Change of pants moment
 

Had a ride out this morning and after 5 mins i was going up a hill on a long sweeping bend in 3rd about 5k revs when i missed a gear for the first time ever and let the clutch out and with severe engine braking had the most scary wobble on the back end, frightened the brown stuff out of me.
Anyone else had similar?
I dont normally change gear or brake on bends so dont know why i did, wont be doing that again thats for sure !!
Does anyone else get aching wrists and hands after riding for 30 mins + ?
Dont know if its just my heavy frame bearing down on my wrists or im just gripping the grips too tight.
Hope it gets better in future after more miles under my belt.

Re: Change of pants moment
 

I've not quick snuck gears home before, and it is a bit suprising when it happens when you have thought you got the next cog in right.

Buuuut its one of those things :D at least you kept it upright, and at least you know what happened. Just kick that gear home properly next time. Nothing wrong with grabbing the next gear (down or up) mid-corner, I have done it a few times but you have to be certain you are composed :) (and when downshifting, accompany it with a blip of the throttle before re-engaging the clutch so the engine speed matches the rear-wheel speed, else you could have another brown-trouser moment!)

As for achey wrists and hands...your holding the bars too tight! Relax your hand grip, and grip the tnak more with your knees. Also, try adjusting the brake and clutch lever down a bit....suzuki has the angle way too high!


Matt

Re: Change of pants moment
 

Thanks matt, ill look into the adjustments.
Good to hear its not just me that has 'moments'.
i know when i'm riding its probably my grip thats too tight but cant seem to get my brain and hands to communicate in relation to that.
phil

Re: Change of pants moment
 

I know what oyu mean, its a change of habit...and habits are hard to break lol But you'll find also that you can handle the bike better by calming the grip on the bars, so its well worth working at :)

Everyone has moments, my dad has been riding 35 years and has moments....most of those on the wobbly wobbler (AKA pegeot speedfight scooter.....no damping on the front shock!)

Re: Change of pants moment
 

Think yourself lucky, the last time I locked the rear up I hadn't scrubbed off enough speed to make the corner (or at least that was my perception). Choice of throw it down the road or hit a dry stone wall.

So yes, we all have those moments.

Now, if the rider is truly composed, there should be no need to be faffing with the gear lever mid bend.

When taught to ride (on the road), the vast majority are told to not go anywhere near the gears mid bend - and that's for a very good reason. Changing gear upsets the balance of the bike, and can cause unpredictable things to happen.

However, sometimes you need to change gear, and sometimes you just want to, whilst mid bend. Forward planning & reading the road properly will ensure that you only ever do it when you want to, rather than need to. Even then it will usually be upshifts as you pull out of the bend.

Don't get me wrong, I still fluff things up too. :)

I'd go with adjusting the levers first myself, then just make sure you're barely holding on to the grips whilst riding - as Matt said, hold with your knees against the tank (fist sized gap between your groin & the tank), and just push your legs together harder under breaking, relax under power.

Re: Change of pants moment
 

Ride to the Police driving theory like I should do and you wont be changing mid corner

Information
Position
Speed
Gear
Acceleration

Look well ahead of you and soak up all the information, hazards which will affect your path. Position yourself on the road to tackle that hazard, adjust you speed accordingly with acceleration sense/braking, change gear for that speed, take the hazard and accelerate !

Woo hoo why can't I follow that!

Hope you haven't give your pants to ya misses to wash and I hope they werent white ones LOL ..... else the skid marks wont be on the road haha

Re: Change of pants moment
 

I havent checked them yet lol !!
I know what i done wrong but like other things in life for a split second i made the wrong choice and hopefully wont repeat it.

Re: Change of pants moment
 

Errr they will be stuck to ya bum hairs :smt101 errrr ya misses will be peeling them off ya and you will be screaming in pain as they wipe out ya hairs.

We all learn by our mistakes glad you kept it upright and was only your pants you wrote off LOL

xxxx

Re: Change of pants moment
 

Never let the bike go somewhere your brain hasn't been at least 3 seconds before.

EDIT: BTW Shell, you can teach me how to use IPSGA properly next weekend. :)

Re: Change of pants moment
 

OK Baph will do, maybe going to Oulton yet dude, Mum MAY be able to have Sam ... working on it but it's only a MAYBE.

Off to work now so all ride safe and keep those pants cleanxxx