|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Friday, April 15 A Sister Really Needs Our Support Now Dear
VTwin Mama, I
am asking your help in participating in a ride to benefit Kathleen and/or
donating an item to be raffled off (readers, I'll be
sending some VTwin Mama goodies for the raffle). Donations for
Kathleen Ewing's (BlackRaven) medical expenses should be forwarded
to: Gypsy Riders, c/o Christine Bell, 3423 W. Via Montoya Dr.,
Phoenix Arizona 85027. Checks may be payable to Kathleen Ewing or
Gypsy Riders. If you want to see a picture of Kathleen pre-March 31st, go to our website and click on Members. Kathleen is our Treasurer. Her birthday is coming up as well - April 20th, so a birthday card would be nice too. Please keep Kathleen in your thoughts and prayers and ask your friends and families to do the same. Thank you for your support. Christine Bell, aka Harmony, WOW Gypsy Riders Chapter Director, 602-418-9225 Dear
Christine, Friday, April 15 Dear
VTwin Mama, Our Club is Cruiser Club Caledonia, a Scottish club for custom & cruiser riders. Please feel free to drop by and say hi sometime - http://www.cruiserclubcaledonia.com. Best wishes and continued success from Scotland! Dave (P.S. - hope the move went okay too!!) Dear
Dave, Love your club's site . . . and readers, there's a chat forum, so if you're looking to expand your cultural horizons, here's a good way to do it! Thanks Dave for letting me know you liked what you saw at the VTwin Mama site and more thanks for spreading the word! I'll add your club to my Useful Sites page under Scotland as well! Mama Friday, April 15 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
California Rider, Saturday, April 16 Recall Notice for VStars Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Joe, Saturday, April 16 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Cyclynnut, Saturday, April 16 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Anon, Saturday, April 16 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Big Chad, The Internet is notoriously bad for offering wiring diagrams for free, so I'd search for the service manual. Either contact your local dealer or check my Education Center page for sites that offer them for sale over the Internet. $20 aftermarket, about $60 for the factory version. Mama Saturday, April 16 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Lesa, Saturday, April 16 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Anon, Dear
VTwin Mama, I've been "riding on the back" for about 2 years, but always loved the freedom and so wanted a new challenge that I decided to do it on my own. Turning 50 in December 2004 was the encouragement - Got my license in early February (MSF Safety Course, have not a clue how I passed because I was so bad!). My family bought me a Harley Sportster Low for my 50th, so I "had" to make it all happen. Thank God for an incredibly supportive husband. We live in a high density area of Miami Beach and all the drivers are insane here - so early every Sunday, we head to a local restaurant parking lot for practice. Have dumped the (brand new) bike twice - once, I just let go of the clutch while still in gear - threw myself and ran over the poor, patient husband - but he still managed a smile. I've just now graduated to the streets, it's fun but scary. It's Sunday morning and I am sitting here in my pj's, nervous as a cat thinking about today's ride - I am supposed to go to the gas station for practice and out of necessity. I am terrified that I will run through a red light, hit a car or two (maybe a bus) and of course run into the gas pump causing a major explosion (doesn't everyone do that at the first gas station visit?). Ever so patient husband is deservedly sleeping in and I am torn between letting him rest so that we "have to" cancel today's adventure (once the nutcases take over our roads, it's unsafe at any speed) or just getting dressed, taking the bike down the 2 ramps and through the gate of the garage by myself (another phobia, I have to wave a little keyfob at the gate to open it...how the heck do I do that and hold the clutch?) to conquer my fears. We'll see.... By the way, has anyone had a problem with shifting to neutral, esp on a new bike or maybe on a Sportster 883? It's nearly impossible to do when the bike is running, less of a problem but still not easy when it's off. Even my husband agrees it doesn't seem right. Nervously yours, Shaky from South Beach Dear
Shaky, I'm getting from your letter that you've got "run away bike" syndrome thoughts! Meaning that you feel in a situation that feels out of control (red lights, other vehicles, gas station pumps), that you won't be able to reign in the power of the bike with a degree of control. So, let's look at that. What's the quickest way to stop the bike? Pull in the clutch lever, thus disengaging the engine (keep that lever pulled in) and using a combination of front and rear brake (smoothly together) slow to stop, and then at the stop, keep clutch and front brake levers pulled in while both feet go down for balanced stop. Now you can take a deep breath, shift the bike into first gear, and continue on your pathway. Perhaps you would like to go back to your practice field to specifically practice this so that you learn exactly how quickly you can do this with confidence and how much pavement you need to get the bike to a complete stop. Knowing how much "room" you need will be a big confidence booster. Consider using markers so that you can see where you started your quick stop technique and how long it really takes. Mark the stop point. Then try again and keep trying to tighten up that distance you need for a quick, controlled stop. As to your question about shifting to neutral on the 883, why not contact my VTwin Mama Mentor Tara, who has an 883. She might have some insights for you. Her email is hdmom220@aol.com. Good luck on your continuing adventure. And always remember, your gut instinct is a good thing! Mama Monday, April 18 Dear
