OK, so , 1st I must preface this with the fact that I still have a very new feeling to the whole motorcycling thing - so my confidence level hasn't been what it could or should; at least riding hard in the twisties - and yesterday, I was on my way back out onto Route 22 (yes, my fave) and had the camera on board actually looking backward past my right leg from the fork tube ready to make another pass just to have some fun and get some potentially cool shots from the camera.
Well, as I started slowing down to stop where I would to start the camera up, I see in my rearview several solo lights - I stopped what I was doing, hit 2nd and WOT! I didn't know what was behind me or who or how many, all I knew was that the last time I was on 22, a couple of sportbikers blew my doors off (I know - no doors) anyway, I pressed pretty hard into a couple of turns and made it pretty difficult to get by me. The front two did and they reminded me of the guys who ran me down last time - full leathers all racing apparel, VERY serious and VERY quick back and forth through the curves. The next guy amazed the hell out of me... in my rearview, all I could make out was the chrome forks, it was a standard bike - HE passed me and was keeping pace with the front two AND he had a HUGE bag on his tank and a HUGE bag on his seat behind him! Looked like he was going camping or something! Well, the next guy was on what looked like a 600 of some sort - GSX, CBR, I don't know. But I finally let him pass and started tailing him. And keeping up. He would pull away hard on the straights but there are almost none of those on this road, and though I still don't have the road memorized, it was easily to follow him at speed because I could see where he was headed whenever he topped the hills so I knew which way to set up for on the next turn. Every set of curves, I actually had to be careful not to run up on him too fast!
He would rocket away and by the next curve I would be hitting the brakes or downshifting to keep from overtaking him. It was great!
Keep in mind, this is the same road that is in the videos I put up several weeks ago.
We were averaging 70 mph plus most of the way with the exception of the really tight curves (90 degree) where we may have dropped to 45 or so.
THIS was the most exciting and fun ride I have ever taken. THIS is why I love my Hawk much more than my GSXR or my GS550ES or any other bike I had. It may not have been the sanest thing to do (I know, ride at your competency level and not the guys your riding with) but I learned a lot more about what my Hawk can do. These guys may have had as much as 100 horsepower on me, but it didn't matter... after following this guy all the way to the bottom (and amazingly enough, we didn't come across one car in our lane - again!) I found we weren't too far behind the leaders! They went straight and I turned at the bottom of the hill and I passed them at a gas station and got a wave from all 4 of them. What a great ride. This was the hardest I've pushed my Hawk and it had no problem dishing out the torque and power. I'm now 100% convinced - I will never part with my Hawk. My chest was burning from the adrenaline rush I suppose through most of the ride.
Bittersweet, though it was, because I never got the camera turned on.
If they had come along just a few seconds later, I would have had some of what would have been a very exciting video I think. Nonetheless, I did get some video with the rearward facing camera and am splitting it and and getting it ready for photo-toilet. Should be up in this post in a day or two....
I just had to share my ride, though I wish I would have taped it. I'm moving the camera so I can reach it even if I'm riding.. That's not going to get away from me again! I think I'm getting a Digital Video Camera, too, so I can just start it when I leave and record the whole journey.
I think it's also time for trackdays....maybe next season!
Well, as I started slowing down to stop where I would to start the camera up, I see in my rearview several solo lights - I stopped what I was doing, hit 2nd and WOT! I didn't know what was behind me or who or how many, all I knew was that the last time I was on 22, a couple of sportbikers blew my doors off (I know - no doors) anyway, I pressed pretty hard into a couple of turns and made it pretty difficult to get by me. The front two did and they reminded me of the guys who ran me down last time - full leathers all racing apparel, VERY serious and VERY quick back and forth through the curves. The next guy amazed the hell out of me... in my rearview, all I could make out was the chrome forks, it was a standard bike - HE passed me and was keeping pace with the front two AND he had a HUGE bag on his tank and a HUGE bag on his seat behind him! Looked like he was going camping or something! Well, the next guy was on what looked like a 600 of some sort - GSX, CBR, I don't know. But I finally let him pass and started tailing him. And keeping up. He would pull away hard on the straights but there are almost none of those on this road, and though I still don't have the road memorized, it was easily to follow him at speed because I could see where he was headed whenever he topped the hills so I knew which way to set up for on the next turn. Every set of curves, I actually had to be careful not to run up on him too fast!
He would rocket away and by the next curve I would be hitting the brakes or downshifting to keep from overtaking him. It was great!
Keep in mind, this is the same road that is in the videos I put up several weeks ago.
We were averaging 70 mph plus most of the way with the exception of the really tight curves (90 degree) where we may have dropped to 45 or so.
THIS was the most exciting and fun ride I have ever taken. THIS is why I love my Hawk much more than my GSXR or my GS550ES or any other bike I had. It may not have been the sanest thing to do (I know, ride at your competency level and not the guys your riding with) but I learned a lot more about what my Hawk can do. These guys may have had as much as 100 horsepower on me, but it didn't matter... after following this guy all the way to the bottom (and amazingly enough, we didn't come across one car in our lane - again!) I found we weren't too far behind the leaders! They went straight and I turned at the bottom of the hill and I passed them at a gas station and got a wave from all 4 of them. What a great ride. This was the hardest I've pushed my Hawk and it had no problem dishing out the torque and power. I'm now 100% convinced - I will never part with my Hawk. My chest was burning from the adrenaline rush I suppose through most of the ride.
Bittersweet, though it was, because I never got the camera turned on.
If they had come along just a few seconds later, I would have had some of what would have been a very exciting video I think. Nonetheless, I did get some video with the rearward facing camera and am splitting it and and getting it ready for photo-toilet. Should be up in this post in a day or two....I just had to share my ride, though I wish I would have taped it. I'm moving the camera so I can reach it even if I'm riding.. That's not going to get away from me again! I think I'm getting a Digital Video Camera, too, so I can just start it when I leave and record the whole journey.
I think it's also time for trackdays....maybe next season!
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