"Jimmy Justice" is what he calls himself, and he wanders the streets looking for police who are breaking the law. Most of his videos show police illegally parked, or otherwise making traffic violations, so naturally I support his cause.
I've often wondered about doing the same as Jimmy, especially thinking that I would ride around with a video camera ready to take shots of police in their normal "I-own-the-streets" behavior. I'm now far more motivated, and in fact I might try it out this coming week.
Keep up the great work!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/02/AR2008080201503.html
And here's a link to his youtube videos:
http://www.youtube.com/user/JimmyJustice4753
Monday, August 4, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
The Official Highway to Hell: Merritt Parkway
It's official: I've found the highway to hell, and damn was it fun! I was in Hartford, CT the other day, and I decided to try a different way back to the city besides I-95. I threw the coordinates into the GPS, and noticed this new highway that I'd almost forgotten about, which runs parallel to I-95 almost the whole way along the CT coast:
The Merritt Parkway, or Route 15
Hot diggity damn. This is the most fun I think I've ever had on a bike. How can I explain?
-Two small, narrow lanes
-Average speed of all traffic: 70 mph
-Tight, cambered turns
-Huge hills to climb up and down
-Traffic merging in from on-ramps on the right
-Scenic trees all around, with a nature (not rubber) scent in the air
-Picturesque, little roadway bridges crossing the highway
-Sharing the road with Porsches, Ferraris, and Lamborghinis
-No Jersey drivers
-Dodging and weaving traffic
-Super fast left lane speeders
Seriously, this was an adrenaline ride like none other I've ever felt. It makes I-95 feel sterile, neutered, and sedate. It's probably the closest thing NY and CT has to an official race track circuit, with the added benefit of having full, neck-to-neck traffic spinning around at insane paces.
I recall my youth, when I was driving around in a car in CT and NY, and how scared I used to be driving on the Merritt parkway. I remember dreading the on-ramps, because of having to time the acceleration perfectly (this is so much fun now on a bike). I remember the tight turns and blind hills used to frighten me as well, and I'd be pumping with adrenaline. And that was in a car!
I have three different kinds of advice, therefore:
-Advanced riders: no way, stay off this road. That way I can keep it to myself.
-Intermediate riders: no way, stay off this road, until you've driven a few days in Manhatten traffic - at night - in the fog - on Park Avenue - in rush hour - in the winter - after a light snow - (insert 1 or 2 more compounding factors). That way I can keep it to myself.
-Beginning riders: no one ever considers themselves beginning riders, so why does it even matter? I hate these sections. How about this: drive to the Merritt Parkway, and drive a few exist. If you're sweating like a madman, with heart palpitations, jitters, and dehydration after 3 exits, you're an intermediate rider. Otherwise, you're dead and now you know: you're a beginner :-)
Seriously, be safe.
I've found that the best strategy is to ride near the dotted line, and then ride a car gap when approaching on ramps. Cars tend to drift into the left lane at he last minute. I'm assuming, of course, that you're in the left lane, because trying to ride the right lane is sure catastrophe, especially near off-ramps, where cars in the left rapidly cross 2 lanes to exit.
The Merritt Parkway, or Route 15
Hot diggity damn. This is the most fun I think I've ever had on a bike. How can I explain?
-Two small, narrow lanes
-Average speed of all traffic: 70 mph
-Tight, cambered turns
-Huge hills to climb up and down
-Traffic merging in from on-ramps on the right
-Scenic trees all around, with a nature (not rubber) scent in the air
-Picturesque, little roadway bridges crossing the highway
-Sharing the road with Porsches, Ferraris, and Lamborghinis
-No Jersey drivers
-Dodging and weaving traffic
-Super fast left lane speeders
Seriously, this was an adrenaline ride like none other I've ever felt. It makes I-95 feel sterile, neutered, and sedate. It's probably the closest thing NY and CT has to an official race track circuit, with the added benefit of having full, neck-to-neck traffic spinning around at insane paces.
I recall my youth, when I was driving around in a car in CT and NY, and how scared I used to be driving on the Merritt parkway. I remember dreading the on-ramps, because of having to time the acceleration perfectly (this is so much fun now on a bike). I remember the tight turns and blind hills used to frighten me as well, and I'd be pumping with adrenaline. And that was in a car!
