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Author Topic: My Concours is a Tank!!  (Read 5538 times)

Offline Burbs

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My Concours is a Tank!!
« on: September 12, 2011, 04:05:41 PM »
About 2 weeks ago my wife and took a 9 day tour down the Blue Ridge to North Carolina, and explored the area and rode the Dragon. I will be posting a ride report within the next few weeks.

We did take the BRP to head north back home to Massachusetts. At one point, we encountered a huge rain storm and pulled over in the grass to put our rain gear on. Once we were ready, we mounted up, and started to head out. Unfortunately my rear tire couldn't grip the grass to save it's life and fishtailed left.....right and then finally to the left where we both were thrown off. We were able to get the bike up afterwards, which was an incredible accomplishment itself with all the gear!  ::) After looking over the bike carefully, I didn't find any damage except for dirt on the left saddlebag. I was pleasantly surprised that the mirror didn't break off either. I couldn't help but laugh afterwards because it was funny and a bit embarassing  :-[, but it happens to the best of us. I was just so pleased that the bike was fine, especially with all the gear. Now I'm sure it would have been a different story if it were on the road, but I couldn't help but think that this thing is a tank.

-Chris
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Offline VirginiaJim

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Re: My Concours is a Tank!!
« Reply #1 on: September 12, 2011, 04:23:54 PM »
Glad everything turned out ok.  :thumbs:
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Offline jimmymac

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Re: My Concours is a Tank!!
« Reply #2 on: September 12, 2011, 04:44:32 PM »
Note to self, wet grass might be slick. ;)

Well yeah, it's a Kawi. It can't be killed by coventional weapons. 8)
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Offline ZG

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Re: My Concours is a Tank!!
« Reply #3 on: September 12, 2011, 05:05:34 PM »
Agreed, she is a behemoth for sure, heaviest bike I've ever had!!
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Offline Jeremy Mitchell

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Re: My Concours is a Tank!!
« Reply #4 on: September 12, 2011, 07:53:33 PM »
Hopefully your wife didn't hold it against you.  No damage to the bike and not having to sleep on the couch equals a good day.

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Offline Kazairl

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Re: My Concours is a Tank!!
« Reply #5 on: September 12, 2011, 08:30:17 PM »
I live down a dirt road about 3/4 of a mile. After a rain storm it gets pretty greasy. I know exactly how you feel. I haven't dumped it yet though. It's on my bucket list though. The very last one.
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Offline maxtog

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Re: My Concours is a Tank!!
« Reply #6 on: September 12, 2011, 09:03:27 PM »
Quote from: Burbs on September 12, 2011, 04:05:41 PM
Once we were ready, we mounted up, and started to head out. Unfortunately my rear tire couldn't grip the grass to save it's life and fishtailed left.....right and then finally to the left where we both were thrown off. We were able to get the bike up afterwards, which was an incredible accomplishment itself with all the gear!  ::) After looking over the bike carefully, I didn't find any damage except for dirt on the left saddlebag. I was pleasantly surprised that the mirror didn't break off either. I couldn't help but laugh afterwards because it was funny and a bit embarrassing 

Good news there is no damage!  I will assume yours is an 08/09 (no traction control).  I wonder how traction control would have helped or changed the outcome in that type of situation...
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Offline Pokey

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Re: My Concours is a Tank!!
« Reply #7 on: September 12, 2011, 10:33:11 PM »
Big ole girl can move on down the road though! :thumbs:
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Offline Kazairl

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Re: My Concours is a Tank!!
« Reply #8 on: September 12, 2011, 11:02:20 PM »
Quote from: maxtog on September 12, 2011, 09:03:27 PM
Good news there is no damage!  I will assume yours is an 08/09 (no traction control).  I wonder how traction control would have helped or changed the outcome in that type of situation...

 Most of the time i turn it off because with the traction control enabled you pretty much go nowhere.
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Offline martin_14

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Re: My Concours is a Tank!!
« Reply #9 on: September 13, 2011, 02:33:40 AM »
Quote from: Kazairl on September 12, 2011, 11:02:20 PM
Most of the time i turn it off because with the traction control enabled you pretty much go nowhere.

how's that?  ???
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Offline Conrad

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Re: My Concours is a Tank!!
« Reply #10 on: September 13, 2011, 05:19:39 AM »
Quote from: Pokey on September 12, 2011, 10:33:11 PM
Big ole girl can move on down the road though! :thumbs:

That she can!
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Offline maxtog

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Re: My Concours is a Tank!!
« Reply #11 on: September 13, 2011, 05:36:27 AM »
Quote from: Kazairl on September 12, 2011, 11:02:20 PM
Most of the time i turn it off because with the traction control enabled you pretty much go nowhere.

