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Post by hopingforachange on Aug 7, 2017 8:49:59 GMT -5
Wait until you do your first perfect clutchless upshift. The perfect timing if rolling of the throttle, at the right speed & rpms, preloading the shifter feeling it change and pulling at just the right moment.
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Post by WindSister on Aug 7, 2017 8:57:33 GMT -5
Wait until you do your first perfect clutchless upshift. The perfect timing if rolling of the throttle, at the right speed & rpms, preloading the shifter feeling it change and pulling at just the right moment. Clutchless? I read briefly about that one, seems scary! Im just ecstatic when i dont slow way down in the process or make horrid jerking motions! lol |
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Post by WindSister on Aug 14, 2017 9:50:33 GMT -5
While the rest of the world was going to hell in a handbasket, I was just happily scooting around in a parking lot earning my Motorcycle Endorsement. It won't save the world, but it makes me happy and happy people are peaceful people. Angry, trigger-reacting people suck. More people should do things that make them happy. Anyway-- I PASSED!!!!! Woohoo!!! I am horrible at "being evaluated." I did great during the drills/practice all weekend but then "THe Celebration of Skills" (evaluation) started and my palms got sweaty, my heart started racing, and I almost just failed right out of the shoot! But, I pulled it together and passed. I got 9 infractions (21 is failing), so it wasn't earth-shattering great, but the instructors told me that "technical skills aside," they feel I am a safe rider and have no qualms sending me out on the streets. That made me feel good. So, I went over the line a couple times in the tight- double u-turn box, but that's a not a life-saving skill to make a tight uturn. You can always power-walk in that situation. I was able to start, go, corner safely.  It was a FUN class. One person failed, but it didn't surprise me, she was always putt-putting along and actually holding us all up in the drills/practice. I am glad I was not "that person." She said early Sunday that she knew she was going to fail. I reminded her to "look where she wanted to go" and she looked at me and said, "huh?" She just didn't get any of it. lol I feel bad for her, but yeah, if you go into something thinking you are going to fail, GUESS WHAT??? Her prophecy was fulfilled. I hope she does better on the one re-test she gets in two weeks. She was also really negative because all of us in the class have our own bikes to go home to, but she doesn't. I heard from her several times, "I hate being a single mom." Like, what do you say to that? Sorry?? Sorry! Shrugs... Oh well....... (eta: not to be cold, I did look up motorcycles for her and we found one that everyone said would work in a price range she said she could pull off, but then she said she wanted "new" so she will wait till she can get new, so I was trying to give her hope all weekend but she always had an excuse not to be hopeful). My husband is a saint. He didn't have much to do in the small town we were in four hours from home, so he hung out in the parking lot after checking out the one motorcycle shop in town. I love him. I love him SO MUCH. He spent his whole damn weekend in a parking lot for me. So, now I am street legal and ready to keep practicing!! I won't update here anymore, just had to close out with actually earning my Motorcycle Endorsement. If you have dreams, GO FOR THEM!!! It feels great to accomplish! Pictures to follow... blurry, obscure pictures that is... lol LOVE this man: 
They said to "look mean"--- I failed that one. lol Also, Motorcycle Hair Don't Care.  
Sheer concentration in the Double U-Turn Box.  |
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Post by worksforme2 on Aug 14, 2017 16:39:05 GMT -5
That scooter looks good on you. I just sold my 2011 Sportster Custom 1200. I sold it to a woman. Interesting that the Harley Switchback I am riding now was purchased from a woman. More and more women are throwing their leg across a 2 wheeler. Way different from back in '72 when I bought my 1st Sportster. Ride safe and watch for me. I'll be the guy on the red switchback.
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Post by hopingforachange on Aug 14, 2017 19:04:55 GMT -5
When I took the final exam, my bike broke, something happened to the clutch. Do they gave me the old beater bike. Well, the darn thing couldn't idle to save it's Life, so I had to keep the throttle cracked sightly. In the figure 8 turn box, I had the Fing thing die on me, I got it to restart, with the throttle fully open, lighting the old hard rubber up, some how keeping it from falling.
The instructed flagged me down, I thought I failed but he asked what the hell am I doing here.