VTwin Mama, However, before I order one of these kits (it is called Insta-Trike) I would like to hear from owners who have actual "real world" experience with this type of removable trike kit. So, if you hear from any of your readers, please give them my e-mail address. Also, I rode a removable Trike kit made by Voyager but was totally turned off by the excessive side sway when making turns. It seemed like you had to hang on tight due to the 12 degree slop in the suspension. Thanks, Boblsbell7@aol.com Dear
Boblsbell7, Monday, April 18 Dear
VTwin Mama, About two years ago my hubby wanted to get me into riding and while I was in my MSF class he went out and bought me a Honda Shadow 600. I had a lot of fear issues and some mechanical problems and I came to you for help/reassurance. Your advice helped me to stick with it and gain confidence. Now I ride almost daily, own a Yamaha V-star 1100 and am the secretary of our local ABATE motorcyclist rights organization! Riding has brought a lot of joy, excitement and pride of accomplishment into my life, but I feel I owe a part of that to you, because without your help I may have quit before I finally began to have fun. I am now mentoring another motorcyclist's wife who is in the same spot I was two years ago, and hopefully she'll get over the "Newbie Rider Bug" and soon start riding for fun and not just because hubby is pressuring her. Thanks once again for all your help! Kerrylynne Dear
Kerrylynne, Back on March 15th I received an email (that I chose not to publish) that suggested that I "pamper idiots." While I appreciate that many new riders are born naturals, have great riding course experiences, and quickly graduate to bigger bikes, and master advanced techniques effortlessly, this is not the case for many. This forum is designed to help women (and men!) riders realize their dream, with all the ickies and oopsies that can happen along the way. We share with each other in a "safe zone" that allows us to express our inner concerns without reserve. If I'm pampering, it's for a reason . . . I believe that most everyone can ride a bike if they truly wish to do so. And I will continue to champion and support those who wish to ride. Let's keep doing that! After all, it is MY site, isn't it!!!! Mama Monday, April 18 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Sarah, It's truly difficult for me now as I sold my Harley before leaving Nevada, but hopefully I'll have another bike soon. Just visited the Azalea Festival in Pickens, SC and got a raffle ticket for a 2005 FatBoy. Who knows . . . maybe I'll win! It has been a bit weird being back in a state where helmets are optional. I certainly support the right to choose, but for myself, will continue wearing a helmet. If anything, running this site for over 4 years now, has educated me on the horrific things that can happen without one. That's just me. Mama Tuesday, April 19 For Shaky who has graduated to street riding and worried about hitting things: I have a HD 883 and I agree with "Shaky" that "finding" neutral can be a challenge. The error I make is popping the shifter beyond neutral into second gear. Then when I put it back in first and try again (sometimes repeatedly) it locks up and won't move at all without letting the clutch out and letting the bike move forward slightly (hard to do if parking in the garage!) I'd be very interested to learn ways to stop at neutral. Kudos to "Shaky" for continuing to ride, despite the scary aspects. As another beginner, I sympathize, it feels like there are a lot of things to accomplish simultaneously. Here's my confession: several years ago, I ran a Kawasaki motorcycle into the ditch while turning at an intersection. In retrospect, there were too many tasks to do in a short time, and though I'd just passed the motorcycle safety course, I wasn't ready to be riding that aggressively on that big of a bike. I waited a couple of years, and just last month bought a HD 883, with a Voyager trike conversion unit. I'm sometimes embarrassed when the guys call it training wheels, but it is allowing me to learn the gearing, working the clutch and throttle, using both brakes and all the other things that experienced riders do without even thinking. Because the Voyager kit changes steering radically, I don't know if I'll ever take it off and ride on two wheels. What seems important right now is that I'm riding again, and conquering fears like riding in traffic, riding at highway speeds, making the bike stop quickly and so on. Anyway, best of luck to "Shaky," I think it's awesome you're learning to ride. (And, hey, 50 is a good age to start. I'm 48 which is about the same age.) You'll be burning up the streets in Miami Beach in no time. Trike Rider (note from Mama: heck, even I miss neutral once in awhile, and I've been riding since 1979! Still, the 883 seems to be a bit stiff in the clutch. Thanks for your additional words