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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Teaching my wife on a S-40 Suzuki Boulevard.
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Message started by Dodgeman on 05/25/13 at 13:46:31

Title: Teaching my wife on a S-40 Suzuki Boulevard.
Post by Dodgeman on 05/25/13 at 13:46:31

We just bought a 2006 S-40 Suzuki Boulevard for the wife. She feels that the throttle response is very quick, and it makes her feel uneasy. Is there a way to ease it back a bit?? I taught her on a 100cc Kawasawki, but she hasn't ridden in a long time. I'm doing baby steps with her to start. She has her license, and knows what to do, it's just that the throttle is very touchy, and it is.

Title: Re: Teaching my wife on a S-40 Suzuki Boulevard.
Post by DavidOfMA on 05/25/13 at 15:31:58

You can increase the freeplay of the throttle cable so it takes a little more twist before it engages. That might give the impression of it being less responsive.

Title: Re: Teaching my wife on a S-40 Suzuki Boulevard.
Post by Dave on 05/25/13 at 16:23:22

I would not increase the freeplay.....it might allow the slack in the cable to get caught on something or the cable to come loose at either end. And the throttle will not be any easier to control with slack in it.

The bike has a lot of torque at low rpms, and stuff can happen quickly compared to a 125. The fact that the throttle is built into a housing that includes the electric controls also makes it difficult to substitute a slower turn throttle. You might be able to take a stock throttle tube and machine it to a smaller radius....which will pull less cable as the throttle tube turns.

You could install a small piece of tubing on the throttle cable at the carb end that could limit how far the throttle cable can move - which will limit the throttle opening. Be sure that this tubing cannot bind on anything and cause the throttle to stick in any way.

It might also be possible to install a restrictor plate behind the carb boot to limit horsepower while she is learning - but you will want to take this out before she heads out on the highway and needs some speed.

And lastly.....she should be fine if you let her spend some very careful hours in a parking lot or back roads practicing.

Title: Re: Teaching my wife on a S-40 Suzuki Boulevard.
Post by oldNslow on 05/25/13 at 17:05:19

If the throttle response is causing her trouble mostly at low speeds it might be helpful to have her ride around in an empty parking lot or someplace similar practicing controlling the bike's speed by slipping the clutch instead of using the throttle at all. If the idle speed is set correctly these bikes will run along at almost 10 mph in first with the throttle closed. It's real easy to get going by easing out the clutch with the throttle closed.

Once she's comfortable doing that have her shift to second and give a little gas. Then third if there is sufficent room. Once she gets rolling and in the higher gears the throttle response won't seem as abrupt.

IMO trying to alter the bike is not a good idea. I think your wife will be better off in the long run if she just gets comfortable with it as it is. Like Dave said, let her ride around in a safe environment and learn at her own pace and she'll be fine.

Title: Re: Teaching my wife on a S-40 Suzuki Boulevard.
Post by Dodgeman on 05/25/13 at 19:23:19

Thanks for taking the time to respond to my posting. That is what I am teaching her. Just to get comfortable with the bike. I was just looking for some input from other bikers. It's been awhile since she has ridden a motorcycle, and I explained to her, that it will be baby steps, until she gets accustomed to it. I am not going to mess with the bike, cause it runs great. I just started back into riding when I turned 65, and I had to familiarize myself to it all over again. I guess she was hoping she would re-learn quicker as I did. But everyone learns at a different pace. Thanks again for the replies!! I will be visiting this site often, post if I need some info, or help.

Title: Re: Teaching my wife on a S-40 Suzuki Boulevard.
Post by Routy on 05/25/13 at 19:56:29

Give her an hour and a half,.......or maybe a day and a half, and she'll be used to it ! ;)

Title: Re: Teaching my wife on a S-40 Suzuki Boulevard.
Post by RidgeRunner13 on 05/25/13 at 21:16:41

After 39 years of being my passenger, this year my wife decided she wanted to learn to ride. In addition to my instruction, I purchased the "Ride Like a Pro" dvds starting with the one for beginners. I watched them with her & answered any additional questions she had. Mostly the dvds just reinforced what I had already taught her, but she's one of those that it helps to hear it from someone else.
The point is according to her they helped her confidence a lot, & when she took the MSF in March she passed easily. Both of us highly recommend the "Ride Like a Pro" series to anyone looking to improve their riding skills. They are worth the money IMHO. 8-)

She learned on the Savage. After the MSF she commented that it was easier to ride than the 125s & 250s the course supplied. I watch her now do things on that bike that some of the guys I've rode with can't do. :o

BTW, has anyone seen a Hyusong 250? Very cool looking little bike that would make a nice first bike. One of my friends has a 650 I rejetted for him that is very fast for a 650 & has been pretty reliable except for the carbs gumming up when he lets it set too long. :)

Title: Re: Teaching my wife on a S-40 Suzuki Boulevard.
Post by Dodgeman on 05/26/13 at 10:59:22

Can someone tell me if the Clutch in a Suzuki S-40 Boulevard is a wet Clutch??

Title: Re: Teaching my wife on a S-40 Suzuki Boulevard.
Post by verslagen1 on 05/26/13 at 11:00:34

yes

Title: Re: Teaching my wife on a S-40 Suzuki Boulevard.
Post by Dodgeman on 05/26/13 at 11:04:57

Thank you!

