Yamaha Scorpio maintenance and servicing

[Tigadee]

After another session this evening, I found I was getting better, maybe stalled only a handful times.

Have got the clutch 'friction zoned' better now, before I couldn't seem to feel where it is but I'm getting there with this exercise: Just sit still on 1st gear and then slowly letting the clutch go till I find the resistance. Did that about 10 times till I got the hang of it. *whew*

I'm also getting better at turns and now doing figure 8s & U-turns, and also practicing my emergency braking. I hope to tackle a slalom soon - I just barely made it through the one in my BHS after repeated tries [I was getting badly shaken up by that], so I really would like to master that.

Next after is thinking ahead, when to up-shift and down-shift, and getting into the habit of using the turn signal and switching it off after turning.

I give myself another week and then I will tackle the neighbourhood roads... The week after that and I may start commuting to work. Or is that too soon? Whadaya guys think?

[newhere]

After another session this evening, I found I was getting better, maybe stalled only a handful times.

Have got the clutch 'friction zoned' better now, before I couldn't seem to feel where it is but I'm getting there with this exercise: Just sit still on 1st gear and then slowly letting the clutch go till I find the resistance. Did that about 10 times till I got the hang of it. *whew*

I'm also getting better at turns and now doing figure 8s & U-turns, and also practicing my emergency braking. I hope to tackle a slalom soon - I just barely made it through the one in my BHS after repeated tries [I was getting badly shaken up by that], so I really would like to master that.

Next after is thinking ahead, when to up-shift and down-shift, and getting into the habit of using the turn signal and switching it off after turning.

I give myself another week and then I will tackle the neighbourhood roads... The week after that and I may start commuting to work. Or is that too soon? Whadaya guys think?

I think, when you are bored practicing your drills then it is time to find a quiet street and go for it Or if at all possible get someone you know and/or trust to ride you and your bike to some fairly quiet streets and start riding around there.

I was a very timid beginner and I have the utmost respect and gratefulness to Grant` for doing that for me as it was a fantastic confidence builder and I might still be going around car parks if it wasn't for that help from him!!!!!

Once your comfortable enough with quiet streets I would highly recommend finding someone to follow around until your happy to go it alone - again a massive thanks to Grant` for doing that for me - highly recommend finding someone prepared to do that as it as it was a confidence builder for me and I reckon it will work for you to.

I bet there are plenty of riders in your area that will take you under their wing - so to speak - and will be happy to have you follow them around until your ready to go it alone. All the best of luck

It would be great to see you on Mom and Maha's group rides because they are a great way to get confidence in a group situation and to meet a bunch of new riders also.

[The End]

Great to hear you are taking it easy, the worst thing people do when starting to ride is feel over confident - that is when accidents happen!

Like a wise person once said: Practice makes perfect.

[allycatz]

I was taught a pretty cool thing by my instructor about rev's/clutch so when I was learning on a gn250 i had to have the revs at 2500 before starting to let the clutch out to prevent stalling... with my scorpio I found I had to have the rev's about 1500 before letting the clutch out to prevent stalling... it worked for me so it might be worth a try but it just takes a bit of practice so have a good time and don't give yourself a hard time

Funny you should say that, the bike was idling faster when I first started it up and we adjusted it down a little. Had actually suggested to my partner maybe I should try it back how it was. Having said that I was on grass and it doesnt take off the same as on tarmac

I found that I stalled less once I got up a gear too...the engine was smoother in second and the throttle less jerky...hoping to get to third gear this weekend lol!

[newhere]

Funny you should say that, the bike was idling faster when I first started it up and we adjusted it down a little. Had actually suggested to my partner maybe I should try it back how it was. Having said that I was on grass and it doesnt take off the same as on tarmac

I found that I stalled less once I got up a gear too...the engine was smoother in second and the throttle less jerky...hoping to get to third gear this weekend lol!

Might be worth a try

[nzspokes]

After another session this evening, I found I was getting better, maybe stalled only a handful times.

Have got the clutch 'friction zoned' better now, before I couldn't seem to feel where it is but I'm getting there with this exercise: Just sit still on 1st gear and then slowly letting the clutch go till I find the resistance. Did that about 10 times till I got the hang of it. *whew*

I'm also getting better at turns and now doing figure 8s & U-turns, and also practicing my emergency braking. I hope to tackle a slalom soon - I just barely made it through the one in my BHS after repeated tries [I was getting badly shaken up by that], so I really would like to master that.

Next after is thinking ahead, when to up-shift and down-shift, and getting into the habit of using the turn signal and switching it off after turning.

I give myself another week and then I will tackle the neighbourhood roads... The week after that and I may start commuting to work. Or is that too soon? Whadaya guys think?

Where do you live? i would be happy to come out for a ride. Im L plate to.

One idea is to do the commute to work on the weekend so you get the feel for it.

[Tigadee]

Excellent ideas, all of them. I will go for a test run next weekend to work and see how that goes. At least I'm familiar with the route!

