Riding That Friction Thing in the rain !!!

[Happy Valley]

This post I can totally agree with. It IS just a bike. To me FD keeps a bike the most true to its roots as still being mostly a bicycle. So what if you have to slow down and pedal assist? You still have more assist than with a regular bike and being forced to travel 1/3 slower than your top speed in the rain may actually save your arse in those conditions. Between my electric, nuvinci and friction I would have to say the friction is my favorite for its simplicity, smooth and quiet operation, extremely low weight, almost no maintenance and its very easy on the bike. You just can't go wrong with it unless you want a bike that is a pure off road mud slinger. I can accept the one slippage fault. ****, I don't INTENTIONALLY ride in the rain anyway. It's a darn mess if anything.

Whoa..... that's what you call a considered opinion.

High praise indeed coming from the builder of, to my mind, the ultimate MB.
http://www.motoredbikes.com/showthread.php?t=9041

 

[SirJakesus]

slippage on friction drives is WAY better than skidding to a stop with HT

I'm with you there. I've read that story tons of times on these forums. Scary stuff.

Thanks for the props HV. Being a modest kinda guy I must say most of that bike was engineered for me and if somebody were to design a bike from scratch to be an MB you could make something so much more advanced than the XR. That being said it HAS pulled me many places most MB's could never venture and it never left me stranded once. I'm quite happy with it which is why I'm putting more of a focus into the NEXT bike this winter.

But yes to reiterate I do love the friction drive for certain MB applications. For more heavy duty, nasty, wet and abusive riding the chain drive is the way to go. You just have to build to your needs I guess.

 

[Mountainman]

riding in the rain today -- not groovy THING

For me, riding in the rain with FD has not been a problem simply because who wants to ride in the rain anyway, with any kind of MB?

the Mountainman does agree with that statement

riding in the rain today -- is not the groovy feeling THING it was when young



perfer a nice dry day when I ride that THING

 

[mikem]

RainMan

yes -- yesterday was my first day riding my friction drive in the rain

I guess that most already know what I am going to say

it was NO FUN AT ALL !!!

my friction drive slipped like HOT BANANAS ON THAT TIRE

I had to push the friction wheel down so tight

that it took a LOT OUT OF MY TOP END SPEED

yes - and I should known better - I have been thinking about fenders

that DIRTY water came up from the front wheel into my face

mixed with who knows what into my eyes while riding

the OLD MOUNTAINMAN was soaked from head to toe

with a fender added to the front (rack on rear engine kept some water away)

I may be able to suffer through some more of this rain

but -- as BB King sang years ago

after just one day --- THE TRILL IS GONE !!!

it's looking as if it will be sunny today -- thank you Lord as I

ride that thing

Mountainman,
Granted I'm just a newbie to MB's but I think maybe this problem can be solved with just two words ... "ducttape" and "beachumbrella". Think about it. The possibilities are endless! And then you can ...

Ride that Rain! lol

 

[machiasmort]

MM,

Don't know if anybody suggested it yet? Velcro Tires and drive spindle will get you through the rain!

 

[mikem]

Now we're getting somewhere!

 

[Mountainman]

what the HECK OF A THING would I do without you ?

MM,
Don't know if anybody suggested it yet? Velcro Tires and drive spindle will get you through the rain!

there it is Mountainman

thank you -- thank you -- thank you very much

got my epoxy and Velcro

heading out -- in the dark -- to my motorbike

which as you know I love so much...

yes - that WAS me talking to myself honey
I LOVE YOUR TOUCH !!!

you guys are getting me into trouble !!!

as I ride that THING !!!

 

[n8ygn]

Bill Whithers said it best.

yes -- yesterday was my first day riding my friction drive in the rain

I guess that most already know what I am going to say

it was NO FUN AT ALL !!!

my friction drive slipped like HOT BANANAS ON THAT TIRE

I had to push the friction wheel down so tight

that it took a LOT OUT OF MY TOP END SPEED

yes - and I should known better - I have been thinking about fenders

that DIRTY water came up from the front wheel into my face

mixed with who knows what into my eyes while riding

the OLD MOUNTAINMAN was soaked from head to toe

with a fender added to the front (rack on rear engine kept some water away)

I may be able to suffer through some more of this rain

but -- as BB King sang years ago

after just one day --- THE TRILL IS GONE !!!

it's looking as if it will be sunny today -- thank you Lord as I

ride that thing

Lean on me that is why we're all here, but he also sang ain't no sunshine when she's gone. When she coming back maybe time to by a wet suit. Dane

 

[Member 5549]

Was is Like

That Steve Miller Band song
" slipping, slipping, slipping into the Future "
:walkman:

 

[bluegoatwoods]

I don't (really) want to step on anyone's toes here,
but to be a true cyclist (motor or pedal) you must EMBRACE bad weather.

You must, must, MUST!

A cheap rainsuit will get you through a lot of garbage weather.

Since you do want to slow down quite a bit in bad weather, it would seem as though the slippage issue with FDs is not as serious as it might seem on the surface.

Now repeat after me:

"Bring it on, Mother Nature... You won't stop me!"