I went with my dad and we took his little Tacoma pickup. After the paperwork and picking up some oil and other stuff from the store inside and strapping the bike on the truck, we were off.
Sadly Saturday was pretty terrible weather wise. It rained the better half of the day and actually the entire trip home (about 45 minutes). So I got the bike home and the rain petered off but it was still cool and over cast the most of the afternoon. I washed the bike off, took it in side and dried it and put on it's first coat of Klasse AIO.
I was itching from then on. Then at around five or six the sun came out and I had my fill. I got on it and rode. I live on a rural route along Lake Erie. The speed limit is 55. It's not loaded with traffic, but it is pretty regular. I drove around the drive and did some circles and figure eights.
Then I took it down the road. My mechanic's garage is .5 miles down the road so I rode down there. I got up to about 50 and it was wild. It was an absolute rush. I rode back and told my parents.
Then I got back on my bike and rode into town, avoided the one traffic light, and actually road around some of the back roads.
I only have my permit and I know I shouldn't have gone as far as I did but I couldn't help myself. I'm taking the MSF at the end of the week so I hope not to ingrain any bad habits by then.
A few things I noticed:
Lane position - I felt like I spent most of my time in the middle to far right side. I didn't use the one close to the yellow line.
Mirrors - I think I have them adjusted correctly but in order to actually see the car behind me I need to tuck my elbow in which is irritating. I remember in a review reading something similar.
Holy **** this thing moves. I didn't even rev it past 8k and it's so torquey. I know I need to watch myself but boy am I going to fall in love with this over and over again I can feel it. I get giddy like a schoolgirl just thinking about it.
Congrats, I wish I could've rode more this weekend, it was way too windy.
Why'd you get those blinkers replaced with the stalk blinkers? I've always liked those flushmounted ones, they are the stock ones on the Euro bikes I believe.
Why'd you get those blinkers replaced with the stalk blinkers? I've always liked those flushmounted ones, they are the stock ones on the Euro bikes I believe.
The stock front signals are also flush. They are just clear with amber bulbs (making them legal). Red front signals won't pass inspection in NY and will draw LEO attention, so I'm told.
Lane position is kind of a personal choice....many people will have many reasons for picking one lane over another. I prefer the far left lane if Im on the interstate.....my reason is I can eliminate someone trying to kill me from merging from the left. In the middle your fair game from both sides.....on the right you can still get KOd by traffic coming on from the on ramp. Of course if Im just going to be on then off again.....I dont worry about it as much.....but if Im going for the long haul its in the left lane.
If there is only two lanes I stay to the right lane.....using the left only to pass then back on the right.....just as I do in a car.
Now if we are talking about your position inside the lane.....I always position myself to "mark my territory" so to speak.
For instance if im on the interstate in the far left lane then Im going to ride tight in the right portion of that lane close to the line. This keeps someone from trying to squeeze by me.....or invade my space and force me off the road, into an object etc.
If im riding on a regular 2 lane road (ie traffic coming from each direction) I ride hard against the yellow line. At first that seems to make no sense as you pass by oncoming cars only a mere few feet away.....but you will notice they see you better there. You can see upcoming road conditions better from there as well if there is a car in front of you because you can see around it and see both lanes. Again your also keeping someone from squeezing you off the road from behind as well.
Mirrors....in my experience there are really any mirrors worth a ****. I own 9 bikes and have had as many as a dozen.....with the exception of large touring bikes where the mirrors are WAAY out there.....they all suck. My elbows are always in the way.....seems you can never see anything without contorting yourself. Now on my Vision and Goldwing......and the other touring bikes Ive ridden like the BMW and HD Ultra.....the mirrors work great.
As to the holy **** feeling.....Im not advocating doing anything stupid but to some degree we all enjoy a good redline blast away from a stop sign or intersection.....its part of it.
Awesome! I remember the joys of the first ride... It doesn't fade soon either. Sometimes when I'm at work waiting to leave and I know I am going to ride home, I still get a little giddy thinking about it.
And I have the exact same elbow tuck problem on my 250r.. It's just become a habit for me, don't even notice anymore
Lane position - I felt like I spent most of my time in the middle to far right side. I didn't use the one close to the yellow line.
Mirrors - I think I have them adjusted correctly but in order to actually see the car behind me I need to tuck my elbow in which is irritating. I remember in a review reading something similar.
Holy **** this thing moves. I didn't even rev it past 8k and it's so torquey. I know I need to watch myself but boy am I going to fall in love with this over and over again I can feel it. I get giddy like a schoolgirl just thinking about it.
Lane position is kind of a personal choice....many people will have many reasons for picking one lane over another. I prefer the far left lane if Im on the interstate.....my reason is I can eliminate someone trying to kill me from merging from the left. In the middle your fair game from both sides.....on the right you can still get KOd by traffic coming on from the on ramp. Of course if Im just going to be on then off again.....I dont worry about it as much.....but if Im going for the long haul its in the left lane.
If there is only two lanes I stay to the right lane.....using the left only to pass then back on the right.....just as I do in a car.
Now if we are talking about your position inside the lane.....I always position myself to "mark my territory" so to speak.
For instance if im on the interstate in the far left lane then Im going to ride tight in the right portion of that lane close to the line. This keeps someone from trying to squeeze by me.....or invade my space and force me off the road, into an object etc.
If im riding on a regular 2 lane road (ie traffic coming from each direction) I ride hard against the yellow line. At first that seems to make no sense as you pass by oncoming cars only a mere few feet away.....but you will notice they see you better there. You can see upcoming road conditions better from there as well if there is a car in front of you because you can see around it and see both lanes. Again your also keeping someone from squeezing you off the road from behind as well.
Mirrors....in my experience there are really any mirrors worth a ****. I own 9 bikes and have had as many as a dozen.....with the exception of large touring bikes where the mirrors are WAAY out there.....they all suck. My elbows are always in the way.....seems you can never see anything without contorting yourself. Now on my Vision and Goldwing......and the other touring bikes Ive ridden like the BMW and HD Ultra.....the mirrors work great.
As to the holy **** feeling.....Im not advocating doing anything stupid but to some degree we all enjoy a good redline blast away from a stop sign or intersection.....its part of it.
Awesome! I remember the joys of the first ride... It doesn't fade soon either. Sometimes when I'm at work waiting to leave and I know I am going to ride home, I still get a little giddy thinking about it.
And I have the exact same elbow tuck problem on my 250r.. It's just become a habit for me, don't even notice anymore
Way to go Progress. Good luck on the bike. It looks nice. Take your time to get the feel just right, always keep a look out and be aware! Weather here in So Cal was nice this weekend but damm windy. It did not keep me off my ride, just more alert.
Passed the MSF. I was PO'd about the box. During the practice I did perfect then I put my foot down on the test. Everything else was fine and I really enjoyed my instructors. I cannot recommend the class enough.
I also met a few guys to ride with and exchanged phone numbers. It was overall an A+ experience.
Congrats,You don't have top worry about the box anymore now:71baldboy:. Get your endorsement and ride, also don't forget that most states give insurance discounts for passing the MSF course.
I agree with you totally aaron, seeing whats ahead can't be stressed enough. There are a few exceptions as mentioned earlier and 1 I would add. Here in the valley we have a good number of 2 lane roads with a lot of semi traffic going 75mph, when I see these guys coming I'll usually shift to the right to lessen the wind impact as they go by.
Have fun and ride safe, Gremlin bell anyone?
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