Riding today

[The Mass]

Hi all,

Trying to get some mileage on the bike to bed the engine in. So today I took her for a little spin to footy it's only about 15 mins away.
I took the M4 for 1 junction, the road are so slippy :shock:

Am I right by going slow and riding to my ability? I felt a right nob ed, as on the way home from footy tonight, a took the lanes back to the house, not lit very well, and I must have done all of 28mph all the way home.

It's really odd, I am scared sh*tless of either coming off cos of the road being slippy, and also dropping the bike.

Is this normal peeps? I feel a right nob-ed asking. Does everyone go through this when they first pass?
It was really windy, and as Jabba knows, the roads around here are so slippy and full of crud.

Any advice?

Cheers - Mass

[Flamin_Squirrel]

There is nothing wrong with taking it easy in slippery conditions. Get used to controling the bike, smoother gear changes, low speed handling, perhaps learning to blip the throttle on down changes.

You might well be eager to build up you confidence and pace, but I can tell you that now isnt the time to do it. Spring is on the way.

[rictus01]

Just remember what it feels like, then in six months time remember again, won't do you any harm at all.

Cheers Mark.

[Ed]

Too windy here today for safety I thought.

Nowt wrong with slow and steady - days like today are not the time for 'exuberant' riding.

[The Mass]

Cheers all,


And thanks for the comments, beleive me, I'm in no hurry.
Just very cautious I think, the weather is sooo bad.


Cheers anyway
:wink:
Mass

[wheelnut]

I have read somewhere or possibly dreamt it :?

The councils are using a new type of synthetic road salt, that doesnt wash away with the rain, and it also leaves a slippery film on drying roads.

Sounds like a ploy of the government to get bikes off the roads, literally :cry:

[embee]

....The councils are using a new type of synthetic road salt, that doesnt wash away with the rain, and it also leaves a slippery film on drying roads.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/4115515.stm

[embee]

Since on the subject of nasty road conditions, while hunting round I came across this site for Warwickshire (my home) 2003 accident statistics.
The download document is quite interesting if you're into that sort of thing.
http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/Web/corporate/pages.nsf/Links/BA5D185E1F55243880256C3F004D7327

You can make what you want of statistics, but the trend is fairly clear that the high risk group is young men, mid-20s to mid-30s, on rural roads, in daylight, dry roads, taking bends or right turns. Also men have a far higher failure rate and total numbers tested in breath tests than women.
Make of that what you will.

The other startling statistic is the cost of fatal accidents, typically £1.25M per fatality! :shock: (not exactly sure of all the included factors)

Interestingly there isn't a particularly strong trend for more accidents in bad conditions nor in winter, I guess road users tend to take appropriate care when conditions are bad. Or in other words they exhibit a constant proportion of "lack of care" in all conditions. Or bad drivers are bad drivers whatever the weather. :roll:

[jonboy]

Does everyone go through this when they first pass?

No. Some do, and stay on their bike, some don't, and fall off. You'd be surprised at just how slippery the roads can be at this time of year and how long it takes to understand the way the bike reacts to them.

Come the summer you can have some fun, till then use the conditions as a wonderful learning opportunity ;).


.

[Warren]

remember - that feeling is one of the things that will keep you alive

summer is for training of the bike -
you learn the bikes capabilities and how to control it

winter is training for the mind -
you learn to use your head taking lines that maintain speed without using controls, mastering smooth pulling away and acceleration, braking and steering. therefore making you faster when summer comes round again (being safe at the same time)


but seriously - its just one of those days, everyone gets them - and they slow down because of their paranoia.

[wheelnut]

I must have dreamt it, or is that deja vu?

The grit is coated with a by-product of molasses and is being used on roads in towns including Widnes and Runcorn.

After my previous post, I went to bed and read my MCN. There is a story in there about salting roads and slippery salt.

Another case of Im all right Jack :!:

Anyone who comes off on these roads should look at some kind of compensation methinks.

They grit icy roads in Europe, but they dont use salt, and im fairly certain they dont use bloody sugar :cry:

[PoRk ChOp]

Talking of slippy roads, I had a massive brown trouser moment on friday. I had to go to the Doctors from work and got delayed leaving the office, it was raining, I eventually left the office, jumped on the bike and rode 200 meters down the road and started to slow down for a set of lights and locked the back up, the back started to go very sideways still locked until I let go of both brakes and got the bike back under control without dropping it. It all happened in a split second. The main thing is I have learnt from it and I think thats very important.

