slow speed handling & noobs

mike_mike · August 18, 2006, 08:03:03 PM

how are you at slow speed handling? uturns, balance.. not hanging your feet off the bike while going slow, etc..

the slow speed stuff has always been important to me, so i practiced it a lot, and still do.. but i see a lot of other estlabished riders kinda lacking in the slow speed handling..

so is it important to you? and do you suck at it.. or not?

blue05twin · August 18, 2006, 09:00:53 PM

I'm great at slow speeds on the GS. Once a week I head over to a empty parking lot and practice. On the gsxr's I suck ass on slow speed stuff. I can do u turns but I can't do the tight u turns on it. I think it's just a mental thing for me. Or maybe I'm just mental

Alphamazing · August 19, 2006, 12:27:29 AM

Quote from: blue05twin on August 18, 2006, 09:00:53 PM
I'm great at slow speeds on the GS. Once a week I head over to a empty parking lot and practice. On the gsxr's I suck ass on slow speed stuff. I can do u turns but I can't do the tight u turns on it. I think it's just a mental thing for me. Or maybe I'm just mental

Let's just say that the clip-ons don't make it easy. While it can be done, tubular bars help a lot.

I'm decent with low speed stuff, but I haven't practiced in a LONG time. I don't want to drop my bike if I go too far. It's too pretty for that. That being said, I'm track prepping her on the 26th or so and am going to find a parking lot to practice in while she's ready to be beat up.

CirclesCenter · August 19, 2006, 12:40:39 AM

I'm really good because I live in the city. With how traffic gets you have to be.

Through dirt and other questionable surfaces I drag my feet a LOT.

Wrecent_Wryder · August 19, 2006, 04:46:53 AM

j6

scratch · August 19, 2006, 08:22:32 AM

I'd say I'm okay doin' it, but I know I could be better, because when I took the MSF I was GREAT (really got that friction zone down on that '90 GS500).

I've been practicing, too, on my street, and getting better.

LesaKing · August 19, 2006, 09:38:48 AM

Quote from: Wrecent_Wryder on August 19, 2006, 04:46:53 AMRejetting helped A LOT.

What does rejetting mean? I've definitely noticed the difficulty of keeping the throttle smooth at low speeds.

scratch · August 19, 2006, 10:12:14 AM

It smoothes out the power delivery, by richening up (more gas, less air) the already lean-from-the-factory (less gas, too much air) jetting to pass smog restrictions. By rejetting the carburetors (changing the carburetion), it gets better.

Also, feathering the clutch will help smooth out those power pulses at low speed. Try that first.

LesaKing · August 19, 2006, 10:23:50 AM

Thanks Scratch!

Roger that on the feathering. I'm doing that now, but honestly I'm still a newbie and getting used to everything. I only have 6,800 miles under my belt so far--granted that's 6,800 miles since May 6

So is the rejetting something I should look at having my shop do down the road? I read about all the mods you guys make and always wonder if it's something I'll get done in the future. I plan on having my Suzi around for several years.

mike_mike · August 19, 2006, 04:10:02 PM

Quote from: LesaKing on August 19, 2006, 10:23:50 AM
Thanks Scratch!

Roger that on the feathering. I'm doing that now, but honestly I'm still a newbie and getting used to everything. I only have 6,800 miles under my belt so far--granted that's 6,800 miles since May 6

So is the rejetting something I should look at having my shop do down the road? I read about all the mods you guys make and always wonder if it's something I'll get done in the future. I plan on having my Suzi around for several years.

6800 miles is a good distance!!- good job

Wrecent_Wryder · August 19, 2006, 04:54:31 PM

4s

Wrecent_Wryder · August 19, 2006, 04:56:27 PM

[3

scratch · August 19, 2006, 05:41:01 PM

No shame if that's all you have time for; at one point in my life I was only getting in 1500 miles a year, because I had to commute the kids to school for several years.

