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Safety Home
Video: how cars see/don't see riders Motorcycle Operator Manual: PDF format A former course instructor gives you the five key points to remember when approaching test time! Measurements for BRC exercises: from a course instructor! Motorcycle Skills Test Practice Guide 50 Ways to Save Your Life: August 2006 article in Motorcyclist
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2006 (January through April)Tuesday, January 10 Dear
VTwin
Mama, For anyone who is wanting to take a motorcycle safety course, I highly encourage it. I took one, and I'm thoroughly convinced that taking that class saved my life while I was driving my Dodge Durango. You see, I learned that while riding a motorcycle, a person should scan ahead to be aware of the surroundings. I did that, and just happened to notice a red flash of something going around a chip truck (semi) that was coming towards me. Instantly my instincts told me to slow down. I was in a 55mph zone, and slowed down to 20mph. I could then see the semi and a little red Datsun type pickup coming head on towards me. I had a rock wall on my right, and the river on my left. It seemed that it was in slow motion, I could see the Datsun's driver looking at me, and then at the semi, my heart was in my throat, but luckily that pickup finally made it into his lane ahead of the semi, probably only 30 feet away from me. If I hadn't scanned ahead looking for "stuff" I wouldn't be here today, I know. I wish that every licensed driver would take a motorcycle course, because maybe, just maybe, people would become better drivers. – Melissa from Idaho who is very grateful Dear
Melissa, Wednesday, January 11 Dear
VTwin
Mama, I'm really psyched! I might actually be able to beat moped speeds now. You know, one thing I wish the MSF course here allowed us to do was ride around the campus a bit. It would give us some practice starting and stopping at stop signs, and after we did a loop, the instructor could debrief, and start asking us things like, "What was the most dangerous thing in this spot, and that spot, etc." Since we were on a campus and all, I think he this would have been a great idea. We did get a chance to ride back to the storage lot, but we were actually instructed to blow the stop signs to keep the group together. (A good start to a possible long career of traffic infractions?) Of course, being on a Sunday, the campus was dead, but I think it would have been good practice. I got some books and am wondering if you've read these, and might recommend others: Idiot's Guide to Motorcycles: First book I got. Great book. However, even the author mentions in another book that serious levels of riding material was lacking in this book, due to the fact that everything else about motorcycles was included. Probably the best audience is someone who is just thinking about getting a motorcycle, which was me to a tee when I got it. That was actually before I had my moped. Proficient Motorcycling, David Hough: Loved the book. Great information on tons of stuff. Even things I should have been more aware of on my moped. More Proficient Motorcycling, David Hough: Not as good as the first book, seemed to have a lot of of repeated material from the first book. Considering it cost the same as the first book, I felt a little cheated. Street Strategies; David Hough: This book used little scenarios and then mentioned what went right and wrong in each scenario. Great idea, but almost all of the scenarios were covered in Proficient Motorcycling, then covered again in More Proficient Motorcycling. You might just buy the first two, but then again, it only cost me $8 on Amazon.com. How to Ride a Motorcycle, Pat Hahn: Pretty good overall, until I read. . . Ride Hard, Ride Smart; Pat Hahn: Great book. I'd skip How to Ride a Motorcycle and go straight to this book. A lot of material was lifted nearly verbatim from the first book. My coach seemed to have read this book, as he said stuff that was nearly exactly what Pat Hahn wrote. This book was more on the mental on how to avoid situations that might lead to a crash rather than actual cornering and what not. Truly a great philosophy on crashes in this book (Ever crash can be prevented.) Humorous and an easy read. Night riding chapter was rather short. (Inside joke if you've read the book.) Only complaint is that it seems a proof reader should have been hired. Typos all over, and half a page was repeated. But for 3.60 on Amazon, typos and all, its a good buy. Motorcycling Excellence; MSF: Seems to be the unabridged version of what they gave us in the class. I'd probably skip How to Ride a Motorcycle and just get this book. Seems to cover what Hahn did in his first book, but to a much greater degree. They seem to cost about the same, so I'd definitely go with Motorcycling Excellence. Have not had a chance to read it yet, but skimming it makes it seem I will enjoy it. The Essential Guide to Motorcycle Maintenance; Mark Zimmerman: More than just a "how to" manual, this also includes they "why" and how each system relates to other systems. Some items were covered in The Idiots guide, but this book really takes maintenance to the next level. Have gotten about half way through it so far, but I definitely like the book. Any other books you'd really recommend Petra? – Ben Dear
Ben, In my estimation you've gotten the "biggee" books on riding and it was interesting reading your review of the pluses and minuses of each. I've noted that The Essential Guide to Motorcycle Maintenance is my newest motorcycle "bible." Mark Z. has a wonderful sense of humor and makes even the electrical section readable . . . he notes in the beginning of Chapter 12: "I can hear the groans now. Nothing on a motorcycle seems to confuse more people or create less interest than the electrical system." Now that's just funny! Still, I have more books of all sorts listed on my Education Center page . . . some for entry riders, some chronicle worldwide road trips, and some lead to manuals. I'm thinking the next one you need to get is the full service manual for whatever bike you end up choosing! While the owner's manual will point out the basics of the bike, the full service manual is crucial . . . it contains routine maintenance, troubleshooting guides, tool guides, electrical schematics, and step-by-step instructions should you ever need to tear into the bike (for whatever reason). The first thing I did upon getting my latest bike is to get the service manual and then sit with the bike locating all the main points of interest (plugs, oil fills and filters, air filter, check windows for fluid levels, battery, fuse locations, etc.), recommended service intervals, and tire pressure levels (to be memorized and checked frequently!). Knowing where stuff is on your bike really DOES make a difference when you're out on the road and having a basic tool kit, with duct tape (!) and spare parts (definitely plugs) can help, especially if you're off on the back roads. I know it's made a difference to me on several occasions! We can't wait to see a picture of you and your chosen bike! – Mama Wednesday, February 1 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
Diane, Wednesday, February 22 Dear
VTwin Mama, Very early morning hours are the best time for new riders to be on the road, especially on the weekends before any traffic build up, even if it's just for an hour or so. Say 5am to 6am. I took Lin out originally at 4.30am to 7am. She loved it, all those roads and practically no cars at all. – Kevin Dear
Kevin, Monday, March 6 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Donna, We learned through the California Governor "incident," where Governor Schwarzenegger was cited for riding a motorcycle with a sidecar without a motorcycle license, that in some states, any three-wheel vehicle (sidecar or trike) on the road simply requires the standard "C" auto driving license. So, I would hop onto your state DMV site and check the three-wheel rule or call them up. Some states have now added amendments to their licensing process so that a special skills test is necessary. Although you may find you don't need the "M" license on a trike conversion, do not delude yourself into thinking you don't have things to learn about riding safely. Trikes have very special handling characteristics, especially around curves at higher speeds. You would do well to check for trike-specific riding courses in your area by doing an Internet search. These courses are becoming more available nationwide, and if you can't find one in your area, then I would make an extra effort to locate a trike riding club near you so you can gain knowledge from trike riders who can serve as mentors. – Mama Thursday, March 9 Hey
VTwin Mama, Dear
ninja mama, Dear
VTwin Mama, I'm 6ft tall and 150lbs so I want a bike that will fit my long legs (35" inseam). Thank you for all the information and this site to learn and share. I've downloaded the motorcycle handbook from DMV so I can have a jump on the class (if I ever find one that's open) :-) I hope to have completed the course and on my way to buying that life long dream by the end of the summer. Thanks again for the encouragement you give to people you don't even know. – Shelley from Los Angeles Dear
