Bottom clencher

[Blue_SV650S]

How often do you have a ‘clencher’ moment on your bike … you know … ohhhh that was a bit tight … ohhhh … the back end nearly went there … holy smokes, they nearly took me out etc etc …

I’d say I average 1 a ride …

[Baph]

Bottom clenchers due to other drivers nearly hitting me probably something like 1 a week.

Bottom clenchers because of my riding (too hot into corners etc) maybe 1 a month if that.

IMO, if I was clentching once on every ride on average, I'd be looking at changing my riding a little.

[Luckypants]

Bottom clenchers due to other drivers nearly hitting me probably something like 1 a week.

Bottom clenchers because of my riding (too hot into corners etc) maybe 1 a month if that.

IMO, if I was clentching once on every ride on average, I'd be looking at changing my riding a little.
Wot he said

[Ceri JC]

Bottom clenchers due to other drivers nearly hitting me, probably less than once a month on average (had two recently in a week and I realised how long it had been since it'd last happened).

Bottom clenchers because of my riding, maybe once every 3 months. I have 'spirited' moments, where the bars wag, front goes light, etc. more frequently than that, but when I'm going for it, I half expect it and it doesn't worry me.

As Baph says,

IMO, if I was clentching once on every ride on average, I'd be looking at changing my riding a little.

[Blue_SV650S]

...IMO, if I was clentching once on every ride on average, I'd be looking at changing my riding a little.

If you don't get your heart rate raised at least once, what is the point!?!? ;)

[Baph]

If you don't get your heart rate raised at least once, what is the point!?!? ;)

I can do that without clenching my bottom ;)

[MiniMatt]

If you don't get your heart rate raised at least once, what is the point!?!? ;)

Suppose I class a "clench" moment as something with a reasonable chance of a fairing-tarmac interface situation, perhaps if with hindsight I'd judge a 10% chance of an off that's a proper "clencher". If I was having one of those every ride then every ten rides I'd be sliding along in the gutter :D

Have plenty of "he could of had me off there" moments, but these are generally precursed by "he might do something silly here, be ready to take avoiding action".

As for self caused clencher moments, not too many really. I'm generally very cautious into unknown corners and only once I've done a sighting lap will I start to push it, and even then incrementally. I'd say Baph's guestimates are pretty accurate in my case too.

At the very grave risk of sounding like I should be donning my pipe & slippers I'd suggest that pushing it to look for clencher moments on every ride is going to end in tears.

[Baph]

At this point I think I have to point out that my guesstimates are proposed with the fact that I do roughly 600-700miles a week on the bike (depending how far I ride on the weekend). 1 or so clenchers (due to me) in 2400miles isn't that bad going. :D

[Blue_SV650S]

Suppose I class a "clench" moment as something with a reasonable chance of a fairing-tarmac interface situation, perhaps if with hindsight I'd judge a 10% chance of an off that's a proper "clencher". If I was having one of those every ride then every ten rides I'd be sliding along in the gutter


To be honest I never take it for granted that I will get 'home' before ANY ride ... its actually quite a nice feeling shutting the garage door on a Friday after work, thinking ‘well not this week then’! :o

[Ceri JC]

If you don't get your heart rate raised at least once, what is the point!?!? ;)

Well, as I say, I have 'spirited' moments quite regularly, which get my heart going in a much more pleasent manner than nearly going over the bonnet of a car at 50mph. I'd class a clencher as something you're surprised by/weren't expecting, as in 'bloody hell, where did that tractor come from!' or that you saw in time, but only narrowly avoided.

[Baph]

To be honest I never take it for granted that I will get 'home' before ANY ride ... its actually quite a nice feeling shutting the garage door on a Friday after work, thinking ‘well not this week then’! :o
Now see, I understand that mentality perfectly, and even have that feeling from time to time. But I still don't have anywhere near as many "tense" moments.

[Blue_SV650S]

...

...

