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CVO Social => In The News => Topic started by: rheiner on July 28, 2014, 07:29:51 PM

Title: police traffic cop...can you do this?
Post by: rheiner on July 28, 2014, 07:29:51 PM
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=485637114825455 (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=485637114825455)

notice the handlebars
Title: Re: police traffic cop...can you do this?
Post by: FLHTCUSE7 on July 28, 2014, 07:34:32 PM
Sure can. That is actually a pretty easy course. Look at how much room he has left over in the key-holes, looks like at least an 18ft circle.

Look to look is no big deal either if you just practice a little. 

I love riding cones, its fun practice!
Title: Re: police traffic cop...can you do this?
Post by: JCZ on July 28, 2014, 09:17:23 PM
Don't have to be a motor officer.....just a lot of practice.

You should see the demonstrations that our very own Mark (Ironhorse on this forum) put at a various CVO events or at one of his classes. :2vrolijk_21:
Title: Re: police traffic cop...can you do this?
Post by: CVO2FIXUP on July 29, 2014, 09:16:03 AM
 I don't think those pipes would pass the road side sound test.   It would be hard to do this with a standard HD set up. The seat on his bike is very high as well as the bars. The bike is set up for this type of maneuvering. The front end did not seem to dive as well. Probably rock hard.  Good rider though. 
Title: Re: police traffic cop...can you do this?
Post by: Trapperdog on July 29, 2014, 10:35:25 AM
Although that video went viral a few years ago, I never tire of watching it. I don't know about officer Williams, but the majority of top three regional motors competitors not only purchase their own P model (RKP, STP, RTP) and accessories, but spend countless hours of their own time practicing. Some even have their own personal course trainer and adjust suspension and tire pressure to reflect course conditions.
As JC stated, it just takes training and lots of practice to maneuver a bike like that, but to perform a flawless run at speed under the pressure of competition is very different than practicing a few cone  exercises.
Below is a link for the 2014 SetCom motor series for those who are interested in attending (watching), but there are other series.

http://www.setcomcorp.com/training.html


Title: Re: police traffic cop...can you do this?
Post by: Keats on July 29, 2014, 03:05:08 PM
I just would want to practice with someone else's bike. 
Not using a CVO for that practice.
I would be picking up orange cones faster than a working girl picking up dollar bills.
Title: Re: police traffic cop...can you do this?
Post by: ultrafxr on July 29, 2014, 04:38:40 PM
The thing I find most difficult is keeping steady smooth throttle (and to a lesser degree keeping the clutch right in the friction zone) when maneuvering around the cones and going full lock from side to side.  I can do the circles pretty well as once you get set up you just pretty much hold it.  But those transitions from left to right to left to right are pretty tough.  Sitting way forward right up on the back edge of the tank helps but doesn't completely solve the problem for me.
Title: police traffic cop...can you do this?
Post by: kmh364 on August 01, 2014, 08:33:00 PM
While there might be suspension mods (I.e., upgraded dampers), it looks like a stock RKP to me (muffler baffles have been obviously modded) He's sitting higher because police models come with the pedestal mounted sprung solo air seat and the stock bars keep you ideally leaning slightly forward, just like on the std RK.

If you're having trouble with side-to-side transitions, your solution begins and ends with HEAD TURNS! Want an extreme tight turn? Head over your shoulder in that direction...and keep it turning further as you turn further! Want fast transitions? The sooner you turn your head, the sooner your turn begins!

Of course the bars must follow the head turns! Counter-weighting may help you to get to full-lock and/or to dragging the boards consistently

Friction zone/throttle problems? You're in the sweet spot in the friction zone when moderate throttle variation no longer affects vehicle speed...just don't remove power to the rear wheel by closing the throttle or squeezing in the clutch. Ride Like A Pro's founder Jerry "Motorman" Palladino demo's offset slow cone weaves with ONE hand: locked throttle, LH modulating the clutch and RH on his mic describing what he's doing!