Shelley, And you're right . . . I don't personally know most of the people who write in to this site, but truly feel we're all sisters in spirit and that a place like this gives us all a chance to share the collective experience. While you wait for your class, you may wish to determine what local chapters of women's riding organizations are available to you. A good place to start that search is on my Women's Sites page! – Mama Wednesday, March 15 For Shelley who is waiting on a course opening to get her dream of riding started: I saw the post from Shelley tonight, and thought "wow, that was me only a few months ago." Now look at me, my dream is sitting in the garage just waiting for another ride! I did want to respond to her, since I'm the same height with the same inseam (though geez I WISH I was that weight!). If she ends up looking at new bikes versus an older one, so far I can't recommend the Suzuki Boulevard M50 enough. Things that I've found so far are that it doesn't seem top heavy at all, has enough pep without being scary for a beginner, nice upright riding position for someone taller, easy shifting, and not as much to remember since it's fuel injection rather than choke. I haven't ridden enough to do an official review on your site, but both of us that have this bike model are both beginners, and love the bikes. Another thing I love about this model bike....I just spent a few days at Bike Week in Daytona, amongst ALL of those thousands of bikes . . . saw choppers, Harleys, and custom bikes galore, but not a single M50! I kinda like the fact that it's not well known. We didn't ride over (I lived in Daytona for years . . . no way am I riding my bike in that mess!), but it was fun enough. Jerry Palladino [Ride Like a Pro] was in Deland the week before, putting on demonstrations . . . very nice man in person. I made sure to wear my VTwin Mama hat and shirt, and several women asked me about the site. Seems like more and more women's riding clubs are starting up in this area. We've already been in touch with one Orlando club that is small and has beginner riders as well as experienced, so as soon as schedules coincide, we're planning to ride a bit with them. I never knew how much owning a bike opens up an entirely new world. I even joined the Patriot Guard Riders, though am hoping that it won't ever be necessary for me to participate. When I saw Shelley's note, it made me realize that 6 months ago I thought I'd never ever have a bike, but sometimes you just have to take your dreams into your own hands and do it. She'll have the same problem as me, even worse . . . learning to ride in nothing but city traffic! I still haven't ventured on our nightmare highway here, I-4, but am going to try this weekend, weather permitting. Take care, – Kat (note from Mama: I think it's totally awesome that a letter posted to VTwin Mama triggered remembrances of your start! It IS cool to look back and note how far you've come and how the dream keeps evolving. Thanks for letting me know that by wearing VTwin Mama logo wear, you got a chance to share what this site is all about!) Dear
VTwin Mama, The first day, I thought I was doing well, but on the second day, during the figure 8 exercise, I promptly dumped the clutch and had a handful of throttle . . . and busted my @$$ -- bruised my right thigh and knee up, and hit my head (thank God for helmets) on the pavement. Okay, let me rephrase that: after I hit my head, I was dazed, so I gracefully bowed out. The instructors were shocked, but I just told them, "hey, I've had enough concussions to know that if I'm seeing stars, then I have the hand-eye coordination of an infant." So, I watched the rest of the class, and realized that if it wasn't for that infernal box, I probably could have passed. Fast forward to this week (which is now 7 days after my fall). My Blast is a bit different from the ones in the class. The previous owner even admits that the clutch is really tricky, but he swears that once you get it, you've got it. During the class, I didn't have much of a problem with up/downshifting, but I did have a problem with finding the friction point (thus, my crash). With my bike, it seems like if I don't give it some throttle immediately, the bike WILL stall. So in the past 7 days, I haven't gotten past the "rock the baby" stage. Ever since my crash, every single time I put my helmet on, all I hear is that sickening "crack" from falling (yes, I did buy a new helmet afterwards). I'm practically terrified to even go near my bike because that's the last thing I remember. My partner, who is a psychologist, is all about the whole "to overcome your fears, you have to meet them halfway" stuff. I know she means well, but she's not the one that fell. I know that I can't look at my bike as an evil two wheeled menace that will kill me the first chance it gets, but that's exactly how I see it. I tried it Sunday, and I just don't seem to trust myself. I realize that the class wasn't meant to teach me to learn to ride; it's sole purpose was safety. But after watching the rest of the class, it seemed like the instructors only had helpful advice for the people who already knew how to ride. But one of the instructors came up to me after I decided to quit, and said, "s--t happens. But you know 90% more now than you did yesterday." And the instructors even dropped the bike when they demo'd the figure 8. One of the students asked why we needed to know how to do it, and the instructors admitted that if they were presented with that same situation in real life, they would just duck walk the bike. So now I'm in a conundrum. I thought I was a physically tough girl; I played rugby in college, used to ride the crap out of mountain bikes, can drive a stick, joined the Army, been to Iraq . . . and I'm scared of a little one cylinder bike? I'm 5'10", and about 190 lbs, so I'm not afraid of having to muscle the bike. So far, here are the differences I've noticed: 1) the aforementioned tricky clutch. I seemed to ride the clutch a lot in the class, so I'm worried about this clutch because it is so temperamental. It seems like it has no friction point -- it's either in or it's not. Maybe it needs to be adjusted/replaced? 2) the sitting height. In the class, I used the standard seat. Mine has the optional lower seat, and now I feel like I'm on top of the handlebars. Should I consider switching back to the original seat? My legs are long enough that I can flat foot it either way. 3) Part of the reason I got out of the Army was because I had to have my right shoulder reconstructed twice. I thought that this would make my throttle control more difficult, but it seems like I might be too light on the throttle. Any suggestions? 4) In a way, I'm glad I've already crashed, so I won't be waiting for it. But now I'm so afraid of crashing that I practically loathe my bike. I live out in the sticks, so the closest parking lot is about 6 miles away. My neighborhood will be perfect when all the construction stops. I do have my learner's permit, and my bike is street legal, so I'm not worried about the cops. 5) Are there any places in central NC that give private lessons to complete clueless beginners? Because I really wish I would have gone into the Rider's Edge/MSF class with a clue. I would be extremely willing to pay for some lessons, and I think that if I got my confidence back, I would be okay with taking another MSF class. 6) Should I consider trading down to a smaller bike? Some people say that the gearing on a Blast is too much for a beginner. 7) Should I consider trying to find an automatic bike? I can drive a standard, but it seems like the big bad motorcycle clutch is giving me a huge pucker factor. At least if I stall or pop the clutch in a car, I'm not going to crack my skull. Sorry about all the questions, but this is something that I really don't want to give up on just because I busted my butt. Every day that I don't try to ride, I'm losing the little bit of skills and experience that I picked up in the class. Thanks for all your help! – Lee in Central NC Dear