Its an average ... some rides I get 0, some rides I have 2-3!! :D Funnily enough I tend to get less if I am 'in the zone' than if I am doodling ... as Ceri JC alluded too ... you are expecting the bike to misbehave if you are being naughty, and your senses are heightened to your surroundings ... but riding along slowly, hence in a bit of a daze can result in 'unexpected' moments!! :smt095

[Warthog]

You are going to get yourself killed sharpish having clenchers once a ride! I have one every few weeks, then I chastise myself and try to figure out why it nearly went wrong and never do it again. Personal riding style preference of course, but I'll still be cruising the roads long after you are in a bush :-P

[Baph]

but I'll still be cruising the roads long after you are in a bush :-P
An SV in the bush is worth.....



TAXI!

[DanAbnormal]

I have a couple a ride when commuting. Nature of the beast. Most of the time people either pull out on me at junctions or move over without looking on the M'way. I've got used to expecting it now and know most of the tell tale signs, but you can never expect them all. Sometimes I create my own buttclenchers but mostly it's idiot cage/van drivers.

[K]

Only if I really need a poo. ;)

[Blue_SV650S]

You are going to get yourself killed sharpish having clenchers once a ride! I have one every few weeks, then I chastise myself and try to figure out why it nearly went wrong and never do it again. Personal riding style preference of course, but I'll still be cruising the roads long after you are in a bush :-P

I realise that ... hence that nice feeling when I close the garage door on a Friday ... its the same when I close it after a trackday/race meet ... its always good to know you have cheated death one more time!! ... where bikes are concerned, I have been doing/experiencing that for about 20 years now, so had a fairly good innings so far!!! :D Sad fact is I can't see it lasting another 20 years :cry:

All this does not prevent me from riding, or riding the way I choose to, but I am not oblivious to the risk/s I am under/taking every time I straddle that saddle. :o

Only if I really need a poo. ;)
I tend to get off the bike at that point and 'do' it in a bush!!!! :D

[Blue_SV650S]

Oh and just out of interest ... has anyone else here ever had to be to be resuscitated after a crash?!?!

If it weren’t for some phat paramedic that jumped up and down on my chest to get my heart and breathing going again, I’d have essentially died 5 years ago (perhaps many of you lot don’t, but some people actually think that would have been a pitty!! :D) ...

Bearing in mind I have been resuscitated before, regardless of how I ride and my attitude to risk (every hobby I have is risky!! :D), perhaps you can start to see why I have the mentality toward ‘I might die today’ or certainly not take it for granted that I won’t that I do? It’s a bit sick, but I never plan to far in advance for this reason …

Anyone else think like this?? I think you need to have just about died to know what I mean!! :D

[skint]

Rarely perhaps less than once a month, that is until today...

Brought Kamakazy's new gixxer 1k into work. Only one clencher - as I left home and then released when I got to work :help: :smt119 Just emptied me trousers!! :) Sh*t that bike's fast ... :shaking2:

[Bluewolf]

Have plenty of "he could of had me off there" moments, but these are generally precursed by "he might do something silly here, be ready to take avoiding action".

:stupid:

Like the BMW driver who nearly shoved me off the overpass on the way back to work earlier, I hope your next sh!t is a hedgehog you idiot...:smt067

[Baph]

Oh and just out of interest ... has anyone else here ever had to be to be resuscitated after a crash?!?!

Anyone else think like this?? I think you need to have just about died to know what I mean!! :D

Resusitated after a crash, yes, but not on a bike or in a car. Go-kart (off road, racing on a tarmac track, go-kart was seriously over powered for it's weight).

I understand fully what you're talking about with the viewpoint of risk though, and I'm much the same. In my case it's a medical condition that means in a few years (uneducated guesstimate is by the time I'm 40) I'll be lucky if I can sit up, let alone walk (or sit on the bike etc etc).

Why not live life however I want, whilst I'm able to? If I go before I can't walk, personally, bonus, less suffering. The only thing that holds me back is knowing I'd leave people behind who care, and would be upset should the worst happen. I'm also fully insured in the event of death etc because I know I push the limits sometimes.

