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Wednesday, April 30 Dear VTwin Mama, Per your suggestions, I started out slow on a Sunday. I went alone to an empty parking lot to practice my stopping and turning techniques. Then rode around town for two hours stopping at all the stop signs, then down main street through all the stop lights. After that I headed out of town onto the highway. I got the bike up to speed and instead of panic (and that is exactly what it was) I felt the biggest thrill of my life...: ) Every once in a while, however, around the curves the panic wanted to sneak back in. All I had to do was start playing with the throttle. I could then feel the bike under me, knew I had control, and I was just fine. Now I headed for my BIGGEST challenge. I headed for the curve where I went down. I have dreamed of this several times and believe me, they were all nightmares (sorry for the drama). I pulled off the side of the road to make sure no traffic was coming from either direction. The first time around I shook so hard I didnt know if I could really do it. The FORTH time around was actually FUN! I went home told my husband that if he thought he could keep up with me (this is extremely funny because he is an excellent rider) I would allow him to join me for another ride. After the ride he very gently explained to me that we are not allowed to stand on our street bikes with our fist in the air yelling YEE HAW at the top of our lungs as we go down the highway...: ) Oh, the thrill of knowing I CAN do it! Believe me ladies, the bike can make all the difference in the world. My husband thinks Ill outgrow my Thumper someday, but Ill be a hard one to convince! THANKS again for your feedback and Ill be SEEING you the highway. Penny Dear Penny, At the very least you've battled the "demons" and come out on the other side of it! I would have been standing on my foot pegs yelling at the top of my lungs too (but that's another story about when I take my first ride of the year and can't help but scream out in pure joy when I first crack open the throttle and feel the raw power and energy!). I'd give you a "bike wave" right now . . . but I don't have any appropriate clip art! Keep on keeping on VTwin Mama sister -- you're an inspiration to us all! Mama Wednesday, April 30 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear taheinz, Top Tuesday, April 29 For Bitin' Squirrel who is trying to find a clutch lever solution for her smaller hands: I am 4 ft 9 in and have small hands and short fingers. Have you tried to adjust your clutch levers? My husband adjusted a knob on my lever where the clutch lever and the grip come together. This will make the lever let out at a short distance, I then don't have to stretch my fingers out so far. Good Luck! Ride safe! Shorty (note from Mama: a possible solution, but one to be undertaken with caution as you don't want to alter the engage/disengage point of the clutch lever too much. Maybe Bitin' can re-review this with the local dealer's help.) If you are considering the changing of bikes due to your problem with the clutch....I suggest you might reconsider on the Suzuki Savage. My last bike was a '96 Suzuki Savage, so I can personally tell you that it is one quick little piece of machinery. I did not have any problem keeping up with the bigger bikes. One time I was buying a different exhaust for my Savage when another customer made a not so nice comment about them. The salesman (who is a well versed mechanic as well) looked at him and said for him not to criticize the Savage. He continued that it may only be a one cylinder bike, but it is one hell of a cylinder, and is a lot more bike than most people think. Good luck in resolving your challenge. Bootygrandma aka Betty (note from Mama: it seems extreme to have to choose a bike based on the clutch lever, but then again, if no other solution presents itself . . .) Monday, April 28 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Bitin' Squirrel, Friday, April 25 Dear VTwin Mama, One thing I'm a bit nervous about is dropping the bike. I suppose mainly I feel someone will see me go down and I'll feel