LOL- now THAT is what I call "control".
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Offline VirginiaJim

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Re: My Concours is a Tank!!
« Reply #12 on: September 13, 2011, 05:38:56 AM »
Quote from: Kazairl on September 12, 2011, 11:02:20 PM
Most of the time i turn it off because with the traction control enabled you pretty much go nowhere.

That brings up some interesting discussion points on the traction control for the 10's on up.  One, how is traction control implemented on the 10's on up?  Does it even work at low speeds at all?

As a side bar, traction control on my Prius involves pretty much that.  It shuts off driving power to the front wheels in a spin situation.  This makes it virtually useless going up a slick hill covered in snow (or so I've been  told).  I haven't tried this out personally as I park it whenever I hear the word snow and drive my Rav4 which as AWD.
'
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Offline maxtog

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Re: My Concours is a Tank!!
« Reply #13 on: September 13, 2011, 05:39:16 AM »
Quote from: martin_14 on September 13, 2011, 02:33:40 AM
how's that?  ???

There is only one drive wheel.  So theoretically, if it is 100% slipping, you will get no traction and it is not like traction control can direct the torque somewhere useful.... just off.   Of course, in that case, having the traction control off won't help either.

It certainly wouldn't be helpful in all the other cases of partial slipping,  in cases where reducing the power would restore traction, or to prevent significant slipping from starting in the first place.  Not sure I would ever turn mine off.
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Offline Kazairl

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Re: My Concours is a Tank!!
« Reply #14 on: September 13, 2011, 08:29:56 AM »
Quote from: maxtog on September 13, 2011, 05:36:27 AM
LOL- now THAT is what I call "control".

  Kind of defeats the purpose huh? But if you've ever been in mud with any vehicle you know that wheel speed is what will usually get you through it. With the traction control enabled you can't get any wheel speed. So I turn it off and fish tail all over the place until I finally get my self out. However, if the road is that bad my wheel speed may be up but actual road speed is still crawling.

   I've never tried it with a passenger though and I can fully understand how the OP dropped his bike. It is hard enough just keeping myself and the bike upright.

Quote from: VirginiaJim on September 13, 2011, 05:38:56 AM
That brings up some interesting discussion points on the traction control for the 10's on up.  One, how is traction control implemented on the 10's on up?  Does it even work at low speeds at all?

As a side bar, traction control on my Prius involves pretty much that.  It shuts off driving power to the front wheels in a spin situation.  This makes it virtually useless going up a slick hill covered in snow (or so I've been  told).  I haven't tried this out personally as I park it whenever I hear the word snow and drive my Rav4 which as AWD.
'

Yes it does work at slow speeds.  It works the same way as your Prius. If you're already idling in first gear it won't do much for you except keep you from twisting the throttle.
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Offline So Cal Joe

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Re: My Concours is a Tank!!
« Reply #15 on: September 13, 2011, 09:00:17 AM »
The reason the bike is hard is get up is because after it goes over it is laying flat on the ground, there are no crash bars to keep it part way up so your not starting to lift it from all the way down. A gold Wing weight 900lbs but because of the crash bars when it goes down the bars hold it up from laying on its side and it's not hard to pick up.
How to pick up a Goldwing up off the ground
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Offline Burbs

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Re: My Concours is a Tank!!
« Reply #16 on: September 14, 2011, 05:52:51 PM »
Quote from: jimmymac on September 12, 2011, 04:44:32 PM
Note to self, wet grass might be slick. ;)

Well yeah, it's a Kawi. It can't be killed by coventional weapons. 8)

Man you're not kidding!!! Wet grass sucks!

Quote from: Jeremy Mitchell on September 12, 2011, 07:53:33 PM
Hopefully your wife didn't hold it against you.  No damage to the bike and not having to sleep on the couch equals a good day.

Nah, we actually had a good laugh afterwards...........thankfully!

Quote from: Pokey on September 12, 2011, 10:33:11 PM
Big ole girl can move on down the road though! :thumbs:

And through the twisties!!!
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