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Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Martha, Monday, May 1 Dear VTwin Mama, My boyfriend (a VStar owner) and I have been together for 2.5 years. Our first and second date was on his motorcycle. I had a great time going to festivals and on scenic rides. Even though it was so much fun, every time I would tell people that I had gone for a ride, they would tell me how crazy I was and how the bike was a death machine. I admit going 75 MPH on the highway scared me, we also skidding on wet pavement during a ride and almost lost control and once a metal piece near his back wheel got loose and we had to buy screws at the store to keep it in place. I started to develop a fear of riding. After that I would be scared the whole time we rode, but I did it to make him happy and to spend time with him. We have talked about getting married so I asked if he would have a problem if I no longer felt comfortable riding on the back of his bike with him. Well, he has a huge problem with it and said I "deceived him" because he thought I liked to ride. I explained that I tried it for the first time with him and had no fear or bad feelings against bikes before then. He said that if I don't ride on his bike, we'll end up having separate friends and doing separate social activities and we'll drift apart. He said couples need to be on the same "path". (His ex-wife was afraid of riding too and told him he couldn't ride and even tried to get him to sell it. I would NEVER even ask him to give up his passion and joy in life - ever. I just don't want to be pressured into riding . . . and it makes me sad that our relationship comes down to this when I have so many other good qualities to offer him other than just being a passenger on their bike - I feel devalued.) I suggested maybe we could not go on the interstate at 75-80 MPH like we have in the past, but he said if the whole group goes on the highway, we have to. We can't find a compromise! He has many friends that ride w/o their SO, but he still insists I go with him. At first he said it's not worth breaking up over the bike, but now it looks like that is exactly was is happening. Should I go on the bike and try to overcome my fears - I don't want to lose the only person I've ever loved ( I am 37 and have never met anyone I care about as much as him). Sorry this is so long -just want to give you the full picture. I would really respect your advice and appreciate any insight you could give me at all! Have other couples found compromises on this? Thanks so much for listening. Maureen : ( Dear Maureen, Yes, your S/O is between a rock and a hard place. He loves to ride, wants that to be a centerpiece of your life together, and you didn't fess up when it wasn't going well. Given his past relationship, it probably felt like a cruel blow to a life he envisioned. But what to do now. You've got an ingrained fear built up over a long time. I'm guessing since the one almost mishap some time ago you've been anticipating the next one all this time. You don't mention any other near misses, but that first one really set the tone. My suggested course of action may seem "really out there" when you first read it, but I hope that you allow it to noodle into your brain for a bit before tossing out the idea. Take a beginning riding course yourself. From an accredited association under the watchful eye of a trained instructor. I'm assuming you drive your own car and do that quite a bit and then when the two of you are out together, he drives and you're passenger. Doesn't it feel funny sometimes to be in the car as passenger when you're so used to having the control of a car in your own hands? Just a bit on some occasions? But of course over time you're fine with it, but it's still different! Now, what do you think you could learn if you took a motorcycle course? This doesn't even have to be done with the aim to ride your own bike in the long range. You could take it simply to get a "core" idea of what is behind being "one" with such a machine beastie. Think what this experience would mean to you as a bike passenger. Imagine taking a course that first reviews safety and rules and then puts you on a little 250cc bike for some beginning handling. Is it possible that by having control of the bike you would gain understanding on how a bike feels on your own and that in doing that, you may be able to gain control of your fear? Now, don't slide into the S/O teaching you. What he could do, in preparation for such a course, is to begin pointing out the controls and talk about the basic skills needed. And you could both go to a dealer just so you know how small a 250cc bike is. Now, the two of you are sharing again. Then you take the course with LEARNING in mind. Would he appreciate your attempt to overcome the obstacles? Think about that. Then talk it out honestly. Tell him you wish to plan out steps so that the fear can be overcome. If taking a course in YOUR mind is not the right course of action, then give some thought on what might be. Perhaps you would like to suggest some riding time, just the two of you, where slower speeds could be taken on perfectly nice days and he could explain more about how he views the road ahead of him, how he scans for trouble, what avoidance skills he'll use if trouble shows up so that you know what riders go through when quick action is needed. Again, this would be done with an eye to having him share his passion and knowledge with you, instead of you being just some person on the back. You are not some helpless dame here! You've had life challenges in front of you before, and now you have a new one, and an important one that involves the feelings of another person. I'm hoping my ideas have given you food for thought, if only to trigger your own set of steps toward a solution. If he flinches at any of this, square up your shoulders and scream, "I don't want to lose you. I need you to help me figure this out. You are important to me. You are not some bystander in my life. Treat my feelings with respect. Throw me a glimmer of hope. Tell me that at 37 I have met other challenges and overcome them. Back me up on my idea on how to do this. Hold me tight and love me and don't give up on me. Don't let go." If that doesn't get
him, I don't know what will. So, what do you think? Are you ready to look
this square in the eye and meet the challenge? I have a feeling you will.