of support and kudos to you for seeking a solution that allows you to continue riding and learning. The next time someone makes the training wheel remark just give them a saucy smile and tell them, "yah, well, at least I haven't given up!" Then smile brightly and keep going!) Hi Shaky, I too am in the learning stage of riding and had a good laugh reading your e-mail regarding running over your hubby, and crashing into the gas pumps because that's exactly how I feel!! As to your question about your Sporty, I have the same bike and I am having the same problem with the neutral while the bike is running. Apparently, it is a Sportster "thing"!! I took my bike to two Harley dealers and they told me the same thing, the Sportster do that until well past their "breaking in stage" and some always stay that way. I was told the trick is to slowly click it only half way instead of one full shift up while coming to a stop or try rolling it backwards and forwards while stopped. Good luck and let me know how you do as I am still having a hard time coming up with the courage to even drive my bike!!! Scared out of my wits! LeeAnne in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (note from Mama: thanks for chiming in about the shifting thing and what you found out. On your own dilemma of courage, may I be so bold as to suggest that you might benefit from taking a riding course again or seeking private instruction so that you receive additional practice under the trained eye of a professional? Many women report that the second time around a class they were able to concentrate on their technique much more. Just a thought.) Tuesday, April 19 Dear
VTwin Mama, My husband and I took my bike to an empty parking lot thinking I would have no problems getting on it and feeling out the clutch and what not. As soon as I started that bike and put it in 1st gear I froze, absolutely panicked!!! I don't know what to do and now I am really doubting myself and whether I will be able to ride that bike. How do I overcome my sudden fear????? Scared out of my wits! Dear
Scared, Fear not! Further explore your gut reaction and be honest enough to share with your husband why you felt you froze. I'm thinking that once you've taken the motorcycle course you'll be in better shape. If the course is still a while off, then depending on what really froze you, here are a few pointers. If it was the pavement, then take the dirt bike for a spin around your practice lot, then try the Sporty again. If your worry is damaging the bike, pad the tank, fenders and such (but not the exhaust pipes!). If it's the power, have your husband ride it in the practice lot for you so you can get a sense of how fast the bike moves in first gear, etc. This visual will allow you to better gauge how the bike will be when you're on it. Try these suggestions and I'm hoping that it will allow you to continue to move forward (!). Mama Tuesday, April 19 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Serlestine, Tuesday, April 19 Dear
VTwin Mama, My instructor told me that she was not worried about me, that I did very well on the riding part of the MSF class. I guess he feels that I will get over confident after what the instructors told me, but it made me feel good about myself and it boosted my confidence. I want to start riding my 883XL HD to work, but my husband thinks that I'm not ready. I feel that I am. What do you suggest? Thanks, Leann Dear
Leann, I am glad to hear that your confidence level is healthy, but new riders tend to freeze when something overwhelms them How about this compromise: drive the route to work in your car with your hubby and identify all the things along the way that present obstacles or concerns (road work, bumps, heavy traffic, merging lanes, etc.). Then, on a quiet Sunday morning, both of you ride the route on bikes and review. I think this may help your husband come to grips with your desire to ride to work and shows him that you are willing to address his concerns (and gives you a leg up on potential problems). This seems like a win-win thing to me! Mama Tuesday, April 19 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Laurie, As to the bike swap idea, perhaps the local dealers have bulletins boards where you can post a message. Other than that, all I can think of is to put an ad in the paper or check with local riding organizations to see if anyone is interested. Readers, any other ideas? Mama Tuesday, April 19 Dear
VTwin Mama, Anyway, about lowering your Yamaha. I have a 1983 Honda NightHawk and when at a stop light, I would have to balance my bike on my tip-toes. Not so great, right. Well everyone told me there was nothing to do because they didn't sell lowering kits for my bike, however, one day I was at the Harley dealership with a friend and the mechanic there said he could fix the problem in a jiffy and he did. He happened to move the bottom bracket for my shocks over about an inch or an inch and a half, putting my shocks at a lower angle. This really helped and to make things better I got some second hand shocks of a Shadow of the same year and the were lower than the ones I had, so BONUS. Now my bike is really nice and low. Hope this helps anyway. Diane Dear
Diane, Tuesday, April 19 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
RJDickey, Readers with Ace 1100 input, please chime in now! Mama Wednesday, April 20 Dear
