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Posted by CDNRatMan
- April 11, 2013, 17:58:41 PM 
Yes I too used to have to really think while teaching not to cover the levers with my fingers during the street bike courses, then teaching the dispatch riders course for the military it was allowed......
GreenBarn if I ahd been the instructor I would have been whacking your fingers with a stick.....only should have had to tell you once.....
Posted by Troll
- April 11, 2013, 17:44:35 PMRemember, this was a BEGINNER class. We want the controls covered with all the fingers, or none, and the grips held firmly. The big problem is when the beginner death grips the controls, and grabs the levers. Teaching finesse is one of the hardest parts. When I'm doing a demo, I have to remember to take a couple of power walking steps as I start, instead of just picking up my feet and going...
Posted by greenbarn
- April 11, 2013, 17:30:43 PMQuote from: CDNRatMan on April 11, 2013, 09:08:17 AMI got yelled at about 6 times a day for doing that when I was taking the bike safety course!! I often use 2 fingers on the levers, 2 on the grip. Old habit from riding on dirt track, I guess. The instructor didn't like it. at all...... So what I did was to place my hands on the bars and my fingers on the levers, thumbs under the grips. This gives a really nice relaxed grip and total control ....
Posted by CDNRatMan
- April 11, 2013, 09:08:17 AMfound that the bars are a lot different then my old bike. I had the tendancey to grip these bars tight for some odd reason, and could not figure out why. So what I did was to place my hands on the bars and my fingers on the levers, thumbs under the grips. This gives a really nice relaxed grip and total control ....
Posted by John Hopkins
- April 11, 2013, 07:31:46 AMQuote from: DC on April 10, 2013, 06:51:11 AMAt my age I can't hold the bike up without the sidestand, but I hold the grips gently and only use them to steer, If I need to I can grip the bars firmly quicker than I can think about it, but if the bike is on the way down, it will go and I will not be strong enough to lift it up again..A 1500 is a lot of weight to manage. That's why I pretty much keep a tight grip most of the time.
My opinion for what it's worth is that gripping tightly causes rider fatigue, I quite often deliberately relax and flex my back muscles while riding..although the 1500 is probably the heaviest bike I have ever ridden it is well balanced and a real pleasure to ride.
John.
Posted by DC
- April 11, 2013, 06:32:12 AMQuote from: Bake on April 10, 2013, 18:59:12 PMThat may be an option.DC... Velcro your butt to the seat! lol
I'm working on a seat mounting bracket mod that will lower the front of the seat for me about an inch. That will give some downward angle to the seat, which I'm thinking will tend to cradle my carcass better in the seat. At the same time, it gets me closer to the ground, having better control at stops.
Posted by waltervl
- April 11, 2013, 02:41:27 AMVelcro 
Reminds me of this (sorry, in Dutch) commercial of an insurance company about people who invented a safe passenger attachement system:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE8SPpjM-Vc
Posted by David Baker
- April 10, 2013, 18:59:12 PMQuote from: DC on April 10, 2013, 11:12:13 AMDC... Velcro your butt to the seat! lolI think I need a seatbelt or something. The bike wants to take off out from under me.
Posted by DC
- April 10, 2013, 11:12:13 AMQuote from: chief on April 10, 2013, 09:36:35 AMI think I need a seatbelt or something. The bike wants to take off out from under me.Its only a problem when you are stopped, or slowing to a stop... so just keep riding and avoid traffic!
Posted by chief
- April 10, 2013, 09:36:35 AMQuote from: DC on April 10, 2013, 06:51:11 AMIts only a problem when you are stopped, or slowing to a stop... so just keep riding and avoid traffic!A 1500 is a lot of weight to manage. That's why I pretty much keep a tight grip most of the time.
Posted by DC
- April 10, 2013, 06:51:11 AMA 1500 is a lot of weight to manage. That's why I pretty much keep a tight grip most of the time.
Posted by Troll
- April 09, 2013, 14:56:25 PMThat relax thing is easier said than done. I tell all my students that they are not trying to hold onto a bucking bull for 8 seconds, but they still complain on Sunday morning of sore arm muscles...they all work too hard!
Posted by John Hopkins
- April 09, 2013, 14:53:07 PMI did a seven hour ride on my bike last week and I didn't have any problems, well if you don't count clipping a couple of car mirrors with my grips while filtering at 50mph..
I think my seat is standard, the road was good except for the catseyes and line markings that make it difficult to keep in a straight line..I ended the ride in comfort with only cold fingers to complain about..
Some of the stress of riding may be caused by gripping the handlebars to tightly, It is not likely that any of us could hold the bike up once it starts to go so you might as well relax your grip and enjoy the ride..
John.
Posted by chief
- April 06, 2013, 21:28:14 PMQuote from: jmbo on April 06, 2013, 19:31:15 PMyeah, I agree. I made one since finding one my color was really difficult. it really helps.Back rest! Back rest! Back rest! Did I say back rest? Makes all the difference in the world on long trips. I don't have on the Drifter yet but after taking a long trip on a dresser last summer I'm sold. It took all the stress out of riding. My back felt great even after hours on the road
Posted by jmbo
- April 06, 2013, 19:31:15 PMBack rest! Back rest! Back rest! Did I say back rest? Makes all the difference in the world on long trips. I don't have on the Drifter yet but after taking a long trip on a dresser last summer I'm sold. It took all the stress out of riding. My back felt great even after hours on the road