Mama Monday, May 1 For Lynn whose V-Star hand controls are proving to be a challenge: It is inherent in the V-Stars for the clutch engagement point to be way out at the end of the lever. If you just adjust at the lever you will end up with too much freeplay at the lever. There is a kit made by one of the 650 forum members, which will eliminate the freeplay. He sells on ebay, usually costs around $17. I have one on my bike and it works great. Hope this helps. Joanne (note from Mama: thanks for sharing!) That is where the friction zone is on the bike. You can adjust it a little by bringing in the clutch, but that is just the way they are. One advantage though, it only takes a bit to pull the clutch in as well! I had a 650 (not a custom) and experienced the same thing. MommyDBA (note from Mama: looks like I'm learning as well!) I also have a VStar Classic that we bought in October. My clutch was really stiff as well and my husband fixed it by following the directions in the owner's manual. I am very short and have very small hands, and I have no problems with it now. It is really easy to adjust. Linda in Oklahoma (note from Mama: ok, a source of adjustment info) A number of things to help. Finger exercises to get stronger. Immediate help would be perhaps an Easy Clutch installation in the trans -- not sure if this product works on other brands than HD? Also something from AMP Research that is an external fix -- works pretty well and reduces clutch pull about 40%. Can also buy clutch and brake levers that give a 10% pull reduction ( look on ebay). Also just loosen up your levers and move them around until you find a more comfy position for your hands that works well. Dorathy Biddinger (note from Mama: more thoughts, excellent!) Monday, May 1 For Heather Bear who changed pipes and now the bike isn't running the same: When I got my new bike ('05 883 Sporty) I had the pipes changed to Screamin Eagle II's. They did not rejet the carb (and were supposed to). When I took it back, they rejetted the carb and had all running smooth. A week later it would not start. Seems the short time I ran it before they re-jetted fouled the plugs. So, when you get the carb and pipes to match, go ahead an pull the plugs too. Clean them really well or replace them, or you may find yourself stranded and unable to start the bike. Luck, jojo (note from Mama: thanks for the added note on spark plugs!) Monday, May 1 Hi Petra, Dear Sara, Monday, May 1 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear jojo, Monday, May 1 Even more about shielding legs from bike heat: I just spent 6 days and 1750 miles
with the Cool Thigh. Its a keeper! However, one day we spent riding the
Tail of the Dragon and the Cherohala Skyway, and it was
fabulous on the curves for protecting the thigh. We hit 5 miles of
stop and go traffic in downtown In short, its flexible (easy on
easy off) and does the job it was designed to do. Tuesday, May 2 Dear VTwin Mama, I just graduated from my Buell Blast to a 2000 883C Sportster. I've only had it since Friday but I love it! I spent 2 hours on Sunday riding around a large parking lot and I'm feeling really comfortable with it. I do need to do some adjusting though to make the fit better. I can put both feet on the ground but I sit quite a bit forward on the seat when I'm riding so I'd like to get a new seat (I'm 5'3, 28" inseam w/ boots). I've considered both the Corbin Close Reach and the LePera Up Close seats. Are there any other ones to consider? I live in NH - are there any places I could go to see these seats and see which one might work best for me? Anyone with experience with any of these close reach type seats? Thanks everyone for your input. I really love this site. Thanks Petra! Judi Dear Judi, Readers with 883 Sportys are encouraged to chime in now
if you've switched to another seat with specific details on how you liked
that!
