Hi guys,
I now have 80km on my new 2003 GS500. :thumb:
Just a quick question in regards to compression lock up. I am not very mechanically minded!
Is there any reasons why I would be getting compression lock up at such low revs (limited to 5,000 first 500 miles)? Could it be that the tires are still new, or that the engine is still very tight? I do use the rear brake and front brake equally, so there would be some force from braking. Its not a huge lock-up, just the rear steps out for a few meters and then corrects itself, kinda makes me look like Valentino Rossi in a MOTOGP race! :lol:
However, if its locking up at 5K I would hate to think what will happen when I can unleash it and downshift from 6th to 2nd gear and pop it at 8,000 revs! :o
Any help?!
Stay Safe!
New tires have some sort of wax on them to preserve them, so I'm told. You should really take it easy for the first 100 miles. Like one board member said, "ride like it's raining outside."
Also, on street bikes you should use about 75% front brake and 25% rear brake. It's too easy to get the rear tire off the ground under heavy braking on sportbikes, so don't use the back brake as much as you are.
I only use my back brake in the rain and on oil slicked streets. Othere wise it's all front brake.
Natural forces raise the rear tire when braking or slowing down. This takes weight off of the rear tire and reduces grip. Your front brake should be doing 60% or more of your braking on a good road surface. Concentrate on braking properly before trying to downshift while doing so. :thumb:
Damn right glenn.
Also, I never knew how fast I could stop until I started doing stoppies. Before I started doin' them I thought I was stopping as fast as possible... WRONG!
P.S - Don't be a squid.
You also will have to learn to match the engine revs to the transmission speed when you down shift. If you let the engine revs go down when you pull in the clutch to down shift, you can easily lock the rear wheel when you release the clutch in the lower gear - in fact that is one technique the racers use to slide the rear to "back it in".
You should be reving the engine up so that it is at the revs it would have in the lower gear at that speed. It takes a lot of practice to be able to do that smoothly while braking with your right hand also.
You definitely shouldn't be sliding the rear at this stage. Sooner or later it will bite you.