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Post by WindSister on Aug 14, 2017 22:08:31 GMT -5
That scooter looks good on you. I just sold my 2011 Sportster Custom 1200. I sold it to a woman. Interesting that the Harley Switchback I am riding now was purchased from a woman. More and more women are throwing their leg across a 2 wheeler. Way different from back in '72 when I bought my 1st Sportster. Ride safe and watch for me. I'll be the guy on the red switchback. That's not my bike, it was the class bike. I have a Kawasaki Vulcan 500. So a little bigger anyway. I can tell I'll want to upgrade eventually. My bike in the class was a red eliminator . I think just a 125? Cute little thing named Leo. LOL It was a fun group. All women until the one guy showed up. It's definitely not just a boy's club anymore. 😎 You ride safe too and have fun! |
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Post by WindSister on Aug 14, 2017 22:10:43 GMT -5
When I took the final exam, my bike broke, something happened to the clutch. Do they gave me the old beater bike. Well, the darn thing couldn't idle to save it's Life, so I had to keep the throttle cracked sightly. In the figure 8 turn box, I had the Fing thing die on me, I got it to restart, with the throttle fully open, lighting the old hard rubber up, some how keeping it from falling. The instructed flagged me down, I thought I failed but he asked what the hell am I doing here. ha, great story. Sounds like you already had the skills. |
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Post by hopingforachange on Aug 15, 2017 6:57:57 GMT -5
When I took the final exam, my bike broke, something happened to the clutch. Do they gave me the old beater bike. Well, the darn thing couldn't idle to save it's Life, so I had to keep the throttle cracked sightly. In the figure 8 turn box, I had the Fing thing die on me, I got it to restart, with the throttle fully open, lighting the old hard rubber up, some how keeping it from falling. The instructed flagged me down, I thought I failed but he asked what the hell am I doing here. ha, great story. Sounds like you already had the skills. I have ridden dirt bikes some (shhhh don't tell my mom) and it didn't light it up on purpose, the rubber was so old and hard it slid instead of gripping. Which reminds me, check the date stamp on your tires and make sure they are not to old. I still remember the first day of class saying, I don't want to hear the box is to small because I am going to do it on my goldwing before you'll do it on the tiny bikes. |
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Post by WindSister on Aug 15, 2017 8:44:53 GMT -5
ha, great story. Sounds like you already had the skills. I have ridden dirt bikes some (shhhh don't tell my mom) and it didn't light it up on purpose, the rubber was so old and hard it slid instead of gripping. Which reminds me, check the date stamp on your tires and make sure they are not to old. I still remember the first day of class saying, I don't want to hear the box is to small because I am going to do it on my goldwing before you'll do it on the tiny bikes. My brother told me I need to get on a dirt bike first. He grew up on two wheels from age 3 with those little mini dirt bikes and progressed from there. I told him even if I got on a dirt bike at this age, I wouldn't be tearing it up.... I would be granny style, afraid of falling. I do not want to fall. Period. I will not super-test my limits. Getting on my bike last night felt good. It's a little more hearty and I like the rev more than that little bike in class. But it has this rattle when I go over bumps and I can't figure out where it's coming from. I will check the tire for the date. (thanks) I actually want to get it into the mechanic to do a once over and tell me if he can find the rattle. Makes it sound cheap. Hate it. lol But last night we had lots and lots of curvy roads, farmers doing erratic things, a broken down semi in an entire lane ON A HILL where you couldn't see on-coming traffic!!!!, and gravel... I love the country, hate the gravel that gets on the road from the still-existing dirt roads. My town is all tore up on the main street so I can't even get out without tackling pure dirt road and a huge bump from the tore up road to the still intact road. I plan on trying to bike to work THursday morning so will have to attempt it. After I get past our downtown, the rest of the trek to work is super awesome and light traffic until I get into town, but if I go at the right time, it should be light. At least it's a straight shot. I am nervous, but want to challenge myself. It will be my first solo ride. That damn box IS too small and yes, our instructor did it on his huge harley and stayed in the lines. lol He was really leaned over, counter-weighting. I learned keeping it in second and using the clutch for speed control was easier than using the throttle. That's the only way I didn't totally botch it. They told us it was worse to put our feet down than cross a line, so I aimed for just keeping my feet up and ignored the lines. |
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Post by hopingforachange on Aug 15, 2017 9:23:16 GMT -5
Yep, for the low speed stuff, keeping the RPMs the same and slipping the clutch is easier and smoother then using just the throttle. I also find it easier to slightly drag the rear brake when doing the low speed stuff and stand up slightly on the pegs.
In a few months or next spring, see if they have an intermediate rider course to help dust your skills off or to help you relearn what you were to nervious to retain from the first course.