I have three different kinds of advice, therefore:
-Advanced riders: no way, stay off this road. That way I can keep it to myself.
-Intermediate riders: no way, stay off this road, until you've driven a few days in Manhatten traffic - at night - in the fog - on Park Avenue - in rush hour - in the winter - after a light snow - (insert 1 or 2 more compounding factors). That way I can keep it to myself.
-Beginning riders: no one ever considers themselves beginning riders, so why does it even matter? I hate these sections. How about this: drive to the Merritt Parkway, and drive a few exist. If you're sweating like a madman, with heart palpitations, jitters, and dehydration after 3 exits, you're an intermediate rider. Otherwise, you're dead and now you know: you're a beginner :-)
Seriously, be safe.
I've found that the best strategy is to ride near the dotted line, and then ride a car gap when approaching on ramps. Cars tend to drift into the left lane at he last minute. I'm assuming, of course, that you're in the left lane, because trying to ride the right lane is sure catastrophe, especially near off-ramps, where cars in the left rapidly cross 2 lanes to exit.
NYC vs. Europe: A motorcyclist's perspective
I've now had a chance to visit Rome, Dublin, Athens, Paris, and London, and in each city I've spent hours observing how traffic evolves, is similar or different across cities, and especially how motorcyclists adapt to the different styles.
Here's a quick run down of my city-by-city comparisons:
Athens - in a word, "chaos" - I'll start with the most chaotic. This is because the streets are generally well paved, but mini scooters can be seen everywhere. Riders run down the middle of the lanes, lane split, and bunch up near the stop lights in droves. Cars and taxis are frozen in place until the lights change, packed in as though surrounded by styrofoam peanuts.
Rome - in a word, "bumpy" - far less chaotic driving patterns, but here the lane splitting rules of the game are similar. However, generally wider streets, and the fact that so many are cobblestone, means that motorcyclists have a painful time navigating around. When they do, you can tell their top speed is limited by how frequently they're willing to get slapped in the rear or groin by their bike seats. Here too, scooters are the vehicle of choice.
Paris - in a word, "zippy" - a combination of cobblestones and pavement, here we really see many more motorcycles. Though there are still many scooters, there are even more "super scooters", which are the length of motorcycles, but have foot rests like scooters. Traffic is oddly mild mannered here by comparison to the first two cities, and motorcyclists really tend to have their way.
London - in a word, "speedy" - narrow streets, and lots of mass transportation double decker buses make driving cars very difficult. Here, there are scooters, but not nearly as many as the previous cities. Instead, there is a new class that the other cities don't see: racers. It's not uncommon to see full-leather racing gear (kit as they call it) on riders aboard japanese racing bikes or ducatis.
Dublin - in a word, "docile" - not as many riders as I'd expect, but almost all of them wear bright colored safety vests to ensure they stand out. Maybe because of the constantly dull weather, and rain, these riders have developed a survival instinct. Though other cities wear safety vests too, almost every Dublin rider has one on. Otherwise, the driving is mild mannered, and in general, highway drivers tend to crawl along at superhumanly slow paces, making it a heaven for motorcycles to zoom past.
Summary of Europe
The odd thing is that in each of the European cities, you see many female riders as well. This is almost unheard of in NYC. And to an outsider like me, the traffic patterns of Athens, Rome, and Paris seem quite chaotic and unpredictable. I'd never ride there if I could help it, because there seems to be an unwritten law of tolerance for spontaneous chaotic dodging left and right, entering lanes without blinking, pulling out from lanes in spite of red lights, etc. It's a nightmare. Riders are like fish, constantly weaving back and forth, avoiding narrow escapes, and drifting everywhere. Riding is a constant act of avoidance and defense.
By comparison, London is about acceleration through small, narrow roads, and so here we see the emergence of "offensive" riding. Here, there is an explicit difference between defensive moves, and all-out acceleration and aggression.
Comparison vs. NYC
By comparison, NYC is quite safe. This initially seems incomprehensible, but I have several explicit reasons:
-Traffic is always predictable in its disorganization. It is bounded chaos. You know, for instance, that cabs will always swerve to corners, so you can easily look out for them. Pedestrians generally don't cut across the roads, just as cars generally abide by traffic laws.
