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Post by jfree on May 19, 2006 14:19:18 GMT -8
Some people do dumber stuff, my dad is a Harley man, loves his bikes, any way for some dumbass reason he had rope on the back. It got down into the tire seizing up the rear wheel and the damn thing flipped end over end w/him on it.
We never let him live it down, he did it right next to the house ;D
He didn't get hurt, thankfully, course he claims it's cause he's made of steel.
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Post by cameron on May 19, 2006 14:29:05 GMT -8
Just be careful
FF I've known so many people...
never mind you know already
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Post by 101ABN on May 19, 2006 17:56:13 GMT -8
"I keep my foot on the gear pedal and I must accidentally be down-shifting"
Keep your foot away from the gear lever unless you're actually shifting. That's probably a constant mesh transmission and the gears will shift even with the clutch fully engaged. An unexpected downshift can send you into the ditch. Keep your left foot on the footpeg and learn to find the shifter by muscle memory. Hint: it's always the same distance from the peg.
Downshifting/upshifting - you'll learn to tell by feel when to do either in a week or two. Just remember you want to have the right amount of power or (engine) braking at hand for the speed and situation.
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Post by FightingFalcon on May 19, 2006 18:48:37 GMT -8
*Phew* Just finished a 40 mile joy ride around the town....wow....now THAT was fun. The first two times I avoided major roads but I finally got up the courage to test out the 45mph roads in the neighborhood. I waited until 2100 because I thought there would be less people on the road but it was still pretty crowded. I figured out a lot of my old problems - you are right about the gears 101. They won't up/downshift with the clutch engaged but you can go from 2nd to N with the clutch engaged. I solved that problem by doing what you said and keeping my foot off the gear. It was pretty easy to find it without looking. I can upshift perfectly now (while keeping it under 4000rpm, as I'm in the break-in stage) and downshifting is getting better. My problem early on was that I was practicing on really, really local roads that have tons of stop signs. Therefore I was constantly shifting before I even knew what I was doing. On the major roads though, you rarely have to stop. I'm getting the hang of it though and when I had to stop my downshifting was getting better. Not nearly as much trouble as I was having before. I only had one problem during the whole trip - starting off at one light I missed the upshift into 2nd gear and so my engine revved like crazy when I sped up, assuming I hit it into 2nd gear. I recovered though and kept going. Also, is there anyway to adjust your mirrors so that you can see directly behind you? I can see like 20-30 feet behind me but that doesn't really help me out too much cause I have no idea if there is a car closer than that. I tried playing with the mirrors all night but I could never get it so that I could see like 10-15 feet behind me. Inevitably, my arms always get in the way. The only way I can see right behind me is by leaning into the mirror (not really a good idea...) or doing a head check (again...not a good idea to be doing constantly). O yea...and my heart skipped a beat the first time that someone turned left in front of me. After hearing so many horror stories about people on motorcycles getting injured (or dying) at an intersection when someone turned left in front of them....I definitely got a little scared. The car kept going though and it was all good... Last thing......I am sore as hell! I feel like an old man! My back kills...I have no idea how people do long rides on sports bikes. I'm assuming my back will just get used to it. Same thing for my wrists, which were killing me afterwards. Unfortunately, I can't ride tomorrow cause I'll be out of town. I'm gonna cry all day until I can ride again on Sunday  Thanks for all the help/advice guys. Expect many more questions from me in the future |
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Post by 101ABN on May 19, 2006 21:58:21 GMT -8
"Also, is there anyway to adjust your mirrors so that you can see directly behind you?"
Depends on the bike. On the Sporty, All I could see was my shoulders. I was able to get some 2 inch extensions for my mirror posts from Harley that helped until I changed to a different handlebar. I doubt you'll be able to do that because of the mirror design on sportbikes but ask your dealer if they make extensions. If not, go to any auto parts store and buy some small fish-eye stick ons and mount them in the corner of your mirrors. They will increase your range of vision to the rear and that evil rear-quarter blind spot.
