B172: Located in Essex, this road albeit a very short one, offers some decent corners/apex for motorcycling. All the turns are free-flowing and can be taken at the legal speed limit. Visibility is good as well. Traffic could be a problem on nice sunny days. National speed limit applies unless a different speed limit is signposted.
View Good Biking Roads in Essex - B172 in a larger map
A113: Located in Essex, Abridge to Chipping Ongar is a good biking road. The route is not demanding but can be fun, has good visibility and the traffic may not be heavy. National speed limit applies unless a different speed limit is signposted.
View Good Biking Roads in Essex - A113 in a larger map
Showing posts with label Weekend Rides. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Weekend Rides. Show all posts
Thursday, 13 May 2010
Thursday, 10 September 2009
Ride outs on my Gixxer Thou
It's now about 2 weeks since I first rode my Gixxer Thou and I've already done 250 miles on it. I'm amazed at the difference in the performance level between the FZ1-SA and the GSXR 1k k8. I was reminded enough times that the Gixxer Thou is a completely different beast to the FZ1-SA and I now know why that reminder should be respected.
First ride:
My first ever ride was a very tentative one. The switch (from FZ1) was dramatic in every sense of bike riding. It took me a while to get used to the low-sporty seating position. To my height, the Gixxer doesn't pose a problem to the knees or neck. I've been using the engine map mode-A all the time except when I took it on my test ride.
First 100 miles:
The first 100 miles included a two-up with my wife on A406/M11. The bike handles pretty well when filtering through stationary traffic. With the FZ1, when I used to ride two-up I'd always be extra-cautious as the mirrors were very wide, but on this it's so easy to squeeze through. And the bike is far lighter to easily manoeuvre.
Riding solo with cross-winds seems to be less of a problem on a Gixxer than the FZ1-S with a full body cowl. I'm not sure if the "Steering Damper" helps in reducing the effects of cross-winds but it certainly makes me feel more confident.
Performance:
There are enough websites to tell about the performance of the Gixxer Thou K8 but what I'd like to share is how it differs to my previous bike. FZ1 was by no means a sluggish bike. To my level, I've accelerated hard, braked hard, did 70(mph) in 1st, rode it well on the country roads. But when compared to the Gixxer Thou's acceleration and deceleration, FZ1-S is a mile away. One factor could be the weight and the other the close-box gear ratio. I remember an instance when an R1 left us for dead at the traffic lights earlier this Spring. I thought that I wasn't accelerating hard enough to keep up with the R1. But having ridden a Gixxer Thou I now know that it's just that R1/Gixxer accelerate far more quickly than an FZ1. Nowadays with the Gixxer, when I leave the traffic lights I get to the road speed limit even before I can physically say "I've reached the road speed limit", that is how quick the bike is.
The deceleration achieved when closing the throttle in the 1st or 2nd gear is scintillating. Unless you anticipate this, say for a new rider never ridden a big superbike, it could potentially spell doom. I've now tried closing the throttle at various speeds in the bottom gears and can now anticipate the effect of deceleration.
More experimentation:
Last weekend took the bike out to learn more about the bike's behaviour in various combinations of speed/gears. I tried various gears on the M11 Motorway doing 70-75. In 1st, the engine does about 8k revs and the bike feels as a proper sports bike. Switch to 2nd, the revs doesn't drop that much and the bike still feels quick. In 3rd, the bike feels very comfortable and there is very minimal vibration. In 4th, there is significant vibration that could be felt through the legs and the engine does exactly 6k revs. Fifth gear is a no-go, as the bike seems to die out and sixth is certainly to be avoided as there is no response from the engine and the engine does 5k revs.
The Gixxer feels very happy to get in/out of corners/bends. I feel more confident in leaning into a corner. Taking the left-hand off to look for blind spots is so easy even in cross-winds as the bike feels very stable.
Problems:
The only problem I find with this bike is the lack of a fuel meter. I'm having to calculate using one of the two trip meters to find out how much fuel I'm likely to have. The other problem is the windshield noise, seems to be worse than the FZ1-S. I have tried various riding positions, tucked-in completely but still can't do anything about it. I'll think about having a double-bubble screen to reduce the noise and start using the in-ear plugs.
