My Newbie Journal
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08-05-2010 | 04:09 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 31
My Newbie Journal
(Please move this if there's a better section for it)
A few of you know me from my post in the tech forum. Well I've had my bike back from the mechanic for a little over 2 weeks and been able to finally play with it. I'm not completely new to riding, but my experience had been minimal. I'm a little late typing this up, but I wanted to share my first few riding experiences with anyone interested, and add to this as I can.
So here it is, the journal of a newbie rider:
Tuesday 7/20/10.
I took the bike out for the first time tonight. A little bit nervous, since I haven't been on a two-wheel vehicle since failing my motorcycle classes in 2008. I take it up to the back of the parking lot and start power walking between the garbage cans and the next set of buildings. This doesn't last long, 2 round trips, as I start getting anxious to move...I let off the clutch a bit more than I meant to and now I'm riding, even if it is slow speed. A kid comes out and for some reason is playing near the garbage cans; this makes me nervous so I keep a wide berth from him.
After alternating between riding and power walking a few times (and power walking through all the turnarounds because I'm scared of dropping the bike), I decide to take it through the complex's lot. I'm riding fine, staying in 1st gear, balance feels good, and the lack of a seat cushion is not bothering me too much since I have the plastic. I feel like the bike will maybe be too high for me with a seat and make a mental note to look into lowering it. Make a stop and the bike dies...crap...wow this takes me back...Ok, why can't I start the bike, oh yeah Neutral, ok let's move again, oh yeah I need to be in 1st now, let off the clutch and the bike dies...ok. Remembering my problems with throttle control in 2008, I force myself to ease off the clutch and I'm moving again. This kind of thing keeps happening, but it's getting better. The worst was having to stop for a car while I was on a small incline, since I didn't know how to start on one.
Once I felt like I was getting the hang of things, I took it out on the drive by the parking lot and went back a forth a few times, practicing shifting, getting used to pulling into the parking lot, and keeping speed. Finally, I decide that I need gas so it would be a good time to take it out to the gas station about 1/8 mile away. Sure enough, I run into the stalling issue at the lights...is there something else wrong with my bike? This was an issue for me in 2008, it must be me, right? Sigh...but I fill up and get back with no major issues.
I'm exhilirated, tired, excited, scared, and proud of myself all at once. Next time out I'm going further.
Friday 7/23/10.
Last night was the classroom part of my lessons at Harley Davidson. I learned a few things, and I'm eager to get the bike back out.
I start it up, ride around the lot a little bit, and take it out on the road to my local cigar shop to show the owner; I've been telling him about it since I bought it. First light, stall out on the stop. Second light, stall out on the start (this is a left turn too). Sigh. Waving cars around me, feeling embarrassed, and to top it off I can't find neutral. It takes me 3 tries to start up the bike on the second light but I finally make it.
Leaving the shop, I take it down the road through a few curves to an empty parking lot. I make it through a stop light with no problems, yay! Then I stall out. Crap, this is going to be a problem isn't it?
In the parking lot, I'm running little maneuvers, slow-speed turns, short stops, and the like. I'm feeling good about it so I decide to try the one that really killed me in 2008: the figure-8 in a box. I try it and promptly lie the bike down, spilling most of my gas since the cap doesn't latch. Mental note: make a bigger effort to find an inexpensive latching cap. Ok, I don't know the technique, I'm not doing that again. But overall aside from newbie jitters, I'm feeling pretty comfortable on 2 wheels.
Saturday-Sunday 7/24/10-7/25/10.
At Harley, taking my classes. Things are going well, and I won't document 2 days worth of time. But I don't put the bike down, have success with things like power-walking and clutch control that I struggled with in 2008, and aside from the figure 8 (which I did fine in practice but ended up walking through on the test) I do perfectly on the test and pass. I have my endorsement! I continued to struggle with stalls early on, but managed to correct my clutch and throttle timing and learned to hold the clutch in while braking to a stop. This will be helpful I'm sure.
Monday 7/26/10.
I got my license and celebrated my taking the bike out for an hour-or-so ride down through a windy road with nature and then up through a medium-traffic area. I haven't been 45 mph before, it feels great. I recognize a lot of things that I didn't before the classes, such as the crowned road which I move off the center of. I'm keeping good control, and more importantly I only have 1 stall out the whole trip. Wow I loved that ride, I could get addicted to this.
Tuesday 7/27/10.
The seat I ordered on ebay came in, and it fits, so I finally have a seat. As suspected, I can only get my toes flat now, but I'm stable enough. I still should look into lowering the bike.
I kind of did the opposite direction of Monday's trip. I'm noticing that I'm gripping the handlebars way too tightly (nerves?); a rider coming the other way gives me a wave but I don't recognize the gesture until I'm past...I don't think I could have responded anyway. I need to sit up more. My mirrors aren't quite right (adjusted them when I got to a parking lot). I'm shifting hard. There's a lot to work on here. I'm too nervous to take the bike up the freeway so I take the back roads home.
