How do you go fast?
 

Yes I know, an seemingly stupid question to ask as a so called "biker" on a bike forum, (and I know a lot of you will be laughing your heads off reading this - or feeling sorry for me), but believe it or not, I just cannot go above :laughat: 60 mph even on a totally straight dual carriageway. The blustery wind just feels like it's going to make me lose control or jolt the handlebars or the tyres are going to lose their grip or I'm gonna lose it on a rut in the road (some of them scare the crap out of me!).......

Also I can't turn - If I'm doing 60 mph on an A-road and a SLIGHT bend approaches, I panic. Off goes the throttle, reduce speed, possibly even a bit of brake(!)......

Today I was out and there were R6's, Bandits, etc etc all speedily enjoying the fruits of their bike's performance. And there's me plodding along scratching my head thinking "how do they do it"?

I don't know if it's my bike: naked GS500. I think you have to find your "perfect partner" as Auto-Trader would put it. I tried a Z750S a few weeks back and I couldn't beleive I felt more at home on that than on my GS, bearing in mind this was a bike I'd never ridden in my life. Within less than an hour, I was cornering better and going faster than I ever can on my own GS (which I've had for over a year)

:-k ] :roll: :?:

lay off the weed?

Re: How do you go fast?
 

You might of missed it while you were doing your rider training (easily done,) but the thing you grab with your right hand... If you rotate it towards your body, it makes the engine increase in speed... This used in conjunction with the gaerbox has a tendancy to make the bike & indeed the rider travel faster along the road...

:lol: :lol: :lol: Please take this in the manner it was written - no offence intended :wink:









Seriously, you sound like you could do with some advanced training (i.e. IAM training etc.) Maybe even a 'Bikesafe' training day :?: Well worth the money so I understand...

Mind you, one things for sure, going along at 60, you aren't going to set off any cameras etc (unless you're in a 30 zone :oops:) :lol: :lol: :lol:

Re: How do you go fast?
 

Its called countersteering. Its the weirdest concept when explained to me but increased my speed round corners on the 125 from 15mph to 30+mph.

If you want to go left, push the left handlebar to the right. If you want to go right, push the right handlebar to the left. The bike then leans into the corner and you can do it at speed. Something to do slowly at first and then gradually increase your speed. Always make sure youre slow in so you dont bin it by going in too fast. Trust the bike it will handle it unless youre too fast.

How long have you been riding ?

You may need to relax a bit and trust your machine more but at least you know your limits currently. That may be a good thing ...but also may need looking at because you need a certain amount of confidence to be safe when riding. A nervous disposition could distract you when you most need to be right on your ride and technique.

Relax your body and ease your mind but take some lessons and read up on some of the great riding books available

Re: How do you go fast?
 

The more miles you get on the clock the more at ease you will feel riding the bike, unless you are becoming a danger to yourself and others around you don't be too concerned with how fast you are travelling, it's not a race (honestly officer ;)), trying to keep up with faster riders can often end up in an accident.

When I started it felt like I was being blown off the bike at 30 mph, then after a while 40 felt slow, now 60 feels very pedestrian. The more you get used to speeds the more comfortable you will feel on the bike. (It's the same with driving a car)

i can't say i've ever had the problem to the extent that you have, but i can see where you're coming from. Gimme a nice straight road and i'll go as fast as you like (or i iike :P ) but i do have a lack of confidence cornering. Doesn't help that i've lost the back end many times on cold tyres :oops:

Those standard Dunlops don't help either fella :roll:

Until you feel comfortable going faster, I suggest sticking to 60 mph. Taking verbal advice on how to go faster when you are obviously not ready for it will result in an accident. Oh yeah, and maybe develop a bit more genital fortitude. (JK :wink: )

Mr T-Horse, sorry to sound like a lecturing know-all, but I feel really strongly about this....

The main objective of riding-out is NOT how fast you go, but returning home in one piece with a smile on your face. Is there ANY point coming home miserable, or in an ambulance? Or not coming back at all? One thing's for sure: switching to an R1 or Gixxer or Big Zed won't make a poor rider better....but it'll certainly get them into bigger trouble, faster.

Since your GS500 can't be all that new, do you know that it's in good condition? Forks and rear shocks in good order? Tyres pumped up right and their profile not squared-off? Swing arm bearings snug, and head races not rattling about? All these things can make the bike feel bad (and you too) so get them checked.

