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Post by hopingforachange on Jul 7, 2017 9:05:05 GMT -5
Instead of taking the test does the local college offer the motorcycle safety course? In MD the course can be completed and the test is part of the course. The course is also completed on thier trainer bikes, and if you drop them, it is no big deal.
I bought a Buell Blast to learn on and I am still riding it.
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Post by WindSister on Jul 7, 2017 9:30:33 GMT -5
Instead of taking the test does the local college offer the motorcycle safety course? In MD the course can be completed and the test is part of the course. The course is also completed on thier trainer bikes, and if you drop them, it is no big deal. I bought a Buell Blast to learn on and I am still riding it. Yes, that's exactly what I am doing (the safety course), but first I need my permit and that's a written test. I do not want to drop a bike... ugh... excited to actually get on one and see how I do. As long as you love what you ride, that's all that matters! Everything about motorcycles is just awesome. I feel like I have new life breathed into me again. I think it's something that can keep things fresh and fun for many years to come. Hell, they even make trikes. I love seeing older people on those, not ready to give up the dream yet, makes me tear up, happy they are still out there doing it! Thanks for chiming in.   |
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Post by baza on Jul 7, 2017 23:34:20 GMT -5
In my jurisdiction, novice riders are actually limited as to the capacity bike they can ride for the first 3 years (its worked out on weight / horsepower) and for the first 12 months you can't carry a pillion passenger, zero alcohol and other stuff like that.
As a novice you get a learners permit only, and you can't go for your licence for 3 months after that.
Utilizing that 3 months to ride ride ride is good advice.
And, when it rains, gets windy, roads get slippery etc, that's the time to get out in it.
Lots of people seem to go for bikes like Yamaha Virago's as their "beginner". 250cc capacity gives you a reasonable balance between weight / power and there's enough grunt to keep up with the traffic mostly.
You'll have a ball.
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Post by WindSister on Jul 10, 2017 13:15:06 GMT -5
I am taking my permit test on THURSDAY! This is real.  I took a few practice permit tests even before reading the manual they give and aced it all five times. I guess I am not too worried about passing, but will still finish reading/studying the manual. Then it's time for the safety course (two days, 16 hours total). My husband is suggesting I take the same course he took in a town that's 4 hours away because it was a husband/wife team and they made the class FUN not scary. I asked him if anyone failed at the end of it and he said one woman did. UGH!!! I SO DO NOT WANT TO BE THAT WOMAN! I guess she was very skittish and kept putting her foot down, and actually ran the course way too slow. If they feel it would be unsafe to send you out on the road, they won't pass you and give you your endorsement. I just don't want to be that woman, so my stomach is in knots. After I get my permit we will take his bike to a parking lot and I will just practice going in a straight line using the clutch/gears. His is a bigger bike, though, so I won't do much more than that with it. (I can reach the ground easily, though). He even has a hard time if it wants to go down. I helped him once by counterbalancing like CRAZY when it was about to go down on a steep bank on a road when we were pulling into a driveway. I know that sucker is too much for me, but just going forward a in a line in 1st will even make me feel better for preparing for the course. I am typing a lot. That means I am nervous. lol And excited. I am just so happy that I have support from my husband. This has been in the back of mind since we met (since before we met, actually), but then I kinda dropped it. I let other priorities take it's place, but now I feel it's now or never and I want it to happen. We can have a finished basement when we are older and grayer, we aren't there yet and I would rather be out riding than sitting in a nice basement. I will miss the sauna, though -- money for the stove is going into a bike now. That's okay, though, eventually we will get things done down there. We don't buy birthday or anniversary gifts FOR each other, but, rather WITH each other (because we both suck at gift-giving and don't want to waste money, plus receiving gifts isn't something that is a love language or important to either of us). Anyway, this year's anniversary gift was going to be a nice art piece for a basement wall from a local artist on our anniversary trip, but instead we are making it riding gear (jacket, boots and rain gear). Honesty, that's freaking romantic to me! Shopping for that together will be fun. First the class, though... accessories later...... what if I suck??? ugh!! |
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Post by WindSister on Jul 12, 2017 13:25:26 GMT -5
This is the only forum I belong to right now. Maybe I should "blog" again because I feel the need to write. But until then, I will share my update here... I aced the online practice permit test 5/5 times so I am feeling pretty confident on that one. Excited for tomorrow and step one!! I am signed up for and paid for a safety course. I am taking the same one my husband took because he really liked it and it's a husband/wife team who keep the size of the class at 8 or below - it's very low-stress. I need that and heard my local courses are intense. I don't learn well under intense instructors and if I feel rushed, I will suck at it. The class will be August 12 and 13! I'll update when I pass and get my endorsement. |
