[Fawn]

Hi all, thanks for the reply to my last question on upgrading to a larger sportbike.

Now, I have my new-to-me bike home, and noticed something right away rolling her into the garage. The weight displacement is very different fron anything else I have ridden/pushed (pushed really since it is icy out, but moving it to the garage was different), and different from the fzr.

Namley, the weight has a really low center of gravity. We are talking alot of weight, close to 500lbs. Now I can comfortably sit on it, not entirely flat footed but nearly. I am used to that. But, putting it onto the stand made me a little iffy. Almost as if halfway down to the stand I had to let it go of its own momentum. This scares me somewhat. Also, the same idea for gettin it off the stand, the first half is a little hard due to the weight and height.

This only translates into concern for me at a stop/go, or during parking - I am not worried about it on the road. I am sure I will get used to it but it is disconcerting. Any tips or feedback? I am not interested in lowering its not so much a height issue, I am a bitty thing but a strong, 5'6 120 lbs. Like if it stalls suddenly I really do not want to drop the damn bike. Not that I plan to stall, and know the techn to pick it up, just the weight shift is slightly intimidating.

I spent alot of time reading at wominx.com *hope the url is ok to post, sorry if its not* cause tons of small girls there ride massive or at least large sportbikes.

Thanks for being patient with my questions

Fawn in Kelowna
93 Kawa zx750

 

[SpookyjacK]

I got a buddy who is 5'6" tall and rides a 1500 Goldwing with no problems it's all in the confidence, don't panic it will come.......

 

[jaydogg888]

Confidence is a very big thing. I took a course with V-twin in Kelowna and you learn a lot about stopping and how to overcome the weight. I'm not saying you need to take a course but when I took the course there was riders there that have been riding for years not even knowing what they've been doing until it was explained and also learning new things.

If you ride the rear brake up to lights it will make the bike very stable and you should only have to put down one leg so make it your left so you can keep on the rear brake. If you stall the bike in a straight line then pull in the clutch and ride the rear brake to keep it steady. If you stall the bike in a slow speed turn then don't be a hero and you'll probably have to let it down gently. The point is shit happens even to the best of us.

 

[Fawn]

Confidence is a very big thing. I took a course with V-twin in Kelowna and you learn a lot about stopping and how to overcome the weight. .

Yes, I took a great long course at KDSC (the original motorcycle course here in Kelowna) had this will be my fourth riding season. I have not yet ridden this new bike as it is a skating rink this time of year obviously All of the tips on riding you mention are part of a course, and pretty much part of daily riding... they are good and valuable tips.

I was looking maybe for some tips in making it easier/safer to get on and off the stand for those first or last few inches... someone has now given me a tip on another forum that helps I tried it out last night...it is to crank the wheel to the right, and push the bike slightly forward when you right it before lifting the stand, compresses the suspension a little and also makes the bike want to stand...its a good tip

Its weird how the weight center is so different on different bikes!

Thanks guys.

 

[Mr.Sushi ya ha]

Yes, I took a great long course at KDSC (the original motorcycle course here in Kelowna) had this will be my fourth riding season. I have not yet ridden this new bike as it is a skating rink this time of year obviously All of the tips on riding you mention are part of a course, and pretty much part of daily riding... they are good and valuable tips.

I was looking maybe for some tips in making it easier/safer to get on and off the stand for those first or last few inches... someone has now given me a tip on another forum that helps I tried it out last night...it is to crank the wheel to the right, and push the bike slightly forward when you right it before lifting the stand, compresses the suspension a little and also makes the bike want to stand...its a good tip

Its weird how the weight center is so different on different bikes!

Thanks guys.

Hello Fawn,
Nice name...

When you do this hold the front brake on also.

When you let the bike down onto the stand stand really close to the bike with the front brake on bars turned full lock right, put your hip tight to the bike probably where the seat / tank meet and have a wide stance. what you want to do is be in a position where you can control the bike as it starts to tip down towards the kick stand..you will be pushing with your arms and your hips...like if you were trying to push a car stuck in the snow( being up where you are you should be experienced) You have a garage and a friend or even tie the bike to something and start finding the point where you cant hold it much more.

