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[guest7]

With Mr Rossi finally gaining the world championship. my thoughts have been with bike racing.

I pondered the issue of style. My personal choice for most stylish rider would be Bob McIntyre (although Geoff Duke comes close). Bob Mac was always tucked in and never looked ruffled, but went like the clappers.

Do you think the current 'look' of bike racing has the same appeal? Is a picture of Rossi dragging his knee as aesthetically pleasing as, say, Hailwood leaning it over with his knees firmly clamped to the tank? There's no disputing the excitement of seeing a rider throwing a bike around and climbing all over the thing, but I'd say it's rarely beautiful.

If we open this up to include our own road riding, do you think the hang-off brigade sometimes miss the point? Following somebody like club members Steve Hayward and Jethro is a delight, they make smooth rapid progress with no fuss and drama. They don't move much on the bike, but they ride with precision, which must be just as satisfying as getting your knee down.

I guess there are always two ways to ride. Think of a slippery muddy hill with rocks on it. Picture an enduro rider tackling the obstacle and then think of how a trials rider would do it. For me the former would be exciting, but the latter would be more pleasing to watch.

Cheers
GC

[Andy M]

I'd take the smooth style every time, but you have to think there are a number of options out there. Rossi with a bit of practice on Geoff Dukes bike, would I think still be fast. Not sure how he'd ride it, but you'd wonder given the tyres and power he'd go for smooth and steady. I don't recall as much of the full on modern style when he was on a 125? They say a good rider can get very close to their best lap without using the brakes or any real leaning off, the acrobatics only add the last bit. I'd also guess Geoff Duke on a modern bike, in form with a bit of practice might adopt the newer style to get the last bit of performance that the technology allows?

Road riders to me should keep something in reserve. The best riders then will make smooth progress.

At the other end of the scale we have Mr. Bought-the-sliders-because-they-match-my-leathers/hair/make up. Leaning off, knee down, braking like ******y with the bike totally upright to take a 30 mph mini roundabout really doesn't show very much skill. It really only causes amusement when said 160 mph bike is passed by old boys on 25 year old bikes, but perhaps we should be worried rather than taking the ****?

Andy

[andy230]

I'm out from under my rock!

Do you think the current 'look' of bike racing has the same appeal? Is a picture of Rossi dragging his knee as aesthetically pleasing as, say, Hailwood leaning it over with his knees firmly clamped to the tank? There's no disputing the excitement of seeing a rider throwing a bike around and climbing all over the thing, but I'd say it's rarely beautiful.

Aye, but they're not dragging their knee all the time.  I was at Cadwell at the weekend, and the supermono riders were going thru hall bends and into the hairpin as quick as you like, but not all were on the deck.  And the fast boys were defnately smooth.

similarly, the lansdowne classic riders (Manx's, 7Rs, G50s et al) still had their knee down (or at least way out in the breeze) when it mattered.

Is this not still beautiful??   (sorry, crap with pasting pics!)  www.manx.co.uk/team/riders.htm

At the other end of the scale we have Mr. Bought-the-sliders-because-they-match-my-leathers/hair/make up. Leaning off, knee down, braking like ******y with the bike totally upright to take a 30 mph mini roundabout really doesn't show very much skill. It really only causes amusement when said 160 mph bike is passed by old boys on 25 year old bikes, but perhaps we should be worried rather than taking the ****?

True Andy, but I still slide off the skorpion seat (not dragging a knee mind) round favourite roundabouts, and for that matter stick a foot our forwards on the DR doing the same.  Yes its a bit of a d'ckhead thing to do, but ridings meant to be fun right?  (As long as its safe- subjective point I know). 

However, I do like to clock guys' sliders at the lights.  Brand new ones to match the 8k bike are always good!     And I do tend to look at his tyres too as these dont always tell the same story as his sliders (that have maybe had a grinder taken to them?!   Invariably he then hoofs it off the lights....

Ok, I'm away back under my rock, to update the (woefully inadequate) blog...

a

[Steve Lake]

well, being old enough to have seen duke, surtees and hailwood race at silverstone and elsewhere (wherever me dad decided to take me in the sidecar  ) My preference for sheer style and performance would be Hailwood.

The first of the 'knee down' boys to attract my attention was good old Stavros

Today you have to admire Rossi's style, but I probably favour Vermeulen for smooth stylish rapid progress.

Me? i'm too stiff to get anything out or down these days, anyway...I take great delight in riding round guys on trackday missiles whilst staying 'tucked up'...and on skinny little tyres..

Had to laugh last year at Snetterton on a trackday...a guy was begging the instructor to show him how to get his knee down.....and, in the first session after lunch, hanging off by his toenails he finally managed it.
He also managed it in the second session, but unfortunately the knee was closely followed by his elbow, shoulder and helmet....bent bike damaged ego....was it worth it

And......on the 'bikesafe' police course i did a few years back I didn't see any of the instructors doing any knee antics.....and i reckon i can scratch round our norfolk lanes fairly well, but they left us for dead on the way home on the sunday...smooth as silk

Hey Andy.....how'd it go at Cadwell??

[andy230]

Hey Andy.....how'd it go at Cadwell??

It was quiet!  I was only playing a supporting role  **can you feel this man's shame??!**.  Great racing (last of the season, pembrey is cancelled), but the paddock was as good as ever.

Ash sorted me out with an R6 caliper and (Honda) RS125 master cylinder.  Top bloke, will post some piccies.

I'll have to get a bracket made to allow the caliper to fit the KR1S forks.  Its a radial caliper... (bullsh't road "bling", but I'll bet it works!).  And I got (single) 320mm disks, like yours (previously had 2x 300mm).

CNC bracket is coming from here-->http://www.motorcycle-performance-parts.com/   a friend of ash.

cheers

a

[Paulgertie]

I wonder if the foot off the inside peg going into the corner is going to happen with the road bikers?

[Andy M]

Saw a bloke riding something orange and loud do it last week. Thought he was a muppet. Are you telling me he was a muppet copying something he saw on the telly?

Monkey see, Monkey do eh.

Andy