When I took the BRC, the only person that failed was a guy and he couldn't keep the bike balanced, and he wanted to use the cruiser style boke instead of the standard peg position bike.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2017 17:14:25 GMT -5
WindSister, you are living my dream. I once said that when I got out, I'd get my own bike and ride off into the sunset. So freaking cool. Chicks on bikes. As it stands, I've fallen in love with horses, so I'll probably end up galloping off into the sunset instead. That'll work too! You go girl.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2017 21:21:53 GMT -5
Wait until you do your first perfect clutchless upshift. The perfect timing if rolling of the throttle, at the right speed & rpms, preloading the shifter feeling it change and pulling at just the right moment. Clutchless? I read briefly about that one, seems scary! Im just ecstatic when i dont slow way down in the process or make horrid jerking motions! lol My kids and I ride dirt bikes. My daughter NEVER uses a clutch except when starting and stopping. She's hard on bikes. Most motorcycle transmissions are made to shift without the clutch, and even under power. |
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Post by skguy on Aug 16, 2017 19:40:40 GMT -5
Is it a mid-life crisis thing to want to get your motorcycle license in your 40s? Maybe, but I don't care what it's labeled, I am excited!! I have been talking about doing this for the past 4 years. Yesterday my husband and I went for a great 220 mile trek on his bike. It was just one of those perfect days - clear blue sky, fresh air. The route we took had VERY LITTLE for traffic, avoided all freeways. We just kept going and going. It was honestly the BEST 4th of July I ever experienced and we didn't do one thing that was "Fourth of July"-ish. Infact, every restaurant/bar we stopped at along the way was dead. (we don't drink booze while on the bike, FYI, soda only). But hitting the open road like that? So loved it. Anyway, my co-worker is selling her bike and I mentioned it to my husband yesterday at a rest stop because we mentioned we would do this a lot more if I also had my own bike. That's all it took -- now, BAM, we are making this happen! I have to go through the course and such, but I am excited and I think I can do it. I really do. I drove some interesting and challenging rigs in the Army, I think I can handle the whole downshifting, upshifting thing. I didn't expect to get a Harley, but that's where we are headed.... This isn't the exact bike, but it's the year, make, model and color 2006 Harley Sportster 883 Low. I can't wait to start the course!! Just had to share. Never stop trying new things. Life begins at the end of your comfort zone!! (yes, I am a little nervous, but will rock this!)  best image hosting freeThat's awesome. I'd love to start riding. I'd kill for a road trip of any kind. Have fun. |
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Post by WindSister on Aug 23, 2017 10:08:52 GMT -5
WindSister , you are living my dream. I once said that when I got out, I'd get my own bike and ride off into the sunset. So freaking cool. Chicks on bikes. As it stands, I've fallen in love with horses, so I'll probably end up galloping off into the sunset instead. That'll work too! You go girl. Thanks. Horses are cool, too - I just don't think I could keep one alive. lol I hope you do get a chance to try riding a motorcycle, though -- I want to say go for it! It's awesome. It is SO AWESOME, but I can't quite explain it. Since I am still new, as I am riding I am just concentrating on the ride: you know, watching out for potholes, gravel (damn, country roads are GRAVELY), bracing myself for the wind gusts that come from semi trucks passing by, maneuvering curves, watching out for deer, watching out for cars that want to pull out in front of you or stop suddenly in front of you (WHY must they do that), along with clutching, shifting, braking. So it's a lot TO DO. But then we finish the ride and pull into our drive way, park the bikes in the garage and that's when I suddenly feel cool as shit. I do. I admit it! I get off that bike with more attitude than when I got on it -- accomplished, exhilarated, and yeah, with a certain strut. lol It's like I just spent the last 2 hours having great sex -- it's actually damn close! (um, and gotta add that riding together as a couple is actually really really really good for the sex life, too). Because my mind was so INTO the ride, I didn't think of anything else. My mind was so INTO the wind, sun, fresh air, sound of wind, sound of the bike itself (something that I love more than anything now) that nothing else could get in. So then you get off it and it's like WHOOSH............ that was AWESOME! *I* did that. *I* ride that bike! So to any woman I do say go for it. Learn correctly, pick the right sized bike. I think I need to upgrade already, but will have to have this one for at least two years. I think I need more rumble in my motor, but I am glad I started at the 500. (not 250, I think that would have been too small and I am glad my husband knew that). Anyway.. yes, go for it -- ANYONE who is thinking about it. It's great. |
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Post by baza on Aug 24, 2017 0:02:56 GMT -5
Three words Sister WindSister After Market Pipes. My arguement for this is that motorists, many of whom are blind, need an aural clue to know you are about. So a loud tuneful and horny note is imperative as a safety measure !! In my jurisdiction the local constabulary and EPA officers do not subscribe to my theory unfortunately, and have a tendency to issue infraction warnings and the odd fine. These officers seem to think my motive is not *safety* at all and is more to do with me being a smart arse, which of course is completely untrue. Well, fairly untrue. Ok Ok - somewhat accurate. But, when you are going through a cutting with the echo effect on either side, and the bike whispering to you "open the taps baz, go on, crank it on" how can one resist ?? |
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