stupid. It helps to see other women have dropped...so I guess I shouldn't feel so bad if it does happen. Also I'm afraid I'll be going too fast and won't be able to stop in time. Whenever I stop my bike, I always stall. How can I downshift and stop without stalling? I don't want that to happen in traffic. Michele Dear Michele, If you are continually stalling when you come to a complete stop, it simply means that you've not got the bike in a "neutral" position when you actually stop. Usually you can hear the bike starting to "choke" as you slow down completely and are not giving the bike any gas. As you approach your stop, downshift into 1st gear and just before you stop, pull your clutch lever in all the way. This means that you're gear is still in first, but not engaged. If it's a short stop, you can simply sit there with the lever pulled in until it's time to ease it out and get rolling again. If it's a longer stop, you can shift back to neutral so that you're hand doesn't have to hold the clutch lever in the whole time. For practice, try slowing down in first gear, then pulling in the clutch lever and "coasting" to your stop. You'll see that you won't stall. As to dropping the bike -- yes, it happens -- but the key to building your confidence is to know how to pick the bike up again correctly -- all on your own! Here's one site that has pictures and words (http://ibmwr.org/otech/pickup.html). That way, if it does occur, you will be in position to handle it! Even if that 250 really isn't heavy enough to worry about, practice the sequence of what you should do in your mind (hit the kill switch, etc.), so if it happens, you will look smooth and confident in handling the situation -- it will go a long way to minimizing the "stupid" feeling. Also, make sure you're wearing clothes that fully cover you (long pants and sleeves/jacket and good boots, gloves, helmet etc.). Why scrape yourself up in the process?! Also, there are four VTwin Mama sisters in New Jersey listed in the Opt-In Rider List. Consider contacting one nearest you to see if they can provide you with more "local" support! It might help to have a sympathetic rider with you on your first practice sessions for the season. Asking is free! Mama Friday, April 25 Dear VTwin Mama, I'm only about 5'2" and I found the stock Stone too high. But, there was a guy there who had had his lowered by I think 2 inches, and I sat on his and it felt great! Manageable weight (I'm guessing around 500 lbs) and low center of gravity. I rode pillion on the demo ride w/my husband on a Guzzi Aluminum and was shocked afterwards when he told me we had been going about 70 mph - I couldn't even tell! (Being used to a '69 Harley chopper it was a huge difference.) So by now maybe Guzzi has brought demo rides to where Marina is...good luck! P.S. She might like to read The Perfect Vehicle by Melissa Holbrook Pierson, a great book which has a lot about the Guzzi Lario. Laura Dear Laura, Friday, April 25 There is an answer to you problem. I ride an Indian and I have to scoot up on the tank to reach my kick stand (I'm only 5 foot tall). To avoid scratching my paint or burning my legs, I placed a tank panel on it. The panel is leather and adds to the beauty of my gal. If you are able to surf the net, on your search engine type tank panel and you should see a million companies that make tank panels. If you need further help just e-mail me at indianspirit4me@aol.com. Connie aka Indian Lady (note from Mama: what a great suggestion -- thanks for sharing!) Thursday, April 24 I ride a HD Custom Sportster and I know what your talking about. You're right, there are no heat shields or devices available to specifically protect you from the heat generated from the oil tank. What I did was purchase a chrome oil tank cover. It really helped a lot. The chrome deflects the sun, and the cover does not get nearly as hot as the oil tank it self. Sure it still gets warm, but not so much now. At least I don't get burnt! It cost about $60 from HD, but I have seen them go cheaper on Ebay. Lisa (note from Mama: chrome ain't cheap! Here's the link to eBayMotors -- I saw a couple of likely prospects.)
