Shimmy (with a Scottish accent)

[John Roberts]

On a ride out today another rider had an off in front of me, on tarmac, he was shaken but not injured. I braked as hard as I dared (well, you would, wouldn't you) and had a brief (one second??) front wheel shimmy, the best way I can think of to describe its frequency would be to ask you to imagine a Scotsman saying the letter R- I don't mean a Sassenach's way of saying it- Aaah- but more like a full-blooded Scot might say RRRRRRabie BuRRRRRRns. The shimmy would be of the frequency of the Scots' RRRRRR. Sorry, that took a while to explain, but I just want to give a better idea of my shimmy. Speed was about 50mph, leaned over while braking hard. I had the same thing only once before in my 75,000 mls on the bike ('82 R100RS), but that was in a straight line and upright, (not leaned over) and I was braking as hard as I possibly could because of somebody pulling out in front of me. I always have the steering damper set to zero.

Right, it's an old bike, 1982, so I'm wondering if they all do that, Sir. It handles absolutely fine, always has. It didn't lead to a loss of control either time. ContiGo front and back, 3mm tread on the front, rather less on the rear and dry road.

So, Do they all do that, Sir?

 

[fayeslane]

They are relatively narrow tyres and it might be the front tyre fighting for grip under extreme braking - just a thought

 

[Schtum]

Bwaking hahd while leaned oveh is not weally the kind of thing you want to be doing, especially on a non-ABS bike, Mr Wobetts......

I take it that you'he familiah with the notion of twaction cihcles....?

http://www.sportrider.com/riding_tips/146_0909_traction_circle_riding_skills/index.html

 

[John Roberts]

Bwaking hahd while leaned oveh is not weally the kind of thing you want to be doing, especially on a non-ABS bike, Mr Wobetts......

Right ho, I'll run over my mate next time. I'll tell him you told me it was the thing to do.

I didn't fall off. I did manage to stop short of him, and I did brake hard.

Och, and I can tell you're nae Scottish, then?

EDIT: Just seen your location: now I'm confused, I would have expected a veritable torrent of richly rolled RRRRRRs

 

[Schtum]

Right ho, I'll run over my mate next time. I'll tell him you told me it was the thing to do.

Chapter and verse will tell you that you shouldn't be following so closely that you're unable to stop safely. That includes the need to pick the bike up and straight line it, in order to enable maximum braking, if necessary. I know that's an ideal world scenario but it's worth bearing in mind.

I didn't fall off. I did manage to stop short of him, and I did brake hard.

This can only be a good thing, even if you did roll your arse a bit in the process. However, a bit more braking, a loose surface.......

Och, and I can tell you're nae Scottish, then?

r[/B]itable torrent of richly rolled RRRRRRs

I was merely pointing out what someone who is unable to pronounce their arrs properly sounds like to those of us who can and do....

 

[John Roberts]

Yes, there's theory and there's practice. I was puzzled at the stress (indeed insistence even) placed on not braking when leaned over on the couple of advanced courses I attended a long time ago. There will be times when you really need to stop or slow down when banked over. I do so regularly and deliberately, and by now without drama most times.

As said, I stopped short of my mate and his bike, and I didn't fall off. And, no, not a loose surface ...

I was merely pointing out what someone who is unable to pronounce their arrs properly sounds like to those of us who can and do....

Fair enough, but I couldn't have used an Englishman's way of saying R (as in elle em en oh pee kewe aah ess) to give an idea of the frequency of oscillation of the handlebars, could I- imagining Billy Conolly saying Rabbie Burns gets the point over rather better I thought.