Cornering and Low Speeds on a Sporty
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 396
Likes: 7
From: DFW, TX
you'll get the hang of it. I've been riding my sporty for a year now, and it feels like an additional appendage. Pretty sure I mispelled that.
I've almost talked my wife into learning how to ride, and I'm thinking I'll start her out on a smaller bike though (mostly because it gives me a reason to buy an early 70s honda cb350 or something because i freaking dig those bikes) and because I dont want my bike getting dropped. I dont know though, I'm wondering if it helps learning on a smaller bike then going larger.
I've almost talked my wife into learning how to ride, and I'm thinking I'll start her out on a smaller bike though (mostly because it gives me a reason to buy an early 70s honda cb350 or something because i freaking dig those bikes) and because I dont want my bike getting dropped. I dont know though, I'm wondering if it helps learning on a smaller bike then going larger.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 337
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh, PA
I've been riding for about a year now and can relate to what your saying. The Sporty feels a lot more stable than the Honda 750 I looked at. Anyway some good advice for stopping that really helped me is always remember to look up when executing the final stop. If there's nobody in front of me I'll look at the light sometimes. Otherwise it's normally the roof of the car in front of me or the back window if it's an SUV or van.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 213
Likes: 1
From: The Suncoast (FLA)
Me thinks you think too much. Keep your head up look where you want to go. If you want to walk it along with both feet, okay. If you want to stand in one spot with your feet up for as long as you can, thats cool to.
Relax and feel the machine. Tip it, squeeze it, squirm around on it. Become one.
But always, be safe. Don't trust anyone, even other motorcycles you don't know. Distance is your friend. Make certain the "other guy" sees you. Make him come to a stop and hold it before you go.
Enjoy the ride.
Relax and feel the machine. Tip it, squeeze it, squirm around on it. Become one.
But always, be safe. Don't trust anyone, even other motorcycles you don't know. Distance is your friend. Make certain the "other guy" sees you. Make him come to a stop and hold it before you go.
Enjoy the ride.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,599
Likes: 11
From: Colonial Beach, Virginia
SG, I'm over here in Colonial Beach, not too far from you. One trick you'll learn as you get more experience is to apply a little throttle when you get that falling in feeling, it becomes automatic.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From:
Me thinks you think too much. Keep your head up look where you want to go. If you want to walk it along with both feet, okay. If you want to stand in one spot with your feet up for as long as you can, thats cool to.
Relax and feel the machine. Tip it, squeeze it, squirm around on it. Become one.
But always, be safe. Don't trust anyone, even other motorcycles you don't know. Distance is your friend. Make certain the "other guy" sees you. Make him come to a stop and hold it before you go.
Enjoy the ride.
Relax and feel the machine. Tip it, squeeze it, squirm around on it. Become one.
But always, be safe. Don't trust anyone, even other motorcycles you don't know. Distance is your friend. Make certain the "other guy" sees you. Make him come to a stop and hold it before you go.
Enjoy the ride.
Last edited by Topdogg; May 30, 2009 at 11:03 AM.
Thread Starter
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Advanced
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 57
Likes: 1
From: Virginia Beach, VA
Me and my roommate went on about a 70 mile ride over twisty country roads today and I did just fine. But of course this was after checking my tire pressure. I've been waiting on an owners manual for almost 3 weeks. Got it on Saturday. Checked my tire pressure and sure enough......it was WAY low. So beofe the ride we stopped and got them up to 30 psi in the front and 36 in the back. HOLY CRAP.....it's like having a different bike. I was able to take curves at speed today and it felt great!
Chalk this one up to being a newbie dumba** with a used bike. At least I got it figured out!!
Chalk this one up to being a newbie dumba** with a used bike. At least I got it figured out!!
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 213
Likes: 1
From: The Suncoast (FLA)
...apply a little throttle when you get that falling in feeling, it becomes automatic
Got to stay alert. Stuff happens. I was in a slow easy turn once and the bike was suddenly gone out from under me and I splashed onto the asphalt. A few feet earlier, I had run through some kind of liquid without noticing and it made my tires slicker than snot on a door ****.
Stay alert!
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 225
Likes: 0
From: MD
Your not alone. Ive put 7 miles on my 1200C around the neiborhood in the AM or Evnings tring to get the feel for the throttle. I need to work on using my back brake more and looking into my turns.
Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 827
Likes: 1
From: Covington, Ga.
There is good advise in the answers above.. here's more..
"Ride Like A Pro" by Jerry "Motorman" Palladino - He's an expert at teaching low speed maneuvers on any motorcycle.
Do a search on You tube, watch the demos, then go to the website and buy the videos.
This guy will change (for the better) how you ride a bike for the rest of your life.
The best part is that it's inexpensive education that you can keep on using forever. Practice only makes you better.
.
"Ride Like A Pro" by Jerry "Motorman" Palladino - He's an expert at teaching low speed maneuvers on any motorcycle.
Do a search on You tube, watch the demos, then go to the website and buy the videos.
This guy will change (for the better) how you ride a bike for the rest of your life.
The best part is that it's inexpensive education that you can keep on using forever. Practice only makes you better.
.