Total Motorcycle Community Forums

acritzer wrote:A couple basic questions for everyone.
1) Got my bike tonight. Took it out for a little spin around the backroads. Managed to stall several times. Here's the question...Is it common to stall a bike that is bigger than what you are used to? I trained on a 250 rebel, basically found the friction zone and gave a tiny bit of throttle to get going. Now, with my 650 V-star, it seems like that "feel" produces a stall. Should I be giving more throttle while easing out the clutch? 1/8th of a turn? Should the engine rev up a before easing out the clutch?

I feel stupid asking, since I didn't stall once during the course...but would like some friendly advice.

Please don't feel stupid asking no one was born knowing this stuff. If it stalls then yes the engine needs a bit more RPMs. A lot of the difference is a change in gearing from what you learned on. Don't worry within a short time you will wonder that you ever had trouble.

2) The brakes are a bit squeeky. Does this mean they are due for a change? The bike only has 6,500 miles on it...but hasn't been driven much in the past 4-5 months. Are they dirty? Are they going bad?

They are not likely used up yet (possible but unlikely) some brakes squeal especially if the bike has sat a bit. Some always squeal.

3) Last one....the choke. Didn't use it during the course, the instructors said it wasn't needed. What are some general guidelines for using a choke? Just when started? Turn off after 10 min? Not needed unless the bike sits for X number of hours?

Please don't leave your choke on any longer than you have to. This will not be good for the bike. You leave it on only until the bike will run at close to normal idle. Many chokes really do two things when on full they act as a choke and at about half way or less they act as a fast idle so on many bikes you only use full choke on a cold day or for just a few seconds and back The choke lever down quite quickly.

Thanks everyone....I appreciate whatever you can throw at me. I'm looking forward to getting comfortable on my new ride. If I figure out how, I'll throw some pics up on the site.

acritzer wrote:Follow up question regarding starting out. Without a tach, how can I tell if I'm applying the proper amount of throttle while easing off the clutch? Do I make a quarter turn? Eighth of a turn? I know it varies, but are there some approx. guidelines?
Should I wait until the friction zone to start the throttle?

jstark47 wrote:

acritzer wrote:Follow up question regarding starting out. Without a tach, how can I tell if I'm applying the proper amount of throttle while easing off the clutch? Do I make a quarter turn? Eighth of a turn? I know it varies, but are there some approx. guidelines?
Should I wait until the friction zone to start the throttle?

I'm not being a smart-a$$, but the right answer is "experience." If it stalled at an eighth of a turn last time, use more next time!

As you get experience, you'll pick up on several things. First you can hear an unhappy engine, laboring under too much load without enough throttle. You have to react quickly, but you'll learn to do this. Second, there is no "right" throttle setting for letting out the clutch. Clutch vs throttle is a continuous adjustment. Imagine trying to balance a ball on top of an upside-down soup plate held in your hands. The right and left hand continuously adjust the position of the plate trying to get the ball to balance - as soon as you think it's "there" it starts to roll and more adjustment is needed. Clutch and throttle is like that. As the bike starts to roll, both controls are in continous adjustment to keep the engine "in the zone."

But- the more low-end torque the bike has, the less you have to worry about this. Forum member dr_bar has a Valkyrie - he probably doesn't have to use any throttle at all, just let the clutch out when the engine idling and away it goes! OTOH, getting my V-Strom, which is gutless under 3000 RPM's, rolling smoothly takes lots of practice in "slipping" the clutch.

acritzer wrote:Honestly, I was just a bit bummed, since I stalled maybe once during the whole BRC, and managed to do it several times my first time around the neighborhood with my bike.

glg1960 wrote:Since I also own a 650 v star I thought I would add my opinion to the mix.

Just so you know I returned to riding in 2006 at the age of 46 after not riding for 27 years,these last 2 riding seasons have been really great for me.

Regarding your quetions on the v star.

1) Every bike has its own friction zone and it will be simply practice on your part to get the proper amount of throttle so you don't stall it. Don't worry you will get there. Practice...Practice...Practice...

Also the friction zone on the v star is way out there, that is something to get used to in itself


2) Believe it or not my brakes also sqeek. I took my bike in for an inspection to be sure it wasn't a bearing. I was told not to worry about it.


3) As far as the choke goes I have to warm up my bike at full choke for
2-3 minutes no matter what the weather conditions are,then I go to about half choke for roughly 5 minutes of riding,at that point I shut the choke off.

Hope this helps