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

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.

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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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.

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

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.

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?

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...

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!

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.

Not nice. Glad you're okay Michael.


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