Average Harley Davidson rider

[De Graaf van Salland]

Have a look at this video of a Harley rider who makes a beginners-mistake:
He suddenly finds out that the bend in the road is a bit sharper that he anticipated and he hits the brakes hard.
If only he had looked where he was going and tilted the bike a bit more (I know... difficult with a Harley) then he would have gone around the bend without a problem.

I wonder why the people in the car (who filmed it) don't get out of the car to help the poor guy. Or is it because there are too many Harley-riders (Hell's angels ?) around ?

Have fun, but don't do this yourself !!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=whVXD3ex9DA

[rj2para (Bisto)]

oops

Have to say I think they should have stopped as well.

Nice set of bends but with a 30 limit it could be frustrating if not expensive with all the radar guns about.

[McF]

I've driven this road (in an SUV) (don't recognise specifically from the video). My sister lives in Raleigh North Carolina and every couple of years we holiday over there and I drag the tribe on a road trip.

The road follows the Little Tennessee River in the Smoky Mountains. It's a magnet for tourists (and I was one of them!), sunday drivers and bikers by their thousands.

There are over 100 bends, many of them quite tight and tricky, in circa 20 miles. It's heavily policed and very little tolerance for any infringements.

The driver and occupants of this vehicle were pathetic - 30 seconds of silence, then the first real comment made was "they're going to beat our asses" - where did that come from
The closing comment was "I'd have pulled over if there had been a spot"
I might be wrong, but if he had looked left as he was saying that, there appears to be a large turn in to the woods. He could have pulled in there, hazards on and someone at the side of the road to slow oncoming traffic.
A simple window down and "anything I can do to help" would have been useful.

Another excellent road to check out if you're ever in that area is the Blueridge Parkway / Skyline Drive - 500 miles through the Blue Ridge Mountains - but it's a 35 mph speed limit! To be fair, the scenery / experience is wonderful, you don't really want to go much faster and it's a route through a National Park, rather than a road to anywhere.

[De Graaf van Salland]

All right ! here the sequence: same road, but different motorbike & rider.

I've always considered that Big Harley's and Honda Goldwings handle more or less the same way.
After all, a Goldwing is nothing more than a big limo that's lost two wheels (is it ?!?)

Here a guy that proves me wrong:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nrMQ3QwyPo

Again: don't try this yourself

[rj2para (Bisto)]

OMG

Sounded like the camera man was grounding his bike on every bend, and he almost came of the road trying to keep up. Respect to them both for a mad ride to show what those bikes can do.

I saw one with Yank cops performing on the flat round cones, but not that fast.

R.

[McF]

Holy cow Batman

Seriously fast and competent

I hope he had his c0cktail cabinet drawer firmly closed

[McF]

and the other thing I meant to mention

Hands up anyone who was moving their head and leaning over while they watched the video

I've got both of mine in the air!