First Practice Ride

[LHawk]

Hi Kat Riders! Got my 2001 Katana 600 running good and took it to a big parking lot to practice for the license test and get familiar. The bike is awesome in my opinion. I took it easy just starting out and shifting up to 3rd, practiced turns going pretty slow and braking. The only problem I had was when I stopped too suddenly once and racked myself on the gas tank. OUCH

[scottynoface]

Yeah, watch out for big bumps between expansion joints on the freeway and even surface streets. Potholes, rough pavement, they all sacrifice the boys against the tank.

[mezalaja]

they all sacrifice the boys against the tank.

been there,... done that!

Good luck with your test LHawk!

[jdm5770]

Welcome to the 'break in'

[gobigorange189]

good job and keep practicing!! when your stopping hard like that, try and squeeze the tank with your knees to keep from smashing the boys...

[Slofuze]

LOL....keep practising...... good advice so far...and be VERY conscious when riding two-up.

[Dfurgi]

been there,... done that!

Also done that

[md86]

You clamp the tank which yore legs to prevent rackage . Don't "push" on the bars , as that can transmit bumps & such through the bars resulting in unwanted control input .
Also , briefs are NOT a bad thing . I tired boxers on a bike ..... once . When I sat on the boys during a transition and almost distracted myself right off the damned road , I decided it wasn't worth it .

[yngveny]

Some good advice here.
Also I find that you should loosen your grip on the handle bars if approaching bumps in the road (if you cant avoid them) instead of tightening the grip as might be your reflex action.
Loosening your grip lets the suspension of the bike take the force of the bump without it planting itself up your arms.

[md86]

And thus , transmitting unwanted control inputs thought your stiff arms to the bars .....

[yngveny]

And thus , transmitting unwanted control inputs thought your stiff arms to the bars .....

Sorry, did not mean to step on your point, just adding my view of the issue

[Robgsxf750]

When I was mountainbiking it was always tight grip, loose elbows. Took practice. I try to be the same on the road bike and find it works fine for me. I do suffer from numb hands after a long time of sitting on the highway at 4500rpm, but going through the twisties it's sweet for me. Each their own I suppose.

[Free Coffee]

It's all in the knees. Well...I guess the thighs really.

[Bigza]

keep praticeing listen to what these guys got to say, and go to the bmv and get a diagram of there test set up. it not going to be like u may think. i pratice all kind of things and when i thought i was ready. i found out fast that i wasn't, aleast not for the bmv set-up. go there first then pratice the diagram of there set-up

[LHawk]

Thanks for the good advice everyone.