Hi there! I'm struggling. I'm brand new to the wonderful world of motorcycles. I'm a rather small gal - 100 pounds. I did take the MSF coiurse, but am having a rough time with my Sportster XL 883 as she is so heavy when I'm starting out from a stop in a tight turn. I found myself laying under her in the road on a curve at a stop sign and am a mess. I'm riding again with MSF this week, but don't know what the problem is???? I'm frustrated as hell. I can con weave and have no problems on their bikes!!!!! Passed no problem. Is it the weight? She feels "top-heavy" but I figured this was the best place to come for real people who ride this particular awesome bike. We all start SOMEWHERE. I opened her up and got her into fourth gear and felt a freedom I've NEVER KNOWN. It's the stops - pulling out with control and TURNING that are kicking my ass. I'm sick of hearing I CAN'T. I AM NOT GOING TO QUIT. So, since I'm committed, would love and appreciate some help from anyone who remembers LEARNING, WON'T PUT ME DOWN AS A "NEWBIE" AND IS WILLING TO HELP. I don't want to get scared of her. Going down at that sign on that curve scared me. The car stopped thank GOD, but I could NOT get her up by myself.......
I'm gonna go against the grain here. My background is sportbikes, with my last being a yamaha r1. I never used the rear brake. Never. Don't brake in a turn, especially when starting from a stop. Trail braking is useful in high-speed corners, not when you're making a right handed on a city street.
My other shocker is: throttle. As long as there is no gravel, giving the bike some gas in a turn will help keep the bike up. Sounds crazy right? Try it. Don't hammer it, just ease into it.
One last thing (probably common sense stuff but over time, I've learned common sense isn't so common): get familiar with counter-steering. Use the bars to turn the bike, not your body. I laugh so hard when I see guys booking it down the highway, literally throwing their body to the side they want the bike to go. All it takes is a little pressure on the handle bars and the bike is under your command. No weird body throwing necessary.
Counter steering doesn't work at slow speeds. Using the rear brake and clutch alows you to control the bike a slow speed. Sounds crazy, right? You may find you can control bike at an extremely slow speed almost stopped.
Top heavy should only be a factor if you lean it too much for the speed you're going. Stay centered and turn the front end like a bicycle when you're at idle speed. Sounds like you're leaning into turns from a stop and that's how it's falling over? Not sure.
Also, how's your seat height? Heavier bikes it's so important to have sturdy feet on the ground with a slight bend in the knee (athletic position) so you can control the weight. There are ways to get you lower in the bike if that's the situation.
If I'm understanding this correctly it sounds like too much lean with not enough speed in the turn. The slower you go in a turn the more upright the bike has to be in the turn to keep you from falling over. With practice you begin to anticipate the proper speed and lean required to negotiate a turn. Start by taking turns slow and shallow. Once you get to know your bike you'll learn to anticpate and adjust for different conditions.
Been riding for many years and this year was the first time I saw that picking up technique. Never needed it because I was young and strong but I need it now and it works!! I've tried it twice on my Road Glide and it is amazing.
As for the female police rider, notice how much the bike is leaning, and how her upper body is almost vertical. The butt swivels as the bike leans. The upper torso keeps the weight straight up and down for balance.
Congrats on getting a bike of your own. Don't feel bad, I doubt at my age I could pick up my King if I had too. Balance can be learned. I like what others said about braking. Front vs rear only in certain situations. After awhile, you will learn the feel of your bike and will be able to operate it without looking at anything except the road ahead. Unless you have to ride everywhere, map a circuit you can ride that involves left and right turn, up hill and down hill, and stops. Ride this route frequently and focus on riding smoothly, not fast! As your confidence grows branch out. Consider riding with a friend so if you do lay down two of you can pick it up. Hang in there, ride safe. It's a hobby you can enjoy for a lot of years. BOL
Following the link proves that 1/2 this site is old BS regurgitated.
Taken from 2012 and dumped here.
As they said in the other thread, "this thread has run its course".
Did`t say I talked to them. When I had my house in the country, on those nice nights when we had windows open, they and one lone bull frog would serenade of to sleep.
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