Friday, June 29
Dear VTwin Mama,
The kids finally left the nest so I bought a Sportster and
learned to ride. It became a passion. There was a whole world out there
that called for me to explore it. I put 38,000 miles on that Sporty in two
years, then sold it to buy a Kawasaki Nomad 1500 to really tour.
The problem is
that my husband doesn't like to travel, doesn't have a passion for
motorcycles, doesn't have a job that will allow him to take time off to
travel, and a million other excuses. I want to ride to Alaska, he wants to
ride to the gas station for cigarettes. I want to scrape pegs on the
Dragon, he wants to scrape his kickstand on parking lots.
I've found a few
other guys (no women yet) that say they want to ride with me, but either
they want to only ride as far as the nearest motel or their
wife/significant other has a problem with them riding all over the country
with another woman. Have any other women faced this? Does it really boil
down to a decision of the miles or the marriage? Zippyio
Dear Zippyio,
Ah, the age old dilemma of
one person growing and the other doesn't, at least not in the same
direction, if not at all.
First, let's say YOU GO VTWIN
MAMA -- we're so proud of your accomplishments and adventures. You embody
the sassy and classy nature of what a VTwin Mama truly is! And we love you
for it.
You should definitely check Women
on Wheels and Ridin the Wind (defunct
as of 7/25/01, go to The
Sisters and Brothers of the Wall) to find women in your area who are interested in meeting other women
riders. Maybe that will help a little.
You also might want to ask yourself the
famous Ann Landers' question which she uses in almost ANY situation where a man is causing you to question yourself: "Are
you better off with him or without him?" That may sound like a
generalization, but if you really think about it, isn't that what it
really boils down too?
I hope that VTwin Mamas reading
this who have either had to make this choice, are contemplating the same
situation, or have some sage advice, write in to help. If you would prefer
to communicate with Zippyio in private, please note that her name is
underlined above and that links directly to her e-mail.
Mama
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Thursday, June 28
Dear VTwin Mama,
Not enough info for women riders, appreciate this. I need help
"dealing" with gravel. I drive a Hondamatic 400 and went
down twice last weekend in gravel. I think the second time I freaked
and didn't watch myself thinking of my first dropping. Any suggestions? Mary
Dear Mary,
Well this ranks right up
there with stopping at the top of a hill at an angle! My suggestion for
that was to move to Nebraska. Perhaps someone could confirm whether they
also have outlawed gravel! I suppose you don't want to hear about me
shutting my eyes, clenching my jaw, and holding on with a death grip over
uneven surfaces, do you?
I find that it is better to keep
a firm grip, but a light touch on the handlebars when steering through
gravel, or even a grated road like over some bridges. If you try to
"control" every wiggle, it will wiggle you right out of your
seat. Concentrate on your hips as the center of gravity, and you might
want to practice keeping your knees in around the tank (instead of hanging
out loose). This has always helped me keep a feeling of being
centered on the bike.
A steady hand on the throttle
completes this picture, so if you see the bad stuff beforehand, you can
enter it with lower speed (but not too slow) and good control.
And as soon as I can confirm the
absence of gravel in any one or several of our lovely states, you will be
the first to know. I'll probably get there before you though!
Mama
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Thursday, June 28
Dear VTwin Mama,
Hi! I find that all of my serious riding companions are males. Is there
anyway that I can make contact with other female VTwin owners in the Orlando,
FL area? SoftailCyn
Dear SoftailCyn,
Well let's pull out the ol' VTwin Mama megaphone and see what pops
out of the woodwork. Meanwhile, you could take a glance at the Women
on Wheels site. They've got listings by state of women willing to
communicate. And I know you know about Ridin
the Wind
(defunct as of 7/25/01, go to
The
Sisters and Brothers of the Wall). It's easy to scroll through tons of postings of women
all over the world. Everyone is listed by city and state, so that makes it
pretty easy. Or you could post a message on The Wall - that's another
possibility. And there is VTwin Mama, but we'll just have to wait and see
if anything nibbles from here. Readers, if you didn't catch it, you can
email her right from her name underlined above. Yahoo!
