dealing with acceleration!
Discussion
hello All
As I am learning more and more about my riding and my bike, I am asking myself this question:
- my 600 Speed Four is by no means the fastest bike around (98HP). However, when I give it the beans in 2nd and 3rd, I literally have to hold on to the handle bars to avoid being flung off the back!
- now, given that the sports bikes have nearer 150hp, how on earth does one hang on when really giving it fully throttle?! Is there anything i can do to improve my technique when accelerating hard? Should I be tucking my head down to reduce wind resistance? How do the R1 and ZX10R riders of this world cope!!!??
Any comments gratefully received!
Simon
As I am learning more and more about my riding and my bike, I am asking myself this question:
- my 600 Speed Four is by no means the fastest bike around (98HP). However, when I give it the beans in 2nd and 3rd, I literally have to hold on to the handle bars to avoid being flung off the back!
- now, given that the sports bikes have nearer 150hp, how on earth does one hang on when really giving it fully throttle?! Is there anything i can do to improve my technique when accelerating hard? Should I be tucking my head down to reduce wind resistance? How do the R1 and ZX10R riders of this world cope!!!??
Any comments gratefully received!
Simon
Rawwr said:
You just kinda get used to it. The day after I passed my test, I rushed out an bought a GSX-R600 K3. Opened the throttle and nearly shat myself; never thought I'd get used to power like that. You do, though, and quicker than you think.
i passed my test 3 mths ago and bought a gixer 600 k4 and thought the same but you do get used to it,i found leaning foward and putting some weitght over the front end helpsbut i sold it sat and bought a brand new ZX10R so i think ill have to have a rethink when i pick it up next week LOL
evo stu said:
...i found leaning foward and putting some weitght over the front end helps
Leaning the top half of your body forwards (without putting weight onto your arms) helps as it puts a little more weight over the front wheel and positions the feet a little better for pushing against the pegs.
Wearing leather trousers rather than textile trousers also makes a big difference as the leather grips the seat ans stops you sliding backwards.
the truth is you don't give a zx10 the beans in 1st gear (it'll flip). 2nd means monster wheelies too so you tend to hold back a bit in second as well. Third is most likely the first gear you'll give it full beans to the redline. And by that time you're going pretty fast so the acceleration is (relatively) less severe as wind resistance starts to come into play. I've probably never used much more than 98 bhp in first gear anyway even though my engine has 180 on offer. But yes, even in 3rd gear, you do have lean forward and hang on. Personally I try to grip the tank with my knees but it happens naturally so I'm not really aware of what I do (I currently have a ZZR1400 but have had a gixer 'thou and an R1).
The torque of the big 14 is something else. When it goes it just monsters the horizon and doesn't let up, the speedo just sweeping round the dial at a disturbing 'that can't be right' sort of rate. It's brutal in a wierdly smooth way but feels very stable and planted compared to a zx10. For a really skilled rider less fun no doubt because wheelies are remarkably rare but the way it goes... ludicrous really but somehow, still legal. Not sure how that happened? There are far less exciting and dangerous drugs out there!
The torque of the big 14 is something else. When it goes it just monsters the horizon and doesn't let up, the speedo just sweeping round the dial at a disturbing 'that can't be right' sort of rate. It's brutal in a wierdly smooth way but feels very stable and planted compared to a zx10. For a really skilled rider less fun no doubt because wheelies are remarkably rare but the way it goes... ludicrous really but somehow, still legal. Not sure how that happened? There are far less exciting and dangerous drugs out there!
Biker's Nemesis said:
Push on/through the pegs.
Hang on too tight at it'll cause instability, that'll stop you using full acceleration.
That is if you use your bike on windy bumpy roads, and don't use them them to visit the local Hein Gericke shop at the end of your local dual carriageway.
As the nemesis says, you probably don't want to be sat upright like your in the dining room chair having your Sunday roast, get yourself over the tank.. head just about the screen and use your legs to grip the tank and hold the bike. Even under flatout acceleration you don't want to be giving the bars any pressure at all. It's all about the legs.Hang on too tight at it'll cause instability, that'll stop you using full acceleration.
That is if you use your bike on windy bumpy roads, and don't use them them to visit the local Hein Gericke shop at the end of your local dual carriageway.
And yeah (not that you do or will) but don't join the masses - riding for 5mins and spending 5 hours at the burger bar or local bike shop
Edit to say; just read the comment about nailing a ZX10 in 1st - the comment read "it will flip". Not true! It will cause problems if you're heading up hill or over an uneven surface but you can nail a litre bike in all gears and keep the front on the tarmac - it may skip a little but that's fine. Just got to position your weight over the front.
