I'm impressed - GL1800 on the Dragon

[eljeffe]

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/d3e1dedd-48f8-4493-a2d4-ee14addca774.htm

[sanjaun2]

I agree, Mighty impressive. The only downside of that bike is that the saddle bag bottoms have been groung off!

[rkirker]

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/d3e1dedd-48f8-4493-a2d4-ee14addca774.htm

He defiantly rides like he stole it :D
Man does he throw that thing wonder what the bags and under side look like after that. Sound like the guy with the camera was doing a few grinds himself.

[Florian]

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/d3e1dedd-48f8-4493-a2d4-ee14addca774.htm

Camera guy took some really bad lines into the turns.....surprised he stayed upright.


F

[jorawro]

And now for the rest of the story ---- Joe was out touring on his GT and a guy with a 'Wing (that he met at a local gas stop) asked him "I just bought this thing and it doesn't seem to handle real well --- would you mind trying it out to see what you think". Now Joe being Joe ----------:)

[airborneod]

For what it's worth...I now ride a LT!

[UltraLT]

I'm impressed that he got a clean run. No traffic held him up. Not a bad ride at all.

Ultra LT

Riding is life. All else is just waiting.

[RS6654]

I'm pretty sure that's Yellow Wolf.

Yellow Wolf Video's (http://www.yellowwolfvideos.com/)

[tmgs]

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/d3e1dedd-48f8-4493-a2d4-ee14addca774.htm


wasn't that the 1000 in 24hr on the gap run?

Tom

[hoog62]

wasn't that the 1000 in 24hr on the gap run?

Tom

He's the guy, but that video is about a year old, I believe. He has since sold the Wing to spend some time in the dirt with his kids. As a local, he probably has as many miles on The Dragon as anyone over the last couple years. Many videos around with him doggin' the shit out of folks who had him record their ride through the gap. One of the guys on another board said he couldn't get into a rhythm at first because that big yellow bitch was right on his tail.

[ahpd1992]

That video is over a year old and I have seen the Yellow Wolf at the gap. It has got to be one of the coolest gl1800's you'll ever see. BTW aside from making videos Wolf also made sure the dragon stayed safe. Last June as I was careening through a hairpin I looked ahead only to see Wolf on his yellow wing with the hazards on going real slow and warning everyone to slow down. Not wanting to tempt fate me n my riding buddies slowed way down. As we entered the next blind corner lo and behold Mr Semi was coming through the gap mid afternoon on a sunny saturday. If not for Wolf the truck woulda taken out a few of us at least. When I got to the other side I was told Wolf flagged the trucker down and offered up the escort which thankfully the trucker was more than willing to take. Yellow Wolf definately saved me n my buddies, probably a few more.

Tom

[jayjacobson]

I'm impressed - GL1800 on the Dragon

WOW!

[kdog]

Not to be a wet blanket, but I'd be more impressed if he stayed in his lane.

http://www.jacara.com/lt/ontheline.jpg

He rides quite a bit on both the yellow and white lines in that video. I'm surprised he hasn't slipped on a wet line yet, or got taken out by somebody coming the other way who's over the line as well.

Regards,
-joel

[jayjacobson]

Not to be a wet blanket, but I'd be more impressed if he stayed in his lane. He rides quite a bit on both the yellow and white lines in that video. I'm surprised he hasn't slipped on a wet line yet, or got taken out by somebody coming the other way who's over the line as well.
I would imagine that would slow speeds just a bit.

I found out that my reaction time to that vehicle coming the opposite direction was not as fast as I thought it would be--and ended up replacing my saddle box lid because a utility truck "kissed" it ($400)!

Guess we won't be doing that again!

[kdog]

I would imagine that would slow speeds just a bit.


Bingo. My attitude is that if you can't stay within the lines, then you're out of control and need to slow down. That applies to cars, trucks, motorcycles, you name it. IMHO, this rider is out of control.

I found out that my reaction time to that vehicle coming the opposite direction was not as fast as I thought it would be--and ended up replacing my saddle box lid because a utility truck "kissed" it ($400)!


Add in another $20 for new underwear as well, huh? ;)
Seriously, glad you lived to tell about it.

Guess we won't be doing that again!
I'll bet not.

Take care,
-joel

[Motomadman]

Most of us have our favorite roads to ride and we know them like the back of our own hands. Mine is Mulholland dr.above Malibu. I know when to use the whole road and when not to after riding it since 1972....Seems like the Yellow Wolf has been on The Dragon for quite sometime as well.

[kdog]

Uh-huh. And what about the guy who doesn't know the road coming wide the other way?

Using the whole lane is one thing. This guy's on the line (which is dangerous in itself), and so his bike is leaning fully into the oncoming lane. That's a major no-no. There's a ton of scenarios where that can be fatal -- and not just to our winger friend. What happens when the poser Harley rider and his wife come around the corner with his old-lady on the back. Sees a gold wing coming wide over the line and panics. Either target-fixates and hits him square, or dumps his bike. But hey, what does old Mr. Safety care.

I have my roads that I know like the back of my hand and ride fast just like anybody else. However, I get my kicks by doing it while staying in the lines where I'm not a danger to myself or anybody else. Try it. It's a lot harder than using both sides of the road to go fast, and it's better practice as well.

Regards,
-joel

[rlv]

What you may not know or understand, is that the Dragon winds around the curving mountain over in that area. There are a lot of areas along that stretch of road where you can look across the valley or thru the tree's to the road coming down the other side to see if there is any traffic coming the opposite way. If there is no traffic coming the other way, they will ride harder into the curve, while taking up the oncoming lane to make the curve even faster. There are a bunch of those guy's over there that are really good, and I do mean good. So what I am trying to say is, that with being able to view the flow of the on coming traffic way around the next curve kinda takes a lot of the danger out of it, to yourself and to others.

