For
sassy,
classy
women
motorcyclists©
|
|
|
For |
| j |
|
VTwin Mama Ask
VTM Cool Links Newsletter VTM
Products |
Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Longing, At Scoot Works I found a page for Kawasaki lowering kits for all KL and KLR models that would lower it 2 to 3 inches. Maybe we have some VTwin Mama sisters with advice for you. As I mentioned in my response email when you wrote in, the Short Biker site is always a good place to start for the vertically . . . well, short biker! – Mama Dear VTwin Mama, In the article he says to always carry a deposable camera with you, and if there is an accident to take pictures even if the police do and not to let anyone move anything until you have taken the pictures. I highly recommend Motorcycle Consumer News to every motorcyclist. They take no advertisements so their reviews and tests of products are totally objective. – Bobbye, aka Hondiana Dear Bobbye, Wednesday, February 27 Dear VTwin Mama, The mechanic/owner is happy to have the meetings, as then he may pick up some business (empowering women goes a long way) and he gets to eat pizza for free with a group of women that share his interest in bikes. What more could he ask for?!!! Get to know the mechanics or the guys behind the service counter at your favorite bike store. They will love to tell you how things work or how to do something. Most people really do like to help others, especially if they are in the service industry. – Michele Dear Michele, Tuesday, February 26 Dear VTwin Mama, Are the women that hate left turns right handed? And how about the left handed women -- do you hate right turns like me? Left hand turns do not bother me at all. I am just curious -- there has to be some kind of logic to this. Wonderful site! I am so glad I found this place! – 7by9rd Dear 7by9rd, However, I never attributed it my right-hand orientation (as I was originally born a left-handed person). After some experimentation, I noticed that I am more at ease with right handed turns and leans because the throttle is on the right side and it feels more natural to have the speed control directly in motion with the right hand turn or lean. Does that make sense? Let's see what other insights the sisters of VTwin Mama might have to add! – Mama Monday, February 25 Here are two responses for Janine, a new rider with her own bike and questions: Here is the forum for the Honda Shadow VLX 600 that Janine should find to be just what the doctor ordered (http://forums.delphiforums.com/VLXriders/start). I am sure she will find all kinds of great information regarding the care and feeding of her new bike as well as some good comraderie from the other members of the forum. Jim and I are constantly on the Valkyrie site or the 650 V-Star or ISRA sites to learn more about our bikes and swap info with the other folks that ride the same bikes we do. Tell her I said congratulations to both of them on their bikes, and I hope they have miles of fun and enjoyment. – Betty (Bootygrandma) Welcome to the fun world of riding your own bike! I have heard from some people who don't ride HD that there seems to be an attitude of "us" and "them." Frankly, I think you will find that type of attitude with just about any group. However, I don't think that is the norm. I ride a HD, but I am happy to ride and talk with ANYONE who rides their own motorcycle (whatever brand it is) and who is a passenger on any type of motorcycle. My thoughts are....hey, they are out on a motorcycle! Cool! In fact, I prefer to talk about where you are riding instead of what you are riding. As as VTwin Mama has said....we newbies may feel excluded from some conversations because more experienced riders know so much more about the mechanics, etc. So, I use those times just to listen and soak up the knowledge. Every little it helps. As far as the other women who you think are giving you certain "looks", just do as VTwin Mama says....wave and smile! Every time! After all, you are riding to please yourself...not others! Have fun! – Sharon Monday, February 25 Here are two responses to the tragedy of not knowing where your reserve gas tank lever is: That was a tragic accident. I also ran out of gas on the highway once. Scary moment, as I did not realize it was just the gas. I slowly, but carefully crossed over to the next exit. Flipped the switch and made my way to the nearest station. Am very glad to have the "out of gas - reserve tank" light feature on my current bike. It's never let me down yet. – Denny Been there....done that! That is a very scary feeling. Thanks for reminding us to familiarize ourselves with that feature on our bikes. Since I now have a different bike, I certainly do need to check the location and learn to make the switch. – Betty Dear VTwin Mama, First, I haven't rode a dirt bike in over 20 years and NEVER a street bike, so my husband and I decided to buy one street bike we could ride together for a nice enjoyable cruise and hobby