I don't want to fall off my new SV650S teach me not to

C'mon tell your tale - how you came to grief - I'm new to motorbikes with some experience on a ts250 trially and an er5 rolling brick, but the sv650 arriving this week will be my first serious bike -

I'm a quick learner and by telling me your tales of woe I will learn something promise
And you never know it will probably be good therapy for you too

And when the inevitable happens I promise I'll tell you all about my pain and publish photos of the mess I've made of my pride and joy so you can all laugh at me

Some quick ones from me, I'll leave the decent lessons to somebody a little more skilled.

Don't chop the throttle mid corner, also do not touch the brakes. Eventually you will learn to use the brakes mid corner, but you have to learn how to deal with the consequences before you can risk it. If you're going too fast and already in a corner then it's too late to think about slowing down, the brakes will not help you by that point and you might as well enjoy it, for better or for worse.

Don't snatch the front brake. It's something you should already know, but if you get surprised by something then it's still easy to do and believe me, it's not fun and will probably do at least as much damage as a reasonable lowside.

Lots of people seem to drop it at very low speeds, manouvering u turns etc. Keeping the thing moving has saved me many a time! That is when it's starts to get unstable don't go for a foot down, accelerate!

I know it's obvious (hindsight) but I've found it's training yourself not to go for that instinctive foot down that saves a drop. Anyone agree?

And yes I have had a stationary drop ; though I was reversing. Can't seem to find a way to make that more stable....

Originally Posted by adam

I know it's obvious (hindsight) but I've found it's training yourself not to go for that instinctive foot down that saves a drop. Anyone agree?

To some degree, though knowing when you've finally hit the point where you really have to put your foot down is good.

Agreed!

had my 1st off in 5yrs of riding sitting at the lights and a woman drove through the back of me.
moral of the story you cant always avoid it.
my advice take a while getting used to the bike and they way it handles etc.i found it could be a bit snatchy to start with going from a gsxr400(low power in low revs) where the sv will pull when you want it to.
take it easy and enjoy

Click on the top link in my signature. I now ALWAYS ride with a "what if" attitude. I KNOW how much it can hurt. Honestly if you always ride with the "what if" attitude, your riding will be safer. As adam said, some times it's unavoidable, but if you do everything within your power to try to avoid an accident you stand a far better chance.

Tips.

Never ever play catch up. Ride to your own skills, don't try and stretch yourself.

The most common fault and normally the reason for most new rider accidents is using the front brake. Carsicks advice on breaking is good. The most natural thing to do when you have found yourself going to fast for any given situation is apply the brakes hard. Doing this will make the bike stand up and go in a straight line. As strong as the impulse will be too grab a handful of front brake. In a straight line this may not be a problem so long as you don't lock the front wheel, but when going round a corner it's a no no. Learn how to counter steer.

[northwind]

Never, ever, ever, ever come on an SV Ecosse rideout

[embee]

Much along the lines of BigApe's note.

Ride at YOUR speed, not someone else's.
"Always wear yer ferkin leathers!"
Use your imagination, think what might be round the corner, coming the other way, laying in the road etc.
Read "Roadcraft", the police drivers/riders handbook (bookstores can get it)
Learn positioning - the line for corners on the road is not the same as a "racing line", it's for maximum vision.
As said before, do all your braking in a straight line.
Remember the "life saver" look over the shoulder - it does just what it says.
Get some decent tyres. Once you ride an SV on good tyres you'll wish you'd put them on sooner.
Get to know the mechanicals of your bike, regular care avoids unexpected breakdowns etc.
You are totally invisible to 99% of car drivers.
Remember, they WILL pull out on you, so expect them to do it.
"Own" the road, i.e. place yourself where you should be not where you think you'll be out of the way.

Look where you want to go, not where you are afraid you're going! Practice this all the time and if/when you have that ooer moment it'll be second nature and you'll get out of the cack.

last but not least, "if in doubt, don't."

also cars look farther away than they are some times! learn how to predict the distance

that cars moveing il just contine to hammer it ! oh sh*t its not! erm slam on the brakes! goes over bumps and the front locks up in the air ! ohh dear! managed to get away with it tho! hehe just .. phew!

its not a nice fealing knowing you could be on the floor!

oh and wach out for the cars who like to stop in the midle of the road to let out a car or something just after a corner! that almost had me!

next is persumeing your a newbe....

dieasil is very slipery a much darker black on the road DONT touch it! drains in the wet + white lines

OLD PEOPLE! soo dangerous! in the litle micras pepping over the wheal! oh dear ! i like to deal with them by a quick over take and get them out of my way my loud can seems to anoy them too! duno y


also i started with my bike and then learnt how to drive as im only 17 wel 18 in a month this thought me more about the road as the bike is soooo much different to the car position ...(said earlyer)

and also every bodey is out thire to kill you! dont let them! be as rude as you want! they cant see you through ur dark visor what do you care! i personly do this as i dont let cars out or give them any Luxuries


thats how i think about it! well they wont kill you but you know what i mean !


..... whoa i wrote quite alot i blabed good! lol!


the usual, sorry about bad spelling and grammar!