Thursday 7/29/10.
I got on the freeway for the first time! Stayed in the right lane, and only went one exit down, turn around, two exits up. But it was enough to get some feel for it. The wind is insane at 60-65mph; I feel like my helmet might get pushed off. I don't understand how anyone could go 80+ on a bike. Maybe I need a windshield. I'm gripping the handles ridiculously tight now and leaning forward. I straighten up, but that speed and that wind will take some getting used to.
Wednesday 8/4/10.
Filled up the bike in preparation for taking it to work for the first time. Tightened the mirrors up, and took it on the freeway briefly just to get used to it again and check the mirrors.
Thursday 8/5/10.
Took the bike to work, which was one of my goals for riding. 25 miles on the freeway. People were surprisingly good, aside from one person tailgating me early, and another cutting me off to pass across a double yellow line as I slowed to a stop sign...yes he passed me so that he could get to a stop sign 5 seconds earlier than he would have by staying behind me. Sometimes I can't believe people. Anyway, the ride was bumpy but the wind was not the issue it had been previously. I get to work late because I'm not going as fast as I would in my car, but it was an overall good ride. I was a bit nervous changing lanes, but I picked a good time with little traffic on the road. Noticed that my mirrors were not in fact aligned properly, I basically just see the people behind me with a small edge of the next lane. I need to fix that.
Also, I have some dots on my left khaki leg that I never saw with my jeans...it appears that my bike must be spraying a little bit of oil or gas at higher speeds. My jeans probably have it too, but I haven't noticed because it's jeans. I can't be coming in to work with spotty khakis, not to mention that this pair may be stained now, so I'll have to try and figure out what the problem is. I'm guessing it's from the air filter because of the pattern and the fact that air filter is pods, replaced from the standard by a previous owner.
Overall, I'm improving. I still need to work on my shifting, especially down, and my starting from a stop, but both are much better than when I started. I'll get the hang of this!
A few of you know me from my post in the tech forum. Well I've had my bike back from the mechanic for a little over 2 weeks and been able to finally play with it. I'm not completely new to riding, but my experience had been minimal. I'm a little late typing this up, but I wanted to share my first few riding experiences with anyone interested, and add to this as I can.
So here it is, the journal of a newbie rider:
Tuesday 7/20/10.
I took the bike out for the first time tonight. A little bit nervous, since I haven't been on a two-wheel vehicle since failing my motorcycle classes in 2008. I take it up to the back of the parking lot and start power walking between the garbage cans and the next set of buildings. This doesn't last long, 2 round trips, as I start getting anxious to move...I let off the clutch a bit more than I meant to and now I'm riding, even if it is slow speed. A kid comes out and for some reason is playing near the garbage cans; this makes me nervous so I keep a wide berth from him.
After alternating between riding and power walking a few times (and power walking through all the turnarounds because I'm scared of dropping the bike), I decide to take it through the complex's lot. I'm riding fine, staying in 1st gear, balance feels good, and the lack of a seat cushion is not bothering me too much since I have the plastic. I feel like the bike will maybe be too high for me with a seat and make a mental note to look into lowering it. Make a stop and the bike dies...crap...wow this takes me back...Ok, why can't I start the bike, oh yeah Neutral, ok let's move again, oh yeah I need to be in 1st now, let off the clutch and the bike dies...ok. Remembering my problems with throttle control in 2008, I force myself to ease off the clutch and I'm moving again. This kind of thing keeps happening, but it's getting better. The worst was having to stop for a car while I was on a small incline, since I didn't know how to start on one.
Once I felt like I was getting the hang of things, I took it out on the drive by the parking lot and went back a forth a few times, practicing shifting, getting used to pulling into the parking lot, and keeping speed. Finally, I decide that I need gas so it would be a good time to take it out to the gas station about 1/8 mile away. Sure enough, I run into the stalling issue at the lights...is there something else wrong with my bike? This was an issue for me in 2008, it must be me, right? Sigh...but I fill up and get back with no major issues.
I'm exhilirated, tired, excited, scared, and proud of myself all at once. Next time out I'm going further.
Friday 7/23/10.
Last night was the classroom part of my lessons at Harley Davidson. I learned a few things, and I'm eager to get the bike back out.
I start it up, ride around the lot a little bit, and take it out on the road to my local cigar shop to show the owner; I've been telling him about it since I bought it. First light, stall out on the stop. Second light, stall out on the start (this is a left turn too). Sigh. Waving cars around me, feeling embarrassed, and to top it off I can't find neutral. It takes me 3 tries to start up the bike on the second light but I finally make it.
Leaving the shop, I take it down the road through a few curves to an empty parking lot. I make it through a stop light with no problems, yay! Then I stall out. Crap, this is going to be a problem isn't it?