How about some good quality leathers? Not only do they protect your skin on the bike, they protect it should you have an unexpected get-off. Trish (note from Mama: another good solution -- love the "get-off" reference!) Check out the archives for the website http://www.sportster.org or try asking directly to xl-digest-request@sportster.org These folks ride Sportsters of all types and the website is run by a Sportster race team. They have answers to all kinds of questions. Advice comes from experienced men and women from all over the States, Canada, Europe and even Australia! I have found their wisdom and knowledge of parts and tools to be invaluable, and have saved both time and money sifting through the endless info on Sportsters. Hope this helps. Laura, Toronto, Canada (note from Mama: thanks for sharing a few sites that have helped you over time!) Thursday, April 24 Dear VTwin Mama, I had never ridden a motorcycle, not even as a passenger, until my husband got back into motorcycling in May of 2001. At first I thought what in the heck am I doing -- not only is he going thru a mid-life crisis but he is going to kill me in the process. It wasn't that bad and I did enjoy the rides and the wind in my face and the group of people that he was riding with. With encouragement, in August of the same year, my husband told me that we didn't have any hobbies in common and that he thought I might enjoy riding my own bike by myself with him. He offered to pay for the MSF school and told me that if I didn't like it, it would make me a better passenger. To make a long story short, two weeks later I took the course, during which I acquired the name Throttle Mama given to me by my instructor, because I wanted to go faster than the 15 mph limit they had set. Two weeks after that I purchased my first motorcycle a V-Star 650 custom , which I rode for six months and then I was ready to move up. I'm now the proud owner of a V-Star 1100 Classic. I'm still learning every time I ride , and I'm enjoying it more each time I ride. For all the female potential riders if I can do it anyone can and the memories I have from each ride are cherished and I am always looking forward to the next ride. One other thought, I suffer from anxiety, panic attack disorder and I thought I would never be able to cope with the feeling that I get when I have these, but it seems that when I'm riding I feel calm and relaxed and it is both therapeutic and something that my husband and I can do together which has been a blessing to both of us. Terri Bell (aka Throttle Mama) Dear Throttle Mama, Wednesday, April 23 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Jill, And that goes for moving up so many cc's (by the by, congrats on the awesome new bike!). You'll want to take that beastie out to a traffic-free area and re-practice your basic skills, like gear shifting, stopping smoothly where you actually want to stop (!), slow turns from a stop, slow turns around corners, straight lines and wiggles to "learn" how the new weight feels beneath you , dead stop and lean the bike to feel the weight so you don't get caught by surprise on a slight incline, working with the bike to push it back from a parked position or doing Y turns to back it into a parked slot, taking off from a stop on an "up" hill, picking up the bike if something icky happens (check my Pick Up Bike page), and whatever else you think you need to rediscover with the bigger bike w/ fairing. It'll be worth it to "step back" a notch and act exactly like a new rider -- because essentially that is what you are with the bigger bike! At the same time you'll be able to note how the fairing is altering your previous ride experience -- but doing so in a safe zone where you've got no distractions to deal with at the same time. If any readers want to share their "fairing stories," now is the time to chime in! Mama Wednesday, April 23 Dear VTwin Mama, With
the Virago, I can sit bolt upright, even lean back a little, and rides
over two hours give me no problems. I am 6 and 230 lb, so I thought
Id be too big, but the screen really does make a huge difference.
When I first started riding, there were plenty of girls on two wheels,
and they enjoyed tearing around our beautiful roads as much as any of us
guys. Here in Dear Martin, Tuesday, April 22 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Ann, Flat foot on either of the bikes you mentioned is a good start, and just about any bike can be retrofitted with an easier clutch for smaller hands. Yes, lighter bikes tend to get "rocked" in wind conditions easier, but the overall "fit" of the bike is more important. Flat foot for good control at stops, easy reach to handlebar controls, leg position when you're riding, etc. We've often advocated on this site that it can be useful to buy a smaller used bike for cheap for that practice time. Take a look in your local paper for 400-600cc bikes for under $1000 (or less!). Then, when you've got some local miles logged in this summer, you'll be in better position to evaluate what your "dream" bike will be, and would