Fell off. What went wrong?

**The Stranger:Me** · 5th October 2008, 13:03

Originally Posted by Hinny

You should be able to do figure eights on the steering stops.
It is a matter of throttle control. More gas and the bike stands up.
You can get training videos which show you how. Little women, riding Harleys, doing fig 8's on the stops.
Look where you want to go etc.... go practice.

Looking at a LOT of the posts here, it really would appear that a great many could use some help with low speed turns.

Check out page 86

Simple, logical and effective.

**Ocean1** · 5th October 2008, 13:13

Originally Posted by The Stranger

Simple, logical and effective.

And a fookin' sight easier on a Gasgas than a Buell.

**The Stranger:Me** · 5th October 2008, 13:52

Originally Posted by Ocean1

And a fookin' sight easier on a Gasgas than a Buell.

Yes, I'm sure it is, however I am sure it is a fookin sight easier on a Buell than a Goldwing as demonstrated on page 87.

**Ocean1** · 5th October 2008, 14:23

I'm off to buy me some of these babies:

**dpex** · 6th October 2008, 18:41

Originally Posted by wezo

the bike didn't skid out from the front or anything. I was barely moving! It was 'just rolling' and It 'laid' down. I must have leant over to the point of no return without enough forward momentum. I will not do this again...i hope.

I think you've identified the issue. Not enough go forward speed. It's taken me ages to pluck up the courage to a) keep on some speed during figure-of-eight practice. B) ride the clutch. C) look to where I want to go. As soon as I lose just one of these the turns go pear-shaped.

Some speed = intertial balance. Too much speed equals fucked rims on the gutter. Somewhere in between is harmony. One of these days I'll get it ten out of ten. :--(((

**Ixion** · 6th October 2008, 19:23

Gas it .

**Ocean1** · 6th October 2008, 19:57

Originally Posted by dpex

I think you've identified the issue. Not enough go forward speed.

Originally Posted by Ixion

Gas it .

Y'know, the strange ones tip's a good one.

You can regulate your speed to maintain bike attitude in a slow turn. It's half of the equation for normal speed turns too.

But if you've ever watched someone do it on a trials bike it rapidly becomes clear that they can maintain that attitude at any speed, including veeeerry veeeerry slowly. That's the other half of the equation you use at normal speeds: Balance. So I reckon you need control over both to get the job done, at any speed.

And in spite of my earlier wee quibble I've decided the bike geometry matters not a jot. I base this not on any outrageous personal skill, (s'true, my balance is fookin' useless), just observation. In particular I've just observed a mate turn my Buell in circles on my driveway, (a radius within which it can't be pushed) at about 1rpm. Bastard never twitched let alone touch the deck.

**Motu** · 6th October 2008, 21:28

I don't think it's a matter of whether you can do it or not - I can ride my trials bike in circles on the stops....and stop.....and then do it on the other lock.So it's not a matter of skill and control,it's unfamiliarity with the bike....and the situation at the time.Exactly what happened with the OP.

I got caught out last year with my first ride on the BMW - the low speed handling is superb of course,so when I did a turn in a farm driveway I got caught out with the lack of lock.I kinda expected a bike that was so easy to control at low speed,would be...ah,easy to control.No biggie,I didn't drop the bike,no one saw me....it caught me out,but I caught it in time.There is no limit to the learning we can do.

**Slyer** · 6th October 2008, 21:44

Originally Posted by The Stranger

Looking at a LOT of the posts here, it really would appear that a great many could use some help with low speed turns.

Check out page 86

Simple, logical and effective.

That book looks pretty good, anyone know where I can get a copy?

**The Stranger:Me** · 6th October 2008, 21:49

Originally Posted by Slyer

That book looks pretty good, anyone know where I can get a copy?

I got friend in the US to send me the copy I have.
You can borrow it if you like.
Would be the best book on motorcycling that I have read as I like to know why things work, not only that they do work.

**Ocean1** · 6th October 2008, 21:57

Originally Posted by Motu

I don't think it's a matter of whether you can do it or not - I can ride my trials bike in circles on the stops....and stop.....and then do it on the other lock.

Then yer a better man than me Gunga Din.

Well, I sorta fluke it occasionally.

Originally Posted by Motu

So it's not a matter of skill and control,it's unfamiliarity with the bike....and the situation at the time.Exactly what happened with the OP.

Yeah, happens to most of us I suspect.

It's just that sometimes there's no witnesses.

**Slyer** · 6th October 2008, 22:21

Originally Posted by The Stranger

I got friend in the US to send me the copy I have.
You can borrow it if you like.
Would be the best book on motorcycling that I have read as I like to know why things work, not only that they do work.

That would be great once I've gotten used to riding and want to improve.