VTwin Mama, Which is a long way of saying THANK YOU for doing what you are doing! Since I found your web site, I've read a lot of the VTwin Mama archives, studying the different topics (everything from helmet hair [no, I didn't shave my head!] to more general riding issues) and I've learned a tremendous amount from you. With appreciation, Gila, Trike Rider Dear
Gila, Better yet, while it sprung from my mind, it's the readers that make a huge difference as well . . . sharing their thoughts and inner demons . . . and other cool stuff! Can it get any better than this?! Yes, I could win that FatBoy raffle I bought a ticket for last Saturday and the drawing is on May 7th. Ok people, I'm REALLY REALLY jazzing for that FatBoy as bike #4! Mama Wednesday, April 20 More for Shaky who has graduated to street riding and worried about hitting things: I have an '05 1200 Sportster Custom that I bought in August. I've got about 5000 miles on it and I've noticed that as I put more miles on it, neutral has become much easier to find. Maybe Shaky's gearbox just needs time to loosen up a bit? Laura (note from Mama: there appears to be some consensus on this view! Thanks for sharing.) I'm glad you're back on-line. Hope you're getting settled into your new place. (yes, I am, thank you!) My hubby taught me a little trick to find neutral. Use your hand! For some reason, it's a lot easier to find neutral with your hand. Just switch off the engine leaving it in 1st gear then reach down with your hand and pull up into neutral. Roll the bike back and forward a little if it's stubborn. Give it a try, you'll be surprised. Joyce (note from Mama: heck, I've done this with the bike running on a flat surface when I know I needed to idle for awhile in traffic . . . of course that was my '76 HD which tended to heated up quickly in hot weather and long delays, and the gear box just didn't do what I wanted! Sigh.) Wednesday, April 20 Dear
VTwin Mama, What I want are engine guards but I have been unable to locate any that fit with forward controls and Harley doesn't have anything, yet. I am looking for someone who can fabricate them for me. I know that there just has to be a way to make extension brackets or something similar from the pegs outward that would allow for engine guards. Do you have any ideas or suggestions for me? Thanks. Gidget Dear
Gidget, Wednesday, April 20 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Linda C., Linda and I both like this line from our first "encounter" together: DO NOT LET THE DREAM DIE INSIDE OF YOU. Go, go, go . . . and find your bliss. It's there . . . please make sure you reach for it . . . Mama Wednesday, April 20 Dear
VTwin Mama and all users, Dear
Biker Mit, To put it bluntly...Terri (Kevin's wife) used to have a 250 Virago and that was well capable of doing 110 kph with the both of us on it. I have ridden a 535, it can do over 140 kph quite easily. So it's certainly not a restrictor problem. I would get a mechanic at a bike shop to check the problem. If the mech at a shop is the one who originally suggested the restrictor idea...go to another shop and see another mech. I am leaning more towards the idea that its an air filter problem or that perhaps it has a butterfly switch in the carb and the butterfly is not opening all the way at wider throttle openings. A 535 should defiantly be capable of well above 100kph. If the chap (or is a woman?) who wrote in to you has yahoo messenger on their computer...go to UK Bikers Room, under United Kingdom User Rooms list...and look for Mike GS 1000 or Dances with Frogs...Froggy owns a bike shop, Mike has been building bikes for years...or just ask the question to the room in general when it is full, heaps of the guys will have various answers I am sure. I would also suggest he go on a Net Search...Virago 535, acceleration problems...or...Virago 535 problems...and see what comes up. There is also a Virago owners club in the UK and they are also on the net. Both links below are for different UK virago Owners clubs. http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~bryanp/virago1.htm Good luck, Kevin Wednesday, April 20 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Holly, Wednesday, April 20 For Rick whose shifter seems to be stuck too far down and is causing downshifting problems: I also have an 1100 Virago (1998) and I had the same downshifting problem today. The gear shifter would stick down at times and then I would not be able shift down (although shifting up was not a problem at all). I am not sure if this is going to be an ongoing problem as I've had my bike for over a year now and had no problems last season at all, but it seemed like it was gummed up, so we lubed the front connection, (where the gear shifter is attached and pivots right in front of the footpeg, not the linkage itself). I am going to check with my local dealer to see if there is anything inside there that may need to be replaced or taken apart and cleaned up. Good luck with yours. Tks (note from Mama: hmmmm . . . road dirt does tend to creep into parts and could accumulate enough to cause a problem. Thanks for acknowledging a similar situation and how you are starting to correct it.) Thursday, April 21 Dear
