New Rider, Looking for Some Advice

4057 Views 14 Replies 12 Participants Last post by FangShui, Jul 21, 2015

halestorm1821

Discussion Starter · Jun 13, 2015

Hey everyone! I've had my Yamaha R3 for about a month and I'm really enjoying riding it. I've taken a safety course and passed, and I'm pretty comfortable riding around at city speeds. I am however having a hard time outside of the city. I'm finding this little bike is so light, my nerves while riding a bit faster are making the bike seem unsteady. I've asked friends with more riding experience than me what I should do to help and they've told me to grip the gas tank with my knees. When I do that, the unsteady feeling gets worse. I'm sure there is nothing wrong with my bike as it's brand new, under 1000kms on it. I think it's me that is causing this problem!

Could anyone offer advice or tips on how to overcome my nerves at higher speeds? I've done a couple of longer rides, about an hour, outside of the city. Just don't feel super comfortable yet. Any tips are appreciated. Thanks everyone

Safe riding

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Norton-Motorsports.com

· #2 · Jun 13, 2015

Just get more time on it... And it wouldn't hurt to have someone set the shock for your weight, it will balance the bike a little better. But mainly, just ride it more

Your friend was right in a sense, let the bike do the work, try to relax your upper body and hold on with your legs. You don't always have to grip the tank, but try to be very light on the bars.

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Stirz

· #3 · Jun 13, 2015

Pick up a copy of Lee Parks: "Total Control" on fleabay or amazon - it's a good resource for new (and experienced) riders and may help you figure out what you need to work on.

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t-rav_12

· #4 · Jun 13, 2015

I agree with jbluetooth. Relax your grip on the bars. The bike will do everything you tell it to do. You don't need to be forceful.

AJ Nin

· #5 · Jun 13, 2015

Yes, you just need experience. Take it slow to build confidence. It is easy to over-react to perceived threats when you feel too anxious too. The R3 is very stable on the freeway.

Yamahahaha

· #6 · Jun 13, 2015

I think the more you ride the more you will get used to how it feels and how to handle it. Nothing beats practice and personal experience.

3th3r

· #7 · Jun 13, 2015 (Edited)

It's difficult to do for a new rider, but as the posters above said, try to loosen your grip on the handle bars, keep the hinged parts of your body relaxed -- your hips, your elbows, your knees -- and use them as part of the suspension, absorbing the bumps and sways. The motorcycle will move under you with the undulations of the road, the gusts of wind, etc. -- this is normal -- and any unnecessary inputs that you give the motorcycle due to being too rigid will make the anxiety worse.

The more time you spend riding, the more that the feeling will become familiar, and the more you will relax and enjoy it. For now don't put yourself in riding situations where you are scaring yourself into rigidity or into making jerky movements. Ride where you feel comfortable and slowly progress to more adventurous rides. There is no hurry; you have the rest of your life to enjoy motorcycling.

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Jay Joe

· #8 · Jun 13, 2015

My girl who is new to riding motorcycles mentioned the very similar thing you felt. Some type of unsteadiness or unbalance when she is going faster. I rode her motorcycle maybe 30 odd miles and didn't feel this. Must be experience. Put on several hundred miles and you should be fine.

abvc

· #9 · Jun 14, 2015

wear gears

u3c307

· #10 · Jun 17, 2015

It comes with time. Try a track day it will boost confidence.

SunGawd

· #11 · Jun 17, 2015

Halestorm, I too am a new rider. Completed my MSF Class on June 5th. The posters on this thread are absolutely correct, TIME on the bike will put the speed anxiety to rest; only to introduce new anxieties.
Just the other day, I was following with traffic and feeling confident, until I looked at the speedometer as saw 67...the I got nervous, heart began pounding, had to remind myself to breathe. So, on my very next opportunity, I ran through the gears and revved up to 70 consciously. Still a little anxiety, but more euphoric as I realized I was in control.
Ironically, my biggest anxiety is "stallings", which I do ( mostly on inclines), especially because I probably over-think the whole process. Instead, of monitoring traffic at the intersection I am obsessing over friction zone and throttle.
Thanks, for the thread. I felt a little incomplete and alone as a new rider...this forum is OUTSTANDING!!!

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halestorm1821

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jul 21, 2015

Thanks for all the advice to everyone who replied. I'm at just over 2100kms on my R3 now and feeling much more comfortable, I've had it up to about 140km/hr and feels great. I always wear my gear, everyone should!! Thanks again

halestorm1821

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jul 21, 2015

I would like to make my R3 louder, any suggestions on the best exhaust to look into? I've heard the Yoshimura isn't worth the $$. Also had a friend suggest removing the baffle from the exhaust to make it louder. I don't know much about how that would effect the bike etc....thoughts? Also don't want to void my warranty

halestorm1821

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jul 21, 2015

Whoops...meant to start a new thread lol

FangShui

· #15 · Jul 21, 2015 (Edited)

halestorm1821 said:
I would like to make my R3 louder, any suggestions on the best exhaust to look into? I've heard the Yoshimura isn't worth the $$. Also had a friend suggest removing the baffle from the exhaust to make it louder. I don't know much about how that would effect the bike etc....thoughts? Also don't want to void my warranty

So many ways to go. Full system will definitely make it quite a bit louder.
No slip-ons will do much for volume because most of the muffling is done in the exhaust collector box under the frame. R25/R3 same for slip-on exhaust fitting.
I'm not sure about for full systems, since the head is different on the R3 because of the larger 68mm pistons.

Check out this selection and if you find a style you like, search it on YouTube for a sound clip. Or just Google YZF-R3 exhaust or YZF-R25 exhaust

http://japan.webike.net/YAMAHA/YZF-R25/Exhaust/6651/1001/mc/

Look in this Forum thread, too. IMHO the Devil Evolution D5M is a nice looking and sounding one and not too pricey at $300 shipped to the U.S.

Slip-ons won't void the warranty.....

http://www.r3-forums.com/forum/546-exhaust-fuel-delivery/

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