not have spent very much on that practice bike (which can then be resold without having lost much). I know that you want to join your hubby dearest on the longer trips, but remember, you might not feel comfortable right off the bat taking these longer trips. If you're not ready right away, but need to do just shorter day trips in your area -- then say so! Getting comfortable in traffic can take a while -- so make sure you learn and practice at YOUR pace (including practice in empty parking lots for a bit, then slowly starting to ride on Sunday mornings when traffic is really light, etc.). The worst thing you can do is take on too much too fast because you're trying to please someone else. This is not chicken -- this is smart! Experienced or more "natural" riders sometimes forget how nerve-racking riding a bike for the first few months can be! Be honest with yourself and others on how fast you are progressing and what you think you can handle. While men CAN be wonderful supporters of these efforts, please consider contacting a local women's riding organization for added support (links to some of the top groups are at the bottom of the VTwin Mama home page). These women have been there, done that and are ready to talk with you! Also, check my Let's Ride section -- there are two VTwin Mama sisters in your area who could maybe help. Good luck in May with your course -- we're behind you 100% and look forward to the day you're cruising down the road with confidence -- hopefully one of us will give you one of your first biker waves! Mama Tuesday, April 22 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Angela, Monday, April 21 For Cindy who is wondering how good Frogg Toggs rain gear is: They are the greatest! My husband and I got caught is some nasty Gully washers while on vacation in Florida a couple of years ago and they kept us completely dry. The bike was wet all around us....but we were dry! Like Petra said....they breathe with you, so you do not get hot and sweaty when wearing them The pants come in two types...regular or bibs. We were fortunate in that we were able to go to the dealer's home and try them on. The dealer allowed us to mix and match the sizes. They come in many colors as well. One thing that Frogg Toggs do not like is the heat from your bike, so if you think you may have your legs too close to the heat shield, you could make a protector out of an old ironing board cover to prevent any damage from that. By the way...did you know you could take a bucket of water and stick the jacket and pants into it....yet when you take them out....they are still dry? I have seen this done, and it is true! Again....they are the greatest. Oh yes...one other thing is that they fold up really compact and you could put them in a large zip lock when not wearing them. Try them...you'll like them! P.S. I have recommended them to a lot of other bikers and they all love them. One individual bought himself two sets! Bootygrandma aka Betty (note from Mama: thanks for your in-depth review and the added note about legs too near hot bike parts!) We have found Frogg Toggs to be the nicest rain suits, wind protection, and great for when it is just a little chilly out. We have had ours for about 5 years, they are just showing some wear. Just machine wash and hang dry! I hope you will love them as much as we have! Stay dry! Julie (note from Mama: nothing like first-hand knowledge! Thanks for sharing your insights.)
Monday, April 21 Dear VTwin Mama, My bike has "new" 30mm (1.18") bars, and the windshield apparently can accommodate the standard 7/8" or 1" bars. The curve of the clamp is simply too small to seat around my bars. However, there is a special ridged cone on the clamp that is necessary to have it fit with the rod that supports the windshield itself -- so, I don't think any old clamp I pick up at the hardware store can be made to fit. I did do a regular sort of web search looking for anything to do with adapters for bigger bars, but no luck. I was just hoping someone else had run across this sort of thing. I guess that is what I get for not buying the expensive Moto Guzzi windshield! Givi definitely doesn't make a clamp for my bars, so that route is closed. In the meantime, I have found some clamps at the hardware store which are not ideal but might actually attach the windshield. If they do kind of work, I will keep the windshield in hopes of coming up with an even better solution (maybe you'll run across one for me!). I was hoping that perhaps you or one of my VTwin Mama sisters would have run across a similar problem and found a solution. I would hate to have to send back my whole windshield if Givi doesn't have a larger bar clamp they can send to me. Marina Dear Marina, Also, have you tried to talk this over with your local dealer? They might have some retrofit pieces that could work as well. It's worth a shot! Mama Monday, April 21 For Penny who likes dirt riding but isn't sure about her street riding experiences: First, Thanks for sharing your experience. I think your reaction to these two events is perfectly