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New gal

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 5:16 am
by Roberta X
Hi!

I'm just venturing into real motorcycling. I bought a motor scooter (145cc, manual transmission) last Spring. I had always wanted one and I was thinking that was just as big a motorized two-wheeler as I would ever want. Loved it, broke my right leg just above the knee after only a month of riding, healed up, still love it, riding again (possibly smarter), and finally just last week took the MSF class I was originally signed-up for the weekend after my little accident. Passed, got the coveted Motorcycle Endorsement!

It was an eye-opener. The class used 250cc Suzukis and I loved them! Also learned quite a lot, possibly even enough to not be a huge hazard to others on the street. (Anyway, I learned how much I didn't know. That's a start, isn't it?)

General stuff, I'm 48, single (not looking; BTDT*), have two indoor cats and feed two more outdoors, do tech-y work for a television station, and have driven smallish cars for years, from a '70 Toyota Corona (4-door MGB clone!) to a Suzuki Samuri to the real '74 MGB I still have. Tons of fun but not as much fun as 2 wheels! Personal, I'm taller than you are unless you're real tall, average weight, spend a couple hours at the gym each week, and live on coffee and dark chocolate. (The last is a joke, okay? Mostly a joke).

The Indian-built scooter's a keeper. In my small neighborhood, it's just right for grocery-shopping and similar excusions. It hauls cargo really well! But for longer trips.... Maybe not. It's topped out at 55 mph, which is maybe more thrilling than it needs to be on 10" tires, especially in traffic.

I'm looking at a Virago 250. Stepping up from the scooter, I don't want to get more motorcycle than I can handle; I want to spend time building riding skills before trying a bigger machine.

Roberta X
_________________
* But thanks for wondering, if you did -- at my age, it's a compliment. :)

Image
(A posed shot, I wear a proper jacket, gloves, fasten the helmet. etc.)

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 10:58 am
by Sculelos
The Virago seems to be like a good motorcycle for you, although if your over 5' 10'' I would look at something else. I also suggest buying one used if you can because you will most likely will want something bigger anyways within a year or two, also I wouldn't be planing to do much highway riding on one, unless your comfortable at not being able to go faster then 75-80Mph at all.

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 11:44 am
by Social Distortion
welcome aboard from your neighbor in Chicago!

I agree- look around as you can find many types of 250cc motorcycles around or check other ads as beginners will want to sell them to get something larger!

When i moved to Chicago from LA, i bought a 55 cc Honda scooter and that began my passion for riding on 2 wheels!

Enjoy your search, make sure you get all the gear you need and keep an eye out for some bargains as winter is approaching the Midwest!

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 2:04 pm
by Roberta X
thanks for the nice welcome!

...I'm 5' 10" and a fraction, barefoot -- but those slightly-short jeans in the photo have a 36" leg! The Suzuki GZ250s my MSF class used weren't bad, leg-wise, and my limited experience of Virago 250s puts them at no worse and maybe a little better. The Virago's buckhorn handlebars do clear my knees.

Used would be my preference but alas! There don't seem to be any. I'm not in a huge hurry -- like to find one by the end of the year but it's not like I'll be riding much before Spring.

As for gear, I got more serious about it after my wreck. Leather gloves saved my right palm but a a non-leather riding jacket didn't do so well for my right forearm; and even at 15 mph, my jeans wore through at the knee like cheesecloth. Messy. I've got new gloves and leather jackets now (and one armored/padded/ventilated cloth one for summer) and some one of these days, I'll have chaps that fit. The half-helmet's been replaced by a 3/4 and I'm seriously considering full-face once I get a motorcycle. I suppose leathers look a little silly on a scooter but consider, there's not even a fuel tank to grip with your knees!

Never going faster than 75 - 80mph? I don't even do that in my car! Er, not very often, at least. At my age, it's probably going to take me longer to train muscle memory than it would a younger rider and I can do that on a 250 at 60-and-down speeds as well as I could going faster.

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 3:00 pm
by blues2cruise
:welcome: to the TMW community. There are quite a few of us who started later in life. It's a good feeling to have accomplished riding, when you start so late.

Another bike you may consider looking for is a 535cc Virago. It wouldn't over power you, but it might offer you a bit more stability on the highway.

Enjoy whatever you find.

Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 5:13 am
by deedee1
Welcome!!!!

Have a geat one and ride safe
Deedee

Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 6:32 pm
by BAJACRUISER
Welcome to the forum ¡ :)

:scooter:

Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 4:53 am
by FlyinRegie
Welcome to the forum! :wave:

Good decision to start small...
250cc not bad for a starter.

I think you should buy pants and shoes in addition to your jacket helmet and gloves.

Ride safe and enjoy! (and don't be afraid of bigger engines, I'm sure you could go up to 500cc)

Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 9:21 am
by Aggroton
that is a sexy scooter btw. its a chepak right?

Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 3:55 am
by Loonette
Welcome aboard! Have fun bike shopping when the time comes. Enjoy the forums.

Cheers,
Loonette