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Throttle mishap

by Jeanette
(Canada)

I am so glad I found this site... Maybe someone can help me. I am a total newbie to this.. so far I took a beginners course just to learn about riding and if I thought i could do it. I had a blast but one small mishap.
When I was stopping one time, I accidentally hit the throttle.... scared me but I recovered fine so figured it was a one time thing.
Then I bought myself an S50 Suzuki Boulevard which is a great size bike for me and very easy to handle.. I have only ridden it for a couple of hours in a parking lot so far.. mostly without a hitch. I was getting very comfortable when I went to pull up next to my hubby in the car the same unintentional throttle thing happened... I hit a curb and dropped the bike but was totally fine other than scaring the crap out of myself and my husband.
Now that this has happened twice I am concerned and want to figure out what I am doing and why.. I keep going over it in my mind and can't figure it out. Both times were when I was suppose to be stopping.... which seems weird to me...
I am taking the two day course at our college next weekend, and am determined to be the queen rider of parking lots before i venture onto the road for my and everyone elses safety.
I am determined to be a great/safe rider and if anyone has had this experience and knows what i can do to ensure I don't continue this hazardous move i would be eternally grateful...

Comments for Throttle mishap

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May 05, 2017

Suggestions appreciated NEW
by: Anonymous

Hey ladies ! SOO nice to read the stories here. I am blatantly scared/hesitant of getting back on my bike. Have been doing short runs around my neighborhood and then did a run to Tim's one evening and all was great ! Went to do another practice last weekend and over revved the engine and guessing I had popped the clutch by accident ( all happened so fast) and went barreling thru a fence - not just a couple of boards but the entire fenced panel came with me. Thankfully just a few bumps and bruises on the one leg and need to replace only the right front reflector. Suggestions on not panicking with the throttle !! Have been used to a thumb throttle for the last 6 yrs with quads, incl clutch shift with ATC's.

Jul 13, 2012

Throttle control
by: Anonymous

Several people have touched on this in their responses already, but here are my two cents worth. Your wrist should be in a more downward postion in relation to your hand. If it's hovering above your hand while braking, you will get into the situation you described (both throttle and brake are engaged). Also, try and control your throttle more with the muscles/webbing between your thumb and index finger and less so with your fingers. Hope this helps.

Jul 11, 2012

figured it out
by: Jeanette

Well after a few more parking lot practices and watching those fantastic ride like a pro videos I believe I have figured it out.
When I was pulling into the parking spot I was on an angle.. between accidentally rolling the throttle while pulling in the front brake (Which I now know is a complete no no when the bike is not completely straight, which I was not)I did a few things wrong, which landed me and my bike on the ground..
It did really shake me up and my confidence is not yet back where it was prior to that, but I know it will be and I will be safer for having to figure this out... thanks everyone for your great advice.. Gotta say i love this site :)

Jul 11, 2012

clutch
by: Anonymous

One of the ladies mentions "letting go of the clutch" (popping the clutch/dumping the clutch) to stop motion and it will..very abruptly...if you let go of the clutch the m/c will jerk/lunge forward and if you aren't expecting it you may go down. If you pull in the clutch it will also stop the engine from allowing the throttle input (the rev) from creating forward motion. You may still be rolling/coasting but the rev of the motor is just noise but if you are applying your brake you'll also be stopping. If you are stopping you should be using BOTH brakes but in slow speed situations like in a parking lot use only the rear..using the front brake in this situation will/can lead to you dropping the m/c. It takes time to learn what to do and why you are doing it. If you take the time to learn some of the theory of "why" something is done one way or another it may help in that panic decision to do the right thing. It takes time to learn stuff and getting the brain/legs/feet/hands to work together can often be a challenge but once they are "one" it'll be a great ride. You'll get there.

Jul 10, 2012

Throttle control
by: Anonymous

When you roll off the throttle and begin to brake keep you hand in position (the top of your hand should be towards the sky) and squeeze the brake lever with your fingers....don't move your hand..only your fingers.

Be sure and use BOTH brakes with your general stopping. Use the only the rear brake for slow/parking lot riding. If you question the importance of using both brakes go back to your MSF booklet and read the section on braking. Both brakes will stop you quicker than just the front or just the rear. Using only one takes longer for you to stop and that distance may be the difference in an accident or just a panic stop.

You can also do a search on the internet on braking and find articles that may help.

When I started riding 23 years ago I often thought of my early stops as doing the "bunny hop" because they weren't nice and smooth. And when I get tired my stopping is the first thing that I get sloppy with so we stop and rest for a short period of time.

Good luck and you'll get it. It takes time. You didn't learn to tell time or to tie your shoe laces after being shown a couple of times. You had to practice and practice to get it right.