Lee, Ok, you're not the first person who bought a bike (and in your case, a mid-range 492cc bike), then took a class, then realized that the bike they bought for practice/early riding sessions is posing challenges. Next, YOU ARE NOT ALONE on failing your first class and having the figure 8 be the challenge that couldn't immediately be overcome. I applaud your decision to bow out of the class after the horrible fall . . . you trusted a gut instinct, and the gut is worth its weight in gold. And yes, an icky oopsie will definitely muddy up the "dream" a bit, but you know deep in your heart that your life partner is right about facing the fear now. In my estimation, it's all about the time factor and the new battle plan, so let's keep noodling on this. Instead of looking at the beastie as evil, try looking at it as a mishmash of mechanical/electrical stuff that requires that you give it the right commands to behave itself. That's essentially what is involved in becoming "one with a beastie." I applaud your attempt to get back on last Sunday, but can see that you need answers and mentoring to get your mental game back up to par. There is nothing wrong with duck-walking a bike, but the joy of learning how to handle a tight turn correctly is truly amazing. It requires three things: control of the clutch friction zone, light feathering of the back brake (keeps the bike upright) and turning your head fully in the direction that you wish to end up in (not just your eyes). It's truly a pill when we are fully capable women who have looked other challenges straight on and found our pathway, only to try something new and not gotten it right away. It goes against our "if I try my hardest, I will succeed" frame of mind. Sometimes it's us, sometimes the equipment, so let's look at those equipment questions now. 1) Not all clutches are built equally. But they all have a disengage/engage point, and it is this very small window that is the friction zone. An adjustment would only move that point closer or further away in the travel of the entire lever, but would not change the overall "engage" force as it transfers to the drive system. The clutch simply transfers power from the engine to the drive. If you accidentally pop the clutch again, remember, that pulling in the clutch lever immediately removes the power transfer, no matter what gear or speed you are in. For more experienced riders, the friction zone "seems" to be bigger, because they already have an understanding of the relationship of the clutch-to-throttle relationship, and despite it being different on each and every bike, it's pretty quick to master. For a brand new rider, it's not so easy. Of course, a practice zone is the best place to work on it, by getting some speed up with throttle, then pulling in and letting out the clutch to work that lever to feel the "point" and work it so your hand muscles learn to control it. I'm gathering that your life partner does not ride, but perhaps the co-worker, from whom the bike was bought, would be willing to get that bike to the parking lot near you for a practice session or two? Worth asking. 2) You have now been on two bikes, and if you feel a change back to the original seat would be of benefit, to remove the feeling of being on top of the handlebar, then do it, especially if that original seat is available to you. Otherwise, I would not spend money until you've done some other steps first. 3) Throttle control is again a matter of practice. There is no shortcut. 4) Most riders have had an oppsie of some sort, but yours has set in fear. YOU ARE NOT ALONE in looking at that bike parked all nice, knowing that as long as its engine is off, you cannot repeat a bad thing. 5) I would call every dealer, course, etc. within a 60 mile radius and inquire after a private tutor. I would go one extra step and contact every chapter of women's riding organizations within shouting distance, say hi, and inquire whether they know of a private tutor. I wouldn't stop until I found one, if that's the course of action you wish to use. 6) Yes, not all gearing and gear ratios are created the same. In the lowest gear, it's designed to get the bike moving, and some are geared for more initial pep than others (i.e. a sporty-style bike vs. a touring/cruiser bike). This "instant on" feeling is a biggee for new riders, as practice with throttle and clutch control can prove to take more time. For my money, I'd either find that private tutor . . . or, consider checking into a course that starts you out on a smaller cc bike (like a 250cc Honda Rebel, or something like that), because that Blast is a 492cc mid-range bike (in terms of overall power) . . . so you may benefit from trying again that way. Or you could sell the Blast and find a used 250cc bike. 7) I think it's way too early in your riding adventure to ditch your present course of action and would shy away from seeking an auto tranny bike at this juncture. The new ones are expensive and the ones no longer manufactured would require that you understand where to seek maintenance, repair, and other assistance (which can be tricky, but not impossible). Your initial clutch control CAN be overcome, and if, in trying some more, you find you do not feel comfortable, THEN seek alternatives. Conclusion: in reading all of this, did it spark some thoughts on how you wish to proceed in learning to ride? Did something leap out and say, hey, that would be something to look in to? Did you find yourself saying, if I do this first, then this next, then work on this, I can achieve my dream? That's a battle plan! I know that your journey back from lost confidence will not be easy, but make a list, talk it out with your partner, consider varying courses of action, choose/adjust, but most importantly, don't give up. – Mama Wednesday, March 22 For Lee who is experiencing new rider challenges with her Buell Blast: My Little Buell Blast looked like a giant until I mastered her nuances. Now she's a Blast! And those once nasty figure 8's ( I failed them too in Riders Edge on the 250cc) are too much fun. I can breeze through in both directions without a clutch. Beating all the guys! Don't give up on her . . . she's a great first bike! P.S. I 'm 5'2" with a low seat and now considering a higher seat. – Jude (note from Mama: thanks for sharing a "it can be mastered" message!) In October when my husband and I signed up to take the MSF class I had absolutely no motorcycle experience to speak of. Up until that day I had never ridden as a passenger much less as the driver. I was as novice as they come. I went to the class to specifically learn "not to kill myself or others." I have never taken the Rider's Edge class, so I can't comment on it, but the Motorcycle Safety Foundation class I took (Team Arizona) was specifically geared toward wanna-be riders just like me. No experience needed. While many of the people in the class wanted to graduate from passenger to driver, I wasn't the only one in the room with zero motorcycle experience. During the course of the 3 days one of the most often repeated phrases must have been "this is a class for beginners, if you are more advanced you are welcome to stay, but this is a class for beginners and will be taught as such." The idea of getting on a motorcycle scared me, a lot, but I stuck with it and failed. The bike and I fell over while we were standing still. I had just done the emergency stop portion of the test, did manage to stop quite nicely and then proceeded to lose my balance and fall over. My lack of balance caused me to fail the test. I was offered the opportunity to take it again. Which I did. I passed the second time. In my class there was this one lady who quit within a half an hour of the on motorcycle part of the class. It seems that she fell over/laid it down first off and walked out muttering about not being able to do it. When I asked the instructor, a retired motorcycle cop, about her at my retest, he said that she had signed up for a couple of hours of private lessons, at the same site and with the same equipment that had defeated her the first time, and by the time she was done she aced the endorsement test. He said that he has noticed that some people can't learn something like motorcycle riding in a group atmosphere. There is too much pressure, either real or imagined, from a group of people watching them not perform up to expectations, again either real or imagined. But once this same person gets one on one, personalized, no pressure instruction they flourish. If the class that Lee took was not designed for beginners, she might want to look into a class that is. I spent some time with Google (my dear friend) and found http://home.earthlink.net/~ncmotorcyclesafety/. It is a web site for the NC motorcycle safety education program. At the bottom of the site is a link that's called SITES, which will bring up a list of the community colleges in NC that have MSF classes. I randomly selected one (Durham Tech) put motorcycle in the search engine and came up with the beginner class, who's only prerequisite is having ridden a bicycle. My questions for Lee would be, did you get the Buell checked out by a certified mechanic when you bought it to make sure that it's actually operating properly? Sometimes it is the machine and not the operator that is at fault. Lee, whatever you do give it some time and patience. My husband and I purchased a Yamaha Virago 250 right after taking the class. I started riding in the parking lots in my neighborhood, then slowly progressed to riding to work (10 to 20 minutes in urban traffic), but it wasn't until last week that I had the nerve to venture out onto the highway. I only went 1 exit (I was actually on my way to work, and detoured) but I discovered that I could go 65 in highway traffic and it wasn't nearly as scary as I had imagined it would be. I was so excited that I told everyone I came in contact with that I had ventured out onto highway on my way to work. Not realizing the personal significance of this feat, they looked at me like I had lost a couple of marbles. My husband was the only one who "got it." His support helps a lot, but the fact that I got it, I faced my fear of the highway, and in my own time and manner I conquered it. You can too. Time and patience and the right instructor/class. From one novice to another . . . Hope this helps. – Lisa (note from Mama: thanks for letting Lee know she is not alone and offering some specific examples of sticking with it for a satisfying conclusion! I agree that a mechanic's check of all systems may be warranted.) First, I was a bit shocked in hearing that an instructor