Mama
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Thursday, June 28
Hey there VTwin Mama,
What a great web site you have!! I've been riding for three summers now.
Just turned 60 in May. . . and sooooooo thankful I finally learned to
ride. I'm the one always telling my husband lets go. Just can't get enough
riding. Love it, so guess I just want to say to the ladies out there that
are maybe thinking their too old....forget that thought and take that safety
course and get out there . . . you are missing the greatest adventures in
the wind on our most beautiful u.s. roads.
Some of my friends go on the
cruises (ships) but I tell them they haven't been on a real cruise until
they've cruised our roads on a bike. Well I could go on and on an on . .
.and I do realize that everyone does not even like bikes and would never
even get on one. By the way I ride a Suzuki Intruder 800 -- had it lowered
in back and front and it fits perfect. I've rode in 13 states so far and
getting ready to add a few on vacation in July . . . wow I really didn't
mean to take up so much room, but riding is my passion now : ) Georgia
from Lakewood, CA
Dear Georgia,
You take as much room as you want to tell us how much riding means
to you. You're a VTwin Mama of the highest order and we love you for it.
And the new riders get to hear from someone who has been there and rode
that!
Mama
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Wednesday, June 27
Dear VTwin Mama,
First of all, I'd like to say a big 'ol Thank you for inviting me to your homepage. It does a heart good to see even more women riders &
their supporters.
Elda, I started off with a little Honda Rebel 250.
Hubby just told me the basics, and let me go. First trip was around the block in 1st gear.
Then, off to the empty High School parking lot to learn how to shift gears,
turn,
stop, etc. After only a month, I was soooo ready for something
bigger with more Power. (Isn't that what all of us women say! LOL) I
picked up a Yamaha V-Star Classic. I am scheduled for the MSF-RSS course next
week. I
think if you were able to start off big, and your confidence level allows
you to totally control the bike, then go for it. But if your confidence
is making you a little shaky, then it's best you wait until a smaller bike
can
be borrowed. What kind of bike will you have? If you get a
chance, shop around as much as you can. There are now several bikes out there
almost specifically geared, shaped and made for women.
I joined Women on Wheels in
order find a little comradery and support. The Annual Ride-In is scheduled for Redding, CA over the Fourth of July.
If you're interested, go to www.womenonwheels.org.
Also, RidinTheWind (defunct
as of 7/25/01, go to The
Sisters and Brothers of the Wall) is full
of support, advice, and stories of sisters on the road. It doesn't
matter what you ride, as long as you ride. You Go Girl! Keep the
shiny side up Becky
Dear Becky,
You are a saintly VTwin Mama for riding in, oops I mean writing in!
Another women's bike site that I really like is Camille's Motorcycle
Madness. Now take a look below at Gail's advice
for Elda.
Mama
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Wednesday, June 27
Dear VTwin Mama,
Don't be discouraged Elda. Last fall, I took
the safety course & went out and bought a HD Deuce as my first bike.
Everyone said it was too big for me (I'm 5'1 & 115 lbs) but I was
bound & determined to ride it. After some shaky stops &
turns, & dropping it several times, I've put over 1500 miles on it
since April. One good thing about learning on a big bike, it that
you won't grow out of it. Just make sure your feet are flat on the
ground ( I had mine lowered about 3 inches) when you stop & don't try
to make any sharp turns at first, especially from a dead stop. Other
than that, it's mostly in your head. YOU CAN DO IT! Gail
Dear Gail,
Amen.
Mama
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Wednesday, June 27
Dear VTwin Mama,
This is for "Rally Virgin Linda"! I
was a pillion (see below) for over 13 years with various
boyfriends. Then I left the scene and settled down. Last year
I bought my own bike as I really missed them. A number of months ago
I decided to go to a rally. I had never gone to a rally completely
alone and it had been about six years since I had been to one. But I
went - I was very nervous, and unsure what to expect.