we enjoy together, since the kids are getting older, (15, 17 & 23)! Boy, was that a mistake! After 2 weeks, I had to have my own bike! So, we bought a Honda VLX600 Shadow Deluxe, 2002 and I LOVE IT! I got my permit the following week, my husband already had his license, but he wanted to take the MSF course for additional learning and safety, so we took it together and I PASSED! I now have my license and all this happened in the last 1 1/2 months, never knowing I was going to OWN and RIDE my own bike! I have read of a couple Ladies that ride a bike like mine or similar bike, but almost everything I read about is Harley's. Don't get me wrong, I like Harley's, (my husband is going to buy one in the next year) but when you don't have one you feel a bit left out, almost as though you aren't good enough for the women that ride Harleys : ) Do women (or men) not like to associate with others that don't ride a Harley, or is that just my interpretation? It would be nice to chat with people that have bikes similar to mine to discuss things with, like where to buy accessories and riding experiences, but I would also like to correspond with ALL Biker Ladies! Again, I have nothing against anyone's decision to ride what they choose, I'm very comfortable on my Honda Shadow and don't feel I could ride comfortably on a bigger bike, especially when I NEVER planned on owning and riding my own bike. Also, women in my area seem to give me funny looks when I'm riding along side my husband, almost like there either jealous or that women shouldn't be riding bikes! Have any of you experienced this? – Janine Dear Janine, As in anything you pursue in life, there will always be an "in" crowd and . . . everyone else. And as usual, the "in" crowd makes up a very small percentage of the overall population. Sure, you have to expect that the HD community is vast and the loyalties fierce, but what you may perceive as feeling a bit left out I think can more accurately be attributed to your newness in the community. Remember, many riders have been on the road for ages and they aren't always naturally curious about the "newbies" and won't necessarily go out of their way to welcome you to the circle. You'll find, over time, as you attend local rallies, travel more and join groups, you'll form your own circle and from there you'll more comfortably extend into the wider community of bikers. And of course we've all seen the "look." Ignore it. One of the Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz states, "Don't make assumptions -- preconceived ideas about what other people think can get you into trouble and rigid notions of how things should be lead to disappointment." So, go with your own flow. We're behind you 100 percent. Or, just wave cheerfully like you're on top of the world (because you are!) or stick out your tongue if you think it's a "catty" look. Have fun with it! Please consider contacting your local chapter of Women on Wheels and/or Motor Maids for support. Your husband sounds wonderful, but as we all know, women have a special way of communicating with each other that should be valued. – Mama Thursday, February 21 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Chriss, Well, you've taken some good steps already. Now it's a matter of practice and time on the road. There simply is no substitution! I remember the traffic jitters myself, none to fondly mind you, and given that you are in Montana, I have to imagine you've got plenty of wide open spaces. Get there to practice! Or, practice in your neighborhood when the traffic is really low, like on Sunday mornings! Or find a big empty Kmart parking lot (that's what I did). The point being that part of jitters in traffic is that you probably have not yet completely and subconsciously mastered control of your throttle, clutch and brake coordination. You're probably trying hard to make sure you've got the bike under control and the added pressure of other vehicles is . . . well . . . tough! We understand. Now go practice. And then, here's the biggest clue of all: practice, practice, practice! Meanwhile, go to the links section on this website where you will find all sorts of good stuff to help get yourself further educated and connected. There's women's riding organizations, like Women on Wheels, to connect with other women in your area, chat groups and a few magazines and e-zines. Glad to have you aboard and don't be afraid to ask more questions and share your own insights as you gather them. That's what we're all about! – Mama Thursday, February 21 Here are two more responses to the question about type of helmet to wear: Just to answer Linda in Jacksonville on "Why wear a helmet at all if you wear a novelty helmet?" I live in NC where there is a helmet law that requires one. Riders that wear the novelty helmet tell me that they are the lightest and smallest that they can wear, even though they are not DOT approved. They evidently feel OK about wearing