Jul 09, 2012

Throttle mishap
by: Turtle

When you are stopping out on the road you should ALWAYS use both front and rear breaks. When you are at low speeds (5 mph) you should use your REAR break and keep you hand off of the front break. If you use the front break with the front wheel even slightly turned the bike will go down. Try getting in a parking lot, put your foot lightly on the rear break and ease out on the clutch and give it a little throttle, get up to a brisk walking pace then using the REAR break only come to a stop keeping your front tire streight and looking where you want to stop. If you really want to see exactly how to do this technique and learn how to handle your motorcycle go to ridelikeapro.com and order the video either #5 or The New Ride Like a Pro video and it explains exactly how to stop and do other manuvers step by step. Then go to a parking lot and practice taking off, stopping and turning from a stop. Each of these you will do with the technique I described above. Hope this helps!

Jul 09, 2012

Thanks
by: Jeanette

Thanks so much everyone for the great advice.. when my hubby and I went back to the parking lot yesterday, i could hardley move the bike without fear... but quickly got over it..
I did find out what the problem was, as I stayed in first gear to do all my practice... it seems while i was pulling the front brake, my hand was pulling in and down rolling on the throttle.. I think it scared me as I pulled too hard and the bike learched forward a bit and then I let go of the clutch sending me forward and of course down on the bike... still makes me nervous but I guess eventually it will be second nature not to do that...

Jul 08, 2012

Throttle mishap.. help
by: Deb from Ma

Throttle issue? Sounds like me a few times. I was stopped and when I took off I ended up dropping the bike a few times. Each time was because I was not in First gear! Maybe its that simple for you?
Does that sound like your issue? Good luck and take your time and figure it out. Then it wont be so bad when you ride again.

Jul 08, 2012

Throttle Mishap
by: Peggy

This happened to me also, then I realized I nhad to roll off the throttle as I was breaking which also helps in slowing the bike down. Hope this helps

Jul 08, 2012

clutch
by: Stephanie

I did the same thing a few times. Best thing you can do until you get a better feeling for the throtle is let go of the clutch. That will disengage the engine and the throtle won't push you forward.

Hope this helps. Keep practicing and keep the shiny side up!

Jul 08, 2012

Don't pull back
by: Karen

My guess (which WOULD be based on personal experience) is that when you're braking, you're also flinching -- pulling your body back from whatever you don't want to hit. In that flinching, your throttle hand comes back and *down*, which gives it gas.

Since you probably also have the clutch in by then, the VROOM doesn't really matter.

But the vroom makes you tighten too hard on the front brake, which bounces the front shock, destabilizes the bike, and over it goes.

Truth: no harm, no foul.

Ideas: when you brake, in your head use the word "squeeeeze" to slowly increase pressure on the brake rather than grab. Start braking earlier. Use front and rear brakes together. And here's the girlfriend tip: grip that tank with your knees (until you put your feet down) and loosen up on the whole arm thang. Relax, relax, relax!

Jul 08, 2012

throttle scare
by: Libby in Nova Scotia

Hi There,
As soon as I read this, I remember having a similar thing happen when I started. It's possible that you are reaching for your front break lever as you are preparing to stop... and twisting the throttle as you reach. When it happened to me.. I then practiced stopping over and over with only the break peddle (a much safer stop), and then squeezing the lever only to stabilize the bike at the stop. You may still unintentionally twist the throttle, but at least you can watch for it. Hope this helps... (I could be wrong.)
Once you get more kms in the saddle, you will love it! Hang in there. Enjoy that S-50, nice bike!

Jul 08, 2012

jitters
by: Colleen

riding a motorcycle isn't something you are born to do... some people take to it more quickly than others IMO.

The key is to realize what you are doing, but don't focus on it. It's like when you are learning to do turns and weaving techniques, if you look down you are going to go down or not be able to make the turn wide enough.

The Ride like a Pro DVD's have great skills that you can easily watch and implement - they also offer mp3's that you can download and put on your iTunes and listen to Jerry (the instructor) while you are riding in a parking lot.

Things like throttle control are the first part of the lesson plan. Learning the proper techniques over and over again will help you memorize the skills that you need to the point that it will become naturally.

I have 3000 miles on two bikes so far, I currently ride a 883 Sportster and ride for 100's of miles at a time. Yesterday as my hubby and I were getting ready to hit the road ( in 101 degree heat) I got butterflies in my stomach and suddenly got really scared to ride. It was like I forgot everything??!! My hubby and I chatted at the gas station and he calmed me down, and said - you got this - sometimes that's all you need is a reminder you can do this.

YOU CAN DO THIS!!!

Jul 08, 2012

Throttle Mishap Reply
by: Anonymous

Try a smaller hand grip, I have that problem myself from time to time.

Jul 08, 2012

throttle mishap
by: Lydia

sounds like when you are pulling in your break lever your wrist may unintentionally slant downward and is coming in contact with the throttle at the same time and turning it a little. When I am coming to a stop I am down shifting and so my clutch lever and brake lever are being pulled in at the sametime, if my wrists accidentally turns the throttle then its just noise.. It just takes practice.. I remember doing the throttle noise a lot when I first started riding in 2002...try to keep you wrist and fingers at the same level when pulling in your levers until you get the hang of it.. Keep practicing it will get more comfortable..

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