Am I good enough?:
There is no need to answer this. Unless you are in the 1st gear on Motorways, you are not even going to touch the envelope of performance of this bike. The Gixxer is one of my dream bikes. Taking it out is enough to live that dream.
First ride:
My first ever ride was a very tentative one. The switch (from FZ1) was dramatic in every sense of bike riding. It took me a while to get used to the low-sporty seating position. To my height, the Gixxer doesn't pose a problem to the knees or neck. I've been using the engine map mode-A all the time except when I took it on my test ride.
First 100 miles:
The first 100 miles included a two-up with my wife on A406/M11. The bike handles pretty well when filtering through stationary traffic. With the FZ1, when I used to ride two-up I'd always be extra-cautious as the mirrors were very wide, but on this it's so easy to squeeze through. And the bike is far lighter to easily manoeuvre.
Riding solo with cross-winds seems to be less of a problem on a Gixxer than the FZ1-S with a full body cowl. I'm not sure if the "Steering Damper" helps in reducing the effects of cross-winds but it certainly makes me feel more confident.
Performance:
There are enough websites to tell about the performance of the Gixxer Thou K8 but what I'd like to share is how it differs to my previous bike. FZ1 was by no means a sluggish bike. To my level, I've accelerated hard, braked hard, did 70(mph) in 1st, rode it well on the country roads. But when compared to the Gixxer Thou's acceleration and deceleration, FZ1-S is a mile away. One factor could be the weight and the other the close-box gear ratio. I remember an instance when an R1 left us for dead at the traffic lights earlier this Spring. I thought that I wasn't accelerating hard enough to keep up with the R1. But having ridden a Gixxer Thou I now know that it's just that R1/Gixxer accelerate far more quickly than an FZ1. Nowadays with the Gixxer, when I leave the traffic lights I get to the road speed limit even before I can physically say "I've reached the road speed limit", that is how quick the bike is.
The deceleration achieved when closing the throttle in the 1st or 2nd gear is scintillating. Unless you anticipate this, say for a new rider never ridden a big superbike, it could potentially spell doom. I've now tried closing the throttle at various speeds in the bottom gears and can now anticipate the effect of deceleration.
More experimentation:
Last weekend took the bike out to learn more about the bike's behaviour in various combinations of speed/gears. I tried various gears on the M11 Motorway doing 70-75. In 1st, the engine does about 8k revs and the bike feels as a proper sports bike. Switch to 2nd, the revs doesn't drop that much and the bike still feels quick. In 3rd, the bike feels very comfortable and there is very minimal vibration. In 4th, there is significant vibration that could be felt through the legs and the engine does exactly 6k revs. Fifth gear is a no-go, as the bike seems to die out and sixth is certainly to be avoided as there is no response from the engine and the engine does 5k revs.
The Gixxer feels very happy to get in/out of corners/bends. I feel more confident in leaning into a corner. Taking the left-hand off to look for blind spots is so easy even in cross-winds as the bike feels very stable.
Problems:
The only problem I find with this bike is the lack of a fuel meter. I'm having to calculate using one of the two trip meters to find out how much fuel I'm likely to have. The other problem is the windshield noise, seems to be worse than the FZ1-S. I have tried various riding positions, tucked-in completely but still can't do anything about it. I'll think about having a double-bubble screen to reduce the noise and start using the in-ear plugs.
Am I good enough?:
There is no need to answer this. Unless you are in the 1st gear on Motorways, you are not even going to touch the envelope of performance of this bike. The Gixxer is one of my dream bikes. Taking it out is enough to live that dream.
Sunday, 28 June 2009
Two-up on a Sunday Morning Ride
It has been a while since I went on a Sunday Morning ride. My shuttle between London and Cork doesn't help my biking either. On the weekends I'm in London, there is so much to catch up that I find myself strapped for time to go out on a leisure ride. During my last visit, the weather wasn't great. So just went for a spin locally. I decided that if the weather holds good then I'm doing a leisure ride of about 100 miles.
The weather on Sunday was good and I was just rearing to go. My wife said she too was interested and would like to join me. To ride two-up with her is always something special for me. Took my bike out and went to my usual Barking Tesco to fill-up and check air. To my bitter surprise, I found that they have installed a pay-and-use air. I decided I was not going to pay 20p to fill air and then headed to the Beckton Sainsburys.
