Two Question

Hi,
I seem to have a fault with my indicators, sometimes they work fine, sometimes they work, but flash at irregular intervals and sometimes they just don't work at all, guessing that there's a loose connection somewhere, has anyone had a similar problem, or know how to fix it?

Second question, I was out last weekend going round and round my favourite round about trying to get my knee down for the first time, whilst doing this i didn't get my knee down but i did get my toe down. Is this an indication that I am leaning the bike enough to get my knee down but I'm just in the wrong position on the bike? or does getting your toe down require less leaning of the bike?

Cheers

[rictus01]

you don't say which type of SV you have, but.

the indicator problem could be anything, check each bulb holder for water ingress ( as this will change the loading and flash rate on the circuit), also the flasher relay (under the seat), after that it's just the switch or wiring, not alot more to it.

as to the "knee down" stuff, well if you tend to ride with you pegs in the arch of your foot then the toe of your boot will stick out a fair way, but if you step back and put the ball of your foot on the peg (better control) then it's in a bit more.

if you're getting your toe down with the ball of your foot on the peg, you should only have to get the right position as the lean angle should already be far enough.

( not that I go in for that kind of stuff you understand.)

Cheers Mark.

If you're getting your pegs down, you're leaning too far which tells me that your weight is too central and the bike is doing all the leaning. Try this:

The racing position.....let's say you'rs taking a right hander. Sit with the crack of your **** on on the edge of the seat - one buttock on, one off. Your nose should be pointing at the right of the windscreen/fairing. Your right elbow should be lowered and your left arm should be resting around the curve at the top left side of the tank. You should be relaxed an comfortable.

The knee down, roundabout surfing position is a little different...... your head is the heaviest single part of your body and your trying to get your knee down at relatively slow speeds so you do all the above except to move your head more towards the middle of the bike. Your knee will be out and will touch down because the bike leans more when your head is more central.

Practice both of the above on the left side of the bike in your driveway on the side stand.

Learn counter steering. Ride on a straight and empty road and push the right bar forwards - the bike will wiggle slightly left then start to flop over to the right. On a right hand bend, push the right bar forward some more and the bike will turn tighter. Remember this on the roundabout as you push the right bar to get the bike turning.

But here's the most important thing about trying to get your knee down.......it all comes from the right wrist. Get your speed constant early, before reaching the roundabout and keep your speed constant as you turn. If you don't get your knee down, complete the turn and leave the roundabout then reapproach it at a slightly higher speed or with your position corrected.

Remember that, if you're getting your pegs down, you're already riding the roundabout fast enough to grind that slider, let alone get it to touch down.

Hope that helps,

Ian

why cant you slowly accelerate on the roundabout and slowly increase lean angle til it touches down ?


i cant get my knee down, but my toes go down often

MilleonAir gives some good advice/tips.

I will just add that (as has been alluded to) if you are getting your pegs down before your knee then you are not ‘hanging off’ enough.

My tips (in addition to the basic positioning MilleonAir mentioned.)

Hang off like an arrogating and stick your knee well out!! You will look like a total tit, but for the initial kneedown it is a good move. You can get your kneedown with the bike hardly over at all, hence not asking as much from the tyres. You don’t need to be doing more than say 20mph on a normal roundabout to get your kneedown if you hang off enough

Next, ductape 2, or even 3 kneesliders to your knee to make the job even easier (I have seen people circulate with 1” clearance and they just fail to ‘get the feel’ to progress, having the extra slider/s allows this to happen). Once you get your kneedown for the first time, then it will all make sense and you will be able to do it easily after. As confidence grows, remove the additional slider/s until you are doing it with the single one.

Like I said it is getting the initial grind that is the hardest part, after that you will wonder what all the fuss is/was about!!

Most importantly pick a quiet place to do this and do a few laps beforehand to check for debris and undulations in the road and warm the edge of the tyres. Have a mate watch you from the roadside as they should be able to tell you how close you are and suggest what you are doing wrong with your body position. If they have a video camera , all the better as you can then take a look for yourself.

Finally expect to crap yourself when you get your first touch down!! So leave yourself plenty of room for when you inevitably pick the bike up!!

Oh and the indicators thing ... I had a problem where the rear indicator would stop working for a bit. In the end I traced it down to a broken wire around the headstock. I just ran a new wire and it is now ok.

the trouble is, is you will look like a melon riding down the lanes to this "magic roundabout" with hundreds of sliders gaffa taped to your legs.

is it easier to get your knee down when entering a turn, or during the turn ?

im guessing its easier to do it when entering, but will put more strain on your tyres.

Originally Posted by bikageboy

the trouble is, is you will look like a melon riding down the lanes to this "magic roundabout" with hundreds of sliders gaffa taped to your legs.

is it easier to get your knee down when entering a turn, or during the turn ?

im guessing its easier to do it when entering, but will put more strain on your tyres.

Yep you will look like a tit, but who cares?!?!?

If you are really that vein then take the stuff in your backpack and affix when u get there!?!?!

As for corners verses roudabouts, I beg to differ, a roundabout is the perfect learning place as you can go round and round adjusting your position. A corner is a 1-off and this makes it harder. I’d say only when you can do it every time on a roundabout is when you should move on to real corners. And for goodness sake do move on to corners and don’t become another stooopid ‘roundabout surfer’!!!

Honestly multiple sliders is the way to go to get the initial slide; after that you will get ‘the feel’ and can improve your technique to something useful. But without the first touch you will remain in the dark for much longer!!

P.S. When I first got my kneedown it was on a CB100N (one just like this http://www.bikepics.com/pics/pics/ho...ics-202571.jpg ... nice!! )… I didn’t have leather trousers, let alone sliders at the time (was very young!! ) so taped several welding gloves to my knee … I must have looked the biggest tit in the world, but did I care?!?!? NO!!! When I did get my kneedown I had smiles ear to ear (welding gloves did ‘grab’ a bit mind ) I was now Mr Rossi (well Mr Doohan … as he was ‘the man’ at that time )!!!
.

[Quiff Wichard]

never had me knee down but had me leg over !..


in fact - never tried to get me knee down !!

Nice one MilleonAir (and Blue). Good posts.

Originally Posted by Quiff Wichard

never had me knee down but had me leg over !..


in fact - never tried to get me knee down !!

Getting your ‘end away’ is always a top priority for a young man … as is getting your kneedown for a biker!?!?!

Are you not bothered about getting your kneedown then? I can almost guarantee success with my aforementioned patented method!!

As for getting laid … I’ll let you know if/when it happens, no guaranteed method there I am afraid!!