Mama Tuesday, May 2 For Penney whose sister-in-law remained aloof about riding until recently: I liked your response to Penney about mysterious motivations. One of my co-workers has started riding to work and I'm happy for her . . . but she never said boo to me about it. I've been riding to work for over three years now. People are deep, and so are family and workplace politics. Good luck to you, Penney! Sarah (note from Mama: if she is a newer rider she may feel shy about approaching someone she knows is a "veteran" rider . . . why not compliment her on her bike and see if new friendship opens up! Of course, that may not be the case at all . . . ) Tuesday, May 2 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Bear, Tuesday, May 2 From Monica who passed her course and now has delivery of her new bike: For all of you that have been crossing your fingers for me - I'm happy to report that the Softail Deluxe came home on Saturday in the biggest rainstorm I've seen in a long time! My BF rode it home, and he has been grinning from ear to ear since then. What a beautiful ride! Yesterday was a sunny day and I let the clutch out for the first time. Up went my feet and off I went. My intention was to just ride it around the cul-de-sacs and around the neighborhood side streets, but the ride was so sweet and she handled so nice, I ventured out into town on my own for a 30 minute ride. Later on in the afternoon, my boyfriend pulled his Nostalgia out of the garage and we went on another loop around town. All the tossing and turning and envisioning my ride was worth it. My biggest concern was how I would handle going from a 200 pound bike to a 700 pound bike. There was hardly any transition at all . . . this bike rides like a big ole' Cadillac and to me, is much easier to handle than a smaller, top- heavy bike. Not to worry though, I'm well aware that I'm hardly an expert with only 75 miles under my belt, (grin) but I just wanted to share the start of my new adventure. This is awesome! (pics forthcoming soon). Monica (note from Mama: we are all totally jazzed for you! Congrats and thanks for sharing how things are going for you!) Tuesday, May 2 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Beth and John, I'm assuming you are both new riders looking for an inexpensive option to get started on. The owner should demonstrate that bike running if you are not in position to take it for a spin for yourselves. It's also helpful to establish why the owner is selling and how long they have been trying to sell it and if the bike has been sitting without riding for a significant time (more than 1 year) as this is not good for a bike. Please note if the bike smokes from the exhaust pipes in any way, as this can be an indicator of wear in the cylinders and pistons, and would require an expensive tear down. You should also talk about the maintenance history, when the last full round of routine maintenance was done, whether they bike has ever been dropped while riding, and if the owners and service manual come with the bike. An owner with a service manual is a better indication that they at least were willing to open it up and follow procedures! Of course a clear title is important. I hope this helps . . . good luck!
