for a gearchange.I think that with the shorter stroke and light flywheel,on the the R65 I can hardly feel the engine torque.

[Bob_Roller]

The only peculiarity that I noticed on the R65, was right after I first got it, the raising and lowering of the rear end of the bike under acceleration or just starting off from standing still .

After 28 years, I can't even detect it any more, much like the engine vibration band around 42-4500 rpm .

[nhmaf]

The only cornering aspect of non-late model boxers that I notice is the rear end rising up&suspension stiffening under acceleration, a common characteristic of many older, shorter swingarm shaft drive bikes.  The key thing is to be smooth in the corners - try to keep entry & exit speeds similar and don't crank on the throttle hard at the apex when leaned over, or the bike's handling changes at a bad place.

While at my local bike shop I was talking with the proprietor, and one of his Harley-riding buddies showed up.   AFter examining my little airhead, he said "I rode an R90 for a little while - I like to ride into a corner and wack the throttle hard in the middle.  The rear end of that bike came up so badly I almost went off the road - I'd never ride one of those bikes again"..

I was going to say something about his riding technique needing serious help, but decided with his present bike, he was much better matched for his cornering abilities and left it at that.

[montmil]

Hardley-Ableson riders are rarely know for their subtlety.  [smiley=thumbdown.gif]

[weasel01]

Maybe it's just me ...this is my first airhead and to me it feels radically diffeent to anything else I've ever ridden.

Which includes a large variety of bikes...the only bike that just felt wrong was a Harley Davidson....I just felt stupid on it.

[Lucky_Lou]

I had a wobble today a nerd in a Lexus tryed to wipe me out cornering at the time on a dual carrageway only escape was rapid accelleration she whent sideways a good bit but got me out of trouble any way.... the tw*t was on the phone. Ive noticed that the more people spend on there cars the more they believe they are above the law and dont need hands free kits i think he understood my hand signals though.
Lou

[Bengt_Phorqs]

Times like that you wish you had a paint ball gun so you could pull up alongside and splat the B@$&(*#@@d.  In a car I love blasting the horn so that the people on the other end of the conversation can hear it.  I don't do hand signals.  Glad you survived the mishap.  

How about mandatory signal jammers in cars so that cell phones would be rendered useless when the motor is running?

[Dave 2]

I have always thought about something from Colt rather than a pant ball gun I see how you got the lucky part of your name! Glad you made it home.

[dav]

 

How about mandatory signal jammers in cars so that cell phones would be rendered useless when the motor is running?

ive had same idea for yrs. Someone, car makers, phone companys etc really have to do something about this, but as we all know it will never happen...

[Altritter]

How about mandatory signal jammers in cars so that cell phones would be rendered useless when the motor is running?
 

Nice idea, but the FCC would never let it happen.

Newspaper article about a year ago about the underground availability of small pocket scanning devices that either (1) turn off closed-circuit TV infomercials and cable news channels that are so maddening to those waiting in long lines in commercial establishments, or (2) disconnect all cell phone conversations within a radius of about 50 feet. According to reports from satisfied users, both devices work quite well.

However, the article pointed out that the devices are quite illegal in the US, and that the FCC will impose very large fines on anyone caught using one.

Personally, I'd like one of each. (They aren't cheap; I vaguely recall each kind being offered for sale in the $150 range.)