Sports bike riding

[rac3r]

So I went out for the first time today on the ZX6 albeit for about 15 minutes

I can't ride it for shit! It's waaaaaay different to the Monster. Well it's the cornering which is a bit difficult especially 90 degree ones in town. On some corners the bars seem to kind of move themselves, not sure if that's the steering damper or just how sports bikes are?

Clutch control I'm still getting used to but I think i've got the hang of it. The brakes are also stupidly sharp but again I should be able to get used to it. Does anyone have any advice on the cornering side of things? Mainly slow stuff at the moment
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[AngelGrinder]

Were the tyres squared off?

If not, just learn to have to confidence in your tyres and just tip it in.

I've never been able to get comfortable on mini roundabouts though!
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Currently Riding - 2002 Aprilia RSV1000 Mille

[3chords]

I've just gone from a 125 Shadow to an R6 and the first few rides out on the R6 were eye-opening! I had the same sort of problem with 90 degree corners at low speeds but I've found that as my throttle control has improved they have been less problematic. Just try and keep your right hand steady and let the clutch out slowly. Maybe some more experienced riders will have some better tips than me.

[rac3r]

[Stevie GooGs]

I had a steering damper on the ZX10R and it used to steer iteself round some slower bends, it takes a while to get used to, tbh i much prefer not having one now. Turn it all the way off when you are in town riding, if you are riding hard then turn it up, just watch you dont have it on very hard then come to a really tight slow bend.
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Current: 2019 Yamaha T7 -> 2015 KTM Superduke R | 2000 Yamaha R1 Past -> 2009 KTM 990 SM -> 2005 kawasaki ZX10r -> 2000 Honda CBR 600 FY -> 2002 Honda XLV 125 Varadero
Bike Pics! -> My Photography Website

[Yarri]

DO a Wheelburn
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Theory Passed: 23/10/2008 49/74 Bike Test Passed: 05/01/2009 1 minor
Theory Car Passed: 22/07/2009 48/74 Car Test Passed: 22/10/2009 2 minor
Few minutes of life of the biker could be more interesting then the whole lifes of many people

[Hetzer]

The simplest tip of all, just ride it. It's a machine, you'll get used to it, then you'll master it, then you'll take the piss on it. If you were going to be incapable of that you'd have already found that out on the Monster.
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"There's the horizon! Ride hard, ride fast and cut down all who stand in your way!"

[JAMSXR]

One piece of advice that helped me allot was to loosen my grip on the bars and use my outside leg/thigh to hug the tank. Obviously you do most of this naturally but I was holding the bars too tight.
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Honda SFX50 > Aprilia SR125 > Aprilia RS125 > Honda RFV400 > K4 GSXR600 > KTM Duke > C1H 636 > K3 GSXR1000 > Aprilia RSV-R > Triumph Street Triple R > Ducati 899 Panigale > Aprilia Tuono 1100 > Triumph Daytona 675R > KTM SuperDuke 1290 2.0

[bacon]

its probably just down to the fact the monster was more sit up and beg, where as now your b1h sees you a lot more forward in the seat, putting more weight on the bars, wrists and the front wheel.

You will get used to it mate, first time i rode a sports bike was after my das on a cbr600fs, took me a couple weeks to get used to the slow stuff as well, it was just the change in riding postition for me thats all.

[rac3r]

Thanks for the advics everyone, if feels like ive just passed my test Ill do some more riding when I get the chance as well as the steering damper thing. If anyone knows how to adjust it let me know!
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[pinkyfloyd]

[robbieguy2003]

Just takes a bit of time to get used to. Also, just due to basic ergonomics and positioning a sports bike will be a little harder to do slow speed manouvers over other bikes.

They're designed to take bigger corners at higher speeds, they tend not to work as well on 90 degree or hairpin corners (small hairpins).

From other stuff I've rode as well, i'd say they're a bit harder to ride at first, and still once you've got them, they still dont fit in certain situations as well as other bikes.

Get them on a nice bit of road though and thats when it's worth having them over any of the others.
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Current Bikes: Honda CBR 600RR - '07, Suzuki GSX1250 FA ST '11
Old Bikes: Suzuki Intruder 125 LC - '2001, Honda CBR 600F - '92, Honda CBR 600RR - '03

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Recently gone from a 30yr old commuter to a relatively modern sportstourer.
Even before i'd got it home i thought the front tyre wasn't quite right. Still ok'ish for tread, but was a little squared. Wasn't tipping in at low speeds, and needed much countersteering when doing +50mph corners.

