Wednesday, February 9
Dear
VTwin Mama,
I just found your site from another site and saw the message on the Ridley
motorcycle. Well, I can tell you from experience, it is a great little
bike and goes fast too as my wife has one and it is a blast to ride. I
have a full dresser and have ridden the Ridley and have fun too. And the mileage
is awesome, about 50 mpg in town and near 70 on highway.
– Scott
Dear
Scott,
Thanks for the first hand note of experience with the Ridley auto
tranny bike. Sounds like you and your wife are having fun, and the mileage
is certainly delicious given the astronomical gas prices these days! –
Mama
Thursday, February 10
Dear
VTwin Mama,
Hi. As a motorcyclist of many years I just thought I would put my oar in
on the Autos page. There is now an Auto sportsbike, its a Gilera V-Twin of
about 800 cc, been out about a year, it has continuously variable auto
trans as I think does the Ridley.
Among the bikes I own, is Moto Guzzi Convert and a Honda 750A. I own them because they are so different. I would be a bit wary about recommending the Guzzi to a novice rider, they are a bit of lump. (Convert is from Torque CONVERTer- its Italian don't forget, although the torque converter is German)
Suzuki also made an auto in the 70 ies it was I think 400 or 450 and was shaft drive, non of these bikes really caught on then, I would like to see autos make a come back, I like them. They are never in the wrong gear, however detractors would say they are never in the right gear. Each to his or her own.
Keep up the good work of encouraging people onto bikes whatever the model. – Happy Daze, Auto Rob
Dear
Rob,
Well,
I went into a happy daze trying to get to the U.S. site for Gilera, but it
doesn’t exist! Still, I had an absolute blast hopping onto the main
site and then checking into other countries home pages (each varies).
The UK has a skinny naked guy in a helmet with a very large lady wearing a
black negligee in bed with him. Go figure!
Anyway, then I hopped onto eBay to see any were for sale in the U.S. (no) but did find some other weird items (sticker sets, complete history book, repair manuals). Thanks for sharing another possible auto tranny selection! – Mama
Dear
VTwin Mama,
In response to readers looking for automatic motorcycles: I am a 4'11
female and I owned a Hondamatic 400 a few years ago. I could not flat foot
it but I was fairly comfortable. It was a good bike to
start on, but after an auto accident in 2002 I had to sell it. I didn't
have the strength to ride it any more because of the bikes weight. If I
remember correctly I think it was a little over 370lbs.(I could be
wrong.)
Anyway, I took the MSF course last year and I enjoyed it very much but I still don't want to shift. My preference is an automatic, because of my height & strength issue, as well as the fact that my hands are small and I found it difficult to pull in the clutch. I've been searching the internet for automatics and I saw that Ridley's were mentioned, but I ran across another automatic motorcycle manufacturer your readers may be interested in. The website is www.pagsta.com. They say they use a Honda engine and they are coming out with a 250cc sometime this year. I didn't see any prices though. The seat height is comparable to the Ridley's too, which I like. Honda also has a 250cc scooter called the Big Ruckus, but it doesn't look like a scooter at all. I like the way it looks, price is around $5400. Readers can see the Big Ruckus at www.honda.com. Just wanted to share this info. Thanks, – Half-Pint
Dear
Half-Pint,
Thank you for sharing your own journey and noting a few more
options in the auto tranny category . . . every bit of info helps and the
Pagsta looks fun! And here is the specific
page for the Big Ruckus by Honda. –
Mama
Dear
VTwin Mama,
Just discovered your website. It is GRERAT! I am a 56 yr. old, 6ft.4in.
tall guy who always wanted to ride a motorcycle and, finally, is going to
do it. I took the local MSF course last Nov.(04), DIDN'T PASS the Driving
Skills Test (very embarrassing --my classmates were astounded as they ALL
said I "looked perfect"). Instructor said, "you have all
the mechanics down pat"--just need to get your speed up (I thought I
was moving pretty fast BUT I didn't check my speedometer). That aside, my
PRIMARY PROBLEM is: when coming to a quick stop, I have a tendency to roll
ON the throttle with the palm of my hand while squeezing/applying the
front brake. Any tips on how to avoid this?
