are you as incompetent as me? (can't ride slow)

Discussion in '8th Generation 2014-Present' started by armod, Aug 11, 2017.

  1. armod

    armod New Member

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    so I've recently brought my 8th gen home and it's the biggest heaviest bike I've ever ridden.

    brief riding history
    • Vespa PX150 (first "bike" and how I was infected with the motorcyclists disease)
    • Honda CB125
    • Honda VTR 250 (fuel injected model)
    • Honda hornet 900
    • Kawasaki zx6r (friends bike I rode and was able to handle without any issues)
    my biggest concern right now is slow maneuvers. all the above bikes I was able to turn a 20ft figure-eight. the hornet took some practice as it was not only bigger but I was coming back to riding after 4 years away from bikes.

    right now I can even do a U-turn on a standard Australian street (7m wide which is about 23ft) which for me means that I still don't know how ride this bike.

    any advice on how to deal with the weight while riding slow?
    is it just a mental barrier?
    are you unable to do this simple riding task too?

    I'll keep practicing, of course.
    just wondering if others had this problem and how they worked it out.

    here's what's possible


    here's a video showing a practice drill
     
    Last edited: Aug 11, 2017
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  2. OZ VFR

    OZ VFR Member

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    Dont take your feet of the pegs and look where you want to go.
    So if you're doing a 180, you should be looking over your shoulder.
    Start on really big circles, and work on getting tighter.
    Sometimes it's just a mental thing.
     
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  3. armod

    armod New Member

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    I'm pretty good with my feet and eyes.

    I usually counterbalance the bike but I just don't feel safe doing it with this weight.
     
  4. OZ VFR

    OZ VFR Member

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    The VFR is a bit top heavy, but nothing you won't get used to in time.
     
  5. NZCam

    NZCam New Member

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    Whereabouts in Oz are you? If you're anywhere near Melbourne, I'm happy to help you improve your low-speed skills with some car-park drills & cone work. If you're not close by, my best advice is to find an open area that you can safely practice in, lay out some cornering markers, and just practice, practice, practice!!
     
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  6. armod

    armod New Member

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    I'm in perth.
    car park drills are exactly what I'll be doing. we've got a bit of rain over here so just waiting for it to clear up a bit. I like empty marina parking lots because they're always flat and have tons of room for boat trailers.
     
  7. duccmann

    duccmann Member

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    I have to make sharp maneuvers daily at work, I throttle up a bit and slip the clutch--
    Hope this helps


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
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  8. Allyance

    Allyance Insider

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    Take duccmann's advice, feather the clutch. Fuel injection makes engine very responsive, both as a brake when you back off and aggressive on the throttle. In doing tight turns , if you back off on the throttle with the clutch fully engaged, bike will immediately slow and tend to fall in, and with too much throttle bike will stand up and go straight. Try slipping clutch to soften speed control, even coast a bit.
     
  9. PetePower

    PetePower New Member

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    I have recently helped instruct my wife to get her license and we did lots of carpark practice. (not that I'm any good myself, just more experienced) Which I also found beneficial for my self. Keeps the revs up feather clutch use foot brake, look where your going like others have mentioned and just keep practicing till confident. I have found the opposite from getting off my 600 YZF have found the Viffer far easier to turn and manoeuvre.
     
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  10. thtanner

    thtanner New Member

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    No matter the size of the bike, slow speed maneuvers are all the same. It's a combo of rear brake, clutch feathering, and throttle control. Look where you are going.

    Then it's just practice, practice. :)
     
  11. Bubba Utah

    Bubba Utah Member

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    Here is another video I have watched a few times.
     
  12. VFR_Mike

    VFR_Mike New Member

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    "It's a combo of rear brake, clutch feathering, and throttle control." Couldn't have said it better.
    Stay off the front brake it upsets the steering in slow speed maneuvers. Look where you want to go. Plastic cones in an empty parking lot are great if you have any. Start widely spaced and tighten them up as you gain confidence. Figure eights, circles, and u-turns. U-turns from a stop. Just keep practicing, you'll do fine.
     
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