The bike feels very different when the recommended tyre pressures are not maintained. I've been told that even 1 or 2 psi would make a drastic change to the feel of the bike. This is not the first time I have ridden at lower tyre pressures and so am gaining the feel of the bike. The front tyre was 4psi below the ideal and no wonder the bike felt abnormal while turning. After filling up it was time for our leisure ride.
This ride had only one purpose, at least, as far I was concerned - ring the neck of my Yam in the lower gears. I decided to take to the A406-M11-A414-A12-A406. The trouble with "ringing the neck" is that in reality it will never happen without seriously breaking the speed limit. On the 50mph sections I was always on 1st and 2nd just to listen the engine at around 6k. On the 70mph sections again stayed on 1st and 2nd - as ever love the engine note at around 9k. I have to find out a way to record this wonderful sound, perhaps strapping a small point-and-shoot camera to the petrol tank would do.
Getting off M11 at Junction 7 to A414, I practised some braking. On long trips, I downshift to slow down and then am gentle on the brake, but not today. Staying within bottom 3 gears there is no drastic speed reduction during downshift, so had to trust the brake. I didn't feel sponginess while braking, methinks it is more to do with my constant reminder that my bike is getting to a year after service and that needs some check-up.
Anyway with Junction 7 done and dusted, A414 to Maldon greeted with the usual busy Sunday Morning traffic. This section has got some nice flowing right and left handers but you won't be leaning too much if you are within the limits. As I hate to sit behind a slow car on these nice curves, I would drop myself from the car ahead and then carry the corner speed before catching up with the traffic. It is a nice feeling to take the corners in the lower gears when the bike is in its power band wanting to break free.
On this section, I spotted a police car at the end of a left-hander. Before taking the corner, I dropped myself from the car ahead to carry the 50mph corner speed in first gear. I felt so good going through the corner, and after seeing the police car (and the police man), I can see why they are there. Anyone who is lured to speed through the corner will be caught after they have taken it and they can't see the police car while they go through the corner. As I don't take chances, okay most of the times, I may not have got their attention except for the 1st gear scream of the engine.
There are a couple of roundabouts on this section of A414 heading to Maldon where they meet 30mph sections. These roundabouts let you practice downshifts and braking and if they are clear can practice cornering as well. With about 3 miles to Chelmsford there are two roundabouts within a space of a mile or so that lets you whack the throttle and bring it down. With a clear road ahead, behind and in the rounadbout, it was time to improve my corner speed carry through. As I rode through the roundabout with more than my usual speed, I had a chance to practise left-right-left flip through counter-steer.
The feeling you get while leaning the bike had to be experienced first hand as words cannot describe it. And I'm not talking about knee-scrapping stuff, just more than gentle lean that would make you wonder how on earth these tyres grip the road to let you do what you always felt physics-defying. Exiting the roundabout, opened the throttle as quickly as I'd and within about 3-4 seconds I was over 70 in the 1st and 10k revvs, and the bike is still accelerating has it has another 30% power left in it. The acceleration was truly exhilirating. The purpose of my day's ride had been fulfilled.
I decided to return on the same route as I've never done A414 Chelmsford-Harlow. Unforuntately few miles down A414 from Chelmsford there was a traffic stoppage due to some plant movement and I turned around back to Chelmsford to take the A12 to return home. Throughout the trip, I stayed within the bottom gears and only very briefly i ventured to the fourth when I was stuck behind a gaggle of cars on the A414.
I had done about 85miles non-stop and by the time I was back home, the fuel meter was about to hit reserve. It's drunk about a litre for every 8 miles and that is not bad, because on long-haul trips it drinks a litre for every 8.5. Do I really care about the fuel economy when the machine gives me a lot of joy and fun?
Oh, forgot to mention my wife anywhere (Sorry dear, hope you wouldn't mind me enjoying the lust for this machine once in a while). Our next two-up ride is going to be a very special one and I can't wait. Do come back to read that entry.
The weather on Sunday was good and I was just rearing to go. My wife said she too was interested and would like to join me. To ride two-up with her is always something special for me. Took my bike out and went to my usual Barking Tesco to fill-up and check air. To my bitter surprise, I found that they have installed a pay-and-use air. I decided I was not going to pay 20p to fill air and then headed to the Beckton Sainsburys.