VTwin Mama, May 1,2003 I went into an S-curve on my Gold Wing, pushing way to much speed (overconfidence can kill). Needless to say, I lost it and went off the road, got airborne and sideways and slammed a tree that did not budge. I came to 10 minutes later to find myself hurt pretty bad. I don't want to go into the gore but it wasn't pretty. I now use a prosthetic leg and have a few fingers that don't work and I might not be as pretty in the face as I was, haha. But I lived to ride again. There is no substitute for the wind in your hair and the saddle between your legs as I'm sure you know. Well I have slowed down some. Which brings me to the moral of my story. "Self confidence and/or experience is no substitute for common sense and safe riding." I hope that maybe this might save someone else from learning the hard way as I did. Thanks for listening. James Dear
James, Readers, we have often mentioned that riding is more than technique alone and I think James's words remind us of this again. With the 2005 riding season under way, let's be smart out there. Mama Thursday, April 21 More for Scared who froze when getting on her new 883 LowRider: At 50 years old, I took my beginners class without ever even being on a motorcycle before. At the start of the class I wasnt able to tell the difference between a clutch, choke or throttle. The class was informative and helpful, but because of my inexperience I laid my training bike on a fast stop and at one point accidentally rolled the throttle too far back and took off and I panicked because I couldnt remember what I was suppose to do because there were so many things to remember for someone who had spent only 1 hour on a motorcycle. And the next day during the test, laid my bike on another fast stop - because the instructors had failed to tell me about the 4 paws rule - thereby disqualifying me. But I was determined. I bought a used Rebel 250 to practice on and I practiced every spare moment. About a month later, I took the class again with instructors who were more helpful, informative and passed the test. But, I was glad I was able to practice
on a not brand new motorcycle because I would have always been worried
about doing damage to my bike. I spent another 3 months on that
Rebel until I got my confidence level up and a few more actual hours on
the road. And fulfilled my dream of owning my own Harley a' 05
Sportster 1200C. Not the biggest, not the heaviest, but just about
right for my level. It has taken a good 400 miles to learn how she
really feels and reacts and responds. So, be patient with yourself, like Mama said figure out what panicked you, but dont give up. Every ride whether it is a 2 mile or 20 mile, is a learning experience from which I walk away with knowledge and experience I didnt have before I started. Wild Annie (note from Mama: this is a frank, level-headed view of the trials and tribulations of learning to ride . . . applicable to many new riders. Thanks for sharing your own journey!) Dont ever stop being scared it pumps your blood a little faster, starts the adrenaline running and makes you much more aware of your surroundings. These are good things make them work for you. I started riding a little over 13 months ago on a 82 Honda Magna 750 and graduated to my Honda Valkyrie Mercedes in January. Ive got a whole 8500 miles under my belt since I was a brand-new novice, dropped each bike once and I still get nervous when I swing a leg over this beast. Its when you get complacent that things happen without you noticing or reacting quickly enough. Start slow, gal! Get on, start it up (feel that lovely vibration not that any of us women enjoy that! LOL), keep your feet lightly on the ground, put it into gear and use that clutch to just roll you forward a little ways, then brake. Repeat often, backing up or push turning it if you run out of space & keep it up until you feel comfortable enough to pick up your feet & let the bike take you with it. Baby steps until you are ready! Thats what they will do with you in the MSF. I needed it I had never ridden solo until that class. When they first told me to put my feet up on the pegs, I flat out refused! I was WAY too scared! I managed to do it the next time though, and by the end of the class had an excitement developing down inside me that has grown stronger and stronger with each ride. I love riding & you will too just take it at your own speed; even if that is a snails pace! Best of luck, girl & let us know your progress and ultimate success! Amy in Washington (note from Mama: I know I psyched myself out in the beginning and then took a deep breath and planned very small steps to get started. Sage advice!) Thursday, April 21 Dear
VTwin Mama, If money weren't a consideration, I would take the course and then decide what type of bike to get, but $$ is limited. However, I have a reasonable opportunity on a V Star 650 from a reputable friend. From people who have learned to ride and owned a 650, did you find yourself looking for a bigger engine after a year?? I keep thinking, "start smaller & learn good technique" but am afraid I'll want to sell after one season. I've heard 650s are tiring on the expressway and longer rides. I'm tentative about investing in something too small. What are other opinions about Any comments or suggestions? Other notables: I'm 5'2" - 170lbs and I tend to be quick to learn all things technical. I also understanding I won't really know till I'm actually riding. Carrie Dear