-Drivers follow laws at intersections, and so traffic always self-organizes into structure at stop lights. In between intersections, it's a free for all, but this means the strategy for driving is simple: at any light, get to the front and stay at the front.
-Motorcycles are unique. Cars still dominate, and so motorcycles are a curiosity when spotted, and cabs tend to notice immediately and avoid you. By comparison, European drivers and riders have developed a mutual symbiotic relationship, whereby they each assume that each is looking out for the other. In NYC, bikers are the crazy, reckless ones, and so everyone looks out for them, and you're assumed to be unpredictable. Drivers keep their distance.
Here's a quick run down of my city-by-city comparisons:
Athens - in a word, "chaos" - I'll start with the most chaotic. This is because the streets are generally well paved, but mini scooters can be seen everywhere. Riders run down the middle of the lanes, lane split, and bunch up near the stop lights in droves. Cars and taxis are frozen in place until the lights change, packed in as though surrounded by styrofoam peanuts.
Rome - in a word, "bumpy" - far less chaotic driving patterns, but here the lane splitting rules of the game are similar. However, generally wider streets, and the fact that so many are cobblestone, means that motorcyclists have a painful time navigating around. When they do, you can tell their top speed is limited by how frequently they're willing to get slapped in the rear or groin by their bike seats. Here too, scooters are the vehicle of choice.
Paris - in a word, "zippy" - a combination of cobblestones and pavement, here we really see many more motorcycles. Though there are still many scooters, there are even more "super scooters", which are the length of motorcycles, but have foot rests like scooters. Traffic is oddly mild mannered here by comparison to the first two cities, and motorcyclists really tend to have their way.
London - in a word, "speedy" - narrow streets, and lots of mass transportation double decker buses make driving cars very difficult. Here, there are scooters, but not nearly as many as the previous cities. Instead, there is a new class that the other cities don't see: racers. It's not uncommon to see full-leather racing gear (kit as they call it) on riders aboard japanese racing bikes or ducatis.
Dublin - in a word, "docile" - not as many riders as I'd expect, but almost all of them wear bright colored safety vests to ensure they stand out. Maybe because of the constantly dull weather, and rain, these riders have developed a survival instinct. Though other cities wear safety vests too, almost every Dublin rider has one on. Otherwise, the driving is mild mannered, and in general, highway drivers tend to crawl along at superhumanly slow paces, making it a heaven for motorcycles to zoom past.
Summary of Europe
The odd thing is that in each of the European cities, you see many female riders as well. This is almost unheard of in NYC. And to an outsider like me, the traffic patterns of Athens, Rome, and Paris seem quite chaotic and unpredictable. I'd never ride there if I could help it, because there seems to be an unwritten law of tolerance for spontaneous chaotic dodging left and right, entering lanes without blinking, pulling out from lanes in spite of red lights, etc. It's a nightmare. Riders are like fish, constantly weaving back and forth, avoiding narrow escapes, and drifting everywhere. Riding is a constant act of avoidance and defense.
By comparison, London is about acceleration through small, narrow roads, and so here we see the emergence of "offensive" riding. Here, there is an explicit difference between defensive moves, and all-out acceleration and aggression.
Comparison vs. NYC
By comparison, NYC is quite safe. This initially seems incomprehensible, but I have several explicit reasons:
-Traffic is always predictable in its disorganization. It is bounded chaos. You know, for instance, that cabs will always swerve to corners, so you can easily look out for them. Pedestrians generally don't cut across the roads, just as cars generally abide by traffic laws.
-Drivers follow laws at intersections, and so traffic always self-organizes into structure at stop lights. In between intersections, it's a free for all, but this means the strategy for driving is simple: at any light, get to the front and stay at the front.
-Motorcycles are unique. Cars still dominate, and so motorcycles are a curiosity when spotted, and cabs tend to notice immediately and avoid you. By comparison, European drivers and riders have developed a mutual symbiotic relationship, whereby they each assume that each is looking out for the other. In NYC, bikers are the crazy, reckless ones, and so everyone looks out for them, and you're assumed to be unpredictable. Drivers keep their distance.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
New tires - initial reactions
I recently purchased new tires for my GSXR-1000, and decided to opt for the Pilot Power brand. My initial reaction is... odd.