But I really, really enjoyed myself.
The feeling of sheer independence I felt traveling to it was out of this
world. No man leading me the way!!! No one making all the
decisions!!!!! Just me, my bike and the open road!!!!!
I stopped when I wanted, where I wanted, and only had myself to argue with
when I went the wrong way!!!!! I really, really enjoyed
myself.
I got to the rally and I knew nobody.
But it wasn't long before I got chatting and by the end of the night I'd
had a great time. I was very nervous about pulling up in front of a
lot of bikers as I'm just learning, but I did it without any hassle!!!!!
And I made some new friends. The only advise I can give is to
look after yourself, don't over-do-it on the beer {best not to drink
at all if alone}. And most importantly have a bloody great time!!!!!!
Maggie
Dear Maggie,
You tell her VTwin Mama sister! By the by, I actually had to look
up the word pillion (well you know how easy it is to make typos)
and by gumbo it's an actual word meaning the saddle (or pillow!) behind
the man's seat for the woman. In this reference of course, talking about
you always being the passenger. Wow, you learn something new everyday,
whether you want to or not. Who would have thunk?
Mama
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Tuesday, June 26
RALLY NOTICE
Dear VTwin Mama,
I would like to extend an invitation to all women riders to a bike
rally here in the state of W.Va. coming up July 19th through
21st. It will be an "all bike rally," and our local chapter
of Women on Wheels, Sassy Mountain Sisters will be raffling 2 great wooden
"Rocking Motorcycles" and a chance to win a complete set of
riding gear in your choice of leather or fabric with Kevlar. Please let
the readers know about the rally. Me,
being a new rider myself, I would love to have as much female support as I
can get. I hope my invitation to ALL lady riders will be considered as
a partial payback. Foxxi
Dear Foxxi,
Welcome aboard the Ask VTwin Mama forum! Good luck with the rally.
Mama
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Tuesday, June 26
Dear VTwin Mama,
I wanted to respond to Cecilia on her thoughts on
the getting your endorsement through the course. I have taken the course
and have taken the "little keyhole thing". When I took the MSC
the law had not passed yet and you did not get your endorsement if you
passed the class. So I had to take the state test. My only problem with
this course is that when you pass and get your endorsement it's done on a
small bike, usually 250cc. It can build over confidence and that can be
deadly. The actual test by the DMV is exactly the same size (it is just in
a smaller area) as the MSC. After you get your endorsement from the class
try taking your big bike (550,883,etc) on the course and see if you can
still pass it. Most likely you won't.
I have concerns that many of us
will get our endorsement on the 250cc and the go home and hop on a larger,
more powerful bike and think they have the skills needed. That's not the
case. Be careful. Why do you think so many people try to borrow or rent
very small bikes to take the state test?? Its easier. Besides, if you have
good skills, even a Fat Boy or Road Kind can pass in the
"keyhole" test. I have seen it done. Just for your own
satisfaction and peace of mind, go up to the course where you took your
class and take it on your own bike. Keep practicing until you and your
bike can pass. Ride Safe :) Cherie
Dear Cherie,
Oh VTwin Mama girlfriend -- you bring up a very valid point --
passing tests on a small bike and then moving to a bigger bike thinking
you've got it handled is just wrong, wrong, wrong! Ladies, there is never
an easy way to master the skills you need to handle ANY bike -- it's
practice and more practice.
Did you hear my whip cracking in the background?
On another note, Cherie also mentioned that there is a
directory on the Internet of motorcycle courses offered through the Motorcycle
Safety Foundation, but I also found something at Wheels
in Motion that people can check out.
Mama
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Tuesday, June 26
Howdy
VTwin Mama,
Was
at your site, very nice, and I don't pay attention to the Men
with the Attitude. This is my 46th year on the road, and have had
Harley's, Indian's, Yamahas, and Hondas,
have another Harley now, but I rode alone for many years, and have now
started a Woman On Wheels
Chapter, here in Allegan Michigan. First time I ever joined anything, and
it's kinda neat to have the Gals to ride with, other then my husband and
other couples where I am always the only woman rider, but now there are so
many, and I'm so happy for all of them. And I guess thats about all I
can say for now, am just enjoying life a lot. Keep the Breeze on your
knees. :-) Marian
Dear Marian,
You go gal! And take me with you! I want to bask in your VTwin Mama
awesomeness.