Carrie, However, as a bike to learn on, the VStar 650 is excellent. Although you don't mention the year of the VStar available for sale, in general, this make/model has a decent resale value. Has this bike just been put up for sale, or has your friend had a hard time selling it? I'm thinking it wouldn't be a bad step for you and you shouldn't lose anything $$-wise if you ride this for a season (and you feel reasonably sure you could resell it in your area). There are a number of sites that offer fair market price estimates, including Kelley BlueBook for Motorcycles. Check here to determine if your friend's bike is priced correctly. I'll add that finding a used bike where you know for a fact has been well maintained can be difficult. For this reason, the bike also sounds attractive. In checking my Motorcycles for Short Riders page, I also noted that women in your height range like this bike. I know you are chomping at the bit to get started, and having to wait till August for your course will be horrible this summer (as you see riders everywhere!), but you've already noted that until you start riding a bike on your own, it will be difficult to judge what will be your dream. I suggest you visit dealers as quickly as possible and just sit on bikes to get a feel for how your body fits (and take notes!) and how the weight feels. What is your gut instinct in comparison to that VStar? I'm hoping I've given you a little bit more to consider and wish you the best in your upcoming course and bike decision making process. Mama Thursday, April 21 Dear
VTwin Mama, I found a way to drop a Ninja 500 by 4". They also make a kit to drop a Ninja 250 by 3". I have copied the info regarding the 500 below. The 250 info can be found at their site. From Adjustment Tech Racing in regards to the EX500: http://www.adjustmenttech.com Quote: Dear
Crystal, Thursday, April 21 For RJDickey who is wondering if the ACE 1100 is considered top heavy: I dont have personal experience with this bike, but one of my riding buddies that took the MSF course with me bought one and proceeded to drop it 4 times over the next few weeks always when moving slowly or at a stop. That tells me there is in all likelihood a balance issue! She stuck with it got her seat lowered and got boots with a little bit of a heel (she was having trouble flat-footing it as well) and now rides it all over the place & loves it! It really depends on you if you like the bike, stay with it if you dont, find a more comfortable one. I must have left my cheek imprints on literally hundreds of bikes before I chose my first one! Amy in Washington (note from Mama: good point . . . what one person finds ok, another might need to adjust to make it work for them. If a bike is not fitting your needs, there are remedies. For new riders it can be difficult to ascertain as they have little reference for comparison, but talking it out with other riders helps! ) Friday, April 22 Dear
VTwin Mama, I'm five feet tall and ride a Sportster, with foot pegs. I need to wear a boot that has a minimum two (2) inch, chunky style, heel. Then, because of the length of my foot, that the chunky heel wants to get hung up on the peg. While riding I'm doing a balancing act on the pegs. When that heel gets hung up behind the peg, (which is naturally what it wants to do) my foot is not long enough to reach either the rear brake or the shift lever. You can see how this could be a serious problem. Frustrated in not being able to find a two (2) inch, wedge type heel, riding boot, anywhere, I took the ones I have to a shoe repair man. I asked him to make a wedge out of dense rubber (black to match) that would fit with-in the upside down "V" shaped area of space created by the heel. He then glued it in, making the bottom of my boot a solid piece. I have far more stability on the pegs and no worries now about getting hung up and not being able to reach the break or shifter. As a bonus, my foot slides over cracks in the pavement! This process cost me $10 - I would have gladly paid double!! Hope this helps some of your readers. I figure where I'm having problems so are others. This "easy fix" made me a safer rider. Best to you all, Tina in California Dear
Tina, Friday, April 22 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Lynn, Friday, April 22 Dear
VTwin Mama, My "dumb" question is: will they lurch out to strike you? Can they actually bite you if you get close? Have any of the other readers here had experiences with snakes on their rides? And if I had to run over one of the bigger ones, what can I expect? Also, I am still on my small bike, a Suzuki 125. I have almost 700 miles now. I can finally handle the curves with the speed I would in a car, sometimes more, sometimes less, just depends on the moment. I did scare myself the other day as a car popped up just as I entered the curve. I took my eyes off where I needed to go and focused on the car. So guess where I started heading. Well, I made it through the curve without wrecking, although for a moment I did not think I would. I have gone back to this road several times. I am determined to not let that incident happen again. Anyway, I really would appreciate all the voices/opinions on the snakes as this really bugs me. As I have mentioned before, I live in the Allegheny highland area of Virginia, in the country and almost 20 miles from town. So this is my riding turf. No interstates for me. M. Wright Dear