What you are trying to do is eliminate all the factors that will let the bike get away from you...front brake(no roll away)..bars to the right(wont turn on you if you need to push on them)...hips against the bike(isn't gonna tip with you in the way)...the only way it can go is away from you...and if that happens it WILL pull you over the top and tip over and it looks really funny so have somebody take pictures...

As for lights...practice riding straight down the road then slowing down till you start to need to fight to balance or turning the bars or put your feet down...this takes lots of practice..you eventually want to be able to come to a complete stop then go without needin to put a foot down or fight to balance...once you learn this when ever you come to a light you will always be balanced and should never tip if you are in balance...

A goal for you should be say 5 seconds then 10 then 15 and so on...I can stay balanced for nearly a full light..( but I also am a trials rider) ..ya so call me a cheater...haha

All good stuff to try for all until the thaw.

Good luck!

Merry Xmas!

 

[Fawn]

Hello Fawn,
Nice name...



Good luck!

Merry Xmas!

Thanks for all the info, sounds totally useful and I will definitely use it! I usually right and put the bike on and off the stands while straddling... I would not have thought to do it standing aside a heavy bike but I will try that too I am a thinker, I like to wrap my mind around the physics and why's of things...then do them.

That is amazing you can balance the bike for almost a full light! Very good idea for maintaining the balance...cool. thanks again

 

[Mr.Sushi ya ha]

Thanks for all the info, sounds totally useful and I will definitely use it! I usually right and put the bike on and off the stands while straddling... I would not have thought to do it standing aside a heavy bike but I will try that too

I am a thinker, I like to wrap my mind around the physics and why's of things...then do them.

That is amazing you can balance the bike for almost a full light! Very good idea for maintaining the balance...cool. thanks again

Ohhh Ohhh, I thought you wanted to know how to let the bike down on the stand when you were just off the bike on the side as if you are pushing it. Like if you just gased up and your gona move it ahead then set it back down.

If you are on the bike then stay on it, flip the stand down, bars to the right. and while still balanced on your right leg gently push off and shift your butt across the seat and let your left foot take over the weight and gently let the bike settle on its stand.

If you turn the bars when it is on the stand lock to lock you will notice when it's left the bike leans more than when it's to the right..so that will eliminate that oooohh it feels like it's gona fall feeling

I like that your a thinker....and you understand physics...so here's a teaser....when your at the light trying to balance rev the engine in blips....


Why??? cause all that mass spinning in the engine actually creates a gyroscopic effect helping you balance....

Dont belive how powerfull it is ask someone with a BMW to let you sit on his bike then rev the engine ....you will feel the movement

 

[Stenchy]

weight

I test rode a few cruisers this year and my dad gave me a few pointers like this and man did that help, like lifting it off the stand. Keep bars right, front brake on and use a side shifting motion of your hips/thighs, left to right, to lift it off the side stand, not your upper body. Worked like a charm and you are not fighting the weight at all.

Merry Xmas all!

Korey

Ohhh Ohhh, I thought you wanted to know how to let the bike down on the stand when you were just off the bike on the side as if you are pushing it. Like if you just gased up and your gona move it ahead then set it back down.

If you are on the bike then stay on it, flip the stand down, bars to the right. and while still balanced on your right leg gently push off and shift your butt across the seat and let your left foot take over the weight and gently let the bike settle on its stand.

If you turn the bars when it is on the stand lock to lock you will notice when it's left the bike leans more than when it's to the right..so that will eliminate that oooohh it feels like it's gona fall feeling

I like that your a thinker....and you understand physics...so here's a teaser....when your at the light trying to balance rev the engine in blips....


Why??? cause all that mass spinning in the engine actually creates a gyroscopic effect helping you balance....

Dont belive how powerfull it is ask someone with a BMW to let you sit on his bike then rev the engine ....you will feel the movement