Oh yeah, the Doctor said my blood pressure was higher than normal :shock: no **** Sherlock! :lol:

Take your time and be safe!

[K]

Mass, don't worry yourself about it, you are not a nob-ed, just a normal, healthy person with the good sense to have a bit of respect for your own life. :)

[Jabba]

Am I right by going slow and riding to my ability?

Yep. You'd be a nob if you didn't.

I felt a right nob ed, as on the way home from footy tonight, a took the lanes back to the house, not lit very well, and I must have done all of 28mph all the way home.

You got home, you didn't drop it and you didn't hit anything. I'd call that a result :thumbsup:

I've decided top keep lane-riding for the spring/summer/autumn and stick to main/well-used roads when it's very cold/freezing and the lanes can be a bit unpredictable in the shadows.

It's really odd, I am scared sh*tless of either coming off cos of the road being slippy, and also dropping the bike.

You just need some hours on the bike and to watch the lines taken by riders you trust. And it helps to chat about it over a coffee......... you'll learn a lot that way, too.

Is this normal peeps? I feel a right nob-ed asking. Does everyone go through this when they first pass?

Sounds like you have a health respect for your own safety and for that of other road users. At least you're not gung-ho and riding like a nobber.

It was really windy, and as Jabba knows, the roads around here are so slippy and full of crud.

Yeah. Try to avoid the centre of the lane at the moment (yeah - I know they taught you to ride there to pass the test) - seems to be a lot of diesel about. Try to position the bike on those parts of the road where cars' tyres go as there will be more grip there.

Sorry I wan't about to go for ride this morning........... you have PM :wink:

[Professor]

I went for a brief ride before lunch today and it wasn't too bad.
Not too slippy and the wind not too strong (at least here in Wiltshire).
But after lunch the weather turned horrid.

Mind you Mass, when I was running in my bike I didn't go on the
motorway at all. I felt that given the recommended revs restriction
+ my inexperience it wouldn't be safe.

[fizzwheel]

yep you are dead right, only go as fast as you feel comfortable, when the roads are like this, just take it steady

Remember to look where you want to go and to try and stay relaxed on the bike and remember to breathe.. and not to get all tensed up and you'll be just fine

:D

[The Mass]

I went for a brief ride before lunch today and it wasn't too bad.
Not too slippy and the wind not too strong (at least here in Wiltshire).
But after lunch the weather turned horrid.

Mind you Mass, when I was running in my bike I didn't go on the
motorway at all. I felt that given the recommended revs restriction
+ my inexperience it wouldn't be safe.

Proff,

Beleive you and me mate, even with yours restricted, I would have been behind you :wink: :lol:
The wind on the motorway yesterday was just awful, and when I say motorway, you could walk further for the morning paper mate :lol:

Just taking it easy, and riding within my capabilities. I think I will take everyones words on here, as they're all great!

Thanks all.

Can't wait for the long summer days n nights

[fizzwheel]

oh yeah meant to say also riding in the wet need to be smooth with the throttle and brakes.. when the summer comes you'll be all the faster for a winters worth of riding it makes you smoother which makes you faster'

:D

[The Mass]

oh yeah meant to say also riding in the wet need to be smooth with the throttle and brakes.. when the summer comes you'll be all the faster for a winters worth of riding it makes you smoother which makes you faster'

:D

How long you been ridin' Fizz?


Oops just re-phrase that :lol:

What I meant to say was. How long have you been riding your SV?

[fizzwheel]

Passed my CBT May 2003, got full license September 2003, stayed on 125 till March 2004 when I got my SV, put 6000 miles on my SV since I got it and love it, I hate driving and I dont use my car at all anymore

[ralph]

your a braver man than i am ive been riding a long time and left the sv in the shed and took the landrover, the 4 sheep we were carring were pleased as they have trouble hanging on even in good weather

[will]

[quote="PoRk ChOp"]Talking of slippy roads, I had a massive brown trouser moment on friday. I had to go to the Doctors from work and got delayed leaving the office, it was raining, I eventually left the office, jumped on the bike and rode 200 meters down the road and started to slow down for a set of lights and locked the back up, the back started to go very sideways still locked until I let go of both brakes and got the bike back under control without dropping it. It all happened in a split second. The main thing is I have learnt from it and I think thats very important.

quote]

you're not alone PC - I did exactly the same a week or so ago, damp road, slowing down for the lights and changed down into 2nd at about 25mph and heart skipped a beat when the back locked up :shock: am very careful now

[Jabba]

you're not alone PC - I did exactly the same a week or so ago, damp road, slowing down for the lights and changed down into 2nd at about 25mph and heart skipped a beat when the back locked up :shock: am very careful now

Do you "blip"?