Mama
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Monday, June 25
Dear VTwin Mama,
I've been riding off and on for the past 30+ years. Always on my own
cycle, mostly on solo adventures. Most of my work assignments are overseas
so when I'm home, I air out on my Shadow. Here's the question : I have
never gone to a rally or motorcycle event. There are a bunch of them in
Texas and surrounding area. I'm not sure what "the rules" are or
what's expected. But I'd like to ease into that side of motorcycle life.
Can you help? Linda and her Shadow
Dear Linda,
There are four important elements to any rally: fun, fun,
fun, and fun!
Ok, well really, I was thinking about getting there
(better to ride the bike than trailering it to the event if at all possible),
cruising down some sort of main strip (at really slow speeds so be ready
for a death grip on the clutch), looking at other cool bikes and
guys (self
explanatory), and having others look at you and your bike (because you're a
highly valued VTwin Mama of course)!
Pretend you are going on vacation on your bike and there
just happens to be a gazillion other bikers in the same neighborhood at
the same time! There are usually rider-specific events; maybe a bike
contest or bike racing, or cool sites to visit in the area, and maybe even
a special women's rally, but really it's just a chance to be with other
people who enjoy riding like you do. The event might even have its own
website, like Daytona and Sturgis
do,
so do a search engine check on the Internet.
About the only thing I try to do special is keep the
bike totally clean at all times so it looks its best. If it's an overnight
or longer thing, camping usually is pretty easy and affordable, but motel
rooms get scarce quickly, so plan ahead. You might want to try visiting
the Women on Wheels
website and
look up women in your area who would be glad to have you join them at the
next event.
Three notes of special interest (at least I think for
any woman attending a rally): Alcohol is never your friend. Watch your ass
like you would in any strange place (let's face it, not all bikers are
friendly, cool or interested in your well being, just like in the real
world). And make sure friends know where and when you'll be, etc.
Other than that, revel in your VTwin Mama-ness and have
fun! Buy cool T-shirts, cruise, and be happy!
Mama
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Friday, June 22
Dear VTwin Mama,
I bought Joe Rocket gear, it's
light weight and very comfortable. I love the colors
they offer. The pants can zip to the jacket, they are Kevlar with all the
padding that you need in the right places. I'm very happy with my
purchase. Nessen/Dotson
Dear N/D,
Thanks for sending in another possible place to get stuff that
isn't all black! Someday VTwin Mama hopes to offer T-shirts and other
things in more colors than her basic black T with white logo and white T
with black logo, although let's face it, black is still queen in riding.
Long live the queen (and now her merry multi-hued queenettes)!
Mama
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Thursday, June 21
Dear VTwin Mama,
Living in the UK , females riding big VTwins of any sort are a rarity. I
think a lot has to do with it here is the attitude of the men seeing a
female riding a large Harley or similar , it stamps on their ego a bit.
Many a time I have gone to a "Hog" meet , only to be totally
ignored. I was not even allowed to join" Hog" as a full member
only as a "Lady of Harley." This did not sit well at all . I've
been riding now for more than 30 years , the last 10 years riding H.D's,
up to last year when I decided the servicing charges were getting beyond a
joke ($350 for a basic service), also the attitudes, and changed to a
Yamaha Royal Star and must say I have not looked back!. But I still have
and ride a VTwin , a Ducati 900 SL. race rep, must admit it isn't an
"Iron Horse", but one hell of a thoroughbred stallion. Ride free
and safe Ladies. Georga Browne, Norfolk,
England
Dear Georga,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts from across the ocean. I know what
you mean about the men. Sure, not all of them are like that, but 20 or 30
years ago, I thought it was the pits. Being ignored was the worse. To
remind everyone who reads Ask VTwin Mama, we are a "manufacturer
free" column and the name simply is the earliest reference I remember
to women motorcyclists, which is why I used it to represent today's woman
rider. I think that with continued effort we can make it stand for the
strong, sassy, classy women that we are.
