So I laid down my S4R... What did I do wrong?

[zeoniks]

Thank you. I will be be doing some drills, but I'm worried that I might repeat that situation where I accidentally throttle on while making turn. This isn't the first time I have done it on the bike (throttle on while turning, that is).

[stopintime]

There's always a chance you'll repeat, but drilling is also your best chance to avoid it.

You'll be fine  Good luck!

[Biddy]

Just a thought and something i have learned from riding courses, when performing a slow turn you want to limit the movement in your wrist as you found out, i set my speed and drop my wrist down, like in a push up position keeping the throttle in my fingers, this limits the amount of range you can twist the throttle, when the bars are turned or when moving slowly on a slippery or lose surface i drag the rear brake to control the speed and counter balance with my body position, i also make sure i dont cover the front brake, because you natural reaction will be to grab a hand full of brake if things start to go wrong and you get a jack knife type effect with the bars and frame.

so remember - uncover the front brake, set the throttle and drop the wrist, counter balance and drag the rear brake if need be

seems to work for me

all the best and keep practicing

JB 

[Le Pirate]

If you don't mind: exactly how tall are you?

I know I've always felt like the riding position on a (stock handle bar) monster is more of a standard motorcycle with a slight forward lean, then a full on sport bike. I'll occasionally slide my butt back and tuck down if I'm running at high speeds, but I'm usually upright.

You may try sliding your butt forward as far as is comfortable (knees right up on the sides of the tank). As someone else said, monsters like being ridden like this; puts good weight forward. Also, if you do that and you are still reaching (feel like you're too far from the bars), you can loosen them up and rotate the bars back towards you a little. Just make sure you tighten them back down 

If you can't find a comfortable position yourself, you may want to take it into a good dealer, and have them adjust the bike to you. Whatever the case, if you don't feel comfortable riding it, don't head out on the road. Get it all sorted before you go out. Don't want to be worried about reaching the clutch or something while watching for soccer moms, talking on their phones, to pull out infront of you at the local starbucks* 

*this is the cause of the current dent in my tank. Grabbed the brakes too hard on a damp road when a mini van pulled out into the lane that I was currently occupying.

Stay safe! And remember, tank dents add character!

[dk1six]

I second the tank pads suggestion, if you don't already have them by now.  They've always made a big difference for me in getting my lower body position good and allow for more focus with what's going on up at the bars.  Get the balls of your feet on the pegs in conjunction with your knees locked onto tank pads and have your body slightly forward.  I have a bad habit of keeping the front brake covered too but I also use the rear brake, the front brake habit was something I could never shake from back when I took the MSF course.  You should try to have your speed set for the most part though entering the turn and then roll on slightly or to what's comfortable as you exit.

[Nomad]

I thought you were SUPPOSED to increase throttle as you go through a turn... what am I missing?

[dk1six]

I set my speed going into the turn with a slight throttle increase through it for stability and then increase speed on exiting, that's what I do. 

[Twizted]

I always cover my rear brake when making slow turns that require turning the bars. I am less likely to grab a fist full of front then.

[George S]

not sure how to critique your riding style, but I will offer this: If you haven't done so already, INVEST IN FRAME SLIDERS!!! They are absolutely worth their weight in gold. I low-sided a bike at Chuckwalla and my left slider took the brunt of the damage. That $50 slider EASILY saved me a couple thousand dollars in damages.

[Preisker]

Check this out.  I'm not bagging on you or anything else.   It isn't the bike.   It's you.   Practice more.   I've got an S4, down a bit on power to your R, but I ride it like a dirt bike.  Elbows up.  Not way up in the air, but not down against your side.   Lots of clutch slippage.  If I'm creeping around a parking lot, making u-turns,  any slow manuevers, I slip the clutch a lot.   They can take it.   Then the bike doesn't lurch forward, it's smoother and more predictable, easier to turn. 

Do you know any racer guys?   If you do, go riding with them.   Watch how they ride.  Most of the racer guys I know don't haul banana's on the street, but they ride very well, very controlled, but course, some of them haul the mail too.   And I've generally found them to be an open, helpful bunch with newer riders.

PS, don't try to keep up with them, they'll lead you into some serious poop if you are trying to freight train with them.   
'

Again, practice, practice, practice.