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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> New rider questions /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1367733346 Message started by Ianmh on 05/04/13 at 22:55:46 |
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Title: New rider questions Post by Ianmh on 05/04/13 at 22:55:46 So I took my s40 our for it's first real run today, although most of it was stop and go traffic. I'm wondering what speeds the gears should be shifting at. Like should I be going 10 km/h before I shift gears to second. So far I seem to be in the range of 1st 10km, 2nd 20km, and 3rd 35 to 40km. Haven't gone past 3rd yet. I know most of you are probably mph. Also I'm feeling okay on roads, but I'm having a terrible time in my garage. It's an above ground garage with steep ramps, really tight turns and a key fob opener half way up a ramp. It's like I ride for 30 minutes and get home and turn into an fumbling idiot. Tonight I had to walk it down backwards from a ramp and try again. Embarrassing. :-[ Anyway, hoping each time I got out I'll build a bit more confidence. Oh, and another thing I'm having a terrible time with is remembering to turn my signals off. :-[ |
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Title: Re: New rider questions Post by Serowbot on 05/04/13 at 23:06:39 [quote author=737B7477721A0 link=1367733346/0#0 date=1367733346]I'm having a terrible time with is remembering to turn my signals off. :-[/quote] That goes for all riders with signals... ;D... You'll have to convert, but,..into 2nd at 20mph, 3rd at 30mph, 4th at 40mph, 5th at 50mph... Now,.. don't you wish your bike read out in mph?... ;D... It's not that fussy... you'll get a feel for it... ...(I've been up to 70mph in 3rd,.. so, you won't hurt it)... Same with stopping on a hill... just takes time... Welcome to SS.com... ;)... |
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Title: Re: New rider questions Post by SkyHigh on 05/05/13 at 01:20:54 [quote author=2C242B282D450 link=1367733346/0#0 date=1367733346]Also I'm feeling okay on roads, but I'm having a terrible time in my garage. It's an above ground garage with steep ramps, really tight turns and a key fob opener half way up a ramp. It's like I ride for 30 minutes and get home and turn into an fumbling idiot. Tonight I had to walk it down backwards from a ramp and try again. Embarrassing. :-[ Anyway, hoping each time I got out I'll build a bit more confidence. Oh, and another thing I'm having a terrible time with is remembering to turn my signals off. :-[/quote] I had never even sat on a motorcycle let alone rode one until 2 years ago at the age of 52, when I bought my 2011 S40. I rode around the neighborhood a lot at first, getting up to 35 MPH in 3rd. When I felt I was ready to tackle heavier traffic, higher speeds, and traffic lights, I ventured out onto the main roads here. I was nervous as heck but did all right. The strange part was feeling the wind buffeting my head around with the full-face helmet on. Two years later and I'm riding comfortably at 75 - 80 MPH on I-10 here on 60-mile round-trips. My opinion is that anyone can ride a motorcycle on straight roads and easy curves quite adeptly; it's the slow, tight turns and scenarios where you inch along at walking speed that are toughest. As you ride more and more, you'll become a good rider. Just be very careful on that ramp leading to your above-ground garage. And remember to never apply your front brake while turning on that ramp nor anywhere else or you can drop the bike. For those instances, use your rear brake only and feed power to the tranny gingerly with the clutch. Use the front brake only when stopping in a straight line. Welcome to SS and the best of luck to you! |
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Title: Re: New rider questions Post by verslagen1 on 05/05/13 at 07:41:37 get one of those flash to open garage door openers. |
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Title: Re: New rider questions Post by justin_o_guy2 on 05/05/13 at 08:26:45 Open the door before you get on. Close it after you get off. Until youre good on the bike, take the ramps w/o stopping & keep both hands on it. |
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Title: Re: New rider questions Post by RC on 05/05/13 at 12:16:09 Get yourself a Kisan signelminder and your signels will turn themselves off like the ones on your car |
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Title: Re: New rider questions Post by 87 savage on 05/05/13 at 15:14:46 1107100D15000D16620 wrote:
What??? You're a crazy man! ;D Your engine must have been just begging for mercy??? |
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Title: Re: New rider questions Post by Serowbot on 05/05/13 at 15:38:08 5E535D5A4D4B0E0806073F0 wrote:
What??? You're a crazy man! ;D Your engine must have been just begging for mercy??? [/quote] 70mph is only around 6k... :-?... |
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Title: Re: New rider questions Post by 87 savage on 05/05/13 at 16:42:56 2E382F322A3F32295D0 wrote:
But, But...I think I will try that tomorrow! ;D |