I am practicing on a quiet side-street next to my home, which ends at a car park for a small park, so it's been great because I experience slopes as well. Would love to hook up with some fellow bikers soon, plan on seeing me there...

I'm taking baby steps and going slow, got a family to think about and am in no rush to be out on the road yet. This motorbiking is just for something new in my life [mid-life crisis, I joke to my wife] and also exploring its potential as an affordable commuting tool.

[newhere]

Excellent ideas, all of them. I will go for a test run next weekend to work and see how that goes. At least I'm familiar with the route!

I am practicing on a quiet side-street next to my home, which ends at a car park for a small park, so it's been great because I experience slopes as well. Would love to hook up with some fellow bikers soon, plan on seeing me there...

I'm taking baby steps and going slow, got a family to think about and am in no rush to be out on the road yet. This motorbiking is just for something new in my life [mid-life crisis, I joke to my wife] and also exploring its potential as an affordable commuting tool.

Well that sounds ideal!!! And baby steps is the way to go

It is a pretty cheap way to get about, but its much more fun than a car, and maybe one day your wife might like to jump on the back - riding is a fun couple thing to do in my experience

[allycatz]

...

I'm taking baby steps and going slow, got a family to think about and am in no rush to be out on the road yet. This motorbiking is just for something new in my life [mid-life crisis, I joke to my wife] and also exploring its potential as an affordable commuting tool.

Well ive just bought bike at age 51, dunno if its too late in life but I bought it off a 67 year old who said "It was too much bike for her"

[nzspokes]

Well ive just bought bike at age 51, dunno if its too late in life but I bought it off a 67 year old who said "It was too much bike for her"

I started riding at 43.

[Tigadee]

Heh! Heh! I've heard it said nowadays that age 40 is the new 30, so we're not that old... and never too old to learn something new, aye?

Questions: Is it possible to overlube the chain? i.e. Is doing it after every ride too much? Can there be negative consequences?

Can one change the rim and width of a bike's tyres (like car rims)? Or does one change the tyre only? Is there any variation to tyre width/height within the same size?

[nathanwhite]

I give myself another week and then I will tackle the neighbourhood roads... The week after that and I may start commuting to work. Or is that too soon? Whadaya guys think?

I spend about half an hour practicing the clutch and throttle stuff before blatting around some side roads for 10min as a break.

It would be great to see you on Mom and Maha's group rides because they are a great way to get confidence in a group situation and to meet a bunch of new riders also.

My first group ride was with them. And that was when I had been riding for all of three weeks.

the worst thing people do when starting to ride is feel over confident - that is when accidents happen!
.

Been there, done that.

Questions: Is it possible to overlube the chain? i.e. Is doing it after every ride too much? Can there be negative consequences?

Can one change the rim and width of a bike's tyres (like car rims)? Or does one change the tyre only? Is there any variation to tyre width/height within the same size?

I don't know if there is any negative consequences, but you only need to do it every 500km or so. So yes every ride would be too much (Unless you go for 500km rides)

[Badjelly]

Heh! Heh! I've heard it said nowadays that age 40 is the new 30, so we're not that old... and never too old to learn something new, aye?

Questions: Is it possible to overlube the chain? i.e. Is doing it after every ride too much? Can there be negative consequences?

Can one change the rim and width of a bike's tyres (like car rims)? Or does one change the tyre only? Is there any variation to tyre width/height within the same size?

OK, so what's 56 then?

The only negative consequence I see of overlubing the chain is big gobs of thick black oil accumulating near the front sprocket, then falling onto the garage floor and being tracked into the house. This, I think you'll agree, is quite a negative consequence.

You probably could change the rims, but why would you? Stick to standard rims and standard tyre sizes. Tyre selection is a bit limited on the 18" wheels, but I am very happy with the Shinko rear that was recently fitted by TSS in Lower Hutt and will try to get a matching one when the front wears out.

Finaly, for protection of finish, I recommend Inox Lanox (an oily spray like CRC, but contains lanolin and sticks better).

[baffa]

Quick tip for clutch control. Try taking off without using the throttle at all.
Trust me it can be done! that will give you a good understanding of clutch control.
Also getting the hang of hill starts is a good idea. They arent difficult, you just need to have your foot on the brake, and take off as you would normally but with a little less clutch and a bit more gas.

Oh and teaching yourself to stop quickly is never a bad idea either. I've had to haul anchors a couple of times, and the bike will stop quicker than you realise.

[Tigadee]

The only negative consequence I see of overlubing the chain is big gobs of thick black oil accumulating near the front sprocket, then falling onto the garage floor and being tracked into the house. This, I think you'll agree, is quite a negative consequence.

So yes every ride would be too much (Unless you go for 500km rides)

LOL! OK, I'll go easy on the lube then...

...for protection of finish, I recommend Inox Lanox (an oily spray like CRC, but contains lanolin and sticks better).

I'm not familiar with that product. Is it available in places like Repco or just anywhere like Bunnings?

Baffa - Will give that a go, thanks. And I will definitely continuously practice my emergency braking, among other things, you can count on me!