First Ride In Traffic

Message

Wed Apr 18, 2007 5:10 pm

Sounds like you did good ANDS! I'm sure that ride to work and back helped build up your confidence.

Keep up with the up-shifting and the down-shifting even tho you may think it gets tedious. You will want to keep your bike in the correct power band (gear) at all times just in case you need it for something unexpected, like having to get out of the way of a car that doesn't see you or something...you just never know. No worries either, it will get easier and smoother and will soon be automatic with time and as you become familiar with your bike.

ANDS! · #12 Unread post by **ANDS!** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 5:19 am

The speeds and the flow of traffic were easier today, but god damn why am I stalling at the WORST possible times (turn lanes, leader in through lanes)? My technique is fine, because Im not stalling the majority of the times, but man is it frustrating (no longer ego-busting). Could it be because I had the choke open - I didnt go very far with it that way, but found if I closed it - id get no go. . .it is very cold today btw (which in West Coast terms means 40-60 degree's) - so I dont know. Also this morning unless I had the clutch pulled in, the choke wide open the engine wouldnt turn over. Im taking it in to be serviced on Saturday (after payday) but man these little nigglers are starting to annoy me. Im sure theres nothing MAJOR wrong with the machine (other than needing some TLC), but peace of mind is better than going 50MPH and wondering "What If?. . ."

Im definitely having fun on it though, less paranoid now that Im legally allowed on streets and (although this probably isnt the BEST thing to be thinking) its cool imagining myself playing BURNOUT looking for a-holes stopping abruptly or not respecting my right-of-way or being able to squeeze through openings in traffic cars couldnt. Leaning to turn is getting easier, and Im finding im not slowing to a turtles crawl to make them (which are some of my favorite parts of the roads).

I also got my first traffic "salute" from another motorcyclists; gave me the "On The Low Left Side" hand-hello. . .nice bike he had too.

ANDS! · #13 Unread post by **ANDS!** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 7:06 am

Update Question: I remain in First Gear (instead of nuetral); would that have any affect on my stalling out at a stop?

Nalian · #14 Unread post by **Nalian** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 8:04 am

When you say you remain in first gear - I'm gathering that means as you are coming to a stop you shift down to first and hold the clutch in while you're waiting. If that's the case - then no that shouldn't have anything to do with stalling out. In fact, that's the recommended way to be stopped, as you're in gear and ready to go should a problem arise that you need to get away from.

If you're coming to a stop in first and don't pull the clutch in at a stop or pretty close to it, your bike will die.

Can you describe what you're doing/what is happening when you stall? That might help us give better suggestions.

ANDS! · #15 Unread post by **ANDS!** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 8:24 am

Naw clutch is pulled in before I brake completely - learned that the first day I was riding that the bike is s'posed to die if done that way.

Im in first gear, cluth is disengaged - I then engage it (the EXACT same way as when I successfully move out from a stop, no quick release on the cluth) while giving it a little throttle and boom, jerks forward and dies. Start it, let it go for like 3 seconds and try again (I learned if I start and quickly try to take off it'll stall again). I mean if its just technique that'll cause an bike to stall like that - thats fine, but it just seems stupid when I'm doing it the right way for it to regularly crap out on me. Maybe I'm not giving it enough throttle? I try to give it a little bit of up and go (if I come to a full stop) before opening it more, but it's certainly not at idling speed either.

Nalian · #16 Unread post by **Nalian** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 8:28 am

If the bike is in good working condition then it sounds like you're not giving it enough throttle. However its possible that something is 'wrong' which will make any other number of factors come into play.

jonnythan · Thu Apr 19, 2007 8:31 am

ANDS! wrote:Naw clutch is pulled in before I brake completely - learned that the first day I was riding that the bike is s'posed to die if done that way.

Im in first gear, cluth is disengaged - I then engage it (the EXACT same way as when I successfully move out from a stop, no quick release on the cluth) while giving it a little throttle and boom, jerks forward and dies. Start it, let it go for like 3 seconds and try again (I learned if I start and quickly try to take off it'll stall again). I mean if its just technique that'll cause an bike to stall like that - thats fine, but it just seems stupid when I'm doing it the right way for it to regularly "crumb" out on me. Maybe I'm not giving it enough throttle? I try to give it a little bit of up and go (if I come to a full stop) before opening it more, but it's certainly not at idling speed either.

I think you need to work the friction zone better.

Sounds like you're letting the clutch out too quickly. Give it gas and ease the clutch out. Let it slip until you're moving at a jogging or running pace. If you let it out completely before you're moving at a halfway decent pace, it will jerk and stall out.

Tower18CHI · Thu Apr 19, 2007 8:32 am

My bike (a 250) seems to be happiest like this:

Release the clutch right to the beginning of the friction zone (where you can walk your bike slowly forward using your feet for balance)
Throttle to about 2000-2500rps and start releasing clutch just a bit
Add more throttle and slowly let clutch out

Never stalls anymore

Used to all the time though, or be jerky. Smooth starting is all about finesse and being used to your bike.

PS--I've only been riding 2 weeks. It doesn't take long.

ANDS! · #19 Unread post by **ANDS!** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 8:47 am

Friction Zone? I have noticed that I can slightly release the clutch level and the bike starts to move without it being fully engaged. . .I'll try that to get the guy moving.

jonnythan · Thu Apr 19, 2007 9:02 am

ANDS! wrote:Friction Zone? I have noticed that I can slightly release the clutch level and the bike starts to move without it being fully engaged. . .I'll try that to get the guy moving.

... That's the friction zone.

Hm.

I think you should find some professional motorcycle instruction before you get on your bike again. This is *really basic* stuff.

Just for informational purposes, clutch feathering (using the friction zone to let the clutch slip and get the bike moving from a stop) was the *first* thing we did in MSF. We spent ten minutes sitting on our bikes using clutch feathering to rock back and forth. Funnily enough, this was the first thing I was instructed on by my girlfriend's step-dad when he was teaching me some of the basics of riding before I ever took an MSF course.. and he's been riding 30 years and has never taken any courses.

I guess we just found the reason that you're stalling out trying to get moving, too.