Bikes, I hate bikes, they just don�t appeal to me, at all… but, I feel I must confess…
Today I stumbled across the Moto GP race from Le Mans, and I actually rather enjoyed it .
Now the multiple crashes probably helped matters somewhat, or maybe it was the �newness� of it all, but that was 28 laps of really top quality Motorsport.
Now, don�t get me wrong I�m most certainly not converted, but still, I think I may even try and watch the next one as well .
David
Uldis will be along in a minute…
MotoGP is some of the best racing out there. I’m not really interested in the pre/post race stuff, technology, riders even, but the fact you can see the skill and the closeness of the racing is top-notch. I rarely miss them. You get the odd more boring race but the fact that performance ebbs and flows through a race helps keep it interesting, and when you get the first four riders literally close to throw a blanket over in the final bends it’s very special.
Catch the LoT Elise Trophy on MotorsTV?
BTCC is also up there for exciting racing.
Ian
Catch the LoT Elise Trophy on MotorsTV?
If only, my mum won�t let me get Motors TV, although, in fairness, I can probably see why .
David
David,
Cars…I hate cars…been riding and racing bikes for the last 30 years…just recently I stumbled across a Clarkson commercial on a Lotus Exige S…so I bought one…not saying I am converted or anything…but I can see the point…see u guys at Oulton 25 or Castle Combe 26 May?
Take care
Cisco
Hey Cisco, and welcome!
Just wait �til you get your �S� on track, then we�ll see .
David
“Bikes, I hate bikes, they just don�t appeal to me, at all… but, I feel I must confess”
why say stuff like that, how can you HATE bikes ? Clarkson has a lot to answer for (cock that he is). I have owned several bikes (600 to 1000) and it really saddens me to hear people saying stuff like that. Also, the debates about which is quicker is irrelevant due to the fact that riding a bike flat out and driving a car flat out are two very different experiences and BOTH should be enjoyed by petrol heads. You cant quiet believe how fast a bike accelerates (non-millionaires) until you have ridden a 1000cc, they embarras Porshe turbos, etc (this is a fact and dont really want to have a debate about it). Then on the driving side - drifting a car is as close to a sexual experience without getting your nob out.
Oh yeah, MotoGP = best racing on planet earth.
I hate bikes too! Not bikers though I rode a bike once, after being a pillion a few times which I didn’t like either. But I got on a friends, started it, pulled off and knew straight away I could never get the bike thing so got off in a big hurry and would never sit on one again. I can see the appeal and understand why people enjoy them but for me I just don’t get it
But it’s the same with drifting in a car If I’ve lost traction then I’ve lost control, even controlling a slide is out of control for me and I hate the back end loosing grip. Does that make me an old fart? Suits me
You hate oversteer?!
Bikes are awesome! The technology is somewhat ahead of most cars - Just think where we’d all be if Rick Rackham hadn’t looked at the twin aluminium spars on a motorcycle frame and wondered if it would work on a cars scale.
As for the speed debate. What car could get round the full IOM TT faster than most bikes?
Don’t get me wrong I prefer cars ultimately but I refuse to even acknowledge a ‘them and us’ divide, let alone become part of it.
Can we not just all hate caravans together…
You hate oversteer?!
Can’t help myself If the backs not gripping all that power is shredding my tyres instead of moving me along faster! I know… not always the case I’m sure but I don’t like loosing control. What can I say? I’m a control freak!!
But in order to have maximum grip the tires should be slipping at their optimum slip-angle so some movement is good (and more fun, for most ).
Ian
By Moto GP standards the race at Le Mans was not as close as it can get. Although the weather played a big part in it…seeing bikes drifting/rear wheel steering under braking into corners at speeds well over 100mph is glorious stuff. I would think that even if bikes aren’t your thing, the skill involved cuold be appreciated by the average petrolhead.
Riding at the TT is just taking racing to another level. The Northwest 200 was also on TV over the weekend and road racing of this type has to be admired for the combination of skill and bravery.
