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Thursday, July 6 1993 Harley 883 Sportster For Sale in FL 1993 Harley 883 Sportster. 22k original miles. Lowered with Progressive Short Shocks. 2 seats (Mustang & Corbin). New paint in April '06 - Gunmetal Pearl (Blue). New Memphis Slim clear windshield. Saddlebags. Screamin' Eagle parts. LOUD pipes. She's an oldie but a goodie and has NEVER left me stranded, very reliable. I bought a 1200, so I'm ready to let her go - great starter bike. $4800 OBO. Jacksonville, FL. Nancy fl_883_sportster_4sale@yahoo.com Thursday, July 6 Dear VTwin Mama, Her bike is repairable and I am in the process of repairing it. She has been riding this bike (her third motorcycle) for about three years and loves it very much. She has said she will never ride again, but I hope she changes her mind. She would always come home from a ride in the countryside with a better outlook and high spirit, now matter what kind of bad day she had had. The accident occurred on the same street we live on and happened about 30 yards from her sister's driveway (her destination). Judging from the damage to the bike, the impact with the dog must have made the bike tumble. There were scrapes on the top of the handlebars, and sissy bar. Apparently, her body cushioned the bike's fall. Our community has a leash law, so Animal Control picked up the dog. My wife' name is Brenda Pettis and her e-mail is bpettis@alltel.net. Sincerely, Loren Pettis Dear Loren and Brenda, IMHO the mental healing is about time. Eventually the choice has to be made about riding again or selling the bike. There is no reason to push this decision too early. An experienced rider will at some point gaze upon the motorcycle and process all the good and bad and weigh the future risk choices. At the same time, an accident survivor has also been busy assessing what they may have done better (if possible), along with riding gear choices and the bike's set-up. For instance, I see from the picture that the bike does not have an engine guard (often called a highway bar). As this is an older picture, you may already have made this addition, but if not, consider it. If a bike goes down, it keeps the bike pitched at an angle and gives more time for the rider to get "from underneath" the bike and the whole weight of the bike will not land on the rider. As to gear, that might be a switch to always wearing a jacket and pants with built-in padding points at the most likely vulnerable body parts and are available in both lighter summer and heavier winter weights. I'm glad to hear that you are working on fixing the motorcycle Loren . . . having the bike in good running and cosmetic condition will allow Brenda to get back on should she wish to do so. Letting Brenda process the accident in her own good time is the best course of action otherwise. Mama Thursday, July 6 Dear VTwin Mama, I waited to see if he would motion me forward, but he did not. Actually, he did not acknowledge me in any way. No wave, head nod or eye contact in the mirror. Thanks, JoJo Dear Jojo, Where these rules differ is if you find yourself coming up on a group . . . you may take up the staggered position, but this is usually then done a distance back so that the tail gunner is still clearly the last person in the group (that person's job is to monitor the group for problems and must be identifiable by the lead rider in their rearview mirror). Mama Thursday, July 6 Dear VTwin Mama, I started on a Ninja 250, no big deal, cheap, low, easy, slow bike: ) Then a friend taught me how to ride his 800 cruiser. I was amazed at the difference and that I could do it. You see, I had held myself back because I listened to my boyfriend and every one else's opinion instead of my gut feelings. If you go to a sport bike go small first. It is a huge difference between the cruisers and rockets. I now have a 2003 Kawasaki 636, a 2006 Suzuki SV 650S , a 2001 GSXR 1000 and a 900 Buell. I am a bike mechanic and see lots of opportunities to buy used bikes lol. Anyways, the point is I'm 5'2" and barely 150 pounds. I live in the hills of Arkansas which are known for some of the scariest wicked corner riding roads in the U.S. and I'm sporting 1000's and upper weight 600's . It's all about you and what you are comfortable with . Start small and work your way up cause VTwin Mama is right . . . it is way too hard to overcome being shell shocked after you have picked something you are not ready for. and just enjoy yourself . The true key to being an excellent rider is knowing yourself and knowing your boundaries and where to stop. Don't ever do anything you are not ready for, just follow that women's intuition because, trust me, it has saved me many of times on the Interstate, race track, and even my back yard. HAPPY RIDING LADIES! Angela Dear Angela, Thursday, July 6 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Kristen, If you truly want to give riding as a passenger a shot, then address your issues honestly with your husband. As an experienced rider, he will most likely welcome your proactive questions and concerns. No, you are not naive, but it's time for you to take control of the situation and become a skilled passenger if that's what you truly wish to do. To facilitate your discussions, you may wish to get a DVD like Surviving The Mean Streets, which is offered by the Ride Like a Pro company. You could watch together and then discuss from the aspect of both rider and passenger. This would give you both a chance to review possible situations, your husband can explain how he handles things, and what you can do as a passenger so that you're in tune with each other as well as the motorcycle. It truly is a partnership! It's also time for you to be completely honest at this juncture and noodle out the steps for you to be a confident pillion rider. Let it all out . . . now is NOT the time to hesitate! If this means not being a passenger, then say so. If it means small steps to gain your comfort level, then plan it out. Mama Friday, July 7 Dear VTwin Mama, I do love it but it is so heavy. I picked the bike up yesterday from the dealer & I was so excited but standing in my driveway trying to walk it I dropped it. Did I over extend myself? I am determined to ride. Do you think in 6 months I will be riding my Deluxe with my husband. Right now I'm lacking self confidence that I can do it. I'm afraid the weight is going to make my drop it when I go around corners; I won't be able to control it. I'm sure the classes will help & I am also going to make