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Thursday, January 1 New Books by Women Riders
Coming Soon: A review of
Tyrenna Tolbert's novel Who's Got Skills ...
Friday, January 2 More for Jack who is looking for a bike that will fit his very tiny wife: Hi Jack ... At 5 ft tall with a 27" inseam, I'm not as short or as small as your wife. I've done a lot of looking for my perfect bike, so I'll throw a leg over just about anything. One of the models I considered is the Ducati Monster. It's supposed to be very easy to lower. The guys at one of my local dealerships told me they'd modified a one to fit a little person (dwarf.) It's worth discussing with your local Ducati dealer if you don't mind a sport bike instead of a cruiser. I'd be happy to pass along the name of the mechanic who told me about it if your local mechanic can't get her/his head around the concept. Good luck, Amy K. (note from Mama: an excellent message reminding folks that the right dealer is worth their weight in gold, especially when challenges appear insurmountable.) Even more for Jack who is looking for a bike that will fit his very tiny wife: Jack should sit his wife on a Blast with the low seat. She'll feel like she just got home. I'm 5'5" with narrow hips, and I ride with the regular seat. The low felt too low for me. Cheers, Sarah (note from Mama: the low seat option does bring this model down by 2" but they'll have to try it out to see if that's enough. In another email a reader noted that Jack's wife sounds unreal in size (are we being suckered?) but we have no reason to believe that Jack is stretching the truth as what would be gained by that?! In addition, it was noted that the Ducati Monster, even with every lowering trick in the world would probably not even fit a person at 5'1" and a 25" inseam. I would simply add that a huge heel addition (not everyone's cup of tea) could possibly help but I'm holding my breath that they find a better overall fit on a stock bike first when they go to the motorcycle show in a week or so). Tuesday, January 6 Dear VTwin Mama, My husband and I ride with another couple, friends in our neighborhood. We like them a lot, but I am having concerns about safety when we ride with them. We're all fairly new bikers with under 1 year street experience. My husband picked up riding again after a long time; he's a very good rider. I took the safety course (now required in our state) - it was actually pretty tough; I passed it with some errors and got my license. My woman friend - who has the same size and type bike as I do - also took a course (not the same one I did). I really don't think the course she took was as strict as mine! When we ride with them, if they are out in front of us, there is almost a timid-like take off from a stop, very slow, and frequent stall outs. I realize stalls happen from time to time, but the other day a car almost ran into her! There have been some serious errors, like turning in the middle of a busy road without looking for a proper place to make the turn. At the time, we were behind her and cars were coming up behind us - I was really scared! VTwin Mama, we want to stay friends with this couple, and would like to continue riding with them, but I think they need some more practice and definitely need to work on their skills. What would you advise? Thanks so much! Beth Dear Beth, My thought is that it can be difficult to just come right out and say what's on your mind. A "sideways" method would be to suggest going halves on purchasing the Ride Like a Pro (RLAP) and Surviving The Mean Streets DVDs as an extension to your continuing riding education. This could be worded any way you would like. Then you can get together as couples for viewing evenings. The first DVD would open discussion on polishing basic slow maneuver skills and the second would bring to light the various road situations you all face while riding. Everyone would benefit. Then you could schedule a few practice sessions to work on the RLAP drills together (even 1/2 hour before a "real" ride is useful) ... and when a traffic safety issue crops up it would be easier to say something like, "Didn't we see that on the DVD? I'd like to watch that again!" I will simply add that these DVDs are available in the Lending Tree Library, an extension of the VTwin Mama Message Board. Registered board members can add themselves to the list of interested viewers and it only requires a nominal cost to ship it to the next person in line. Mama Tuesday, January 6 Dear VTwin Mama, 1) Boulevard S40 4'11" (150 cm) The bike is 2" narrower than
