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[tunnie]

had a cracking first day on the bike stuff, spent the morning on a 125cc again getting used to it, did turn in the roads (which i still had trouble with) emergency stops and all the usual stuff.

Then about 11, it was on to the big 500 cc bikes  8-)

Straight away i found them much easier, more feel with everything, clutch was not so soggy actually could feel something, same with rear brake.

First time out i was a nervous wreck, feked up gear changes and bunny hopping it.

But after 2 hours, had nailed it, smooth away from the lines, slipping clutch in corners to control the speed.

Best bit of it all, is the turns in the road i found easier on the bigger bike!  

Straight away did it spot on, time and time again, found it so much easier. Pulled onto some dual carriageway and the instructor said to open her up, reved it to about 7k rpm, and went from about 30 ish to 65 almost instantly, fek me did that feel fast!  

Only downside, i had to buy some new bigger trousers, on the bike ones i bought were too small, but rest of the gear worked great, other people learning were frozen solid by the end of the day, i was just nice and snug! Could have stayed out there allllllll day!

[Andy B]

.......
slipping clutch in corners to control the speed. ......

 :-? Is that something you've been taught? Just sounds strange to me. :-/

[tunnie]

.......
slipping clutch in corners to control the speed. ......

 :-? Is that something you've been taught? Just sounds strange to me. :-/

Yup, slow speed corners, junctions ect, ride the back brake, on the clutch biting point / slipping point and keep the engine revs 'busy' (around 3k rpm)

[Turk]

Same here. Not heard of slipping the clutch to control speed.    

[Vamps]

.......
slipping clutch in corners to control the speed. ......

 :-? Is that something you've been taught? Just sounds strange to
me. :-/

And me, and also 7k RPM and only 65mph, where you in second gear

[tunnie]

.......
slipping clutch in corners to control the speed. ......

 :-? Is that something you've been taught? Just sounds strange to
me. :-/

And me, and also 7k RPM and only 65mph, where you in second gear

yup, pulled out into second, then was asked to give it large, so i did!

Spent about 4 hours slipping the clutch, turn in the road especially, slipping it, keeping revs up, in total control, if bike starts to lean or something just let the clutch out 1mm.

I could turn the ER5 within a standard width road easily now in one turn, feet off the ground.

[Turk]

Ah right. It's probably better described as riding or feathering the clutch. Same applies when riding at walking pace.  

Not sure I like the idea of new riders being told to "keep the revs busy" unless the instructor keeps it for riders he/she is happy with as regards clutch control.
Get that wrong and you're in the next post code before you know it.    

Glad to hear keeping at it.  Fair doos to anyone that passes their bike test these days. It's so complicated, I work in the bike industry and I haven't a clue as to what exactly the test comprises of nowadays.

[Andy B]

.....
 and I haven't a clue as to what exactly the test comprises of nowadays.

it's not just a figure 8 around the block anymore .... so they say    

[Ian_D]

I know nothing about bikes, but slipping the clutch sounds odd to me?

When you say this, are you slipping the clutch in 1st - going really slow... or slipping the clutch in say 2nd or 3rd? If that was the case, I would have said you needed to change down a gear before the corner so you dont have to slip it? But like I said, I havn't a clue about bikes.  

Maybe the instructors good mates with a repair shop that just replace clutches all day long?  

[tunnie]

first off there is theory.... 50 questions multiple choice, i got 48 right   (pass rate is 43)

Then hazard perception of theory watch 14 video clips, each has 1 danger in it, 1 has 2. You have to click when you see a danger could develop, 5 points per danger, they count down the closer to the danger, often faster than seconds.

I got 64 out of 75.

Then its the practical, will be asked to do emergency stop and turn in the road. Maybe asked for hill start, angled start, maybe asked questions about your bike and asked to wheel it around. Test is about 50 mins long.

 

[tunnie]

I know nothing about bikes, but slipping the clutch sounds odd to me?

When you say this, are you slipping the clutch in 1st - going really slow... or slipping the clutch in say 2nd or 3rd? If that was the case, I would have said you needed to change down a gear before the corner so you dont have to slip it? But like I said, I havn't a clue about bikes.  

Maybe the instructors good mates with a repair shop that just replace clutches all day long?  

Motorbike clutches are designed to be slipped, generally done in 1,2,3 gears, and its just like the biting point in the car. But unlike a car, you ride it, while holding the rear back brake, was doing that in figure of 8's and turn in the road, and pulling away from junctions.

Engine 'busy' means around 3.0 - 3.5k rpm revs wise.

[TheBoy]

ER5, although fairly torquey like most 500 twins, doesn't liven up until 6k rpm.  Low redline of about 10k IIRC.

I think tunnie means feathering the clutch, as you do on slow speed manuevers such as mini roundabouts - often with a bit of rear brake if you need stability.


Tunnie, if ever you go on my bike, do NOT drop it to 2nd and floor it - I reckon you'd be dead within 5s

More tomorrow?

[tunnie]

ER5, although fairly torquey like most 500 twins, doesn't liven up until 6k rpm.  Low redline of about 10k IIRC.

I think tunnie means feathering the clutch, as you do on slow speed manuevers such as mini roundabouts - often with a bit of rear brake if you need stability.


Tunnie, if ever you go on my bike, do NOT drop it to 2nd and floor it - I reckon you'd be dead within 5s

More tomorrow?

Yeah, nothing but manoeuvrings tomorrow.

I am feeling better about the turn in the road, carpark i had trouble with them on 125, found it easier on the ER5!

I could do it at the top of the car park, when i had a curb to look at, always fcked up the bottom one (nothing to fix on)

Out on the road, i looked where i had to put the bike and it went there, was really chuffed about that cause i was finding them hard in the car park.  

[Andy B]

......
Motorbike clutches are designed to be slipped, ......

 :-?  :-?  :-? Generally wet basket rather than a car's dry, but does that mean that they're designed to be slipped?

[Vamps]

.....
 and I haven't a clue as to what exactly the test comprises of nowadays.

it's not just a figure 8 around the block anymore .... so they say    

Was in my day......