Superbikes, Stresses and Strains
Hi folks. Yesterday I took a stroll through the paddock and caught up with a few of the boys for a chat and a catch up.
I spent some time with Keith Amor and we got chatting about his superbike and how it compares to his superstocks. He was telling me about how the superbike is filling the road down the straights, whereas he feels he could ride his stocker with no hands on the bars.
The superbike is all singing, all dancing, with Factory swinging arm, Works Showa shock and £12,000 worth of front forks but still it won't handle, so his plan is to set it up as close to the stocker as possible and ditch the fancy forks for a set that is re-valued by K-Tech at a mere £2,000. I'll have to remember to grab a word with him tonight during qualifying to see if it's working.
Another thing some of the guys were saying was how tired and sore their upper bodies were from the battering they took from the combination of the buffeting of the wind and the heavy breaking forces they endure at the end of the big, long straights.
You would think that, having such long straights, they could release a bit on the bike, but not in speeds in excess of 190mph, and also, they have to concentrate so hard for so long, and when you have three or four bikes that you're practicing on, that translates to nearly two hours of riding. Just as well that most of the guys out there are as fit as most athletes!
Comment number 1.
At 15th May 2009, brendaover wrote:Stephen,
I'm glued to the ´óÏó´«Ã½ on my 15" Pye in my large static in Juniper Hill. I've never missed a Newsline and only really watch the NW200 because you are all over the TV when it's on. Your're a wee cracker and i sometimes have trouble holding me tea.
Brenda Over
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