the S50, which helps with reach to foot controls Sincerely, Donna D. Dear Donna, In 2005, Suzuki renamed it's entire line of cruiser bikes under the Boulevard name. So, the Intruder 800 is now the Boulevard S50. The S40 used to be the Savage. Yes, there are some style and redesign elements, but that's the basic gist of it all. Proper fit takes in a lot of variables, including the reach to hand and foot controls, seating position and width, and the infamous leg reach to ground. All three Suzuki bikes have a seat height of 27.6". The first person is saying that the S40 is narrower in the frame/seat area than the S50 (the old Intruder) so that your thighs aren't pushed out as far before your legs stretch to the ground. The Shadow VLX (last production year was 2007) has a seat height of 25.6" (so, 2 inches lower) but for that rider the overall fit was better on the Intruder 800 (but we don't have details on exactly why). With this new view on things you're ready to take another look at the classified ads and/or visit the local dealer's showroom to sit on bikes and consider your options. Mama Tuesday, January 6 Hi Petra, My main problem is how low of a gear to go down to. Should
I not use any brake and go around the turn in second gear? Sometimes
I go clear down to first gear, but then have to high tail it up to get
moving. And I find I might be more steering than leaning. I
know that each turn/curve has a special situation. I just want to
know if Im on the right track and if there are other pointers you can
give me. Dear Tempe, I personally think it's because from a dead stop we are applying our best coordinated throttle and friction zone use in a steady manner, incorporating both the turn and the speed gain. When we gear down to take a moving turn, situations sometimes call for clicking down to 1st and then we're adding the uncertainty of exactly where in the gear range we are, so we compensate with friction zone but that has a reaction time built in (as nothing is instantaneous ... our brain needs a bit of processing time!). If I recall correctly, Jerry "Motorman" Palladino (of Ride Like A Pro) notes that countersteering/leaning only can happen once we've reached 5mph. So if we've had to slow down into 1st gear to handle the turn for whatever reason, and it falls in that very low speed range, we do end up steering the front wheel vs. leaning our way though the turn. The smoothest corner is done in 2nd gear, slipping the clutch in and out of the friction zone and using the rear brake for a bit of speed control (remembering that front brake isn't really a good idea is slow turns as it tends to pull the bike downward in the turn). If some corners require it done in 1st gear, then so be it and even with all the practice in the world, even the most experienced riders are going to have a jerky moment now and again! Mama Tuesday, January 6 Hey there VTwin Mama, I have an opportunity to buy one of the new 2009 Yamaha VMAX bikes, but I am concerned about the seat height / width. Are any of your readers close enough to a Yamaha dealer to pop in and "try it on" for me- I'm 5ft 5, and I'd love to get the bike, but I'd hate to put money down and find I'm too short for it when it gets here! Thanks, Julie Dear Julie, Thursday, January 8 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Holly, I'm wondering if you couldn't choose a less aggressive lowering (less inches) and make up some of the difference by shaving out some of the stock seat foam (there looks to be plenty of wiggle room there) and finding a pair of boots with a thicker sole. Keep in mind that in lowering a bike, it's good to lower both the back (shorter shock or lowering link) and the front (fork lowering kit) in order to keep the aspect ratio from front to back more in line with the original design (i.e. lower the back and front equally). I hope these ideas give you food for thought. Mama Thursday, January 8 More for LAdams who was wondering about longer trips on a Hyosung GV250: I also have a GV250 Hyosung. I have taken it on many trips with my husband ... usually 150 to 200 miles round trip in a day. We ride with friends and usually have a group of 4 to 8 bikes. I have no difficulty keeping up with the bigger bikes (most of them Harleys); however we usually keep to the secondary roads as my bike is light and trucks push me around. I have also had some cross winds move me over a couple of inches. It is a great beginner bike but I am starting to look at something a little heavier like a V Star 650 of Boulevard S50. Not just sure what I want yet but will continue to ride my 250 and enjoy my time on the road with hubby and friends until some strikes my fancy and pocketbook. By the way I will be 62 this February and I have had my license for 3 years. It was a little scary at first but now I jump on and take off and think nothing of the longer trips we take. I would not hesitate to take my bike on a longer trip if I had the time off of work but I have to be content right now with day trips. Anonymous (note from Mama: we hear from a great number of women who begin their adventure in riding in their 50s and I offer you an early Happy Birthday greeting! