Big Yellow Bus

[BOSS750]

Today I got a little more practice in on some back roads and ended taking a wrong turn and ended up on one of the main roads and with my luck theirs a big yellow school bus behind me at the intersection. (this is the first time for me in traffic) I've been practicing my takeoffs and doing pretty good at them but my takeoffs are slower than your avg. if you know what I mean. Well needless to say I stalled the bike twice at two lights before I could get back to the less traveled roads. Even though I didn't plan on getting into rush hour traffic it wasnt as bad as I thought it would be, I just might do it again tomorrow.

[kyro2000]

The first few trips in traffic are always a bit nerve racking.
Head to a parking lot and spend an hour or so just doing starts and stops. After that add in a few emergency stop and goes.
Shoot, back when I was living in Iowa after a long winter I would go back to the parking lots at ISU and practice my starts and stops just to get back into good habits and up my skill.

[GIXXER-Mike]

Same thing happened to me when I first started riding. When I'd be out practicing my starts & stops a car would always come out of nowhere just when I'd be stuck on a hill . Then somehow, the road that I thought was good to practice on would always lead to more traffic. It was kinda like I was throwing myself in traffic from the way all my roads ended up .

[POE-BOY SAMICH]

Originally Posted by kyro2000

Head to a parking lot and spend an hour or so just doing starts and stops. After that add in a few emergency stop and goes.

+1
Starts and Stops are definitely things we can practice in a parking lot when getting the feel for a motorcycle. I never practiced these things on a public road unless I was on my way to the closest empty parking lot.

To avoid stalls when I first started riding I:
1) spent time getting a feel for the clutch's friction zone by working with the clutch and throttle in my driveway.
2) practiced making sure I properly down-shifted to first gear with every stop until it became second nature.

CONGRATS on your ride BOSS600!
I'm pretty new to riding myself and can still remember the rush of that first ride in traffic.

STAY SAFE!

[BOSS750]

Originally Posted by POE-BOY SAMICH

+1
Starts and Stops are definitely things we can practice in a parking lot when getting the feel for a motorcycle. I never practiced these things on a public road unless I was on my way to the closest empty parking lot.

To avoid stalls when I first started riding I:
1) spent time getting a feel for the clutch's friction zone by working with the clutch and throttle in my driveway.
2) practiced making sure I properly down-shifted to first gear with every stop until it became second nature.

CONGRATS on your ride BOSS600!
I'm pretty new to riding myself and can still remember the rush of that first ride in traffic.

STAY SAFE!

Thanx alot

I have a question about the friction zone and throttle: I'm confused as when to apply throttle and I think thats why I tend to stall it a little more than I should and it contributes to my slow take-offs. Should I be applying throttle as soon as the bike starts to roll forward, I've been waiting until I've released the clutch fully which is why I tend to take off slow I think?

[Freakinout]

You should be applying some throttle as you let off the clutch, although the magic trick to it is to get used to the clutch and throttle response

[Sandman]

I am only 3 weeks into cycling myself and one of my biggest fears was/is stalling the bike in traffic.

One thing I did to prevent stalling in the beginning was just before starting off I held the throttle at a moderate rev and then EASED the clutch out. Even if the rev's were too high, I could still control my take off speed by working the clutch, and only once the clutch was fully engaged would I back off the throttle if necessary. It doesn't take long to get the feel of where the engine needs to be for a slow & steady take off. Hope this helps!

[kyro2000]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I held the throttle at a moderate rev and then EASED the clutch out. Even if the rev's were too high, I could still control my take off speed by working the clutch

Good point! I rember when I was at my MSF class we had one guy who would hold the throttle open but he couldn't understand that it was the clutch that controlled how fast the power would deliver to the back wheel.

Like everything in life, the more you practice the more you'll probably like the results. It may be nerve racking now, but by the end of the summer months you'll barely have to think about your take offs. It will be come another second nature part of rideing to you.

[TechJD]

my road T's onto another road at the bottom of a hill, then that road T's into another road at the top of a hill, so I get pratice every time I go out,
on my way out the other day got to the 2ed road I stoped at top and a pickup came up behind me
well guess what I done, yep I stalled it . the pickup couldnt wait he squeeded
between me and the edge of the road and punched it squalling tires as he went
I waited till he was clear then concentrated on my take off and ingored him,
got goin next attempt , dont let others break your concentration

[92Notch]

I used the rear brake to help out on the hills ... hit the rear with yout left foot, keep the right down .. and feather the clutch out ... when you hear the engine start to bog, get off the rear brake and continue to feather the cluch out. I used the same trick with the chicken-brake on a car when learning to drive stick and getting stopped on a hill.

[robertc729]

Originally Posted by 92Notch

hit the rear with yout left foot, keep the right down ..

Opposite of this

[Lexcruiser]

Originally Posted by robertc729

Opposite of this

+1 On what everyone said. Practice practice practice. Get a feel for that friction zone. And don't worry about "riding" the clutch. Its not like a car, the clutch is soaked in oil on your bike. No worries about frying it!

[BOSS750]

I finally got in some real traffic today and only stalled the bike once. I decided to drive to my night classes at ECPI which is about 10 miles from the house and puts me in the middle of downtown traffic during rush hour. I did ok only stalled the bike once (got to cocky) trying to make a quick right at a light. My only problem is my nerves and its affecting my take-offs but I'll get over them soon I hope. I can't wait until tomorrow. I think it rains darn

[TechJD]

Way to go
Keep at it
the more you do it the better you get
remember you didnt walk the first time you tried either and just look how well that turned out

[blackie1491]

To practice throttle/clutch control, empty parking lot, back lane.
Sit on bike, start it, into 1st, both feet flat on ground, release clutch until you have move forward till you are resting on the balls of your feet, pull in clutch lever, rock back till you are flat footed.

Keep practicising this rock and roll movement till you become used to clutch engagement. To advance beyond this just ride a straight line from a dead stop going from 1st to second then back to first then stop.


An 1/2 hour or more for a couple days will make you more comfortable on the streets.