Suggestions For Novice On A Liter Bike?

SalvageSV

SalvageSV

Hopes he doesn't crash this month
Yup, I'm "that guy." I'm a new rider on a 1000cc. But, not on purpose.

You see, I was looking at bikes for a while ... I love the Daytona 675 and that was what I wanted to build up to. I was eyeing the purchase of a CBR500R until a wrecked SV1000S was handed to me. Funding better aligned with repairing the SV than purchasing a CBR, so that's where I am.

I've been riding for a few months and have luckily only made stupid mistakes while going very slowly and I still have a healthy fear of the power the bike has. I still haven't gone full throttle.

But, here is my issue, which many of you may already understand. This thing is heavy. Capital everything: HEAVY. So, I'm having issues getting comfortable leaning into turns on it.

I'm looking for a friend to lend me a smaller bike that I can spend some time on and get more comfortable with in turns, but aside from that, what else could I try? Right now I just going with more seat time and familiar roads near the house that I can ride on repetitively.

Thanks for the help!
 
First off if you've not had much training, get some.

A bike's weight shouldn't be an issue above running pace, when cornering do the slowing and gears before you turn in so you can have the bike on positive throttle with it gently pulling through the bend. Better to go too slow than too fast and brake or chop the throttle.
 
As Lurch said - get more training on it or get some track time, you'll learn loads and loads about yourself and the bike!

Have you had the suspension set up to you and you alone? if not, do it!! It will change the bike and how it handles
 
Thanks guys. Yeah, I'm not trying to drag a knee here. I'm just trying to increase my comfort with the general idea of leaning at speed. I'm pretty good in most cases, but I occasionally take corners slower than the speed limit just due to my comfort level. Maybe that's normal for my skill level?

as for training I've done the basic MSF exercises and slow maneuvers in parking lots. Now I'm just getting as much seat time in as possible.

As for weight, I've just got it in my head how heavy the thing is. I know that the physics make it almost meaningless at speed, but I still worry and get into my own head. The same thing happened to me when I was skateboarding. I could never trust the physics enough to drop in on a half pipe. I could start at the bottom and go up and down it all day, but not actually drop in. I do still feel how heavy it is in slow stuff ... I need to work on that more.

I have not had the suspension set up. That's a good idea. I adjusted it some myself just to account for my weight, but I'm no where near a professional. I'll look in to that.
 
If you think about the engine size and the weight all the time then it's not the bike for you. You need to get over your thoughts or move onto something your more settled with.
A litre bike is easier to ride and more forgiving than most smaller bikes, but yes there is a weight difference most of the time. Mine is 220kg and you notice it when pushing it around. But once moving you can't tell.
 
lupin said:
If you think about the engine size and the weight all the time then it's not the bike for you. You need to get over your thoughts or move onto something your more settled with.
A litre bike is easier to ride and more forgiving than most smaller bikes, but yes there is a weight difference most of the time. Mine is 220kg and you notice it when pushing it around. But once moving you can't tell.
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Thanks. And, to be honest, I know it's not the bike for me ... but it's what I have for now. I'll just keep working on it!

You're the first person I've heard say that they are easier or more forgiving ... interesting. Thanks for the feedback!
 
I kind of feel that other than throttle control, I don't really see mastery of a smaller bike as indicative of performance on a bigger bike.

I think different weight and power classes have their own advantages and disadvantages. Like on a smaller bike, being a master at gear-shifting is a must and is hard to get good with, but on a liter bike? You never really need to worry or even think about shifting since you'll only use a handful and there's a huge gap in between shifts.

But hairpin turns and urban mobility wise, it's easier on a small 150 than a liter bike. Even different types of bikes of the same engine size differ greatly and you have to re-learn a lot of things, like jumping from a sportbike to a supermoto.

I realized I couldn't pull of a lot of things I could with my FZ16 when i jumped on a CB400SF, like reacting really fast while lane splitting, or doing hairpin U-turns from the right-most lane to the next right-most lane.
 
Jumping from 600cc to 1000cc my first year riding was an experience I wont forget. Thankfully my 2009 Yamaha R1 has modes set. And the previous owner remapped those.. Respect the power always. I rode for almost a month on the B setting which was a 20% restriction. C mode is 30% and A mode is 0% or wide open. The bike also has a 1/4 throttle and the response is quite massive. I had my front wheel lift over small bumps in early gears. The first time i was not expecting it and nearly 12olockd and slammed my chest into the tank dropping it back down. My bike slapped me that day and told me to settle down.
 
Search YouTube for "Twist of the Wrist 2", it gives you a lot of insight, and what you should work on. Keep re-watching till you sorted out all your SRs (you'll understand what this means when you watch the video).
 
SighBored said:
Search YouTube for "Twist of the Wrist 2", it gives you a lot of insight, and what you should work on. Keep re-watching till you sorted out all your SRs (you'll understand what this means when you watch the video).
Click to expand...
great watch for my early AM sleepless night :)
 
image.gif
 
SalvageSV said:
Yup, I'm "that guy." I'm a new rider on a 1000cc. But, not on purpose.

You see, I was looking at bikes for a while ... I love the Daytona 675 and that was what I wanted to build up to. I was eyeing the purchase of a CBR500R until a wrecked SV1000S was handed to me. Funding better aligned with repairing the SV than purchasing a CBR, so that's where I am.

I've been riding for a few months and have luckily only made stupid mistakes while going very slowly and I still have a healthy fear of the power the bike has. I still haven't gone full throttle.

But, here is my issue, which many of you may already understand. This thing is heavy. Capital everything: HEAVY. So, I'm having issues getting comfortable leaning into turns on it.

I'm looking for a friend to lend me a smaller bike that I can spend some time on and get more comfortable with in turns, but aside from that, what else could I try? Right now I just going with more seat time and familiar roads near the house that I can ride on repetitively.

Thanks for the help!
Click to expand...
i would love to help but i just road my first liter bike yesterday and i power wheelie'd twice and was barley half throttle....
 
lupin said:
View attachment 1526
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0ToZ1eE.gif



Just get used to it with practice buddy, don't snatch the throttle feed it with gentle input. Setup the suspension to you, get used to how it responds on normal riding.. then perhaps find a carpark and practice the slow riding as you'll probably notice the increase of weight to balance with your crotch in the slow 2-10mph range.
 
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