Hi Everyone

I'm new to the forum. I've just purchased a 2000 Ninja 500R as my first bike. I started a few months ago on a 150CC scooter and maxed it out immediately - I took to highways with ease but soon learned the scooter's limitations - too light and when I hit 65 MPH I feel like I'm flying. I've always loved motorcycles and like speed so I decided on a Ninja 500R because it's a comfortable bike and a good size for me (the 250 was way too small in scale); I feel very comfortable on it. The bike is royal blue and gorgeous and I look forward to every day I can learn more about riding it BUT....

I've taken two private professional lessons on a 250 cruiser, which were a breeze, but the 500R is a different story altogether. The first day I rode it I was supervised by an experienced rider friend who taught me the mechanics of the revs, but I'm still having issues with them. I'm not a car driver and certainly never drove a stick shift so the manual shifting is a new thing and certainly more of a pain than the scooter!

I'm able to get it moving in first at between 2000 and 3000 revs to 20 MPH and then I shift, but it just seems very slow to get moving; on the cruisers you just let the clutch out a little and you're rolling pretty good, hit the throttle, you're moving. On the Ninja I have to rev to 2K or 3K to just get it to about 20 in first, and then I shift quickly to second and third but don't feel that much power when I hit the throttle. I had a bad habit of rolling off the throttle too much and letting the revs drop too much (which I thankfully broke this weekend) so I'm practicing taking it easy with the throttle and clutch, letting the revs drop about 1000 to start shifting. I can get the bike to 40 MPH comfortably but it just seems a slow process; as I get to it I'm revving at 4000 - 5000 to get there, and around 5000 keeps it there; then I hit traffic and I pull the clutch in, shift down, brake smoothly, yadda yadda yadda. I always dread a red light because to get the bike going again at a good speed seems to take a little time. I do keep up but it feels weird. My goal is to take it on longer riders than on the scooter, and I know how those highways are!

What am I doing wrong, if anything, and what can I do to improve? I don't want to ruin the engine by not knowing what I'm supposed to be doing, even though I'm able to get it moving. I watch the revs but I've been told I need to listen to the engine - I want to know what to listen for. I'm too used to hearing what the bigger bikes sound like! I know the 500R is not a crotch rocket, but does it sound like that's what I'm looking for? Could the extra steps I need to complete compared to the twist and go of the scooter make it seem slow?

Any help would be appreciated? Thanks. Picture to follow.

 

welcome to KF

 

You need to keep the revs up much higher than 1000, and control with the clutch.... I think thats what I do. Check with the 500 guys and they'll help you out. Afraid I don't know much about their rpm's and shifting.Welcome to KF.

 

Keep ridin and it will be second nature real soon. V Twin cruisers are torque monsters so you will have to get used to not having all that torque. But once your in the revs with a sport bike, you get a lot more speed. Speed is good!
Welcome to KF!

 

welcome to KF

 

Thank you for the warm welcome and the advice! It's going to take some getting used to, and I'll try to stop thinking in cruiser and scooter mode.

 

OK! Took the 500R out last night and was fiercely determined to get this whole clutch/throttle/rev thing down. Had a pounding headache but felt better when the adrenaline started running but I kept at it finally got it!!! I can pull out of stop lights faster and with ease, can pop it out of 1st and 2nd smoothly, and when in 3rd or 4th was able to get to 55 MPHwith ease and really become one with the bike. Once I hit this point I pulled over safely, put it in neutral, clapped and cheered and hugged the gas tank. The rest of the night was fun fun fun riding with little or no traffic (however, a bastard cab driver passed me on the right and tried to cut me off, and I was able to pull back, let his rude a** pass, pull up to him at a red light and curse him out) and the sportsbike people were impressed. My garage owner came back from her own ride and was surprised to see me still there but was happy that I accomplished my goal. It was the old "Let me open her up and see what she can do" thing and this bike did not disappoint! I got the power I was looking for and am ready to use it.

Shopping for Givi side cases for a nice ride to the beach now!

 

very nice, congrats on your new feel for the bike