Steering a Nomad with no hands

dantama · 08-10-2009, 06:12 PM

I made this video for another site that has an expert who states that you can't turn a motorcycle without using the bars. I wanted to refute the claim, as I knew it wasn't true.

I thought I'd post the video even though it was for another site.

**Jared** · 08-10-2009, 06:46 PM

Good for you Dan!

cactusjack · 08-10-2009, 06:48 PM

That's pretty cool, Dan! You were riding on sacred ground there. I hope you were appropriately reverent.

dogdoc · 08-10-2009, 07:02 PM

you have your electronic cruise control on Dan to give it gas.? I see its all in the lean too.

isaiahsdad · 08-10-2009, 07:15 PM

Totally off topic here, but kind of. A few years ago a friend of mine took me up in the OKC Police helicopter, an MD500. Wow what a ride THAT was. Anyhow, at one point in the ride, he stopped the helicopter, trimmed it out, and told me to sit still. He let go of the stick, and leaned forward and the damn thing started to fly forward. He leaned back and it stopped. Leaned left and it went left. It was the coolest thing I ever saw. OK, back on track. How anyone could say you COULDN'T steer a bike hands free, has obviously never ridden one. Good job Dan

Yellow Jacket · 08-10-2009, 07:46 PM

Some people are just ignorant. I learned as a kid to steer my bicycle with out the handle bars. When I moved up to motorcycles I naturally tried it on them. Of course it works.

Even though I can do it on the Nomad, it's not practical or really safe. (As Dan stated in the video.)

jonsamson · 08-10-2009, 08:10 PM

I did that all the time when I was riding a bike, sometimes in bike races that was the only way to give your arms and shoulders a rest and get a drink or eat a banna. Of course this was on a bicycle long distance races with a max speed of 25 mph, not a 800 lb cruiser at the same speed. The laws of physices still apply though, and the rule of counter sterring is nothing more than forcing the bike to lean to go in that direction so if ones does it with body weight lean it will turn.
Good job Dan I am glad you felt the urge to prove it, as never wanted to.

psychocycle · 08-10-2009, 08:12 PM

I have ridden with speed with no hands on the nomad, although I would never try doing a serpentine around steel poles in concrete bases - don't trust my skill level that much. The one thing with the nomad (at least mine and one other I have ridden) is that they are not trustworthy at low speed without hands - they develop a terrible wobble at very low speed with out hands on. I always wondered if others have encountered this. Never encountered the wobble with hands-on.

**ringadingh** · 08-10-2009, 08:15 PM

Ive been able do do it on all of my bikes as well.

ryancooksey · 08-10-2009, 11:09 PM

Dan its no wander why your a cop magnet!! Hope you had your helmet screen down on this one!!

**schoeney** · 08-11-2009, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psychocycle

I have ridden with speed with no hands on the nomad, although I would never try doing a serpentine around steel poles in concrete bases - don't trust my skill level that much. The one thing with the nomad (at least mine and one other I have ridden) is that they are not trustworthy at low speed without hands - they develop a terrible wobble at very low speed with out hands on. I always wondered if others have encountered this. Never encountered the wobble with hands-on.

Yes....I have the death wobble too....at almost any speed.

nomad561 · 08-11-2009, 05:57 AM

The wobble is gone on my Nomad since I changed the front tire. I am thinking one contributor to the wobble was the extreme overtightening of the axle.
Whatever the cause was,it is fine now.

dantama · 08-11-2009, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cactusjack

That's pretty cool, Dan! You were riding on sacred ground there. I hope you were appropriately reverent.

Bronco's stadium for those not in the know :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc (Lonewolf)

you have your electronic cruise control on Dan to give it gas.? I see its all in the lean too.

Doc, just a throttle lock. Got up to 30-35mph and locked it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wandering Nomad "Darksider"

The wobble is gone on my Nomad since I changed the front tire. I am thinking one contributor to the wobble was the extreme overtightening of the axle.
Whatever the cause was,it is fine now.

The wobble happens from cupped tires. All of my Nomad's front tires have eventually done it. This tire is just edging into that territory now.

nomad561 · 08-11-2009, 11:09 AM

I agree with that statement Dan,however,mine did it from day one(brand new)I hope the different tread design on the E III prevents or at least delays it for awhile.

dantama · 08-11-2009, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wandering Nomad "Darksider"

I agree with that statement Dan,however,mine did it from day one(brand new)I hope the different tread design on the E III prevents or at least delays it for awhile.