arrangements for private lessons. Do you think this will help me? Anyone else have this experience? Thank you. Joyce B. Dear Joyce, The course you are taking will go a long way to helping you understand the basic principles on handling a motorcycle. Successfully negotiating corners and curves is a matter of practice, but no matter which bike or what weight, the basic handling skills are the same. Following your course with private instruction is an excellent idea! Many women riders reported that the initial transition to a bigger bike proved to be a handful and they decided to purchase a smaller used bike to get more practice on. If your private lessons go well, no problem. If you find the bigger bike too much right off the bat, consider a temporary step-back to something smaller (look for cheap and used but running!). I can appreciate that you have lots of concerns right now, and it's easy to "pre-jitter," so take a deep breath and plan one step at a time. Each step completed will then help you map out the next one! Will you be riding your Deluxe by your husband's side in 6 months? Why assign a timeframe . . . each new rider should simply approach the experience as a wonderful learning curve that must be done at a pace that makes sense for that new rider. Trust your gut, speak up on how it's going, outline your battleplan, and if one step takes longer than originally envisioned, so be it! Remember, the overall goal is to be a skilled and confident rider . . . and YOU CAN DO IT! Mama Friday, July 7 Dear VTwin Mama, Thanks for the tips on the engine guard and riding gear. If you look closer at the (original) picture, you will see there is an engine guard, but no highway pegs. It did help to minimize the damage to the bike. Thankfully, the engine is not damaged, the frame and fenders are ok, and I believe the engine guard also prevented possible injuries to Brenda's legs. The helmet was also a life saver. Your humble opinion is always accepted graciously. [oops, yes, upon closer look I see the guard now . . . it wasn't immediately apparent as I was looking for something jutting out more!] You are also right about the need to wear proper riding gear. The picture was made just as we returned from Thunder Beach in Panama City Beach, Florida. It gets hot in the summer months here in middle Georgia. The temptation to stay cool is pretty great. I am already checking out what is available in summer riding gear. I already have some of the new parts to repair her bike and hope to be finished in a few weeks. If she returns to riding, I plan to work on her front braking technique. She uses the front brake perfectly to start on a hill or hold the bike in place when her right foot is down, but not for emergency stops. She has a tendency to lock up the rear tire (and subsequently fishtail). I had not pushed the issue, but will in the future. Thanks again, and thanks to all the readers who wrote to her. It really does help to brighten her spirits. By the way, for your readers enlightenment, Brenda is 4' 11" tall, but she feels 6 feet tall when she's riding her bike. Loren Pettis Dear Loren, I'll also add that while more protective riding gear has long been the province of sporty style clothing, I've now seen leather riding gear with the same protection built in. Our continued best wishes to Brenda's healing process, both physical and mental. Mama Friday, July 7 Hi Petra, The highlight for me was meeting VTwin Mama, Petra herself. My husband, Stewart, has heard much about the information and encouragement that I have received from the V Twin Mama site. It was truly a joy to meet you. Ladies. if you have the opportunity, please take the time to extend your heartfelt appreciation to Petra and to all those that contribute to this site. We drove down to Athens which gave me an opportunity to really look at the roads from a different perspective. There were all the things that we've heard and read about but I had thought I'd probably never encounter. The endless tar snakes, edge traps formed from grooved pavement, caution signs for motorcycles and deer alongside the road. My hats off to all of you that maneuver these things with skill. In my search to find products that will protect my inner thigh from the exhaust header heat, here's another. This site may be helpful for anyone searching for a product that protects the inner thigh from the exhaust header heat: Cool Thighs. It really works and is well worth the price of approx $100. The web site did not indicate that there was a product for my bike. But, I was determined and called the manufacturer. Needless to say, a Cool Thigh is manufactured for the Honda VTX 1300. Since the device is predominately a thick piece of leather we had some aluminized heat shield material sewn onto the back. This can be done by any shoe repair store. This may not be necessary for everyone, but I just wanted to extend the life of the product. Also, the Cool Thigh comes with a leather care product. Petra, my husband was sincere when he said, "Thank you for giving him back his weekends." Through the assistance gained from the information shared on this site, in addition to practicing in the high school parking lot and the mentoring done by Manna and others in the Long Island Chapter of Women In the Wind, I actually ride a motorcycle. This is something that Stewart and I can do together on the weekends. The big hugs from you, the enthusiasm of the attendees and the exchanges of support from the female riders was just the shot in the arm that I needed. In fact, I have been on my bike taking solo rides since we returned on Sunday. To all the ladies returning from Athens and to my friends Old Bags On Bikes: Thank you for your encouragement and Ride Safe. Audrey L.I. "I wanna ride" Dear Audrey, It was joyful to meet you and the 900+ other people in attendance. And yes, several men approached me to thank me for helping the women in their lives. I haven't had a chance yet to put together my own review of the Convention, thank the people that helped, and note points of interest . . . but I will get to it! I have ordered the DVD made of the Convention and will share my review of that as well. Meanwhile, thanks for sharing your experience with the Cool Thigh product! It's this sharing of information that makes a difference to us all! Mama Friday, July 7 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Hate Being Short, To date I don't believe any of us have found a kit to relocate a Sporty's forward controls a bit back. The question is whether it's your feet reach to the pegs, the distance of your foot from the peg to the end of the lever, or both. A shorter reach to the footpeg would require a bridge piece (like an oval with two bolt holes) and then a shorter linkage piece. You might want to talk with an independent motorcycle shop to see if they can assist. In looking at the '06 JP Cycles Big Book, I see alternative controls, but am not convinced they are radically different than the stock, but again, it's worth a look. Click on Parts for my Harley, then scroll down to Footpegs, Floorboards, Forward Controls section. J&P Cycles. Here I'd be looking to see if the lever portion is shorter. Mama Saturday, July 8 For Joyce who is getting started on her adventure and is experiencing jitters: Congratulations on your Deluxe! What an awesome bike! Your story sounded so much like mine I just had to write to you. I am also very small . . . 