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Title: Re: New rider questions Post by Ianmh on 05/05/13 at 17:45:21 Maybe I'm shifting the gears too soon, but I tend to shift them when the bike feels like it's losing omph. As for my stopping on a ramp in the middle, I have no choice, it's my building parking, I've kind of got it down now. I ride up to it and sometimes I am off a bit and have to walk it up a few steps with the clutch. Then I throw it into netral, hold the handle bar break and grab my fob, then open the door. Then try to get threw it before it comes back down. ;) Today I went on a really nice ride, and I had read the S40's back fire sometimes, but this was so loud I thought someone was shooting at me, lol. Really jumped, it did it a few more times and I think I'm getting used to it. Anyone else have this? |
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Title: Re: New rider questions Post by 87 savage on 05/06/13 at 01:26:04 Yup, that's a fairly common issue with this bike. Click this link http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1181745927 and scroll down to .....carbs & jetting, .....backfire issues. Plenty of good info there. |
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Title: Re: New rider questions Post by Snubby241 on 06/12/13 at 20:15:40 30081A2B0A040B630 wrote:
Hi All, I'm new here also and was encouraged to see this comment. I'm 61 and a new rider. Actually made my first attempt in my late 50's and managed to go flying off my buddies sv650. Set me back a bit, last year decided to start taking lessons again, my 2013 S40 is actually my third bike. I'll be snooping around looking for info on seats and other goodies. The same friend just gifted me with sever hundred $$ worth of free bags, so I'm fiddling with them now. Next I'm interested in a windshield, actually just a fly screen, any recommendations on that? Thanks in advance. |
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Title: Re: New rider questions Post by jcstokes on 06/12/13 at 23:43:08 Ianmh, failure to turn off your signals may get you killed. Please remember that. The bike's maximum in third is about 75 mph according to the handbook. Are you teaching yourself to ride? Welcome to the forum. |
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Title: Re: New rider questions Post by oldNslow on 06/13/13 at 05:54:55 Welcome Ianmh. Here's a drill that might help you get more comfortable with low speed riding. Find yourself an empty parking lot and practice doing figure eights as slow as you can go, letting the engine idle and controlling your speed by slipping the clutch. Turn your head and look all the way around the turn. After a while you'll be amazed how far you can lean the bike over in slow turns without falling over. If you think you're getting to the point of no return just add just a tiny bit of throttle and the bike will stand back up. The trick is to keep your head up and cranked around looking where you want to go. If you look at the ground in front of your front wheel you're going there - right down on the ground. A couple of 30 minute sessions practicing like this and you'll be riding up and down that parking ramp like a pro. |
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Title: Re: New rider questions Post by jcstokes on 06/13/13 at 12:38:16 Agree with Old n Slow. don't look at the front wheel |
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Title: Re: New rider questions Post by Digger on 06/13/13 at 18:50:07 [quote author=646C6360650D0 link=1367733346/0#0 date=1367733346]....It's like I ride for 30 minutes and get home and turn into an fumbling idiot. Tonight I had to walk it down backwards from a ramp and try again. Embarrassing....[/quote] Something I started doing years ago: When starting on a hill, keep the bike from rolling backward using the rear brake pedal. Throttle and clutch like you are going to pull away from a stop. When the clutch is in the friction zone with some throttle, you will feel the suspension react as the bike is straining a bit. At this point, smoothly release the brake pedal. You won't drift backward....not even an inch! Practice on level ground a few times before doing this in anger..... BTW, I sometimes do this using the front brake. It's not really that hard! IHTH! |
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Title: Re: New rider questions Post by MWR06AZ on 06/18/13 at 17:44:38 For casual/conservative I usually do 2nd at 15-20 mph, 3rd at 25-30 mph, 4th at 35-40 mph, and 5th at 45-50 mph. Just doing that in my head that converts to 2nd at 25-32kph, 3rd at 42-50 kph, 4th at around 55-65 kph, 5th at 72-80 kph. If you really need to remember the engine is capable of getting to the 80 kph speed once you're in second gear so you can be more aggressive on the throttle. Fun every now and then but I like the good gas mileage overall. |
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Title: Re: New rider questions Post by Ianmh on 06/20/13 at 17:08:59 Thanks for all the info. I wish this forum alerted me when a thread updates. :) jcstokes, No, I didn't teach myself, I took a course last year. I live downtown, so there's not really anywhere to practice, you leave my place and your mixed in with hundreds of other cars instantly. Not great for a newb. As for the signals, I'm getting better at remembering, but still forget sometimes. :( 75mph seems crazy for 3rd? oldNslow, getting better at the garage now. :) |
