When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
As you go sliding down the road on your **** you will know you've scraped 'em to hard. The sound of crunching metal as your bike wrecks itself will also serve as a timely reminder of your foolhardiness
If you do wind up in a corner and you wind up scraping a floorboard...don't panic and jerk it the other way. I watched a rider dump his bike after reacting to scraping sounds from his floorboard. I almost did the same thing with my Heritage Springer fully loaded with wife and luggage. Didn't realize that it was lower than I was used to. Scraped big time going thru curves up in the Sequoia National Forest, first time straightened up in automatic reaction, but then had to lean it right back over to get around the next corner.
I think now it gets to my wife more than me. She says the scraping makes her teeth hurt...
Rhubarb,
I don't think anyone has directly answered your question and I am not an expert. All I know is when I scrape the FB I continue with the commited turn. If you scrape chances are you will have to finish the cornering and if you back off it could be a disaster. After a few times you will learn the limits and adjust accordingly. I think for the most part it will scare you more then do any damage. Ride safe!
There is nothing wrong with scraping the floorboards. My buddy rides an RK at work and he can scrape them all day long. You might say it is an aquired feel.
I picked up that "Ride like a pro III" video, and he covered it in some length.
I plan on practicing scraping in a parking lot, so I know where it hits and what it feels like.
My biggest concern was this image in my head of the board digging in to the asphalt and the back-end kicking around. Now that i've spent some time checking out the boards, seeing that they do move if you push hard enough on them, and seeing it happen in the video... I feel better.
It looks like it will be very beneficial to follow his course outline. Soon as the weather clears up here, I'm on it.
I just traded a Yamaha V-star for a Springer Classic. Both have boards, and it took a little getting used to the boards scraping. My last bikes before these were sport bikes and Sportsters. It took a LOT more to get those bikes to scrape the pegs. You definitely do need to learn to scrape the boards, just to get accustomed to the feel/sound. Otherwise, when it does happen, it will startle you, and could cause you to do something abrupt by reflex (bad).
I will say one thing nice about the Yamaha. They put replaceable aluminum blocks on the bottom at the heel of the foot boards. These were more predictable in feel when you hit them (not likely to "catch" the pavement), and protected the chrome edges. I'm definitely going to have to look into putting some nylon blocks on the bottoms of my boards.
the bikes I had with board I always just let my shoe
hang over the outer edge of the board and it would rub first
but rubing the board is no big deal after you have done it some
Little is ok to much and you will fall...you will force the rear tire off the ground....gets harder to hear after a lot of scrapes you wear down the boards..becareful and dont over react if it happens. like idea of pratice in parking lot...get to know your ability and bike..former motorcop...if its someone elses bike it not a big deal to drop it!
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.