And VTwin Mama sounds cool too! Sort of rolls off the
tongue. Fit nicely with the bike logo. Makes us sound like Mother Earth's
chosen women on wheels. Better than biker chick. Cluck, cluck.
Mama
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Wednesday, June 20
Dear VTwin Mama,
This is for Dear Learning -- there is one in So.
Cal. 1-800-CC-RIDER which is CHP endorsed. I'm not sure how widespread
they are. When you pass, you
get your m/c license. In other words, you avoid the little keyhole
thing at the DMV which is no where near reality. Hope this helps.
Cecilia
Dear Cecilia,
Thanks for your input. I'm still having a hard time finding a
comprehensive directory of motorcycle training courses, but we'll keep
plugging away at it!
Mama
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Wednesday, June 20
New Note to Elda
from VTwin Mama,
I just found another site that you can check out local women riders
in your area for support and riding buddies. Try Ridin' The Wind at:
(defunct as of 7/25/01, go to
The
Sisters and Brothers of the Wall).
Post your own profile and check for others. Wowee!
Mama
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Tuesday, June 19
Dear VTwin Mama,
I found purple riding gear. Check out Competitionaccessories.com.
Cindy in Nevada+
Dear Cindy,
Wowee! Did you see the Draggin' Shirt made of Kevlar that can be
worn instead of a leather jacket for great protection in hotter weather?
Neato. Lots of selection here VTMs, but most of its geared to riding the
Autobahn in Germany at 100+. Still, well worth taking a look.
So it's goodbye basic black, look out color fashion
plates! Mama has her eye on some of the stuff in green. So stop hogging
the site already!
Mama
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Monday, June 18
Behind every
successful man who ever hitched his wagon to a star there stands an
exhausted woman who has just spent 45 minutes trying to get the hitch pin
in place.
Joyce Carney
Friday, June 15
Too much of a
good thing can be wonderful.
Mae West
Thursday, June 14
I praise loudly; I blame
softly.
Catherine II
Wednesday, June 13
Dear VTwin Mama,
I finally got my learner's permit last month (boy was it hard!!!) so now I
am practicing on my hubby's Electra Glide (hubby has been a Harley rider
for the past 25 years). I'm 36 and love the feeling of it. I practice in a
huge empty parking lot right behind our shop but yesterday I dropped the
bike while practicing stopping. I felt angry at myself and disappointed,
thank God the bike was ok, no scratches or anything but I felt really bad
about it. This was my third time on the bike: I have good balance and have
been practicing right turns, left turns, figure 8 all in first gear.
This is what happened yesterday: I was practicing at
stopping at a designated point while hubby was watching me and our 3 1/2
year old son, I stalled the bike, I didn't roll the throttle on so the
bike died on me and down I went...I'm already enrolled in the basic rider
safety course in October (that was the earliest date!!!) so I know that I
will receive the right instruction etc on a much smaller bike...a 250 cc
compared to the 1450 cc my hubby has.
I guess I just need some advice and some word of
encouragement...hubby said that if that was test day, I would have
failed!! He says the bike is just too big for me and I told him that I've
seen other women ride Electra Glides, they had to start somewhere,
somehow, right?? Thanks!
Elda
Dear Elda,
Well of course you would have failed the test -- it was only your
third time out! So do not give
up -- and forget anger and disappointment. What other major things have
you tried in your lifetime and gotten perfect right off the bat? Well,
other than sex maybe, but even that isn't a given!
I know you're chomping at the bit to get to that course,
and the 250cc bike is great to learn on. Meanwhile, maybe you have a
friend or two with smaller bikes than your hubby's HD EG to practice with
on occasion? If that's not the case, and you want to "tip proof"
the bike somewhat, consider figuring out a way to protect sensitive paint
job areas to lessen the sting if you do tip. If you're worrying about
that, your mind is not 100% on the job at hand.
