RiDE Dec 09

1 R Dec FRONT COVER cdp.indd 1 6/10/09 13:57:48

4-5 R Dec Contents cdp.indd 4 8/10/09 14:40:59

4-5 R Dec Contents cdp.indd 5 8/10/09 14:41:42

26-29 R Nov mp3 v gladius cdp.indd 26 8/10/09 14:56:16




76-81 R Dec Security cdp.indd 76 8/10/09 15:50:21






86-87 R Dec MOT cdp.indd 86 8/10/09 12:11:48

86-87 R Dec MOT cdp.indd 87 8/10/09 12:12:03

88-89 R Dec NEW RIDER cdp.indd 88 8/10/09 12:14:18

INTERACTIVEINTERACTIVE

What have I learnt? ■ Advanced training can really help with your confidence and riding skills, especially after a fall.■ Practice makes perfect, and there is no need to rush – enjoying the ride is just as important.■ There is always something new to learn and improve, even for more experienced riders.

What’s next?■ Keep practising – do my homework.■ Look for my next bike.

have been better as we headed up to the Cat and Fiddle (riding pillion as my bike was being repaired), and I noticed that even though it was during the week, a lot of bikers were taking advantage of the good riding weather. As I mentioned in my first article, the route to the Cat and Fiddle is full of both sharp and gentle bends and open straights. How would I handle this? I had always been cautious of bends, even before the accident.

Matt had come up on a Suzuki Gladius, because it’s very similar to my SV650S. Matt first took Andy out for a quick lesson while Weeble set up and I prepared myself. Andy has been riding six years, so he is much more confident and experienced then I am, plus out of all our friends he is the only one to never have come off his bike. When Andy and Matt came back, Matt gave some feedback about Andy’s riding. Overall Matt thought Andy was a good and safe rider on his SV1000, riding in a style similar to the police. However, Andy still found the experience invaluable and learnt quite a number of things. He needs to work on his road positioning, as he tends to ride near the centre of the road too

often, which isn’t so smart for right-hand bends.

Then it was my turn. I was very apprehensive and the new bike, no matter how similar to mine, didn’t help things. First he went over all the controls, and then he put me through some balance tasks. Being comfortable on a bike is very important. I put the bike on its sidestand, and then Matt made me grip the bike with my thighs and bum (steady now boys) and then asked me to lean side to side and finally backwards. This felt very unnerving, and I was worried the bike would topple over, but Matt was confident it wouldn’t, and it didn’t. Though I felt a little silly doing this, and any passers by probably thought so too, the task did help me to relax a little more, and it made me think that I really need to learn what I can and can’t do with the bike. It also got me to think more about my riding position, as I tend not to hold onto the bike using my bum and legs enough.

After this we set off on a little ride so I could get used to the bike and riding again. I was very nervous and very slow, and Matt saw this reflected in my posture, as it was very stiff. When we stopped, Matt told me the best thing to do was relax and go at my own pace. Back in the saddle, I decided to give the Gladius a little blast just to get the feel of the power. The experience was nerve-wracking and exhilarating, almost like when I first started riding.

Matt then took me out for a ride with just the two of us so that I could really

Get to know your bike. Er… our bike

focus on my riding skills. So for about half an hour I rode back and forth while Matt shadowed me and at regular intervals we stopped for a little feedback. I then attempted to take in what Matt had said, and try it out on the road – not as easy as it sounds.

He told me I needed to loosen my arms, as I was holding the throttle at an awkward angle. By being relaxed I could have more control of the revs, and by dropping my shoulder I would find it easier to nudge the inside bar to turn the bike in faster. Matt also noticed that my posture became even stiffer when I approached bends. He advised that slow in and fast out was always the best policy. Entering a bend too fast can cause the rider to either grab the front brake, or take the bend too wide, both of which should be avoided. He also reminded me about

looking ahead more. It’s natural to keep your eye on potential dangers such as objects in the road, but this is no good as a focal point in a bend. By all means have a look, but the crucial thing is to look where you want to go.

Gradual acceleration out of a bend helps too. A smooth, controlled throttle action makes exiting the bend smooth, and minimises the chances of the rear wheel stepping out, especially in the wet (which is what had happened to me).

Finally, gearchanges. I panicked on a bend and went in at the wrong speed, so to compensate I slowed down and knocked the bike down a gear. Matt told me this was the worst thing I could have done. Correct speed on approach is much better then braking as braking can affect the stability of the bike. If mid-corner braking must be used then it should be gradually applied, using the back brake.

Eventually, after many practice runs tackling the same bends, I finally began to relax and started to take in everything what Matt had said; at first it had felt like information overload. Though the tuition was only short, it was a massive boost to my riding skills and confidence.

Frequent stops for feedback are essential for a successful advanced riding session. While you’re at it, dust off your breakdancing moves

Andy’s a good rider, but Matt soon diagnosed a tendency to stay too close to the white line

www.ride.co.uk DECEMBEr 2009 Ride 89

88-89 R Dec NEW RIDER cdp.indd 89 8/10/09 12:14:50

104-106 R Dec Letters cdp.indd 104 8/10/09 12:34:27

82-83 R Oct Accidents cdp.indd 82

6/8/09 15:20:00 82-83 R Oct Accidents cdp.indd 83

6/8/09 15:20:12



110-117 R Dec Big Tourers cdp.indd 110 8/10/09 17:17:07







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RiDE Dec 09

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