Finally, i was at a trackday at Cadwell a few weeks ago and over lunch several hundred bikers turned up and ended up spectating for a while. i think the cars interested them and it certainly made a difference to the mountain section through to the hairpin seeing hundreds of faces as you whizzed by!
one thing, isnt drifting a car a sign of excellent car control ? Its not loosing control, its loosing grip in a controlled manner … or something equally tossy :O)
“I would think that even if bikes aren’t your thing, the skill involved cuold be appreciated by the average petrolhead.”
Totally agree …
Uldis will be along in a minute…
MotoGP is some of the best racing out there. I’m not really interested in the pre/post race stuff, technology, riders even, but the fact you can see the skill and the closeness of the racing is top-notch. I rarely miss them. You get the odd more boring race but the fact that performance ebbs and flows through a race helps keep it interesting, and when you get the first four riders literally close to throw a blanket over in the final bends it’s very special.
Catch the LoT Elise Trophy on MotorsTV?
BTCC is also up there for exciting racing.
Ian
Here I am, and yes, the best racing there is. Nothing so far has been able to compare to it, except recently WSB as well.
But I just read the first two posts, will not read any further, because I… didn’t actually watch yesterday’s race!
Had to do family errands (special wife request and missed it completely.
Shame, as I was looking forward to it, but hey, I’m not going to read any further, to avoid any spoilers.
Will watch the repeat tonight at 7:30
But in order to have maximum grip the tires should be slipping at their optimum slip-angle so some movement is good (and more fun, for most ).
Ian
You see! I had no idea tyres had a slip angle or were designed to not grip in order to get optimum grip. I can’t get a grip there’s too much science involved. You’ll be telling me next that my nodding dog is adding weight and slowing me down “Oh yes” Oh no!
Before I get a sunday driver reputation, I should say that I do actually appreciate the skill involved in drifting, holding a car at speed and in balance is an art and looks spectacular. But I’ve not had the opportunity to try anything like it and have no idea of the techniques involved. I cerainly couldn’t try on the public roads and I would assume a track is not the place for a novice to try, especially with cars behind you, so I imagine it will remain something for me to watch and wonder at.
As for bikes, the speed at which they lean into and go through corners and still find grip when almost horizontal just scares the hell outa me
Here�s the thing though, whilst I can certainly appreciate bikes (and the skill it takes to ride them � and bloody hell can some of those Moto GP boys ride). They just have no appeal to me, both from riding and a design perspective, I can stare at a beautiful car for hours, but a bike rarely gets much more than a cursory glance.
And whilst �hate�, is perhaps a bit strong, bikes, they just don�t appeal to me, but, and here�s the important bit, on a competitive level, bike racing, as I found out yesterday can be superb, and in my mind bikers have skill, (and balls) by the bucket loads, not least those Dakar boys.
At the end of the day, I think I �get� bikes, but they just don�t excite me in the same way cars do, who knows why, or even if it�ll change, but for now I think I�ll stick with the occasional Moto GP.
David
And probably live longer for it.
But I’ve not had the opportunity to try anything like it and have no idea of the techniques involved. I cerainly couldn’t try on the public roads and I would assume a track is not the place for a novice to try, especially with cars behind you, so I imagine it will remain something for me to watch and wonder at.
Do a Walshy day! - www.carlimits.com
On an airfield with nothing to hit and only one car moving at a time.
Even if you never use the techniques it’s great to learn them, it’ll undoubtedly make you a better/safer driver. It’s great fun too.
You’ve only got a few quid and a bit of rubber to lose.
Ian
Do a Walshy day! - > www.carlimits.com
On an airfield with nothing to hit and only one car moving at a time.
Even if you never use the techniques it’s great to learn them, it’ll undoubtedly make you a better/safer driver. It’s great fun too.
You’ve only got a few quid and a bit of rubber to lose.
Ian
Make that quite a few quid! But worth it I’d say, a pitty it’s in Essex though, I’ll have a look see if there’s anything similar in my area (doubtful) if not I may give it a try during the summer. Thanks for the link, I hadn’t realised these sort of events were available
not least those Dakar boys
St�phane Peterhansel - one of my heroes…
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