normal. Riding on the streets and highways carries inherent dangers. You can minimize the risk, but no one can eliminate them entirely. I worry about my hubby every time he gets on his bike, and only stop when he arrives home safe and sound. I try to remember that any number of things could end his or my life -- motorcycling is just one of them. It's great you still enjoy biking off road - that's one of the neat things about cycling: there's room for everyone. Thanks for saying what a lot of us are thinking. Ann (note from Mama: it does make a difference to say what we are truly feeling -- and I'm glad that Penny's letter made a difference for you in that you don't feel so all alone in your thoughts. That's important!) Friday, April 18 For Julie whose eyes are watering when she rides: I'm allergic to just about everything that's out there when it's not freezing. As a result, I'm on allergy meds 24/7 as soon as it starts to "warm up". I would recommend a) a good allergy medication, and b) a helmet with a full face visor. Allergy Tylenol Sinus works well for some, Claritin for others, yet some need Allegra. Also, a word from the Optometrist: if your eyes are too dry (common with riding) they will tend to "weep" a lot (thus the recommendation for full eye coverage - the helmet covers your brain, too!) which may make you think allergies...... Try covering your eyes well next time you go for a ride and see what that does; it may just be that you need more eye coverage than what you've been giving, and not allergies. For what it's worth! Keep it up, and enjoy the ride. Cindy (note from Mama: hmmmm, yes -- I've noticed that if I use eye drops at every gas stop, I have less teary and irritated eyes at the end of the day -- good point!) I own a pair (actually two pair: 1 for day riding and 1 for night riding) of sunglasses that have the foam insert that lets the sunglasses snuggle right next to my face and keeps all wind, bugs, etc out. I love them and can't hardly wear anything else. I got mine from the HD shop - a little pricey but I love them. HDChiky (note from Mama: foam sounds like a good solution, snuggly without having to jam the sides into your face. I'll look for those when I visit HD next!) I hit the flea market down here and found some awesome sunglasses. They have a foam pad all around the eye pieces and fit nice a tight around the eyes. I wear contacts and don't like the wind in my eyes but love the wind in my face. They are great and they have clear ones too. I spent an whopping $6 on each pair. If I loose them or break them no big loss. Same type glasses at the local HD dealer were about $100. Terri, aka Thumper in Tavares, FL (note from Mama: time to hit the swap meets!) Friday, April 18 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear John, Note from John:
I think after much web surfing and many phone calls that I have hopefully found a solution for the half helmet speaker problem. I located a store called Super Seer at
www.superseer.com.
(Note from Mama: type in "ears" in the search box to see all the
possibilities from this company). They manufacture police helmets and some specialty items for the half helmet for communications. The item that we are going to use is the
Super Seer helmet ears item # S-9099 -- $12.00 a pair. Thursday, April 17 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Cindy, Wednesday, April 16 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Julie, My guess is that a windshield would go a long way to reducing your discomfort if it is high enough to effectively block the wind to your face, but then you've got to deal with looking through a windshield while you ride (some are ok with this, others find it icky because then they've got to deal with bug splat clean-up all the time). Have you considered a full-face helmet or other helmet that you can attach a full-length blocking shield (in clear so you can still wear sunglasses)? You might live in an area that doesn't require a helmet, but still, it's something to think about. I know on my longer trips, despite the prevailing helmet laws, I always carried and wore one when winds were high or rain was threatening. It makes a HUGE difference. Me, myself, and I will be trying my first goggle solution (I got a gift card for Harley, so that's how I plan on using it!). VTwin Mama sisters, any ideas about the possibilities of allergies making this situation worse? Mama Tuesday, April 15 Dear VTwin Mama, However, my husband has been encouraging me so I began riding again last year on a 1986 700 Magna. The last ride of the season was much to long and again I experienced that same feeling. I was riding along and suddenly I did not know if I was up or down or how to steer that bike. Fortunately, I was on a straight away when it happened and recovered enough to stop the bike. I shook for an hour, then had to convince myself to get back on. I told my husband I had to stop every couple of miles just to get the feel of the ground under me, but I made it home. Friday, April 4, a very good friend of ours bought a brand new Harley. His