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Post by FightingFalcon on May 22, 2006 15:44:13 GMT -8
Today was a day of firsts.... First time I filled up my gas tank. I pulled up at the gas station and got off, waiting for someone to help me. The guy came over and looked at me like I was crazy. I was like..."What?" He said - "O...we usually just let the bikers fill up themselves. They pretty much do whatever they want." I was like..."Isn't that illegal in New Jersey?" "Yea...but no one cares." I love it  It was also the first time I saw a fellow biker while on the road. On my way home from a ride, I passed a guy on a Harley, who gave me a two fingered salute. I felt so honored to be part of the group. I would have returned the salute but, being the newbie that I am, I'm a little afraid to take my hands off of the controls. I practiced it on the way home though and I can't wait for the next time I see one of my fellow bikers |
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Post by Husky23 on May 22, 2006 15:58:36 GMT -8
Bound to happen – dropp’n your brand spanking new bike. At least that’s outta the way.  Once, I actually forgot to put my feet down at a stop light – no kidding, and I couldn’t understand (until too late) why the frigg’n bike fell. Then damn near blew a testicle across the street pick the thing back up. Hand placement, 101’s got some good pointers there and as I’ve mentioned previously to you; quality gloves and fit is a must – I have several pairs and a recently purchased an armored mid forearm pair that I thought I’d love but I’m finding that I’m not really digging them all that much because of restricted movement and loss of some feel of the controls. My point? You can spend a lot of money on shit that is not really good for you. OK, now hand placement, Remember, your body weight is forward, so much of your weight is carried by your arms and wrists, especially at low speeds (then when you get on the open highways at 70-100, or greater) MPH the wind coming over the screen relieves some weight on the wrists. Then there’s methods for using your legs, lower back and abs to shift your weight to the rear as well – but you can practice those later. Then there’s stretching and repositioning hands and fingers on the controls to relax them but what’s critical is picking the right time to relax your fingers, wrists, palms, arms and what not; -Open road that’s clear of hazards/cagers; Sometimes I’ll rest my left forearm on the tank (to carry some body weight) and lightly manipulate/maintain the throttle with thumb and one or two digits leaving brake and clutch unguarded. -Urban/high traffic/intersections (yes, the cagers really do want to kill you) - I guard the controls; clutch, front brake, shifter and prepared for rear brake. I generally utilized my index and middle fingers for clutch action and front lever braking by just resting them on the levers. Even for full panic stops I can grind the bike to a quick stop with these two fingers (but I am prepared to lift the ring finger across the brake lever too). Some folks use full finger pull on the levers, some three – practice, practice, practice. I find the two finger pull allows me quicker reaction time and a better control feel. 101 makes an excellent point about not “deathgripping”; not only will it fatigue you rapidly, as 101 indicates, it also disrupts the bikes suspension, seriously hampers your ability to “feel” what the bike is telling you and inhibits your ability to control your machine. Enough for now. Ride safe dude. |
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Post by Husky23 on May 22, 2006 16:05:34 GMT -8
Well lookie who's got a near vertical learning curve?
FF: "Also, is there anyway to adjust your mirrors so that you can see directly behind you?"
101: "Depends on the bike."
He's got that right FF - sport bikes are notorious for shit mirrors, the only reason the manufactures put em on there is to make em legal. Hence, ALWAYS be looking over your shoulders - ALWAYS. I imagine in a week or so you'll appreciate why.
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Post by FightingFalcon on May 22, 2006 16:13:44 GMT -8
I imagine in a week or so you'll appreciate why. Bleh...doesn't sound too good  I already had one moron try to cut me off while going through an intersection. Musta just not seen me and tried to make his turn while I was going through. I couldn't stop so I did the next best thing and sped up through the intersection. Had to swerve outta the way of the 1st car and another car in another lane. Kinda freaked me out so I called it a day after that. I also had my first stall in an intersection yesterday. That's like my absolute biggest fear cause I'm afraid of someone behind me not realizing what's going on and hitting me. Thankfully it only takes about 2 seconds to recover from a stall but still freaks me out. Just finished a 90 minute ride though and it was all good - a few minor problems with turning (I'm afraid of leaning too far because I'm under 100 miles and my tires are in their break-in period) but it's getting better. Tomorrow I'm driving it to work EDIT: As for mirrors....I've started moving my arm and looking into my right mirror. I can pretty much see everything now. I still do the head check but my mirrors can basically see everything now. Cage drivers must wonder what's going on when I keep turning my head to look at them every 5 seconds |
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Post by 101ABN on May 22, 2006 18:51:41 GMT -8
Go to an empty parking lot and practice starting and stopping until you do it 100 times without stalling.
You need to be smooth with that one and you should stay out of traffic until you got it dialed in.
You can learn some of the other stuff as you go but this one is a must.