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Hyosung GV250 ... there are lots of people who make these less powerful and lighter weight bikes work for them in all sorts of riding situations.) Friday, January 9 For Holly who is looking at lowering her "new to her" Volusia 800: I've never posted here before, but have stopped by and lurked many times. I saw the link to share thoughts, so thought I would. : ) This is for Holly who just got a Volusia. First congrats on your recent purchase! I have a '06 Boulevard C50, which as near as I can tell is a Volusia with a new name. I couldn't stand flat footed when I first got the bike so I lowered her 3 inches. It took a few months, but I eventually scraped a floor board once. When my husband rides my bike he seems to scrape on every corner. Well, he scraped even before lowering, so I guess it just depends on your riding style. I scraped the bottom of the frame going over a speed bump once, but most of the time it's not a problem. I gotta say the bike looks very nice lowered, but I may go back to stock height if I start scraping a lot. It wouldn't bother me now if I wasn't flat footed. Kari (note from Mama: yes, the Volusia was renamed the Boulevard C50. Thanks for sharing your real world experiences on a 3" lowering ... this is sure to help Holly decide what she would like to do!) Friday, January 9 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Sharron, Friday, January 9 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Romel, 1) make sure the sparkplug is the right for your bike. To get a baseline, check the NGK Sparkplug site. Click on Yamaha, XV250 and then you will see the recommended plugs depending on what year your bike is. Even if you are not buying NGK plugs, the place you are buying them from should be able to cross reference the NGK number. Or, if you look at the manufacturer's name of your current plug, you can go to that site and check that you have the right plug. The reason to double check is that plugs need to conduct the right amount of heat and if you have the wrong plug it will not work correctly. If you bought this bike from a previous owner, you can't be sure that they had the right ones in the bike. 2) when you buy a sparkplug, it often says that it is pre-gapped (measured already). This of course is the gap between the center electrode and ground (curved L-shape) electrode on the end of the plug that is not white. It is important that you check the gap yourself with a feeler gauge. You will need to know the recommended gap from Yamaha ... that will be written in the owner's manual or you can call your local dealer. 3) it's possible that the sparkplug is fouling. This usually means that too much gas is being sent to the plug and it cannot ignite it correctly. Start the bike, let it run for a few minutes, and shut it down. Let the bike cool for a few minutes. Remove the plug. Does it smell like gas and maybe even be wet with gas? If your answer is yes, then the problem most likely is not the sparkplug. The amount of fuel sent to the sparkplug is done by the carburetor. It is running too rich (more gas than air). First check the air filter near the carburetor to see that it is clean. If the air filter is not clean, the carburetor cannot get enough air and the air/gas mix is rich. If the filter is clean then it might just be an adjustment to the carburetor. Please look at these three steps and if the problem still is not solved, email back and we'll continue to work on the problem. Mama Friday, January 9 From Jack who is looking for a bike that will fit his very tiny wife: No, I'm not "stretching the truth" about the little women. No reason to do that. She's 4'10" with a 24" inseam .(that might be stretching it) her pants still drag on the ground. Size 0 in women's pants. The only difference is that her hips are just about the same as her waist. So that's somewhere around a 22" to 23" waist and hips. Mostly we shop in the "boys dept" for her pants. She weighs around 90 lbs. and that's all muscle. She's a marathon runner. Runs and works out everyday. I on the other hand am 6' and 250+ lbs. As a couple, I suppose we do look "unreal." When we were younger, we were into the nudist thing. Imagine the comments we got! Sarah, I checked out the seat height on the "Blast". 27.5". With the low seat, it's still 25.5" Your 5'5". 