Dragging the rear brake helps stabilize the bike and helps control speed in addition to the friction zone by providing  an opposing force to the forward motion of the bike.

How do I know all this? I'm a skilled and practiced MSF RiderCoach that specializes in ERC's (BRCIi) and ARC's (sport bike course). 30yrs in the saddle, 10 as an R/C. I'm a grad of RLAP and was trained by Motorman and his wife. Many of my riding buddies and co-R/C's are MO's and/or MO Trainers. Two MO trainer buddies run NJRLAP, and I can hang with them easily.

To do what you see in the vid and be competitive in a police MO rodeo requires an obsessive desire and dedication to practice, practice, practice an inordinate number of hours. You will drop the bike, and you will burn-up clutches!
Title: Re: police traffic cop...can you do this?
Post by: Ironhorse on August 01, 2014, 08:38:28 PM
Seat position and posture is key for control. Every motor cop sits upright and tall in the saddle. This keeps the head up and the eyes high. Posture is one of the first things I teach. You will never see a motor cop on patrol slouched in the saddle with his feet on the crash bar.
Title: police traffic cop...can you do this?
Post by: kmh364 on August 01, 2014, 09:03:39 PM
Correct! Good point!

A stock RK is closest to an HDP model, but posture and head/eyes up and constantly moving can be done whether or not your bike is set up like a P-model
Title: Re: police traffic cop...can you do this?
Post by: Eagle Eye on August 03, 2014, 03:17:53 PM
A few months ago I took a course with the Contra Costa Sheriffs Department. It helped a lot. My turns have tightened up a lot, even under full load with luggage and passenger.

I'm eager to get some more training when I get my ride back. I'll check your site to see if you have any classes scheduled.
Title: Re: police traffic cop...can you do this?
Post by: Rickasha on August 03, 2014, 07:14:26 PM
Make no mistake, nothing about riding these courses is easy. It requires many hours of practice. We are seeing more and more competitions with civilian novice and expert categories. Most of us compete on stock bikes with no mods, it is a blast!!!!
Title: Re: police traffic cop...can you do this?
Post by: Rickasha on August 03, 2014, 07:27:15 PM
Handlebars you say, check these out.

http://youtu.be/3X82bpMvyw0
Title: Re: police traffic cop...can you do this?
Post by: kmh364 on August 08, 2014, 11:51:27 AM
While they wouldn't be my choice for MO drills, good on him! He does have good posture and he has to lean slightly forward, which certainly helps. Just goes to show proper technique and tons of practice are the key(s).
Title: Re: police traffic cop...can you do this?
Post by: Trapperdog on August 08, 2014, 02:35:50 PM
Make no mistake, nothing about riding these courses is easy. It requires many hours of practice. We are seeing more and more competitions with civilian novice and expert categories. Most of us compete on stock bikes with no mods, it is a blast!!!!
Love the pic with the tennis balls, hate cone courses with tennis balls.  :) great shot!  For the most part out here, in order to attend one of the few motor comp that allows civilians, you need to be an ex motor or be invited and pass the scrutiny of the hosting captain. I know Midwestern puts on a big civilian comp, but I believe you have to had taken their courses to attend.
Title: Re: police traffic cop...can you do this?
Post by: Eagle Eye on August 08, 2014, 07:42:27 PM
Bike's still at Jim's or I'd be out there practicing this weekend.  That's some pretty skillful riding! 
Title: Re: police traffic cop...can you do this?
Post by: Trapperdog on August 08, 2014, 08:53:37 PM
Bike's still at Jim's or I'd be out there practicing this weekend.  That's some pretty skillful riding!
What did the clutch problem turn out to be Ken?
Title: Re: police traffic cop...can you do this?
Post by: Eagle Eye on August 09, 2014, 12:13:23 AM
Not sure yet. He's rebuilding the entire hydraulic system. All the seals for the reservoir, slave cylinder and the master cylinder. 