Then, if you still feel unsafe, either stop riding or go get PROPER training. NOT to do so places a big burden on those who are likely to have to scrape you up and stick you back together (or not) when you overcook it somewhere.

For twenty years I've been skiing. I knew from the off that I would never be Alberto Tomba - and I hate Black runs. So I don't do them. I've had lessons so that I can handle all the Blues and Reds I want, at the speed I want and without endangering those around me. And I still enjoy it as much now as ever I did.....it wouldn't be improved if I bought a Nevica sealskin spray-on lycra suit and the latest Salomon Rad Carvers with Titanium bindings and Nuclear Fission wax - and you shouldn't think you'll turn into Valentino Rossi just by getting a damn big sports bike.

where bouts u from ?

hmmmm a lack of confidence I see!

The faster you go in a straight line the more stable the bike becomes (generally speaking!!!!). Because the wheels are generating lateral energy (upwards energy) which keeps the bike upright. Im not saying do this but if you were going 110 - 120 down the motorway, you would find it much harder to steer/lean the bike because of this and its highly unlikely that the wind will blow the bike away while your on it. It may cause the bike to veer slightly left or right but this is where countersteering really is a benefit in keeping in a straight line.

Countersteering: If you get a gust of wind blow from your right, keep your body upright and shift the bike underneath your body. Lean the bike (and not yourself) SLIGHTLY right to counter the effect of the wind with the handlebars straight. As the wind goes bring the bike back to upright. You'll find once you master this wind is not a problem!

Ive done 100 mph on a GS on the motorway in the ****ing rain with really bad winds, (dont try this either its just an example) but your bike isnt the problem. Its highly unlikely that wind will take the grip of the wheels from underneath you.

I would suggest going onto a dual carriage way keep it constant at 60mph and no matter how difficult you find it relax yourself and your grip on the handlebars and just get a feel for the way the suspension is dealing with the bumps, practice your countersteering and your confidence will come. Avoid massive potholes obviously but as you go over bumps etc, dont panic just tell yourself that this bike CAN handle this, this is what its designed to do.

lynw: If you want to go left, push the left handlebar to the right. If you want to go right, push the right handlebar to the left

Are you sure about this? surely pushing the handlebar right will make the bike lean right and not left?

How do i go fast? Buggered if i know.

But the faster you try to go the slower you will go. You need to relax and be comfortable. Try getting more lean angle through slower corners first where your confidence should be higher.
If you're on a curvy road, try to get into a rythm. When you get it right it's very rewarding, no matter how fast you're going.

At speed, lean forward so that the wind is holding you in position and 'push' yourself forwards on the pegs if necessary, don't hang on to the bars. If you do you'll basically be pulling the front up and it will get unstable.

The most important thing is probably where you're looking. Look at where you want to go, not at trees that you're scared of running into or whatever. And look as far ahead as possible, while scanning the road in front of you without actually 'looking' at it.

There's good advice in this thread and a lot of it. I'd just concentrate on one thing after the other. Say go out one day and concentrate on looking ahead. Then another day concentrate on relaxing your grip on the bars etc.

Do some rider training. And once you're halfway comfy do a track day. I learned more in one day on a track than i did in a year on the road.

Take your time, i'm still not a great rider after 7 years on bikes, but i like to think i'm still improving.

Actually, pushing down on the right bar will make you go right.
I think what whoever wrote it the other way round meant was pushing the right bar forward and pulling the left towards you will make you turn right. Opposite of what you'd do on a pushbike.
It's just the initial force needed for cornering, not through the whole corner.

That's how i think it works anywa, feel free to correct me.

I did my training on a Honda 500 - and had trouble going above 60MPH.
My helmet started to llift and I started to feel uncomfortable - it's pointless forcing yourself to go faster in these conditions.
It sounds like you have a similar problem - the GS is not for you.
If the Z750S feels better, then that's a good way to solve this - and then get some advanced training to sort out the cornering.

And there are no 'stupid' questions.

BTW, I have no problems above 60 on the SVs - I changed the helmet also.

