Will I ever stop dropping it or is it time to give up?

[Lanaby]

Hello all, wanting some advice really. I have a K4 SV650, bought in July last year and I am female, 5" 2 and weigh just under 9 stone. The bike has a lowered seat and lowered suspension. I love riding it and in fair weather ride to work which takes about an hour. I've only been riding for a year in total. The problem I have is that I keep dropping it and it never seems to be for the same reason. Damage is limited and superficial and the guys at the local dealers know me and get the indicators and mirrors ready for me! :oops: I know the decision is ultimately mine but do I accept that the bike's too big ( I can get both feet down just but can't walk it backwards so parking is also an issue) and go for something smaller and less gorgeous, or stick with it and hope it's a matter of balance and practise? Any thoughts would be really welcome. Thanks.

[jonboy]

It's honestly a question of technique and confidence. If you're close to one of the regional groups you can be sure there will be several folks that will be only too happy to offer guidance and advice.


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[K]

Speaking as another small, lightweight (I don't really drink) female who has an SV... keep at it.

What's the worst that could happen - you drop it. Oh look, you've been there, done that, and both you and the bike have lived to tell the tale. :wink:

You've said yourself that you've not dropped it for the same reason twice... is this because the same situation hasn't arisen twice... or because you learned from each incident (even if you didn't realise it) and you confidence has grown just that little bit?

I've been biking 18 years, on a variety of 'middleweight' bikes... each takes some getting used to to work out the best technique to shift it about... and even then there are still sometimes problems.

With the SV I know I'll have trouble moving it against anything but the most gentle of inclines (including a road with a bad camber on it). So I do my best to limit the times such situations arise... and if I can't and it means asking for help shifting the bike - then I ask.

Don't be embarassed or annoyed at yourself. Your physicality has nothing to do with your capabilities as a rider - and if you are riding well don't give up a bike you enjoy.

Hopefully time will give you both technique and confidence.

[Iansv]

Keep on going....

Have you thought about doing a bieksafe course or an advanced lesson ? They may be able to give you some tips...

otherwise like Jonboy said, meet up with one of the regional groups, we're all lovely

[Spiderman]

What all the ohers above have said.....

And if parking etc is an issue, practice your ability to move the bike when you are off it more.

Some put up a link to some very platform looking biker boots that seemed like a good idea too.

[embee]

Not being personal but have you thought of a little physical training? It could just be that it's a bit near the limit of your strength so you have little in reserve to recover from being off balance.

You don't need to go over the top, but you'd be surprised how much effect just a little well designed training can have.

Something else which greatly improves your confidence on a bike is a bit of off-road riding (on something small and light!). Maybe look into local off-road schools etc?

[northwind]

I nearly dropped mine half a dozen times when I first got it simply from getting use to the size and weight... I'm a 5-10, 10 stone weakling :) But it was purely a matter of getting used to moving the bike well. If you're trying to react once it's on the way down, you'll not likely stop it, but if you can get it right at the start or stop it from happening in the first place you'll be fine. And that's purely practice and confidence.

You've said that you keep dropping it but for different reasons- a very good sign. If you dropped it all the time in the same way, then that's not good, but you're presumably learning and developing if they're not repeating...

One thing, is the front end dropped through the yokes? That'll lower the seat height just a little more if not, as well as improving the handling... A narrower seat might help as well, the newer bikes seem pretty wide compared to mine.

I take it you've fitted crash bungs? Easier and cheaper than mirrors and indicators in the long run...

[northwind]

Oh yes, i'll shortly be relearning how to ride a bike with one leg at about half strength, so I think I might join you in the random stationary drops for a while- solidarity!

[Carsick]

What everybody else said, persevere.
I've seen some astoundingly short people riding tallish bikes and they manage ok simply by developing habits of how they hold the bike and where they stop.

Don't forgot, at some point or another, pretty much every biker, ever, has had a stationary drop because they lost their balance.

I had my first one that went over, the other day, was 2 up and stationary, moved out of the way of a fire engine and stopped on a sloped bit of road, put my foot out to catch it and went straight into a huge area of wet mud.

[jonboy]

I had my first one that went over, the other day, was 2 up and stationary, moved out of the way of a fire engine and stopped on a sloped bit of road, put my foot out to catch it and went straight into a huge area of wet mud.

Not nice. Glad you're okay Michael.


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[Carsick]

Not nice. Glad you're okay Michael.
Thanks.
Was nothing more than embarassing. Was literally stationary when it went over and had time to shove my body between the bike and the ground cos I'd seen a curb I didn't like the look of.