Lesa - You're welcome! Here's a couple of links to follow:
For the correct sizes to order:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=12930.0
The simple easy way to do it (this is for ealier models, but you can use it for pretty much the same):
http://www.gstwin.com/rejet.htm
And, a more complex way, with more details, and some things that you don't have to do (like removing the airbox (just remove the screws at the rear so you can pull it back), completely disassembling the carbs, and you don't need two-stroke oil):
http://www.gstwin.com/carb_work.htm

annguyen1981 · August 19, 2006, 05:44:28 PM

In the ERC I took today, I was able to ace the figure eight. I was soooo psyched! Last year in the BRC, I couldn't stay in the box and I put my foot down a couple times

LesaKing · August 19, 2006, 09:20:58 PM

Great, but nobody has said why I need to rejet the bike yet? Sorry, but I don't understand. I'm a chick who just wants the bike to run the best that it can. I can afford to have my shop do what I ask them to do, but I want to understand what the gain would be.

Wrecent_Wryder · August 20, 2006, 05:29:43 AM

Quote from: LesaKing on August 19, 2006, 09:20:58 PM
Great, but nobody has said why I need to rejet the bike yet? Sorry, but I don't understand. I'm a chick who just wants the bike to run the best that it can. I can afford to have my shop do what I ask them to do, but I want to understand what the gain would be.

There might be some reluctance to turn this into another "rejetting" thread, there are already many dozens.

What exactly is the question? The "jets" are little removable orifices in the carburetors that control the emission of fuel into the air stream, and thus the fuel/air mixture. The GS has always come jetted "lean" from the factory, and since 2001 is even leaner, because of emissions requirements. If you rejet properly, it will feel like a different bike altogether- faster warmups, much smoother throttle, more power, especially in the low and mid RPM range. The throttle on my '02 "wavered" constantly, but having no frame of reference I just took it for granted until I rejetted, and experience how steady it SHOULD be. Since throttle control is such a large part of cornering, I was instantly a "better" rider, and a safer one.

Most of us combine rejetting with some other modifications, air filter or exhaust changes, since those changes typically require rejetting anyway. There are usually at least two or three "rejetting" threads going on here at any given time, and if you use the "search" feature of the forum you'll find maybe hundreds. It's not the sort of thing I'd want to pay a shop to do- too much time involved, not that difficult, no speciailzed tools required, and it may take some fiddling to get it right.

scratch · August 20, 2006, 07:46:32 AM

I thought I addressed that?

Quote from: scratch on August 19, 2006, 10:12:14 AM
It smoothes out the power delivery, by richening up (more gas, less air) the already lean-from-the-factory (less gas, too much air) jetting to pass smog restrictions. By rejetting the carburetors (changing the carburetion), it gets better.

coyotee · August 21, 2006, 07:18:32 AM

practice, practice, practice. the more control/balance you have at slow speeds carries over to your riding abilities at all speeds and your reactions when in sticky situaitons.

i cant really judge if im good at slow speeds but i know i have gotten alot better since i stated riding, gravel scares the hell outta me due to washing the front once.

CirclesCenter · August 21, 2006, 10:18:28 AM

Quote from: LesaKing on August 19, 2006, 09:20:58 PM
Great, but nobody has said why I need to rejet the bike yet? Sorry, but I don't understand. I'm a chick who just wants the bike to run the best that it can. I can afford to have my shop do what I ask them to do, but I want to understand what the gain would be.

Air and fuel have a certain ratio that makes them very happy together.

Being to lean means there's not enough fuel

Being to rich means there's not enough air

The GS, from the factory, is lean.

Jets live inside the carbs and control the fuel flow into the engine

The GS's are too small, meaning that it can't ingest the perfect ratio of fuel and air.

common sense · August 21, 2006, 10:57:57 AM

The other day, before heading home for the night I decided to do a u-turn before entering my neighborhood. Then I wanted to see if I could go lower and smoother, then again. I ended up doing atleast 8 consecutive u-turns going back and forth. Never thought I'd have so much fun going so slow. I need to find a good empty parking lot, all of the ones I see are either filled with debris or just really poor pavement.

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slow speed handling & noobs