See, I've never owned a bike for a long enough time to need to replace its tires. Instead, I always handed it over to the next owner with worn down tires, assuming they'd pay for them. So when I realized I'd put 10,000 miles on the GSXR and still hadn't replaced the tires, I decided to try it out.
The first thing to notice is that the dealer told me not to take turns too hard, because of the wax layer on the outside of the tire, and the fact that it reduces traction. Knowing this, I played it especially cautious, so I can't tell you anything about the incredible new lean angles, grip, etc.
When the dealer put the new tires on, they made the bike look brand new. It was impressive, because the tread on my old tires had worn down so much, they clearly looked old, and so it made the bike look dated as well. The new shine on the rubber definitely stands out. But that's just cosmetic.
As for the actual ride, the new tires have definitely more curvature to them, and so turning is so much easier than it was with the old tires. In fact, it's downright embarassing that I rode the old tires for so long, thinking they allowed me to turn quickly. Now, the bike feels incredibly "flickable" (that's one of those terms they use in the motorcycle magazines all the time), and just a small force on one side of the handlebars makes the bike turn immediately. This tells me - in retrospect - that my old tires must have been way long gone, if they actually made the bike harder to turn.
The new feel of the bike also makes me think about all those people who buy bikes with really wide tires. They have no idea what they're missing out on. Like the ability to turn :-)
So far, the new tires seem fine, make the bike feel flickable, and I'm now a total advocate for regularly changing out one tires!
See, I've never owned a bike for a long enough time to need to replace its tires. Instead, I always handed it over to the next owner with worn down tires, assuming they'd pay for them. So when I realized I'd put 10,000 miles on the GSXR and still hadn't replaced the tires, I decided to try it out.
The first thing to notice is that the dealer told me not to take turns too hard, because of the wax layer on the outside of the tire, and the fact that it reduces traction. Knowing this, I played it especially cautious, so I can't tell you anything about the incredible new lean angles, grip, etc.
When the dealer put the new tires on, they made the bike look brand new. It was impressive, because the tread on my old tires had worn down so much, they clearly looked old, and so it made the bike look dated as well. The new shine on the rubber definitely stands out. But that's just cosmetic.
As for the actual ride, the new tires have definitely more curvature to them, and so turning is so much easier than it was with the old tires. In fact, it's downright embarassing that I rode the old tires for so long, thinking they allowed me to turn quickly. Now, the bike feels incredibly "flickable" (that's one of those terms they use in the motorcycle magazines all the time), and just a small force on one side of the handlebars makes the bike turn immediately. This tells me - in retrospect - that my old tires must have been way long gone, if they actually made the bike harder to turn.
The new feel of the bike also makes me think about all those people who buy bikes with really wide tires. They have no idea what they're missing out on. Like the ability to turn :-)
So far, the new tires seem fine, make the bike feel flickable, and I'm now a total advocate for regularly changing out one tires!
Friday, June 13, 2008
A new phenomenon in NYC: chicks on scooters
I dug around, and noticed an article on the rise of scooters in NYC:
http://nyscooterclub.com/press/09SCOOT.html
I was particularly struck by the authors comment, "Scooters are widely accepted in Europe and Asia, but in America, where bigger is often viewed as better, the zippy two-wheelers have had trouble gaining traction."
I'll paraphrase: scooters are cute, and made for women. But not in NYC, where traffic is so fast, and reaction time is too critical for most women's nerves. Why then, are there suddenly so many more females riding about on scooters? I have 3 theories:
1) Gas prices
The obvious one to blame, but clearly as gas prices rise, 2 wheeled transportation in general seems more attractive. But that doesn't alone explain why so many more women are riding around. Anecdotally speaking, the number of female scooter riders now appears to outnumber the male riders, so the trend is definitely significant.
