First ride on my SV650, Etc.

[yorkie_chris]

Thing is the worse it is hitting the fan the less back brake you can use due to weight transfer.

I think it was Mr Squid said the best time to learn this is now rather than when heading towards the door of a car at some speed

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

I'd definitely recommend going somewhere quiet to practice a few emergency stops. Develop the muscle memory and confidence so a panic situation will not develop and you'll respond to a threat sensibly by applying the front brake progressively rather than booting the back one.

Thats what my dad told me to do on my 125 after I passed my CBT. Learning to ride on a slippy wet grassy field also helped alot to.

[keith_d]

Having locked up the front wheel and ended up on my ar5e I can confirm that you need progressive application of the front brake.

I rather like the suggestion that motorists can be divided into two groups. Those that haven't seen you, and those that are actively trying to kill you. Not strictly true, but a good starting point.

Keith.

Been on my sv650s for the first time today, took me a few moments to get used to the slanted handlebars having come from straight bar bikes, once i did it was all fine. but yes its perfectly reasonable to expect that everyone in a car gets 10 points if they make you cack yourself and 50 points if they actually knock you off.

the good advice i was given was imagine you have a car sized bubble around you, if anyone gets near that bubble be extra weary.

the only thing that caught me out was the engine braking on the twin, i expected some but not nearly as much, i came off the clutch and did what im told was a marvelous drift. that it was completely unintentional made my mates a little less impressed, but still impressed that i held onto it.

all in all my jaw is beginning to hurt due to the fixed grin i have on my face everytime ive bee on it so far.

oh and ps. hi everyone, new to the forums

Nice good, welcome!

[TheRamJam]

Welcome lammy and enjoy the bike!

dam has everyone locked a rear wheel on their first rides on an sv. i only passed my test a month ago and went out and my sv650s, loved it the first few times i rode it and then on a ride home from work in the first week on the m11 at 70mph in the wet i made a mistake with a gear change, come off the clutch and held on for dear life while the back end slid all over the place. since decided ill use it in pleasure time until im more experienced with it then commute, mistakes like that on motorways can turn nasty very fast

love it to pieces but gained a whole new level of respect for it after that

Originally Posted by irons

dam has everyone locked a rear wheel on their first rides on an sv. i only passed my test a month ago and went out and my sv650s, loved it the first few times i rode it and then on a ride home from work in the first week on the m11 at 70mph in the wet i made a mistake with a gear change, come off the clutch and held on for dear life while the back end slid all over the place. since decided ill use it in pleasure time until im more experienced with it then commute, mistakes like that on motorways can turn nasty very fast

love it to pieces but gained a whole new level of respect for it after that

Nope, not here.
My first ride on the SV was 176 miles from where i bought it to home, with no fuel stops and i didnt once nearly cack myself from the engine breaking.
OK i did get suprised by it on a test ride of a newer one to what i bought but got used to it quickly enough and figured it was due to a lack of biking for a long time.
The engine breaking actually helpl with my daily commute i feel, save the break pads for when the cage drivers do something ultimately stupid.

Originally Posted by irons

I only passed my test a month ago and went out and my sv650s, loved it the first few times i rode it and then on a ride home from work in the first week on the m11 at 70mph in the wet i made a mistake with a gear change, come off the clutch and held on for dear life while the back end slid all over the place.

Personally I didn't lock the back wheel on the first day but I almost weelied into a bus. We all had our "oh ****" moments Good to hear you managed to keep it upright. Is always better to learn a lesson the easy way

There is no substitute for experience I'm afraid and passing the DSA test does not guarantee your safety on the road or control over the machine. The weather on this time of the year is not helping much either. My advice is take it slowly.

I didn't lock the rear on mine either, I did that a week later, the first time some prat pulled out infront of me and I panicked. Since then I now know the feel and the point of my wheel locking, so I can avoid it.
Yeah the engine braking does help, I can do my entire 10mile commute without touching the brakes once, on a good day that is, but even on the worst days I only need to touch the back brake to bring me to a holt or scrub off a few mph.