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Title: Re: New rider questions Post by tokn on 06/20/13 at 17:34:17 Hiya, I'm a beginner rider myself, 34yrs old and just started riding a month ago. One thing I would suggest is taking a Motorcycle Safety Foundation type course. They teach you all the basics and excellent riding strategies. It was night and day difference for me before and after the class. My riding confidence increased dramatically after the class. Since you're in Canada I don't know if its called the same thing, but I highly recommend a beginner biker course like it. |
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Title: Re: New rider questions Post by ToesNose on 06/20/13 at 17:58:43 Ianmh there is a notification option there for post threads ;) |
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Title: Re: New rider questions Post by jcstokes on 06/20/13 at 18:14:10 Ianmh, the 75 mph 120 kph max in third may be crazy, but it's what the handbook says, 100 kph in third no trouble. |
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Title: Re: New rider questions Post by Snubby241 on 06/20/13 at 19:10:31 22393D38560 wrote:
If you can find someone who does one on one coaching, I highly recommend that. I did the MSF, which I've heard good and bad about, mine was on the bad side. Took more lessons at another school, but the best is the one on one I'm doing now. Really pays off when the instructor can focus on you instead of a gaggle of bikes. |
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Title: Re: New rider questions Post by tokn on 06/20/13 at 21:15:06 Quote:
Agreed, one on one is always best. We had ten people in my MSF class with two coaches, so the ratio wasn't bad at all. But the key thing for me was picking up the good habits through the class, rather than having to figure things out and possible developing bad habits as I went. |
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Title: Re: New rider questions Post by Ianmh on 06/20/13 at 21:27:56 ToesNose, I didn't notice the notification button. Thanks. ::) As for the courses, I took a 3 day cours last fall. I actually failed the test, but passed it on a retake the next weekend. I stalled the bike too many times the first time, although for some reason I never stall the S40, so I blame the bike. ;D Might take an advanced course in the fall. |
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Title: Re: New rider questions Post by ToesNose on 06/21/13 at 04:48:55 4F47484B4E260 wrote:
Ianmh make sure to read the description of the Advanced riders course before enrolling. Here in the states the MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) has many levels, and Advanced is just that... for advanced riders. See if there are intermediate levels before jumping to the finish line :) |
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Title: Re: New rider questions Post by Ianmh on 06/21/13 at 10:32:23 The advanced course I'm talking about is actually for the final stage of licensing. In Ontario we have M1, M2, and M, I have my M2, but the advance course has the M exit test once it's done. |
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Title: Re: New rider questions Post by savagerider87 on 06/24/13 at 19:09:46 this is my first bike and first year riding as well..... its a lil nerve racking at first, but it gets better with time welcome to the forum this place is a wealth of knowledge and just great people in general. I dont know how it works in Canada, but here in the states we have the motorcycle safety foundation, which is a national training provider that educates new riders and is a major help to the first timer, they will teach you the fundamentals of motorcycling and trust me i learned a ton of useful info try checking with your local DMV, they might offer a similar course in your area :) |
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Title: Re: New rider questions Post by SkyHigh on 06/25/13 at 00:07:46 Quote:
Hi All, I'm new here also and was encouraged to see this comment. I'm 61 and a new rider. Actually made my first attempt in my late 50's and managed to go flying off my buddies sv650. Set me back a bit, last year decided to start taking lessons again, my 2013 S40 is actually my third bike. I'll be snooping around looking for info on seats and other goodies. The same friend just gifted me with sever hundred $$ worth of free bags, so I'm fiddling with them now. Next I'm interested in a windshield, actually just a fly screen, any recommendations on that? Thanks in advance.[/quote] I've been away for several weeks, so I'm replying to this post just now. I think it may be true that riding a motorcycle for the first time for older folks like me and Snubby241 may be much different than it is for young folks who are first-timers at it. So if you are an older, first-time rider who has questions, concerns, or comments regarding riding, please post them. We can all learn from each other to enjoy riding to the fullest. I think it's a blast and offers a true sense of freedom that cars can't. Of course, if you're a younger first-time rider, please post your questions, concerns, and comments, as well. I just mentioned older newbies because they (as I did) may need a bit of encouragement to garner the courage to go riding for the first time. :) |
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