There's a first for everything when riding a Laverda...

jko_78

jko_78

Full member
Location
The ever windy Northwest of Europe
Last weekend I took a little tour on a sunday morning, but went off later than usual -resulting in lots of cyclists, classic cars, convertibles, motorcyclists and big groups of motorcyclists. No scraping footpegs on that morning ;) Please note I may have some prejudicy regarding groups as I don't like riding in groups of more than 3 or so -got turned away when I was young from the Navy for being too much of an individualist, so there's that I guess ;)

But this morning there were several groups I ran into, most of which were keeping around the speed limits and just enjoying a nice sunday morning together like I did alone. However, after my short pause I went off again. Had to let a car go ahead of me coming from the right, so let the bike roll since it was some distance off, and kept some distance as there was a village coming up and overtaking would not have been much use. I noticed a group coming up behind me (my 750 does not have mirrors or indicators) and somewhat to my surprise some of them, first 5 of 15 or so, overtook me, but not the car, and filled up the distance I kept so close that the foremost bike's front tire was almost scraping the paint of the car's bumper, and the last one nearly cut me off... sheesh! SInce there was no more room for the other 10 or so to go I was closed up and boxed in -exactly why I don't like riding in both groups and with strangers as you never know how they ride in a group.

With the village coming up and a T-junction at the end (with us coming up on the long side of the T) I looked next to / behind me, nobody there other than the rest behind me, then a glance again over my left shoulder and stick out my hand to signal going left around the same time -imagine my surprise in between those few seconds one of those behind me was really close next to me suddenly and I very, very nearly smacked him on his helmet when signalling -he suddenly had some big very big pupils!

Fortunately at the next junction they went right and I went along the village so I was freed again, but sheesh, some of those people.... Anyway, moral of the story is my prejudicy with groups was confirmed again at that time, & always look over your shoulder even if you have mirrors.

Happy weekend and safe kilometers or miles, wherever you are!

PS my group prejudicy is of course a bit overstated. I don't like riding in big groups, but saw quite a few other groups, be it GS-es or H-D Glide FXXGRRHSSXTHS and everything in between, and they were riding nice & not hindering anyone! As always it's the exceptions though... :/
 
I'm thinking about fitting one, where I normally ride I don't really miss them, but on the motorways I do, especially when traffic is heavier or the sun is at your back.
Had a farewell party a few weeks ago where I had to ride motorways in busy end of day work week traffic where I really missed a mirror, especially with the sun at your back, so that when you look behind you're blinded first, so you need to look longer behind but can't look out front then...
 
I rode a mate's bike a while back with only one mirror, hated it. I felt so vulnerable with all that blind spot.I guard my space, I make it, and keep it. Lately, I have tried to be tail-end Charlie on club rides, and that's with blokes that I have done thousands of ks with. I know where we are heading, so it doesn't matter if I don't arrive seconds late. The easiest way to crash is to be involved in other people's brain fade or stupidity. Getting close to me doesn't impress me; passing me in my lane will result in some abuse.
 
"improve situational awareness, even on track. Ask Clem?"
exactly Hamish, I was able to see that the danger you were creating behind me was getting further and further away.

another quote Ray Shone...................
"I am more aware of whats behind me without mirrors than you are with them"
CLEM
 
My only 2 track experiences, the first time was fantastic. Only 26 experienced Laverda owners in the Eastern Creek ex GP track, zero crowding, but only 3 or 4 laps, so no time to learn the layout. The 2nd time was horrifying, 120 others ranging from World Superbike Champions, Troy Corsa on a Harley, to young ladies with zero experience on Veragos and a VW trike. But by far the scariest, very confident young blokes on modern 200hp bikes. I made the huge mistake of heading into turn 1, mostly peering into my mirrors, watching bikes arriving all around me from all directions and huge speed differences. I know why mirrors get tapped up on track days. Horrable distraction from holding your line in a corner.
 
I’m not a great fan of mass rideouts but have been involved in a few over the years, generally I try to keep out of trouble by either being at the front or the rear, but it’s not always possible to control the position you end up in. Even if the pace is slow, it’s still quite easy to get caught out by the concertina effect caused by one or two riders going too fast then suddenly having to brake and riders further back having to perform virtual emergency stops.
I sometimes lead small groups around the IOM and on most occasions I don’t have any problems. However, last year one ride out nearly led to a punch up. I was leading 3 Italians, who were IOM TT ‘virgins’, and a couple of regular visitors from Cornwall, one of whom was on an ‘Empire’ built Enfield 500 single with the optional ‘loud’ exhaust fitted. We were heading from Cronk-y-Voddy crossroads towards Ramsey after racing had finished among hordes of other bikes. Apparently one of the Italians, on a not particularly quiet Aprilia RSV Tuono, passed the Enfield as he was fed up with the noise emanating from said Enfield and pulled in front of my mate. My mate didn’t immediately recognise him as one of our group, and wasn’t too happy at being ‘carved up’ by this apparent ‘interloper’ into our group, and re passed the Tuono and in doing so put ‘the squeeze’ on the poor guy resulting in dirty looks all round. So it can sometimes be almost as difficult to keep safe control of a small group of supposedly friendly riders, let alone deal with the often unexpected and irresponsible actions of other riders on the road.
I’m afraid to say, although other nationalities can be equally as reckless, German bikers at the TT are probably the worst offenders for riding on the wrong side of the road, inappropriate filtering, speeding and filling up hospital beds etc.
 
I often ride in groups, more often small than larger since there's generally a road book allowing each and every one to ride at his own pace or with like people.
With larger groups, such as the Amicale 750 Laverda were we can be 30 to 40, there's no problem, every body knows every body.
It's not so much the group as the individuals who compose it.

A lot of arseholes makes up a group of arseholes, not good.

Paul
 
I just had a long think and really cannot remember any serious incident of Arsehole riding on local Laverda Rides ever. But we do have a rider who loves bitzing past, but always with plenty of space as he does it. He vises with me as tail end charlie, but usually ends up at the front of the ride. It's pretty funny, mostly. I bet everyone local knows who this is.
 
Like the time I accidentally hit the starter button on my 70 SF0 while gearing down at 7200rpm from 3rd into 2nd "Engaged" and shredded the starter into cigarette ash. DO NOT depend on that Starter Clutch - Ground the Starter Relay through the Transmission Neutral Switch ;o)

Paid $1,600 for the bike from a Canadian EU Dealer going under and $900 for a new starter imported from the Breganzie factory back in 73.

Ensure the Back Plate of the Breganzie Clutch Starter is firmly attached (Get rid of them Rivets either Tap and Bolt or Weld that back plat onto the flywheel) so it does not chatter and unlock the dogs is a big issue with all Berganzies.

Always check an ensure that starter clutch is clean, solid and moly-lubed with yearly inspections - If you hear it chatter - Wake-Up ;o)
 
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Most of the big foreign touring groups I see here travel under the ridiculously low speed limits here on main highways (rarely venture onto the good alternatives) with a queue of frustrated cars stuck behind them. Our rides are generally max four and we just pick our way past these convoys. In any group one mistake can cause havoc.
A group from here did the Route 66 bucket list thing, and the fastest riders had to tail the group, as they had to be doing the catching up.
 
I like my space, to cruise or hoon as I like. When I catch up to a group I usually decide it’s time for a coffee break. If I get caught in a group I keep moving around in my lane, to make sure nobody sits beside me.
A mate and I were caught up to once, at night, by some very fast riders in a group. We were a bit surprised because we knew the road and we weren’t messing around, but these guys caught up and started filtering through. Then we saw the patches. Decided to let them go…
 
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