Traffic light taunts
Discussion
Is it my imagination or are more people trying to beat each other away from the lights these days? Both in front of me and beside me, I have experienced the 'tit in the testemobile' trying it on.
The funniest thing is that I no longer rise to these challenges, leaving the desperately nonchalant challenger to roar away unopposed. It's lots of fun.
One theory could be that acceleration makes up for the public backlash against top speed. Anyone experienced the same and have any other theories?
The funniest thing is that I no longer rise to these challenges, leaving the desperately nonchalant challenger to roar away unopposed. It's lots of fun.
One theory could be that acceleration makes up for the public backlash against top speed. Anyone experienced the same and have any other theories?
try and race me off the lights today I just pulled away nice and easy as the sun was out 
At the next set of lights he did the same again but with front wheels spinning like crazy 
I just wouldn't take the bait today.
Hi Bruce,
I was only stirring things up a bit. I must admit to not taking on all-comers at the lights these days (bit more mature these days), although I have had my moments in the past.
I would never do a full side-stepping clutch-dumping standing start because things break and are expensive, anyway. Also, I only tend to out accelerate cars at lights if the road is narrowing ahead, and it is safer to get myself out of a sandwich situation.
If I was to nail a car, I would always try and ensure a tactical advantage (ie more horsepower) as:
1) it is safer, as you can leave them behgind quickly at relatively low speeds
and
2) I hate losing ;-)
Rgds
Domster
I was only stirring things up a bit. I must admit to not taking on all-comers at the lights these days (bit more mature these days), although I have had my moments in the past.
I would never do a full side-stepping clutch-dumping standing start because things break and are expensive, anyway. Also, I only tend to out accelerate cars at lights if the road is narrowing ahead, and it is safer to get myself out of a sandwich situation.
If I was to nail a car, I would always try and ensure a tactical advantage (ie more horsepower) as:
1) it is safer, as you can leave them behgind quickly at relatively low speeds
and
2) I hate losing ;-)
Rgds
Domster
quote:
I once took on a Superbike at the lights in the LC, and he must have browned his leathers when he could still hear the induction of twin Garrett T25s about two feet behind him after 200 yards.
what on earth were you driving?
A SB by definition is usually 1 litre or above. If you can keep up with a Blade or R1, I am very impressed !
Nice one, we like a challenge. Much more fun that a quitter.
C
It's not just lights !
Last summer I got caught up by a couple of R1's and a 996 in heavy traffic on a twisty. Fortunately, I know the road. First dubious overtaking spot I dropped 3 gears, nailed it and slipped past 4 cars.
None of the trailers got past a single car ! Took ages (like most of the coast) to catch me back up. Had me smilin for weeks !
Mind you, I was on me bird (Fnarr Fnarr) and with the aftermarket exhausts and fixed luggage it don't look too recognisable from the back. Prabably wondered what the F*!£, when I took off like ding bat.
Oh for another glorious early Summer like last year....
Last summer I got caught up by a couple of R1's and a 996 in heavy traffic on a twisty. Fortunately, I know the road. First dubious overtaking spot I dropped 3 gears, nailed it and slipped past 4 cars.
None of the trailers got past a single car ! Took ages (like most of the coast) to catch me back up. Had me smilin for weeks !
Mind you, I was on me bird (Fnarr Fnarr) and with the aftermarket exhausts and fixed luggage it don't look too recognisable from the back. Prabably wondered what the F*!£, when I took off like ding bat.
Oh for another glorious early Summer like last year....
And-
A couple summers ago I was in my Alfa and got caught up by a Flying Banana. He had Left the pack he was with and was chasing me ! Anyway, suffice it to say my Alfa gave its best and the VTR got his knee down several times in my rear view mirror. I reckon we both enjoyed ourselves.
When we caught up other traffic, I had to put my sensible hat back on and he pulled over to wait for his mates.
Mind you - that Alfa was a corker. It would pull like a train above 4000 and hit the rev limiter before you expected. Luck of the draw with Italian machinery, and that was a good-un.
