New SV rider - help and advice please.

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

Aren't you on a restricted 125 license having passed on one?
Just curious.

It seems big at first, then its not noticeable, in fact after a while it feels tiny!
How tall is a shorty?

BTW hello from the other side of Ainleys

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Best thing is to go to a car park and practice the slow speed control stuff.

Plenty of us local yokels to help you out if you need

Yep my sv is restricted and Im only 5ft 3 lol

I'll just have to keep practising on it until I get used to it,
and thanks for all the advice
I may be taking you up on the offer if i get stuck

Greetings from the grubbier side of the hill (Halifax). Think the industrial estate suggestions are pretty good, and there are likely lots of people on the org who would be willing to take some time to help out or give pointers.

But have you considered going back to your training school (assuming you went to one) for some further tuition? Get some proper advice from someone who has been trained to give it. Probably worth paying for a couple of hours for the tips/confidence it may bring. Just a thought.

Good luck anyway.

[Juju]

To be honest, most of us more recent licence holders, say in the last 10 years or so, will have done a DAS, which meant we had 3-5 days of full all day riding, with experienced instructors, getting used to the weight and size of a bigger bike, I'd not have been brave enough to get on a big un from a 125 without additional training.

I'd seriously think about spending a couple of days with your instructor on a bigger bike - they will have a training area to nail the turns in the road ect, just to get your confidence. Should be cheaper if your supplying your own bike and fuel. It's worth it now, to get the summer months under your belt and ride confidently and safely.

Hello from Sconnie Botland, another shortarse newbie

Originally Posted by Lozzo

Maybe it'd be a good idea to be on a bike with higher bars and a more natural riding position to do your post-test learning on, until you've built up sufficient skills and confidence to ride something a bit sportier. Work your way up to a sports bike gradually, rather than buy the first pretty bike you set eyes on and have it lowered so you can just touch the tarmac.

You wouldn't believe the amount of people I know who've done just that, and now have an easier to ride bike and are far far happier.

Me for 1. Had a GSX600F when I passed my test and gave up with it after a couple of years and very few miles, much happier with the SV now Just need to get back out on it and build up some confidence again.

welcome to the org, another local - nice to see.
its just a case of getting used to it i'd suspect.

If you want any specific tips or anyone on here to come an see if they can watch you ride then offer some wisdom then the pennine bunch are always happy to help out. - jus ask mate, maybe come along for some of the ride outs.

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by svkath

I'll just have to keep practising on it until I get used to it

Thats all it is, just practice and take your time over what you are doing. Practice the slow speed control stuff in a quiet carpark is good advice to. As is getting some extra time in with your instructor.

You will get used to it, I remember feeling similar to you do now the first time I rode a big bike after my 125.

Welcome to the forum!

I can only echo what the others have said and I'd like to suggest that you do take them up on the offer of an "observed ride" it is especially helpful if the person observing isnt your partner or friend or family. And get in plenty of miles.

Also, make sure your tyre pressures etc are correct for moving the bike when you aren't on it, mine were only a couple of PSI out and the bike was a nightmare to move from the ground.

I can remember when i first got my SV id get everywhere with a very painful neck and shoulders, cause id had them tensed up, with not being used to it. So yeah, try to relax your shoulders and hold your body weight on its own, ie with ya core muscles, that makes the riding position so much easier.

And yeah, as everyone else has said, keep at it and doin slow speed stuff is probobly the best thing you can do to get used to that weight

Just to echo what the others have said.. its just practice.

When I passed my DAS and went out on my own for the first time on the 'big' bike I had total butterflies in my stomach! In fact I passed my test on the Weds and on the Friday it was packed up with camping equipment and I was riding it up to the Farmyard Rally lol (had an er5 when passed) I ****e myself but it was bloody good experience - specially in the high winds on the A1 on the ride back ..

Even for a few months after that I would have butterflies and nervous about going out till after about 5 mins riding..

Just get out at every opportunity - even if its only for a 30mins ride, its all practice for you. Make sure that every so often you give your arms a shake to make sure your not tensing up (I call it the chicken dance lol) but it does work and stops you tensing up and making it harder on yourself in terms of steering.

Good luck and welcome to big bikes x

Out of curiosity how did you lower it? Seat, dogbones, shock, yokes?