Mama Tuesday, May 2 Dear VTwin Mama, Never buy a bike that falls over and you can't get it up by yourself. One way is to to find this out is take the bike and lay it on it's side on a quilt. Then you'll know. Some new bikes like a Gold Wing 1800, even with the shaved Corbin seat are just to heavy (960lbs). They are also very unstable a slow speeds . . . coming up on a light . . . especially with a 70 tire instead of 60 tire. Remember one thing if you lower the bike . . . do it front and rear . . . especially the new riders. Otherwise if you get in trouble you might not like the result. This coming from 46 years worth of riding and driving motorcycles & race cars & numerous driving schools & riding schools. My 2 cents. Kenny Dear Kenny, Tuesday, May 2 Dear VTwin Mama, It was three years ago I was riding to work and a group of three bikers pulled up behind me at an intersection. "We're going to Myrtle Beach," they said, "Want to come?" I said, "Sure!" and continued on to work while they watched to see if I would take the same fork they did a half mile later. The warm comeraderie of most bikers is one of the joys of riding. Thanks for keeping us all in touch. Best wishes for a great spring to all sisters. Sarah Dear Sarah, Tuesday, May 2 Hi Petra and all the ladies out there, This drop just helped me to make up my mind about putting crash bars on my bike. Well, I ordered them and finally got them. Saturday I PUT THEM ON. I also put on a visor over the head light. Ladies, I must say there is just something about doing stuff to your bike yourself. It just takes good directions, a little patience, and courage, but afterwards it sure does make you feel proud. Especially when you have people around you telling you stuff like "you ought not be riding, or women should not ride their own bike, etc." This has helped me to bond with my bike. My hubby is very proud of me also, which is very nice specially after the rocky times we had when I first started ridding and bought this one bike. Boy did he give me a hard time, but now he is wonderful about things. So hang in there ladies, hang on to your dream, and have the courage to do little things to your bike, it really will make you feel good. M. Wright Dear M. Wright, Tuesday, May 2 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Short Rider, Wednesday, May 3 Advocacy Opportunity VTwin Mama sister PurplePony Gal emailed in to let me know about the early parole possibility of a man who killed a woman motorcycle rider, Sherri Glover. If you would like to voice your opinion, this is the Background Information page and this is the Email Instruction page. Mama Wednesday, May 3 For Judi who is seeking a new seat for her 883C Sporty I too have an 883 Custom, and I'm barely 5'1" (28" inseam barefoot). I ordered a custom seat from LePera and am VERY happy with it. It was pricey but I'm glad I did it. They'll take some basic information from you on the phone and give you some instructions on how to measure how big you want the seat to be. For example, I needed to be as close to the tank as possible, and I needed a short "bucket" with a raised back to ensure that my butt would be held in place by the seat. They'll send you the seat uncovered to try, at which time you can make any adjustments to the dimensions, then send it back to them and they'll cover it and send it back to you. Fortunately I didn't have to make any adjustments to my prototype, it was perfect. I'd be happy to send her a picture if she'd like to see it. Petra, your website is awesome! Denise (note from Mama: glad you're enjoying the VTwin Mama site and thanks for the specific input for Judi!) I too started out on a Blast, now I have a Sportster 883C. I was not able to put my feet flat on the ground (I'm 5'2") until I made several changes. I changed the seat out to a Corbin Close Gunfighter, it brought me forward about 1 1/2" and is narrower in the front. I also changed the shocks, which gave me another 1 1/2" and changed the angle that the bike sits. Turning is much easier now, the bike does not feel as top heavy with the new angle. I was also having problems with my elbows hurting, so I put on pullback bars. I feel a lot more comfortable riding now. Steph (note from Mama: I appreciate you sharing details!) Wednesday, May 3 Hi Mama, So far I have over 6,000 miles on my bike. Hubby has 10,000 on his (but he has been riding to and from work since we got them). I have long legs and before the Del Rio trip we had some highway pegs placed on the crash bars on my bike. It sure helps my legs from getting cramped up and tired. Take into account the comfortable Mustang seats that we added and that 1,000 mile trip to Del Rio wasn't so tiring. We are thinking of trading them in for bigger bikes, although I sure have enjoyed my Shadow Aero. Just wanted to share our adventures with you. Thanks so much for all your support. I read your site daily and it so informative and I have learned so much just reading what others post. Nikki from Dallas Dear Nikki, Wednesday, May 3 Dear VTwin Mama, Needless to say, I didn't give up. I purchased a beginner bike (1987 KZ305-B) and have put about 45 miles on it so far. I finally think I've gotten the hang of shifting, BUT, I'm still a little clutch