A couple summers ago I was in my Alfa and got caught up by a Flying Banana. He had Left the pack he was with and was chasing me ! Anyway, suffice it to say my Alfa gave its best and the VTR got his knee down several times in my rear view mirror. I reckon we both enjoyed ourselves.
When we caught up other traffic, I had to put my sensible hat back on and he pulled over to wait for his mates.
Mind you - that Alfa was a corker. It would pull like a train above 4000 and hit the rev limiter before you expected. Luck of the draw with Italian machinery, and that was a good-un.
Spent Saturday night in Sittingbourne (send letters of sympathy and donations to the address below ... ). It is like an elephants' graveyard for Nova's and XR3s avec the usual bean cans, skirting board and book shelves. Good thing they all had fog lights for the dangerous 10mph precession down the high street.
Stevenage. Nova 1.6 GTE. Bean can. Big pounding stereo. Fat tyres.
Revs its nuts off, drops clutch, incinerates tyres. I am still in 1st while he is getting into 2nd or 3rd...
Felt tempted, couldn't be bothered with a big show of speed, just cruised past.
The XJ is great for being more relaxed on, unlike hardcore sporting tackle. Now I know that I can get past almost anything, there seems less point - except to deliberatly annoy people ! but indeed, what better reason?
C
Revs its nuts off, drops clutch, incinerates tyres. I am still in 1st while he is getting into 2nd or 3rd...
Felt tempted, couldn't be bothered with a big show of speed, just cruised past.
The XJ is great for being more relaxed on, unlike hardcore sporting tackle. Now I know that I can get past almost anything, there seems less point - except to deliberatly annoy people ! but indeed, what better reason?
C
Yeah, sorry hertsbiker, LC was my Lotus Carlton.
One magazine tested it at 0-60 in 4.8, and it has some fat rubber at the back... 420 ft/lbs of torque going through a limited slip diff. It is quite handy.
To be honest, the reason I was glued to the rump of the bike - I think it was a GSXR750 - was that:
1) it was actually about 0-50 in the time/distance travelled
2) it was on a slight curve, so he was obviously worried about tank slappers etc, whereas I had four fat tyres to make life easier
3) the LC has an overboost facility for a few seconds in the right circumstance, allowing 1 bar boost not 0.7 bar boost. This in effect would give about 420 bhp before the engine management reduces it. Esprit S4s also have a similar, not widely-publicised, function. Because most 0-60 timings are done both ways, and the best of many runs are used only, then the engine management overboost will have been and gone - it is very fussy when it allows it
4) he was trying hard, but may not have been the *nuttiest* biker in the world
That said, an LC won't beat a superbike with decent rider under most circumstances, I'm the first to admit that. But it may surprise now and again! You have to remember that when you feather the clutch or throttle to prevent a massive wheelie off the line, we've just unloaded 420 ft/lbs through two 275 width Eagle F1s ;-)
Rgds
Domster
One magazine tested it at 0-60 in 4.8, and it has some fat rubber at the back... 420 ft/lbs of torque going through a limited slip diff. It is quite handy.
To be honest, the reason I was glued to the rump of the bike - I think it was a GSXR750 - was that:
1) it was actually about 0-50 in the time/distance travelled
2) it was on a slight curve, so he was obviously worried about tank slappers etc, whereas I had four fat tyres to make life easier
3) the LC has an overboost facility for a few seconds in the right circumstance, allowing 1 bar boost not 0.7 bar boost. This in effect would give about 420 bhp before the engine management reduces it. Esprit S4s also have a similar, not widely-publicised, function. Because most 0-60 timings are done both ways, and the best of many runs are used only, then the engine management overboost will have been and gone - it is very fussy when it allows it
4) he was trying hard, but may not have been the *nuttiest* biker in the world
That said, an LC won't beat a superbike with decent rider under most circumstances, I'm the first to admit that. But it may surprise now and again! You have to remember that when you feather the clutch or throttle to prevent a massive wheelie off the line, we've just unloaded 420 ft/lbs through two 275 width Eagle F1s ;-)
Rgds
Domster
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