You don't have to nearly die to understand life/death ;)

[kwak zzr]

i voted "its just a matter of time" i find myself in this situation alot:(

[LouLou]

From a female point of view...this thread is really unappealing, bottom clenching isn't really that attractive is it? As a newb to riding I guess I have all that to look forward to lol...as for my off the other day, I was too surprised to clench altho I have to add, I did NOT have brown trousers afterwards!! ;)

[wtdafk]

Pretty much every day i have a silly cow in a 4x4 nearly take me out in the back lanes, the other day she was coming round a blinde bend doing 40 and this lane has only room for 1 car! this time i pulled in sharpesh on the bloody gravel n mud and she goes past bout 40 without slowing down straight over a huge puddle and covers me in mud!!!!
every time this happends i think i should go after her but il problly end up in trouble if i do something like that.

What can i do!!! was thinking of a home made stinger trap the police use what u guys think she goes the same route as me every day and she has to learn some way!!????

[Baph]

What can i do!!! was thinking of a home made stinger trap the police use what u guys think she goes the same route as me every day and she has to learn some way!!????

Causing damage to her vehicle would be a civil offence if not criminal.

Personally, I would make a mental note of the licence plate and report her to the local police (call in the station & do it in person). Vent your spleen. Yes, it's a back road, but if it's so narrow then doing 40mph around a blind bend is dangerous driving IMO.

Yes you could take a different route, however, that may be longer etc. So for every day that you're passed dangerously by this 4x4, pop in the police station & complain. They'll soon get the point, and if you can provide a regular time of day that she's passing, she might just find a marked car ready & waiting for her around that bend. Even if nothing comes of it, it'll give her food for thought.

If plod are dragging their heels, camera solution on your bike & keep handing that in at the desk in the police station until they get the point.

[Blue_SV650S]

Resusitated after a crash, yes, but not on a bike or in a car. Go-kart (off road, racing on a tarmac track, go-kart was seriously over powered for it's weight)...

I am just getting into karts meseln 8) vroom vroom!! :driving:

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb319/blue_sv650s/MyGoKart.jpg?t=1182884343

From a female point of view...this thread is really unappealing, bottom clenching isn't really that attractive is it? As a newb to riding I guess I have all that to look forward to lol...as for my off the other day, I was too surprised to clench altho I have to add, I did NOT have brown trousers afterwards!! ;)

It depends who's bottom it is .... :D

as a noob I'd have thought that you get them pretty frequently ... you know everything being a bit 'new' and all :-D

[Baph]

Blue, that's a fairly decent kart, but are you still on 50/125cc engines with watered down juice? That kart definitely looks like a small engine.

Probably the best indoor kart I had the pleasure of driving was a 250cc twin (as in it had 2 engines!!).

The kind of karting I got heavily into was this sort of thing:
http://www.s2spowersports.com/images/250/Gallery/DSC01984-400.JPG

Imagine that, with a Ford Seirra engine shoe-horned in the rear (framework suitable modified, and front weighted down slightly) with 4WD thrown in. Those things don't half shift!!

[seedy100]

Bottom clecher is down to about 1 per 750- 1000 miles nowdays.
When I first got the bike it was more like 1 per 75 - 100 miles.

Some of the improvement is due to my riding improving.
Some is due to things that were clenchers now being common place.


The improvement would be greated but average speed has also increased significantly!

[Blue_SV650S]

…

I consider that more of a 'buggy' than a kart?!!? Either way, cool :) I drove one of them on a stag doo (not with a sierra engine in it mind!! :D)

Although a world apart from the sort of thing you would hire at a kart track, my kart is pretty shoddy as these things go (compared to the £'000s karts that reside in the paddock!! :D) The one you drove sounds like a 'pro kart'... here's a pro-kart http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HONDA-PRO-KART-TWIN-ENGINED_W0QQitemZ140131735215QQihZ004QQcategoryZ12 2306QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem ... good fun I am sure, but not really in the same league as what I have got/into. Looking at the auction and the numbers on the side of the engines, looks like they are 5.5hp each motor … so 11hp all in. Mine is ~22-24hp and only 1 light 2-smoke to haul about ... not 2 phat 4-smokes ...