4'10" . . . and we bought a big bike for me before I even took the training. My brand new VStar 650, a medium size bike, seemed very big to me. Even though we had it lowered, it still weighs 550 lbs! It especially seemed big after my MSF training on a little Kaw 125. But the bike is very well balanced, and I can hold it up almost flat-footed with my boots on. I did dropped it 2 or 3 times, but only when it was stopped, or trying to turn it going very slow. But I kept practicing, after about 3 months of riding around in a school parking lot and driving around our neighborhood, it started to feel right, and now it is the perfect bike for me. You can do it! You have to refuse to be intimidated by the size of it, and by those butterflies that you feel in your stomach every time you go out to practice. Also, getting highway bars installed helps a lot, because if it does go down, it doesn't By the way, learn to pick up your own bike on this website. It really works. I have done it myself. http://www.pinkribbonrides.com/dropped.html. Linwebs from Oklahoma (note from Mama: thanks for sharing and noting that picking up your own bike is a useful thing to learn!) Saturday, July 8 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Nancy, In this Team Oregon article, it is suggested that you can try a helmet on and then immediately look in a mirror when you take it off, and if you see any redness (even tiny), that's a pressure point. But even they note that sometimes it doesn't show up until later in the ride, but advocate wearing a helmet for a longer time in a store (walk around and shop!) so that pressure points have a greater chance to show up! In another article I read, they emphasized that this is not the time to skimp on cost . . . expensive helmets are $$$ intensive for a reason! So, I'm not sure if there is any way to guarantee what you want. Readers, what say you?! Mama Saturday, July 8 Dear VTwin Mama, Anyway, there is a new company, Genuine CoolAss, that has a seat cover (single or double) that is stronger, better, and costs less. The more you fold it and crinkle it up, the softer it gets. Linda Dear Linda, Saturday, July 8 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear NinjaBaby, The front brake is classic learning for a new rider . . . each bike has it's handling characteristics and the only way to learn them is to practice. As I'm not sure why you're grabbing too much front brake, I'd double check the position on the handlebar relative to your hand/wrist too see if a minor rotation of the lever will allow you to more easily squeeze the lever without jamming on it. Yes, when things go right, it's big grins and I'll glad for you, but there are no shortcuts to becoming one with a motorcycle. Don't get discouraged, get busy modifying the bike so it's a joy to learn! Mama Dear VTwin Mama, Well, Saturday I went to the riding course & 3 hrs later I walked out. I'm 5'1" & my feet were flat on the ground but the seat was too wide & I could not get my feet to the shift & brake (both very close to frame), then lack of coordination when you disengage/engage shift to you throttle so I kept jerking and stalling; So you can image I'm having problems w/exercise 1 & 2. The instructor is yelling & telling me to stop talking & making excuses and ride. In exercise 3 I took off like a bat out of hell while everyone held their breath thinking I'm heading for the brick wall; hit the kill switch I thought & I stopped shaken up. Instructor ran over & told me to go sit down. He said I wasn't ready & I needed personal attention. Picked up my cell phone called my hubby & cried; called the dealer & wanted to know if they could buy back the HD deluxe at a loss, of course. My hubby says no to selling bike and says I can do it & will regret making a rash decision. I called the school to see if private lessons were available & they said ride a bike & call in 2 weeks. I want to learn & I know it will take time & plenty of practice. MSF is a production line & truthfully did me more harm than good. Should I just give up & say I tried or do you have a suggestion for another alternative? Love reading your site. Thanks. Joyce Dear Joyce, The MSF experience is totally dependent on the local course provider and the instructors. They are not all created equally despite the "set" curriculum. I see you have ordered my Learning to Ride a Motorcycle article, which points out many things to consider in choosing a course, or in the absence of choice of courses in your area, things to check out before signing up. I can appreciate that the MSF clearly states it will teach a brand new rider with no experience, but actually, this organization's emphasis is on safe riding, and there is rarely time to help someone struggling. The best I can offer you is to let you know that YOU ARE NOT ALONE in this disappointing first experience. If you have access to an ATV, this would be a good way to gain some clutch/throttle practice. Even if one can be rented, this might be a truly positive step for a few sessions. Or, if finances allow, pick up a cheap used small cc bike for empty parking lot practice. You could also take out your new bike for practice, but would suggest that you check if a throttle limiter can be temporarily added so there is no possibility of jamming on the throttle and rocketing off (added confidence given what happened in the course). I also wouldn't stop trying to find a private instructor . . . expand your search by calling all local dealers and hop onto my Women's Sites page to find links to women's riding organizations . . . contacting local chapters may reveal an instructor in the area. You may