2) Scooter marketing
There's a new store downtown, and they're running ads all over the city for scooter sales. But that alone can't account for the rise, because that's just stupid to buy into everything just because it's marketed well :-)
3) European invasion
This is my favorite theory. It goes like this: the US dollar is weak, so Europeans in general are visiting the city more. This much is true. Also, more of them are coming over for the summers, and maybe more are actually deciding to come over a live, maybe even work here. As women come over - especially younger women - they are accustomed to riding their scooters around in Europe, where it is an acceptable practice for women to do. So they don't even think twice about jumping on one in NYC.
The odd thing is, women scooter riders (hereafter called women scooterers) are complete idiots. The image of riding on a cute little scooter is so important to them that they throw caution and safety out the window:
In summary, if you're a woman living in NYC, and you ride a scooter, take it from a fellow 2-wheeled advocate: other people are looking at you, and think you're an idiot. Learn about rider safety, learn to ride a 2-wheeled vehicle, get some hi-viz gear at least (even pink will do), and if you absolutely must keep riding, don't ride on Madison or Lexington unless you want to die.
Please.
http://nyscooterclub.com/press/09SCOOT.html
I was particularly struck by the authors comment, "Scooters are widely accepted in Europe and Asia, but in America, where bigger is often viewed as better, the zippy two-wheelers have had trouble gaining traction."
I'll paraphrase: scooters are cute, and made for women. But not in NYC, where traffic is so fast, and reaction time is too critical for most women's nerves. Why then, are there suddenly so many more females riding about on scooters? I have 3 theories:
1) Gas prices
The obvious one to blame, but clearly as gas prices rise, 2 wheeled transportation in general seems more attractive. But that doesn't alone explain why so many more women are riding around. Anecdotally speaking, the number of female scooter riders now appears to outnumber the male riders, so the trend is definitely significant.
2) Scooter marketing
There's a new store downtown, and they're running ads all over the city for scooter sales. But that alone can't account for the rise, because that's just stupid to buy into everything just because it's marketed well :-)
3) European invasion
This is my favorite theory. It goes like this: the US dollar is weak, so Europeans in general are visiting the city more. This much is true. Also, more of them are coming over for the summers, and maybe more are actually deciding to come over a live, maybe even work here. As women come over - especially younger women - they are accustomed to riding their scooters around in Europe, where it is an acceptable practice for women to do. So they don't even think twice about jumping on one in NYC.
The odd thing is, women scooter riders (hereafter called women scooterers) are complete idiots. The image of riding on a cute little scooter is so important to them that they throw caution and safety out the window:
- Women scooterers don't wear full face helmets, they wear half helmets. Have fun when you fall on your chin! Don't think you'll get hurt? Do an experiment then: rub your chin at 5 mph over the sidewalk, and see if you get any scars. Now imagine what it's like at 30 mph. Yay!
- Women scooterers wear skirts. This is just plain stupid. There must be someone who can confirm a rise in road rash at NYC ER's? Anyone? This is the one here that I don't care too much, because in general these riders tend to be skinny, and have attractive figures, so it's at least nice to look at legs in any case. But every time I see them, I cringe and have a mental image of one of those bloody scenes from Saving Private Ryan.
- Women scooterers wear black. Because black is trendy and hip, they wear precisely the color they should wear if they want to be INVISIBLE!
- Women scooterers prefer tiny, cute scooters. Instead of the ones that would give the accelerating power to get out of the way of that cab bearing down on you.
- Women scooterers are sporadic and unpredictable. There's a difference between weaving and dodging to get attention, and drifting in and out, left and right, because you just don't know how to pilot a vehicle in a straight line. I don't know the solution to this one, but maybe attending a training course and actually learning the art of riding is a good place to start, no?
In summary, if you're a woman living in NYC, and you ride a scooter, take it from a fellow 2-wheeled advocate: other people are looking at you, and think you're an idiot. Learn about rider safety, learn to ride a 2-wheeled vehicle, get some hi-viz gear at least (even pink will do), and if you absolutely must keep riding, don't ride on Madison or Lexington unless you want to die.
Please.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
The boomers are back - please be safe, guys!
It's just getting warm around here, and already the streets are taken with brand new motorcycles everywhere, brand new pipes, <100 miles on the odo, and with brand new leathers riding on top.
Yep, a fresh crop of mid-life-crisis riders are out with the first >60F weather. It's cute, sad, and funny all at the same time.