M., Critters are always a concern when riding, whether they be your snakes or deer or anything else. This is where mastering the techniques of quick stops and controlled go-arounds come in handy. For your snakes on the road, yes, they realistically could strike out if you are going slow enough for them to do so, so make sure you have good riding boots on that extend up over your calf area, covered by heavy duty jeans or other riding pants. Anything that moves, critter-wise, has the potential for throwing you off balance on the bike. Either stop if you don't think the animal is going to move or slow down a lot so you can go around with control. Of course, this is not perfect advice as animals move in directions that you cannot always predict (they don't always go off the road, but hang around to see what's coming at them), and therefore wearing good riding gear (jacket, gloves, helmets) is a must so that if you do have a spill, you've got some protection. Some readers swear by the deer whistles you can mount on a car or bike and can be found in auto parts shops. For many animals, shouting at them in a very loud and insistent voice can scare them out of your path. I did this on a lonely road in Arizona where I found two dingo dogs intent on eating carrion in the middle of two lanes. You can bet that I slowed down as quickly as possible (I was going about 80mph), started screaming at the top of my lungs and then decided to maintain a straight course as I felt it better to hit one straight on instead of hitting one while leaning for the go around (who knew which way they were going to move?!). That was my gut instinct and reaction and I only had seconds to make the decision. With this in mind, why not go to a safe practice area with plenty of room and work on your quick stops and you could also practice how to go around an object by placing something on the pavement and beginning to work on quickening up your ability to go around. I think you'll find that your confidence will increase with practice. Mama Friday, April 22 Dear
VTwin Mama, I am 5 foot 3 in. tall, and I am looking for a Crotch Rocket, but I don't know what type or size of bike I should get. Please help me out Thanks, Zeke from Colorado Dear
T and Zeke, Friday, April 22 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Roy, Saturday, April 23 More on that seat bolt recall on Yami bikes Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Service Manager, Saturday, April 23 Bike for Sale in Boston, MA area Dear
VTwin Mama, Saturday, April 23 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Riding in WA, Saturday, April 23 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Too Young, Saturday, April 23 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Meli, Saturday, April 23 Dear
VTwin Mama, My intention is not to talk about riding techniques, but to remind all the learning-sisters out there, that when it comes to your safety and your comfort, NOBODY can tell you what to do. And, of course, I'm talking from experience. My intention was to take the MSF course, the problem was that I can only do it on a weekend. The next available weekend to register is until October, so I decided to ask my boyfriend to help out to get the basics. Now I'm not sure it was such a great idea. There is nothing worse than somebody pushing you and rushing you into things that you are not ready yet. You are barely starting to get the hang of it, for example, the balance thing, and they already want you to go out on the street, with traffic!!! We've gotten into fights because of this, but I won't allow it simply because I want to go at my own pace. When I feel that I've mastered a step, then I take on the next one, and so on. He gets aggravated and impatient. But if I try to push myself over my own limit I might end up in the hospital. I know I'm not the only one dealing with this, so I just wanted to encourage you not to take on the pressure, and enjoy each moment when you seat on that bike. And make sure that you know what you are doing. Them? They'll just go out and find another motorcycle . . . hehehehe. Carolina Dear
Carolina, Saturday, April 23 Dear
VTwin Mama, Now, I love the look of the rigid choppers. My Sporty isn't all that forgiving in the rumpola but I really don't mind it and don't feel fatigued after a five hour ride. I found a '99 Big Dog Pitbull that I like. My Cruiserbag can be attached to the back for storage; however, my main concern is "the ride" when I do a distance ride other than from restaurant/bar-restaurant/bar/bike show event. How many women you got out there that LOVE their rigids? Tammy Dear
Tammy, Saturday, April 23 Dear
VTwin Mama, Whats wrong with this idiot who wrote the email to you about pampering idiots. No rider is a natural (well, to be fair, the "natural" statement was mine and I think your next sentence states it better). Some riders learn easier. Why do you think they have classes to learn how to ride or ride better? If the writer of the email says they are a natural then they must be the idiot. Walking and talking even need to be learned. I do believe that anyone can learn to ride a motorcycle because I can ride. This is also a thank you letter. Thanks Tons Petra! You helped me get through my new rider fears that I still deal with ongoing. I am riding more and I learn each time I go out. I have also dropped my bike and rode through that also recently. Its no big deal to drop a bike as long as your ok and they make new bike parts. There were a few weeks around here where even the guys were dropping brand new Harleys so I didnt feel alone doing this on my little Yamaha. No I wasnt embarrassed just lucky no cars were behind me to run me over. I learned that I couldnt become over confidant and not to be completely comfortable ever while