also wish to visit my Let's Ride page and see if there are any VTwin Mama sisters in your area . . . they may know of someone. In the last two ideas, at the very least, you may find a local mentor and start your path on connecting with women where you live. Sharing your challenges with another woman can boost endorphin levels (ok, it's not based on any scientific research, but can make a difference!). Ok, dry your tears, straighten up your spine, jut your jaw out, grit your teeth, plaster a smile on your face and growl, "I can do this despite a less-than-perfect start, so I'm going to put together a battleplan that makes sense for me." Mama Monday, July 10 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Yvonne, In looking at a picture of the motorcycle I see that the stock seat really doesn't look like it can be shaved down by any significant amount without seriously eroding the comfort to butt bones. If there is a molded plastic seat with a lower profile for that bike it could be the solution, but again, you're balancing lower sitting height against seat comfort. That leaves the new shock you mention, but before plunking down $$$ I would make sure you clearly understand what lowering you will gain. That leaves lower profile (smaller) tires but make sure they are approved for the bike or taking another look at your riding boots (always recommended over tennis shoes) to see if more sole/heel can be added (or a different pair chosen), keeping in mind how your feet will then fit from the footpegs to the foot controls (whose position can usually be adjusted to accommodate a change). If you haven't found these sites before, you may wish to get on a women's forum specifically for the sporty style bikes, which can be found by visiting my Women's Sites page. They may have other ideas that are just not obvious to me. Mama Monday, July 10 Hi VTwin Mama, After much parking lot, neighborhood, driveway time, I ventured onto the road yesterday. I have four friends (2 men and 2 women, all ride their own bikes) and a wonderful husband who all "held my hand," followed way behind on my first run with cheering and support. It was really great the first couple miles, I was staggered beside my husband with 4 Harleys Voom Vooming in the rear. I was doing 53mph wishing my husband would speed up because this is so much fun when out of nowhere it felt as though my bike was going to wobble out of control and send me down to eat the road. I throttled down prayed out load & somewhat gathered my wits so I could keep on going, but it was so hard to; after that every mile was torture. I felt as though the bike would not stay in the portion on the lane I wanted; I felt my bike (Harley Sportster) was being pushed side to side. If I were on the other edge of the lane I felt I was going to head to the ditch, inner lane I might cross over, and I didn't know how to deal with that. I am not a big person, 104lbs, 5'1", I have read so much on riding motorcycles but nothing mentioned this!!!!I didn't expect this!!!! I don't know if it was the wind, ME, or the mph and I didn't know how to react! I did have a death grip on the bars despite my efforts to loosen my hands and legs on the bike. When I got off the bike every single muscle shook and was so tight. I felt I had just completed a weight lifting superset and really wanted to throwup! Is being on the road a constant struggle to keep your bike from feeling loose or keeping it where you want it to ride?. The roads were in pretty good shape; it was a four lane highway, wide open, fields on each side with minimal traffic and I keep it around 40mph to 45mph. It scares me to think how I would do on two lane traffic with oncoming cars if I feel loose and not in control of my bike or being able to keep it where I need it to be in my lane. YICKS!!! Thank you for any help you can offer. I hate coming so far and now being so scared again : ( Anonymous Dear Anon, Otherwise I'm thinking you may have taken a bigger bite in your adventure than you were ready for. Too many riders with you, too long of a run planned, too much to think of all at once on your maiden road voyage. You may have entered a gentle curve in the road and not have your countersteering under full control yet, so at higher speeds you were still trying to steer around the curve instead of putting the bike into the lean it needs. Add a gust of wind and the out of control feeling would be increased. Also, the realization of all that power and speed can be quite unnerving in the beginning. Gearing down and bleeding off speed was the correct response. Recognizing the death grip is useful. Your resulting jitters are totally understandable. Get back to a good empty practice area and in a straight line, practice pushing your palm on one side of the handlebar. See how the bike wants to go in that direction? Others prefer to pull on the opposite end to set up the countersteer. This is NOT a twisting of the handlebars in the direction, but a pushing or pulling on the handlebar to lean. Also, take a look where your knees are . . . it's easier to feel this if your knees are pulled into the body of the bike. The motorcycle needs to pivot around its center of gravity (COG) and you can not steer it around the COG, you've got to countersteer the COG. With a countersteer technique, it will set the bike up for the lean/pivot. Then you use the back brake for a slight slow-down if something feels out of control (no front brake on a turn/curve). Give that some thought and see if it's the practice component you need. Mama Monday, July 10 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear DeeTee, Monday, July 10 Hello Petra, Dear Ruth, In terms of riding gear, finding stuff made for perfectly proportioned women (in our humble estimation, as all women are in fact perfect no matter what dimension they are!), it is a challenge when a body does not fit the standard sizing charts. What you wish to consider is gear with Kevlar (or similar) incorporated . . . it not only offers road rash protection, but thermal protection, and is used by firefighters. I noticed great traffic at the She Rides booth at the AMA Women & Motorcycling Convention as they had the Draggin Jeans line . . . these are jean-look pants but with Kevlar in it and because they are jeans, come in a wide variety of women's specific width/length combos as well as standard and relaxed fit. This might be your solution! Otherwise, do an Internet search for Kevlar riding gear to keep exploring. Mama Tuesday, July 11 1989 Yamaha XV250 For Sale in Austin, TX I'm a big fan of your website and you helped me with some mechanical questions last year when I was getting started as a biker. I'm selling my beginner bike because I got a bigger one. Okay, well the new one is a classic Hondamatic (no clutch, hee hee!) but it's a big ol' 750. : ) I'm selling my 1989 Yamaha 250 and it's a great bike for beginners and short female riders. I've really enjoyed this bike and it's running great! 