Newbie questions about my GS and my style

[SlavDaddy]

Hi everyone! Thanks for creating such a great resource. I have learned a lot by browsing, but I couldn't find answers to these questions exactly, so please help a newbie out:

1) I learned on a Buell Blast about two months ago how to ride (at the Harley Davidson Rider's Edge course). With that bike it was hard to find neutral. With my 2001 GS, it is hard to get from first to second without landing in neutral (I actually pull up hard with my foot twice to get to second). Is this normal, and/ or what can I do to fix it?

2) When cornering (or any time you are slowing down some but not stopping), what is the proper way to apply brake? Do you brake on top of a steady or slightly reduced throttle? Do you clutch in partially or fully to brake? Do you engine break and only apply brake brakes if you need them? I noticed I either over break or chirp the rear tire (scary !). I would like to know what to practice, so I can avoid crazy breaking and chirps (and possbly resultant crashes) in the future.

Thanks!

[pantablo]

Welcome!
Regarding #2-Try getting your braking and downshifting done before you have to turn, then apply a little throttle as you turn. Applying throttle settles the suspension by placing more of the load on the rear (larger) tire. If you brake during a turn you are overloading the front (smaller) tire which in certain circumstances could lead to a crash. Did Riders Edge teach Slow, Look, Lean, Roll (on throttle)? That's what I'm talking about.

When downshifting try matching your revs to the shift...in other words, give it throttle when as you let clutch out to bring engine up to speed so rear doesn't break loose (chirp).


I strongly suggest you read Keith Code's Twist of the Wrist II book. even though it is geared a bit toward spirited or race riding it contains much useful info for the street and helps explain the physics behind what your motorcycle is doing. Please go to Amazon through the "buy a manual" link above as that helps support this site, even if you buy something else there.


re:#1-I have a 01 gs as well. The gearshifting is sensitive to oil level. You should first make sure that the oil is at correct level as even a little low would cause missed shifts, etc.

Hope this helps...

[The Buddha]

I pull the clutch in to brake...Typically most of my braking involves a down shift so I just keep all my options open. The rest is what he said... Neutralling between gears means its not fully broken in or has some burrs or some like that I am not sure...Mine have never done it except when it was very very new. My old virago with 700 miles used to do it, but once it got 2K it got better.
Cool.
Srinath.

[SlavDaddy]

I'm checking the oil as soon as I get home tonight. Thanks on that front.

About the braking, I got the slow, look, lean, and roll idea, and I definately slow down before the curve (womtimes too much before), but it was the method of slowing down that I was wondering about. I am about 10 pages away from the end of Proficient Motorcycling, and Twist of the Wrist is on the shelf waiting to be read. These books are terrific!

The thing is that neither the course nor the first book talk about the proper way to brake with a manual transmission (my bike is the first one I have driven) so as to minimize wear on the engine and the brakes. I was wondering more about the method for braking given that the path of travel is a straight line and I want to reduce speed briskly (but not abruptly) and not come to a stop (for stops I've been clutch in, downshifting, and braking while cluth is held - while I am talking about it, is that good form?). I'm new to the idea of stalling your engine when you brake, but it seems like I shouldn't clutch in to brake if I don't plan on changing gears.

A guess a more detailed question arises out of this (I guess what I am really asking is this) - when I slow down enough to go from say 5th to 3rd gear, should I clutch the whole time I brake or just when down shifting? If the whole time, do I only worry about throttle when coming back off the clutch so as to match road speed? Or if only when downshifting, what should I be doing with the throttle as I brake but am not clutching?

The shortcoming of the course is that everything is done at like 15-20 mph, so this issue never even comes up. The problem with the books is that they assume you have been riding for a while and are just coming to your senses enough to get better. I want to get better but am brand new to the game.

Thanks for helping, and btw your site is awesome (pantablo).

It is humiliating to have to ask this stuff, thanks for not making me feel dumb  

[pantablo]

I try to do my braking and downshifting as quickly as possible to stay in a gear. I rarely coast in meutral or with clutch in, even when I'm coming to a stop.

Time and experience will tell you what gear to downshift to for the speed you are at or want to be at. In the beginning it was difficult for me because I never remembered what gear I was in to begin with.

[Cris]

Welcome!  

And in answer to your questions...what Pablo said.    :mrgreen:

[Wrencher]

I don't think you will find two people on this forum who brake and downshift exactly the same way. There are going to be some similarities to what was already discussed so I won't rehash that. If you ask 100 motorcyclists what their technique for anything is, you will get 99 different answers and one guy who cheated off his neighbor. Use what works while your learning within reason. Needing a new clutch every 2 months or failing to keep the rubber side down on the bike are obviously not within reason.

Do what works for you and gives you the best feeling of control over the bike.

My own $0.02 worth, I usually brake with the clutch out for about the first half of the braking duration if I am going very fast (above 35ish) then pull the clutch in and keep it in while I finish braking and downshifting through the rest of the gears. If I am slowing for a corner I very rarely use the clutch unless I need to change gears. Just make sure you are in the new gear and the clutch is out before you start to lean.  

[snapper]

The GS's engine breaking is pretty good- so depending on the speed I am travelling I can generally use mostly that.   Now if I am clipping right along... then I brake, downshift and roll into the turn.  
Welcome aboard!

My rear tire slides heaps! I worked out that it is because I use my front brake which loads the front and takes weight off the rear. Added to this is the fact that I brake hard to set up for a corner, so I usually downshift two gears and brake hard at the same time. The best way to brake is to use both front and rear and also use downshifting of gears. You dont have to lock the rear up like me, its just my aggresive style!  :x

The neutral question? I have noticed that if the engine revs are not high on the GS it wants to slip into neutral. Try getting you revs up and also try shifting faster, so the revs dont drop. Might help?!

Good luck

Stay Safe