heh heh,
no, I'm still alive.
Took possession of the bike on Friday and resisted the urge to take it for a spin. Had it trailered to the HD dealership for a once over and alarm install.
Going back Friday and drive it to my friend's house. My (modified) plan is to take the course and after each day take my bike to a parking lot to practice everything for another hour or two.
Monday morning, I'll do some more parking lot practice, and then take the bike out of town. I'm planning a mental break about half hour away to get any jitters out, and give my mind and body a break. Then I'll continue with the hour and a half home.
I didn't want to fill my own post with my own replies - but thought I'd say hey - and the big ride is a week today. I'm loving the advice (like the after course parking lot practice, and the whole concept that the big ride will be mentally taxing too).
thanks to all the replies and good wishes.
p.s. the bike looks as nice as I'd thought, and the dealership called today and said they'd looked at it on the weekend cause they had a cancelled appt (they weren't supposed to get to it til Wed) and there are no surprises ... bike's in awesome shape. whoo hooo!!!!
First ride to bring my new (big) bike home ... advice?
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scbanjoman
- Rookie
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Thu Jul 09, 2009 5:32 am
- Sex: Male
- Location: south carolina
i just bought my new bike from a dealer which is 30 miles away,and you have to go on busy interstate,i swallowed my pride and asked an experienced friend to ride mine home,now if i ride 30 miles at a time im give out,i think you have to work your way up to long distances and thats a long ways even for a pro,not saying that your not in shape for it,but it would be wise to get someone else to ride it in for you,i hope that you have many years of riding pleasure
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blues2cruise
- Moderator
- Posts: 10182
- Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2005 4:28 pm
- Sex: Female
- Years Riding: 16
- My Motorcycle: 2000 Yamaha V-Star 1100
- Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
It take a big person to admit they are not up to something. Kudos to you for not takng a chance and letting your friend get the bike home safely therefore you getting home safely.scbanjoman wrote:i just bought my new bike from a dealer which is 30 miles away,and you have to go on busy interstate,i swallowed my pride and asked an experienced friend to ride mine home,now if i ride 30 miles at a time im give out,i think you have to work your way up to long distances and thats a long ways even for a pro,not saying that your not in shape for it,but it would be wise to get someone else to ride it in for you,i hope that you have many years of riding pleasure
I read your other post.....about a reason to live again......I'm glad to hear you found something to spark you out of the house.
My two cents
I bought my bike a month or so after the MSF course. I ended up having two choices home. I could take the H3 through the tunnel and go about 15 miles, or go around Diamond Head and do 40. I chickened out on the freeway and went around. It was helpful to have my wife in the car behind me. It was pretty tired at the end, but it wasn't so bad because I went slow and had the follow car. Take some precautions and remember that it can be fun when it slow too.
Jesus died for you. Will you accept that?
2008 Diamondback Response (mountain bike)
2003 Yamaha V-Star 650
2008 Diamondback Response (mountain bike)
2003 Yamaha V-Star 650
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Rogero
- Regular
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:27 am
- Sex: Male
- My Motorcycle: 03/Harley/Deuce
- Location: Ottawa
90 miles today - I made it!
Short story: OMG that's fun!!
Medium story: Dropped my bike Friday learning how much I did,t know and how much power is behind that throttle!
Had a fantastic course weekend with some practice on my bike.
This morning drove through - city streets, 65 mph on straight roads, 20-40 mph on some really winding roads, drove over metal grating, gravel, water and a snake, drove past a deer, a flock of wild turkeys, some really fast trucks, hit with strong winds, dirt bugs, rain and a splash of mud across the mouth. All great learnings and most were total fun
Long story: probably would bore everyone. I dropped the bike cause I reali2d to practice after the course days I needed the bike to get from the hd dealership to his house. Decided I could manage the 2kms across really quiet streets. Pulling out of the parking lot turning left I was going a bit slow. Gave wayyy too much throttle which took me out of the turn a bit - high speed towards the ditch. Pounded the brakes and pulled the clutch - but also lost my balance and pulled the bike down onto myself. VERY lucky. Zero bike damage cause it landed on my ankle and it's back tire. Hurt a bit but all is good.
Thw two and a bit hours WERE very tiring even though I stopped halfway to strerch my legs and have a break.
Anyway - thanks for all the positive words, pointers, etc. Helped me get my bike back here safely.
Hope to learn a lot more here by reading while I keep learning on the road by riding
Thx again,
Rogero
Short story: OMG that's fun!!
Medium story: Dropped my bike Friday learning how much I did,t know and how much power is behind that throttle!
Had a fantastic course weekend with some practice on my bike.
This morning drove through - city streets, 65 mph on straight roads, 20-40 mph on some really winding roads, drove over metal grating, gravel, water and a snake, drove past a deer, a flock of wild turkeys, some really fast trucks, hit with strong winds, dirt bugs, rain and a splash of mud across the mouth. All great learnings and most were total fun
Long story: probably would bore everyone. I dropped the bike cause I reali2d to practice after the course days I needed the bike to get from the hd dealership to his house. Decided I could manage the 2kms across really quiet streets. Pulling out of the parking lot turning left I was going a bit slow. Gave wayyy too much throttle which took me out of the turn a bit - high speed towards the ditch. Pounded the brakes and pulled the clutch - but also lost my balance and pulled the bike down onto myself. VERY lucky. Zero bike damage cause it landed on my ankle and it's back tire. Hurt a bit but all is good.
Thw two and a bit hours WERE very tiring even though I stopped halfway to strerch my legs and have a break.
Anyway - thanks for all the positive words, pointers, etc. Helped me get my bike back here safely.
