Learn to take things easy to start with, get to know the bike and take it one step further every time you take it out. If you find something that you think is totally different then concentrate on adapting to that issue before moving on. Hope it helps
When I got my first Harley after 15+ years of riding Japs, I found out quickly that you do not come barreling up to a roundabout & change down two or three gears .. .. .. VERY VERY nearly spat me off due to the wide gear ratio spacing.
Also discovered the failings in handling .. .. I remember likening it to riding a bike with an anvil in each pocket.
And we wont mention what I thought of the brakes on that bike 20 years ago .. it was an 1989 model with single front disc .. .. pull the lever in - - okay pull it some more - - okay pull it even more .. .. oh shit, front wheel has now locked & I'm kissing tarmac.
We learned a lot and spent a lot since then then ...............
Ah, yes JP .. .. the reserve that gets you around 12 miles .. nearly forgot that one .. .. .. bummer.
See Shadow, I can derogate them as well as praise them .. but they are beauties when you know 'em .. .. bit like ladies Sorry girls xx
All the early K-series BMWs are top-heavy, and that took a bit of getting used to. I then forgot to un-learn the habit of letting it drop into a corner and then lifting it out a bit, and was badly caught out in a test ride on another bike with more neutral handling - ran horribly wide on the first left-hander, and it was only by good luck that nothing was coming the other way. Lesson learned. You've really got to engage your brain more than ever on a different bike, especially it's a different kind of bike altogether.
I would be interested to hear how people have coped going from a smallish bike to having a lot more power,getting used to a different standard of brakes etc, got some crossover on this thread with ABS on a few weeks ago.
I've had bikes with all different quality of brakes ....... a shitty Super tenere, but as it was a 750 twin lots of engine braking.
The ZZR1100's were all mediocre, one was really crap especially 2 up, but all it is is a case of adapting, I do it unconciously, but I've been riding for over 36 years and the longest I've had one bike has been 2 years, plus I've had up to 3 bikes at one time with all different characteristics, how about a 650 Bonnie, a Laverda Jota and a Suzuki GT380 !!!
What I will really have to think about is when the RD goes on the road ..... its a long time since I had a 2 stroke with zero engine braking.
Had a FJ1200 with ABS, only happened a couple of times, not too scary as it was in a straight line at fairly low speed, but very weird
Rooster roo In: Nottingham for n
Posts: 491
Karma:
Find its better progressing with bikes from small 100cc 125's etc learning then moving up as funds and insurance goes down to bigger faster bikes difficult jumping from right hand gear change to bikes with left gear change and getting use to shaft drive main thing is enjoy learning a bike and be safe .... try jumping on an old British bike after riding a modern Jap machine and you begin to appreciate its not all about speed... just as much fun just don't stall them lol!
Hi HFG, it has been very strange riding the R1, in many ways its so easy to ride, the handling is so much more natural feeling than a sit up bike but maybe thats just me the thing that is taking some getting used to is the braking, its just completely different to my last bike which really was my 1st bike for 25yrs!
Thing is with the braking ....... how have you got the suspension set up at the front? Standard settings? if its really soft then that will make a difference
For example, I prefer the front end firm, so there's no diving, but then again I'm not the smallest person in the world, so need it that way anyway.
I have no idea about suspension set up, the bike feels vert stable generally its just a bugger to control if I ever need to brake hard, will prob get it set up for me at some point as I am a lightweight!
Something I found out that was rather important to learn, when I bought me first bike with panniers,...... take at least one of em off before riding, or at least trying to ride,.. through the hand gate out front,....... Dohhh!
![adapting to a different bike - Forums [Biker Match]](/images/backgrounds/strips/8mobileLQ.jpg)
![adapting to a different bike - Forums [Biker Match]](/images/backgrounds/strips/8desktopLQ.jpg)