I used to own a CB500 and used to commute on the autobahn, sitting on 130-140kph easily. Weird. I've been to track days with it and around 180kph didn't have any problems either.
Is your helmet too big or do you not tighten up the strap properly?

hhmmmm, sounds like a big lack of confidence.

a gs500 will not get blown over by the wind, unless you atach a sail
most bikes have more grip than the rider has cahones.

even when it feels like youre cornering really hard youre probably only using 50% of the available grip

you wont fall off the side of the bike when leaning into a corner, well not unless you try really hard.

it sounds like you need some more training to get your confidence up.

if you felt at home on Z750 then id get your gs checked over it maybe that theres something wrong that you cant identify but is making it handle like a pig, cos if youre scared on the gs the kwak sjould have terrified you.

im not trying to be rude, but if youre so nervous and unable to control the bike, how did you pass your test? id have thought that the examiner would have picked up on your riding and failed you for not being in full control of the bike.

again not trying to be offensive,

but,

i tried fishing once it/i was crap so now i dont go fishing,

it could be that biking just isnt for you and that youll never feel really comfy on a bike at speed, so what, go slow and enjoy it or find something else to spend all your time/money/energy on..............

Maybe get a flyscreen? Also, what sort of leathers do you wear?

Although there's probably a deeper/more serious problem as to why you feel uncomfortable at speed, windblast (particularly on a naked bike) count for a lot. Something to deflect the windblast off you (decent leathers or a waterproof oversuit and/or screen) will do this. Without realising it, you'll look at the speedo and notice you're going quicker than it feels. I imagine part of the reason the semi-faired Z750s felt better to you was the reduced windblast. I know that both getting windproof leathers and a DB screen on my bike has made me quicker, first time out after each one I was averaging 10mph faster without meaning to.

Also, get the bike checked over: suspension, tyres, etc. as people have said. Just knowing the bike is in good working order will increase your faith in it. Once you've done that, get yourself some advanced rider training.

Without being rude, how did you pass your test? I thought you had to do dual carriageways and reach 70mph to pass? :-k

Whereabouts in the country are you? If any of the suggestions of having the bike checked have worried you, maybe somebody from here will be willing to give it a run to see if it feels ok. After all, most of us have ridden a GS500 or something similar.

Btw, the GS will go above 100 (takes a bit of wringing to get above 90, though) Once you get into those figures it does indeed get a bit unstable when on a bend, but at 60 it should have surprisingly good handling.
I know I was surprised when I rode one again after 6 months on other bikes.

Re: How do you go fast?
 

I respectfully suggest that if he's having difficulty going round corners at not even approaching normal riding speeds, counter-steering won't help and could cause him more yet problems.

The man needs one to one training IMO from a patient and qualified instructor. Confidence (plus basic technique), as suggested, seems to be the major factor here.


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He's having problems getting round corners because he doesn't understand how too. Learning about counter steering would help.

Have you rode with a skilled rider before?

One of the things that helped me a lot when i first got my SV was going for a country burn (ooh err) with jonboy. I didn't try and keep up as i was still getting used to everything but seeing the speeds he could take around some corners when he was shooting off really highlighted just how grippy they can be.

I've always been a SUPER confident driver, having karted, raced, done track days, drove single seaters. I can put a car to the limit at the first corner on cold tyres no problem but i'm having to build up my riding REALLY slowly. As i'm sure you're aware, the costs of getting it wrong on a bike are far more than in a car and i'm sure your constantly reminding yourself of it.

As the others said, just relax relax relax. How many miles have you rode? Straightline speed is easy, anyone can twist and go, cornering well is a different ballpark.

I would even go as far to suggest that advanced training is not what he's looking for yet as he still needs to grasp some of the basics. Find a good local training school and they should be able to offer you a "Enhanced Skills" day and take you to the next stage.

Other than that, riding within a group is always useful, it allows you to follow the lines of a more experienced rider. If you're in the London/South East area it shouldn't be difficult to meet with a few of the folk on here who would be more than willing to help you out, and we have a few IAM trained riders amongst us.

A lot of this is due to how you ride, where you ride and what you ride. A decent bike with good rubber is very confidence inspiring (SV on good rubber, out of town on some nice sweeping bends for instance).

Whatever you do, do not push yourself unless you honestly feel you are ready.

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I agree.

I stongly diasagree. If counter-steering was part of basic bike skills it would be taught on your DAS (which it generally isn't). Until he's mastered very basic cornering skills, counter-steering is likely to add to his problems rather than cure them.