wife dropped him off to pick it up and on the way home he wandered over the center line and was killed. No one can figure out what happened. He was a VERY experienced rider and Im thinking that if he can do this, what chance do I have. Its funny because I ride a 200 Honda dirt bike off-road every weekend in the summer and absolutely love it. I take the jumps, ride over huge rocks, side hill the mountains, go straight down the mountains and never give it a thought. Hope I have not discouraged or frightened anyone. I love your site and think the women are wonderful. I LOVE to see women ride and wish I could join you. Thanks for letting me sound off!! Penny Dear Penny, I also find that when I write something down about how I feel, I'm finally giving myself "permission" to say what I really mean from deep down inside. Is that how this felt to you when you were writing in to the VTwin Mama site -- that you were finally free to say what you really needed to say? Because that's a good thing! My condolences on the loss of your good friend. We could guess from here to eternity about what happened, but ultimately will never know. For you, the accident weighs heavier because you were already concerned over your own feelings about street riding and some negative experiences. You mention the icky feelings you've had sometimes, but I'm wondering about all those other street rides in-between. Were you equally heavy of heart during those rides, even if nothing in particular went wrong? Sometimes we bluff our way through things, saying to ourselves, it'll get better, I'm doing this for so-and-so and that's important, I can do this because I know I can do this, etc. When we are then asked how "things are going," we plaster a smile on our face and make everything seem just fine, even when somewhere deep down inside that's not how we are feeling at all. It's a normal human reaction! It's obvious that the joy (and lack of fearful "emotional" restraints) of off-road riding has truly found a wonderful place in your life. Now it's time to give yourself permission to tell not only the people you love around you, but yourself as well, how you feel about your different riding choices and what makes sense for YOU. While it's wonderful that your husband has encouraged and supported your solo street riding attempt, and you took the smart step to take a safety course, maybe solo street riding is not what you expected, anticipated or wish to continue doing. There is no shame in this. Not everything we try is meant to be! I'm glad the VTwin Mama site has been one that you enjoy visiting -- and in the end, it was the place where you could bare your soul. That IS the whole point of this site -- giving women the chance to say what they need to say, surrounded by honesty and the spirit of sharing and caring. You had the courage to say all of these things to me and the VTwin Mama sisters -- now take the next courageous step and examine your heart of hearts on these matters. Whatever your decision is in the long run, know that we respect you and the choices you will make. So will the people that love you most. Trust yourself to make them and say so! By the by, there are excellent sites that cater to women and dirt/motocross riding. One I know of is www.girlrider.net. If you look in the Links section, and scroll down on the right side, you'll find a very active chat forum for recreational women dirt riders! Perhaps you have already found this, but if not, check it out1 And don't hesitate to write in again with more thoughts. We care. Mama Monday, April 14 For Kiara who is looking for riding gear to fit her longer arms: Good for you! You're shopping for safety gear first. I have long arms and legs and have so tired of wearing men's clothes that just don't fit right also, so I went on a quest for the perfect jacket. First Gear company supplied me with the perfect fit, arms and all! I have the "Pearl" and love it! It's not expensive compared to a lot out there, it is totally waterproof, armor included. They arms are almost too long!! Whoo Whee! It also has an adjustment in the waist to make it fit you perfectly. I ordered a size larger because I ride in cold weather and wanted room for layers. It comes with a full sleeve liner also. Last week, I was hit in the side by an older gentleman at an intersection. Although the impact caused a compound fracture to my left leg, I have no road burn or bruises thanks to this jacket! I slid down the asphalt for several yards, rolled down then back up a rocky ditch. The jacket doesn't even show any rub places. I can truly say this Jacket offered great protection. Just as a footnote to everyone else, I also had "Cruiserworks" boots on. Dr. said it saved my foot. Great boots, great protection, but not the least expensive out there. My foot was certainly worth the extra few dollars. Joyce (note from Mama: thanks for sharing your specific suggestions and adding information about the difference it made when you were hit. Best wishes for your speedy recovery!) Monday, April 14 For Jake who wants to change over to