them. I personally do not. – Chris OK....I usually wear a 3/4 helmet, but also have a shorty helmet. Last summer, I had a mishap with my bike. I ran into some sand and gravel as I was turning a corner and wound up broadsiding a van. On the good side -- I walked away from the accident. On the bad side -- the bike was a total, and I had some injuries to my face. Fortunately they were minor, and were barely noticeable after about 3 days. (I won't go into detail, but my loving spouse said I looked like gorilla lips :::sigh::: unfortunately he was right). The point is, had I been wearing a full face helmet, or even taken the time to put on a face shield, which I do have for both helmets, I would not have had any facial injuries. I was wearing the 3/4 helmet at the time of the mishap. I love the looks of a full face as well as the protection it gives, BUT unfortunately I am one of those people that are claustrophobic and just can't wear one. Hopefully, this "experience" will help someone to decide on just what they want in a helmet. Best wishes in your choices. – Betty Wednesday, February 20 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear VTwin Mama, Tuesday, February 19 Here we go with three responses to the question about type of helmet to wear: I started out wearing a 3/4 helmet, but when I began riding my own bike, I found it to be very uncomfortable. It felt as though the wind was going to take off my head! I know that would have been eliminated if I had worn a face shield, but its HOT in Georgia during the summer. I also do not have a wind shield, so the wind was hitting me full force. I switched last summer to a half helmet (not a novelty helmet) and I love it! I feel protected and it is much more comfortable. I did put cotton in my ears though. That cut down on the wind noise. I prefer to wear a DOT approved helmet, although my husband wears the novelty helmet. I certainly don't judge people for their choices, just as I hope they don't judged me for mine. – Sharon I have a full face helmet that I use, and yes, it is hot. But so are the jeans that I wear, the gloves on my hands and the sleeves on my jacket. It is my preference to ride covered and safe and each person is responsible for their own feeling of security. When the ride gets hot, the visor can be flipped up and the breather holes opened. Stop, rest, drink some water and enjoy conversation with your fellow bikers when the going gets warm. – Michele If you're not going to wear an approved helmet why would you wear a novelty helmet? I'm just curious. Even the novelty helmet messes up your hair and can get warm. As for me, if I going to put something on my head, it's going to be either my full face for winter and long hauls or my shorty for Florida summers and around town. Both are good approved helmets. Don't get me wrong. I believe everyone should have the freedom of choice as to whether or not to wear a helmet. I just think that if you've made the choice to not wear one (a "real" one, that is) then why bother with a brain scrambler? Just curious – Linda in Jacksonville Dear Sharon, Michele and Linda, I wear a half helmet myself and have found that by tying a scarf around by head "Lauren Bacall" style, (i.e., not bandana style over the forehead, but more "lady like") that it cuts the noise, protects my ears, keeps my hair from tangling, and the scarf "tails" look so pretty fluttering behind me! Still, for long hauls, I'm a big believer in the full face, 'cause Mother Nature can be a real "beach" and throw a weather curveball. Nothing like hail in the summer on your face -- NOT! Let's face it, hair smush and hot head are part of the "price" we pay for being riders, but the alternative would be to sit on the porch, swill beer and watch grass grow. So what's it gonna' be?!?!?!?! I say let's all shave our heads! – Mama Dear VTwin Mama, How do you girls feel about these helmets? And what kind do you like best and why? I need some input since spring is just around the corner and I will be purchasing a new helmet because the one I have been wearing is borrowed. Thanks! – Chris Dear Chris, While a full face or 3/4 may be hot in the summer, you have to balance that with your personal feelings of safety. Let's open this issue up for input again and see who has to say what! – Mama Monday, February 18 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Lori, Dear VTwin Mama, It brought back the memory of my first time running out of gas -- I wasn't sure how to do my reserve -- but was able to pull over and wait for my husband -- he was wanting to find out how many miles my bike could get before I needed reserve. My safety class showed us where the reserve is and how it works, but even so you need to be able to reach it and know which way to turn it without having to look down. That girl was probably a fairly new rider -- so all you biker gals out there -- sit on your bikes and learn where the reserve switch is and how it works. DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOU NEED IT. Better yet fill up often. We go a lot and stop often to fill up. Remember -- know where your reserve is and don't look for it in motion. – Georgia Dear Georgia, Thursday, February 14 Dear VTwin Mama, Well, when I was at Americade last year, I decided to buy a Mustang seat to replace the stock seat. Now don't get me wrong, I absolutely love the new seat, it's very comfortable, especially on long distance rides, but what I didn't realize when I got it is that it's actually a lot higher and wider than the stock seat, which put me back on my tippy toes. That was my only disappointment. A friend told me about a shop nearby that does upholstery on cars, trucks and (thank goodness) motorcycle seats. I was able to bring the new seat in, explain my problem, and they were able to remove the covering and "shave" down some of the foam on the sides toward the front of the seat. It's amazing what a difference that made! I'm so happy and standing flat on the ground again! I guess the point I'm trying to make is, if you have a specific problem with your bike, there's usually a solution to be found somewhere! Think Spring! – New England Rider Dear New England Rider, Wednesday, February 13 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Denny, Or perhaps the Canadian Motorcycle Association can help. Go to their website for info and phone number. But your best bet would probably be to call your local community college -- at best they'll have a course, but if not, my guess is that they could point you in the right direction. And don't forget your local library -- they have reference librarians that live to serve you! That's all I've been able to find so far. – Mama Wednesday, February 13 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Laura, Tuesday, February 12 Hi Mama, Dear Laura, Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Jo Ann, Monday, February 11 Dear VTwin Mama, What are your readers doing to keep from going nuts because you can't ride due to the weather? I started going to the gym since I can't ride during the winter months and guess who I'm seeing there -- other bikers working out too! How kool is that? – Karen Dear Karen, During the winter I like to catch up on my quilting projects that have laid around all summer while I've been biking. Magazines help make the time go by, too (Readers, go to the links section to see what women riding magazines and e-zines there are). The last few days, the sun has been shining and melting the ten inches of snow we got last Saturday. It almost felt balmy out, then the wind started to blow. However, it did get me to thinking about a new decal for my bike. There is a place on our local mall that will make them to your specifications. I also thought that I should look into some decoration for the edges of my windshield. I don't want too much because the bike has a classy look on it's own. I just want to personalize it a little. Just keep the faith, the days are lasting longer each day and soon we will be rolling down the road with bugs in our teeth!!! – Cindy Friday, February 9 For No Name about the Honda Shadow vs Yamaha VStar: I personally have not rode the Honda Shadow VLX Deluxe but have a friend who had one. It was a few years old and it only had 4 speeds. She did not like it because she could not keep up, gears where to high for mountain riding and quick take offs. (I don't know much about the newer ones, if they now have a 5 speed or not). She sold it and is now riding a 2001 Honda Sprit 750 and loves it. Now, on the other hand, my sister rides a 2001 650 VStar and she is happy with it. I have rode it a little and it does seam like it has enough pickup and its very easy to handle. Anyway she is not complaining about power. So that's my skinny on it! But you must ride the one that fits YOU the best. For April looking for reasonably priced riding gear: Have you tried www.denniskirk.com? I get a lot of my stuff from them and I think they are pretty reasonable. Order online or you can get a catalog. Postage is free if order is over $100 -- don't know anyone who offers that deal. Never thought about e-bay -- will try that one myself. For Betty about what gave us the desire to ride: The first reason I learned to ride was because I was bored sitting in the back -- think I'm a little hyper (I have learned to read paper-backs this way). My second reason -- I realized after I started to learn was that I was doing this for myself not for anyone else. Not for my kids, not for my husband (he was cool, he didn't care if I road pillion or not). This was totally my own thing. And I'm still very proud of myself for doing it. And of course I love all the stuff Betty and Mama mentioned too! – Barbara in AZ Dear
