Starting to Ride!

[zerocool]

Hi,

Ladies

Okay I'm not here to flirt Well maybe I am

Actually, I just want a womans perspective on riding I upgraded from riding a
http://store.scootertronics.com/primostrada.html

Which was a POS and kept breaking down:

Brakes kept squeaking
Kick Start Never Worked
Now It Does Not Even Start!

To a Kawasaki Z 440 LTD 1981
http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/kawasa ... d_1981.php

Anyway my ? is I love my dad and mom very much So I asked my dad if I could ride with him and he said sure. So hopefully we will go riding the weekend?

I'm very nervous though. My dad keeps telling me how difficult it can be to ride a motorcycle, how I may let it hit the ground, etc. This is not helping my self-confidence any! Does anyone have any tips that they used behind the handlebars when they started to ride?

I'm going to start riding Wed. and I very scared!!!

[sapaul]

Is a man's opinion any good to you?

[zerocool]

Is a man's opinion any good to you?

Well, it kinda bruised my ego However, I also know that from reading all the crap that you women have had to go through and how you women don't let bother them bother you. I probably should not also

That being said it does not help the feeling of being scared or putting the bike down or screwing up! You are so lucky to be able to take a class because we don't have any around here

Thanks for the reply and I'll do everything that you suggest about getting a feel for the bike first and riding it around in the parking lot!

Thanks

[Kaige]

Embrace the fear but don't let it own you. The fear will keep you from doing something incredibly stupid on the bike. Not letting that fear control you will get you out of a situation where someone else did something incredibly stupid.

Riding is dangerous. So is bungee jumping, sky diving, and bull riding. Wear the right gear and practice. If you dump the bike ..so be it. Better to dump a 24 year old Kawasaki than your brand new Ducati.

Don't stress too much though. It's supposed to be fun.

[sapaul]

Zero, my sincere apologies for crossed wires. You addressed your post to women and I am a man. My post was really addressed as permission for me to offer an opinion. However Kaige has it spot on. Fear is your biggest enemy, peer pressure is next and over confidence third

[zerocool]

Zero, my sincere apologies for crossed wires. You addressed your post to women and I am a man. My post was really addressed as permission for me to offer an opinion. However Kaige has it spot on. Fear is your biggest enemy, peer pressure is next and over confidence third

No problem, I welcome any and all advice! When you said:

Is a man's opinion any good to you?

I took it like should my dad's thoughts run me?

No matter which way you take it you both offered some great advice and insight Thanks for all you support. I really need it. I am from a military family so need I say more about the weight on my sholders!

I took my first ride around the block today. I defitely need more practice! The balance is part is easy but it is the shifting for me that is a royal b!@h! How many hours did it take you guys/girls to get the hang of shifting?

Thanks

[Kaige]

Zero, my sincere apologies for crossed wires. You addressed your post to women and I am a man. My post was really addressed as permission for me to offer an opinion. However Kaige has it spot on. Fear is your biggest enemy, peer pressure is next and over confidence third

No problem, I welcome any and all advice! When you said:

Is a man's opinion any good to you?

I took it like should my dad's thoughts run me?

No matter which way you take it you both offered some great advice and insight Thanks for all you support. I really need it. I am from a military family so need I say more about the weight on my sholders!

I took my first ride around the block today. I defitely need more practice! The balance is part is easy but it is the shifting for me that is a royal b!@h! How many hours did it take you guys/girls to get the hang of shifting?

Thanks

I was riding my bike around the block just like you. I thought I was a moron and just couldn't figure out how to shift smoothly. It all came together when I finally took the bike out on a road where I could get up to 45 or 50mph. Until you actually take it out, it's hard to get a feel for good shifting points at 20mph going around the block.

[sapaul]

It seems to me that you are really taking this seriously, do your self a favour, own your own mistakes. do not let anyone, family or not, push you into something you are not ready for. Take your time, we all have differing levels of learning and I fully understand your fears. I think this is being compounded by some external pressure and this is not good. The best learning enviroment is a relaxed, enjoyable one. I made as much effort as I could with my wife and children to make learning fun and never pushed them to do more than they were ready for. An idea for you is to give yourself a list of things that you want to acheive with your bike and to practice them. For example, one day decide to practice stop and go's. Next day, hill starts. Make yourself a check list and when you ride check off the things that you are now comfortable with. This also identifies your strong and weak areas. Never think there is a stupid question, it does not exist. Keep posting you will always find someone here who will help you.

[zerocool]

It seems to me that you are really taking this seriously, do your self a favour, own your own mistakes. do not let anyone, family or not, push you into something you are not ready for. Take your time, we all have differing levels of learning and I fully understand your fears. I think this is being compounded by some external pressure and this is not good. The best learning enviroment is a relaxed, enjoyable one. I made as much effort as I could with my wife and children to make learning fun and never pushed them to do more than they were ready for. An idea for you is to give yourself a list of things that you want to acheive with your bike and to practice them. For example, one day decide to practice stop and go's. Next day, hill starts. Make yourself a check list and when you ride check off the things that you are now comfortable with. This also identifies your strong and weak areas. Never think there is a stupid question, it does not exist. Keep posting you will always find someone here who will help you.

Cool Thank You All So Much Because of all you kind words it gave me the self-confidence to just get out today and ride! I just got on and rode I stalled a couple of time in first, ROFL. O'well It was so enjoyable just getting out of the city doing 45 feet up without a care in the world. You are right it all just came together like clock work. I was putting way to much emphasis on being perfect. Instead I was already doing what you suggested today. Such as making a mistake in shifting and learning from it. Going up hills and feeling more confident. Lastly, myt most favorite and fund thing. Speed Shifting So much fun to go through six gears

Well, actually it's a pain in the @ss but it gives you so much more control in the city. Have a great day

[sapaul]

Tears in my eyes