apehanger handlebars: He may have to extend the cable lines and there is a difference in the circumference in the handle bars. HD are 1 inch and metric are 7/8 of an inch. So maybe he will have to change the clamp adjustment on the handle bars clamp. LC (note from Mama: thanks for the added information which are important to consider when changing out handlebar configurations.) Monday, April 14 For Mary who has trouble triggering traffic lights on her smaller bike: I never heard of either. The lights here in Houston, Texas are triggered by weight and metal. Some bikes like Mary's are so small they don't have enough metal on them to activate the switches. If you would look at the road under you where you stop (need to be the first one at the light) you will notice where they cut the road in a large square. That is were the actual trigger device is, under the road. On one of the other bike forums it was mentioned you can go to a farm/feed/tractor supply store and buy two large cow magnets. Don't ask me what they are because my hubby told me all of this. Once you get the magnets, put it under your bike on a large part of your metal frame. It will hold itself up. That should do it. Jim will be going to the farm store this weekend to buy ours...... Keep the rubber side down and the wind in your face. Marigold (note from Mama: it looks like different regions of the country use different systems to trigger lights and I appreciate you writing in with your information and suggestion!) Friday, April 11 Dear VTwin Mama, Oh, for the fun of it, I named my Sportster "Pearl" and she is not white. I'm so tired of the negative press that she gets, yes, she is a rough ride... so, I named her Pearl after Janis Joplin who I view as a rough lady. I look forward to hearing some tips. Angela Dear Angela, There isn't anything spectacularly different on an Interstate from a multiple lane highway, except there's just more of it, so there's more to "watch." Is this stretch of road known to you by virtue of car travel? Consider taking the full route in your car to pre-scan the "ride" thinking in terms of riding your bike. Are there construction zones? Detours? Bumpy, rough road sections? Sections where the right lane turns into an off-ramp only lane? Where will you gas up? How easy is it to pull off to the side if necessary? So get on, maintain the minimum speed, scan left/right/front/back, know your options, and enjoy! The more you plan out this first ride on the Interstate highway, the more comfortable you will be. If possible, do not clench your teeth, hold your breath or cringe your body during this hour of riding -- it simply will not help much! Good luck -- I know you can do it! Mama Thursday, April 10 Dear VTwin Mama, I was lost as to how to FIND my spark plugs and remove them! I was all cocky with this condescending male rider acquaintance, telling him that it was ok, my brother showed me how to deal with spark plugs - ONCE THEY'RE OF OF THE BIKE! How could I go back and ask for help??? But your great description and pictures of spark plug issues (http://www.vtwinmama.com/workshop.htm) totally saved my pride. When are you going to add a chapter?? How about one on changing coolant? Or cleaning and sealing your gas tank? The lesson was still learned... from now on I will swallow my pride and accept help when its offered. Sheepish in Halifax Dear Sheepish, The reason I even wrote the spark plug section was because when I pulled mine out they were so cruded up and realized that it was a universal concept (largely) I could show -- take the pictures with my digital camera, etc. The problem with some other procedures is that they don't "translate" to all bikes, models, and years. This gets tough. I can only show what I'm doing on my Harley (my current bike) and it's an old Harley ('76 Superglide) to boot. That doesn't mean I won't expand this section as I go -- but now you understand the challenge of it all! As to your current desire to do more of your own work on the bike (or basic need to do so), you'll need to purchase a full-scale maintenance book. These are great because they not only show the procedure, they have charts of things you should be looking at on a regular basis, usually have the tools listed that you'll need, etc. Check out my Reading Sources page for some sites that offer manuals, or check with your local dealer. Meanwhile, I applaud your courage to take charge of the maintenance of your bike. When we understand more about how it runs and what simple things we can do to ensure that it's running well, the more enjoyable our overall riding experience is! Mama Thursday, April 10 For Joann who has general jitters but really can't stand those right turns: For left or right tight turns it really helps to look where you want to go. What I do is put my handle bar in the direction and keep my eyes up and slowly give a little throttle. Start in a parking lot so if you turn wide you have space. Good Luck and have fun, I know that you are scared, so was I, but I know that if I can do it, so can you!!! By the way, I am so kitten