dropped a bike during a demo and that the instructor said they'd duck walk the
bike, given a similar situation. Sure, there's nothing wrong with duck walking
a bike. I admit it, I do it when I have to. BUT, if an instructor expects
students to do something, no matter what it is, no matter what is being
taught, the instructor should be able to do it -- consistently. Period. Thursday, March 23 More for Lee who is experiencing new rider challenges with her Buell Blast: When I got tired of staring at the back of my husband's helmet, I signed up for the safety course. I had to wait 5 months for an opening, during this time I started looking for a starter bike. I ended up getting a Buell Blast. I had never ridden a motorcycle before the course; we rode 125cc dirt bikes in the course. Somehow I managed to pass, even though the instructors called me "Clutch." I practiced on the Blast in my neighborhood for months. I finally traded the Blast in for a larger Buell for my husband. I could never get the hang of the clutch. When my husband would ask me if I wanted to practice, I would always have an excuse why I couldn't. I found a Virago 535 for sale, bought it, and rode it for a year, now I ride a Harley. I gave up on the Blast, but not on myself. – Stephanie (note from Mama: yes, sometimes a first bike can prove to be a mismatch with the rider, to the point of eroding the experience, and I agree, give it a shot and then move on.) As another beginner, I agreed with everything that's been said already, and realized the most important thing . . . riding a motorcycle may seem like riding a bicycle in principle, and so it can be frustrating to not "get it" completely right away. I personally despised the Buells in my Rider's Edge class, mainly because they weren't maintained well, so presented problems. They were also extremely lightweight, and considering I'm a big girl, I was having a good bit of trouble feeling confident and comfortable on them. As you know, I bowed out of class the first time (my partner and I both did). I did much better the second time, but still felt very unstable on the bikes, so had lost my confidence a bit to now ride my own bike sitting in the garage. Same problem for my partner . . she's had to overcome confidence issues. We've taken things verrrrry slowly, and have gone out by ourselves as well as together a few times. I have come to the conclusion that this will always be a progressive learning process for me, and taking baby steps isn't such a bad thing! I feel completely comfortable on my bike now, because it's much heavier, and steadier on the road (hence my statement that it's forgiving to a beginner who is wobbling off in first). She shouldn't give up, even if it takes her weeks of playing with the clutch zone, etc in her driveway . . . who cares if the neighbors think you're nuts! It's really no different than trying different manual shift cars . . . some are a lot more difficult to learn on than others, but worth the challenge. I've been taking well planned short trips for the past few months, haven't even ridden it to work yet, and don't really care about the people asking me when I am (they want to see the bike of course). Baby steps, but I finally felt ready enough this past weekend to get on the main nightmare highway around Orlando (think mixture of commuters and tourists not knowing where they're going . . . like high speed bumper cars). I intended to just get on the highway and if I felt unsafe get right off, but ended up going all the way to Daytona which is 60 miles away. Pulled up to a friend's house with the biggest grin on my face! And the sorest butt I've ever had (wow, stock seat is awful!) . . . but then I couldn't wait to get BACK on the highway! It helps greatly that I work with two longtime riders, who are just as proud of my accomplishments as I am. Sorry this is longwinded , but overcoming that hurdle boosted my confidence tenfold . . . that's when I realized that baby steps are fine as long as you're safe, and you're enjoying yourself riding. I practiced in my driveway quite a bit before venturing on the road, and still practice the slope start when I get back from a ride. I'd love to get to a point where my partner and I can both ride our bikes to the conference in Athens, but if we're not, that's okay too, we'll just drive up and still enjoy ourselves. (note: discounted conference registration fees end on March 31, so if you're going, get this done!) You can post my email address for her if you want (PetcopFL@aol.com) . . . I can't be a mentor obviously, because I'm a newbie, but can probably compare notes with Lee to help her get over her fear. – Kat (note from Mama: mentors come in all flavors! Sometimes a new rider is well served having someone who has more recently been through a part of the learning curve, as experienced riders can sometimes forget the immediate newbie feelings. You've done a nice job reminding a new rider that baby steps, even if one particular thing takes weeks to get, is perfectly ok! I look forward to a big hug in Athens!) Tuesday, March 28 Even more for Lee who is experiencing new rider challenges with her Buell Blast: I have the same bike you have. I also own a 2002 Buell Blast with the regular seat. I am 5' 1 1/2" and about 115 lbs. I did have the lower seat but found the regular seat to be more comfortable and made handling the bike easier some how. I have now been riding for about 2 years and this is my first bike aside from riding dirt bikes when I was younger. I also am currently in the Army and was also in Iraq. We do have a lot in common. I do live in NC but in a town called Fayetteville. The Community College is the best place to take the Basic Riders Course. It is a lot cheaper then Riders Edge and they give you a full day of class room instruction. They provide the bike. I took the one in Lumberton at Robeson Community College. I don't know how far away this is for you but they have very good instructors. You might want to check out a community College near you to see what they have to offer. I know if you do this it will help you get over your fear. Let the instructors know what happened the first time you tried it so they can give you extra advice and help you get through it. I did not fall in my Basic Riders Course but I too had a great fear in the beginning with my bike and took a little while before I was more comfortable with it. Now it is fun to ride and I am so happy I started with this bike. If you want to contact me with any more questions you can reach me at electakute@hotmail.com. I wish you the best of luck and hope you continue to find a way to overcome your fear. I know you can do this. – Electa (note from Mama: what a wonderful letter of support and encouragement and it's amazing how much you share already! I truly hope Lee contacts you, as one-on-one mentorship can be such a great blessing and relief!) Tuesday, March 28 For Shelley who is waiting on a course opening to get her dream of riding started: I wish you all the best Shelley. I was 43 when I first ever
got on a motorcycle and that was at the MANYS MSF course! If you find only
1/100th the enjoyment in motorcycling as I have you will not be
able to stand it! Ride Safe Tuesday, April 4 Dear VTwin Mama, I decided if she was brave enough to buy a brand new bike, she felt confident enough in her MSF class to do this. I am so proud of her for getting out there. I stood in the middle making sure she did good head turns and focused her eyes where they needed to focus. I had her practice a lot of right circles so by the time she crossed over to do left turns, I could see how much more comfortable she was with her left circles. It was awesome. I wanted to let you know since you have influenced so many of us and here is one way we can thank you, by extending ourselves to others. Obviously I understand the challenge of being responsible when teaching someone else. If I didn't feel comfortable with the exercises, having practiced them over and over myself and have a lot of experience teaching sports, I would not have even considered it. Here is to a great riding season! – Sandra Dear Sandra, Hi again VTwin Mama, Dear Shelley, As in any learning experience, it is next to impossible to predict immediate success. To quote Milton Berle, "We owe a lot to Thomas Edison - if it wasn't for him, we'd be watching television by candlelight." Ok, that's just funny! But the one I keep in mind is, "The greatest risk is not taking one." This reminds me that the journey is just important as the outcome. So please do not go into that course without understanding that despite your best efforts, you may not grasp every concept right off the bat. Otherwise, if something isn't going well on the first try, you may mentally collapse under the pressure you have set up for yourself. So, what to do while you wait. Short of getting a bike or finding someone with a bike for some initial hands-on time, perhaps you could check into whether you could sit on the sidelines of the riding portion of a class and watch the instructor put students through their paces. That would help you see people learning and give you a better idea of what you'll actually be doing when your class comes around. Readers, any other ideas? – Mama Thursday, April 6 For Shelley who is waiting for her riding class that doesn't start for 2 more months: The instructor of my course (who was