So there I am, lying in the mud with a bike on top of me, when the fire engine finally goes past. :oops:

The pillion wasn't really sure what to do, though.

[Dicky Ticker]

Sorry Michael I,m laughing at the mental image you have created,
I have this picture of your pillion asking you why you did that also the comments of the firemen

Its amazing what comes into your mind in "silly"offs Why do we always try and protect the bike and not ourselves, its crazy,but I,ve done exactly the same and layed under the bike to protect it Glad your ok

[Carsick]

Feel free to laugh, it was actually quite funny.

Up to then I'd been having one of those slightly wobbly days.
Somehow that cured it, not a wobble for the rest of the trip into London.

[Lanaby]

Thanks everyone for your words of support. I'll fit some crash bungs, lower the yoke (will ask my mechanic what that actually means) and keep on practising. Oh yes, and try not to fall in the mud. :D Cheers.

[Barty_b0y]

one way of pushing the bike for the vertically challenged

is to put the stand down then dismount and with the stand down keep this side for the lean and push it back then if if goes to far all it will do is fall on the stand

practice makes perfect ;)

[Carsick]

Barty, I often do it that way just to be sure, and I'm not vertically challenged. Just paranoid.

[fizzwheel]

Don't up, keep at it

Do you know why you have dropped it time, i.e. each time you have dropped it do you know what caused it

if so then keep at it, each thing is a learning experience, like somebody else said get some crash bungs for your bike

[30mphmax]

I'm 5'5" and weigh about 8 stone. At first I struggled moving the bike about but I got crash bungs fitted (a very good investment!) and practised moving the bike. Now I am used to handling the weight. I still have wobbles and have dropped it for silly reasons but I think most people do that.

Although I can get both feet down I can't sit on the bike and push it backwards so I stand to the side of the bike and push it. Keeping the stand down is also a good idea, although my stand does tend to flick up so be careful

Don't give up!!!!!

[Warren]

i cant get both feet down and im ok

i think it just takes practice. . . .and im on a heavier bike.

[RenamedMonkey]

As 30mphmax points out, practice is the key. Sit on your bike, somewhere with room to manoeuvre, and just practice rolling it back, turn a little, get comfortable with the weight and size of the bike.


You clearly love the bike far to much to let it go - keep at it.

[Cloggsy]

This is one of the reasons my missus stopped riding... She's 5'6" & struggled getting her feet down (even with a lower 'sculpted' seat :!:)

Try a Ducati 600 Monster - They're tiny or AmandaM's just bought herself a Rapter 1000 - She struggled with the SV's height :!:

Stick with it, just perhaps get a smaller (height) bike... Just not a bleedin' Cruiser :roll: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Carsick]

They're tiny or AmandaM's just bought herself a Rapter 1000 - She struggled with the SV's height :!:
Did she struggle? I thought she just wanted a new bike and the Raptor is cool (and just happens to be a very good fit)

[K]

I have to be honest and say that I personally don't really rate the SV for ease of man-handling, though I didn't realise this until I had the Gaffa Ninja (ZX6R) for an immediate comparison.

Gaffa's much taller (I'm 5'4" and can get both feet flat on my SV, but barely touch the edge of my toes on the ZX), it's marginally heavier and yet I find it far easier to man-handle about. I can even pivot it on the side-stand, something I'd never consider doing with Black (my SV).

Gaffa's much easier to manouver at low speed riding too - and I've only had him a week.

Don't take that as a sign to give up though. I stand my my earlier comments - practise does help.

[Cloggsy]

Did she struggle? I thought she just wanted a new bike and the Raptor is cool (and just happens to be a very good fit)

I don't think she'll mind me saying, she did get off & push it through a 'u' turn rather than ride it - She loved the SV, but the Rapter gives her more copnfidence I think :?: :?: :?:

Amanda, would you like to comment :?:

[H-Gerickemark]

Keep going and you'll be ten times more confident and be able to handle the bike better, in regards to dropping bikes, I used to have a cagiva planet and I had to use it for work one day so I rolled it out the garage, put the stand down, turned around to go back and close the garage door and the rucksack I had on my shoulder got hooked on the handlebar and as walk away it pulled on the bar and the bike went toppling over. I was gutted but it had massive mirrors that took the brunt of it and there was a pie of leaves by the door so it got a soft landing.

The stupidest bit is that cagiva planet have a similar sidestand to early ducatis, big lump of alloy with a spring on it, so if you move it even a few millimetres off the stand it flicks up.