|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Monday, February 8 New Iron On Bling Product from Becky Brown Dear Petra, I continue to sell my angel wing shirts but have recently designed something that is "one size fits all." It's an iron-on rhinestone crystal design with the words "Lady Rider" and then underneath is a heart with wings ... almost 1,000 crystals in clear and red .... and 8" by 8", so it's large enough for the front or back of shirts, denim jackets, etc. My Lady Bling website page shows the application on black, red, turquoise and purple. Easy iron on and machine washable. $11 each. Click on the picture below to see it "in action!" Becky
Dear Becky, Monday, February 8 The first time I was faced with getting on a ferry, I was scared to death. But it's just like all the other "firsts." No big deal once you've done it! Other than Petra's tips, make sure you let the rider in front of you clear the ramp before even starting out. Don't let anyone push you into going any sooner than that. That way you get onto and off the ramp without stopping until you're onto the ferry floor. Then park where the ferry workers tell you and keep your bike in gear, as Petra said. When you leave, do the same thing - let the rider in front of you be done with the ramp before you roll onto it. You never want to stop on that ramp, if possible. It's usually steel and pretty slippery under your feet. Good luck and don't be frightened! It's another goal to conquer! Ride safe and have fun, RoseD (note from Mama: love the extra pointer on the ramp material ... soooo true!) Monday, February 8 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear FurmanMa, I would start by calling your local dealer's service department to see if the engage/disengage point of the clutch lever action can be readjusted to the middle rather than the far end. If so, they'll be able to do that quickly. But on some bikes that's not possible. This won't solve your overall hand reach, but hopefully will prevent more accidental wheelies. I continue to say that there is a product manufacturing opportunity that would solve a lot of problems for smaller hands. One suggestion to explore is with an independent motorcycle mechanic ... see if they will heat the lever and bend it so the reach isn't so wide. Readers, please chime in with more about the VLX600. Mama Wednesday, February 10 Petra, My question: My husband said that you don't need to use your clutch for shifting up or down when you are riding, that the clutch is only needed for starting out. Is this all right or could it damage something (i.e. the transmission)? I really hate to second guess him. LilBikr Dear LilBikr, Can you shift without the clutch lever ... yes. Should the average street rider do this ... not unless it's an emergency (i.e. the clutch cable snapped). Without getting too technical, your clutch system has springs and a pressure plate (looks like a disc) that mate with other plates that ultimately transfer power to the clutch hub, which then transfers the power to the transmission. Pulling in the clutch lever releases spring pressure so the drive and driven plates are no longer clamped together. If you shift without releasing this pressure, then yes, you stand the chance of shredding transmission gears. But what, if in fact, it is an emergency? Up- shifting, once in 2nd gear; is accomplished by backing off the throttle and shifting. That's easy enough and I've found myself doing that accidentally (lazy lever pull, clicked the foot shift, no problem). Downshifting with minimal damage requires you to bring the RPMs down to near idle RPM (but you'll probably still get a grinding noise and the chance of stalling is pretty high). The biggest problem is if a full stop is required, so with a bit of luck, you can limp the bike home, to your dealer, or a safe spot ... but never fully stopping ... just doing a rolling stop (illegal at stop signals and dangerous, but we're talking emergency situation). If you do need to do a full stop, the best advice I can give is that you foot shift to neutral before stalling at the stop and turn off the bike. When ready to go, foot shift to 1st, start the bike, and be prepared for the bike to leap forward. This is not for the faint-hearted. Depending on where the clutch cable has snapped, you might be able to wrap your left hand around enough cable to manually work it, and although I have done this on one emergency occasion, it's exhausting trying to control the motorcycle, etc. So, now that you have some more info on shifting without the clutch, promise yourself you'll always leave for that day's ride with a fully charged cell phone and the phone number of your road assistance program at the ready! Mama Wednesday,
February 10 New Touring Book You Don't Want to Miss! Dear Readers, For many riders, dreaming of their first ,or next, extended motorcycle trip eventually leads to seeking sources of inspiration and information. At the forefront of chronicling these adventures ... read the rest of my review! Mama
I believe there are a couple of people on the www.TrikeTalk.com forums who can probably answer his questions. I spend a lot (too much) of time on that site - they are a wonderfully informative and supportive bunch, very much like the people on VTwinMama! Cheri, aka spiritdream (note from Mama: thanks for pointing out that a search on a reliable message board can show you if there is chatter on a particular subject!) Wednesday, February 17 I too
have small hands and have difficulty with fully engaging and smoothly
releasing both the clutch & front brake levers on bikes that dont
have an easy adjustment. A
lay down snapped the end knob off one of my bikes when it landed on a
curb. I discovered that with the knob gone, I could slide my hand
completely forward on the lever and easily and gently release the front
brake. So my husband removed the knob from the clutch lever and filed
the edges smooth. It has only been noticed by mechanics; when she was
totaled and rebuilt, I had to plead with them NOT to replace the levers!
Ive been told by bar lawyers its illegal. Dont know.