– Al
Dear
Al,
You're not alone! As to the throttle roll while braking, start
with this letter and read on for tips on the challenge! –
Mama
Wednesday, February 9
For Al who is learning to use the front brake without rolling on the throttle:
I just want to let you know your not alone. I do that to. I got my bike in October 2004. I don't have many miles on my bike yet, so I'm still a newbie. I think it's just going to take practice. I try to roll my hand a little forward when I go for the brake so I don't give it gas at the same time when I'm braking. Good luck. – Vivian, V-Star Rider (note from Mama: yes, practice is usually the key!)
Thursday, February 10
More for Al who is learning to use the front brake without rolling on the throttle:
The instructors at the MSF course were really good about this subject as well – keep your wrists down! That always makes you have to roll the throttle off in order to reach the brake lever. The one thing I have found negative about keeping my wrists down is that I may tend to have a ‘death grip’ on the grips, or my wrists get a little stiff from that position. Found an article that addressed that however – funny as it seems, gripping with your knees on the tank makes you relax your hands and arms. It works! I find that I can relax my hands enough to adjust position as needed to prevent any tiredness in my hands, fingers and arms, even on the longest rides! Of course, gripping with my knees only made sense to me – I used to ride dressage horses. – Amy in Washington. (note from Mama: now that's an interesting point about the knee grip relaxing your hands . . . but I do find that when I want a good sense of control, I do bring my knees in and hug the tank rather than letting them hang out! Thanks for sharing this!)
Friday, February 11
From Al who is thankful for input on the front brake/throttle roll issue:
Thanks Mama and thanks to Amy in Washington and Vivian - V Star Rider for the tips on "Learning to use the front brake without rolling on the throttle." By the way, in my original message I mentioned that I "failed" the skills part of the MSF test(s). However, two weeks later I signed up for next available running of that class/course, which occurs in May '05. I plan to buy a bike and get some practice before then. Thanks again. – Al (note from Mama: you are welcome. I just posted a motorcycle skills test practice guide page site I found that might help you work through some of the skill test things.)
Dear
VTwin Mama,
Hi, I am a new rider. Rode with husband since the 80's but never solo.
Have a very small bike now. My problem is this . . . when I get into a
jam, scared etc., while trying to slow , using front brake or just simply
tightening up a bit -- I tend to give throttle. Not meaning to of course.
How can I keep from from doing this?
– M. Wright
Dear
M.,
My
thought is that you would benefit greatly from spending some more time
away from distractions that can cause you to feel you're in a jam. This
means going back to an empty parking lot, setting up cones or some other
markers to lay out stops and turns and then begin going over your quick
stop maneuvers.
Maybe place your favorite teddy bear in the way?! Then keep practicing
until you feel you've got control again. Learning to use the front brake
without goosing the throttle is a biggee (and many report it takes tons of
practice to get it just right). Take heart, you are NOT ALONE. Now, back
out to a practice area for you and then slowly re-introduce yourself to
traffic . . . early Sunday mornings are typically the lightest traffic
time. –
Mama
Friday, February 18
For M. Wright on rolling the throttle while using the front brake:
Absolutely Practice Practice. I have small hands and this was a problem for me, you'll get use to it, I mean breaking without gassing it.
When I took the MSF course, my coach, a woman with small hands too, told me this. "The one important thing to remember is just because the engine revs is keep on the brake and clutch till you stop or can relax your hand off the throttle. What helped me was grabbing one finger at a time on the break lever (index, middle, ring, pinky) in a rolling motion instead of using all four a once. It's just as quick." Hope this might help. – Jennifer (note from Mama: every bit of coaching helps! One message might not get the point across, but another will . . . so, let's keep sharing! )
Dear
VTwin Mama,
I am a new rider of a 1988 Honda VT 800. I took the riding class and got
my license with no problem. I've been out riding through the neighborhood,
no problem with turns, swerves, etc. however, I seemed to have developed a
mental block when coming to a stop. I generally gear down, use my back
brake, plant both feet on the ground....then for some reason, rise up from
a sitting position making the bike a little wobbly and unsteady. I've
dropped the bike twice now going up my driveway, which is a bit on an
incline, by stopping, then rising up and leaning forward....go figure!!!!