I guess you got a particularly bad one, or I've had good ones :)

I've gone through about 6 front tires, and none of them did it when new, but all did it later when cupped. It's been the same for my bridgestones 3-4 of them, and the others.

Once it starts, it just gets worse and worse. But I've always had that beginning one or two thousand miles of peace with no shaking.

08-10-2009, 06:12 PM	#1
dantama Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 0	Steering a Nomad with no hands I made this video for another site that has an expert who states that you can't turn a motorcycle without using the bars. I wanted to refute the claim, as I knew it wasn't true. I thought I'd post the video even though it was for another site. Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

08-10-2009, 06:46 PM	#2
Jared Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greeley, Colorado Posts: 6,772	Steering a Nomad with no hands Good for you Dan! __________________ Jared VBA #1051 (Former President)
	0

08-10-2009, 06:48 PM	#3
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	Steering a Nomad with no hands That's pretty cool, Dan! You were riding on sacred ground there. I hope you were appropriately reverent. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
	0

08-10-2009, 07:02 PM	#4
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	Steering a Nomad with no hands you have your electronic cruise control on Dan to give it gas.? I see its all in the lean too.
	0

08-10-2009, 07:15 PM	#5
isaiahsdad Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Midwest City, Oklahoma, USA Posts: 246	Steering a Nomad with no hands Totally off topic here, but kind of. A few years ago a friend of mine took me up in the OKC Police helicopter, an MD500. Wow what a ride THAT was. Anyhow, at one point in the ride, he stopped the helicopter, trimmed it out, and told me to sit still. He let go of the stick, and leaned forward and the damn thing started to fly forward. He leaned back and it stopped. Leaned left and it went left. It was the coolest thing I ever saw. OK, back on track. How anyone could say you COULDN'T steer a bike hands free, has obviously never ridden one. Good job Dan Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

08-10-2009, 07:46 PM	#6
Yellow Jacket Top Contributor Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Fayetteville, Georgia Posts: 5,792	Steering a Nomad with no hands Some people are just ignorant. I learned as a kid to steer my bicycle with out the handle bars. When I moved up to motorcycles I naturally tried it on them. Of course it works. Even though I can do it on the Nomad, it's not practical or really safe. (As Dan stated in the video.) __________________ Bob KawaNOW/VBA 210 Green/Silver 2006 Patriot Guard Riders 2009
	0

08-10-2009, 08:10 PM	#7
jonsamson Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 209	Steering a Nomad with no hands I did that all the time when I was riding a bike, sometimes in bike races that was the only way to give your arms and shoulders a rest and get a drink or eat a banna. Of course this was on a bicycle long distance races with a max speed of 25 mph, not a 800 lb cruiser at the same speed. The laws of physices still apply though, and the rule of counter sterring is nothing more than forcing the bike to lean to go in that direction so if ones does it with body weight lean it will turn. Good job Dan I am glad you felt the urge to prove it, as never wanted to.
	0

08-10-2009, 08:12 PM	#8
psychocycle Advanced Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 822	Steering a Nomad with no hands I have ridden with speed with no hands on the nomad, although I would never try doing a serpentine around steel poles in concrete bases - don't trust my skill level that much. The one thing with the nomad (at least mine and one other I have ridden) is that they are not trustworthy at low speed without hands - they develop a terrible wobble at very low speed with out hands on. I always wondered if others have encountered this. Never encountered the wobble with hands-on. __________________ Psychocycle VBA # 1125 2002 1500 fi Nomad
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08-10-2009, 08:15 PM	#9
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Steering a Nomad with no hands Ive been able do do it on all of my bikes as well. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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08-10-2009, 11:09 PM	#10
ryancooksey Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Quinter, KS Posts: 58	Steering a Nomad with no hands Dan its no wander why your a cop magnet!! Hope you had your helmet screen down on this one!!
	0

08-11-2009, 05:57 AM	#12
nomad561 Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Pasco , Wa Posts: 1,445	Steering a Nomad with no hands The wobble is gone on my Nomad since I changed the front tire. I am thinking one contributor to the wobble was the extreme overtightening of the axle. Whatever the cause was,it is fine now.
	0

08-11-2009, 11:09 AM	#14
nomad561 Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Pasco , Wa Posts: 1,445	Steering a Nomad with no hands I agree with that statement Dan,however,mine did it from day one(brand new)I hope the different tread design on the E III prevents or at least delays it for awhile.
	0

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