Basically mine is a tuned 100cc 2-smoke, with the right gearing it'll do 100mph ... that isn't BS either (don't worry, I kinda sniggered at the person when I was first told that too :D) ... anyway I currently have mine geared for 85mph (done the maths) as that is about right for the track I go to, and it pulls that easily, so with appropriate gearing 100mph I can now see is probably not an unrealistic figure ... and with your botty virtually scraping the floor, that does seem quick!! :shock:

Here is a vid of my kart with its old engine ... it was geared for about 80 and although it doesn’t look like it, you can hear it was flat out, therefore would be doing that sort of speed just before the chicane.

Here it is in Blue_ action 8) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyH7a9bPv1k

The kart I chase in the 2nd part of the vid is a Rotax 125cc Liquid cooled job 8) ... my new engine is about 20% more powerful than the one I was using in the vid, and I can just about keep with them in a straight line now 8) The Rotax's are wider and have better brakes, so can get me into the corners mind :cry:


I am going karting this weekend if anyone lives near Andover and wants a gander at what it is all about, I underestimated just how nutty it was!!!! :)

[Baph]

Yea, that looks a lot like the kart I had a few blasts in, though it looks to be a 160cc twin (5.5hp each side as you said)??

I see a lot of two foot action (revs stay high whilst you're braking) in that video, something that a lot of racers (and almost every noob) doesn't think about. Pro-karts have an automatic gearbox so why not abuse the clutch & keep revs high? :D

The thing I remember most about that type of kart was loving the semi-auto gearboxes. A lever near the fuel tank (usually in a god awful place to get to) that slides to the side briefly to change up/down gear on the sequential box), most people used to leave them alone to do their job, but I always preferred driving with one hand & changing gear when I wanted to for that extra bit of an edge.

Until you get into it & start sliding sideways with your ar*e on the floor you don't appreciate just how nuts the sport is. I assume you've seen Gixxer-kart (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-269584588851996403)? I so want to make one with a 'Busa engine :D Don't forget Gixxer-kart vs Dodge Viper (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rPpoK3A8aE)too!!

[northwind]

I haven't had one for a while. I don't really seem to do them anymore, I get a reaction afterwards but I just seem to get on with it. Last time I can remember, I was running just a hair wide in a very tight corner on a b-road, running the centre line, and I swear my wheels passed under the bumper of a car that was likewise too tight to the centre in the other lane. That was hairy as ****.

The worst I can ever remember was the guy on the ninja who botched a 90 degree corner coming towards me (right for me, left for him), crossed out of his lane into mine, and then passed me on my left between me and the kerb. If I'd been riding a bit tighter that day and using the full road width, that's exactly where i'd have been, and I don't for a second think he put it there through pure skill...

[Jester666]

As I seem to be averaging 1000+ miles a week in and around London I have lots of "sphincter" moments!

4 yesterday alone!! 3 of those at high speed on the M25.

[Alpinestarhero]

I've had a few so far, all part of the learning process though

Matt

[Pedrosa]

Ignoring actions made by other road users. If they are happening more than say 1 a month you need to take a good hards look at your riding. Mainly your observation and judgement in my mind. If such instances are what create a buzz for you then you really are missing the whole point about enjoying riding a bike.:rolleyes:

[sinbad]

Ignoring actions made by other road users. If they are happening more than say 1 a month you need to take a good hards look at your riding. Mainly your observation and judgement in my mind. If such instances are what create a buzz for you then you really are missing the whole point about enjoying riding a bike.:rolleyes:

I agree. It's not obligatory for motorcycling to be dangerous.

Last one I had was a couple of weeks ago when I crossed from right to left of the lane on a well used B-road in a brief straight part within a sequence of corners (as you do). It was the evening, light, but trees cast dark shadows and I didn't see the beachworth of sand and gravel in between the cars wheel tracks. Both tyres slid and bike yawed to the right. "ShhhhiiTT!" :)
I was lucky, and I learnt a lesson.