Also, are your feet firmly planted on the ground at a
dead stop, or do you have to raise on tippy toes a little? Practice a stop of any kind and a positive plant and hold.
Also, while at a dead stop, try leaning the bike just a little to each side
to get the feel of the bike at an angle and how much weight you can hold,
etc. It pays to understand your limits.
And then you go VTwin Mama girl! Envision the positive
outcome of safely, securely, and happily riding down the road with a grin
on your face and bugs in your teeth. Um, forget the last one! . . . grin
on your face and the knowledge that you met the challenge and won (more PC
but I liked the bug thing better!). We are so behind you 100%.
Consider going to the Women
on Wheels website -- they've got lists of women in your state (and
maybe in your city and neighborhood) who are willing to talk with you and
e-mail correspond. I bet a little one-on-one boost from a local gal rider
will go a long way to making sure you've got the extra emotional support that I
think everyone can use from time to time.
Mama
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Tuesday, June 12
Dear VTwin Mama,
Another friend of mine who owns a
Shadow (and someday wants to own a HD) led me to your website. I've spent
the last year convincing five other women to learn to ride....I was a
previous owner of a 250 Honda, sold it, got my Masters in management and
then recaught the biking 'bug'....but I didn't want to ride alone and too
many times I was caught up in the agendas of my riding guy friends.
So,
I decided to do the next best (or the best) thing and learn to ride again.
I love my 650 Suzuki Savage and recommend it to any beginning woman rider.
Its 350lbs wet, belt drive, front disc brakes, very forgiving on the
clutch. Well, without getting long
winded here, there are five of us women who are new riders and learning to
enjoy it more!
I
did take the advice of one of your readers who talked about how she climbed
up a hill intersection using the clutch and the front hand brake while
having her feet on the ground to steady the bike....then slowly letting
out the clutch to get up the hill and letting out the brake (rolling on
the throttle). I had the
opportunity to try it this weekend and it worked!!
Well, thanks for having your website, Petra.
I'll keep in touch. Happy and
safe riding.
Shar
Dear Shar,
Such an inspirational VTwin Mama you are! It just goes to show you
that you CAN do it your own way! Love the bike info and the hill info too!
Mama
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Monday, June 11
Dear VTwin Mama,
I just bought my first bike and I'd really like to do the basic
maintenance on it, but I'm not sure where to start or how to do anything.
That shouldn't stop me, should it? I think that I could handle it, if I
had some guidance.
New Wrencher
Dear New Wrencher,
Oh you brave, brave VTwin Mama! Of course you should learn how to
wrench on your own bike. It helps you be knowledgeable about what is
where, an especially useful thing when you're on the road! You didn't say
if you bought new or used, but in either case, you need to find the
owner's manual that came with the bike. In there should be a checklist of
things to do and a recommended schedule. Also, a list of basic tools
should be in there somewhere. So head for the nearest hardware emporium to
ask some nice person to help you assemble your basic kit.
For my old '76 HD Superglide, I got not only the
original HD manual, but bought the Clymer
manual also. That way I figured I would have twice as good a chance to
correctly locate areas of work (more pictures are better!) and how to
accomplish things. I started with the basic battery water level check and
oil/filter change and then moved on from there to chain checks (if
applicable) and such.
Perhaps you belong to a local club and can enlist
someone's help for the first time, or even organize a maintenance seminar
with a local bike shop with other interested gals. Don't worry, it may
feel a bit unnerving at first, but with a little practice, you'll find
yourself at ease with handling routine maintenance.
And don't forget that duct tape is a VTwin Mama's best
friend on the road!
