Starting All Over Again

[Suzukigurletoo]

Hey Out There!

Help me! I learned to ride last June; got pretty good on turns, not stalling, cornering, riding in traffic and not being toooo rattled (stayed alot in the right lane) EVEN had to pick the bike up once (thought the kickstand was down and it wasn't). I'm a 110 pound girl so I thought that particular feat was GREAT!

Now what is my problem???? I haven't ridden since November of last year and I'm nervous/scared a little bit. We tried to "push start" the bike with me on it last Friday, no such luck - so I'm charging the battery while we speak BUT the secret is that I haven't TOLD ANYONE that I'm so nervous - I'm afraid that I have forgotten all that I learned and it's worrying me. Before my Suzuki I had a scooter (been riding it since 2006).

So there - that's my dilemma - I'm pretty darned nervous. A co-worker and her husband went down here in Chicago a few weeks ago and I'm sure that has something to do with it.

I LOVE MY BIKE THOUGH! Any thoughts on getting my "groove" back?

Happy Trails!

Suzukigurletoo!

[Moedad]

Baby steps, gurle. If you have a parking lot very close to your place, you can go there and work through different drills and get the feel back agian. Or maybe in the sreet where you live if traffic isn't an issue. Take it slow and easy and you'll be back to where you were faster than you thought. You can do it!

[Easy Rider]

I haven't ridden since November of last year and I'm nervous/scared a little bit.

I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing.

Been riding for ~40 years and every spring I hop on the bike and whiz out of the driveway only to realize that feet, brakes, clutch and throttle didn't come back to me instantly like I think they should. :cry:

The good news is that it all DOES come back after just a day or two. Honest it does. :cool:

You could ride to Kankakee and meet me for lunch some day; after that much practice you should be right back in the groove again!! :roll: :crackup

P.S. When trying to start the bike, did you put the fuel switch (petcock) in the PRIme position for a few minutes before cranking it over......and did you use the choke ??

[Suzukigurletoo]

Yep I used the choke, "prime" position? That's the "on" position right? The fuel reserve on the side of the bike right? Yes I had it on.

The longest I've ridden is from Lakeview to 83rd and South Chicago and THAT WAS IN NOVEMBER! Boy was I cold.

Thanks for the tips though!

[New GZ250]

I "highly" recommend the MSF course. (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) It is a great course for beginners and experienced riders alike. Not cheap but you can't put a price on your safety! I took it, got a discount on my insurance plus I really enjoyed the class!

Just do it! :2tup:

[Suzukigurletoo]

Yep I did take the course -- paid about $350 for it. They let me go the FIRST DAY! I dropped the bike TWICE! It was not a good day for me. I was so EXCITED the night before that I didn't sleep so the next morning I was extremely tired and the weather that day was in the 90's. It was brutal - I tell you - taking that walk of shame while the OTHERS watched was humiliating and I almost gave up the riding (BUT I ALREADY HAD BOUGHT THE BIKE - IT WAS AT HOME).

Anyway I was encouraged by co-workers to keep practicing in the Jewel parking lot at night and lo and behold I was eventually able to master turns and everything.

Ah well

[mrlmd1]

PRIME is it's own position, there's also ON, and RESERVE.
What ER was trying to say is that if the bike sat for an extended period, there may be no fuel in the carb for the bike to start. If you put it on PRIME for a few minutes, the carb bowl will fill as that position bypasses the valve operated by the engine vacuum when it's running to open up the fuel flow. Put it back on the RUN position after a minute or two and then start the bike, or you'll wet the garage floor with gas constantly dripping out the carb. Don't leave it on PRIME.
And charge up the battery fully before going out again, you don't want it to die away from the house if you stop somewhere.
An owners manual is a wonderful thing. If you don't have one, download it from here and read it, you'll be amazed at what you'll learn, or what you forgot in 8 months. And then go back and retake the MSF course, you won't flunk out again this time, and they should let you retake it as you paid for it already. You wont regret it.

[Easy Rider]

Yep I used the choke, "prime" position? That's the "on" position right? The fuel reserve on the side of the bike right?

NO! The "reserve switch" on the bottom/side of the tank has 3 positions: ON, REServe and PRIme.

The PRIme position is there specifically for starting after a long period of non-use.
Turn it to PRI and leave it there for about 5 minutes BEFORE you try to start it; then put it to ON.

The "long side" of the lever points to the active position.

[Easy Rider]

Yep I did take the course -- paid about $350 for it.

Holy crap! :cry:

Where did you sign up for the course ??
In Illinois, it is FREE. :shocked:
Because of that, there is usually a waiting list but well worth the wait.....especially given your history.
Have a look here:

http://www.dot.state.il.us/cycle2.html

[alanmcorcoran]

I recommend going back to the Jewel lot until your jitters subside. I get the same way, but it's mostly in your (our) head. Although you want to be alert while riding, I don't think you don't want to be overthinking every shift, lean and turn.

I think it takes a lot of work and practice to become an expert motorcycle rider, but it's not that hard to become a competent and safe operator. The GZ is a pretty forgiving bike. You might have even noticed a few in your course before they kicked you out. (That is rough!)

Wear your protective gear! Relax and take it slow. Start out with the "duckwalk." Work your way up to first and second gear. You'll be fine. Find a place with no light poles, parked cars or other fixed objects. I found middle school parking lots after 11pm to be a good place to practice.