riding. Now my bike has character to boot. Those marks are our battle scars. A little reminder to me that not being totally focused is a mistake I take full responsibility for. I pass your great info onto others about riding be it man or woman. I think the MSF only teaches you how to ride in a parking lot. MSF classes are done in a controlled environment. There is no way you will know what to expect once on the road with others after the class. New riders please dont be afraid because I have said that. The MSF class is a great class. I wouldnt be on a bike unless I took the class. Great way to learn and I took the class twice. I had a ton of fun the second time around. I recommend taking it again if you had trouble the first time. What helped me most besides your site in dealing with the fear was to take my riding responsibilities seriously. For me to ride I had to look at what I could control versus what I cannot while riding. Your site helped me deal with those issues and put things in perspective. I used your site to make my battle plan and I feel great! I can get out there and ride instead of being stuck in the garage or jealous or resentful that I am too afraid to go out and ride. I knew that it overwhelmed me so much in the beginning to ride. I ride at times when roads arent busy. I plan my route most times. I also wear protective gear just in case. I ride with my H who will stretch my comfort level sometimes and its wonderful to take on and learn new things. I started riding to an empty dead end road when I got bored of the parking lot and we would go up and down that dead end road sometimes 10 or 20 miles. It was a very long dead end road, my Husband was great and has tons of patience. My thoughts are new rider fear has to do with 2 issues. What you can control like understanding how to ride working the controls and the outside fears like other drivers and what ifs and how to deal with the cages. I always say to myself its baby steps. Take things in small steps and soon you can get out there with the best of them. Thanks again Petra. A Lady Rider in California Dear
Lady Rider, Saturday, April 23 For DeDe who is looking for a pullback riser that is more "back" than "up" for her VStar 1100 Hi. I'm a guy who stumbled into this site and since I'm short (but very sexy LOL) I wanted to read about experiences with lowering bikes. Congratulations on the site. About this question, I own a Honda 750 Shadow Spirit and it has risers that may help pull back further than they rise. I recently fell over and bent one slightly out of shape. I purchased the replacement at Bikebandit.com and if I remember correctly it cost about $80 (that's for one). Good luck and I'll keep popping in to read about shorter rider problems and solutions. I'm from Venezuela by the way. Juan (note from Mama: thanks for sharing a source that is useful for parts! I believe your my first input from Venezuela . . .how cool . . . welcome!) Saturday, April 23 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
New Rider, Sunday, April 24 For Too Young to Wanna Give Up, who at 52 thinks people think she's crazy for riding: 52....you're just a kid!!! I just bought my 1200 Custom Sportster last October, and turned 57 in February. Rode a small Honda 450 back in grad school, 27 years ago. Gave it up when I needed a car when the time came to "be a grownup". Have been looking at bikes go down the road ever since.......and wishing I had one. Just worked up my nerve to do it again. Took the MSF course in September, got my license, and bought my bike in October. Got in about 500 miles before I had to put it away for the winter.....the winter has never been so long!! We've had pretty good weather the last 3 weeks (until this week, unfortunately), and I've been riding almost every day. My roommate, who is 53, just got her first bike (2002 Sportster 122 Custom).....and is riding to work every day. She works for a company that makes motorcycle trailers, and has inspired several other women there to sign up for the MSF class and go looking for bikes. I plan to be riding for a long time........if the body starts having problems down the road.....I'll just convert to a trike to keep riding. We belong to a chapter of Women on Wheels, and the founder is 66, rides a Heritage Classic, and has been riding for 50 years. As far as those people who are looking at you weird......they are just envious that you have the guts to do it, and they don't. Keep the shiny side up and keep on riding!! Diane in Michigan (note from Mama: yes, yes, yes!) Sunday, April 24 Hello Mama, I got my butt under it until I could pull a milk crate under it, then I got it up enough to prop it with a kitchen chair, then the rest of the way. If not for the crash bars I am sure I couldn't have budged it. I was weak and shaky for a while. Now, 20 years later with a degenerative disk disease I ain't even gonna try too hard to pick my bike up if there is anyone -- male or female -- around to give me a hand. There is no shame in that! I have seen some tough dudes helping each other pick up a scoot. If my old Jeep quits on me I can't push it out of the road either. My point being, many like myself can't pick up a even a small bike with out hurting ourselves, so why not ride the bike you want and be cool with getting help. I would not do this in the desert or boonies alone, however, most of us ride where there are some people around. Just my humble opinion, Patti Dear
Patti, |