Edited by shot2bits on Monday 14th July 10:39
I'm just relearning all this business of fast acceleration all again.. I've gone this weekend from a CBR600 to a Blackbird with 1100cc. To say I was grinning sat when I picked it up and gave it lots of bean for the first time in second gear is an understatement!!! That said its an amazingly stable easy bike to ride and you really don't notice the extra size and weight too much once moving.
That said its an amazingly stable easy bike to ride and you really don't notice the extra size and weight too much once moving.Edited by sjtscott on Monday 14th July 13:08
with me riding a zx10 will flip in 1st gear. Very few riders are good enough to give a litre bike full throttle to the redline in first. It's not easy to do, it's very likely to cause a crash and not very good advice to give to a new rider. For the purposes of most riders, avoiding lots of throttle and revs in 1st is a much easier and smarter thing to do.
The Pits said:
with me riding a zx10 will flip in 1st gear. Very few riders are good enough to give a litre bike full throttle to the redline in first. It's not easy to do, it's very likely to cause a crash and not very good advice to give to a new rider. For the purposes of most riders, avoiding lots of throttle and revs in 1st is a much easier and smarter thing to do.
Fair comment sshenton1975 said:
hello All
- my 600 Speed Four is by no means the fastest bike around (98HP). However, when I give it the beans in 2nd and 3rd, I literally have to hold on to the handle bars to avoid being flung off the back!
i've been riding my fzr600 (90ish BHP) for about 4 months now and i was literally hanging on when i first started. you do get used to it and you learn to alter your body position when you're about to nail it. now if i know i'm going to nail it, i hunker down and move forwards on the bike. it just kind of happens naturally. - my 600 Speed Four is by no means the fastest bike around (98HP). However, when I give it the beans in 2nd and 3rd, I literally have to hold on to the handle bars to avoid being flung off the back!
Lots and lots of practice, and keep your arms relaxed, grip with your knees. it helps with everything.
Hi Simon,
Good question. We've probably all had the same thought early on. Here are some tips ...
A) Your arms and upper body should be relaxed for the bike to handle properly.
B) Be ultra-smooth with your throttle hand (and brakes). When accelerating (or braking) you want to be silky smooth. This (i) helps the suspension keep in the right range to do its job and (ii) reduces the chance of overwhelming tyre grip.
C) "Maintain a high horizon" (as the California Highway Patrol say), i.e. look and plan into the far distance. Looking and planning right up to the horizon has several advantages:
- The further ahead you look, the slower things appear. At the same speed, try looking in front of your bike compared to looking upto the horizon. Notice what the difference feels like.
- The further ahead you look, the more time you have to plan what to do. This lets you ride more proactively, rather than reacting to things, which gives you more time to be smooth. It also means you can use deceleration in good time, minimising braking, rather than a jerky on/off throttle/brake style.
D) Use the "Rule of Thirds" on the straights between bends on the twisties: use firm acceration for the first third of the distance before the next bend. This (a) means you can accelerate hard out of corners and maintain a high pace, but also (b) gives you the remaining two thirds of the distance to analyse the next bend and decide how to ride it smoothly. You can ride briskly yet feel comfortable.
E) Get some training from someone like www.rapidtraining.co.uk , RideDrive or UK Advanced
Hope this helps
Good question. We've probably all had the same thought early on. Here are some tips ...
A) Your arms and upper body should be relaxed for the bike to handle properly.
B) Be ultra-smooth with your throttle hand (and brakes). When accelerating (or braking) you want to be silky smooth. This (i) helps the suspension keep in the right range to do its job and (ii) reduces the chance of overwhelming tyre grip.
C) "Maintain a high horizon" (as the California Highway Patrol say), i.e. look and plan into the far distance. Looking and planning right up to the horizon has several advantages:
- The further ahead you look, the slower things appear. At the same speed, try looking in front of your bike compared to looking upto the horizon. Notice what the difference feels like.
- The further ahead you look, the more time you have to plan what to do. This lets you ride more proactively, rather than reacting to things, which gives you more time to be smooth. It also means you can use deceleration in good time, minimising braking, rather than a jerky on/off throttle/brake style.
D) Use the "Rule of Thirds" on the straights between bends on the twisties: use firm acceration for the first third of the distance before the next bend. This (a) means you can accelerate hard out of corners and maintain a high pace, but also (b) gives you the remaining two thirds of the distance to analyse the next bend and decide how to ride it smoothly. You can ride briskly yet feel comfortable.
E) Get some training from someone like www.rapidtraining.co.uk , RideDrive or UK Advanced
Hope this helps
Edited by SVS on Monday 14th July 19:30
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