[Blue_SV650S]

... If such instances are what create a buzz for you then you really are missing the whole point about enjoying riding a bike.:rolleyes:

Why is that missing the point? ... What is the point?!?! :confused:

[LouLou]

It depends who's bottom it is .... :D

as a noob I'd have thought that you get them pretty frequently ... you know everything being a bit 'new' and all :-D

It's not ladylike!! Women don't bottom clench and we dont fart either ;)

Unlike men!! :-D

[clm2112]

Haven't had one in a few years...last time was when my wife got on the binders hard on her CBR600F2 right in front of me. Caught me looking the wrong direction and damn near side-swiped her. We were riding in staggered formation, so I still had room to squeek by..just scared the heck outta me for a few moments.

[Blue_SV650S]

As I seem to be averaging 1000+ miles a week in and around London I have lots of "sphincter" moments!

4 yesterday alone!! 3 of those at high speed on the M25.

Aha, now there is a man that can relate!! 8)

I do less mileage and not through London (hence 1, not 5+ :D), but its the same 'traffic' problem that makes up a large percentage of my 'clenchers'. If I wasn’t so keen/tight filtering then I guess it would be less, there is always a risk of pullouts, u-turners etc which are also increased in danger if you are ‘keen’ ;)

I have been doing the same journey for about 10 years now, so I kinda got a bit complacent as I feel I have ‘seen it all before’ … but there is always that random element that catches you out from time to time ;)

Sure if I sat inline with all the virtually stationary traffic, then the ‘risk’ would largely evaporate, but if I did that then I might as well commute in MY cage ;) So I don’t intend to change how I ride, but realise it’s probably only a matter of time :cry:

[Pedrosa]

Why is that missing the point? ... What is the point?!?! :confused:


Sorry my friend but I will have to allow you to figure that out for yourself.If you can't see it then the loss surely is not mine.;) I have been riding for more years than I like to recall these days and am no slouch when the correct circumstances,(in my view) arise. Therefore you are not receiving feedback from some BM riding PC biker here.:rolleyes:

[Blue_SV650S]

stuff

Don't weasel out ... come on, in a few words (or a short paragraph if needs be) what is 'the point' ... if you can write it down then I might be able to understand what you mean by 'the point' ... if you can't at lest begin to put it into words, then you probably don't know what 'it' is yourself!! ;)

So stop talking/writing guff and write it down ;)

[the_runt69]

Riding in London traffic you usually have one or two moments a day, some may just be being over cautious about people at juntions.

[sinbad]

Riding in London traffic you usually have one or two moments a day, some may just be being over cautious about people at juntions.
One or two "oh ****!" moments in a day? I think we need to look at the definition of "Bottom Clencher".
We're surely not talking about predictable things here are we? It has to be a moment where you think you are probably going to crash, not where you know you can stop yourself crashing and not something that happens a lot either. Surely?

If I were having one or two of those each day, I would seriously think about putting away the bike for good, because statistically, you're heading for a crash, and soon.

[Pedrosa]

Don't weasel out ... come on, in a few words (or a short paragraph if needs be) what is 'the point' ... if you can write it down then I might be able to understand what you mean by 'the point' ... if you can't at lest begin to put it into words, then you probably don't know what 'it' is yourself!! ;)

So stop talking/writing guff and write it down ;)

Sorry my friend but this is the extent of any reply to you. I do not have the inclination to go over this in a nice slow A to B manner. If you don't see it,you don't see it. Dont mask that with blabber. Get over it, my point was missed by you. Not the worse thing in the world.:p

[Well Oiled]

If I averaged one bottom clenching moment per ride I'd pack in. Sooner or later a bottom clencher will turn into a bad accident.

[Blue_SV650S]

One or two "oh ****!" moments in a day? I think we need to look at the definition of "Bottom Clencher".
We're surely not talking about predictable things here are we? It has to be a moment where you think you are probably going to crash, not where you know you can stop yourself crashing and not something that happens a lot either. Surely?

If I were having one or two of those each day, I would seriously think about putting away the bike for good, because statistically, you're heading for a crash, and soon.

Quite ... a bottom clencher to me is an 'oooh thats a bit tight' (tighter than I would have liked/meant) ... 'hummm that b1tch pulled out ... but I saw it in time/predicted it, but still had to avoid her' ... 'oops, the back end stepped out a bit there, didn't mean for that to happen' .... sort of stuff ... you know ... sorta a bit closer than you expected/wanted ...