The bike feels very different when the recommended tyre pressures are not maintained. I've been told that even 1 or 2 psi would make a drastic change to the feel of the bike. This is not the first time I have ridden at lower tyre pressures and so am gaining the feel of the bike. The front tyre was 4psi below the ideal and no wonder the bike felt abnormal while turning. After filling up it was time for our leisure ride.
This ride had only one purpose, at least, as far I was concerned - ring the neck of my Yam in the lower gears. I decided to take to the A406-M11-A414-A12-A406. The trouble with "ringing the neck" is that in reality it will never happen without seriously breaking the speed limit. On the 50mph sections I was always on 1st and 2nd just to listen the engine at around 6k. On the 70mph sections again stayed on 1st and 2nd - as ever love the engine note at around 9k. I have to find out a way to record this wonderful sound, perhaps strapping a small point-and-shoot camera to the petrol tank would do.
Getting off M11 at Junction 7 to A414, I practised some braking. On long trips, I downshift to slow down and then am gentle on the brake, but not today. Staying within bottom 3 gears there is no drastic speed reduction during downshift, so had to trust the brake. I didn't feel sponginess while braking, methinks it is more to do with my constant reminder that my bike is getting to a year after service and that needs some check-up.
Anyway with Junction 7 done and dusted, A414 to Maldon greeted with the usual busy Sunday Morning traffic. This section has got some nice flowing right and left handers but you won't be leaning too much if you are within the limits. As I hate to sit behind a slow car on these nice curves, I would drop myself from the car ahead and then carry the corner speed before catching up with the traffic. It is a nice feeling to take the corners in the lower gears when the bike is in its power band wanting to break free.
On this section, I spotted a police car at the end of a left-hander. Before taking the corner, I dropped myself from the car ahead to carry the 50mph corner speed in first gear. I felt so good going through the corner, and after seeing the police car (and the police man), I can see why they are there. Anyone who is lured to speed through the corner will be caught after they have taken it and they can't see the police car while they go through the corner. As I don't take chances, okay most of the times, I may not have got their attention except for the 1st gear scream of the engine.
There are a couple of roundabouts on this section of A414 heading to Maldon where they meet 30mph sections. These roundabouts let you practice downshifts and braking and if they are clear can practice cornering as well. With about 3 miles to Chelmsford there are two roundabouts within a space of a mile or so that lets you whack the throttle and bring it down. With a clear road ahead, behind and in the rounadbout, it was time to improve my corner speed carry through. As I rode through the roundabout with more than my usual speed, I had a chance to practise left-right-left flip through counter-steer.
The feeling you get while leaning the bike had to be experienced first hand as words cannot describe it. And I'm not talking about knee-scrapping stuff, just more than gentle lean that would make you wonder how on earth these tyres grip the road to let you do what you always felt physics-defying. Exiting the roundabout, opened the throttle as quickly as I'd and within about 3-4 seconds I was over 70 in the 1st and 10k revvs, and the bike is still accelerating has it has another 30% power left in it. The acceleration was truly exhilirating. The purpose of my day's ride had been fulfilled.
I decided to return on the same route as I've never done A414 Chelmsford-Harlow. Unforuntately few miles down A414 from Chelmsford there was a traffic stoppage due to some plant movement and I turned around back to Chelmsford to take the A12 to return home. Throughout the trip, I stayed within the bottom gears and only very briefly i ventured to the fourth when I was stuck behind a gaggle of cars on the A414.
I had done about 85miles non-stop and by the time I was back home, the fuel meter was about to hit reserve. It's drunk about a litre for every 8 miles and that is not bad, because on long-haul trips it drinks a litre for every 8.5. Do I really care about the fuel economy when the machine gives me a lot of joy and fun?
Oh, forgot to mention my wife anywhere (Sorry dear, hope you wouldn't mind me enjoying the lust for this machine once in a while). Our next two-up ride is going to be a very special one and I can't wait. Do come back to read that entry.
Saturday, 28 March 2009
Weekend Bike Rides - 21/03
After a long semi-hibernation, it's a very nice feeling to get the bike out on wonderful sunny days. The weather today was fabulous with clear skies, very gentle winds and a balmy 15c. It was time to head to Southend. I've been to Southend a few times but all of those visits were following A123, A12 and A127. It was time to take a different route following A118, A406, A13 and A127.