The bike has had some pretty hard service the last three years; with parades, PGR missions, daily riding and two up touring under full load.  I can't complain, except for my lack of maintaining the DOT 4 fluid properly.  That's on me, nobody else.  Lesson learned. 
Title: Re: police traffic cop...can you do this?
Post by: Phantom309 on August 10, 2014, 06:28:39 AM
Damn good rider! Looks like fun, but no way would I want to put my clutch through all that.
Title: Re: police traffic cop...can you do this?
Post by: CVOJIMMYC on October 17, 2014, 06:58:49 PM
While there might be suspension mods (I.e., upgraded dampers), it looks like a stock RKP to me (muffler baffles have been obviously modded) He's sitting higher because police models come with the pedestal mounted sprung solo air seat and the stock bars keep you ideally leaning slightly forward, just like on the std RK.

If you're having trouble with side-to-side transitions, your solution begins and ends with HEAD TURNS! Want an extreme tight turn? Head over your shoulder in that direction...and keep it turning further as you turn further! Want fast transitions? The sooner you turn your head, the sooner your turn begins!

Of course the bars must follow the head turns! Counter-weighting may help you to get to full-lock and/or to dragging the boards consistently

Friction zone/throttle problems? You're in the sweet spot in the friction zone when moderate throttle variation no longer affects vehicle speed...just don't remove power to the rear wheel by closing the throttle or squeezing in the clutch. Ride Like A Pro's founder Jerry "Motorman" Palladino demo's offset slow cone weaves with ONE hand: locked throttle, LH modulating the clutch and RH on his mic describing what he's doing!

Dragging the rear brake helps stabilize the bike and helps control speed in addition to the friction zone by providing  an opposing force to the forward motion of the bike.

How do I know all this? I'm a skilled and practiced MSF RiderCoach that specializes in ERC's (BRCIi) and ARC's (sport bike course). 30yrs in the saddle, 10 as an R/C. I'm a grad of RLAP and was trained by Motorman and his wife. Many of my riding buddies and co-R/C's are MO's and/or MO Trainers. Two MO trainer buddies run NJRLAP, and I can hang with them easily.

To do what you see in the vid and be competitive in a police MO rodeo requires an obsessive desire and dedication to practice, practice, practice an inordinate number of hours. You will drop the bike, and you will burn-up clutches!

 That's a helluva lot of info  :nixweiss:
Title: Re: police traffic cop...can you do this?
Post by: CVOJIMMYC on October 17, 2014, 07:17:58 PM
How about the Seattle Cossacks , www.seattlecossacks.com   on old 45s, not to "threadjack" BUT
  We got to see them at a Nat HOG rally in Knoxville a few years back, very cool to watch !!
Title: Re: police traffic cop...can you do this?
Post by: Trapperdog on October 17, 2014, 10:36:08 PM
How about the Seattle Cossacks , www.seattlecossacks.com   on old 45s, not to "threadjack" BUT
  We got to see them at a Nat HOG rally in Knoxville a few years back, very cool to watch !!
Very cool, that would be a fun show to see
Title: Re: police traffic cop...can you do this?
Post by: TXGator on October 23, 2014, 01:37:39 PM
I have started practicing at the school parking lot and have scraped the boards once or twice while riding two up.  I feel like I am getting better but a long ways to go.
Title: Re: police traffic cop...can you do this?
Post by: Rickasha on October 25, 2014, 11:53:05 AM
I have started practicing at the school parking lot and have scraped the boards once or twice while riding two up.  I feel like I am getting better but a long ways to go.

  :2vrolijk_21:
Title: Re: police traffic cop...can you do this?
Post by: Cat Eye on October 25, 2014, 01:17:43 PM
What amazes me is the speed.

You can't turn that sharp going slow....and that is what I have the most trouble with...committing to  sharp turn at that rate of speed.  :'( :'( :'(
Title: Re: police traffic cop...can you do this?
Post by: Cat Eye on October 25, 2014, 01:38:19 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXu92d307KU

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