Barbara, Friday, February 8 Dear Readers, Friday, February 8 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Bert, Thursday, February 7 For Gayle who needs practice bikes (who turns out to be from Atlanta, GA not the UK, but then that was my ass-umption and well let's face it, I'm not perfect. Although I don't brag about that a lot. At least not in public!) When I first started motorcycle riding. I bought a Honda 550cb for $150. The motorcycle wasn't running at the time, but that wasn't too much of a challenge. Two hours, the carbs got cleaned, and it was running again. It became my practice bike. We still own that one. It belongs to my son now. My suggestion is buy an old motorcycle that you wouldn't worry too much about putting a dent in it. Make sure though that it is a good runner. It wouldn't hurt to have knowledge on how to fix them either. – Foxee Have you tried to see if there are any motorcycle rental places in your vicinity? I have never rented a bike, but that might be a good place to start! Good luck! – Betsy Ok, although I goofed up on the UK thing, I still think that contacting women in your area is good stuff. You can try Women on Wheels (just click on your state and see the list of women willing to talk with you) or try the chat room at Shinny Side Up to find area riders. (link is at the bottom of this page also). – Mama Thursday, February 7 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Nancy, Wednesday, February 6 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Laura, Dear VTwin Mama, I am wondering if anyone knows if there is somewhere that a beginner, with a license, can hire a bike, practice and/or get a little experience. Any direction or help you can offer would be appreciated. I am really interested in this but don't know where to start. Many thanks and I am looking forward to the next installment of the newsletter. – Gayle in the UK (who is actually in Atlanta as it turns out) Dear Gayle, Well, seriously . . . it's true -- who is going to let a novice practice on their bike? And if you can't practice, how are you to know what bike you really want to get? Here's one thing I think might help -- get in contact with other women riders in your area -- they can offer local guidance and support. Try visiting the Women's International Motorcycle Association in the UK (WIMA-UK) to get you started. Any of my regular UK readers -- it's time to chime in! – Mama Monday, February 4 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear NER, Monday, February 4 Dear Readers, My guy and I each ride our own, so we each pack for ourselves. I have a HD Sportster with aftermarket soft bags, which I use for bike cover, rain gear, hooded sweatshirt, towel or two, extra parts, things I want handy. I then take my 'Rally Pack', (the luggage that we strap to the bar) and mount it on the back seat. I roll clothes tightly, and only worry about a lot of socks and clean underwear. I take at least one tank top, one tee, one long sleeve, etc. I figure that I will be buying shirts on the road, and one pair of jeans for every 2-3 days. I stock up on travel sizes of everything from make up to shampoos, and keep a travel bag stocked. One extra pair of sandals-double as slippers. I will usually throw a pair of shorts in, just in case, and try to sleep in something that doesn't take much room. All of this doesn't even pack the seat bag. The bag also doubles as a backrest. Over this I put a cargo bungee (great in case I need the extra room. I also have a luggage rack roll type bag that I can fill with souvenirs, water, munchies for the hotel. It's nice when your hotel has laundry facilities, just in case, but I once used the sink to hand wash a few things and hung them up in my room. My guy takes more than I do, and he just downsized storage wise to a Duece. He will be deciding what's really important this year. I did pick up some travel size 'Space Bags' to help him condense his gear. After a trip or two, you see what you have to have and what you can live without. And, I try to remember--double duty--for things I take. I also warned my neighbor-if you get a box in the mail from me while I'm on the road, DO NOT OPEN IT!!!!! It's probably my dirty laundry. Happy riding – Glenda (note from VTM -- now that's innovative and funny!) I just wanted to let you know that I have learned how to pack for a vacation on my bike. The best way to keep you clothes from getting to wrinkle is you can pack your shirt, underclothes, socks, pants and etc. in a plastic zip lock baggies. Galloon size. I have taken trips packing clothes like this and it can save al ot of room in your saddle bags and when they are dirty repack them the same way. This air tight bag will not wrinkle your clothes badly. I have put 4 shirts in one bag and this saves a lot of room for more stuff to bring along. Put clothes in the plastic bag and press down to get the air out and zip. Also I would like to help April out on wanting to buy woman biker clothes. I have found this web-site that carry ladies chaps and etc. Go to this web-site www.womanbiker.com see if they have what you are looking for and save money