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Post by WindSister on Jul 20, 2017 12:39:01 GMT -5
I joined Women Riders Now forum but it's a dead forum. Anyway, I did get my Motorcycle permit - it was actually a very easy test. It might be petty and stupid and in reality no one will actually care, but a part of me can't wait to ride up to the next big shindig with my husband's family to include the exes and o's and inlaws on our motorcycles. I don't know why. I just think it will be fun. Don't lecture me, let me have this one fun thing. |
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Post by jim44444 on Jul 23, 2017 16:59:49 GMT -5
The only type of bike worth having. No permits, no licence, no safety course, no insurance, no gas.  |
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Post by WindSister on Jul 23, 2017 17:08:16 GMT -5
The only type of bike worth having. No permits, no licence, no safety course, no insurance, no gas. I hear ya. I still love to peddle bike too. |
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Post by WindSister on Jul 23, 2017 17:23:51 GMT -5
I got a bike!!!! I love her. LOVE HER! 2007 Kawasaki Vulcan 500. Only 2,400 miles on it. She already humbled me in a big way, though. I was stupid enough to wear capris my first time. This was my first time ever operating a motorcycle. I was just going to practice moving forward and stopping. Getting it into gear. I wanted to see if I could even balance it. It was a quiet road at my step daughters house. Anyway, I got confident and went up the street a bit and turned around. Suddenly this car was right on my tail. I panicked a bit, accelerated instead of pull the clutch and brake and then wobbled, went off the road and sucked into the ditch, a grassy field. The bike fell, I burned the hell out of my calf on the pipe. I wasn't going fast at all but it still shook me. Phew!!! My husband came running to help me. I thought he'd be mad but he is so patient as a mentor. He blamed himself and said next time we are in a parking lot starting at the start. Like learning where everything is. I'm glad it happened, honestly. I feel like I will get it, eventually with practice, but that put me in my place and gave me a healthy respect for it. My husband rode it four hours to get it back home and he thinks it handles really easy and will be a good one for me. I will get on her again soon! I could already feel the awesomeness of it with what little I rode. But I will be all the gear, all the time kind of rider.  |
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Post by DryCreek on Jul 23, 2017 17:29:27 GMT -5
WindSister, congrats! And I see there's room for him to ride on the back. LOL!
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Post by WindSister on Jul 23, 2017 17:42:10 GMT -5
WindSister , congrats! And I see there's room for him to ride on the back. LOL! Ha. I do not see that happening. I cured the six year old grand daughter from ever wanting a ride, as well. Her mom thanked me for that. Lol. They were watching me. I told them this is our deep dark family secret. Tell no one. I was just joking though as I am brutally honest about things. Gotta earn those miles!!! |
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Post by WindSister on Jul 24, 2017 9:29:53 GMT -5
Got back on that iron horse and rode last night. We found a ghost town subdivision to practice in -- you know the ones that were "booming" before the crash? They had laid the roads and utilities and then the housing market crashed so no houses were actually built. Don't know if other states have those remnants? Kinda sad, but a GREAT place for a newbie rider!
I need to start a blog on this because of course I have deep thoughts as I learn this new skill.
1. I need to get back to doing yoga and meditation.
You can't be "jittery" on a bike. You can't be "panicked." You have to be able to react swiftly, but calculated. I think getting back to a little more mindfulness will be a good thing for me. And the yoga? Well, it will just help me be more graceful getting on and off... lol
I sure do love her, though- we will become great friends.
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Post by LITW on Jul 24, 2017 15:47:15 GMT -5
Congrats ... wishing you many happy miles!!
The more you ride, the better it will be. Once you learn how the bike reacts to different inputs, it will become instinctual, which will help your reaction times.
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Post by worksforme2 on Jul 24, 2017 15:57:13 GMT -5
The more you ride and practice the more comfortable and confident you will become, and the more comfortable and confident you are the better rider you will be.
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Post by hopingforachange on Jul 24, 2017 18:16:13 GMT -5
There are 2 types of riders, those that have gone down and those that will.
Everyone has at least a low speed spill.
My first happened during one of the warm days during winter, I went to accelerate from a 3 way intersection and crossed the sand/ salt lines, and couldn't get it going the right direction before going off in the wet grass.
Hurt my pride more then anything else.
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I took a few practice permit tests even before reading the manual they give and aced it all five times. I guess I am not too worried about passing, but will still finish reading/studying the manual. 
