I need helpful advice, not post-facto criticism, please

[Johnj]

We don't know what the OP did. Most of the time we hear back but sometimes we never hear anything.

[sunshine229]

I don't know how I missed this thread but I just read through the whole thing and wanted to say I am really impressed with all the wonderful advice you all provided. What a great community we have!

[hosiecow]

Whoa. I didn't realize that people took my silence to mean that *something* had happened. Thanks for all of the helpful advice and the chastising for being an idiot.

I appreciate the advice and took some of it. Like I mentioned earlier, in my first post, I had some friends do some research for me when I was overseas and help me pick out the bike. I had an Army friend ride it home for me - he has a similar sports bike and let me know how easy the clutch let out, how well it shifted, etc. I rode it around my apartment complex for a little while, then took it out into the country to get used to it. I laid it on it's side once at a stop sign (I was stopped) because I wasn't ready for the weight. Since then I have been accident-free.

I've put 3,000 miles on it and have yet to do anything that's scared me. I do happen to be constantly amused when someone on a sports bike or cruiser pulls up next to me at a stop light and tries to race me off the line - the rev it up and speed off while I do what I always do: ride it like a 65-year-old woman. My only problem now is finding someone who will ride with me - I never, ever race and people who don't ride sport bikes apparently don't want to be seen with someone who does.

[Gummiente]

Glad to hear all is well and thanks for stopping by to let us know! This time, hang around and let us get to know you better, ok?

BTW, with your attitude towards responsible riding... heck, I'll ride with you any day.

[Brackstone]

My only problem now is finding someone who will ride with me - I never, ever race and people who don't ride sport bikes apparently don't want to be seen with someone who does.

Welcome to my world.

When I had my Ninja 250 I was welcomed in to a riding group and when I upgraded to my Shiver 750 they never talked to me again :\

[Grey Thumper]

When I had my Ninja 250 I was welcomed in to a riding group and when I upgraded to my Shiver 750 they never talked to me again :\

Eh? Why? That's arguably the most gorgeous mid-weight standard being sold right now (well, there's also the Brutale 750, but I digress . . .)



To the OP . . .

Glad you're okay, had someone deliver the bike home, and have been enjoying it ever since. You must have the discipline of a monk.

Oh wait . . . you're a soldier. No wonder.

[vagov]

just take your time with it, you be alright . pratice clutch control in a parking lot or sidestreet. then venture out to secondary streets. im new to riding also, i spend a few months on backroads just starting to hit highways now, but still alittle leary about it, i just stay in the right lane, travel at speeds that i feel comfortable with. if the a**holes behind me get mad, they eventually pass me, or i pull over. either way i dont let them bother me... name calling not going to kill me. i wish you well, and the more you ride, the btter you will get. just remember the msp skills and time will hone your abilitys....

[dirt dobber]

well let me add my 2 cents. i started out on a so.korean xpeed 250, had them deliver it, learn to ride in yard & around house before i hit the street. oh, i'm 75 been riding now 3 yrs. then i traded for a yamaha tmax 500, i rode it home throu b'ham, al. (90) miles. 2 yrs. later, just now i traded for a Harley Davison sportster XL1200 custom, had them deliver it to a big vacant parking lot, practiced before i rode it home (small town) about 15000.
i got 600 miles on it. i'm learning about start off's especiality on hill, it woun't go with the brake on. ha.
what i'm saying i had to learn all over again each time. fall over, out of the 3 was the tmax, i was higher up. i got to get use to a straight shift beeing use to a automatic.
riding buddys, i belong to SOUTHERN CRUISER RIDING CLUB 2 yrs. now, they welcome all bikes & world wide.
longest ride so far about 250 miles. got some longer planded. (we-end). check'em out.

[sunshine229]

Whoa. I didn't realize that people took my silence to mean that *something* had happened. Thanks for all of the helpful advice and the chastising for being an idiot.

Yeah... it sounds to me like a few have jumped to conclusions around here... it gets a bit annoying when you have people drop in for one or two posts as a beginner, get all kinds of feedback / advice / help and then never return. So I guess we're all a bit jaded... hahahaha

Glad to hear you're doing well and I hope you'll come back a bit more often!

Cheers,
Andrea

[agraebner]

First off let me compliment your attitude towards riding. I wish I could see 1/2 of the riders around here riding in a smarter manner. I wont race and as a general rule I wont speed by more than 8-9 mph and I follow the speed limit exactly in town. For these reasons I have had what started out as a group ride ending in my going my own way. What tickles my funny bone is the people that are the worst don't learn anything. Each one of them has repeatedly totaled their bikes major injuries and the like and still ride the same way. One of them finally Isn't riding anymore because his last wreck left his bike at the bottom of a river. He just tells me that bikes are just killers. I wish I has the resources this site puts at everyone fingertips when I started. I get a lot of mouth from people when I have bought and fixed up a bike here or there because I wont just sell it to someone That has Idea what they are doing. I have had hate-mail on Craigslist and a few other local classifieds for it. I have two nephews one that I started teaching to ride 4 yrs ago. (on dirt bikes) The first time he rode he had no fear. The second time he rode he had no fear and tried his own way. The third time he rode he was riding very carefully and although very sore and bruised and had to replace a radiator and a lever. To this day I have seen nothing but respect for whatever hes riding. He is now learning to ride my street bikes And I am confident he will do great. The other nephew is the other crowd. He doesnt ride anything of mine anymore. Of all his wrecks he never been at fault for any of them, you know it was the tires or the brakes....... I guess the point of that is since I couldn't find a riding buddy I enlisted one to the sport and with the great knowledge that hes read on here( as reinforcement of what I already told him) I will have one for a long time.