Title: Re: Teaching my wife on a S-40 Suzuki Boulevard.
Post by Sheriff41 on 05/26/13 at 11:19:11

I recommend the Ride Like A Pro videos also. I bought them years ago and when my wife started riding we watched them. Motorman Jerry does a good job of explaining and showing things, though the videos can be kind of corny in places. The newer DVDs are pretty well done. I loan mine out to fellow riders at work quite a bit and always get good feedback on them.

Title: Re: Teaching my wife on a S-40 Suzuki Boulevard.
Post by bobert_FSO on 05/26/13 at 11:47:57

Something else that might help would be to shift up into the highest gear you can without bogging the engine. On any bike, throttle response in 1st gear can quick and result in jerkiness. For slow speed maneuvers, shift to second right after you get moving. The higher gear gets the engine into an rpm range with lower torque. That will slow down the throttle response. As mentioned earlier, don't be afraid to pull the clutch in or slip it as needed.

Title: Re: Teaching my wife on a S-40 Suzuki Boulevard.
Post by raydawg on 05/26/13 at 14:15:25

Tell her to relax a bit, release the grips some, and to keep her head up while riding. It seems most newbs stare at the handlebars and fixate immediately in front of them, its akin to walking across a 2x4 laying flat on the ground, one foot in front of the other, not really hard to do, but you prop it up a few feet in the air and the same task just became harder....but has it really, no, but our mind adds a false element to it and that is what it fixates on and complicates the task.

Title: Re: Teaching my wife on a S-40 Suzuki Boulevard.
Post by renegade1 on 05/26/13 at 14:23:29

I have my bike running at idle at approximatly 10-15 km/h no need for using the throttle untill your comfortable anyways (in empty parking lots). Slow speed in my opinion is more difficult than fast anyways. Thats how I learned on my dirt bike when i was younger anyways. Good luck to your wife brother. It's cool that you'll always have a riding partner. :)

Title: Re: Teaching my wife on a S-40 Suzuki Boulevard.
Post by Dodgeman on 05/26/13 at 15:18:50

We are not going to rush her or pressure her to learn in one day or even a week. If it takes all this riding season to learn and get comfortable, then so be it. I want her to learn to ride, but at her speed. Thanks again for the helpful info!! ;)

Title: Re: Teaching my wife on a S-40 Suzuki Boulevard.
Post by TobyJug on 05/26/13 at 16:39:40

Speaking as an ex instructor, my advice is to do what's already been said and give her lots of positive reinforcement and be prepared to bite your tongue even more.

Title: Re: Teaching my wife on a S-40 Suzuki Boulevard.
Post by Dodgeman on 05/26/13 at 16:56:49

Thanks TobyJug. I'll try to remember that Tip!! LOL. I asked her if she would want somebody else to teach her, and she said that she trusted me because I taught her the first time also. There has been a lot of good positive suggestions on here which I will incorporate in teaching her. Thanks to all who gave tips and ideas!!! ;)

Title: Re: Teaching my wife on a S-40 Suzuki Boulevard.
Post by jcstokes on 05/27/13 at 03:02:47

The best thing I ever did, after a twenty seven year absence from motorcycling, was to have a two hour refresher course with a professional instructor. I'm sure Canada must have similar courses to the American MSF course, and no risk of domestic disputes.

Title: Re: Teaching my wife on a S-40 Suzuki Boulevard.
Post by Dodgeman on 05/27/13 at 03:27:22

If the idle setting is not enough to let her work the clutch, and get the bike moving without touching the gas, is it hard to adjust the idle speed??

Title: Re: Teaching my wife on a S-40 Suzuki Boulevard.
Post by DavidOfMA on 05/27/13 at 07:03:55

7B505B585A525E513F0 wrote:

If the idle setting is not enough to let her work the clutch, and get the bike moving without touching the gas, is it hard to adjust the idle speed??

A pretty good substitute for the course, if that's not available, is these books: "Proficient Motorcycling" and the MSF's "Guide to Motorcycling Excellence." I read them both (and also the sequel to "Proficient Motorcycling") before I got on the saddle again after a 33 year hiatus, and they were both really helpful, particularly at learning to anticipate hazards.

Title: Re: Teaching my wife on a S-40 Suzuki Boulevard.
Post by dirty dog on 05/27/13 at 07:13:54

You could change the throttle to a longer pull ( have to twist more to get the same pull has stock) we used to use short pull on our drag bikes for years ( less twist to full throttle) hope it helps. 8-)

Title: Re: Teaching my wife on a S-40 Suzuki Boulevard.
Post by apache snow on 05/27/13 at 07:29:27

She just needs to practice and learn throttle control. :)

I keep mine in a building down in the back yard. I rode it up to the house in wet grass this morning. Clutch and throttle control keeps me out of trouble. 8-)

Title: Re: Teaching my wife on a S-40 Suzuki Boulevard.
Post by Dodgeman on 05/27/13 at 08:39:52

3E2F3E3C373A2C3130285F0 wrote:

Yep! I will work with her with patience. I'm glad I found this forum. I will teach her to fether the Clutch, and the throttle until she gets accustomed to it. Thanks for the info!!!