Now when I ride, it seems when I come to a stop, this is in the back of my
head, and makes me very uneasy and unsteady when stopping. Do you have any
suggestions to get past this mental block??? By the way, I just found this
site and very much like it. Thanks.
– Wendy
Dear
Wendy,
Yikes, there is nothing like a mental block to k.o. all of our
"good" progress in learning to ride! Fear not . . . you're not
alone! But I've got to admit, your "dilemma" is a bit different
than I've heard before.
Ok, let's get down to the nitty gritty. In order to come to a full stop and have both feet planted on the ground, I'm thinking you must have the front brake engaged. Could it be that you're envisioning that you need to "get up" and lean forward to make the bike go again? Perhaps an old habit from riding a bicycle (where one rises slightly in order to put that one foot on a pedal and push down)?
I think a little practice away from traffic and other distractions will help. This could even be done on your side street (if you live on one). Ok, you're at a stop, feet on the ground, and you're ready to go. Keep your butt in the seat, shift into first (if you're in neutral), release the front brake, slowly engage the clutch and off you go. That seems simple enough, but maybe you would benefit from some visualization practice. Sit at your kitchen chair, close your eyes, and envision the correct sequence (without the butt lift) and keep doing this until you're smiling with glee that you've got it down pat (on the kitchen chair)! Now, with the bike in an empty parking lot (or even your side street), so the same. Practice until you've overcome the need to rise and lean.
In all of this, ask yourself why you feel the need to rise up. My guess is if you examine this just a bit more, you'll figure out where this inclination came from. Then practice, practice, practice and you'll have it! – Mama
For Wendy who is learning to pull away from stops correctly:
Wendy, it’s the both feet on the ground problem. I had similar issues that involved too much usage of the front brake causing me to drop two different bikes at different times (both mine, at least – guess I had it in my mind that I could hold up and control a 400 – 800# bike with my feet & legs!). I have to continually remind myself to keep that right foot on the pedal / floorboard and only put down my left foot – keeping control of that back brake! I keep it there even after I have stopped now. Seems to me if you practice keeping that right foot up you won’t be able to (or want to) stand up. – Amy (note from Mama: there's nothing like first-hand experience to offer a method that works! Thanks for sharing!)
Monday, February 28
More for Wendy who is learning to pull away from stops correctly:
I'm not sure why she's leaving the seat either. But, she mentioned an incline... when I'm on an incline I do one or two things...1) slightly lean the bike to the left foot so I can brake with the right foot and slowly accelerate up the incline or 2) I will stand slightly and lean & hold the bike with my legs to slowly accelerate up an incline. I'm doing this on a VTX1300.
I also wonder if she's real comfortable with the "friction zone" when pulling off from a start. The clutch-gas-brake thing is a lot of practice in all kinds of situations. Inclines and hills always make me concentrate a little harder.. I definitely don't want to drop in the middle of the road! – Sandy Reece in Winston Salem, NC (note from Mama: you are right . . . the friction zone takes practice and can be learned on a flat surface . . . truly one of the important lessons to master as it's useful in so many instances!)
Now, a note from Wendy:
Thank you
Amy for your advice and you’re right, I was using my front break way
too much. I use my back break
a lot more now especially when I’m coming to a stop.
My husband has taken me out around the neighborhood quite a few
times since I initially wrote VTwin Mama about my dilemma.
He would ride ahead of me and would stop.
I would ride up next to him and stop.
We did this continuously for an entire Sunday afternoon and a few
evenings and I think my problem is cured.
I didn’t realize how much practicing is so important.
I’ve started rebuilding my confidence again.
It certainly did the trick for me.
Thank you for your input. This
is a great site!