... not an 'oh feck I am dead here' moment!! ... they are a less frequent ... but I still get them!! :D Don't you?!!? :smt103

[Baph]

Quite ... a bottom clencher to me is an 'oooh thats a bit tight' (tighter than I would have liked/meant) ... 'hummm that b1tch pulled out ... but I saw it in time/predicted it, but still had to avoid her' ... 'oops, the back end stepped out a bit there, didn't mean for that to happen' .... sort of stuff ... you know ... sorta a bit closer than you expected/wanted ...

... not an 'oh feck I am dead here' moment!! ... they are a less frequent ... but I still get them!! :D Don't you?!!? :smt103

Ah, now see, I took you to mean the latter.

What you meant as a bottom clencher... If a gap is a little tight it's because I put my bike there, it's VERY rare that a gap will be tighter than I thought it was a second or so before being there. Plowsie will verify that even with a fully loaded bike, I don't mind tight gaps.

Someone pulling out can't be prevented, but if it surprises you in any way shape or form, then IMO, observation needs work. Anyone sat at a junction waiting to come out I assume they will & alter my line/speed to suit (even taking to the wrong side of the road if space allows).

I had a moment on the AR actually, and even that I wouldn't call a bottom clencher. I'd made my plans & wherever the chips fell, they fell. The situation was that I was riding defensively behind a novice rider, and saw a car coming up behind me. I went to close the gap between me & the novice & the car tried to overtake me. My position (my front wheel at the side of the front riders rear wheel) meant that for the car to hit the person I was protecting, I'd be on the floor for sure. I knew the car wasn't going to do that. This was also coming up to a blind crest. A VERY dangerous overtake IMO. So I stood on my horn (partly to get the front riders attention as to what was happening, and partly to warn oncoming traffic). At that point, I'd conciously made the decision that *IF* something came over the hill, I was going to hit both brakes HARD, and dive left to try & avoid the carnage, throwing the bike on the grass to my left if I had to.

I'd made a plan for worst case scenario, all in a few split seconds. It wasn't a bottom clencher (but could well of been for those behind me).

[northwind]

I think I did about 20 miles on the AR with my bottom thoroughly clenched after having a big ridiculous both-ends wobble off a wee kicker in the first, wet section :rolleyes: So I take it back, I do still get them after all.

[SoulKiss]

I kind of agree about the regular ones riding in London, but as I am expecting idiots to do supid things its more a fist clencher moment :P

However like Northy I DID have a serious one on the AR when some in-bred looking yokel on a quad decided that after about 4 or 5 bikes went past, he wasnt going to wait for the others that he could see coming and dived from the farm road on the right across the road and tried to slot himself into the space between 2 bikes doing about 60 miles and hour and not that far apart.

Still proves that

a) My brakes work
b) Pilot Road 2's can help keep the bike up under emergency stop conditions at speed on a wet road
c) Hyperpro front springs really dont dive as much as standard ones
d) I'm better at this biking lark than I thought I was :P

[northwind]

Ah, that knob on the quad, I saw him pull out but didn't realise it was so close. Mine wasn't really a big one, doubt I was in much actual risk, it just knocked me right out of the groove for ages and made me really paranoid.

[SoulKiss]

Ah, that knob on the quad, I saw him pull out but didn't realise it was so close. Mine wasn't really a big one, doubt I was in much actual risk, it just knocked me right out of the groove for ages and made me really paranoid.

Front tyre was probably within a foot of contact with him at its closest.

[Luckypants]

Had one too when front, then rear let go on an S-bend on the A65. Both tyres gripped again and my lovely new steed was saved from the kiss of tarmac..... Seeing as I was not pushing it, reckon a bit of crap / oil / etc on the road got me.

[Lozzo]

It's not ladylike!! Women don't bottom clench and we dont fart either ;)

Unlike men!! :-D

My ex-wife never bottom clenched, she would never have got up enough strength to shift **** cheeks that huge together, and if she had no-one would have noticed.

She did fart though.

[oldie]

I've had so many bottom clenchers over the past 43 years of riding that I find that it no longer unclenches. Makes it difficult to swagger!
I'm with you Blue!
Oldie