Should I be able to stand flat footed?

[pug]

I have the 2005 SV650S as most of the people on here already know. My question is should I be able to stand flat footed on both sides while sitting up straight. I can lean to one side just a tad and I can stand on one foot flat.

Also what are you recommendations to get used to the braking on a sports bike. I believe that is my main problem. Cause when I have had a that last drop I was stopping or at a complete stop. I can't remember now...

[Gixxerdale]

If you can get the balls of both feet on the ground, you should be fine. If you a re on your toes, then you may want to consider removing some seat foam or lowering the bike. Lowering will change the handling.
Braking? That is a book in its self. Learn to use both brakes. Use the rear brake to set the bike into a corner. Stay off of the front brake during low speed manuevers. Wow to much to list. Here's some reading material.http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mcnews/safe3.html

[DrBob]

I agree: as long as you can put both feet on he ground, with weight on the balls rather than the toes, you should be OK. If you put the weight on one foot and the other is reaching, lower the bike or the seat.

[stevie c]

I get both feet down......just,and havent found a problem yet,I just have to push the bike out of wherever I have parked it sometimes if I have to move the bike backwards,instead of looking daft doing hundreds of tiny steps!

As for braking,the front is predominately used for stopping or slowing.I personally only use the rear brake for testing road condition for stopping,IE;stopping in rain,when I have a pillion,in a corner to help slow(NEVER use front brake while you are tipped over) and slow stuff like U-turns.

[Gixxerdale]

Stevie C
'02 Gixer 600 K1,yellow and black( fastest colour!)

Sorry Stevie C But RED is the fastest color!

[SDSUsnowboards]

I can't touch the ground with both feet flat. I can only manage toes. That's with the bike lowered. I have had no problems with it outside of backing up. when I do back up, its generally really slow; I use one leg to do it but it doesn't travel very far before I have to lift it and reset it's position to keep pushing. My point is: It probably isn't a problem if you are comfortable like that.

When I dropped my bike the one time it was also comming to a stop, Pug. The problem was in that I was still leaned over from a previous turn (I was in a small parking lot). Make sure you are strait up or pretty damn close. It also helps to look strait ahead about 50 feet at least. That will aid in finding what "strait up" is.

[axel_2078]

When I had my '04 gixxer 600, my feet never completely touched the ground; only the balls of my feet. And I'm 5'7".

[LayinLo]

bump

[stevie c]

Lol at poor uneducated Gixxerdale.

Here in the UK red means stop,not go,and expect its the same where you are!

[Gixxerdale]

Originally Posted by stevie c

Lol at poor uneducated Gixxerdale.

Here in the UK red means stop,not go,and expect its the same where you are!

Yup, Red means stop here too. Like Stop trying to catch up to my red 1k cause it ain't gonna happen. Yellow means Go Faster, cause you ain't fast enough! And Green? Well green means you just lost your lunch trying! Or hand over the cash cause you just lost that bet!

[LayinLo]

[stevie c]

Nice One Gixxerdale, ha ha

[Gixxerdale]

Originally Posted by stevie c

Nice One Gixxerdale, ha ha

Thanks!

[Nexus242]

Originally Posted by pug

Also what are you recommendations to get used to the braking on a sports bike. I believe that is my main problem. Cause when I have had a that last drop I was stopping or at a complete stop. I can't remember now...

Either do one thing or the other. Brake fully, stop and then downshift into 1st or downshift slowly stopping at 2nd to use engine braking along with front brake to stop the bike then downshift into first post stoping. And for gods sake don't forget to put your feet down BEFORE the bike stops rolling forward.

But I think while your bike is getting fixed you still need to do some parking lot work on the MSF exercise where you shifted up to 2nd, did a turn then slow down, down shift to 1st and then stop and putting your left foot down first.

I'm sure you've ridden a regular peddle bicycle before and braking, stopping and balance are very similar. Right now I'm working on my slow balance so I can almost stall the bikes motion with out putting my feet down for those quick light changes.

[pug]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Right now I'm waiting on the shift lever to come in cause they ordered me the wrong part. Grrr!

[Gixxerdale]

Hey Pug,

Have you looked into lowering the bike or reworking the seat foam? While you're parked, remove the seat and straddle the bike. See if it helps to flat foot it.