awesome) told me that people who have never ridden are the best pupils,
because they don't know everything. Remember that you will have to
practice and have patience. Keep up the desire and dedication and you
will truly enjoy riding. Here are a few things that I would
recommend trying before taking the course:
Remember
that riding a motorcycle is equally serious as it is exhilarating. Learn well
and pick the brains of your instructors. Take the course as many times
as you would like. It is always possible to learn something new or
better than before. To get ready for the MSF course you can buy a bicycle and start riding it to learn balance and control -- take it to a parking lot and start riding the bike in ever decreasingly smaller circles and then work on figure eights. The feeling of the bike's handlebars will get you used to the idea of extreme steering and pushing and pulling on the bars to go the direction you want -- just like you will do on a motorcycle later on. As for not driving a stick shift car -- that's ok -- driving a manual car and riding a motorcycle are 2 totally different experiences anyway! Just be aware that riding a motorcycle is MUCH harder than driving a stick shift car and involves many more activities happening all at once. – Dorathy Biddinger (note from Mama: what a cool idea! Readers, Dorathy owns an independent riding school which you can find on my Learning to Ride page.) I was in your place 18 years ago. Taking the MSF course is the best move you can make to learn to ride. I know it is scary but just relax and stay positive. I ran into my instructor (thank goodness it was at a very slow speed) and still passed the course. The next weekend after I passed, my boyfriend took me out to a country road and put me on his rigid frame, kickstart, apehanger Shovelhead. He told me to ride down to the bridge, turn around and come back. Well, as I was making the turn, one of my instructor's repeated comments from the class ran through my mind "when turning look where you want to go, not where your front wheel is going." Of course, I was looking exactly where my front wheel was going as I went right into the ditch. Knowing that I had to get the bike out of the ditch, I grabbed a handful of throttle and found that the Shovel was much more powerful than the little Honda I had learned on. I corkscrewed the bike right into the ground. Nobody hurt and I found that adrenalin can help you lift a big twin as you watch your boyfriend walk calmly down the road to your rescue. We discussed what I did wrong and he made me do it again. I was successful turning the bike around the second time. Needless to say, he still married me even after I put his "baby" in the ditch. However, he did not build me my own bike for 6 more years. I took the MSF course a 2nd time right before I got my bike and I've never looked back. I enjoyed my time behind my hubby but having your own set of handlebars is an unexplainable rush. Good luck with your MSF course, enjoy yourself and remember always look where you want to go and not where your front wheel is going! – Tricia on her '64 HD rigid Sporty and '05 HD 883L (note from Mama: touché! Riding a bike is soooo much a mental "game," as much as it is about the technical aspects of it, but as you have chronicled, the ultimate success comes from never giving up, treating everything as an opportunity to learn, and realizing that some lessons come when least expected!) For Susan who is just getting started and finds that levels of support vary greatly: Congratulations on your accomplishments so far! Keep it up, you won't be sorry. I, too, had several people try to rain on my parade, some still do, I've been riding a year now. I started on a Honda Rebel also, and hubby helped me so much in the parking lot. Soon you'll feel just fine going 55 down the road, it just seems to happen. I tried to practice every day or every other day for even an hour, it seems to help getting on your bike often, rather than just all day Saturday. Then I took the MSF course, and was ready, so passed easily. Now I ride my Triumph just as easily as I did the Rebel. You can do it, it will be so much fun very soon! If I were in your area, I would ride with you. Tell your hubby "great bike choice!" Ride safe, – Penny from Iowa (note from Mama: that whole "when is it going to click" can be elusive, but I agree that if a rider keeps practicing, the moment will arrive eventually, and trusting that it will is as important as anything!) Susan sounds like me. My neighborhood rides were short in the beginning and I thought I'd never get past the stage where everything was deliberate. It's like anything else "new" that you learn, keep doing it and one day it just clicks. After a short ride, I would come home drained, emotionally and physically, but so happy! That gets better as well. Good luck with the riding course. Try to relax and enjoy it, because you have your own bike and you're already riding! That aside, I understand how Susan feels about getting flack from friends about her beloved new venture. I like Macs, motorcycles and roller coasters (yes, I go coastering) and my friends think I'm a freak. Oh yeah, and I just turned 50. Oh well. When you beat your own path, you can't expect everyone to follow. – Linda C. (note from Mama: as I've aged, hopefully with some grace (!), I find that I more easily champion any pathway a friend wishes to follow as I know that in their heart this is the way they wish to go. Sigh . . . if only everyone adopted that attitude we would all more likely pursue our dreams sooner rather than later!) For Penny and Linda C. who wrote in to encourage Susan in her quest for support: Thank you, Thank you, Thank you !!!!!!!!!! Penny, I really wish you were here to ride
with me . . . what I find so lovely is that you went from a Rebel to a
Triumph. I ride a Rebel and my English-born and raised Hubby, rides a
Triumph-Bonneville. To those of you who are just starting out
. . . REACH OUT through this site. You will find more help and encouragement .
. . and that encouragement makes ALL the difference in those low moments!!!! I contacted the only woman (registered
through this site) who lives minutes from me and though she is a more
experienced rider, I know that I will eventually be a great ride partner for
her and her for me. Because we need the support of other free minded, free
spirited, loving women who want to go into the rest of their lives
experiencing the confident-self and the benevolent-self , we can become a
community that knows no bounds when it comes to self –growth and
community outreach that effects great change!! . . . in our own lives and the
lives of many others. I am sooooo proud to be a new member of
the biking community!!!!!!!!!!! You all are awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!! Monday, April 10 For Susan who is appreciative of the support she is getting at the VTwin Mama site: I agree that the VTwin Mama site has helped and encouraged many women riders, and Petra is very knowledgeable, not only about motorcycles, but about common sense and the simple joys in life. All of us, especially us newbies, cannot thank you enough, Petra! My husband and I lived in Suffolk County, England, for five years. That is one reason I ride a Triumph. We loved living there, the people are great, and the country is beautiful. Sure hope your hubby likes living in the US! Not many roundabouts or passing places here! We are planning to go back to England for a vacation, and will rent bikes when we get there. Best of luck, Susan, ride safe. – Penney from Iowa (note from Mama: it's my pleasure to support the efforts of all women riders and help meet challenges throughout the entire adventure!) Friday, April 14 Dear VTwin Mama, Well, it wasn't raining but the roads were a little wet. The forecast looked a bit better and my friend Wendy said it wasn't raining out by her, so I left to meet her out there. She has her license, so she came with me to drive the examiner around (they don't make it easy to get your license in NY). 5 miles from home the rain began, and the roads were wet almost the whole way. My bike was a mess from the rain, but I did fine on it, and it wasn't too bad out at the road test site, just some light sprinkles for a bit. We had to wait a while because I was behind about 10 other people, but finally it was my turn. I handed the examiner (a woman) my documents, and she asked for my drivers license, too. I thought I had my wallet, but I had left it at home. Oh, no! It could have been a real problem, but she was real nice about it and she called in my name just to be sure I had one. What a relief! I was nervous during the test, but she said I did fine, and everything was great. Afterward I went with Wendy to her house to help her mount her new saddlebags on her bike, since she helped me out with the road test. We were laughing about how I had to ride over 100 miles round trip to get my license. Riding home it was sunny and beautiful. Definitely better in the warm sun with my license than in the cold rain with only a permit. My husband and I went out to dinner to celebrate, and my two boys are glad I'm finally legal. (so am I). I never rode in the rain because it made me nervous and the bike gets dirty, but it's not so bad. You just have to take it easy, and stay smooth. Keep up the great work, I always enjoy reading the letters on your site. I look at it almost every day. Best wishes, – Jennifer on Long Island Dear Jennifer, Monday, April 17 Dear Mama P (Petra), It
