Riders: The Mechanical Appreciation Society

Here's the question: does understanding your ride mechanically contribute positively to your riding ability or safety? Does mechanical appreciation heighten the riding experience?

Here's the story: (please excuse a digression - besides, the info may be useful...)

My coworker is planning, after many discussions, comparisons, showroom visits, youtube views etc, to purchase a 2013 Honda CBR500RA (with ABS). However, he does suffer from a lack of inseam length. The CBR500R is light enough and small(ish) enough that it is not overwhelming.

Today, however, my coworker, out of the blue, asked my opinion of a lowering kit. The dealer where he is buying the bike is the sole North American distributor for a certain brand and I guess they got to discussing the option during a recent visit. The lowering kit would potentially lower the CBR's seat height by 50mm (before carving the seat cushion). How does this lowering kit work? Research project!

The kit manufacturer website says: "In rear we use a high quality replacement linkage arm in both 30mm and 50mm lower. [It] bolts in as a replacement over the standard linkage. The forks require a simple disassemble and installation of our 30mm destrokers and pre load spacers. We slid the forks up through the triple clamps a further 20mm to match the rear (as our destrokers only lower the forks 30mm, sliding forks through the clamps is only needed for the popular 50mm kit)."

Uh, OK, fine...

But I still can't find any pics of what destrokers or pre-load spacers are nor what is changed (before/after) - what I've seen so far is: take this out, put this in, tighten the bolt/nuts. Git 'er done!

I get that shorter springs still have to work the same as the original components - they stiffen as the compression progresses (soft at the start, then harden as the fork compresses further). But there's going to be less room for the shortened spring to compress ("travel") at the outset with a lowering kit.

In reading around, so far, I found it's important to lower both the rear and front in order to maintain the bike's geometry and weight distribution. Changes can have a large effect on the bike's handling characteristics and ride, and thus affects safety.

(No I am not affiliated with the manufacturer or dealer...)

So, to get back to my coworker's dilemma: changing the height may deprive him of some riding comfort and also may affect how much load he can carry. The trade off is boosting his confidence... and as I mentioned in a previous post confidence is very important to enjoying your ride.

But, after I looked up the basic information on lowering kits, what components and strategies they use, including the kit he was interested in installing, and passing that on to him, he said "yeah I read that but I didn't get it. I just ride"

I know that seems a little ungrateful, and he was joking to a point but as I work in a techie field (computers - I know: who doesn't these days?) I see this attitude all the time: "I don't want to understand, just give me the bottom line (or fix it)"

Riding a motorcycle, though, is a skill that requires the melding of man and machine (ladies, I am using the inclusive version of "man" in order to maintain the alliterative effect). As is often stated, riding isn't something that just happens, it is a skill that has to be practiced. There is a great feeling of accomplishment as you improve - it becomes even more exciting. The fun is not necessarily the speed but in doing something well. And looking totally cool while doing it! (Can I get an "Amen!"?)

When riding, for safety if nothing else, you must be aware of your ride and your environment, how it sounds, how it feels, how it responds in different riding situations and why. The more experience/miles (kms) you have, the better you understand your bike - for me that only enhances the experience.

One can make the argument that many (if not most) drivers these day have no clue how their car actually works. Doubly so for those "aiming" vehicles with automatic transmissions ("driving" supposes some effort or skill). People know to "turn the key, move the thing to "D", step on the right foot thing to speed up and the left foot thing to slow down and just point it to where you want to go. What's so hard? The guy at the station can find the gas-filler thingy hole".

They feel they don't need to understand. To me, that's scary. And sad - they are missing so much (even for cars). However, drivers aren't really interested in the mechanics of their car. Until repairs are required and they complain that mechanics are taking advantage of their ignorance.

But "doing" driving is not the same as enjoying it. If you enjoy riding or driving, if your vehicle is more than merely a mode of transport, I don't see how you can't develop an appreciation for the machine and how it works. And the more you appreciate, the more compelled you are to grow your knowledge.

I enjoy the British show "Top Gear" - not sure if I identify myself as a "petrol-head or not - but the point of the exotic/performance cars they showcase are precisely the same as the reasons we ride - the thrill that comes from skillfully eliciting a brilliant performance from a mechanical masterpiece. The thrill may not be constant - we all get stuck in traffic from time to time - but there is always the anticipation of carving that curve or the rumble/roar of acceleration is in the near future.

It may seem girly, but there is an emotional relationship between the rider and the ride. I know you don't want to admit it, guys. Like any relationship or bond, the more those involved understand and appreciate each other, the more fun it is. A mechanical appreciation is required to reach higher levels of ecstasy and fulfillment.

If you are concerned this is a one-way relationship, don't worry, your ride loves you back.