VFR's on the Dragon

A bunch of us were in Deal's Gap this past week. I shot a bunch of VFR footage using my GoPro camera mounted on both my helmet and my gas tank. Depending on the position, the vibrations make the sound distort so watch your ears.

Two of us are VFRworld members. The other has owned a VFR longer than either of us but is not a member. The fat girls are a handful on the Dragon but fun nonetheless.

Tom - PARedVFRRider
Todd - Two4One

Trailbraker.net Videos

 

Nice videos there two4one, Thanks for sharing. What type, model is your helmet cam?

 

great video- also looking for info on cams so please share.

 

dam, im glad you guys had a good time. Sorry I couldnt make it up there. Stupid tire. I'm very jealous

 

Whoa cool! I actually like the helmet shots. I'm usually not a fan of those because of the constant movement but for these it's steady enough not to induce motion sickness.

 

Here's the info on the camera: GoPro - Wearable Digital Cameras for Sports - only problem with the videos is with the wide angle lens, the perspective is flattened out. For example, the turns you see on the vidoes are MUCH tighter than they appear. You must also be right on top of someone in order to get a close-up video. I was a matter of 10 feet or so behind Tom but it appears much further apart. Look at this first image, this is how close I was.

I've got a lot more video to process from the Cherohala, Rt. 60 in Georgia, 129 in Georgia and all points in between.

 

That's some good videos and pics there! I'm gonna meet the Dragon in a couple weeks here for the first time, I can't wait! Question: I drag my peg feelers quite often but never look down to see how close my knees are. My chicken strips are to the edge, so my question is, do you guys not have the feelers on so you can lean further? and how do you know when you can't possibly lean any further over before you wash out?

 

Nice pics and video!

 

Take the feelers off. You dont know when your going to wash out, some tires give more feedback than others and have more slip before coming loose, depends on the rubber. If you have a leather suit with pucks your knee can help gage where your at, best place to find that edge is a track...no trees. You wont realize what happend untill your laying on your back.

 

Leave them on, take them off it's up to you. Leaving them on might actually help you to learn better body position...see below.

In regards to your lean angle question. Ever been to the track? New to riding? If you have no chicken strips and are dragging the peg feelers, your percentages of low siding the bike are pretty high right now. For example, see the third picture in my initial post? One would think I don't have chicken strips but I assure you I do, especially on the right side. Work on getting your butt off the side of the seat and putting your head towards the mirror. You obviously can't see yourself when you're riding but I'm guessing you are riding pretty straight up and down. You may THINK your knee is close to the ground, but it's not. I'm speaking from experience and not preaching I assure you.

If you can, have some photograph you or even better a video. This way I could help you out more. I don't mean to scare you about possibly low siding. The VFR is pretty forgiving since the HP and torque numbers aren't exactly high. I was hitting the throttle pretty hard exiting the apex on my solo run and I only spun the rear a little bit a few times. As long as you're smooth, you should be OK.

 

Nice videos thanks for sharing!!

 

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:damn wish i could find that road near my house so fin awesome i would go there every weekend damn..................................................................................................................my roads suck

 

Nice job, thanks for sharing this.. makes ya want to get out there.

 

Great videos Two!

BZ

 

Definitely need to find a track, (less variables). I've had the feeling that I would know I have gone too far when there is no returning back. For now I'll keep the feelers on, thanks for the feedback.

 

Great videos. I'm considering getting a camera like this.

I feel I must point something out however. As usual, I'll end up being the odd man out.

Tell the guy on the red VFR wearing the AStars gear to stay in his lane. More than enough people complain about people encroaching their lane. It's no exageration that a few people have been killed on the Dragon due to this behavior.

No offense intended whatsoever, ride safe.

KC-10 FE out...
lane: :usa2:

 

Check out this thread, it covers body position more in detail: http://vfrworld.com/forums/riding-advice/17912-body-position.html

 

This has already been recognized by the rider himself and is a valid point.

 

totally agree buddy.. and hanging your knee down that far just to touch it on the ground.. is also pretty uncool where I come from..

also, and to get technical.. he seems to be trailing the brakes way to deep in some of those bends, he should be applying throttle to settle the bike.. trailing PAST the apex is bad form..

hope he/you don't take it personally..

 

Uncool? There is page after page of "uncool" riders on Killboy if you'd like to take a look. Between the months of April and late October I rarely take a ride without touching down unless I'm wearing jeans for whatever reason.

I'm such a hooligan :vfrshorty: