Your Biggest Flaw

[KrackerJack]

I'm sure if you think about, you can come up with your worst riding habit. Mine now is actually coming to a stop (most likely due to inexperience) If I keep poppin a small endo (even on accident) I know someones gonna plow into me.

[OreoGaborio]

hmm.... i really can't think of anything i do or don't do that's really a big deal... probably just ride w/ gear that doesn't fit right.... i'm workin on that one

[bigred875]

I could stand to be a little smoother....If I'm not riging fast I don't really make an effort to stay smooth

[oreo_n2]

splitting lanes and passing like a yahoo.

[HBerry]

Due to lack of experience...slowing down way to much for turns.

[odduc]

I sometimes get a little abrupt with my upshifting. I have to keep reminding myself, during those times, that I am not on the track and I can afford to be a little slower and smoother.

Is that why my clutch fluid always turns black?

[stoinkythepig]

My biggest flaw is the tendancy to roll of the gas mid corner if the bike slides a bit. I KNOW I'm not supposed to do that but my survival instinct keeps making me do it.

Originally posted by lrrs167


Is that why my clutch fluid always turns black?

They all do that. It's because large amounts of fluid (when compared to brakes) change places with every squeeze of the lever. The hot (dark and cloudy) fluid from the slave cylinder down by the engine gets routinely mixed with the cold (and clear) fluid up in the reservoir. Does not take long for it all to become dark. On the brake side, the actaul amount of fluid that moves when you apply the brakes is quite small, the lever mostly just increases pressure so the hot fluid always stays down by the calipers and the cold fluid is always in the reservoir (until you change pads).

[stoinkythepig]

Originally posted by Mystery Squid
Interesting... Then why has my clutch reservoir fluid been exactly the same color (or at least very close) for two years now, versus my front brake reservoir, which is noticibly darker in comparison? I would imagine the configuration on my bike probably keeps the clutch fluid temp. relatively consistent...

Never seen that before. Do you have a remote reservoir for the clutch or is it built into the master cylinder? I can see how the fluid in a remote reservoir may not change color with a clutch but could change color with brakes if new pads were recently installed.

[Kham]

Originally posted by bigred875
I could stand to be a little smoother....If I'm not riging fast I don't really make an effort to stay smooth

ditto!

[stoinkythepig]

Originally posted by Mystery Squid
Are you considering a "remote" reservoir being a set up exactly like that of the front brake reservoir, whereas the reservoir is mounted directly above the master cylinder? If so, then yes, I have a remote reservoir. I was under the impression this set up was more typical, as this is how I've seen it on many bikes...

That's what I meant. Most bikes that I have seen with hydraulic clutches have all the fluid in a rather unattractively large master cylinder that's cast in an unlovely shape and stuck on the handlebars. Those are the ones I was referring to in my first post on the subject.

I'll take a cable any time. Don't have to bleed a cable, they are cheap and easy to replace (I carry a spare under my passenger seat), and they never leak.

[stoinkythepig]

Originally posted by Mystery Squid
Then it appears you answered LRRS's post under the assumption he has an atypical setup. Did I miss something, maybe you know his particular bike has the master cylinger somewhere exposed to heat?

No, the assumption on my part was that it was a typical setup. I suspect your setup is atypical. I may have made a poor assumption (or two) either way though. Regardless, I did explain why his fluid is dark and I still believe I was accurate in that regard.

It's the slave cylinder that's exposed to heat, since it's bolted right to the engine case.

[lopycam]

I can't seem to keep the front tire on the ground when accelerating. I also have trouble keeping the rear tire on the ground when stopping.


Nathan

[OreoGaborio]

Originally posted by lopycam
I can't seem to keep the front tire on the ground when accelerating. I also have trouble keeping the rear tire on the ground when stopping.


Nathan

yeah i noticed that on the ride this past sunday

speakin of which... you were ridin right behind me... can ya think of any tips for me?

[stoinkythepig]

Originally posted by Mystery Squid
Well, I do know that my clutch line terminates at the engine case, whether or not there's a slave cylinder there, I do not know...

There is. Has to be.

[stoinkythepig]

Originally posted by Mystery Squid
Well, then my set up is like his, yet my fluid has not changed color. Noticably anyways, whereas my brake fluid is definitely dark...

I bet the fluid is dark inside the master cylinder, you just can't see it because the remote reservoir on your bike is the only transparent/translucent part of the system. The fuid tranfer may not make it all the way to the reservoir so that fluid remains clear and cool. If lrrs167 does not have a remote reservoir, his master cylinder will have little window for checking the lever and within that little window, the dark fluid will be apparent.

Have you ever changed your brake pads? That'll push dark fluid way up into the reservoir as the pistons are pushed back into the calipers to make room for the new pads. If not, you may have some water in the brake system. That'll make it dark too.

[benVFR]

Lately my flaws have been:

- Lax on pre-ride inspection as I never find anything wrong and the tires on the VFR don't even seem to lose pressure

- Riding way too fast at night a few times

- Lax on gear on the way to work although I am still more anal about gear than 99% of people. I'm basically beating myself up for not throwing on my riding pants for the 3 mile ride to work where I'm lucky to go 35mph.

Ben

[tooks954]

-rushed pre-ride inspection

-yelling at pillion for moving around when I am riding

-cursing at cagers who cut me off while talking on their cellular phones.

[OreoGaborio]

thank you ben & tooks.... FOR GETTING US BACK ON THE FUCKING TOPIC

to MS & Stoinky.... :

and now that i've just got back in from a little jaunt i have plenty of flaws to mention.... but then again, i've only been riding my bike less than two months.... i'll learn

- rushed pre-ride inspection
- not as smooth as i should be
- not as smooth as i should be
- not as smooth as i should be
- sometimes (rarely) notice my blinker has been on for 1/2 a mile
- if there's one piece of gear i don't wear all the time it's my work boots... or my gloves (but they're super cheap & shitty anyway... won't protect much)
- need to learn how to take better care of my bike & actually do it
- sometimes i catch myself not leaning into a turn when i should (letting the bike ride me)

i'm sure there's more... but i'm still learnin

[stoinkythepig]

oh yeah, the blinkers. I leave mine on all the time. They should make the iindicators more obvious on the dash. Those pale green lights fail to catch my attention.

[HBerry]

Lockhart makes one that is rediculously bright to tell you the blinker is on.

[stoinkythepig]

Originally posted by HBerry
Lockhart makes one that is rediculously bright to tell you the blinker is on.

I'll look into that. Wonder if it'll interfere with my Shrek bobble head action figure mounted to my brake fluid reservoir? Can't have that.

[HBerry]

Blinker Light Thingy Here

[stoinkythepig]

Neat idea but for $55, I'll continue to look like a (bigger) dork now and then.

[HBerry]

Hey I never said it was a wise investment, I just said it existed.

[stoinkythepig]

Originally posted by HBerry
Hey I never said it was a wise investment, I just said it existed.

Nope and yep. Not your fault they think it's very dear. Thank you for pointing it out. Were I wealthier, I'd have one in heartbeat.