And, although I have generally not been an MSF fan, I agree it would be a good idea for you. Don't they have to take you back for another try?

[Water Warrior 2]

Yep I used the choke, "prime" position? That's the "on" position right? The fuel reserve on the side of the bike right?

NO! The "reserve switch" on the bottom/side of the tank has 3 positions: ON, REServe and PRIme

The "short side" of the lever points to the active position.

Easy are you sure it is the short side ? Neither one of has a GZ at home to check anymore but I seem to remember it being the long side/active side. Maybe some one else can wade in and confirm this for me.

[mrlmd1]

From a post of mine back in May, under General, "Gas Tank Lever Position"--
"For the last time, for you or anyone else who asks --- The LONG end of the lever points to the direction of what you want, if you want in on the RUN position, it points FORWARD, if you want it on RESERVE it points to the REAR , NO MISPRINT. PRIME points DOWN.
Look for yourself on page 7 in the owner's manual posted on here, can't be any plainer than that."

If you look closely at the lever, there is an arrow imprinted on it pointing in the direction of what you want, ie., to the LONG end of the lever.
If you're too lazy to look up the picture in the owner's manual on here, here's a photo--
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/8571/78266239.th.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pqk6K4S)

[Easy Rider]

Easy are you sure it is the short side ?

CRAP! I will go back and fix my post......but that's gonna make the next couple look a little strange!! Thanks.

I should know better than to trust my memory. :cry:

[Easy Rider]

Speaking of "starting over again", how's your shopping going ??

I assume that your wallet is still firmly in your pocket ?? :biggrin:

[Water Warrior 2]

[quote="Water Warrior":1cf8o1ul]
Easy are you sure it is the short side ?

CRAP! I will go back and fix my post......but that's gonna make the next couple look a little strange!! Thanks.

I should know better than to trust my memory. :cry:[/quote:1cf8o1ul]

:lol: Easy, just wait for a couple more years and this will never have happened. Don't ask me how I know cause I don't.

[mrlmd1]

Speaking of "starting over again", how's your shopping going ??

I assume that your wallet is still firmly in your pocket ?? :biggrin:

Who you talking to?
If it's me, you'll soon find out. :2tup: :2tup:

[Easy Rider]

Speaking of "starting over again", how's your shopping going ??

I assume that your wallet is still firmly in your pocket ?? :biggrin:

Who you talking to?
If it's me, you'll soon find out. :2tup: :2tup:

Oops, I see I missed the quote.
Yes YOU.
The silence has been ominous !! :poke2:

I will be conspicuously absent until Monday.
I expect a report by then. :shocked: :biggrin:

[mrlmd1]

OK.
Have a good time, watch out for all those crazy holiday drivers and come back safe. :)

[kaput]

Its just like riding a bike, oh wait... it is riding a bike!

[dhgeyer]

Fuel valve positions: More than you ever wanted to know:

In the bad old days, and on some bikes still today, the fuel shut off valve had these positions: ON, OFF, RESERVE. On such bikes, it is a good idea to turn the valve to the OFF position when not riding. If you don't, and there is any leak or minor problem in the carburator, fuel can leak out the bottom of the carb, or worse, through the carb and fill the cylinder(s). On the other hand, if you remember to turn it off, but forget to turn it back on, your ride will be a short one. Embarrassing! Especially if you're an MSF Rider Coach doing a demo of an exercise.

The GZ has a more advanced type of fuel valve. It's positions are ON, PRIME, and RESERVE. PRIME is like ON on the older type of fuel valve. Fuel is free to flow unconditionally through the valve to the carb. The ON position on the GZ if really off when the bike is not running, so there is no OFF position on the GZ. The fuel valve on the GZ, when in the ON position is on when the bike is running, and off when you turn it off. This is not done by any kind of electronics. For reasons I won't explain here, there is a constant vacuum in the carburator. If you look at the fuel valve on the GZ, you will note that there are two hoses running from the valve to the carb. One is for fuel, obviously. The other is smaller, and is for vacuum. The vacuum in the carb sucks through the smaller hose, pulls on a diaphram in the fuel valve, which in turn opens the valve. Slick! The only catch is that, if the bike sits for a while, the fuel will evaporate/drain from the carburator. With the valve in the ON position. it's really off until you start the engine - so it's a catch 22 situation. So, you turn the valve to the PRIME position, which is really unconditionally on, and the float bowl fills with fuel and you can start the bike. Once it's running, you turn it back to ON.

This knowledge is useful if you have a malfunction in the fuel valve (it happens), and the diaphram sticks. You can turn the valve to the PRIME position and go on your way. If the fuel valve on the GZ isn't working right, PRIME is like ON, and ON is like OFF.

[diffluere]

ep I did take the course -- paid about $350 for it. They let me go the FIRST DAY! I dropped the bike TWICE!


I dropped the bike twice and they still let me finish the course! I even freaked out and asked them 'does this mean I fail?!?!' and they just let me try again. I'm surprised they made you leave. =(

I have found that having another person around helps, even if they are in a car behind you. It makes me less nervous at stop lights because if I stall out they don't get mad, lol. Having a friend on a bike with me makes me a lot more comfortable and I tend to ride better.