[Steve_R]

Hey Joel, He's not the only one having trouble staying in his lane. Click. (http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/OrderPage.aspx?pi=04RK007J0O0099&po=100&c=) :o

[jayjacobson]

Add in another $20 for new underwear as well, huh?
Seriously, glad you lived to tell about it. I'll bet not.

Take care,
-joel
Actually, underwear were ok! Just a little scrape--not riding real crazy or anything. But, $400 for the lid drove the point home!

[jayjacobson]

Hey Joel, He's not the only one having trouble staying in his lane.

Was not over the center line--just a little to close to it!

[kdog]

Hey Joel, He's not the only one having trouble staying in his lane. Click. (http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/OrderPage.aspx?pi=04RK007J0O0099&po=100&c=) :o

Nice shot. Is that you? This picture really drives home an important point. While your tires may still be on your side of the road, the lean of the bike can still put you square into the oncoming lane. The rider's body in that shot is entirely in the opposite lane.

On the other hand, this shot shows what another member was saying. The rider has clear visibility through the turn so there's no danger from approaching traffic.

Cheers,
-joel

[kdog]

So what I am trying to say is, that with being able to view the flow of the on coming traffic way around the next curve kinda takes a lot of the danger out of it, to yourself and to others.

That's true. I do it myself on occassion. I've crossed the line myself on occassion just to avoid some nasty pavement on my side of the road. There are some funky roads out here in AZ.

I kind of question the point of doing an entire run that way though. Since the rider's clipping the corners, why not just take up both lanes and really straighten out the curves?

Personally, I think it's much more interesting to go fast while keeping me and the bike within the lines. It's great practice. So many riders these days get so used to clipping corners that it seems they can't ride at any spirited pace without doing it. You see it all the time in fast group rides. Half the riders are clipping corners to keep up, and that's an indicator to me they're in over their heads. And it's really annoying to have these guys approach from the oppositive direction while technically in your lane. I guess it's a pet peave of mine. Like I say, I'd be more impressed if the rider in this video was riding almost this fast without clipping corners. That shows a lot more street skill to me. And that's what it's really all about.

Cheers,
-joel

[Steve_R]

Yep it's me. That's the reason for this :o following the comments. I was really embarrassed when I saw it on Killboy. But at least it makes a point. If it had been wet that day, I could have had a pucker factor moment. Thank God it was dry.

[kdog]

Well, now you don't have to be embarassed any more. You're in good company, as evidenced by the fact that 9 out of 10 riders in this thread seem very impressed with that line. ;)

Cheers,
-joel

[killboy]

Hey folks! Glad we could be there to give ya something to talk about during the cold season. ;)

That's a tough turn to stay out wide on. It starts out blind and a little open looking, but it has a late apex point that is slightly tighter than the entrance. Combine that with the fact it visually opens up half way through, letting you see where you will be going, and it tends to draw 99% of the people tight to the center line. I still have a hard time staying out wide too.

It's a good spot to shoot for a couple of reasons though. Mainly it's an awesome backdrop that really showcases the curves, but also serves as a gentle reminder that we all need to work on our lines. We don't generally say anything to people who hug a little tight right there at the end, we figure you'll probably see it yourself and that's that. We just gripe on the ones who come into that blind turn clearly in the wrong lane from the get-go. :eek:

Lookin' forward to the 2007 season though...hope to see some of ya out there!

Best Regards,
Darryl Cannon
www.killboy.com

[messenger13]

Hey Darryl, welcome to the site. :)

I'm actually way more into the Cherohala Skyway than the Dragon. Guess I'm just addicted to triple-digits. :p Besides the last time I rode the Dragon, it was at night in the freakin' rain! Yes, I'm a moron! But...I didn't have much of a choice. I was headed to the Iron Horse and got in the area later than I thought I would. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

You've taken pics of me doing the Dragon on 3 separate bikes, and you do one heck of a job! Keep up the great work! Will I be seeing you at the bike show in Cleveland, Ohio?

[killboy]

Thanks messenger! I love the Dragon at night, but not in the rain unless it's in the car. It is spooky though...and really helps to have it memorized. ;)

No AMS shows for us this winter, sorry. Maybe next time.

[jayjacobson]

....we all need to work on our lines....

Yup! My lines are always crooked--especially the straight ones.

[hschisler]

Welcome, Darryl.

It's cool to see Killboy here. We sure spend enough time on your site. :D

[grifscoots]

Welcome, Darryl.

It's cool to see Killboy here. We sure spend enough time on your site. :D

Indeed, Darryl. My favorite pic of us that you took, you could see my wife's white knuckle's through her gloves.

All of us blow our line's, I don't care who you are, it happens. What matters is learning about it and living to snipe other's line's.

[Steve_R]

Well, since I posted the link to that picture you took of me riding so poorly, I'll have to go back to site and order it. Sheesh!! ;) :D Glad to have you guys here. :thumb:

[killboy]

Well, since I posted the link to that picture you took of me riding so poorly, I'll have to go back to site and order it. Sheesh!! ;) :D Glad to have you guys here. :thumb:

Yep, that's how they get ya! ;)

[UncleRock]

Hey Darryl
Welcome,
If you hear any whiner's remember we have a bike named the K-whiner :D .
Success breeds envy, you have done well! :cool:
Rock (AKA Unclerock Cyclesource Magazine, Tail in the Hail)
PS Way back a zillion pictures ago, (Before the Tail became a Mecca) we were talking cameras, I'm still using that same set up. (So is Fast Fred's Motorcycle Ezine)

[killboy]

Hey Rock,

Yeah I remember ya! Hope all is going well. ;)