Starting without wobble

[Marcos]

When i am at a full stop, I have a slight wobble when i start. I've been trying really hard to not do this, but it seems to get worse if I'm thinking about it too hard. The only other thing that seems to work is keeping my feet off the pegs a little bit longer, but this seems like a bad thing to do for safety.

What is the trick to starting without the slight wobble?

[prekarious1]

smooth throttle delivery and clutch engagement. Other than that you just need some more time in the saddle and the little problems take care of themselves with experience

[Louis]

Practice!

[Memphis]

I do the little wobble thing when I have to start off really slow b/c of the car infront of me. If you get a nice exceleration the that is probably when you don't wobble. Wait a few seconds for the car in front to take off ahead then take off after it.

[Izzy]

Originally Posted by Marcos

What is the trick to starting without the slight wobble?

I have been practicing this also. Parking lots are easy. The pressure is on when all those mean looking cars are staring you down. Someone please correct me if this is wrong, but it seems to me that I can stop the wobble by increasing my acceleration. That is to apply more throttle and let out the clutch more. This seems to straighten me out although sometimes I drop my feet and do the "starting two step dance"

[bat4255]

Increasing throttle does help a bit. Like a bicycle it just takes some time. Try practicing slow riding, coasting as slow as you can go. It may just be slow speed riding need brushing up on. I do that ocassionally mysef and I've been riding since 1968.

[tlwisner]

Originally Posted by Marcos

When i am at a full stop, I have a slight wobble when i start. I've been trying really hard to not do this, but it seems to get worse if I'm thinking about it too hard. The only other thing that seems to work is keeping my feet off the pegs a little bit longer, but this seems like a bad thing to do for safety.

What is the trick to starting without the slight wobble?

I think you'll always have a little wobble starting off on a GZ 250, but it becomes smaller and smaller as you get more saddle time. David Hough's book Proficient Motorcycling points out that a motorcycle's natural tendency is a snake like track, not a straight arrow track. At low speeds, such as starting out, this is more pronounced.

I just took my GZ 250 out today with my GF on back for a 40 mile cruise down through some country roads to a great little restaurant on the Kentucky River. I actually had to pass a mini-van. When you are passed by a GZ 250 riding two-up, you are going far too slow!

Lots of fun though! It's a great bike. That fat front tire is great when the roads get curvy.

[Uncle Bob]

The secret is "Look Far Ahead" farther ahead you look the less wobble you'll have. If a vehicle is blocking your view try lo look through it ( sounds a little magical but it works ).

Concentrate on a spot somewhere ahead ( preferably something straight ahead ) and don't look down at the bike if it veers off to one side slightly.

[Izzy]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

The secret is "Look Far Ahead" farther ahead you look the less wobble you'll have. If a vehicle is blocking your view try lo look through it ( sounds a little magical but it works ).

Concentrate on a spot somewhere ahead ( preferably something straight ahead ) and don't look down at the bike if it veers off to one side slightly.

I focused on looking ahead on my way home today. Really helped alot. Thanks for the tip

[Uncle Bob]

That's why they call me Uncle Bob !

No wait I call myself Uncle Bob !

They never call me! Why is that ?

[Marcos]

Thanks Unca Bob. I found the info in Proficient Motorcycling, but not stated as simply as you put it. It's already helping.

[Uncle Bob]

[vol01jim]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

That's why they call me Uncle Bob !

No wait I call myself Uncle Bob !

They never call me! Why is that ?

Maybe its because you don't wobble...or send me my toaster T-shirt

[04gsxr600]

Just keep working on it. The only times i've ever had a wobble is coming form like a stop sign without putting my feet down. But smooth throttle is the key.

[roadterrorist_2]

looking ahead when u ride is prob the most important thing u have to learn when riding in ruts, but i didnt think it would help with takeoffs as well, thanks Bob [/img]

[007]

I don't see why having a little wobble at very slow speeds is a problem at all. Why would you even care?

In a really bad and tight traffic jam you should not look 'far' ahead...instead watch out for the cars in your immediate vicinity first, then scan the 'rider radar zone' (remember the MSF class?).
If you wobble a little or not during this, it does not matter.

[axel_2078]

I had the same wobble problem when I first started carrying passengers and it scared me a lot. I just did what someone earlier suggested....let the car in front of you take off a bit and then take off with moderate acceleration. That made it a lot easier for me.


007, you're right....a little wobble at slow speeds isn't a big deal if you're riding solo, but when you're carrying a passenger it feels different, and it can quickly cause the bike to drop, since the weight is constantly shifting back and forth. It can get a little unnerving at first.

[c50tiger]

Not to get into advanced physics or anything, but the rear wheel acts something like a gyroscope. Faster it's spinning, the more stability you have without having to work at it. That's why acceleration ceases the wobble. I dearly hate getting stuck behind a big truck or slow moving vehicle at a stop light. It's a balancing act between moving fast enough and not tailgating.

[oldgeezer]

One of the problems new riders experience is rather than looking down the road, they look at the front tire/handle bars mainly due to lack of confidence on the bike. When starting out in this mode, you automatically get the wobble. Like several have said, look down the road. Too many times, we all underestimate the importance of looking where you want to go. Applies to straightaways as well as curves.