New rider (again)
Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 3:45 pm
Guess I might be called a re-rider... Started in 1978 on a Honda moped (didn't want to go through the hassle of a MC license - just to commute 4 1/2 miles to college campus). It was one of the 30 MPH limited yellow ones, 25 MPH were red. Anyhow, after removing the restricter tube and replacing it with a piece of large Tygon tubing - lets say the top end increased considerably.
Well, turns out Indiana did not have a separate MC license/endorsement at the time. After 2,500 miles on the mop I purchased a 1979 Honda Twinstar - the great granddaddy of the current Rebel. 185 CC twin - added a windshield and a couple of saddle bags from Montgomery Ward mail order. Overall mileage while I owned it was 79+ Ran all day at 55 - 60 MPH.
The dealer, JR Ewing Honda (not the TV JR) sponsored and taught the MSF rider course. Only one day back then but very valuable.
At about 9,500 miles the Twinstar needed a new rear tire. I thought that was terrible (used to auto tires 40K or better) but the dealer said it was great. Anyhow, ended up trading the Twinstar on a 1981 CM400 custom. However, I made the mistake of getting a Vetter "Quick Silver" fairing.
Right off the bat the fairing pushed the clutch cable against the exhaust and burned off a couple of inches of vinyl. Took 3 months to get a new cable. The angle of the windshield caused the air to pound the top of my helmet like a hammer. Then the fairing cracked where it attached to the frame. Went back to the factory for a loooooong time. I took to calling them a couple of times a week until it was finally ready. Unfortunately "...everyone is a Sturgis and it will be a couple of weeks before they get back and ship your fairing..." Says I: "I will be out there in 2 hours. Have it on the counter." "You can't do that." Well, I picked it up at the factory muself. Made a taller windshield but it developed other cracks a year or so later and went in the trash.
The CM400 followed me to PA and then NC. Finally sold it in the late 1980s. Just got tired of it I guess.
Having taken early retirement last fall and looking for something to do I have signed up for welding and machine shop courses at the local community college. A lot of fun. With the price of gas I decided that it was time to look into two wheels again. I spoke to a local British car and motorcycle collector, fixer, reseller friend (met him when he had a 1952 MG TD on ebay but that is another story). "Derek - you still need to fix me up with a bike" We rummaged around his garage and found a 1982 Yamaha XS 400 Maxim about which I had posted a question a week or so back. We got it running and he said "...I am going to England for 3 weeks, take it home and tinker with it and decide if you want it" I decided that if I did I would end up restoring the entire thing (it needs a lot of TLC although it has less than 7K miles).
So, this past Tuesday I purchased a new Suzuki Blvd S40. Also ordered a Shoei RJ Air - $45 less on-line than local. It arrived yesterday and I took the S40 out for about 35 miles. So far I am very pleased. Very light (lighter than some scooters) and agile. Took the opportunity to motor down to the local CC and signup for the MSF BRC as a refresher (having been out of the riding business for 16 - 17 years). I will probably take the experienced rider course when it is offered int the fall.
As to MSF... I guess I should post this as a poll. Have a look at the BRC highlights video on their web page (http://www.msf-usa.org/). It looks to me like the second rider in the "Avoiding hazards by braking and swerving" segment is wearing low cut athletic shoes. Ray Ochs from MSF claims this is not true but I swear I can see white socks down to the ankle.
I guess I will have to add this forum to the others I normally follow (MGBs, welding, kerosene lanterns, garden tractors, the candlepower forums, etc.) Somewhere I will have to make time to ride.
Regards,
Ken
Clayton, NC
Well, turns out Indiana did not have a separate MC license/endorsement at the time. After 2,500 miles on the mop I purchased a 1979 Honda Twinstar - the great granddaddy of the current Rebel. 185 CC twin - added a windshield and a couple of saddle bags from Montgomery Ward mail order. Overall mileage while I owned it was 79+ Ran all day at 55 - 60 MPH.
The dealer, JR Ewing Honda (not the TV JR) sponsored and taught the MSF rider course. Only one day back then but very valuable.
At about 9,500 miles the Twinstar needed a new rear tire. I thought that was terrible (used to auto tires 40K or better) but the dealer said it was great. Anyhow, ended up trading the Twinstar on a 1981 CM400 custom. However, I made the mistake of getting a Vetter "Quick Silver" fairing.
Right off the bat the fairing pushed the clutch cable against the exhaust and burned off a couple of inches of vinyl. Took 3 months to get a new cable. The angle of the windshield caused the air to pound the top of my helmet like a hammer. Then the fairing cracked where it attached to the frame. Went back to the factory for a loooooong time. I took to calling them a couple of times a week until it was finally ready. Unfortunately "...everyone is a Sturgis and it will be a couple of weeks before they get back and ship your fairing..." Says I: "I will be out there in 2 hours. Have it on the counter." "You can't do that." Well, I picked it up at the factory muself. Made a taller windshield but it developed other cracks a year or so later and went in the trash.
The CM400 followed me to PA and then NC. Finally sold it in the late 1980s. Just got tired of it I guess.
Having taken early retirement last fall and looking for something to do I have signed up for welding and machine shop courses at the local community college. A lot of fun. With the price of gas I decided that it was time to look into two wheels again. I spoke to a local British car and motorcycle collector, fixer, reseller friend (met him when he had a 1952 MG TD on ebay but that is another story). "Derek - you still need to fix me up with a bike" We rummaged around his garage and found a 1982 Yamaha XS 400 Maxim about which I had posted a question a week or so back. We got it running and he said "...I am going to England for 3 weeks, take it home and tinker with it and decide if you want it" I decided that if I did I would end up restoring the entire thing (it needs a lot of TLC although it has less than 7K miles).
So, this past Tuesday I purchased a new Suzuki Blvd S40. Also ordered a Shoei RJ Air - $45 less on-line than local. It arrived yesterday and I took the S40 out for about 35 miles. So far I am very pleased. Very light (lighter than some scooters) and agile. Took the opportunity to motor down to the local CC and signup for the MSF BRC as a refresher (having been out of the riding business for 16 - 17 years). I will probably take the experienced rider course when it is offered int the fall.
As to MSF... I guess I should post this as a poll. Have a look at the BRC highlights video on their web page (http://www.msf-usa.org/). It looks to me like the second rider in the "Avoiding hazards by braking and swerving" segment is wearing low cut athletic shoes. Ray Ochs from MSF claims this is not true but I swear I can see white socks down to the ankle.
I guess I will have to add this forum to the others I normally follow (MGBs, welding, kerosene lanterns, garden tractors, the candlepower forums, etc.) Somewhere I will have to make time to ride.
Regards,
Ken
Clayton, NC