challenged. I don't want to "give up" the clutch completely but I want to RIDE! I'm planning to go clutchless. Does anyone out there have a used Ridley Speedster they'd like to get rid of? (2002 or later) Jana Dear Jana, Then I would hop onto the KZ for some more practice. Last weekend I helped a new rider master that very thing . . the smooth coordination of the clutch and throttle. It took 2.5 hours of concentrated effort (with breaks!) to achieve, and then a 1.5 hour session the next day confirmed she had it and we proceeded to use that to move forward in lessons. You cannot begin to master more unless you have the clutch/throttle thing under control! Here's what I saw: new riders are worried about too much throttle (and rightly so), but often think the only way to stop something that feels out of control is by slamming on the brake(s). Not true . . . at slow practice speeds, train your brain to realize that if you feel the slightest bit of trouble, pulling in the clutch lever instantly removes the power transfer to the bike's drive. You can be jamming on the throttle from here to the ends of the earth, but if the clutch is pulled in, the bike isn't going anywhere! Next, I noticed that from a dead stop, a new rider may be letting out the clutch and then giving it gas. This leads to a jerky start (that feels scary). If you give the bike a little steady gas (throttle), then slowly let the clutch lever out (engage), this makes for a smoother start. How can you tell when you've got it right? If you hear a rattle/chatter of the transmission on the start, you haven't given the bike enough gas for a smooth glide out. This combination can be practiced first with your legs still on the ground for a duck walk. Legs out, a bit of gas, slowly let out part of the clutch, duck walk the bike, pull in clutch if something is not going right. If you hear the chatter, you need to start with a bit more steady gas. If you start out smooth, but then the bike lapses into a chatter, you've not kept steady gas going. Repeat until you've got it. Then, same procedure but with placing feet on pegs for a full clutch release and forward movement. Repeat. Take frequent breaks as your hands get tired quickly and a mental break helps as well. If this takes 15 minutes or umpteen hours, don't give up until you've got the combo down. Trust me on this . . . once you've got it, you'll always have it, but even more importantly, if you know the sounds that signal a less than perfect combo use of hand controls, you'll also know that and can continue to work on it! Now, do you think that's worth some of your time before looking at an auto tranny bike? I hope so as I'd hate for you to give up so early in your adventure in riding. However, some riders do determine that in the end they
would prefer to take the clutch/shift part of a bike out of the equation.
If you hop onto Ridley's
Forum and scroll down, you will find used Auto-Glides and Speedsters
for sale. Just one place to start your hunt!
Mama Wednesday, May 3 Dear VTwin Mama, I'm a moped rider who just bought a 1981 CM400A Hondamatic. I am totally new to the motorcycle world and was wondering if you could direct me to a Hondamatic riders or a "newbie" forum (if there is one) so that I can correctly learn about care, safety and laws of the bike. Also if there is a site where I can get aftermarket, old/new and or used parts for a Hondamatic? Another thing is I don't know how to ride a manual bike and wanted to know if that will affect me when I go to get my M license? Can I use my own bike (I live in PA )? I don't plan on ever getting a manual bike so I don't really care to learn to ride one, especially now that I've discovered Ridleys, so can I still get a motorcycle license with just an automatic? I also wanted to know if there are any more affordable automatic motorcycles out there? I bought my Hondamatic for $500, and the new Ridleys are out of my price range. Are there any others I don't know about? Thank you very much. Peace and Love. Michelle S. Dear Michelle, The skills necessary to become a good rider apply to all bikes. You can teach yourself by using a wide range of books and DVDs which can be found on my Education Center page. The key here is to find an empty parking lot for practice! I don't recall that there are any specific courses offered for auto tranny bike riders where you take your own bike. That leaves you searching for a private instructor if you feel that would be a good step for you. You could contact standard courses to see if any of the instructors offer private lessons. You could also seek out independent (rather than national level) courses . . . one might be the Stayin' Safe course offered in Pittsburgh. It's pricey and you would need to call to see if they would train you on your Hondamatic. Or, they may know of other sources for assistance if they can't help you. Over time, many Hondamatic lovers have written in,
offering support sites, forums, and sources for parts. As I can't possibly
call up these details in my brain, please take the time to read through my
Bike Type: Auto Tranny pages.
On these pages you will also learn of other possible auto tranny bike
models for consideration, including mega scooters. It's worth wading
through!