is WONDERFUL. How To Ride a Motorcycle by Pat Hahn. No one will regret
picking this up as you try to figure out how to practice, what to practice,
why to practice and why, all of a sudden you have been completely swept off
your feet and have such an insatiable passion for all things motorcycle, and
how the inner strength here-to-fore resting needs to be free. No “you are
not crazy”!! Dear Susan, I have often noted that some people learn best by reading, others by watching, and some prefer it in combo. There are information sources of all types! I'll also add that I've penned a Learning to Ride a Motorcycle article ($3.95) that helps someone contemplating the learning process to explore in-depth the type of person they are, the options available, and important things to take into consideration while pondering the pathways. Over the 5+ years of the VTwin Mama, I have also found that a reader will "finally get it" because of the particular way something was written . . . it could be the same relative advice, but that singular wording clicks for that reader. Same thing for learning books, articles, DVDs and such . . . each has a tone and flavor! Thanks for sharing the one that really made a difference to you! – Mama Tuesday, April 18 Dear VTwin Mama, My goal of taking the class was to ride a scooter. There weren't any scooters available that weekend, only motorcycles. My big concern with riding a motorcycle was that I don't know how to operate a manual transmission. I let the school know this and they said it wouldn't be a problem. Well, guess what? It was a problem. I couldn't keep up with the other students. There was simply too much information for me to process I guess. So, I walked out. I sent a letter to the school on Monday, requesting that they send me, at their cost, to a private lesson or to a Motorcycle 101/Scootering class. Honestly, the MSF needs to clarify the prerequisites for the Beginner Rider Course. Just knowing how to ride a bicycle isn't enough. Heck, I rode my bicycle, in traffic, even, all last year, and still couldn't get through the course. With motorcycles and scooters gaining in popularity, I'm sure that more stories like mine will come to light. Meanwhile, I'm not discouraged. If anything the class taught me, I should know how to operate a manual transmission. One other goal for the summer, I guess. Anyone in the Denver metro area willing to teach me on this? Take care and have a lovely day. – Mol Dear Mol, I have to admit that I've never heard of a course offering a scooter for training. I'm assuming you are interested in a scooter with automatic transmission, as they are available in both manual and auto tranny styles. I'm also assuming you haven't purchased one yet. In my mind it would be difficult to find a mentor willing to take on the responsibility of training unless you had your own bike, and even then, only the most experienced riders would take on the task. Still, you could contact local chapters of national women's riding organizations and introduce yourself. These women may be able to steer you to a private tutor, etc. in the local area. You may also wish to contact the local scooter dealers and ask them about specific training they offer or know of. – Mama Dear VTwin Mama, Anyway, while making a right turn the bike jumped (due to my being in the wrong gear, 2nd, rather than first) and I landed in the grass verge. I strained both my right and left knee and off work now for 10 days as the ligaments are all stretched. Thank goodness for leathers and padding! I am still very scared. I did like the feeling of driving the bike, I am just terrified of changing gears and getting everything right so I don't end up hurt again. I'm a little overwhelmed I think. I don't know if I am right for riding or should continue with lessons. It's a lot of money to waste if I'm not cut out for this. I'm just a young lass of 46 in Scotland and men just don't seem to get that you would be scared, they act as if they have been riding forever and it's always been easy! – Kathryn McIntosh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland Dear Kathryn, Yes, the first oopsie is the hardest as it immediately evokes the "am I nuts" syndrome, which is even more horrible when you are healing from injury and have additional time to think about it. Yikes! My best wishes for your speedy recovery, physical-wise. So, let's address your mental recovery now. My guess is that riding a motorcycle has been something you've been thinking about for quite some time and you finally decided to pursue it. At your young age, you join a huge number of women doing the same thing, from 16 to 90 years of age! We are the wave of the future! DO NOT LET THE DREAM DIE INSIDE YOU! It is my opinion, and one shared by many, that beginning lessons should always be conducted in a obstacle- and distraction-free zone. The road adds so many more challenges that a new rider quickly becomes overwhelmed. My suggestion is that once you are ready, continue with lessons but insist that it be done in a large, empty parking lot or something similar. Not knowing your region, if necessary, take the car and scout out an acceptable area. In such an environment, you would be able to concentrate solely on the actual mechanical skills needed. Please also understand that with no previous shifting/clutching/braking combo experience, it's going to take a number of lessons before the coordination and confidence is built. The joy is unbelievable and well-worth working on. While you are recuperating, it's a good time to practice. Yes, that's what I said! Close your eyes and imagine yourself on a paved surface with nothing but a straight shot in front of you. The bike is running. Now, with your hands and legs in relative position, squeeze your hand to simulate the pulling in of the clutch lever, tap your foot to imitate clicking into first gear, and then the letting out your clenched fist and rolling your other wrist for that bit of throttle you need to get going. See yourself doing this smoothly and in control. Now imagine that you need to stop. Do the hand/feet things in the order you need for a smooth controlled stop. Now start the bike in first again, and then imagine yourself shifting to second. Now see that stop coming up and coordinate everything for a good stop. Then, get started again, move into second, and see that turn coming up. What steps do you need to do for a good turn . . . see yourself doing it. It's not silly! It is truly a wonderful exercise to pre-think and mentally practice your steps so that when you next approach the bike, you brain is already tuned in. And there is nothing better than positive visualization to shoo out that less-than-perfect experience. Which would you rather do over the next week . . . dwell on the negative or take charge and visualize the positive? I'm guessing I know your answer! Now, when you go back to lessons, remember that ultimately you decide if you wish to continue in this sport. There is no shame in realizing it may not be for you. What would be horrible is not giving this a really good try. A waste of money? NOT. Money is always well spent in the pursuit of a desire and you'll never have to say "what if." The greatest risk is not taking one. I truly believe that in all life matters. I hope this letter of encouragement hits the mark and you find yourself grinning ear to ear with the possibilities. Will you be the next woman to write in saying, "I DID IT. I REALLY DID IT!" ?!?!?!?! That would be a happy day for me! – Mama Thursday, April 20 For Kathryn, the newest member of the New Rider Oopsie Club, but then, who wasn't?!: I am 47, one
month to 48, short, stocky or ample as I like to say, drove a standard
transmission 2 times 30 years ago . . . I have only been riding 6 weeks, in the scheme of things as far as I can tell, that is like being a day old fetus. Today, while practicing on my 2 mile figure eight neighborhood course, I stalled her (Geeves) at a stop sign and she wanted very much to lay down and nap. I can’t recall now what I didn’t do right to make her stall (other than the obvious) but I do know that I must not have had her straight on and that is why she wanted to go down. It took some muscle and I pulled her up, started her again and practice a few more miles. I know that
a great rider is ALWAYS ready to learn new and better ways of handling a
situation and a new rider cannot be any different. We MUST be patient with
ourselves and most importantly, for me anyway, be proud of taking the journey,
and not try to project and be proud of something we have not accomplished yet.
