WOOF'S MOTORCYCLE PAGES...
Monday, January 29, 2007
Great idea, or the worst idea in modern motorcyledom?
This part was installed on a custom bike I saw on display at the Oklahoma City Motorcycle Show and Swap Meet a few weekends ago. It's a combination brake/sprocket. At first I thought, "Wow! What a great idea!" It would save weight, and allow for a cleaner looking rear end.
Seconds later, I pondered the reason that bike manufacturers and MotoGP teams could possibly have for not installing them as standard equipment: Chains need lube. Lube/gunk accumulates on sprocket. What's usually a non-issue for most chain-driven bikes could possibly become a slippery, unsafe mess when it meets a disc brake surface. Given that a lot of chopper folks seem to like the clean look of a bike with no front brake, it seems to me that this part could contribute to a catastrophe under the right conditions. I predict that you'll be able to spot the bikers that install these from the well-ground heels of their boots. ¶ 7:03 PM 6 comments
This part was installed on a custom bike I saw on display at the Oklahoma City Motorcycle Show and Swap Meet a few weekends ago. It's a combination brake/sprocket. At first I thought, "Wow! What a great idea!" It would save weight, and allow for a cleaner looking rear end.
Seconds later, I pondered the reason that bike manufacturers and MotoGP teams could possibly have for not installing them as standard equipment: Chains need lube. Lube/gunk accumulates on sprocket. What's usually a non-issue for most chain-driven bikes could possibly become a slippery, unsafe mess when it meets a disc brake surface. Given that a lot of chopper folks seem to like the clean look of a bike with no front brake, it seems to me that this part could contribute to a catastrophe under the right conditions. I predict that you'll be able to spot the bikers that install these from the well-ground heels of their boots. ¶ 7:03 PM 6 comments
Less sport, more tourer...
Firstly, can I mention how absolutely lovely riding conditions in central Illinois have been this winter? Between the first week of December and the 16th of January, I think there was only one day that I had to drive a car to work.
Secondly, I've finally gotten around to posting a photo of my bike with its new saddlebags semi-mounted. They're Nelson-Rigg Spheres, complete with all mounting straps and rain bags, and they cost me the unbelievably low sum of $46.00. I can, as I promised the wife, fit a 20lb bag of Tidy Cat into each of 'em. ¶ 6:54 PM 3 comments
Firstly, can I mention how absolutely lovely riding conditions in central Illinois have been this winter? Between the first week of December and the 16th of January, I think there was only one day that I had to drive a car to work.
Secondly, I've finally gotten around to posting a photo of my bike with its new saddlebags semi-mounted. They're Nelson-Rigg Spheres, complete with all mounting straps and rain bags, and they cost me the unbelievably low sum of $46.00. I can, as I promised the wife, fit a 20lb bag of Tidy Cat into each of 'em. ¶ 6:54 PM 3 comments
