I seem to have a problem with throttle control. I take off fine, but as I'm going, I go to accelerate and I'm jerking the bike. Any advise? What would be a great exercise to practice throttle control?

 

Just practice being smooth with the throttle. And holding a steady speed will help.

 

experience.....the more you ride, the smoother it will get.

 

2 good exercises with throttle and clutch.

One is to ride, feet up, at walking speed keeping a steady trottle opening and varying the speed between a very slow walk and a faster walk by easing the clutch.

Second, using the same technique to control speed, is to ride feet up full lock to full lock figure eights unril you can do 5, a full lock u-turn, and five in the other direction. Use a little rear brake to help if you have to.

This doesn't sound like a throttle control exercise, but it is, amongst other basic skills. It forces you to properly co-ordinate the throttle and clutch. I think you're taking off at too low revs and fully engaging the clutch before the revs are high enough. Don't just take off at higher revs. That won't help you to develop your skills. You need to be able to smoothly fully engage the clutch at about 1800 - 2000 rpm. THen you can gently open the throttle and accelerate away smoothly.

In real life you won't normally pull away at such low revs, but if you can't do it, you can't control the bike properly.

Take an MSF course.

Rob

 

i learned on gravel roads.. if that don't teach ya to be smoove, nothin will

 

Yeah Whitey, you got that right!