Need advice- picked up my bike 2day

[fizzwheel]

I think you are better off, going out on some quiet A & B roads and just taking it easy till you have got used to it. Pootling around the office carpark will give you a feel for the low speed handling but it wont get you used to gently and progressively opening the throttle which is what you want to be doing IMHO.

I remember the first time I rode the SV and I opened the throttle hard and I sh*t my pants. But once I knew what to expect that feeling of it being to much went away.

Remember you're in control of how fast you want to go not the bike. Who cares if you are slow, what you want to be doing is building your skills up. As somebody else said leave the restrictor in if it helps you build your confidence up.

The SV is a fantastic bike, as a first bike as a stepping stone to something else or as a bike to ride and enjoy in its own right.

A refresher lesson is certainly a great idea and I'm sure your instructor will give you loads of tips and hints that he didnt get time to pass on during your DAS.

Just take your time and build up your confidence and skills and you wont go wrong.

Enjoy

The bike is only as fast as the rider, I did my direct access course on a CBF600, when I took delivery of the sv it was a completely different ball game all together to the CBF, but lovin the sv now,glad i picked it had a 650 bandit for a loan bike while mine was being serviced and couldn't get on with it. Rode the sv through the winter and now is the best time to get out as the weather is getting better so get out there and eat up some careful miles. good luck

Doe, I was in a similar situation when I got my SV, almost a year after passing my test. I went out for an afternoon with a local instructor that did my confidence a world of good. Plus he passed on a few IAM tips which helped a lot.

Hope this helps.

[ophic]

I got my SV after 8 years off bikes. I fell off it. That helped lots

i was scared of my 33bhp sv at first. but now i know it like the back of my hand and can ride it really well (well i think) the problem i had at first was putting my feet on the pegs as my 125 was a dragstar and the pegs were quite foward.

what i think you need to do i go aand find some roads you know and keep going round and round till you get your confidence (i also fell off being to careful so don't be) i was coming off a field on my shiny 3 week old sv and stalled it!!

I think some one to one training would be great for you, but I think it would be good to have some miles under your belt first. That way you can figure out what you want help with.

A decently long all day ride should see you right. Personally I find the kind of fast A road dual carraige ways with big roundabouts the most confidence inspiring, especially when clear on Sundays. You can practice braking progressively on the way in to a roundabout, and give it some welly on the way out.

Just give yourself time so you can have a rest, cup of tea etc. Good luck!

Thank you all for your replies. I will be going out for a long ride on saturday b/w 5 and 7am. For now i will just go stare at it in the carpark.

Thanks once again for all the great advice.

Originally Posted by doe

Thanks once again for all the great advice.

Take it nice and steady, ride for yourself & no-one else

Just take it easy, don't get intimidated by any other bikes you see while you are out, ride at your own pace.

A bit of extra training will never go amiss, once you've got your confidence up you'll never know what all the fuss was about.

Ride safe

Went for my first proper ride 2day. It was just as u guys described. long ride from st albans to hounslow via M25, then the senic route back. Feeling more comfortable. Apart from a gear slip, it went smootly. Probably have to change my BMW system 4 helmet as i was struggling with looking over my right shoulder 4 a life saver glance. Not sure if its me, jacket or helmet, but i seem to have a blind spot. Thanks for the tips.