In the parking lot, I'm running little maneuvers, slow-speed turns, short stops, and the like. I'm feeling good about it so I decide to try the one that really killed me in 2008: the figure-8 in a box. I try it and promptly lie the bike down, spilling most of my gas since the cap doesn't latch. Mental note: make a bigger effort to find an inexpensive latching cap. Ok, I don't know the technique, I'm not doing that again. But overall aside from newbie jitters, I'm feeling pretty comfortable on 2 wheels.
Saturday-Sunday 7/24/10-7/25/10.
At Harley, taking my classes. Things are going well, and I won't document 2 days worth of time. But I don't put the bike down, have success with things like power-walking and clutch control that I struggled with in 2008, and aside from the figure 8 (which I did fine in practice but ended up walking through on the test) I do perfectly on the test and pass. I have my endorsement! I continued to struggle with stalls early on, but managed to correct my clutch and throttle timing and learned to hold the clutch in while braking to a stop. This will be helpful I'm sure.
Monday 7/26/10.
I got my license and celebrated my taking the bike out for an hour-or-so ride down through a windy road with nature and then up through a medium-traffic area. I haven't been 45 mph before, it feels great. I recognize a lot of things that I didn't before the classes, such as the crowned road which I move off the center of. I'm keeping good control, and more importantly I only have 1 stall out the whole trip. Wow I loved that ride, I could get addicted to this.
Tuesday 7/27/10.
The seat I ordered on ebay came in, and it fits, so I finally have a seat. As suspected, I can only get my toes flat now, but I'm stable enough. I still should look into lowering the bike.
I kind of did the opposite direction of Monday's trip. I'm noticing that I'm gripping the handlebars way too tightly (nerves?); a rider coming the other way gives me a wave but I don't recognize the gesture until I'm past...I don't think I could have responded anyway. I need to sit up more. My mirrors aren't quite right (adjusted them when I got to a parking lot). I'm shifting hard. There's a lot to work on here. I'm too nervous to take the bike up the freeway so I take the back roads home.
Thursday 7/29/10.
I got on the freeway for the first time! Stayed in the right lane, and only went one exit down, turn around, two exits up. But it was enough to get some feel for it. The wind is insane at 60-65mph; I feel like my helmet might get pushed off. I don't understand how anyone could go 80+ on a bike. Maybe I need a windshield. I'm gripping the handles ridiculously tight now and leaning forward. I straighten up, but that speed and that wind will take some getting used to.
Wednesday 8/4/10.
Filled up the bike in preparation for taking it to work for the first time. Tightened the mirrors up, and took it on the freeway briefly just to get used to it again and check the mirrors.
Thursday 8/5/10.
Took the bike to work, which was one of my goals for riding. 25 miles on the freeway. People were surprisingly good, aside from one person tailgating me early, and another cutting me off to pass across a double yellow line as I slowed to a stop sign...yes he passed me so that he could get to a stop sign 5 seconds earlier than he would have by staying behind me. Sometimes I can't believe people. Anyway, the ride was bumpy but the wind was not the issue it had been previously. I get to work late because I'm not going as fast as I would in my car, but it was an overall good ride. I was a bit nervous changing lanes, but I picked a good time with little traffic on the road. Noticed that my mirrors were not in fact aligned properly, I basically just see the people behind me with a small edge of the next lane. I need to fix that.
Also, I have some dots on my left khaki leg that I never saw with my jeans...it appears that my bike must be spraying a little bit of oil or gas at higher speeds. My jeans probably have it too, but I haven't noticed because it's jeans. I can't be coming in to work with spotty khakis, not to mention that this pair may be stained now, so I'll have to try and figure out what the problem is. I'm guessing it's from the air filter because of the pattern and the fact that air filter is pods, replaced from the standard by a previous owner.
Overall, I'm improving. I still need to work on my shifting, especially down, and my starting from a stop, but both are much better than when I started. I'll get the hang of this!
#2
08-05-2010 | 04:34 PM
Super Moderator
1st Gear Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,350
From: Clarksville, OH
K, nice journal. I'll resist the temptation to analyze, except to say "relax." Good riding technique is all about smooth-ness and saddle time. As a noob, it's easy to feel like everyone is staring at you, waiting for a dump. Spend 90% of your energy watching for hazards. Plenty of drivers don't even SEE you, much less care.
ALWAYS gear up. You'll "understand" the 80mph thing soon enough.
ALWAYS gear up. You'll "understand" the 80mph thing soon enough.
#3
08-06-2010 | 04:32 PM
Congrats on the progress. As mentoned above stay comfy, process small bits of information as you ride and enjoy the learning curve.
The journal: Don't stay away so long and type up smaller journals so that my eyes do not bug out! lol
The journal: Don't stay away so long and type up smaller journals so that my eyes do not bug out! lol
And yeah I'll try to keep any additions a bit shorter, apologies for that haha.
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