You're all going to laugh at me!

[nl_carey]

Remember - it's slow speed stuff that really tells people you know what you're doing on the bike. Spend lots of time practicing, and if need be, take the mirrors off first! You undoubtedly will drop it, but better to learn the lessons now in a parking lot than to find out far away from help and replacement mirrors Leaning to the outside helps to enable you to keep balanced while having the bike tipped over. I found the GS500 to be much more difficult than the other bikes I'd done my training on mostly due to the lack of power low down and risk of stalling when going really slow without feathering the clutch. Feathering the clutch can be a lot of work and very hard for learners - too much clutch the bike falls over, too little and it stands up and you mess up the corner. It's a lot to think about whilst also managing throttle and bike lean and looking where you need to go and trying not to think of the ashphalt.
Also, practice emergency braking - probably the single most confidence inspiring thing is knowing you can stop when you need to. Remember to prime the brake first before using the full braking potential otherwise you'll lock up the front wheel and cause much more damage than a mirror.
And don't look down!

[mp183]

Remember - it's slow speed stuff that really tells people you know what you're doing on the bike.

I agree.  Anyone can go fast.  Try tight cornering in the parking lot.  Try some evasive manuvers and see how bad you really are.
Good luck and take it slow.  You don't want to hurry and get scared off from something enjoyable that you can do for the rest of your life.

[chinox22x]

you're cute  :kiss:

:mrgreen:

-Chino

[conradvr]

Feathering the clutch can be a lot of work and very hard for learners - too much clutch the bike falls over, too little and it stands up and you mess up the corner.
<snip>
And don't look down!

Having recently done some advanced riding courses, the low speed control by feathering the clutch method isn't the best technique.

The easier way is to do these steps and practise:
Before turning the handle bars
1. Apply some rear brake pressure.
2. Hold the throttle at a steady point with the revs high enough to prevent stalling.  (the instructor did one demo with the bike reving high to show that higher revs are better than low revs)
3. Hold the clutch so it is just engaging and still slipping.  In some cases it is possible to release the clutch totally.


Then whilst in the turn use more/less rear brake pressure to control your speed.  You will find it much easier to control the bikes speed as you only need to use one control.  Also the initial rear brake pressure prevents the bike 'running away' if there is a falling slope in part of the turn (ie. due to the camber of the road).  Keep you eyes up and look where you want to go.

Hope this helps,
Conrad

[Flash]

Don't feel bad. When I went for a test ride, before buying my first bike, I didn't have my driver's license yet. I ended up driving it down the street (out of sight) and dropped the bike while doing a u-turn. I didn't realize what a wide turning radius this bike had. I tweaked the clutch lever a tad. It's a good thing I was going to buy it anyways.

Here's a tip on making u-turns (and close radius turns for that matter):
- For u-turns in a street/parking lot: as you are slowing down you want to get as close as possible to the right side of the lane as possible to maximize the space you have to deal with when making a left u-turn.
- As you get ready to make the turn, look into/towards the direction/location you are trying to get to. It's similar in principle to a wrestling saying: Where your head goes your body (or bike in this case) will follow.

Amazingly, it works. I read this tip from one of the leading motorcycle magazines. Before I learned this I was really having trouble making 90 degree turns at intersections and u-turns in my parking lot at work. Now, its not a problem. Hope this helps.

[glenn9171]

18' U-turns?  I used my 2001 model GS in the MSF and was easily doing figure-8's in the little box.  You just have to lean it way over and use TONS of counterweighting on your part.  At one point I had almost a foot of room to spare.  You have to be confident.  Can't hesitate half way through with it leaned over that far.  Keep it smooth and steady and you will be amaxed at the tight turns the GS can do.  A lot tighter than 18'.

[esokitty]

Wow, thanks again for all the tips.  

Does anyone else have trouble reading these descriptions and actually figuring out how to apply them?  Maybe it's my ADD talking, but I have no idea how to get from the great advice I'm getting here to enacting it out on the bike.  

I suppose I'll find out this weekend!  I plan on spending as much of Sunday as humanly possible tooling around a parking lot.  Start stop.  Start turn stop. Start, swerve stop.  ...

Hey, another question.  I was only on the bike for about an hour total, and i noticed that my clutch hand was cramping up and in pain at the end.  Suppose it was just the death grip  :lol:  since I didn't have to work the throttle?  And i'm having trouble remembering from MSF - should I be covering the clutch or grasping the grip?

[scratch]

Cover the clutch and both brakes.

The first thing to apply is to look where you want to go. That would include looking over your shoulder when you initiate your u-turn. 'nuf said.

[perfdrug]

i've only got about 600 miles under my belt before my bike took a motherload dump. but those 600 miles were pretty consistantly spread out over about 3 weeks, and even after then my clutch hand was sore by the time i got to work (40 mins).

cover clutch during your u-turns. if you were asking in general, don't cover when you're cruising. use 4 fingers too.

[bluedevil]

Hey esokitty,
I myself being a noobie girl rider I have to say that all the guys on this forum are super helpful.  I'm glad you got back on the bike and that you are doing alright.  It's true about the whole practicing on gravel not being a good choice.  I myself just got my 1st bike about a month ago and I practiced in an abandoned parking lot.  It helps a lot with all the extra space.  My boyfriend always wants to ride with me but I've noticed that I make more mistakes and get more nervous when he rides with me so I ride alone every chance I get.  It's loads of fun to be out there cruising.
Drive safe and keep on riding!