Hi.
After a 10 yr break, I`m back on bikes again with a GSXR750Y.
Not sure if it`s lack of practice, but I`m very bad at slow moving. (walking pace in traffic).
I`m all over the place.
Its the first time I`ve had a bike with clipons UNDER the top yoke, and not used to be thrown so far forward.
Can anyone offer so advice on being a bit more stable?
Take the MSF experienced rider course. But until then, check tire pressure and do a thorough bike inspection. When riding at walking pace, keep your head and eyes up and dont look at the pavement. Use the friction zone of the clutch and slightly drag the rear brake to stabilize speed. practice with a friend in a safe parking lot.
sit forward, squeeze the tank with your knees. right now your subconscious is not good at balancing a bike because it is not used to it and so the minute adjustments just aren't there. go to a parking lot and practice low-speed maneuvers if you cannot take an msf.
Are you using the throttle and rear brake to control the bike at that speed? Look up and ahead not down in front of the bike.
Practice, practice, practice.
Some good advice there, thankyou.
I want to get out and try your suggestions, but living in dear old England we dont get much dry weather.
We currently having wettest Summer in 100 yrs.
Every summer for the last 10 years has been 'the wettest in the last hundred years'
As has been said:
Drag the clutch, keep the bike pulling slightly.
Look up and forward, where the head goes the body wants to follow.
Use your legs on the tank, Keep a loose grip on the bars, with a tight grip and too much pressure on the arms you will over exaggerate the correction needed to keep it straight.
Don't over think the problem too much, your whole body will become tense with the nerves making all of the above nigh on impossible, you will be nervously glancing, you will be generally too tight on the bike, relax.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Le Skid
"Lessons are repeated until they are learned" but IMHO, you're one of those riders whose first lesson is likely to be the only one.
Every summer for the last 10 years has been 'the wettest in the last hundred years'
As has been said:
Drag the clutch, keep the bike pulling slightly.
Look up and forward, where the head goes the body wants to follow.
Use your legs on the tank, Keep a loose grip on the bars, with a tight grip and too much pressure on the arms you will over exaggerate the correction needed to keep it straight.
Don't over think the problem too much, your whole body will become tense with the nerves making all of the above nigh on impossible, you will be nervously glancing, you will be generally too tight on the bike, relax.
Hi tried it today.
Instead of filtering through the congestion on the road toady, I deliberatly stayed in the traffic to practice your suggestions.
It really works looking straight ahead.
Got down to 5mph and was a lot more stable.
the secret is to not look down keep your head up and look at where you want to go look as far forward as possible. not too much throttle and good clutch control are needed. use the back brake only to control your speed.
join the IAM (institute of advanced motorists)skill for life programme £139 they will teach you all you need to know.
I have found that it depends on the day. Ever since the 80s, I make a point (when possible) of never touching my feet down in traffic, including red lights. I'll leave a couple feet of creeping space for this purpose if a light turns red in front of me.
Point is: with mucho practice, it becomes second nature. Often I'll keep it up while at a dead stop.... then if it starts to go, I'll feather the clutch for just a blip to get the wheels turning again (at a snail's pace) and resume balancing. But it does happen that I can't do it at all. Could never figure out why. Hangover?
Ps: I don't grip the tank with my knees.... I"m completely relaxed.
Hi.
After a 10 yr break, I`m back on bikes again with a GSXR750Y.
Not sure if it`s lack of practice, but I`m very bad at slow moving. (walking pace in traffic).
I`m all over the place.
Its the first time I`ve had a bike with clipons UNDER the top yoke, and not used to be thrown so far forward.
Can anyone offer so advice on being a bit more stable?
Bit of an old post now but I'm going to throw my 2 bob in anyway.
If you start struggling again or if anyone else has same problem try this.
First of all relax, if you can flap your elbows like a chicken without putting any input through the bars your just about right
Find an empty car park or somewhere safe and suitable and start riding in figure of eight, start with large loop at a few mph and slow it down gradually reducing the size of the loop, if at any time you feel you've lost balance just open the throttle and ride out of the loop and start again. This will help with clutch control and using the clutch/throttle/power to balance the bike at slower speeds.
Some suggest using the rear brake to keep the speed down etc but I find the rear difficult to use so if you feel the need just drag the front slightly and get a feel for what it does to the steering at very low speeds.
I taught my ex to do U-turns for her test using this technique and although she failed 3 times it was never for low speed manoeuvres or the dreaded U-turn
All these suggestions are a big help.
This is the first bike I`ve had with handlebars below the top yoke, and it`s this reason I`m having problems.
Wearing all my leather gear also makes me feel clumbsy.
Roll on Spring when I`m back on the road. (If we have Spring that is).
Damned UK weather.
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