In other words, don’t focus past the journey. For me the exhilaration I feel
just doing the “little” things right now are just like the exhilaration
caused by those “big” things encountered by an experienced rider. See? I just read
a great book by Pat
Hahn entitled “How to Ride a Motorcycle” and while you are healing
physically this will help you to mentally practice like Mama P. said and help
to rebuild that determination. Everything helps. P.S. my
husband is from Dear VTwin Mama, To make a long story short, I've been the passenger for about 3 years now. I love Harleys - you can't ignore all that horsepower, after all! I decided over the weekend, that it was time to ride for myself, so I walked into the nearest HD dealer and bought a brand new '06 Softail Deluxe. Woo Hoo! It's still in their basement, awaiting another delivery of a brand new '06 Street Glide for my boyfriend. He's building a custom and also has a '94 Heritage that is gorgeous. Okay, so we're a little self-indulgent. Anyway, I fell onto your site by accident while shopping online for a set of saddlebags. I'm tickled pink! There is a lot of great information here and I love looking at the pics. This weekend I will be taking the basic riding course. I'm a little nervous (okay, a lot nervous) about learning on a 250 pound bike, then taking off on a 700 pound bike. My boyfriend is more nervous than me, poor thing. Anyway, if there is any good advice out there, I'd love to hear it! Wish me luck! – Monica Dear Monica, Are you worried you'll have an oopsie and/or embarrass yourself? Phooey . . . you've already ridden a bike and it will come back quickly and remember, the instructors have seen it all! Make a point of smiling during all phases of the course and finding a funny remark like, "Oh dear, that didn't go quite as well as I had hoped! Your positive attitude will be a catalyst not only for you, but all the other students! Or perhaps you're thinking, if I don't do a perfect job in the course, what chance do I have on the big new wonderful bike waiting for me? Why pysch yourself out? When you take the course, you'll be put through the skills in steps, and once you have the permit or license in hand, you simply go to the nearest empty parking lot, set up cones or tennis balls cut in half (or something else soft and squishy) to mimic the course, and start from the beginning, but on your bike. It definitely helps if you focus on visualizing a positive experience/outcome rather than every negative thing that could happen. On a small piece of paper, write down a positive thought, like "this is the most fun adventure I've had in a long time" and put it in your pants pocket when you leave for the course. Pat your pocket or pull the paper out as needed! – Mama Friday, April 21 For Monica who will be taking a course but already has the bigger bike waiting for her: I too was very nervous about the difference in the Kawasaki 125 and the 883 Sporty I had at home. The afternoon I passed my motorcycle course, a friend drove my Sporty to a parking lot for me where I could practice. I was very nervous about the weight difference. Yeah, I can ride that "little thing," but what about that 600 lb. "top heavy" Sporty? Turned out to be a non issue. Yeah, you gotta make sure you're straight up when you stop, and you have to watch the tight maneuvers at low speeds, but you will get the feel of it immediately! I have dropped it twice (forgot to put the KS down both times) and highly recommend an engine guard. Other than that . . . don't worry, you'll find the groove much faster than you think. – jojo (note from Mama: I like that you had a friend lined-up to get the Sporty to a safe practice zone in order to move from the small to big bike! Monica, why not give that some thought!) Monday, April 24 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear I Crash, There you could set up markers (cones, tennis balls cut in half, plastic cups) to mimic intersections, stops, turns, backing a bike into a parking slot, etc. so that you can learn the specific handling characteristics of your new bike without worrying about "stuff." The two of you can do this together and begin building the riding partnership. Once you feel confident on the basics again, then it's time to map out a simple route and ride it during a low traffic time with you in the lead to set the pace and hubby there "just in case." You may gain more having him out front when you're ready for higher speed rides that include curves in the road, as long as the pace is still "talked out" between the two of you. In all of this, if you feel safer riding second, then by
all means, do so. At some point you're going to turn to your hubby dearest
and say, "it's my turn to lead now." What fun! –
Mama Monday, April 24 More for Monica who will be taking a course but has the bigger bike waiting for her: Six months ago, I too purchased my Sporty 883 just 1 week after passing MSF on a "little bike" and was concerned about riding it home (about 15 miles of "main" roads, between it's former home and mine). So I had a more experienced friend come along and ride it to a nearby school parking lot so I could practice with it and decide if I was too "chicken" to take it out in traffic so soon. Well, suffice it to say that once I tried it, there was NO WAY anyone but me was taking my baby home! (My friend was VERY disappointed, but very supportive!). I rode it home that night and haven't stopped since! Now that the weather has warmed up (I'm from the Kansas City metro area) , I ride it to work most days (I have a 30 mile commute one way and you can't beat the mileage!) and just returned from a 4 day trip to Eureka Springs. What a fabulous way to travel! – HD Haro (note from Mama: I can hear the joy in your voice as you share your experience! It was smart that you had a friend at the ready no matter what the outcome was!) Dear VTwin Mama, When I got home, my BF's Nostalgia was out and he let me play with it in the front of the garage. I pushed it around just to get used to the weight. Going from a 200 pound bike to an 800 pound bike was a rude awakening and a tough workout. He had me practice backing it up and parking. I think he had his doubts as to whether I could bully it around, but I did, and that put a big smile on his face. This weekend, I'm picking up my Deluxe and bringing it home. We plan on spending as much time as I need in the parking lot, going over the same drills as in the MSF course until I feel confident enough to take it out into the street. We'll then take some short, easy trips and build from there. I'm pretty excited at this point; the biggest problem I'm having is sleeping at night. I keep 'riding' in my head and once I do that, can't get back to sleep. LOL. I'll keep you all posted as to how things go. I know the learning never stops and this is just the beginning of bigger and better things. – Monica Dear Monica, I had to chuckle when you shared that if you think about riding at/during sleep time, you can't get to/back to sleep . . . as I wake up in the middle of the night (2am this morning) and can't get all the wonderful things I have planned for the VTwin Mama site out of my head and getting back to sleep is near impossible (I simply got up at 4:30am today because it was useless). A quick recap on this: the VTwin Mama site has been my passion for over 5 years now, but as of June 28th, I'm letting go of all my freelance work to pursue the business of VTwin Mama full-time! Omigosh Monica, we're both going to be exhausted before
we even get to the next step! That's ok, a few dark shadows under the eyes
will quickly pass . . . we all look forward to hearing how it's going for
you and maybe (!) seeing a picture of you and your bike?! –
