Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 6:05 am
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Newbie from the SC
Page 4 of 5
Pics from Rider's Edge BRC class
Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 6:21 am
My first day on a bike. Can you say "happy cheeks"?
Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 7:02 am
Fixed and bled my brakes yesterday and did my very first oil change today. Yay me!
Bleeding brakes:
Look at that old brake fluid. Gross!
Man, that drain plug was tough.
Bleeding brakes:
Look at that old brake fluid. Gross!
Man, that drain plug was tough.
Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 7:08 am
The front brake pads arrive tomorrow. I'll let you know how that goes.
Later today I'm going to hop on and really get to know my bike. Just the basics today: finding the friction zone and some power-walking in the driveway.
As soon as I get a feel for the throttle and clutch, AND GET A HELMET, I'll take it for a spin in the neighborhood. If it sounds like I'm a bit cautious, I am. I only have 25.7 seat miles under my belt and those were on the Buell Blast trainer. I really don't want to do something stupid and drop this beautiful bike.
Later today I'm going to hop on and really get to know my bike. Just the basics today: finding the friction zone and some power-walking in the driveway.
As soon as I get a feel for the throttle and clutch, AND GET A HELMET, I'll take it for a spin in the neighborhood. If it sounds like I'm a bit cautious, I am. I only have 25.7 seat miles under my belt and those were on the Buell Blast trainer. I really don't want to do something stupid and drop this beautiful bike.
Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 1:05 pm
I just took the Ya Mama-ha up my street. The first time I've put my feet on the pegs! 
I am immediately aware that this bike has a bit more going on than the Buell Blast did. I'm also surprised at how super smooth it is. The throttle seems easier and it shifts like a dream. I imagined it would be a lot like my first experience in a 5-speed car, but it was so much easier. I only made a few passes by my house, but I got up to 3rd gear.
The tank sits a lot higher than the Buell's so it feels different in the slow turns. I also can't sit flat-foot with bent knees on this bike, which made me a bit nervy. But, just like my MSF instructor said, above 8 mph, bikes behave pretty much the same.
Looking back to that first day, it seems like the bike used to be 5 feet tall and weighed 800 pounds. It also seems like my driveway used to be a 45-degree incline. Not tonight, though. After some power-walking exercises, I was able to creep right up that driveway and out onto the street.
I can't wait for the sun to come up again.
I am immediately aware that this bike has a bit more going on than the Buell Blast did. I'm also surprised at how super smooth it is. The throttle seems easier and it shifts like a dream. I imagined it would be a lot like my first experience in a 5-speed car, but it was so much easier. I only made a few passes by my house, but I got up to 3rd gear.
The tank sits a lot higher than the Buell's so it feels different in the slow turns. I also can't sit flat-foot with bent knees on this bike, which made me a bit nervy. But, just like my MSF instructor said, above 8 mph, bikes behave pretty much the same.
Looking back to that first day, it seems like the bike used to be 5 feet tall and weighed 800 pounds. It also seems like my driveway used to be a 45-degree incline. Not tonight, though. After some power-walking exercises, I was able to creep right up that driveway and out onto the street.
I can't wait for the sun to come up again.
Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 2:38 pm
Nice! Nothing like enjoying the ride after doing some work on your bike. Congratulations! I always admired the looks of the Fj's for years. Keep enjoying her!
Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 12:29 pm
Brake pads arrived today, but we hit a snag. We got the worn pads out just fine, but then we couldn't open the pistons to put in the new ones no matter how hard we tried. We used a C-clamp, as per the Haynes manual, to pry them open, but no luck.
The next step was to rebuild the calipers, but we just didn't feel up to that. We don't have the rebuild kits here and the calipers would just sit on the kitchen table, staring me down, every time I passed the dining room. I've decided to let my mechanic install the new pads while he's putting on my new tires. That should happen next pay day. I hope he is able to get the pads on without having to rebuild anything.
In the meantime, I got insured, registered, taxed, tagged and titled today. As soon as I get the new pads and sneaks on I'll be ready to roll.
Here's a shot of the old and new brake pads. I think they might have been original to the bike. What do you think?
The next step was to rebuild the calipers, but we just didn't feel up to that. We don't have the rebuild kits here and the calipers would just sit on the kitchen table, staring me down, every time I passed the dining room. I've decided to let my mechanic install the new pads while he's putting on my new tires. That should happen next pay day. I hope he is able to get the pads on without having to rebuild anything.
In the meantime, I got insured, registered, taxed, tagged and titled today. As soon as I get the new pads and sneaks on I'll be ready to roll.
Here's a shot of the old and new brake pads. I think they might have been original to the bike. What do you think?
Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 6:15 am
welcome to TMW frim Upstatye New York
Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 9:35 am
Dammit, dammit, DAMMIT!!!
Not only could I NOT replace my front brake pads (piston issues from the bike sitting for 4 years), but I have since found out that the front brakes are dragging. So...I can't even ride the bike to my mechanic.
Maybe nothing would happen. Maybe the disc would overheat and warp. Maybe I would crash. It's just not worth it.
I have the parts ordered and my father-in-law is helping me trailer the bike up to the shop this week, maybe Monday. But this just can't happen fast enough. It's been 3 weeks since I passed my MSF course. With each passing day that I don't/can't ride I fear I am losing my nerve.
Not only could I NOT replace my front brake pads (piston issues from the bike sitting for 4 years), but I have since found out that the front brakes are dragging. So...I can't even ride the bike to my mechanic.
Maybe nothing would happen. Maybe the disc would overheat and warp. Maybe I would crash. It's just not worth it.
I have the parts ordered and my father-in-law is helping me trailer the bike up to the shop this week, maybe Monday. But this just can't happen fast enough. It's been 3 weeks since I passed my MSF course. With each passing day that I don't/can't ride I fear I am losing my nerve.
Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 10:19 am
Hey there,
Bummer about not being able to ride your bike.
Here in california you can rent bikes from some some places, including H-D dealers.
Maybe you could do that for a weekend to keep moving your skills forward?
Bummer about not being able to ride your bike.
Here in california you can rent bikes from some some places, including H-D dealers.
Maybe you could do that for a weekend to keep moving your skills forward?