Mama Thursday, May 4 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Live Free, Thursday, May 4 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Stacy, There are four key elements to this: just enough
throttle, just enough clutch engage, light application or tap of the rear
brake (helps keep the bike upright) and making sure not only your eyes,
but also your head, is looking where you wish to end up (vs. any point in
the middle!). Then practice, practice, practice! YOU CAN DO IT!
Mama Thursday, May 4 Hey Petra, I just discovered "Sea Foam." Its the one thing that I know of that you can use for 4 strokes, 2 strokes, you can put it in your oil, put it in your gas tank, pour it down the carbs while the engine is running and pour it on your cereal. (Last use is not recommended.) Cleans the systems out and more. I'm sure you have heard of it, but after my bike started to run rough, a few minutes after that was in it, it made a noticeable difference. Before that though, I was getting pretty worried that something awful was about to happen and leave me stranded. But what I really am writing you about is your new page on motorcycle travel. I can't believe you don't have Going the Extra Mile, by Ron Ayres. Its from a Iron Butt Rally competitor, and while it is very centered on the IBR, there are lots of tips. Just know that the IBA or IBR is mentioned every few pages. I want to get Against the Wind by the same guy, but darn it, school is so busy right now! I have read Motorcycle Touring: Everything You Need to Know. Pretty good. Some fascinating tales that guy has had. Well, have fun. Ben Dear Ben, Nope, I have not heard of Sea Foam and don't recall it being mentioned on my site, but given the approximately 8,000 posted letters, that doesn't mean squat! Readers, this product removes built-up carbon deposits and contaminants from the engine, fuel tank, throttle body, and other places where air and liquids flow through on a constant basis. Very useful, not only for older bikes that have sat for awhile, but any bike that's running! Hopefully that's yours! No mystery on the book listings . . . I began compiling
new additions to the lists on both my Education
Center page and Motorcycle
Travel Books page, but as I called up a relevant list by publication
date, only got through 2004 to current! So, I've added the books you've
mentioned . . . voila! . . . I'll keep building these resources!
Mama Thursday, May 4 Dear VTwin Mama, I could get off the bike and insist my hubby back it in for me, or else cruise around until I find a better place to park. Does anyone have any other suggestions on how to remedy this situation? LW Dear LW, Thursday, May 4 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Karen, I'm sorry I can't more succinctly point out the perfect
system . . . I simply can't find a comparison article on the subject that
would boil everything down in chart form.
Mama Thursday, May 4 LOL Petra, This new
learning experience has been a wonderful as a teacher . . . it has really
humbled me and helped me see things from a new perspective. Ive
always worked with kids that were struggling in school, and I felt I had a
good understanding but I just thought I did the real knowing
happened when I started learning something that was so foreign to me. Not
knowing what to ask, and the people around me assuming that those little
things that are automatic for them I knew too! What a hoot! (I also
have guys that dont want to answer my questions . . . you know, that girl
on a bike thing . . . grrrrrrrrr). I FINALLY,
just yesterday afternoon, think Ive got the smooth start down! Yipeeeeee!!!!!
(Or at least I got it this afternoon!) Now, the issue is to remember
to gear all the way down before I try to start the bike again, like at stop
signs and lights. I have stalled it out twice in that situation, and luckily
I wasnt in any danger with vehicles heading my way. It could have
been real trouble! My father has a 10 acre pecan orchard, and Ive been
practicing the techniques there (probably need a dirt bike no big
parking lots within 20 miles of home). When I think Ive got it under
control, and go to the road and I get in a real situation, dang it, I
still forget. Darn thing seems to always choke in 2nd
lol. . Luckily I live in a rural area with lots of good road
thats not terribly traffic laden. O.K.