Mama Tuesday, April 25 Dear VTwin Mama, Here's my story. I have been riding in and around NYC for 14 years now. My first riding lesson was at 16 when my drunk buddy offered me to ride his unregistered, uninsured 500 Interceptor. Not smart but it was what it was. I then rode a GPZ 550 without a helmet. I don't count those experiences as part of my riding. My buddies wiped out one by one and I thought, not for me at this time. Some 8 years later, riding training consisted of enough basic stuff through a school to pass the DMV test and to be safe at very low speeds, that was 14 years ago. I learned mostly by reading and riding. That was followed by 3 crashes with minor injuries, all preventable - a term I learned 3 years ago (after some 23 years of driving and riding over 400,000 miles), while going through Bus Driver training. I am not a bus driver, just valued the training and took advantage of the opportunity to go through it. In one crash, a pick-up truck passed my bike inside the turn with 2 wheels of the pavement on a narrow 2 lane mountain road, and then pushed me into the oncoming traffic lane. He was tough and faster and I was hurting for a while. It was what it was, again. I did run that accident in my mind over and over and was years before I could ride the same road again with confidence. What does that mean? According to my bus driving instructor, it does not matter who is at fault, it matters only if you could have prevented the accident. Can you identify the potential hazards and adjust for all potential conflicts? If YES, than DO IT: Off the throttle, cover the brake, change lane position, stop if you have to (bingo! I should have stopped the bike and force the truck to pass me a few miles back, for I did notice some aggressiveness in his driving = preventable). Always cover the brake going through an intersection, it reduces your stopping distance in an emergency my instructor yelled again. Man, this is hard! This guy is a pain! For 5 grueling days, 7-9 hours a day, I had to drive a bus in city traffic, through crowded intersections, the whole time learning and motivated by the first statement the instructor made to me: "I live in the city and my small kids play in the street. If at any time during the next five days I do not feel comfortable that you can safely operate this 40,000 lb vehicle on my block, you will not pass and you will not be allowed to take the DMV practical." Stress was added in day 3 where his uncapped bottle of water would regularly rest on the dash and it could not spill (smooth on throttle, smooth on brakes, smooth in turns). My 1-2 hour drives drenched my back. In day five I was not perspiring any more. It was enjoyable to maneuver this 40 foot bus with ease and safety, just like riding my bicycle. Not seeing a bicycle or motorcycle lane-splitting nearby, earned me a slam on the trolley brake (a remote brake for the instructor) that almost made my head contact the steering wheel. "That is my daughter on that bike! You could have injured her! Scan your space, expect others to do the unexpected! Let's go now!" Forward Planning is what he called it. Visualize the car turning in a drive way in front of you, see the ice-cream truck, expect kids to dart from between parked cars. See that idiot on the cell phone? Expect anything from him as maybe he is getting directions: u-turn, left, right, abrupt stop, ALL HAZARDS! Move the bus, communicate (signal or tap brakes), drive, scan, slow down,...) Scan, scan, scan! Slam on the trolley brake and then he would ask: what color car just passed on our left? How many kids on the park bench up ahead? Get moving and scan and built a live picture. Be aware of the constantly changing environment around you. Awareness keeps you safe. Use your brain! Think and think some more! Call out hazards so I can hear them! This instructor and a few others like him, train bus drivers for NYC Transit. These drivers have to "cover" their mirrors and blind spots from bicycles, motorcycles, taxi-cabs, delivery vans, tourists, pedestrians, kids, people with impairments (visual, aural, mental, etc) while providing directions, announcing stops, responding to radio calls. All these vehicles fight aggresively for time and position. Tough job to protect your passengers and other drivers/riders. Experience means you just live this way: always aware, always scan, always safe. Parting words from the instructor: "there are a few thousand bus drivers that operate safely for many years, you can't prevent everything, but most accidents are preventable, take what you learned and built on this, always safe!" He also rode a motorcycle in his spare time I learned a few months later. These instructors define professionalism and is evidenced by the excellent safety record of the NYC Transit bus drivers/operators. I also learned about Oreos And that I did not want to become one. During highway driving the instructor accented on the importance of not spending more time than required during passing or being passed sandwiched between two vehicles or vehicle and guard-rail or roll-over barriers. Truck passing you on left, roll-off throttle and cover brake, as soon as passes, get back on throttle - don't be an Oreo. Making a right turn, never leave room on your right for a car to try to pass on right keep 4 feet from parked cars or curb at all times if safe to do so. Is that 4 feet, my instructor barked? I can squeeze a garbage truck through your four feet. It is rare but sometimes cars in a hurry use the bus stop or parking lane to pass on right especially at an intersection. They are wrong but if you protect the gap, you prevent a potential accident. This does not mean you should weave in and out of the right lane, but always protect your lane using a combination of tactics that give you room to avoid road hazards and protect your stopping distances. What else did I learn, pre-trip inspection. Wear appropriate and comfortable clothing. Be rested. Stay hydrated. Drinking, medication, exhaustion, bad mood, stay home or take the bus. My helmet contacted the pavement in all three crashes. The new $500 Arai is comfy, looks cool, is light, and I am doing my best to keep it away from the pavement. I ditched each helmet after each impact. It costs less than detuctible+pain. I don't believe in helmet laws or that you must wear leathers. Wear whatever you like. Just be comfortable and think while you ride as well as before. One of my crashes was a high side that landed me on my shoulder and my long sleeved blue-jean shirt got shredded. My skin was fine. It was about 98 degrees and I wanted to take that shirt off and ride in the tee-shirt so bad. Working in a machine shop, and seeing guys slip into the sander once in while, makes me want to put a layer of protection between my skin and the pavement. Shorts and tank-top and no gloves, go to the machine shop and ask for the sander. A girl friend low-sided on gravel in a turn while wearing fingerless gloves (aka, workout gloves). All ten fingers lost varying amounts of tissue during the Spider-Man imitation. When I saw her I wondered out loud: how do you wipe yourself? She laughed, called me a SOB and told me that if it wasn't for her sisters and mom, this simple task would be daunting. Washing is also hard she told me. Her top of the line Shoei (RF700 back then) did protect that beautiful face. She's been riding her newer Ducati 748 with good protection since. I think her kids will learn from Mom that cool and safe can coexist. I applied all these lessons and more to riding my beautiful new baby: 1990 Hawk GT. I have so much more fun now. Legal does not mean safe and safe does not mean legal. Please be careful out there, always alert, always in shape, always have fun and ride safely! – Danny in NYC Dear Danny, Wednesday, April 26 For Monica who passed her course last weekend: I also passed mine this weekend. HOORAY! It was in the rain
the entire weekend and it was cold! I highly recommend the safety weekends,
they are packed with information and ALL of it extremely useful. The whole
weekend builds awareness, skill and confidence. And I thought I had a bad
addiction before the MSF, now its worse . . . or better, depending on how ya
look at it!!!!! Thursday, April 27 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Debbie, While the MSF and other courses will take a completely new rider in hand, if you get to the riding portion and have absolutely no clues, the whole experience can be quite overwhelming. You may you are a complete natural, or not! My suggestion is to visit the MSF's Library where you will find a number of useful articles (some in PDF format). I would start with the Motorcycle Operator Manual booklet, which covers the controls on a motorcycle (location, use, etc.) and tons more stuff. You'll also find the Handbook they'll use in the course. Then I would hop over to my Education Center page. This page was just revamped by me last night! Basically I segmented the Books section into three categories: Learn To Ride, Repair/Maintenance, and Ride Stories. Easier to search and new books added! Consider starting your motorcycle library with one of them! I'll also point out the Video/DVD section because some people learn better by watching rather than reading . . . and you'll find ones for the very basic skills to more advanced techniques. If you don't have access to a motorcycle before the course, then visit the dealers in the area and start taking a look at bikes! Yes, circle the bikes and identify the pieces and parts and what is similar and different on each bike. Sit on a small 250cc bike, the size most used in a motorcycle course. If you do have access to a bike and then have read/viewed more about it, give it a whirl. Please make sure you're not doing this on the lawn/dirt is a backyard, a street or anyplace with ditches/obstacles close by. Have the bike's owner bring it to a big, open and empty parking lot, show you the basic start and stop and then try it. It's highly doubtful that an owner of a bigger bike is going to give you access, but even riding pillion (passenger) in this safe zone, with the rider demonstrating basic skills, will make a difference! So, I'm hoping these suggestions give you a number of
paths to pursue while you wait for your course to start! Good luck and
remember that learning is always good! –
Mama |
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