First long ride and a few thoughts

Went from Swansea up to Aberystwyth via Rhayader and back yesterday. The ride was really good. Most of the roads are well suited for bikes and are great fun. Few things I found though.

• Jet filled potholes are a menace. Nothing happened but there's a lot of gravel now all over certain roads making it something else to think about.
• The faster I went the better it was. Still getting used to the brakes. First impressions are they aren't good enough but could be me over cautious about locking them. Locked the rear at one point thanks to a van braking with no clear reason to.
• If you turn the key past the lock to parking lights you battery will go flat within a few hours. I now know this and also know how to take the seat off to get at the battery for a jump. Think I may have a dead cell in the battery anyway so I'll need to buy a new one.
• When going slower my wrists hurt after a while. I'm 6"1 but I am a new rider so I may get used to it. When I'm past 50mph it's not a problem.
• I need a louder horn. Do they do Stebel's for bikes?
• Police bikers do the nod as well
• A few corners, normally slower ones I found myself washing wide. If it was a car I'd say under steering. Need to think about this.
• I also know that riding normally it does 140 miles to the light and <110 if I go for a faster run.

I'm getting there. Fitted a genuine SV tank pad and it looks a lot better. Bought a Xena XX15 lock meaning I can take it to work. Unless someone says different I wouldn't mind changing the pads at the very least. Can anyone recommend some?

[Fallout]

1. I've ridden those roads recently. They're all glorious! You don't know how lucky you are with your surface, so stop complaining!

2. Don't use the rear at speed. Ok, there are many schools of thought but the front brake is your primary stopping weapon. Never use the rear for emergency braking. Try and drop that habit ASAP.

3. You will get used to the riding position but consider adjusting your levers so your wrists are in the most comfortable position possible. You might have them bent at a dodgy angle if your levers are too high.

4. I don't know what you mean by washing wide, but it won't be slide like car understeer otherwise you'd probably be in a hedge. I suspect you're just getting used to it all. Stick at it!

5. EBC double H pads are the ones you want. With those on and callipers in good condition with new well bled fluid you'll have a lot of stopping power. I suspect you just need to iron out a few kinks in your braking system. The stock brakes were very good on my curvy.

Glad you're enjoying it chap!

as a 6"8 former curvy rider i understand your wrist issue and yes adjusting you levers makes all the differance
get a mate and do this
loosen levers at bolts where they clap to bars
push them as far down as poss
sit on bike in riding position
place hands on grips with fingers pointing out straight and straight with wrist thru to elbow
have friend move levers up till lever just touchs bottom of fingers then have them tighten bolts to keep that position

bang and the pain is gone

Washing wide. Slower corners can lull you into thinking slower turn in. Opposite is better, once you spot line around the corner then tip the bike in and maintain/increase throttle. Once over, the SV will turn quick enough. But because of engine breaking and combination of slow corner, the bike will start to drag wide as it loses speed. Just a case of getting comfortable with running more speed into corner and trusting grip.

Originally Posted by Fallout

1. I've ridden those roads recently. They're all glorious! You don't know how lucky you are with your surface, so stop complaining!

2. Don't use the rear at speed. Ok, there are many schools of thought but the front brake is your primary stopping weapon. Never use the rear for emergency braking. Try and drop that habit ASAP.

5. EBC double H pads are the ones you want. With those on and callipers in good condition with new well bled fluid you'll have a lot of stopping power. I suspect you just need to iron out a few kinks in your braking system. The stock brakes were very good on my curvy.

Glad you're enjoying it chap!

I'll look into those pads. My habit is covering the rear brake. All the happened was I hit it a bit too hard but then pumped the front and eased off the rear to regain control. 95% of the roads were fantastic it was just on certain sections there was gravel on bends and I didn't trust the grip would be there that's all.

Originally Posted by davepreston

as a 6"8 former curvy rider i understand your wrist issue and yes adjusting you levers makes all the differance
get a mate and do this
loosen levers at bolts where they clap to bars
push them as far down as poss
sit on bike in riding position
place hands on grips with fingers pointing out straight and straight with wrist thru to elbow
have friend move levers up till lever just touchs bottom of fingers then have them tighten bolts to keep that position

bang and the pain is gone

I'll try this. Is it the same on a Pointy?

Originally Posted by Runako

Washing wide. Slower corners can lull you into thinking slower turn in. Opposite is better, once you spot line around the corner then tip the bike in and maintain/increase throttle. Once over, the SV will turn quick enough. But because of engine breaking and combination of slow corner, the bike will start to drag wide as it loses speed. Just a case of getting comfortable with running more speed into corner and trusting grip.

Think it has to be this. On corners I can see well on I'm fine or ones I know. I just need to trust the bike a bit more. Going well though and I'm really enjoying it. Getting used to doing all the work before the corner before turning in.

[Fallout]

I used to cover the rear brake too. It's easy to do and makes you feel safer because you're ready to stop quickly, but its a false sense of security because you don't want to be jamming down the foot brake in an emergency. Riding with your toes on the pegs is the way to go. If you start moving your weight a bit on the seat for corners you might end up accidentally applying rear brake too which wouldn't be good.

Something I've found useful for finding the right posture on the bike, take your left hand off the bars and then put it back on without changing anything about the way you are sitting. I find that you will naturally be sitting using the correct muscles to hold yourself up.

yes kob same for every bike

Originally Posted by Fallout

2. Don't use the rear at speed. Ok, there are many schools of thought but the front brake is your primary stopping weapon. Never use the rear for emergency braking. Try and drop that habit ASAP.

Says who ?

Sorry dude, I completely disagree, if your rear tyre is on the ground, it has to help shed speed off quicker than just front brake alone.

This has been debated to death on here, I accept if the rear tyre is off the ground in a moto GP style then fair enough.

The rear brake on my explorer is massive, I've never ridden a bike before with such a good rear brake and with ABS I can stamp on the brake if needed and not worry too much.

Originally Posted by KobayashiMaru

[*]If you turn the key past the lock to parking lights you battery will go flat within a few hours. I now know this

Ha ha!! This happened to me four days ago.....lol.

I'm in Wales at the moment.......great roads!!!