New Rider Advice

Originally Posted by TheRamJam

Have a few questions to put to the pro's

1. What the best way of going down a steep hill. I work in Glasgow city centre and decided to take the bike to work today. Hills are very steep indeed. Pulled the clutch in and the bike went down hill faster

Leave the clutch where it is and let the engine do the breaking for you.

2. Turning into left/right 90 degrees, whats the best way to do it. As am new am driving round these in first gear about 15mph and slipping the clutch in and out. Sometimes theres a line a angry car drivers behind me that make me nervous.

sod them, you pay your tax and insurance and have as much right as they do to use the road, just stay safe and in a position where a car cant force past you

3. Went from 3 to 2 and the rear wheel slipped a little. Heart was in my mouth for a second.

Just blip the throttle slightly when changing down, it brings the engine speed up and will stop the back wheel from locking. (theres loads of threads on here just use the search for "blipping throttle")

I have only done 70miles on the bike from new so I guess the tyres will need to be worn in. When is the best time to start learning to lean the bike ever so gardually into bends?


When YOU feel ready to do it.
The chances are that your leaning the bike over already and dont even know it.
The tyres need to be scrubbed in first and this will come with use but once they ready, just take things nice and steady and gradually lean over further the more you get used to the bike
Just stay safe

.

Be careful if you take the B roads option. Farmers have to stick the nose of their tractors out before they can look up the road. Very scary spikey things fit on tractors!

Originally Posted by Mogs

Be careful if you take the B roads option. Farmers have to stick the nose of their tractors out before they can look up the road. Very scary spikey things fit on tractors!

yep, had a heart in mouth moment doing an overtake last weekend, just as I drew level with the car a Massy Fergisun popped out from behind a hedge on the right. No real danger but it made me jump!

[yorkie_chris]

There's always danger from tractors, you never know if the driver is paying attention or dreaming of his cousin and a nice cold pint of sheep-dip.

[keith_d]

I passed my test recently and am definitely a newbie, so here's my mistakes so far on my SV.

1) Be gentle when closing the throttle, the engine braking is enough to unstick the rear tyre which will give you a surprise you can do without. Not dangerous but rather offputting.

2) Don't grab a handful of throttle coming out of corners, feed it in gently. I've run wide a few times when I've been a bit eager on the throttle and the V-twin torque has kicked in.

3) Never, never, never grab the front brake when cornering. Driving school bikes are a bit more forgiving (or maybe their brakes are crap) but the SV can and will dump you on your ar$e. I was lucky and got away with it.

4) Your upshifts and downshifts are bound to be a bit rough at first until you've got more feel for which rpm=mph. Don't let it put you off, just take a little longer letting the clutch out 'til you're used to it.

You might have a few nervous moments on the way home, but with a bit of care you'll be fine.

Good luck,

Keith.

Hi Guys,

Picked up the SV yesterday, and very nervously rode it back, scared the hell out of myself to be honest! Went out for another ride in the afternoon and it was a bit better but I am finding it quite difficult to force myself to lean over in the corners and found myself going quite wide on a number of occasions!!

Going to have another bash this aft, really need to get rid of the nerves!

take it easy and don'y rush into corners. practice a little counter steering, does make corners alot easier. and relax, bend your elbows and arch your back.
enjoy.

I've held my full license since Nov 08 and only done 1000 miles since. Planning to book an "advanced skills" half-day course for £150 before my pillioned Harwich - Holland - Germany - Denmark tour in May. I'm sure it will be worth every penny. What do others think?

Originally Posted by Haluk

I've held my full license since Nov 08 and only done 1000 miles since. Planning to book an "advanced skills" half-day course for £150 before my pillioned Harwich - Holland - Germany - Denmark tour in May. I'm sure it will be worth every penny. What do others think?

Any extra training is a good idea.
You can never know or learn enough when it comes to personal safety.