Hope to learn a lot more here by reading while I keep learning on the road by riding
Thx again,
Rogero
____________________
2003 Softail Deuce
Started riding July 15, 2009
2003 Softail Deuce
Started riding July 15, 2009
Sorry you dropped your bike but I'm glad you were able to stop it from really being something terrible. Hope your foot is ok. You got balls for riding that trip back to your house. Hats off to you. Keep practicing slow speed maneuvers. You're probably going to need to get your counterbalancing down to do some close maneuvering but you'll get it. I'm still working at it on the vrod and I have two years of riding experience under my belt so don't feel bad when you have trouble with it.
2008 HD VRSC-DX Night Rod Special
2008 Buell 1125R
2008 Buell 1125R
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Rogero
- Regular
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:27 am
- Sex: Male
- My Motorcycle: 03/Harley/Deuce
- Location: Ottawa
The long story might take forever once u got me going - I really had a great time ... But a couple of other highlights you might find funny.
While on the windy part (first 40 mins and still a bit nervous) is when I first rounded a corner to be in a family of wild turkeys ... A mom and 6 young I think. Didn't have time to think - just followed the road and braced. Luckily they all flew AWAY from me. Goes to show that it's true - you never know what's around the corner.
Later - still winding, I cam upon a snake. I almost swerved but Bill the instructor's voice came to my head - Never swerve for anything smaller than a raccoon. So ...SQUISH ... the world lost a snake (my first ROADKILL!)
Next - when I got onto the busier hwy part. I passed my first other bikers. A couple of gnarly old dudes on cruisers similar to mine. Did the typical low wave and thought two things - this is awesome that I'm now part of this community and also that letting go of one handlebar at 60mph is WAY harder (and I'll be honest, Scarier) than I would have thought.
And finally one memory that will stay with me .... I wanted to stop after the first hour. Both jsut to be prudent and needed to call into work mid morning to straighten things out. Most places to stop were on the left hand side and I didn't want to have to slow/stop and cross hwy traffic so kept cruising.
Came across the Lombardy county fair grounds on my right - pullled in, went deep down the drive and got off my bike, took my equipment off and made my call.
I was just about to get back to my stuff when a little squirt (maybe 5 year old) comes up the long lane in the smallest dirt bike I've ever seen. He wheels in pretty quick for the size and skids to a stop beside my bike. Gives a nod and then spins a turn spitting some gravel and zooms away. It was wayyyyy to funny to have that bonding moment with another (ityy bitty) rider. When I did roll out I passed the little guy, his dad and his older brother who was getting his bike off the trailer. I gave them a wave and a cluth in throttle roar that put a huge smile on the boys' face.
As I pulled into my neighbourhood, I was a little nervous driving where people who know me might see me - imagine wrecking into your neighbours car - but then told myself to focus and be safe, or get off the road
Passed my daughter's friend's house. Her mom totally didn't recognize me, but her kid did, and it was a great cap off to the ride when she yelled out "nice motorcycle Roger!"
Took another 10 mile ride last night. I'm going for a quick one tonight after work to show a couple of buddies the bike and Wed a couple of friends are taking me on a 15-20 mile tour ... slow and steady.
Then I'm on vacation for 10 days without the bike ... and I think I'll already miss it. Why did't I do this years ago. Oh, listen to me gush. But you guys know what I'm talking about, right?
Later .... Safe and happy riding.
While on the windy part (first 40 mins and still a bit nervous) is when I first rounded a corner to be in a family of wild turkeys ... A mom and 6 young I think. Didn't have time to think - just followed the road and braced. Luckily they all flew AWAY from me. Goes to show that it's true - you never know what's around the corner.
Later - still winding, I cam upon a snake. I almost swerved but Bill the instructor's voice came to my head - Never swerve for anything smaller than a raccoon. So ...SQUISH ... the world lost a snake (my first ROADKILL!)
Next - when I got onto the busier hwy part. I passed my first other bikers. A couple of gnarly old dudes on cruisers similar to mine. Did the typical low wave and thought two things - this is awesome that I'm now part of this community and also that letting go of one handlebar at 60mph is WAY harder (and I'll be honest, Scarier) than I would have thought.
And finally one memory that will stay with me .... I wanted to stop after the first hour. Both jsut to be prudent and needed to call into work mid morning to straighten things out. Most places to stop were on the left hand side and I didn't want to have to slow/stop and cross hwy traffic so kept cruising.
Came across the Lombardy county fair grounds on my right - pullled in, went deep down the drive and got off my bike, took my equipment off and made my call.
I was just about to get back to my stuff when a little squirt (maybe 5 year old) comes up the long lane in the smallest dirt bike I've ever seen. He wheels in pretty quick for the size and skids to a stop beside my bike. Gives a nod and then spins a turn spitting some gravel and zooms away. It was wayyyyy to funny to have that bonding moment with another (ityy bitty) rider. When I did roll out I passed the little guy, his dad and his older brother who was getting his bike off the trailer. I gave them a wave and a cluth in throttle roar that put a huge smile on the boys' face.
As I pulled into my neighbourhood, I was a little nervous driving where people who know me might see me - imagine wrecking into your neighbours car - but then told myself to focus and be safe, or get off the road
Passed my daughter's friend's house. Her mom totally didn't recognize me, but her kid did, and it was a great cap off to the ride when she yelled out "nice motorcycle Roger!"
Took another 10 mile ride last night. I'm going for a quick one tonight after work to show a couple of buddies the bike and Wed a couple of friends are taking me on a 15-20 mile tour ... slow and steady.
Then I'm on vacation for 10 days without the bike ... and I think I'll already miss it. Why did't I do this years ago. Oh, listen to me gush. But you guys know what I'm talking about, right?
Later .... Safe and happy riding.
____________________
2003 Softail Deuce
Started riding July 15, 2009
2003 Softail Deuce
Started riding July 15, 2009