Shes been inspected by a DMV field inspector and certified
road-worthy and I can easily use both levers. Wednesday, February 17 Women's Ride Map ... New Ride Mentor Category! Dear Readers, So today I added a new pin category on the Women's Ride Map ... we show women's riding groups, individual riders, women's and general events ... and now have a new pink heart pin for Ride Mentors. These are gals who are willing to help a new rider in parking lot practice or road rides crafted for their skill level ... or whatever the Ride Mentor feels they can offer. A number of moons ago, Sherry Walrath, who runs the Lace Wheels - Women and Motorcycles site, noted she was starting a state-by-state mentor program, and I added her link on my Get Started page. I hopped on her site this morning and am happy to report that since our last email contact she's signed up a number of women ride mentors. Yahoo! It's an excellent idea as so many new women riders need a mentor but aren't always comfortable contacting a women's riding chapter or independent club ... or simply aren't near one. So, let's see what we can build together. Beneath the actual Ride Map you'll see the online submission form to join up! Mama Friday, February 19 Hello VTwin Mama, Did I get the wrong model? Should I have gotten something heavier with a lower center of gravity? I am not interested in going fast. My husband bought a Dyna Glide Custom. Any thoughts other than just a lot of practice???? kimzim Dear kimzim, The goal for most riders is to become one with their beastie so that they can enjoy the journey. It's a partnership and a rider on the right learning pathway respects that. To become one with a motorcycle you have to begin learning the nuances of that bike so you can dance down the road together with confidence. Of course we say practice, practice, practice ... but it's the "how" of practice that makes the difference. Start by sitting on the bike and simply leaning it to each side ... you want to find out how far you lean and still hold the weight of the bike. Nervous? Have hubby dearest straddle the front wheel and hold the handlebar for extra assurance. Next, turn the handlebar fully to each side ... can you do this without having to lift or shift out of your seat? If not, you'll want to consider bringing that handlebar just a bit closer to your body by using a pullback riser (cheap and easy to install in most cases). Then start up the bike and in neutral work the throttle. Get used to the sound and the feel of the throttle. Keep doing that until the neighbors start calling you with less than friendly words! Any throttle is only as aggressive as your handling of the clutch lever. With the clutch lever pulled in you can give that bike all the gas you want and you simply won't go anywhere. This is a crucial thing to remember ... pull in the clutch and you instantly remove the power from the bike. Remember the duck walks in your class? That's where you start your practice. Duck walk until your left hand is screaming for mercy! Once you can duck walk at a perfectly even pace, using the clutch and throttle in synchronicity, you have shown your bike (and yourself) that you're beginning to gain mastery and control. I'm convinced that motorcycles have feelings and I'm guessing that you either got brand new bikes or close to it. Lovely paint job, chrome, etc. Bikes know that in the beginning that you might have an oopsie or two. If your bike does not have an engine guard, hightail it back to the dealer and get one. The engine guard will protect the main body of the bike should an oopsie occur. Yes, you might ding the handlebar or break a mirror, but those are minor. Gas tank gouges aren't fun and heart your pride and the bike's pride as well. Engine guards also help protect your legs from getting stuck between the bike and the ground. One of the most empowering things a new rider can do is to learn how to pick up her own bike should it decide to take a nap on its side. It removes the helpless feeling and is a key ingredient to becoming one with a motorcycle. Links to step-by-step pictorials on how one properly picks up a bike can be found on my Riding Techniques: Pick Up Bike page. With the gas tank near empty and the petcock turned off, get an old piece of carpet or something similar, and lay the bike down with the help of your husband. Then learn to get that beastie up on your own. It's also an excellent lesson in getting a real feel for the weight of the bike vs. your own strength. Going fast? Well, all bikes ultimately can go fast. But fast and out of control is totally different than fast and in control. Start with the steps I've outlined, remembering that power can always be removed by pulling in the clutch lever, and you'll be well on your way to becoming a confident rider. First motorcycles are not necessarily the "dream bike," but you've got to start somewhere. If after giving it your best effort you find yourself still very worried about things, park the Sporty for awhile and pick up a cheap but running bike with a smaller engine. You wouldn't be the first person to take this step, nor will you be the last. The most important thing is that you learn at your own pace and are honest with yourself along the way. I wish you the best of everything and look forward to giving you an official biker wave down the road sometime! Mama Friday, February 19 Dear VTwin Mama, Sadly, at the end of the season (without me) the bike met a truck. All the people survived but the bike was totaled. As the 2010 riding season approaches I am considering a riders course to learn how to ride my own bike. Knowing the risks first hand (and how very lucky he was) I am considerably nervous. How do I shake those fears? Are there women out there who prefer to be on the back of a bike even if they know how to ride their own? Where do I get started? Kristen Dear Kristen, The same goes for learning to ride a motorcycle. First you have to be totally honest with yourself about the risks inherent with riding. I've been riding for 30 years now and I am still constantly reviewing my skills and fine-tuning my handling of my bike. The learning should never stop. By doing this I know that I'm training my brain to quickly react to the endless nuances of risk out there and am prepared to handle whatever comes up to the best of my ability. However, no matter