Accelerating!

[Rsimpson]

Feel free to make fun of me...only after you answer my question constructively pleeeeze!

I would like to get a better idea for how much acceleration is too much acceleration (possibly getting myself into an unintended wheelie). I have an '05 SV1000S and find, when accelerating more aggressively, I get a weird feeling like I'm going to do a wheelie... What does it take before the front starts to lift?

I'm hitting 60mph from a stop in about 5 seconds max right now..Im not going for any records, but it just doesnt feel comfortable (especially when I need to take my hand off the grip to pull the clutch in)

I've seen videos of stock 1k's hitting 60 in less than 3 seconds..so I know it can be done... For those of you that are doing something like this, are you clutchless shifting? Where is your weight transferred? Are you able to keep the front end down with no problem? Do you wet yourself everytime you do it??

Thanks!:p

[Kyoseki]

The 1000 has a very predictable torque curve, so it's easy to control the front end, you'll feel the steering get very light as the front wheel's contact patch reduces.

I've gotten the front end up a few times by accident, the most fun was coming out of a corner while I was still leant over :D

Just don't panic and overreact, take it slowly and never, EVER, wrench the throttle, wind on, wind off glasshopper :)

Edit: Oh, and the thousand will hit 70 in 1st, so if you're concentrating on 0-60 you shouldn't be shifting at all :)

[Rsimpson]

Oh, and the thousand will hit 70 in 1st, so if you're concentrating on 0-60 you shouldn't be shifting at all

HAHA! Good point! Still waiting for that break-in period to end..So im shifting between 6 and 8!

roughly what percentage are you on the throttle before the front end wants to come up?

[SV650R]

I have an 05 SV650 and I think that if you give it too much throttle it will come up...

However, just because the front wheel is coming off the ground does not necesarily mean you have to choke the throttle or pull the clutch in...

12 inches up or so you are still pulling foward....

Blimp the throttle 1/8 of an inch back and shift to second gear... imediatelly full throttle again. ........I would not be surpriced if the front wheel wants to have some air in second gear.

Blimp the throttle 1/8 of an inch back and shift to third gear...

What does it take before the front starts to lift?

Well it depends on many factors...

Ground Surface...
Tire Compound...
Rider position...


There is no set rules of "How to Launch".... But, Here is a few tips:

First gear with clutch disengaged...
Seat as close to the tank as possible...
Put as much weight on the handlebars as possible...
Left foot on the ground... Right foot apply rear brake...
Rev engine to max Torque RPM...
Begin to engage clutch... Load your rear tire until you feel it wanting to take off...
...LAUNCH!!!

May want to start easy on the throttle and work your way up... Practice gets you closer to perfection.

Luis.

PS I am NOT responsible for property damage or bodily injury... :P

[dalsmthme]

Seat of pants man...seat of pants! there are to many variables involved in this to narrow it down for YOU. The best thing to do is just experiment and learn. If you worry about "what throttle % open" will produce a wheelie, you will just be taking concentration off the task at hand. Just practice launches somewhere safe IN FULL GEAR if you have it and just learn. I suggest you guard the rear brake when you are learning. If the wheel starts to lift to much for you, just drag the rear brake a little. It is a little easier and faster to do this than try and "roll" off when you panic. You have to reverse those muscles in your prist that are tying to roll the throttle on and hang on. Let another appendage control the wheelie. I also find that yousing the rear brake wil bring down the front end softer than throttle control when you are learning. This will help you get more life out of your fork seals.

Bottom line, don't fear the wheelie. It is your friend!

[mother]

anytime you whack it open in 1st it will hit the sky...

hasn't happened to me in 2nd yet...

really surprised no one has chastised the wheelie talk yet!

[Burke]

Smooth on, smooth off and you'll stay planted... Twist it wide and the front will come right off the ground... I try not to do that. :)

[jayson9253]

Quick yet smooth on the throttle. I launch full throttle all the time and don't lift the front wheel. yes it get's light but it doesn't actually wheelie. i have to let off the gas then whack it open at 5k for me to get the wheel up. but honestly my experience shows if the front does actually lift you're 'probably' going to cut the throttle naturally. My tl wouldn't stay down. i have to try to get my sv up. but that's just my two cents.

[newbe]

When i first started to ride my SV i lifted the front end a few time. Never realy meant to do it. As soon as i let go of the gas it would drop . Now for the life of my i cant do a wheelie i did try it twice and all i did was take off realy fast :squid: . If its a new bike for you i bet you would get used to it and feel the bike more then anything. Dont worry so much before you know it you would go much faster and like what was said before you would notice it would be smooth.