It's cute because of how much they over-invest in their bikes, just because they have the money. Like a brand new exhaust on this Yamaha I saw this past week on the FDR, when the rider should have known that a first bike like that is likely to get dropped, and so why would you invest in an exposed can as your first purchase?
It's sad because you can spot them immediately. They're the guys on 9A and the FDR scared out of their minds, holding a single line in the lane (not taking advantage of the full width of the lane), and usually riding in the center lane. Any city rider knows that the center highway lane is the most dangerous, and that the left lane is by far the safest. Even the scooters know this, for crying out loud!
It's also sad, because statistically speaking, there are a handful of these folks that won't make it through the summer without a serious accident. Likely caused by a combination of dulled reflexes, inexperience, and a big pot hole on West End between 73rd and 74th, heading South. You could have avoided it if you weren't driving in the oil-slicked middle of the lane, Mr. Saturday BMW driver... you know who you are.
And funny because of the all blacked out clothes they were, to become completely invisible to all traffic. What's the point? Why not just charge headlong into a cement highway divider, and save someone else the traumatic experience of hitting you from the rear because your black helmet, black jacket, and hidden license plate with fender eliminator and tiny little lights didn't stand out. No crud. To be fair, I did see a guy on the FDR recently with a white helmet, and a hi-viz jacket over his black jacket. And a couple where the woman in back hung a hiviz reflector pad over her back. Bravo to both of you. In the meantime, everyone else can tell me by the: white helmet, yellow pants, reflector pads, white jacket, extra rear blinking flashers, and additional headlights... and proud of it.
Yep, a fresh crop of mid-life-crisis riders are out with the first >60F weather. It's cute, sad, and funny all at the same time.
It's cute because of how much they over-invest in their bikes, just because they have the money. Like a brand new exhaust on this Yamaha I saw this past week on the FDR, when the rider should have known that a first bike like that is likely to get dropped, and so why would you invest in an exposed can as your first purchase?
It's sad because you can spot them immediately. They're the guys on 9A and the FDR scared out of their minds, holding a single line in the lane (not taking advantage of the full width of the lane), and usually riding in the center lane. Any city rider knows that the center highway lane is the most dangerous, and that the left lane is by far the safest. Even the scooters know this, for crying out loud!
It's also sad, because statistically speaking, there are a handful of these folks that won't make it through the summer without a serious accident. Likely caused by a combination of dulled reflexes, inexperience, and a big pot hole on West End between 73rd and 74th, heading South. You could have avoided it if you weren't driving in the oil-slicked middle of the lane, Mr. Saturday BMW driver... you know who you are.
And funny because of the all blacked out clothes they were, to become completely invisible to all traffic. What's the point? Why not just charge headlong into a cement highway divider, and save someone else the traumatic experience of hitting you from the rear because your black helmet, black jacket, and hidden license plate with fender eliminator and tiny little lights didn't stand out. No crud. To be fair, I did see a guy on the FDR recently with a white helmet, and a hi-viz jacket over his black jacket. And a couple where the woman in back hung a hiviz reflector pad over her back. Bravo to both of you. In the meantime, everyone else can tell me by the: white helmet, yellow pants, reflector pads, white jacket, extra rear blinking flashers, and additional headlights... and proud of it.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Riding a GSXR 1000 in NYC, Manhattan
I've had my Gixxer now for almost 9 months, and of course that means upwards of 9000 miles :) Most of those miles came from my cross country trip, and half of the remainder came from trips up to the Catskills and Adirondacks in the dead of winter. And the rest were logged in Manhattan.
So what's it like?
Image
Well, to begin with, people like me a whole lot less than when I had the Buell. There's something about people's knee-jerk reaction when they see a brightly colored "croth rocket" driving down the street. I'd say in general, that's not fun to deal with, but I get by.