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Post by FightingFalcon on May 22, 2006 19:59:23 GMT -8
For now, when in an intersection I sit just barely pulling the clutch in so that when I accelerate I get a fast start. I only stall when first starting out (like in my driveway) or if I pull the clutch all the way in and then try to start from a moving position quickly. I can't find the friction zone that easily. So for now I sit at an intersection with the clutch barely pulled in. I can't rest at intersections but it works.
Husky (or anyone else who has ever gotten a sports bike) - when you ride your bike, do you really lean forward? The bike naturally makes you lean forward but do you lean forward even more? I tried that tonight and it made my hands feel better but my back worse.
Still trying to find the comfort zone....
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Post by 101ABN on May 22, 2006 21:57:41 GMT -8
The friction point should be constant, in the same place every time.
100 times without stalling will give you the muscle memory to find it every time.
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Post by Husky23 on May 23, 2006 7:08:19 GMT -8
Well mostly one is "forced" to a forward position just due to ergonomics of sport bikes, which works great for twisties and tucking to reduce aerodynamic drag at speed, but is abit impractical for daily commutes and leisurely travel - oh well. What one sacrifices for corner carving.
But, I do lean more forward when "playing"(keeping arms unlocked); tearing up a good stretch of twisties or hard accleration...I'll push my weight to the rear (butt against the rear pad) and raise my torso up abit for braking hard (helps keep the rear wheel on the ground and your body acts as an air brake as well.
Also, later you can play with shifting your butt and torso slightly out (to the side you are turning) & throwing a knee out. This lowers the bikes CG allowing slightly faster cornering speeds...the knee out acts as a further air brake and a ground feeler.
I wouldn't sweet this stuff yet...like 101 mentioned, go to a deserted clean parking lot, practice take-offs from dead stops, feel clutch engagment...your fingers will start remembering the sweet spot.
I'd also practice panic stops/deccelration; start at lower speeds and work your way up in maybe 5MPH increments. Have a clear breaking area free of hazards (also bear in mind some road paint can be slippery) and identify a start breaking marker off to one side or the other (a twig, rock, blade of grass, road marking...etc...) then when abeam your marker and upright apply the front and rear simultaneously, do not grab, but apply smoothly with increasing pressure...when tires are chattering they are at maximum traction. If one wheel locks, release pressure just enough to begin tire rotation again.
Even prcatice some with each brake seperately; front only/rear only. Lock the rear a few times (but keep bike vertical). Build your confidence.
Generally, you want to keep the bike as vertical as possible under braking but once you play with that some, try braking with some lean in (not too much as yet), just some to see how your bike responds.
Be sure tires are up to operating temp before pushing them.
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Post by FightingFalcon on May 23, 2006 14:09:48 GMT -8
The MSF course scared me silly about braking in a lean. Basically they said to never do it. If you have to break in a lean, get the bike vertical then do a panic stop. We practiced that a couple times at the course and I did really well.
Braking in a lean just seems like a recipe for disaster to me. I've heard way too many stories about guys getting into accidents because they used the breaks in a lean. If the MSF course beat one thing into my head, it was to brake before a corner and accelerate through. Basically the exact opposite of what a car does.
A few times I've braked a little bit in a curve (didn't slow down enough) and I could feel myself going for a fall. Tight turns are something I need to work on but I avoid breaking in a lean like the plague.
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Post by Far Rider on May 23, 2006 14:45:18 GMT -8
I was heading into a turn about dusk one time, moving along smartly, when a groundhog made a break for it across the road. In case you don't know what a groundhog is (some people call them by different names) it's a fairly large rodent about the size of a big cat.
I don't know exactly what I did but this is what I think I did: I rolled off on the throttle, stood the bike upright, and when I realized I couldn't avoid hitting it I hit it square on. After having run the groundhog over I rolled the throttle back on and tried to finish the turn on my new line, successfully.
The guy behind me said that both wheels left the ground, although I really can't say myself, I was too busy concentrating on what I was doing. It was a little like hitting a brick in the road. Fortunately for me this was a long wheelbase bike and pretty stable.
A couple of times I have had people run me off the road coming around a curve on my side of the road and I have had to leave the road, just sitting up straight and braking when practical. It's not always a good idea to brake off the road, like in loose dirt, wet grass, or other poor traction conditions, and sometimes you can lowside it down like a dirt bike if you are heading for something solid and can't steer out of it.
In my opinion, though, it's always best to keep the bike upright in an emergency.
If you're just screwing around, though, that's something altogether different....
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