Out of my way! Novice motorcycle rider here!
I got my bike!!!
I would say pardon the way my garage looks, but considering I spent a while cleaning it up to have room for the bike and the car (haven't tried fitting both yet), look all you want. It's worlds better than what it looked like a few days ago.
I ditched work Wednesday at lunch and had my friend Tina drive me over to the dealership. None of the riding gear I had ordered had arrived yet (boo!), so I had to borrow a helmet from the dealership, threw on some jeans, boots, and an old leather jacket I acquired from my sister years ago (traded her an electronic piano keyboard for it :). I'll post pics of me decked out in gear once I get it all (hint - my helmet is red too :).
I was SUPER nervous thinking about driving it home since in the motorcycle safety course we had only gone at max 20mph, and it was in a parking lot with no worry of traffic or other cars and what they might do. I spent about a minute getting a feel for the bike on a side street next to the dealership, and then off we went! The route home was thankfully pretty easy (all right hand turns), and for the most part I had little problem stop/starting at lights or being fearful driving 40-45mph. I kept looking down at the speedometer and thinking "Really? I am only going 35mph on a stretch of road I normally do 50mph in my car and I still feel like I'm going too fast".
It was only when I reached the last major intersection with a traffic light that I faltered. I was in a right-turn ramp, but instead of just keeping speed in my car and picking a spot to merge in, I slowed to a stop on the bike. I was a bit fearful trying to merge onto that other road where drivers (like me!) speed. When I finally decided it was clear enough, I managed to stall the bike three times because I was soo nervous trying to going quick. Reaching home, Tina's only comment to me was "Boy, you need more practice". I couldn't argue with her.
I have been out on the bike twice more (once after lunch yesterday, and once today after work). I still have a lot of problems feeling comfortable puttering around on the bike at low speed, and smoothly transitioning up and down the gears. I think the only thing that will solve both issues is practice, practice, practice. I am trying to decide whether I should stick close to home for a while longer or throw myself off the deep end and drive wherever I was planning on going anyway (like to see a movie tomorrow if anything good is opening).
Oh, and on my way home from the dealership Tina snapped a picture of
. I was amused.
I would say pardon the way my garage looks, but considering I spent a while cleaning it up to have room for the bike and the car (haven't tried fitting both yet), look all you want. It's worlds better than what it looked like a few days ago.
I ditched work Wednesday at lunch and had my friend Tina drive me over to the dealership. None of the riding gear I had ordered had arrived yet (boo!), so I had to borrow a helmet from the dealership, threw on some jeans, boots, and an old leather jacket I acquired from my sister years ago (traded her an electronic piano keyboard for it :). I'll post pics of me decked out in gear once I get it all (hint - my helmet is red too :).
I was SUPER nervous thinking about driving it home since in the motorcycle safety course we had only gone at max 20mph, and it was in a parking lot with no worry of traffic or other cars and what they might do. I spent about a minute getting a feel for the bike on a side street next to the dealership, and then off we went! The route home was thankfully pretty easy (all right hand turns), and for the most part I had little problem stop/starting at lights or being fearful driving 40-45mph. I kept looking down at the speedometer and thinking "Really? I am only going 35mph on a stretch of road I normally do 50mph in my car and I still feel like I'm going too fast".
It was only when I reached the last major intersection with a traffic light that I faltered. I was in a right-turn ramp, but instead of just keeping speed in my car and picking a spot to merge in, I slowed to a stop on the bike. I was a bit fearful trying to merge onto that other road where drivers (like me!) speed. When I finally decided it was clear enough, I managed to stall the bike three times because I was soo nervous trying to going quick. Reaching home, Tina's only comment to me was "Boy, you need more practice". I couldn't argue with her.
I have been out on the bike twice more (once after lunch yesterday, and once today after work). I still have a lot of problems feeling comfortable puttering around on the bike at low speed, and smoothly transitioning up and down the gears. I think the only thing that will solve both issues is practice, practice, practice. I am trying to decide whether I should stick close to home for a while longer or throw myself off the deep end and drive wherever I was planning on going anyway (like to see a movie tomorrow if anything good is opening).
Oh, and on my way home from the dealership Tina snapped a picture of
. I was amused.