how accomplished a rider is, we too often read about how another vehicle turned into the rider's pathway, etc. This risk factor is simply not for everyone and that's why not everyone rides a motorcycle. You note that you are hooked ... to me this means that you've decided that the joy factor is on it's way to balancing with the risk factor and you've taken responsibility for your choice. Fear is not your enemy; it's your ally. Fear becomes carefully thought out risk assessment and management. With proper training and continued learning, fear keeps you sharp and focused at all times. We do, however, tend to refer to it more often as nervous tummy butterflies. It sounds nicer! Many women ride pillion and are happy with that choice. Pillion riders have their own skill sets. And yes, some will come off the back, take riding classes, get their own bike, and then decide that it's not as joyful for them as they thought it would be. Still, in taking the class they gained a lot of knowledge about what it takes to ride. In this way they become even better pillion riders because they have formed a more intimate connection to a bike and it's rider. Most new riders now take an official riding course ... you can find this information on my Get Started page. There is also an 18 page article available ($3.95) about what you should consider before signing up for a course (should it be of interest). The article includes a wide variety of tips and thoughts from the many people who have written in to the VTwin Mama site over the last nine years. Early spring classes fill up fast, so get going on your research into this. Can you get a motorcycle and learn on your own? Yes. I did. But even I eventually ended taking a course because in order to ride on a military base (I'm a Navy vet) I had to take their course. It served me well. I hope in my long-winded way that I have shown you how to move forward in your adventure in riding. Good luck and happiness to you! Mama I'm an Aussie guy living in Ireland (go figure) and I am 50 and am back to bikes after a gap of 27 years. I got myself a V-Star 650 Classic ... first ride on my own, all I could think of was what a big, scary mistake I made. Then I started just going for small rides about 20 minutes at a time (felt like 20 hours) ... now 8 months down the road I have joined a club, go on rideouts,social nights and soon going on my first rally. When I think of those scary first rides I just smile ... so just remember ... baby steps and if it gets uncomfortable, there is always another day to go out. Anon (note from Mama: spoken by a real trouper ... many people note that just hanging in there makes all the difference. Congrats on your re-entry into riding and I'm glad to here how much you're enjoying the adventure again!) Wednesday, February 24 Hi VTwin Mama, Dear Scuter, I did a search using the term "aftermarket motorcycle warranties" to see what popped up. In a lot of cases, the page was there, but with no information or it simply contained useful articles with many warnings, but no specific companies. Hmmm .... one article noted that another term for this type of coverage is "motorcycle service contracts." but a quick check only led to auto policies or motorcycle policies through an authorized dealer. So, I'd check with your most local Ridley dealer to see what's possible. Readers ... anyone out there with more specific first-hand info ... I'd love for you to chime in! Mama Wednesday, February 24 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear love 2 ride, All other sport-style motorcycles start with a seat height over 30", and while there may be some lowering options (an inch or two at most), short riders typically supplement that with boots with more sole so that they aren't tippy toe at a stop. Take a look at my Motorcycles for Short Riders page and scan for entries in your height range to see how other short riders are handling this. Mama Wednesday, February 24 Dear VTwin Mama, My female partner, once totally opposed to motorcycling, expressed interest in joining me as a passenger, so we purchased a second motorcycle, a 2003 Yamaha VStar 1100. Although I really like the upright riding position on the BMW, I'm just barely flat-footed on it and it's way too tall for her (she's 5'2"). I still use it for solo rides. I rode the VStar a few months before she joined in but I never felt totally in control at low speeds or coming to a stop. We would only use the bike in the city or take short trips not far from town (mostly charity rides, a couple of hours). We were both nervous and picking that up from each other. Over this Fall and Winter I have built up a lot of strength in kickboxing, so I might be better balanced when the motorcycle comes out of storage, but I'm wondering if the VStar is simply too heavy. Should I be looking at another make/model? Is there one that has a more upright seated position than a cruiser? I'm not fussed about the "feet forward" position. In fact, I'd rather be leaning a bit forward than back. Thanks for any advice. Lorraine from Ottawa Dear Lorraine, Please take a moment to sit on your VStar, off the center stand, and turn the handlebar all the way to each side. Are your hands still firmly on the controls in a full bar lock? If not, your control will be vastly improved by inserting a pullback riser (an inexpensive and easy addition). Still not sure ... with the bike centered, close your eyes and lift your arms and hands into a comfortable position without regard to the current set-up. Open your eyes and check. Need a bit of pullback? If you find that the stock handlebar is too wide, then that will require a narrower profile handlebar. Why the emphasis on this point? Because when we don't have full control at the handlebar, everything else can feel just a tad off. Our center of gravity (the hips) must be positioned over the bike correctly and if you're shifted in any way to reach the handlebar (if even an inch) it can throw the whole feeling of control off. I'm also going to advocate that you change your partner's passenger footpegs to floorboards ... a firmer feel at the foot makes for a more comfortable pillion experience and helps with the feeling of being centered over the motorcycle as well. Give that a try and let me know if it makes the difference you are looking for! Mama
|
| © 2010 VTwin Mama | Disclaimer |