1989 Yamaha XV250 Route 66 (Virago) 250cc, 13,500 miles, black. Runs great, has new battery, brake cables, and rebuilt carb. Small luggage rack. It could use some minor TLC (such as spark plugs and fork oil, which I would be happy to supply). Will provide manual and service records. Has current inspection sticker and clear title. $1,500 cash, negotiable. Buyer must pick up the bike in person (no shipping). Contact Jackie at jax@techmex.net, 512-417-0901 (Austin, TX). Jackie Tuesday, July 11 For Anon who got the jitters on her first road ride: I had exactly the same experience with wind on my Harley Sportster. I was so freaked out, I barely made it home. I almost quit, but decided to try a windshield instead. It made all the difference in the world! For anyone who finds strong winds challenging, don't wait, get a windshield! It helps with wind, noise, and fatigue, and you can get a quick-release model for those times when you want to go without. Li in Florida (note from Mama: thanks for sharing that wind may have been the biggest culprit challenging Anon on her first open road ride!) Tuesday, July 11 For Joyce whose course went poorly and she's trying to decide what to do: I am glad that you told her not to give up and to get a
smaller cc bike on which to learn. I thought that the Sportster was
the smallest bike that HD made, and that is not in my opinion a beginner
level bike. I think the husband should have waited to buy Joyce a
motorcycle until she took the course or she expressed a desire to learn.
It might help her to get Jerry "Motorman" Palladino's video RIDE
LIKE A PRO FOR THE LADIES. Tuesday, July 11 Hi Petra, You have been so great here and I still look in almost daily. My friend Karlene who is new to riding says your site is one of the best on the web! I agree. [thanks!] Robin from Robins Ride said she saw you in Georgia -- she's one heck of a lady! I am living her trip vicariously through her ride. On another update, since you were there from the beginning, I am finally riding up north to join a ride with the Divas For A Cure. They are also riding across the states. I will be joining them for one stop -- from Oakland to Los Angeles. I have been riding now for almost a year and a half and it's been with challenges but mostly fun. Hope all is well, and again .... thanks for this site! Kathy H. Dear Kathy, Angela Moore of Jacksonville, FL has shared a website about a lesser known form of breast cancer: Inflammatory Breast Cancer. It's well worth reading about. Mama Tuesday, July 11 Hello Mama, I do not finish my shift at work until after 2am, so if I am to use my bike for commuting it's going to be dark whenever I leave. I've heard the suggestion from a coworker who rides, that I should consider a nice late night ride about town on a Sunday; after about midnight in areas that I know well, and that have very good street lighting. Objective being to build up my confidence on real roads and intersections without the traffic I find so scary. Is this a ridiculous idea or . . . ? Opportunity to acquaint myself with night time conditions and further my confidence in turning, stopping at lights, roundabouts, etc etc, and as well night conditions. Although the added problem of it being pitch black and depending on street lighting isn't so encouraging! It may be better to crawl before I try walking. Again, many thanks and I really look forward to learning more and more! Love & Hugs, xxx Lux Dear Lux, Tuesday, July 11 Dear VTwin Mama, I sadly discovered there were few motorcycles with automatic transmissions and the ones that do exist are prohibitively expensive (at least to me). The Ridley's start at $14,000 and even large scooters are around $5,000. After Ive got a few years of riding under my belt I might decide to make a big investment, but at this point just entering the field --- most auto tranny options were too expensive. So, Im going to go check out the CFMoto
V5 (cruiser style) which retails for $3,000. Dear Di, Tuesday, July 11 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Adam, Tuesday, July 11 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Themis, I do get letters from trike riders, which can be found on my Type of Bike: Trike pages. I often note that trike riders might enjoy the Trike Riders International site, but honestly, sometimes it loads, and sometimes it doesn't, so today it didn't and I don't know what's up! Mama Wednesday, July 12 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear JP, By far, it's the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) that provides the largest amount of courses, and in the Mesa area you have the choice of MSF providers in Gilbert, Scottsdale and greater Phoenix. TEAM Arizona, mentioned on the Arizona MSF page comes highly recommended, but as with all course providers, it's best to call ahead and if possible, visit the course to talk with instructors and check that the bikes provided will fit you. My Learning to Ride a Motorcycle article points out lots of other things to consider before signing up. You'll also find two HD dealers offering the HD RidersEdge program, but here you'll most likely learn on a bigger 492cc Buell Blast instead of the smaller 125 or 250cc bikes used at the MSF. It's something to consider. I wish you the best in getting started . . . you sound very determined and that will help as you work through the beginning challenges . . . that you feel a calling is exciting! Just remember that courses can be full already this year, but ask about being on a list for cancellations, and if the wait is more lengthy, you can begin part of your learning by checking into sources on my Education Center page. Mama Wednesday, July 12 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Bobbye, Dear VTwin Mama, I have decided to buy the Danson trike kit [vs.
one from Voyager or Tow-Pac]. He is a new designer and builder
specializing in Maxi-Scooters. He has been making the Honda Silver
Wing trike for a year and now is building one for the Suzuki Burgman 650. He
has one trike conversion with more than 10,000 miles on it with no problems.