Was it me? the bike? Wasn't sure, and as they were mismatched tyres i put a new PR2 on. Made a difference. (another lesson learnt..tyres really can change how a bike feels almost as much as the psychological bonus)
It still wasn't right tho. Same kinda problems, slow steering. Bike felt vague in certain conditions at differing speeds
This is not what i expected from a race derived chassis and good cycle parts.
Did some homework on this fully adjustable suspension malarky...Result.
Set the ride height. It was way too low at the rear. What i'm talking about is 20mm. Couldn't believe the change. Yeah..I was that happy and that was before i setup the rest of the suspension. Now she tips in progressively and quickly, using pretty much factory settings.

Took me a month to get used to the sportier position. Knew it wasn't extreme but still came back aching. The ST2 is more sport than tour so i pushed my balls to the tank..dropped my chin and rode as loose as i could. Done +300miles in a day a few times now and been very comfy.

Hope you get sorted, whether it's biological or mechanical.

Pat
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Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[stinkwheel]

I think people have some problems going from a naked bike to a fully faired bike in that they can no longer see the front wheel and tend to apply too much steering inut.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[willis1337]

Try to keep the balls of your feet on the footpegs as this does make cornering more natural.

(cue comments re balls on footpegs)

[ollieholt]

[rac3r]

I had clip ons on the Monster for a bit so I kind of get the idea. I'm going to switch the damper off and go for a long ride providing the weather is OK. I have a feeling that the damper being off will make quite a difference
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[The Tot]

Take wide arcs in town traffic and PLAN your turns! You will have a turning circle the equivalent of an articulated lorry! This means that when you're blasting down the A41, plan your overtakes/filters because on a sportsbike, once you're in a gap and surrounded, unless you want to scratch your bike/exhaust/mirrors, your stuck.

Out of town, adopt the racing crouch. Get your elbows to right angles or as an acute angle as possible so that your forearms are parallel to the tarmac. Your steering inputs will require less effort. I know it may sound or look stupid but if you've got your body position with an arched back and arms parallel you'll be a lot more comfortable.

My suggestion is to take it up the A41 to bicester/ducati aylesbury because THAT stretch of road from aylesbury isn't too challenging but has some decent 90mph + sweepers for you to get used to fast road riding on a bike. Any road in bucks a41->chesham->rickmansworth loop is also decent and dooable from your place.

I'm on the other side of the coin to you. I CAN'T get used to riding positions that aren't supersports orientated. I had a 07 Hornet hirebike and couldn't get on with it. My steering inputs didn't give the same sort of reaction I was expecting. You can tell you've been on sports bikes too long when you get on a naked bike and start dancing your left foot near the pillion peg to find the gear lever!

Like everybody says take your time. Enjoy the bike but don't rush in. Winter is NEVER a good time to get acquainted to a new bike in my past experience. Last thing we want to see is an "i've stacked my bike thread". Just get used to it in traffic.
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[MinhDinh]

[MinhDinh]

[willis1337]

Find an empty car park and practice doing "figure eights" (both ways). Get used to using the throttle, clutch and back brake at low speeds to maximise control and balance.

Best bit of advice is LOOK WHERE YOU WANT TO GO, most of the time your body and bike will follow. This does take a bit of getting used to at the higher speeds but you will notice a difference. You do have to make a conscious effort to lift your head up and look "around" a bend (rather than 4 foot in front of your front wheel) but it makes a huge difference. Practice on bends you already know to see the difference it makes.

[dextersaurus]

I was like this when i moved from the CG to the GPZ.

It handled completely differently, had never experienced the bars turning themselves round corners in town, but i'm used to it now...

Just ride it, get used to it, love it, leave some interesting stains on the seat.

Wait, what?

[rac3r]

Do you think it's a good idea to ride it to work on Thursday or should I get used to it first before I commute through traffic?

Thanks for all the advice so far by the way
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

I'd ride it. Give yourself some extra time and enjoy the ride.
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Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[ms51ves3]