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but countersteering is a basic skill of motorcycling. It's how we all start a bike going round a corner at anything over a jogging pace.
When you say it isn't taught, it's conscious countersteering that isn't taught, and to some degree, I agree with it not, in the current DAS system.

But he's already counter-steering, or he wouldn't be getting around corners at all. And I think it is something that should be taught on DAS, even if it can't really be tested.

You can easily get round most corners just by leaning, try taking your hands off the bars and see what I mean. What I'm talking about (and I though it obvious) was conscious counter-steering where the inside bar is pushed to achieve a quicker and greater degree of lean.

I think there's a rodent that frequents Soho that needs it's tail pulled :twisted: .


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:cry:

Forget all this countersteering stuff, although valid, it’s not for you just yet.

Grip the tank with your knees, move your feet so that the balls of your feet are on the pegs. This will relax your upper body and arms.

Don’t worry about speed, that comes with practice, concentrate on being on the correct line so that you can see best (and be seen) around corners.

Take the advice, get on a Bikesafe course – if you can find one that’s over a weekend all the better. Money well spent.

Most important when you are riding, be defensive, think everyone wants to kill you, even your mates on bikes.

Yup, we're nutters, us.

Here! Here!

I was (maybe still am?) a slower than avaerage rider. Always the last one on rideouts etc...

Anyway, I grabed some advanced training. Getting the correct line was one part, another part was various countersteering techniques. But the lines alone made the most difference.

In Just under 20K of rideing in 2.5years (11.5 on my sv in the past 12months), and I didn't top a ton until about a month ago. Dont worry about speed. Go at your own pace, otherwise you will get into trouble.

A good guide is the police roadcraft book, it explains lots of techniques to aid your cornering, positioning along with observation etc...So this could help.

Anyway HTH
Dan

wel may be its the bike i had a GS500 and it sucked the worst bike ive ever had! when i took corners above 70 i would get front end woobles and at about 80 the back end would stat to twich n tray and throw me off!

alltho i did mange to get through chedder at about 80 - 90 lol .... ( this wos my own private chedder gordge by the way hehe :lol: )

so yeah GS500 sucks!

For sure countersteering is not for Trojan just yet and then some! Believe it or not I have only become truly aware of it's value in the last 12 months or so.I guess I must have always used some as I have always hooned through bends.But now I understand it more and consciously look to employ it. Late breaking and throwing it in later...it's a great buzz.It also means you are cranked over for less time and to lesser degree but able to hold higher speeds when doing so.(Does that sound correct guys?! :? )
Countersteering below say 30mph has no benefit and as stated could actually create problems.I personally have found that using both arms in unison,(push with inner arm and pull with outer) when counterstering gives me a better all around feeling? :lol: 8)

Translated :lol:

I'm not really sure why anyone is saying this. You can quite push the bars as hard as you like if you're going at a reasonable pace, and nothing bad will happen. In fact, at any decent speed the bike is so stable you HAVE to conciously counter-steer to make it change direction.

When I learned to ride "Countersteering" was yet to be invented, Yes you did it, but it came natural, you certainly didn't think about it.

All this theory can be confusing and you don't need to know about it to pass the 60mph barrier.

I think between us all we have probably fried the guys head by now. Im amazed at how crap so many of you are at riding bikes (no offense lol!), no wonder so many people crash the things! If your not confident going over 15mph, then maybe bikes just aint for you! There are times when slow just isnt safe aswell!

Like today I was filtering between two lanes of traffic when the lights when green so I was stuck between two rows of moving cars, both cars either side of me started to move slightly towards the centre line and I was a bit cramped, so basically I had to kane it through the middle of 6 or so cars to get out of trouble. Now was that the safe move? I think it was.

But what does mr 'safe' do in that situation? ooooh no I must not break the speed limit, so I will keep riding here like a sitting duck and most likely be knocked off and eat tarmac! Im starting to realise that people who say they are safe because they only do 30mph are actually just paranoid! and in my opinion a danger to themselves!

ahhhh I feel better now!

BY the way my SV is for sale, 2004 with 5000 miles full faired, black - make me an offer!

Exactly.

What planet are you on? :shock:

Now I'm seriously worried. :lol:


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It's true, the faster you go the more stable the bike becomes.

Squirrel...I have to say that I am glad Jonboy has made comment exactly on the lines as I was thinking in response to you. Sorry my friend but you are way off mark with what you are saying there. :? 8)