These are not slide on kits but are actually bolted on the bike.
I talked to two of his customers that love his workmanship and the quality
of the bike. One man I talked to had had a Voyager in the past that he
drove for 17,000 miles but he likes this trike conversion much better.
No dragging going over speed bumps and this bike has independent suspension
that makes a huge improvement in the ride. I think your readers interested
in trikes would like to know about a really good looking trike costing only
$4,000 on an automatic 600 or 650 cc scooter.
Dear Nancy, Wednesday, July 12 For Lux in London whose only option to traffic-free learning is at night: Just wanted to share an idea I recently tried out that seems to really work well. When riding after dark, instead of clear lenses, try yellow. They take a few tries to get used to but the yellow cuts the glare from opposing vehicles' lights and actually seems to add definition to everything around you. I was told about this by carpenters who use yellow when working in houses, etc as it gets darker outside. Dorathy Biddinger (note from Mama: thanks for sharing this!) Thursday, July 13 Dear VTwin Mama, I do not have a bike but am actively looking. I am 6' and weigh about 210, and have long legs. All the bikes I am looking at (I want to stay in the 650/750 range, everyone is trying to talk me into going bigger, but I am not interested as I tried my boss' 650 and that is plenty big for me), all the seats seem really LOW! On the bikes at the training school, I was on a 200 Dual Sport and at least it was a little higher, but once my feet were on the pegs, my knees were still too high. What should I be looking for to help solve the problem? I have rheumatoid arthritis, although it is under control, which is why I want to stay with a bike that is a tad easier to handle. My first times out are going to be the "parking lot experience"! I am not in a hurry, shopping around and looking for a good used bike. Thanks for your help, I read the website all the time and have found many helpful hints. I don't know many woman riders in this area, but that is not going to stop me! Debbie Dear Debbie, It's good you know your own mind about the size cc motorcycle you would like to start with. There are certainly a number of make/models and I would be looking for one that has forward foot controls as stock or can be modified with a forward control kit. That will help stretch those long legs out! The addition of an engine guard (often called a highway bar) with integrated highway pegs, will not only protect the engine in case of an oopsie, but give your long legs another resting position on longer hauls (when you get to that point!). If a bike you find that meets your requirements has handlebars that are cramping your arm stretch, then you can change out the handlebar for something else! In looking at a picture compilation of new motorcycles in the 650-750cc range, it looks like the Honda Shadow series (especially the Spirit or Aero) may be of interest to you as it appears that hand and foot controls are not yanked in towards the rider. Visit the local dealer and check it out! Depending on where you live, I would check for a local chapter of a national women's riding organization nearest to you. Just because they aren't headquartered right in your city/town doesn't mean that members don't come from all over the region! Check my Women's Sites page to begin exploration and make contact! Mama Thursday, July 13 Dear VTwin Mama, I worked myself up the comfort ladder a little bit and commute to & from work in downtown Chicago. You remember Chicago cab drivers, don't you? They stink in more ways than one. I've only put about 1,500 miles on it since I bought her in April, but I ride almost everyday. When I have that rare, near flawless ride with smooth turns, stops and shifts, and then finish up at the office with a slow, tight little 180 in the parking garage, I'm sure that I walk into the office with a big, dumb grin on my face. I enjoy the focus and constant maneuvering when I'm in traffic and I think it's helped expedite the growth of some of my newbie skills. I'm still a babe in the woods, and the "what if-fears" always sit in the back of my mind when I'm riding. Your forum reminds me that it's okay, and maybe a survival skill to be aware of our risks and that they must always be managed. I haven't had to seriously use any emergency maneuvers, but there were two close calls where I got to test my brakes. They worked. Here's my question for you or your readers: Since most of my riding is downtown, I come to a lot of red lights, pedestrian cross walks or anything that makes me come to a complete stop, during which I prefer the bike in 1st. The problem is that she'll sometimes slip from 1st into 2nd, but usually it slips into Neutral. It does this right as I'm trying to leave a complete stop at a red light that's gone green. I try to be super vigilant and tap the shifting pedal, as in "YES, IT'S IN 1ST", before I try pulling out of my complete stop, but sometimes I don't have a chance because traffic has begun to move and I really need the bike to stay in first. When it does go into neutral on its own, often the green Neutral light isn't illuminated. Sometimes I have an aural heads-up that it's done this, but often it's a silent slippage. Does this sound familiar? Is it me? Is there hope? Alexsandra Dear Alexsandra, In reading through some material on transmissions that jump out of gear, the news is not particularly good. It's suggested that internal components (shift dogs, shift fork(s0 or shift-fork shaft) are either worn or bent and that's why it's happening. I would start with an inspection of the shift lever shaft itself. This is what the shift lever attaches to. If that motorcycle was dropped on the left side by you or the previous owner, that's a part that will bend and start exhibiting problems down the line. Remove the shift lever and eyeball down the shaft to see. I tried to noodle out if the clutch lever adjustment could be playing a role, but