Fuelled in Barking Tesco (as usual) and headed to Southend. I'm beginning to feel a lot more confident in the grip levels. A13 doesn't offer any opportunity to lean as it's a major A Road and hence the bends and curves are pretty much flat. But there are a few sections where there are long right and left handers which gives a good feel as the bike is always at a constant inclination to the road.
Compared to last weekend, I could see a lot of bikers on all sorts of bikes, some two-up, on this stretch of the road. Stayed on lower gears for quite a while on the 70-mph section to feel the power. It's a shame that within seconds the bike gets to 70mph whatever gear you are in, but it's fun.
All the time I was telling myself to practise all the good habits - look far ahead, keep checking the rear mirrors and look at the sides. You won't believe how quickly you can approach the vehicle in front or move within the lane so as to panic the vehicle in the adjacent lanes. Though I subscribe to the thought that first you got to be alive to enjoy the biking, I'd an opportunity to find out first hand what lack of concentration for a moment can do. Getting to the junction with A13/A127, I "suddenly" found that the cars ahead were moving at a snail's pace and I was still doing 70. Was this going to be one of those boyish moments when you dive ahead of the bike while braking? Not quite, had a quick look to my left, sat upright and went for the downshifts and more-than-gentle dab of the front (brake). It was not an emergency situation but exposed my lack of planning, perhaps carried away by the fantastic weather.
With such a nice balmy weather, you are certain to expect people flocking to the beaches. No wonder that traffic close to junction with A13/A127 was getting into a snail's pace. With only 2 narrow lanes, I stuck to the middle and stayed in the first for filtering. It was very nice of the cars to move out a little bit to let me through. I love revving the engine in such situations just to make sure the car drivers know that I'm there.
On my return, I practised a few stops in the Parking areas on A13. I wanted to feel the speed of the passing bikes and cars. The bikers who spotted waved at me, what a great community feeling. Leaving the Parking area, I was invariably in the first until I reached 70mph and the rev count just getting past 9k (still a long way from the limiter at 13k). The next time I'm out on my bike, I just want to record how sweet it is at 9k. When I was sharing about this weekend ride with one of my managers, who is also a keen biker, he joked that I don't need this bike to get to 9k. Unless you do illegal speed limits, or on a race track, I can't see how one can get past 9k on my bike. But to me, it's the howl that counts more than the speed.
It's almost unbelievable to have had two weeks of sunshine in Spring. Can't wait for the next weekend ride, just hoping that it doesn't spit rain.
Fuelled in Barking Tesco (as usual) and headed to Southend. I'm beginning to feel a lot more confident in the grip levels. A13 doesn't offer any opportunity to lean as it's a major A Road and hence the bends and curves are pretty much flat. But there are a few sections where there are long right and left handers which gives a good feel as the bike is always at a constant inclination to the road.
Compared to last weekend, I could see a lot of bikers on all sorts of bikes, some two-up, on this stretch of the road. Stayed on lower gears for quite a while on the 70-mph section to feel the power. It's a shame that within seconds the bike gets to 70mph whatever gear you are in, but it's fun.
All the time I was telling myself to practise all the good habits - look far ahead, keep checking the rear mirrors and look at the sides. You won't believe how quickly you can approach the vehicle in front or move within the lane so as to panic the vehicle in the adjacent lanes. Though I subscribe to the thought that first you got to be alive to enjoy the biking, I'd an opportunity to find out first hand what lack of concentration for a moment can do. Getting to the junction with A13/A127, I "suddenly" found that the cars ahead were moving at a snail's pace and I was still doing 70. Was this going to be one of those boyish moments when you dive ahead of the bike while braking? Not quite, had a quick look to my left, sat upright and went for the downshifts and more-than-gentle dab of the front (brake). It was not an emergency situation but exposed my lack of planning, perhaps carried away by the fantastic weather.
With such a nice balmy weather, you are certain to expect people flocking to the beaches. No wonder that traffic close to junction with A13/A127 was getting into a snail's pace. With only 2 narrow lanes, I stuck to the middle and stayed in the first for filtering. It was very nice of the cars to move out a little bit to let me through. I love revving the engine in such situations just to make sure the car drivers know that I'm there.