Mama
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Friday, June 8
Hey VTwin Mama,
I
really enjoy your website. It's nice to find more and more websites
directed at women bikers. Our numbers are growing. My husband and I
attended the ROT rally in Austin, TX. this past weekend and there were
women bikers on all kinds of bikes. Many were on some of the larger bikes
like Road Kings. Riding motorcycles has truly become a passion for
my husband Tim and I. Tim bought a HD DynaWide Glide in 1999 and I started
out like most women, riding as a passenger.
I
took the safety course and eventually we started looking for a smaller
bike for me to start on. In Nov. of 99' I bought a 535 Yamaha Virago. I
rode this bike for 6 months to gain my confidence and get the much needed
experience to handle a larger bike. In March of 2000 I bought my Pearl
White HD Fat Boy and I haven't looked back since. This bike is just like
so many people told me. It's low center of gravity and balance make it a
joy to ride. I have dropped it twice in the 1 1/2 years since I bought it,
but many experienced riders drop their bikes also. This bike has the
lowest seat height of all the Harleys. I also had it lowered an inch front
and back, put pull back risers on the handle bars and bought boots with
thicker heels. My Fat Boy fits me so well now. I now have over 11,000
miles on my bike. I think that is pretty good for a year and a half.
We try and ride as much as we can.
I
encourage any woman no matter what age or size to give it a try, you never
know what you can accomplish till you try. Since we've started riding
we've been turned on to some outstanding scenic roads in Texas, which is
only a 6 hour ride for us. If you ever find yourself traveling through
Texas be sure and check out the roads in the hill country around Bandera,
Leakey, Camp Verde, Boerne; or Kerrville. You will really enjoy these
hilly, curvy roads. Thanks again for a great website. Keep the shiny side
up and ride safe.
Julie
Dear Julie,
Thank you for sharing your personal success story. It's always good
to hear from VTwin Mamas and the struggles and triumphs that accompany
learning to ride. I started chuckling when you mentioned dropping the bike
a few times. Oy vey, it brought back memories!
In fact, in the Summer issue of Motorcycle
Madness, another great women's website and magazine, I've put together
a column called True Confessions of a VTwin Mama, chock full of blunders
made through the years and what can be learned from them. Again, thanks
for participating and I'll keep Texas in mind for future riding reference!
Mama
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Wednesday, June 6
Dear VTwin Mama,
Is there a good directory of motorcycle courses offered in the U.S.?
Learning Bit
by Bit
Dear Learning,
I don't know - is there? Oops, Mama sounded a little
snippy there, probably due to a HORRIBLE LACK OF RIDING lately. What I
meant to say is that there probably is some sort of universal guide, but
I'd simply open up the local yellow pages and look under motorcycle. If
there isn't anything specific on courses, you could always call a local
dealer or two and I'm sure they would point you in the right direction.
If any readers have a better idea, why don't you set
VTwin Mama straight and help out poor Learning who is just an innocent
bystander!
Mama
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Tuesday, June 5
Dear VTwin Mama,
I too live where there are plenty of
hills and avoided them for a while (it's the thing to do). But I found
that with time and getting to be totally in tune with your bike you will
learn how to let that darn clutch out without rolling. Just make sure
you give it plenty of gas, its amazing what we can do when we stop
worrying about it. And of course I second what VTwin Mama said
"Practice, Practice and more Practice."
[In regard to Susan who
is worried about moving up to a bigger bike], I totally agree with VTwin
Mama, but one important thing to remember is that when you move up in cc's
you need to find the bike that fits you, not your hubby, not your friends.
Ride Safe, Barbara
Dear Barbara,
You are so VTwin Mama savvy to add important points
to consider beyond what I had to say. That's the thing about riding, as
well as a whole bunch of other stuff -- a variety of viewpoints is often
useful in helping to decide what to do. Let's keep up the input readers!
Mama
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Monday, June 4
Dear VTwin Mama,
I am looking for riding gear in purple. Any thoughts?
Cindy in Nevada
Dear Cindy,
Ah, biker black just isn't enough any more, is it
?!?!?!?! Since I myself favor white all year long, I'm not an authority on
riding gear in more colorful hues. Riders -- any ideas for Cindy?
Mama
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