indicators would be a bike that "clunks" into gear, stalls, or creeps forward. Although you didn't mention any of these symptoms, you may not have mentioned it or been aware of what to consider. This then would be a review of the freeplay adjustment on your clutch lever. If these suggestions don't reveal anything, I would have a heart-to-heart with the local dealer's service manager or work with an independent shop. I have no knowledge that this is a "characteristic" of the Viragos, but if it is, I'm sure to hear from Virago owners letting me know. Mama Thursday, July 13 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Haider, Because your bike is relatively new, the engine is still wearing in, but all bikes use a certain amount of oil which must be replaced. Simply get in the habit of checking your bike and add a dollop when needed between oil changes! Do NOT overfill . . . this is as bad as running with too little oil. Mama Thursday, July 13 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Shakti Aerorider, Better fuel efficiency is largely a function of how you ride and maintain the motorcycle. Hard, uneven riding (fast take-offs, etc.) and large amounts of idling stops affect this. By really, for my money, it's about maintenance. This includes tires at the proper pressure, cleaning your air filter on a regular basis, and changing spark plugs and engine oil/filter as recommended. All of these things, when not properly maintained, can have a 3-10% effect on fuel efficiency. It is also important to be running the correct viscosity of oil and you may find improvements by going to a synthetic oil. Mama Saturday, July 15 Lady Liberty Ride in NY September 24 Calling all women, men and motorcycles! Join motorcyclists of the tri-state area on an escorted round trip ride to Bear Mt. State Park in support of women in motorcycling and LOVE (Leave Out ViolencE, a youth charity). Meet at NYC's Hogs & Heifers Saloon (13th and Washington) at 8:30am, or join the ride at Bear Mt. at 11am for the ride back. Block party begins at 1pm at Hogs & Heifers Saloon. For all event details and registration, visit http://www.ladylibertyride.com. Saturday, July 15 Selling: Shadow VLX Looking for: BMW R1150R I am ready to sell my starter bike. It's a customized Shadow VLX Deluxe with upgraded pipes & air filter, bags, sport shield, back rest. I am ready for a more powerful bike to travel with my husband on his Ducati. I am looking for a pre-owned BMW R1150R (excellent condition). Curious if anyone on your site may be selling a R1150R or interested in a better than new (I think) Honda Shadow VLX. I'm in New Jersey and would travel up to 6 hours for the BMW. Denise Saturday, July 15 For Debbie who is pondering her first bike choices: Sometimes (always?) rheumatoid arthritis can affect a persons back. In which case feet forward controls may not be the best solution. A taller standard MC might feel better. The KLR650 is a real popular MC among taller people who put a lot of miles on their MC's. Too bad I'm not tall enough to ride one. Kevin (note from Mama: oh dear, I should have considered this aspect a bit more closely. I'll send a message to Debbie to hopefully get more input exactly where the RA is and how that will affect her choices. Thanks for pointing out my error of omission.) If you find most bikes' seats too low, I recommend looking at an 883 Sportster (OK, I'm biased). I'm also 6' tall, and love my '04 Custom, although mine is the 1200. I've never found the bike to be top heavy, as some claim. It's light, handles well, and is very comfortable. I just had to change out the stock seat. The '04 and late models have rubber engine mounts to reduce vibration, and the '07 models will be fuel injected. They're great, reliable, super fun motorcycles. Li (note from Mama: and they've been working on making that clutch pull a lot easier, an important consideration for the RA aspect of things!) Saturday, July 15 For Alexsandra whose Virago jumps out of gear at a stop: In all the time I had my '03 Virago 250 (about 6,000 miles), I could count the false neutrals, starting from a stop, on less than two hands. It was a rarity. If anything, once the bike was warmed up, it was hard to get it into neutral from first gear. I sometimes had to get to neutral from second gear. Linda C. (note from Mama: thanks! I'll also add that on my Help By Make/Model page are a few Virago tech sites, one with direct access to a mechanic.) Saturday, July 15 For Haider whose new GZ250 seems to be eating oil: My better half and I bought bikes within a week of each other (both new bikes). They also went into the shop for 1000 mile maintenance together. Her oil level was close to normal, mine was much lower. The difference? My bike had an "inner primary seal leak." Both the inner primary seal and outer primary gasket had to be replaced (all under warranty thankfully). There was not a drop of oil on my garage floor, seems the oil was only pushed out when the bike was running. How was it discovered? When I was checking the bike in, the mechanic was doing a general inspection (lights, brakes, etc.) and ran his hand under the primary, only to discover oil. He said, "This should be dirty, but not oily, we'll check for a leak." So, Petra is probably right, but from experience, double check your primary! JoJo (note from Mama: yikes . . . ok, thanks for the tip!) Saturday, July 15 Dear VTwin Mama, I am now a new owner of a 2006 Harley Sportster XL883L, with a custom 10" shorties shocks from Lick's Custom [Clarksburg, MA]. I can pretty much flatfoot about 90% of the time. It all depends on the pavement grading. I been riding for 25 years since I was 16. I previously owned Kawasaki KZ400, Honda 450 Hawk, Honda XL100 (all tippy toe on one leg only) and Yamaha Virago 250 (flatfooted with Harley boot on) which I still owned along with my Harley. The Virago 250 is a great bike for short and new riders, as long as you don't need a big toy to boost your eagle. Once again thank you, keep up the good work. Hope you ladies don't mind some of us are