Cruising
Someone once told me Manhattan's speed limit is 35 mph. Most of traffic goes around 45, with some crazies hitting 60 in straight avenues. Well, after 9 months, I now know what everyone means when they say, "you'll never leave 3rd gear". It's true, almost. 6th is for highway, and for getting 230 miles to the tank. 5th is for 9A, relatively straight riding. 4th gear is for the FDR, with a little more weaving traffic, and a greater need to change speed dramatically. 3rd is for 9A or the FDR, when I get a little nervous or anxious (like if there are lots of NJ BMWs around me). And I usually go between 1st and 2nd around the city. In truth, there's no reason to leave 2nd downtown, and 3rd on the highway. Up to 4000 rpms. That's ridiculous. In case there was any doubt, the answer is "no" - I don't use more than 10% of this bike's potential on a regular basis.
Handling
9 months, serviced twice, still turns like a charm. I was used to the Buell, which had high, wide handle-bars, so when I first got on the gixxer, I had some difficulty balancing sharp turns. But now that I've practiced, I'm just as good at turning small, tight circles as I was on the Buell. So it's not only possible, it's now second nature to me.
Braking
No complaints here. Sharp as a knife. Stops on a dime. Hydraulics and pads holding up perfectly after 9 solid months of rough stop-and-go.
Acceleration
There's no question about it - this motorcycle's gift is also it's curse. On the one hand, I can attest to 3 specific instances where the crazy acceleration of the 1000 got me out of tight spots (like a few weekend ago, when a cab was bearing down on my rear, and another cab decided to dart right - right into me). But on the other hand, I'm only in those positions to begin with because I'm on a motorcycle. So 6 of 1, half dozen of another. The morale of the story: if I'm going to be on a motorcycle, I want to be on a crazy fast one, for those times I need to get out of trouble in a hurry.
Overall
I've said it before, and I'll continue saying it. Riding a gixxer 1000 is like riding a scalpel. You cut from one place to the next. That's incredible, and for gixxer owners out there, you'll know what I mean when I refer to that insane 75% throttle whack on the highway that suddenly calms the bike as it moves into its power band, and suddenly the bike literally feels like it disappears out from underneath you. Simply amazing.
Yet somehow, something is still missing. It's too perfect, too clean, too sterile. It's all function, form, and perfection. It makes a BMW feel like a whale, a Buell feel childish, and a Ducati an unrefined drunken barman. But those characters are what I ride for... I'm leaning towards the inevitable evil: I need two bikes. The Suzuki is perfect for long rides through the countryside, out to Long Island, and back without and fear of breakdown, mechanical glitch, or hiccup. But the next bike, yet to be identified, will be for shorter rides, more adventurous flings, with a louder, growlier snare to it, and a bit more menace in the engine...
So what's it like?
Image
Well, to begin with, people like me a whole lot less than when I had the Buell. There's something about people's knee-jerk reaction when they see a brightly colored "croth rocket" driving down the street. I'd say in general, that's not fun to deal with, but I get by.
Cruising
Someone once told me Manhattan's speed limit is 35 mph. Most of traffic goes around 45, with some crazies hitting 60 in straight avenues. Well, after 9 months, I now know what everyone means when they say, "you'll never leave 3rd gear". It's true, almost. 6th is for highway, and for getting 230 miles to the tank. 5th is for 9A, relatively straight riding. 4th gear is for the FDR, with a little more weaving traffic, and a greater need to change speed dramatically. 3rd is for 9A or the FDR, when I get a little nervous or anxious (like if there are lots of NJ BMWs around me). And I usually go between 1st and 2nd around the city. In truth, there's no reason to leave 2nd downtown, and 3rd on the highway. Up to 4000 rpms. That's ridiculous. In case there was any doubt, the answer is "no" - I don't use more than 10% of this bike's potential on a regular basis.
Handling
9 months, serviced twice, still turns like a charm. I was used to the Buell, which had high, wide handle-bars, so when I first got on the gixxer, I had some difficulty balancing sharp turns. But now that I've practiced, I'm just as good at turning small, tight circles as I was on the Buell. So it's not only possible, it's now second nature to me.
Braking
No complaints here. Sharp as a knife. Stops on a dime. Hydraulics and pads holding up perfectly after 9 solid months of rough stop-and-go.
Acceleration
There's no question about it - this motorcycle's gift is also it's curse. On the one hand, I can attest to 3 specific instances where the crazy acceleration of the 1000 got me out of tight spots (like a few weekend ago, when a cab was bearing down on my rear, and another cab decided to dart right - right into me). But on the other hand, I'm only in those positions to begin with because I'm on a motorcycle. So 6 of 1, half dozen of another. The morale of the story: if I'm going to be on a motorcycle, I want to be on a crazy fast one, for those times I need to get out of trouble in a hurry.