Very important to match road and engine speed in slippery conditions. Better still, try to slow down to a slower speed before dropping a cog as well as "blipping".

[fizzwheel]

you're not alone PC - I did exactly the same a week or so ago, damp road, slowing down for the lights and changed down into 2nd at about 25mph and heart skipped a beat when the back locked up :shock: am very careful now

Do you "blip"?

Very important to match road and engine speed in slippery conditions. Better still, try to slow down to a slower speed before dropping a cog as well as "blipping".

and it sounds cool if you have a race can :D

[Warren]

blipping also puts less strain on your chain and sprockets.

[Warren]

a quick tip re blipping.

try over a big car park going 30 in 3rd, then maintaining 30mph while changing down to second.

once you can do this - blipping is much easier to master.

30 in 3rd,
pull clutch in,
slowly release clutch while increasing revs (just like pulling away)

and keep to that 30mph.
take your time and do it real slow - once you get used to it - try speeding it up a bit.

[Cloggsy]

a quick tip re blipping.

try over a big car park going 30 in 3rd, then maintaining 30mph while changing down to second.

once you can do this - blipping is much easier to master.

30 in 3rd,
pull clutch in,
slowly release clutch while increasing revs (just like pulling away)

and keep to that 30mph.
take your time and do it real slow - once you get used to it - try speeding it up a bit.

:wink:

Seriously - good tip :wink: :thumbsup:

[Warren]

i know cloggsy :) j/k

seriously tho -not sure what its like on the SV.
but changing down from second to first on the CBR (inline 4 engine) takes alot higher revs and is much harder to stop the back locking up. just be careful - cos ive accidently gone down into 1st before and locked the wheel in some silly situations.

[Carsick]

i know cloggsy :) j/k

seriously tho -not sure what its like on the SV.
but changing down from second to first on the CBR (inline 4 engine) takes alot higher revs and is much harder to stop the back locking up. just be careful - cos ive accidently gone down into 1st before and locked the wheel in some silly situations.
From what people have been saying, it's a classic thing on the SV. So much engine braking just makes blipping vital.
Talking of which, I discovered yesterday that I already blip when changing down. I don't remember starting to do it, but perhaps it was because of my tractor (gsxf) that didn't exactly work properly.

[Warren]

i started doing it on my 125cc.

reason being that if the revs went too low in the cold - it would cut out.

[Carsick]

i started doing it on my 125cc.

reason being that if the revs went too low in the cold - it would cut out.
the carbs were buggered on my bike, if the revs dropped below 2k it would die, loaded or not.
Certainly made city riding awkward and overheating became a tad of an issue.

[Ceri JC]

i know cloggsy :) j/k

seriously tho -not sure what its like on the SV.
but changing down from second to first on the CBR (inline 4 engine) takes alot higher revs and is much harder to stop the back locking up. just be careful - cos ive accidently gone down into 1st before and locked the wheel in some silly situations.

Yes, even given the heavy engine breaking of the SV, the change from 2nd down to first is a big one and I've underblipped/forgotten to at all a few times and it can be quite hairy.

[leatherpatches]

Mass, I found fitting a decent couple of tyres added to feedback and confidence in wet conditions. Get rid of the Dunlops asap. In the wet they're really quite dangerous!

[Big Bad Al]

I think you won't go far wrong riding this cautiously this time of year. I ride like that even now and wonder if I am too cautious sometimes. Last week in the wet I leaned a little over exuberantly and nearly lost it so I was straight back to my old style. Do what you feel comfortable with.

[The Mass]

Mass, I found fitting a decent couple of tyres added to feedback and confidence in wet conditions. Get rid of the Dunlops asap. In the wet they're really quite dangerous!

:wink: Cheers Leather,

Will do

Note taken.