scared myself!

I picked up my new SV650 today, Ive had a few hairy moments today and feel like a wiser man already! My last bike was a CG125 so as you can imagine this thing is a giant leap forward for me!

The road was horrible and greasy today, I was pulling out of a T junction (the second corner I had taken on my SV) and even though I was really gentle with the gas I did a massive power slide all the way out of the junction and admitely this freaked me out a bit and I felt very close to falling off (new tires aswell).

Then I kinda got over that and about 80 miles later I found myself maybe 50 yards behind a bus doing 30ish with no traffic coming the other way so (as you do) I decided it would be a good idea to nail it, before I knew it I was doing 75 and also tackling a bend on which I went horribly wide with oncoming traffic way to0 close for my liking. This all seemed to happen in a second.

Not a good start!

for christ sake calm down!!!! It's winter, you're obviously new to this so take your time. I don't want to read about you being a stain on some 4*4's bumper. Make sure you're wearing good protective gear and take your time dude!!!!

Sounds like a nasty combination of over enthusiasm, cold tyres and a slippy road.
Gotta be bloody careful out there at the best of times, nevermind at this time of year, on a new bike.

[timwilky]

OK Your lastbike was a cg125. this one is a completely different beast. I don't know what previous expereince you have had but to go from a cg to sv without any big bike training is asking for trouble.

as Caines said it is winter. I don't want to teach my granny to suck eggs just in case you are an experienced rider but them there roads are bloody greasy and twisties are unforgiving.

assuming that you have had either experience orhad additional training remember the V twin is a completely different animal from your normal inline 4. what it lacks in straight grunt it tends to make up for in torque.

This means it is far more forgiving for the inexperienced rider who may get the occasional wrong gear and the engine braking help to get you into the bends in the right position to simply twist the trottle to pull out quicker than your run of the mill IL4 rider can achive.

But remember the best way to tame the beast is to push the throttle back. (Yes it does go that way) and let the SV teach you.

as John Reynolds said in our "think Bike" safety campaign:

"The throttle works both ways"

I'm also learning to ride a bigger bike at this time of year and have quickly learnt to be calm and get used to the bike before I chance my luck and open her up on the twisties

[northwind]

These conditions, nad new tyres, can catch out the most experienced rider... Last year at about this time I helped a guy push his Deuville out of a ditch, he turned out the be a police bike cop. You need to be super smooth and be able to read the road well to go quick in winter conditions, and it's just not possible to get like that this fast. I'm not good enough after 7000 miles on the SV and 6000 on my 125, put it that way.

I've had my SV for 7 months, I've done 6500 miles and I ride it every day. I'm by no means an expert, but one thing I've learnt - overtakes in winter are not to be taken lightly. Quite frankly untill you're used to the machine I'd advise you don't attempt them.

Cold wet roads on tyres that are arguably not that good for those conditions, let alone when they're new mean massively reduced grip.

Throttling up hard for an overtake in this situation is likely to cause wheelspin. At best this will reduce acceleration and put you indanger of being hit by oncoming traffic, at worst the back will come out from under you and dump you on the road.

Even if you get past, you have to slow back down before you hit the next car/bend/moose () etc. Brake hard/sharply enough, especialy on a white line/drain cover and you'll end up under the wheels of the car you just overtook.

BE CAREFUL

Originally Posted by caines

and also tackling a bend on which I went horribly wide with oncoming traffic way to0 close for my liking. This all seemed to happen in a second.

Not a good start!

Oh I know the feeling. It resulted in a badly broken pelvis, cuts and bruises everywhere, sciatica from hell and a written off SV. And that was on a dry grippy road in summer.

I'm not proud of it. Take it easy dude.

Ride to survive in the winter. Assume that the road is slippery and that every car, bus and lorry driver is out to kill you. If that means going much slower than you'd like to, then so be it. Wait until the weather is warmer, the roads drier and your tyres are grippier before having real fun.

Calm down