Alex

[Burke]

Originally posted by jayson9253
i have to let off the gas then whack it open at 5k for me to get the wheel up.

Exactly...

[smokescreen]

Originally posted by newbe
When i first started to ride my SV i lifted the front end a few time. Never realy meant to do it. As soon as i let go of the gas it would drop . Now for the life of my i cant do a wheelie i did try it twice and all i did was take off realy fast :squid: . If its a new bike for you i bet you would get used to it and feel the bike more then anything. Dont worry so much before you know it you would go much faster and like what was said before you would notice it would be smooth.

Alex

He used to get it up all the time by accident! And now he has to TRY!! o get it up!!! He's gotta whack it!!!


Originally posted by Burke
Exactly...



Same with Burke!!

What are these bikes doing to them!?? Is nothing exciting enough any more!?

[SilverRider]

Originally posted by smokescreen
He used to get it up all the time by accident! And now he has to TRY!! o get it up!!! He's gotta whack it!!!






Same with Burke!!

What are these bikes doing to them!?? Is nothing exciting enough any more!? :lol: That's some funny shiznit.

[SV650R]

Originally posted by Rsimpson
HAHA! Good point! Still waiting for that break-in period to end..So im shifting between 6 and 8!


Yeah I would say brake in that engine before you try to push it hard.

Once the engine is ready do the oil/ oil filter service and try those tips... You will notice a difference...

By the way who is timing you?

[Rsimpson]

I was timing in my head...:cool:

[jayson9253]

There is an old saying. To go fast you must go slow. My dad taught me this racing dirt. sometimes you think you are going faster than you really are so that's why the point of being timed is important. fooling around on the local 1/8th mile i've noticed i go faster when i don't rush things. i also feel as if i am indeed going slower. when i think i've flew down the track my et was horrid. break in the bike. get a friend and a stop watch and experiment. you might be suprised.

[nefarious-az]

What are you doing with a 1k if you don't know something as basic as acceleration?

[Rsimpson]

I don't think acceleration is basic

This is my first bike. I know its a big bike to start on, but I feel I'm doing things right by taking it easy and asking a lot of questions. That's why I'm here

[TwistGrip]

Originally posted by Rsimpson
This is my first bike.

I thought so...

Then don't worry about how quickly (in seconds or throttle opening or wheelies) you can accelerate your bike. Just do what is within your comfort zone and slowly push the envelope. Do some track days to get the twisties figured out and go to the 'strip if you wanna go for ETs. Come on group ride-outs and ask questions of the seasoned riders. I'll give advice all day when asked. :D

You have much to learn in terms of communicating with this new machine, and rushing into any part of it will lead you quickly out the other end with the possibility of catastrophic side effects.

That 1k will do things YOU cannot.

Take it easy,
-EB

[Rsimpson]

Thanks Twistgrip, I'd like to go on some group rides and will check the threads

Sometimes I get a little frusterated with how beginner riders on big bikes are misrepresented... There are a few of us that are taking it easy out there...

[dalsmthme]

Look, if you are worried about it, the first wheelie is kind of like your first sexual experience, not as exciting as expected. Just keep riding the bike by the seat of your pants. If the wheel comes up, the wheel comes up. It will not be real exciting. If you are scared of it going over backwards, trust me, you have to work real hard for that to happen. Your better jugment will take over before that anyway.

I have ridden big bikes since I started riding 10 years ago. I have always ridden within my limits and know exactly where you are coming from. With that said, it is an excercise in self control as well as not constantly reminding yourself you ride a big bike. It is distracting. It is just like riding any other bike, you need to concentrate on seat of the pants feeback and learn the bikes feel. You have enough to distract you while riding. You shouldn't have to worry about what rpm in and what % throttle will cause a wheelie. Ride instinctive. If you can do that grasshopper, you will go far without scuffing the nice leather I hope you purchased with your bike..... Bikes can be fixed and skin grafts hurt!

[Rsimpson]

good points dalsmthme,

I DO have enough distractions already.

I think I'll buy a pair of shoes first. The gear lever has completely worn out my left sandal

:p

[smokescreen]

I truely hope you are joking... Theres a nice one piece suit for sale on the site right now!

[SteveT]

Originally posted by Rsimpson
good points dalsmthme,

I DO have enough distractions already.

I think I'll buy a pair of shoes first. The gear lever has completely worn out my left sandal

:p

Link (http://www.oldnavy.com/browse/product.do?cid=16727&pid=464740&scid=464740022)

I use these, the plastic holds up surprisingly well under the gear shifter! :cool:

[Rsimpson]

Thanks SteveT!

I've been blowing $45 on a pair of rainbows all this time!