Overall
I've said it before, and I'll continue saying it. Riding a gixxer 1000 is like riding a scalpel. You cut from one place to the next. That's incredible, and for gixxer owners out there, you'll know what I mean when I refer to that insane 75% throttle whack on the highway that suddenly calms the bike as it moves into its power band, and suddenly the bike literally feels like it disappears out from underneath you. Simply amazing.
Yet somehow, something is still missing. It's too perfect, too clean, too sterile. It's all function, form, and perfection. It makes a BMW feel like a whale, a Buell feel childish, and a Ducati an unrefined drunken barman. But those characters are what I ride for... I'm leaning towards the inevitable evil: I need two bikes. The Suzuki is perfect for long rides through the countryside, out to Long Island, and back without and fear of breakdown, mechanical glitch, or hiccup. But the next bike, yet to be identified, will be for shorter rides, more adventurous flings, with a louder, growlier snare to it, and a bit more menace in the engine...
Monday, February 4, 2008
Winter riding with a gixxer ... in the cold
I searched every forum out there, and couldn't find anything on riding a gixxer in the dead of New England winter, so here it goes:
It's wonderful.
First, as every hard core winter rider will tell you, you need enough power in the alternator to charge the battery, high beams, fancy flashers, heated gloves, and a heated jacket. The gixxer has more than enough power to handle all of the above and a little more - like maybe a second jacket, or a pair of heated pants (which I no longer use because I just bought better pants).
Second, the rumors of japanese bikes kicking it with cold weather are quite false. I've ridden in -20F on three occasions this past winter, and regularly went out in 0ish, with no oil or hydraulic troubles. So whoever started that myth, should know that it doesn't hold on a gixxer 1000 from 2007.
Third, and this is a big one... the gixxer's battery is battle hardened. It started up with no problems all winter long. I did leave it in zero weather for a month without riding, starting, and with a voltmeter plugged in that slowly drained the battery... and it died. On a Buell or modern day BMW, a dead battery would spell the end of the road, and you'd need a jump start and several minutes of idle charging to get back into charge (because the EFI and associated electronics need charge to work). But on the gixxer, I just bump-started it with 3 runs, and I was up and running. The Suzuki somehow charges fast enough for it not to be a problem... why all bikes aren't designed to start from a dead battery, I don't know. But thanks to Suzuki, the gixxer 1000 therefore makes the perfect dead-start winter bike.
The only recommendation I would have - though this is for any biker, really - is to invest in a thermometer and a voltmeter. I keep them connected all the time, just for mental health, more than anything.
It's wonderful.
First, as every hard core winter rider will tell you, you need enough power in the alternator to charge the battery, high beams, fancy flashers, heated gloves, and a heated jacket. The gixxer has more than enough power to handle all of the above and a little more - like maybe a second jacket, or a pair of heated pants (which I no longer use because I just bought better pants).
Second, the rumors of japanese bikes kicking it with cold weather are quite false. I've ridden in -20F on three occasions this past winter, and regularly went out in 0ish, with no oil or hydraulic troubles. So whoever started that myth, should know that it doesn't hold on a gixxer 1000 from 2007.
Third, and this is a big one... the gixxer's battery is battle hardened. It started up with no problems all winter long. I did leave it in zero weather for a month without riding, starting, and with a voltmeter plugged in that slowly drained the battery... and it died. On a Buell or modern day BMW, a dead battery would spell the end of the road, and you'd need a jump start and several minutes of idle charging to get back into charge (because the EFI and associated electronics need charge to work). But on the gixxer, I just bump-started it with 3 runs, and I was up and running. The Suzuki somehow charges fast enough for it not to be a problem... why all bikes aren't designed to start from a dead battery, I don't know. But thanks to Suzuki, the gixxer 1000 therefore makes the perfect dead-start winter bike.
The only recommendation I would have - though this is for any biker, really - is to invest in a thermometer and a voltmeter. I keep them connected all the time, just for mental health, more than anything.
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