really enjoying your sites too. David, Friends from Canada Dear David, Saturday, July 15 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Rhonda, Saturday, July 15 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Marie, Sunday, July 16 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Lucy, Sunday, July 16 For David who is shorter but found the pathway to making a Sporty 883 work for him: Just so everyone knows, the 883L is not just for vertically challenged riders. I'm 5'10" and I have an 883L. I love the bike. The mid controls are very comfortable for my 36" inseam. I did add highway pegs so I can stretch my legs if I want. It isn't top heavy. My husband is the same height and he rides without additional highway pegs. Just want everyone to know how versatile the Sportster line is. Ok, I'll admit it, I am a little prejudice towards Sportsters. Thanks, Tricia (note from Mama: we're allowed to crow about a motorcycle we love! Thanks for sharing how this model is working for you!) Sunday, July 16 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Lisa, Sunday, July 16 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Bill, In reading through Dan's Online Motorcycle Repair Course, there are a number of different petcock set-ups. One type includes the use of a diaphragm. According to this online BikeBandit OEM parts diagram, your motorcycle has one. As I don't have your exact service manual, I'd be checking more about this. The diaphragm (if your bike has one) could have a pinhole in it, not be seated or connected correctly, or have lost it's elasticity (age). I hope this gives you more things to check out to find the problem. Mama Sunday, July 16 For Anonymous whose first real road ride quickly became a bit terrifying: I too had my first BIG, LONG ride . . . going to Branson in pouring rain! We were going to our big Missouri GWRRA (Goldwing Road Riders Assn.) Rally and wouldn't you know it, pouring rain, and on top of that all Interstate driving! I have an 06' VTX 1300 and thank goodness for windshields! I did ok, became much closer to God on that trip, in fact we became quite the chat buddies! I was petrified, but kept my wits, kept my speed even around 60 ( Speed Limit was 70, which translates in this state to 80!) and even when the semi trucks passed and the spray was soooo horrible, I made it without incident. I did not have ANY previous experience in rain, nor wet pavement. I'm a new rider of about 1500 miles, and I had a similar incident while riding. Probably about half way down to Springfield, my bike started to wobble. I figured I was probably exhausted from stress, being wet, and my front wheel must have been loose and was about to fall off. :) It didn't and wasn't loose, it was those stupid grooves in the highway! Thank goodness for patient, loving husbands. He didn't even laugh when I told him about the problem, but knowing what was causing it helped me to continue along. He bought me a brand new Goldwing Trike to take the kiddos on for our family outings. The idea of a squirming 9 year old on the back of the VTX just scares me to death. By the way, the trikes are GREAT!!!!!! I can scream around on it all day and have put 600 miles on it in 6 days! I of course am feeling a bit spoiled, it's like driving a Cadillac, but I miss the leaning on the VTX. SO I'll have to get it out and ride it too! Husband has a Wing, and the joke was when I bought the VTX that when I "grew up" I would get a Wing . . . well it's NOT going to happen, I'm still a big kid. Husband and I drove about 200 miles during that weekend in Branson, we took off by ourselves to visit Eureka Springs, AR a great place to go for bikers! The whole town is very nice to bikers and the roads are nice, but curvy, take it slow, they are patient since it's a tourist town. Take some slow rides with your husband and you only. I have dropped my VTX twice, once at a stop sign when it was new and I was practicing, and once while doing a very slow sharp turn down in AR, both times hubby saved me by helping me get the bike upright again, blasted thing doesn't have a handle in the back so it's hard for me to pick up by myself! On the trike I have no fears, and LOVE riding it. I was worried that I would never go back to my 1300, but I will in fact I think I will be a better rider since I have no fear on the trike. I'm sure the same death grip will get me, and my confidence won't be as high, but all and all it will be great, but I love to ride no matter what it's on. Oh by the way, I had back surgery June 1st and hubby and I rode 1800 miles on the Wing through TN last week over the 4th. A testament to those nice touring bikes. (Still love the VTX though, and will continue too as long as I'm able!) Sorry about the novel, gosh I can so relate too 99% of the lady riders out there. It's great to know I'm going through "typical fears and doubts". Keep up the good work ladies, and hats off with many hugs to you Petra! Sincerely, Sara Stevens in Leasburg, MO (note from Mama: novels that chronicle one's pathway and shares joys and challenges are just fine! You never know who you're going to help down the line! Congrats on everything you've accomplished . . . and survived!) Sunday, July 16 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Rudy, In all the years I've being writing this advice column, we've handled a lot of "bike taking a nap" questions, but never has anyone written in about a product that would assist. It's always boiled down to practice with the specific bike and rider's physical realities. I know we've had letters that stated the butt technique worked to a point (like you) and then they had to learn to use a slightly different butt/leg planting position so that the full lift could be accomplished. As you don't note your previous riding experience level, I'm wondering what you're doing when the bike drops. It could be so many things, so I invite you to explore the exact maneuver with me so that what is creating the drop can be corrected. Mama |
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