7" taller than my wife. My wife has tried many bikes with seat heights lower than that. We've determined that she needs a bike with a seat height of no more than 20" for her to be able to touch her feet on the ground, on each side of the bike. And, depending on the width of the seat, that may not be flat footed. Amy, we've talked with lots of dealers about the modifications needed. The answer from all of them was " anything can be done for a price". As I previously mentioned, if I had the money I would just get the bike she wants and have it rebuilt for her. But unfortunately, we don't have unlimited funds. I was just hoping to find a stock bike that could be easily and cheaply modified for her. So far, it's a no go. But we are going to the motorcycle show at Javitz center in NYC in a couple weeks and talk to a lot of manufacturer's of bikes. Thanks for the info. Jack in NJ (note from Mama: we'll keep noodling out thoughts and look forward to hearing what you learned at the show!) More and more for Jack who is looking for a bike that will fit his very tiny wife: Hi Jack ... I had a Rebel 250 that I sold to a woman who was 5' max. She was able to ride it and get her feet on both sides. I'm 5'6" and was way too cramped on it. I was in a Honda dealership the other day and for fun stood next to the new Honda Rebel 250 they had. The seat went about up to just above my knee. She may find it doable. It is a quiet bike, and stock models don't go well over 50-55mph ... BUT if you change the back sprocket it can be geared up. You could also could try a reach type seat to lower it even more. To a small extent she could add boots with height modifying soles too. A last resort would be checking out duo-sport cycles designed to accommodate kids-preteen and teens. TTFN, Trish (note from Mama: since they'll be going to the m/c show this weekend, this is a timely suggestion!) Have you you tried a Honda Rebel 250cc? That was my first bike and it was perfect I'm only 5'1". I'm not sure of the exact seat height but when sitting on the seat my feet were flat on the ground and my knees were bent. It was a very light bike and very easy to ride. Good luck live2ryd (note from Mama: worth checking out!) Thursday, January 15 Dear VTwin Mama, I'm in the process of rebuilding and I was wondering if someone could recommend some handle bars and grips/levers that would give me better control. Something that would allow me to brake without accidentally giving it gas (not that I did that or anything LOL!) I'm 5'0" with freakishly small hands. I have Alpinestars XS women's gloves and they are a 1/2" too long. I wear a 6yo size in kids motocross gloves. Please help! I can stand flat foot with my bike but the brake and clutch is such a stretch plus the stock handle bars give me a little stretch and I have to hold my shoulders up. Please help! I love my bike! Erica Dear Erica, It isn't always necessary to completely change out a handlebar. If the spread (distance from hand to hand) is ok, then it's just a matter of 1) loosening the handlebar clamp and rotating the assembly down a bit so your arms aren't lifted in a weird shoulder hunch and/or 2) bringing that whole assembly closer to you. That's done with a pullback riser ... a simple insert between the frame and the handlebar ... easy on the pocketbook and to install. Just decide how much closer you could like the whole handlebar and then visit your local dealer's parts department. Small hands continue to vex us as there are few solutions. First though, accidentally "activating" the throttle while trying to use the front brake is often times a matter of the positioning of the brake on the handlebar. Did you know it can be loosened up and repositioned?! If you sit on your bike, with it running and in neutral, you can practice squeezing your brake and seeing how your hand is hitting the throttle at the same time. Then loosen and rotate that brake to a better position. I think the only solution we have for your bike in regard to the distance your fingers have to reach to activate the clutch or brake lever is to take it to an independent shop and see if they will heat and bend the levers so that the gap isn't as large. We're wishing you the best on your upcoming course! Mama Friday, January 16 Dear VTwin Mama, My business is called Rider Rags. I recently moved it from my home to a shop so now I'm really in it! The things I like to make are not the norm. I love getting ideas from other people and really creating something they like. I do most of my riding with my girl friends. They also double as my models and my best customers. These women are beautiful inside and out. I'm grateful to you for this ad opportunity. Love yourselves, Jo Dear Jo, Friday, January 16 Even more and more for Jack who is looking for a bike that will fit his very tiny wife: Happy New Year to all ! Jack, I am 411" tall
with short arms and legs ... not sure of the inseam though. Friday, January 16 Hi VTwin Mama, Irish
Motorcycle Adventures: Motorcycle rental in Ireland.