On my return, I practised a few stops in the Parking areas on A13. I wanted to feel the speed of the passing bikes and cars. The bikers who spotted waved at me, what a great community feeling. Leaving the Parking area, I was invariably in the first until I reached 70mph and the rev count just getting past 9k (still a long way from the limiter at 13k). The next time I'm out on my bike, I just want to record how sweet it is at 9k. When I was sharing about this weekend ride with one of my managers, who is also a keen biker, he joked that I don't need this bike to get to 9k. Unless you do illegal speed limits, or on a race track, I can't see how one can get past 9k on my bike. But to me, it's the howl that counts more than the speed.
It's almost unbelievable to have had two weeks of sunshine in Spring. Can't wait for the next weekend ride, just hoping that it doesn't spit rain.
Sunday, 15 March 2009
Weekend Bike Rides - 15/03
It's been a while since I took my bike, Yamaha FZ1-SA, for jolly weekend rides. From December to February, I took it out only on a handful of occassions, mainly to have a feel for the bike and the grip that was available. This being my first winter weather riding, it was all new. I have heard and read about the lack of grip, but feeling it first-hand was something scary and special.With the arrival of Spring and a better weather, it was time to go on a jolly weekend ride. The weather was not bad, about 12c, but there was more than gentle cross-winds. Fuelled and checked tyre pressure, as usual, in Barking Tesco.
Took to A406 Westbound, the North Circular Road, at Barking junction. Going over the flyover at Ilford, I could feel the strong cross-winds, the one thing that I hate. Good that I did some winter weather riding, I was already feeling a lot comfortable with the grip, as I'd make a comparison between the grip levels. Onto M11 slip road, for the first time in months, I was able to lean the bike with some confidence. Hitting the motorway, I was able to get some proper heat into the tyres by dropping to lower gears and ride on a higher-rev range. I got to tell you how sweet it sounds when you get over 7k revs. If you are on a motorway and doing about 70mph (112 kmph) in 6th gear, you hardly hit 5k revs. But drop a couple of gears and you find the revs going about 7k and that is sweet.
Now to the main riding bit, Harlow to Maldon. Off M11, took the exit to A414 heading to Harlow. I love the entry and exit to slip roads as I'd practise some serious downshifts, braking, and acceleration. Started my run near Harlow Town Centre heading towards Maldon. The roundabouts in these out-of-town places are amongst my favourites too. It gives you the opportunity to flick the bike and a chance to accelerate hard in the first gear. The route itself is not too demanding and most of it is 50mph (80kmph). There are some gentle sweeps that doesn't warrant too much of a lean, unless you are doing illegal speeds. I was able to spot only a few riders and acknowledged them with a gentle head-nod. The nodding of your head is one of those wonderful moments that make you feel happy, at least for me, I suppose.
For most of the section from Harlow to Chelmsford, I was riding in 3rd gear to enjoy the power-band through the bends. There are a few roundabouts in this section where you can practise some nice left-right flips. Exiting these roundabouts I always stay in the first gear and get over 7k rev range to enjoy the sweetness of the engine. The traffic on this section wasn't bad, I always had a free space at the front and back, to practise some acceleration and downshifts to the roundabouts. Exiting one of the roundabouts, you get national speed limit of 70mph, and this is where I love to open the throttle. On a previous visit on this route, I did a 1st gear 60mph which took me just over 9k revs. I was hoping if I'd a clear road in front of me, then I could try it. Luckily, the road was almost clear and I'd a chance to go over 9k revs in the first gear. The roar of the engine in first gear when it gets to about 9k engine is something I'd love to hear it from the roadside as a pedastrian. I stayed it on a while before upshifting.
On these out-of-town roads, some car drivers are very considerate. When they see a motorcycle they tend to stay to their left and provide you enough room to get past them. If there is a gaggle of cars, you could see most of them moving to their left in a sync and that is a beautiful sight for any biker.
The 17-mile section from Harlow to Chelmsford was gone in a pleasurely ride, taking the occasional scenaries in my stride. On my return, I took to some city riding from Romford to Ilford on A118. This gave me the opportunity to practise slow riding and filtering.
I did 75-miles on this ride and had a chance to practise almost everything. I'm awaiting a free one-day BikeSafe training with Met police. I did a similar one last year and it was so helpful. Another one of these training sessions would help me get assessed for another season of safe riding.
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