Serious "no hands" question

[iman501]

yea i will let go to stretch, or adjust something, it really doesnt feel any different, just goes slower, until you need to give it gas again.

 

[twoguns]

always done it, and have done so on all makes and models. never an issue. if your bike is in good condition and set up then the likelyhood of a wobble is reduced. though it will always depend on the road, but then i wouldnt be doing it on a pothole smashed up track either, and always am still looking ahead and paying attention.

i did have a mate who sat up after a long set of twisties on his z1000. no different to many times before, but as he stretched back to and pointed his face to the sky his bike hit a stone and tank slapped so hard that it broke the steering lock. he managed to hold it by getting some weight forward and the bike settled, but still... very lucky.

tell your coworker that sometimes you want to behave like the winner of a motoGP, and shut the fukup.

geez... i remember for fun a time when i would come home from work and do a 'valentino'... where he used to stand up on his pegs, put his hands behind his back and do a head bow. i did that many afternoons after a long day on one stretch and about two blocks from home. grown up a little now.... i hope [smirk]

 

[TooFst]

Apparently no one has ever ridden over like 400 miles in a weekend... I've changed gloves,put gloves on, taken gloves off, switched my iPod to my phone, phone to iPod, ect.... IMO you have to be pretty efficient at riding no handed on long runs....

 

[Kid1620]

I know that it's not good to do but every once in a while when I crack her open and get up over 100mph I'll let go of the bars and coast down until I get to about 65ish. My buell is the most stable bike I've ever been on. So I feel confortable doing that

 

[RuiP]

you should be slapped and beaten for posting this.


edit: Sorry I thought it read "So I'm looking for a flame war." my bad. ..Still a stupid post. Carry on

 

[Lesley]

One of my coworkers berated my until the veins were popping out on his head, citing examples of people doing this and the front end instantly becoming unstable, wobbling, and crashing. I could not understand what he was talking about - my bike is insanely stable and non-wobbly at 60mph, the speed I was going.

Honestly this sounds as if the issue is with your coworker's own personsl problems.
I am not understanding why he would get so upset with you about your riding practices.

I'm guessing one of two things here is your answer:

1.) the coworker is jealous of you or your bike or both.
2.) the coworker is actually a woman trapped in a mans body or vise versa

side note: the vein pooping comment still has me laughing

 

[Alfatango1]

i also take may hands off when rolling to a red light

Why of all times would you do it while rolling to a red light? That would be the last time to do it.

 

[RuiP]

I usually pull the whole "no hands" deal only during emergency stops.

 

[snrusnak]

The main problem is that if something jumps out in front of you, like an animal, then you have a delayed reaction. Other than that, it's pretty much safe IMO as long as you are not in a congested area.

 

[08levin]

The only time I ride no hands is to text.

 

[konarider94]

One of my coworkers berated my until the veins were popping out on his head, citing examples of people doing this and the front end instantly becoming unstable, wobbling, and crashing.  I could not understand what he was talking about - my bike is insanely stable and non-wobbly at 60mph, the speed I was going.

he sounds like an idiot. if you experience wobble like that it wont help having your hands on the bars. when people try to fight a tank slapper it only gets worse. ever notice when the front end of a bike wobbles and throws someone off the bike usually straightens itself out and runs down the road or track until it hits something.

The main problem is that if something jumps out in front of you, like an animal, then you have a delayed reaction.  Other than that, it's pretty much safe IMO as long as you are not in a congested area

sums it up pretty well

 

[garyphantom222]

Done it all my riding life,mostly to stretch or relax a hand cramp or something like that.

 

[CBi]

I do it all the time.

 

[Alfatango1]

The only time I ride no hands is to text.

I have a HD riding friend who actually does this on his black berry. I couldn't believe it, and still cant.

 

[buellbradski]

^wow! I do it all the time in decel to straighten my back give my hands a little break no big deal but I always make sure everything's clear ahead. When the roads wide and straight. I rode a fat boy once that seemed to handle a bit weird I would never take my hands off thoughs bars . So if your co- worker is accustom to a poor handling bike I could see his disbeleif if he'd never riden a well balanced bike.

 

[Iamarchangel]

a) bad idea

b) coworker is wrong: that much movement would indicate serious steering problems unrelated to hands off riding.

 

[Macdoodles]

http://macdoodles.com/redriver/RedRiverBuellsmall.jpg

I was thinking of this thread when I posed for this picture at the Red River Rally this weekend. Unfortunately the photog did such a great job of stopping the photo you can't tell I'm doing 60mph.

 

[Macdoodles]

 

[Thaloc]

It's illegal. A buddy I ride with got a negligent driving ticket for taking both hands off his bars for a space of less than ten seconds to stretch and adjust his visor.

 

[snrusnak]

^yeah as far as I remember you can ride with one hand off the grips as long as that hand isn't doing anything(such as grabbing a cup of joe, or the cell phone). I still say riding with no hands is generally safe for very short instances to stretch, etc. There's always the chance of a bunny or squirrel jumping in front of you though