Best regards, Stephen Tate Dear Stephen, Wednesday, January 21 Oklahoma State H.O.G. Rally, October 8-10, 2009 Dear VTwin Mama, October 8-10, 2009 The Oklahoma State H.O.G. Rally will be in Ponca City, OK where we will "Party In Ponca." Bike games, rides, vendors, Music and much more. Open to H.O.G. members and their guest. Come ride the beautiful back roads of North Central Oklahoma. Go to our web site at www.okhogrally.com for more information. Donna Wednesday, January 21 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Kelcy, As many of you know, I've been busy recording the stats on the new '09 models and some time this week I'll be finally updating the various charts to reflect the new info. Stay tuned for that announcement! Mama Wednesday, January 21 Dear VTwin Mama, My problem is that watching him injured and the pain involved had taken some of the fun out of the idea of riding my motorcycle. I can't help but think about the what ifs. I have been consumed with riding but now I may sell my bike for a convertible. Leslie Dear Leslie, So, if the what ifs are crowding your brain and taking away from your riding enjoyment, leave it for now. A bit of absence as your hubby dearest continues on the mend might just be what you need. Especially if this sport was something you really enjoyed because the two of you did it together ... and now because of the way his body is mended, you'll be finding new things to do to spend time together. Or not. Is hubby gnashing his teeth in the hopes to get back to riding? If that's the case, then the what ifs might be addressed by you both enrolling in an advanced riding course to polish up skills together and get the dialog flowing once again about the risks and what you're both willing to assume as risk. Listen to your gut and remember that even if you take another pathway for now, you can always return to the adventure in riding ... many have done it and life should be fluid and flexible. Mama Dear Readers, Monday, January 26 Maryland Trauma Teddy Bear Run, Baltimore, June 6 SISTERS of CHROME WOMEN MOTORCYCLE CLUB The purpose of this run is assist children who have been through a traumatic event such as an accident, domestic violence/abuse, fire, etc. Trauma Bears are proven to be therapeutic tools. The Bears collected will be given to Police, Paramedics, Fire Department and Shock Trauma Units to carry in their emergency vehicles to give to children when they arrive at the scene to help comfort them. Motorcycle Run: must pre-register at the Harley Davidson
Store at 8845 Pulaski Hwy, Baltimore (10:30-11:30 am); bikes leave at
Noon; $5 donation and a new teddy bear per person Monday, January 26 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Rick, I see three Virago-specific sites on my Help By Make/Model page ... I'd head over to those sites and look for anyone who discusses this mod, especially as sometimes pictures are posted. It's a lot easier if you get some input from people with the same bike! Mama Monday, January 26 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Trish, It's not clear to me whether your uneasy feeling is because you had no previous manual transmission experience or if you do have that background and simply dislike it. If you've never driven a manual transmission vehicle, a lot can be gained by learning to drive a stick-shift car, whether from a family member or friend, or with a certified teacher at a private driving school. While the hand and foot controls aren't exactly the same, getting use to the necessary coordination is a plus. I recall that I had three lessons from a friend before I really got it and the learning didn't really leave me. When I got my first motorcycle, I was able to translate that experience. If you have the background, then it may just be a matter of more practice on your current bike. It does take a bit to get use to and the only way is to pile on miles. If I've not accurately divined what's at the heart of your unease, then write back and we'll keep noodling out thoughts! Mama Monday, January 26 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Tim, I'll assume you hit the main catalogs at J&P Cycle, Dennis Kirk and JC Whitney. My next step was to search the Internet and still, I found more postings asking the same question! I did see the same bike for sale in Staten Island, NY ... call (646) 919-7844 ... that bike has a backrest and pad and maybe it was added later on ... so they can give you a source. Sorry, that's the best I could do on this one. Mama
Dear Readers, It's been an interesting journey so far ... with much laughter, tears, and growth ... not only for myself, but for everyone who takes the time to visit, read, and contribute. Together we have put together a place of sharing and caring as well as resources that serve us well. This year marks an important personal milestone. You may recall that I met the love of my life rather late in life ... at the age of 49, during Thanksgiving 2005. Marty and I have been moving forward together, retiring last May, the marriage proposal accepted in August, and our wedding planned for April 24th. This new journey has been a transition on many levels and there is no doubt that a lot of my attention has been focused on forging this relationship ... as I learned that it takes time and attention, each and every day, to strengthen the quality of not only our love, but our continually deepening friendship. I continue to dedicate myself to every thing connected with VTwin Mama and I hope that you can appreciate that if postings and participation are a little less frequent than before, it's only because I have a lot of planning to do between now and April 24th! I promise you that VTwin Mama will continue on its mission to serve its readership. Together we enter the 9th year with joy and enthusiasm, helping each person, one by one, so that goals and challenges can be met along our individual adventures in motorcycle riding! Mama
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