Wow, this is fast becoming a bitchfest....lol.

Talking from experience, riding in the dirt is different from riding on the road. But hey, those boys in Sturgis wayyy back rode those Harleys up them hills, and it sure looked like many of them were in street form. Not so sure I could do that, but I can ride a helluva mean dirt bike if given the chance. Sold my 360 Yamaha MX years back.

I guess this controversy, as it has grown to, is really pretty simple to figure. If a guy is good enough to ride without getting killed in this day and age, he or she must be doing something right. If that's the case, and they're still having a gas riding, so be it.....lets just ride. And be safe, all of ya.

 

Im not that young [thats why im xracer] im also in my mid 40s, done almost every aspect of riding at expert or higher rating from amateur roadracing, pro mx, did flat track a few times when a buddy got hurt, Ive been hurt hundreds of times before and will get hurt again. if motorcycles were easy everyone would ride them! although my competitive days are behind me I still use the skills i honed when I ride today. But after doing the different styles of riding the techniques will and do relate to each other. And Im not a fan of SOME of the training classes, but it is better than nothing and I do understand not everyone starts on a motorcycle before a bicycle but there are some of us out here. I do get tired of these text book answers from todays riders, I firmly believe that taking a course or watching safety dvds wont you make you better unless you PRACTICE untill it becomes instinct! If you want to improve your balance and braking I strongly recommend renting or borrow a trail bike and go trail riding [even slow offroad riding] uneven ground, differnt landscapes like ruts,mud,trees, rocks, creeks etc. everything is exaggerated like brake control, throttle,etc. This also teaches you how to anticipate trouble and makes you more aware. And to the guy who wants me to ride my harley like a dirtbike, I dont need too. Its already been done [remember evel kneival]

 

I never said dirt and road was the same.....it's very different.

Let me put it this way, if both bikes are on pavement, both bikes will respond the same way to user input. The smaller bike will respond easier and faster, but both will do the same thing.

 

I agree - provisionally. Weight, HP, weight bias, HP/gross weight, brakes, rider weight/bike weight, all affect how the bike will react to rider input, i.e. different bikes react differently to a given input.

Example, drifting a Supermoto around a paved corner vs the same corner with a touring bike. At low speeds same input. Higher speeds, not so much. Back to the steering with throttle thing. Granted, 99.9 don't use that input on pavement. Splitting hairs on a Sunday night.

 

My autorotation skills have greatly improved ! . . . oh yeah , and my colesteral is down

 

Helicopters don't fly, they beat the air into submission......

 

I'm not

 

I see 1 and 2 more as an indication of someone who's just very used to that particular bike.

Experienced rider to me is always relaxed and at ease with his/her machine.

 

We can tell who has never owned a sporty.

 

that's an asshat comment......