too. Also if you go to bike rally's you can get a good deal on the last day the vendor's will be there. I bought a lot of my items in Myrtle Beach on the last day of the events. VTwin Mama, keep the good information coming. – Debbie Poole of Kingsport, Tennessee (note from VTM -- thanks for the "atta girl" Debbie) I travel a lot and am away from home in some cases for months at a time. Because I also work on the road (I publish Biker Ally Magazine) I need to take a lap-top and a couple of cameras as well as notebook paper. Needless to say I really need to be organized with my packing abilities. First, I have a t-bag. In this I have my lap-top, clothes and toilet articles. For the toilet articles I went to K-Mart and bought a cute little bag which holds samples of shampoo, toothbrush and a whole lot of other items. This also has a hanger on it to be able to hang it up in a hotel. It's about 8" X 5" and cost was under $20. This is always on the top. Next all of my clothes are in zip lock bags. I am not known for my ability to roll clothes without wrinkles, I'm actually rolling impaired. When using zip lock bags you can either put in all your long sleeve in one bag, short sleeve in another, tank tops in another, socks in another and so on, or you can place one outfit per day in a zip lock bag, having your extra socks and underwear in a separate bag. Once you have these folded, you close the zip lock bag part way and roll the bag up--removing the air. I kneel on this and then I zip it the rest of the way. I use the 2 gallon size or the 1 gallon size. This compresses the clothing and absolutely no wrinkles and saves a lot of space. Plus I can just reach in and get what I want in a snap. The bags are reusable and you can even put your dirty clothes in a separate bag, keeping the smell out of the rest of your clothing. And yes, I do laundry at the hotels since I'm gone for more than one week at a time. I usually pack all dark items for a couple of reasons, 1. Shows less road dirt and 2. I only need to do one or two loads of laundry and not worry about fading, etc. I always have my rain suit in my saddle bag for easy access and again it's in a zip lock bag along with extra gloves, bandanas, etc. in a separate zip lock bag. My other saddle bag contains my tools and extra oil in a special tool bag. I do have bungee cords for some extra just in case times, but I generally have two bungee nets, which are great for quick packing of jackets when the day warms up. Why two nets, well as I said I pack a lot of stuff. I have a large camera case, which is basically a suitcase, then the jacket, helmet, vest, and a bunch of other items are held in place by the nets. I carry extra plastic bags to put my feet into when it rains to help keep my feet dry. Sun screen is keep in a side pouch on the t-bag as well as my cell phone is in another side pouch on the t-bag and you guessed it, in a zip lock bag. I should actually take stock in zip-lock bags since I'm a firm believer of keep things dry and air tight. These are just a few suggestions and I hope it helps some of you. – Rain (note from VTM -- my goodness, after all this good advice I'm going to be a packing wizard!) Friday, February 1 Dear VTwin Mama, As for what to pack on your bike, don't forget the faithful ball cap for the flat hair, and I didn't see anyone mention an extra pair of shoes (for a rainy day). I also want to mention for the winter riders, watch out for the sand left on the roads. Here in Indiana they have too much salt and sand on hand, they hear bad weather and they are out dumping sand and salt every where. – Shorty600 Dear Shorty600, Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Jo Ann, Of course, in Houston mind you, this is not a problem. For PMS (parked motorcycle syndrome) envy, read this next letter! – Mama We poor old Houstonians just FRY in the summer (which lasts about 10 months out of the year). We look so forward to January. It is actually cool enough for a jacket, although you usually have to get rid of it by about noon. Temps around the mid to high 60's. Mostly sunny and the humidity is actually low for the only month out of the year! You guys get under the covers and we look forward to the outings! We rode almost 500 miles last weekend. This weekend we have another big ride planned. There are many folks who have NEVER seen snow here in Houston. If someone says there is a 1% chance of snow, everyone waits outside to see if they can actually spot a snowflake (not that they would know one if they saw one). I guess when we are burning up in the summer and many don't get out because the heat is simply unbearable, we need to remember those in other parts with just the reverse problem. I think it all comes down to wherever you are, if you own a bike and the weather isn't perfect, you want to be where it is! We ALL hate what you so aptly termed as PMS - "Parked Motorcycle Syndrome"! – Jo Ann H. |
| © 2002 VTwin Mama | Disclaimer |