to this sport, I learned how to ride at 44 years old and this is my second season. Riding is a skill -- the more you do it, the better you get so ride baby ride. Angela Kosar (note from Mama: just knowing we are not alone in the learning "curve" is a big help! Practice, practice, practice is another!) Thursday, April 10 For Mary who has trouble triggering traffic lights on her smaller bike: I used to have that problem. One solution I found was to turn your bike off and then restart it. Another is that if you have a bike that has ...let's just call them good sounding exhaust pipes....then just crack the throttle a time or two. Both these methods have worked for me as well as a few friends I have suggested these methods too. Hope they help some of you as well. Hugs Bootygrandma (aka Betty) (note from Mama: I can see where turning the bike off and then restarting it might trigger the light -- probably something in the "electrical buzz" of starting the bike that is "high enough" to trigger the light. I've never heard that gunning the engine, and hence the pipes, would do it, but then wonders never cease, do they?!) Wednesday, April 9 For Joann who has general jitters but really can't stand those right turns: I have been riding off and on for 33 yrs. I still have a heck of a time turning right. If you notice, turning right we have to turn in a tighter radius. It feels like our bikes are about to tip over. Now this is where the fear factor comes in play because we have tipped our bikes over several times. One time I had to turn right into a very busy feeder road. Well guess what, I tipped my bike right in front of the Honda dealership. Luckily it happen in the parking lot. What made me feel better was Jim (hubby) ran over and help picked up my bike and second, a strange woman came over and asked me if I was ok. Then she tells me she did the same thing last week. Talk about scared. To get home I still had to get on that busy feeder road ;-( When we got home, Jim took me to all of the cul-de-sacs in our neighborhood and made me turn right and left. I was so mad at him (because I was scared I was going to drop the bike) but also grateful. It was better then going to a parking lot for me because it made me turn in smaller circles. Now I have more control when I turn in either directions. Still nervous with the right turns but I know I can do it. It's sometimes good to be a little scared. I am always hearing if you think your better then the bike it will take over. When you're afraid, for some reason it makes you more aware of what's going on around you. Keep the rubber side down and the wind in your face. Marigold (note from Mama: so many lessons learned the hard way are the ones that stick with you no matter what! Sometimes we just have to wear that badge of courage high up on our sleeve for everyone to see because quite frankly they are the ones worth showing. Your survived! You learned! You're going to keep learning, by gumption, no matter what! So there!) Tuesday, April 8 For Mary who has trouble triggering traffic lights on her smaller bike: VTwin Mama sister April found the Green Light Trigger on eBayMotors (see link below), so I did a little searching and found the original manufacturer, aka the Green Light Trigger Store. The item is an encased permanent magnet that sets up a voltage signal in the traffic signal loop sensor buried in the road surface and alerts the light that someone is there. It installs in seconds with no tools and requires zero maintenance and costs $11.95. April and VTwin Mama
Tuesday, April 8 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Nancy, Tuesday, April 8 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Kimberly, Now, that said, remember that your dealer can be your friend, so there is never any harm in calling up parts or service to ask a question. Also, you should get a maintenance book because it lists all sorts of useful facts, information and procedures. You can find one at Repair Manuals.com on this page for $29.95. Mama Monday, April 7 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Jake, In their Tech Talk article, they include this picture:
Basically, it's useful for a customer to have the current measurements handy to reference (including center width, width, pullback and rise). When you talk about apehangers, you are asking for an exaggerated rise, but it still has to fit the center width to clamp down properly. Now, it's true -- J&P Cycles historically has catered to the Harley crowd, but that's changing soon. Meanwhile, I took a look in my 2003 Dennis Kirk Metric Bikes catalog and found Flanders and Runroader apehangers (pg. 402). They have rises from 10" to 18" (that ought to do it!), with center widths running form 8", 8.5" and 11". So, now it's up to you to go measure your original handlebar and compare that to the apehangers available, no matter who the supplier is. Did that help? You're going to run into the same questions if you visit a local dealer to look through parts books, so go measure! Mama
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