Cold, damp, dismal day? How about Isle of Man TT highlights?

January 28, 2021, 01:56 PM

This race has always fascinated me. It is unforgiving. The majority are not professional riders, anyone can apply. I’m not even sure how it pays to place, but if you wreck, you will get messed up pretty bad. A death or two each year is not uncommon.

The riders don’t do it for money or glory. They challenge themselves, and just finishing it is an accomplishment.

If I had a health condition, and was granted a few months to live, I’d sign up. But someday I will go as a spectator.

Cliff notes: A Kawasaki H2R hit a lap demo with a top speed of 218mph.

https://youtu.be/FQFt-uPGHWc

January 28, 2021, 02:15 PM

nasig

Just UNREAL!

January 28, 2021, 02:22 PM

1KPerDay

The last real road racing. Amazing place, amazing riders.

January 28, 2021, 02:30 PM

ASKSmith

I read a story in CycleWorld, maybe 15 years ago, about a private rider who won the lottery, and got a spot to race.

He couldn’t afford to ship a bike, much less get himself there, so he hid on a boat destined for the area. I believe he got caught, but they made him work for his right of passage.

When he got to the Isle of Man, he bought a bike. A GSXR 750, I believe.

Anyone else recall this? My memory is sketchy...

January 28, 2021, 02:33 PM

Perception

Attending the TT one year is one of my bucket list items. Hopefully the safety crowd doesn't succeed in getting it shut down before I get over there to see it. My balls aren't big enough to ride at 50% of their level, but I sure love to watch.

"The people hate the lizards and the lizards rule the people."
"Odd," said Arthur, "I thought you said it was a democracy."
"I did," said Ford, "it is."
"So," said Arthur, hoping he wasn't sounding ridiculously obtuse, "why don't the people get rid of the lizards?"
"It honestly doesn't occur to them. They've all got the vote, so they all pretty much assume that the government they've voted in more or less approximates the government they want."
"You mean they actually vote for the lizards."
"Oh yes," said Ford with a shrug, "of course."
"But," said Arthur, going for the big one again, "why?"
"Because if they didn't vote for a lizard, then the wrong lizard might get in."

January 28, 2021, 05:13 PM

SigFan

As a man, I think “That would be so cool!” But as an older man, I think “That is so insane!”

Still looks like fun, but I don’t think I could ever go quite that fast.

Regards From Sunny Tucson,
SigFan

NRA Life - IDPA - USCCA - GOA - JPFO - ACLDN - SAF - AZCDL - ASA

"Faith isn't believing that God can; it's knowing that He will." (From a sign on a church in Nicholasville, Kentucky)

January 28, 2021, 05:16 PM

1s1k

I would love to ride the course at a reasonable speed. Definitely a bucket list to watch this race though.

January 28, 2021, 05:51 PM

YooperSigs

I would like to just ride the area. Looks like a great ride, even without the race.

January 28, 2021, 06:46 PM

amals

I love the Isle of Man TT's. I especially love the older clips of races in the sixties and seventies. Those are the bikes I cherish (and own!)

January 28, 2021, 06:51 PM

Sunset_Va

I watched it. Whether they are professional racers or not, they are all crazy.

That said, thank you for posting, fastest I've ever been on a bike was my Brother in law's Sporster, @ 100. Wife was beating my back hard to slow down.

I did.

218 mph?

January 28, 2021, 06:56 PM

Sig2340

quote:
Originally posted by 1KPerDay:
The last real road racing. Amazing place, amazing riders.

Except for the various clips from Irish road races, like the Northwest 200 Super Sport, or the Partenza MotoGP, in the linked video.

But with the clips were from the IOMTT, its a testament to man's love of things bordering on insanity.

January 29, 2021, 12:02 AM

Prefontaine

I still miss the King of the Island. Watched every year for 20+ years now.

January 29, 2021, 05:18 AM

Powers77

I can't even fathom 218 mph on a mc and I've had one half way there afew times. Bucket List trip for me as well.
One of the guides on a mc trip was a privateer. You could easily see that he had mad riding skills. Cockney Brit who was a hoot to party with.

January 29, 2021, 12:23 PM

bob ramberg

I wonder if their seats have to be custom made to accommodate the incredible size of the balls it must take to ride like that.

January 29, 2021, 02:41 PM

Rick Lee

I've had mine up to about 140mph on I-10 in the middle of the desert, but that was just straight slabbing it. I've been to 330 km/h in a Porsche in Germany and it was on a back country road, not a hwy. But I just don't have the brass balls to take my bike to the track.

January 30, 2021, 05:40 AM

Powers77

I've also done a few track days. What amazes me is how they even navigate the course at that speed. When you watch from a bike view camera the events are unfolding ahead of you so quickly there is no way my mind could process the inputs fast enough to remain on two wheels long.
I suspect they largely have the course memorized which given it's length is also a fairly amazing feat.

January 30, 2021, 02:14 PM

Prefontaine

quote:
Originally posted by Rick Lee:
I've had mine up to about 140mph on I-10 in the middle of the desert, but that was just straight slabbing it. I've been to 330 km/h in a Porsche in Germany and it was on a back country road, not a hwy. But I just don't have the brass balls to take my bike to the track.

You should. Track days are divided up into experience. You’ll learn more in one track day than you will in a whole year of riding on the street. Many think the track is for outright speed, it’s more for safety. Learning how to control the bike leaned all the way over will save your bacon the street. I used to go an awful lot to the track. Got consumed with it for a while. But it’s like anything else, go to get your skill level up, then you can skip it or go back once every few years to work on your lines, brake markers, etc.

January 30, 2021, 04:34 PM

Graniteguy

How long is the course?

January 30, 2021, 04:43 PM

NavyGuy

OMG. That's some crazy, high speed, limited protection shit.

Men fight for liberty and win it with hard knocks. Their children, brought up easy, let it slip away again, poor fools. And their grandchildren are once more slaves.

-D.H. Lawrence