Practice Practice practice.

**Flyingpony** · 16th July 2005, 21:07

Originally Posted by FROSTY

Do people actually ride that slow???
seriously though thats something ya gotta practice -riding your bike at walking pace or slower . It tests balance.clutch control -throtle feel -and brake control - I must say in some KBers defence that some bikes are very highly geared so slow riding is very very hard on the clutch for them

Yes I do ride that slow and do feel sorry for the bigger bikes because their gearing is so much taller
i.e. I'm in third and they're still in first.

Low gearing does come in very handy for filtering between cars. In stop go traffic jams, my aim is not to stop.
Drives cars behind me wild because they can't idle happily along at 5km/hr.

Where abouts in NZ are you now?
From posts here and there, sounds like you're on an interisland experience and having a ball of a time.

**Ixion** · 17th July 2005, 00:32

Originally Posted by Flyingpony

Yes I do ride that slow and do feel sorry for the bigger bikes because their gearing is so much taller
i.e. I'm in third and they're still in first.

Low gearing does come in very handy for filtering between cars. In stop go traffic jams, my aim is not to stop.
Drives cars behind me wild because they can't idle happily along at 5km/hr.

Where abouts in NZ are you now?
From posts here and there, sounds like you're on an interisland experience and having a ball of a time.

Yeah I ride that slow. Li'l Ratty can trickle alomg in first at very low speed, with the throttle completely closed - ie just idling, and the clutch fully engaged. When traffic ahead moves on a car length or two , as it does, I don't accelerate, just keep trickling until I catch them up, or choose to filter between the lanes. So I'm just constantly riding at the same pace. Whale can do it too, but it's a bit hard getting it started, and steering is harder.

How's Baby Biker enjoying the trip?

**Motu** · 17th July 2005, 11:16

I find sports bikes very difficult to control at low speeds,I wobble along with both feet sticking out like I have 35 hours of experiance,not 35 years,I find I will build a gap then quickly get up to a speed that's stable,then stop quickly,avoiding the wobbly stage altogether.I know I'm not skilled at riding these things - but on my own bikes I can stop feet up for several seconds at stop signs and do full lock figure 8 turns picking my nose....and riding a trials bike everything I do is below walking pace.I have difficulty comprehending why learners so desperatly need to have a sports bike.....and then look like complete learners trying to ride it!

**TwoSeven** · 17th July 2005, 12:26

Originally Posted by Motu

I find sports bikes very difficult to control at low speeds,I wobble along with both feet sticking out like I have 35 hours of experiance,not 35 years

I might suggest you lift your chin up so that its pointing at the distant horizon so that the underside of your jaw is parallel with the ground - might feel like you are looking at the sky for a bit til you get used to it.

**Motu** · 17th July 2005, 12:47

Does that go with a stiff upper lip too?

**TwoSeven** · 17th July 2005, 13:51

Nope - but think black adder carrying the slug on your lip and your balance will improve

**Motu** · 17th July 2005, 14:09

How's this?,OK,so I got my eyes shut,but I was riding under disqualification,so maybe it was a case of if I can't see them,they can't see me.

**TwoSeven** · 17th July 2005, 17:33

Now you dont get decent clipons like that nowadays.

**Mr Skid** · 17th July 2005, 17:45

Originally Posted by Motu

I have difficulty comprehending why learners so desperatly need to have a sports bike.....and then look like complete learners trying to ride it!

Don't know about others, but mine was a mistaken belief that the the extra power of a 'sports' 250 would make it an easier bike to ride.

I've come to realise that it's not the power that makes it easy, rather the way it's delivered. As it stands I've lost 5hp (45hp>40hp) with the move from CBR to XT, but there's no way I'd go back.

**Zapf** · 28th July 2005, 00:30

Originally Posted by justsomeguy

All awesome points Frosty - How is that adopt a newbie KB sceme coming along?? That would help newbies practice under the supervision of a better rider and learn better techniques wont it??

Two areas I conciously know I need to work on are my lines through corners and building more confidence through right hand turns - especially at higher speeds.

as a suggestion... perhaps you can refrain from charging ahead and ride slower and smoother? e.g following someone else who might have a smoother line that you want to learn.

**justsomeguy** · 28th July 2005, 00:34

Originally Posted by Zapf

as a suggestion... perhaps you can refrain from charging ahead and ride slower and smoother? e.g following someone else who might have a smoother line that you want to learn.

Damn - busted

Sure - let me find a job, get some petrol money and then lets go somewhere.....

I've got a new rear tyre to scrub in too......

Must keep the

at bay and refrain from charging ahead.....

**justsomeguy** · 28th July 2005, 00:36

By the way my lines are a lot smoother when I ride slower and I can pretty much choose what line I take..... however sometimes the

is too strong and I have to have the throttle fully open...... that when my riding goes from

to

**Zapf** · 28th July 2005, 00:56

Originally Posted by justsomeguy

By the way my lines are a lot smoother when I ride slower and I can pretty much choose what line I take..... however sometimes the

is too strong and I have to have the throttle fully open...... that when my riding goes from

to

yes... when I was firing up ur

at the coro loop... ur lines went from ok to bad and bad to worse.... so I thought enough cooking for the day before it boils over...

**Zapf** · 28th July 2005, 00:58

Originally Posted by Mr Skid

Don't know about others, but mine was a mistaken belief that the the extra power of a 'sports' 250 would make it an easier bike to ride.

I've come to realise that it's not the power that makes it easy, rather the way it's delivered. As it stands I've lost 5hp (45hp>40hp) with the move from CBR to XT, but there's no way I'd go back.

exactly... hence I got my gixxer to deliver the road faster to me than before.