so heres the next question or guide me to the archive if its been
answered. When in a higher gear to a stop, when is the best time to gear
down? Ive tried doing it slowly as Im anticipating the stop, and
Ive stopped then shifted down. How can I prevent that glitch in my brain
from happening to make sure that its all the way down? I really dont
feel like being run over any time soon! Dear Jana, Most riders gear down as they approach a stop, using a combination of the gear down (so the engine actually bleeds off some speed) and light application of the brakes. By arriving at the stop in 1st gear you are now free to quickly click into neutral for a longer stop (to rest the clutch hand), although many riders note they prefer to remain in 1st gear in case a problem arises and necessitates a quick get away (i.e., a car coming in too fast from behind for a proper stop, etc.). Make the mistake of arriving in any other gear, and then not doing a quick click-down check will eventually train your brain for you! Although it might not be readily apparent to you, when the
light changes, many riders who have been idling in gear with the clutch
lever pulled in do a quick click-down check to ensure they are in 1st, or
upon realizing they've got a rough start (as you know, that's immediately
apparent!), quickly pull in the clutch lever and click down. Yes, it happens
even to experienced riders (well, at least me!). So take heart and keep
going!
Mama Friday, May 5 Dear VTwin Mama, I'm hoping you can provide me with an idea of what kind of protection I can wear in addition to my helmet to provide myself (and my significant other) with a little more confidence but not weigh me down with a lot of heavy equipment. I'd be practicing on a 250cc - but I'm a little nervous! Thanks! Anonymous Dear Anon, The key to lighter weight clothing, including a jacket, gloves and even pants, that still offers better protection than your average material, is to buy items that incorporate Kevlar or something similar. Although I will note that I've seen some standard style leather gear incorporating this, mostly you would find it in the "sporty" style offerings. You could begin your search by hopping onto my Riding Gear page and clicking the graphic links in the left column to get an idea. Look for the specific ladies styling. For boots, my own personal comfort level is better served if I'm wearing a leather pair that at least cover my ankles. Many people like to protect all the way up their calves for even better leg protection in case of a fall. Again, you can begin your exploration of styles and pricing on my Riding Gear: Boots and Gloves page. Visiting the dealers in your area with larger clothing
sections is also useful because fitting issues can be checked, but if you
fall in love with something, but not the price, you can jot down the exact
manufacturer/style and then check for better deals online. Happy shopping!
Mama Friday, May 5 For LW who burned her calf on the exhaust pipe and wants to avoid that: I wear a "harness" style riding boot (mine are Harley) that comes to my knee and have found many benefits riding in this style of boot. Obviously it's much harder to get a pipe burn through that thick leather! I had the opportunity to test this theory when I had an oopsie and laid my bike down on the right side (at low speed thank goodness) in the parking lot at work! (Yes, you CAN pick up that 600lb bike yourself!) Other than a bruised toe (and a bruised ego) I was fine, and the bike only got some minor chrome scratches )-: I'm convinced those boots saved me. The damage to my foot and leg could have been much worse considering I landed under the pipes! Additionally, I've found that boots with laces and or zippers tend to leak if you get caught in the rain. These don't leak. Also, I've found that the "cowboy" style boots fit under the shifter better than the lace up "round toe" boots I had been wearing. I found I can actually ride better in them. Heather Oakes (note from Mama: thank goodness for reader response . . . I totally missed that solution, and a stylish one to "boot" ! ! ! ) Friday, May 5 Hey Mama, Two weeks ago my husband said, "ABSOLUTELY NOT" . . . today we both go to take the MSF course and I think he's more excited than I am. Thanks for all the good advice. I am honored to be in your thoughts and will continue to root on any woman who wants to live out her dream of freedom of spirit. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks for the support. Cindy, aka Breaking the Chains Dear Cindy, Friday, May 5 For Stacy who is just getting started but jazzed about what she's accomplished already: I am so glad to hear from another person my height! Maybe you would like to correspond and share experiences. I just took my MSF training last October so I have about 6 months on you, but we definitely have the same problems. I also was on tip toes through my training weekend, while everyone else was complaining about how short the bikes were. Mine was also a Kawasaki 125! I did pass but dropped the bike twice. I was terrified when I took the driving test, because he told us if we dropped it during the test it was an automatic flunk. But I did pass! We bought a Yamaha VStar 650 for me and had it lowered. It is quite a bit bigger, and took me a while to get used to it, but I did it and now I am driving through traffic and everywhere. Linda (note from Mama: how wonderful of you to let Stacy know SHE IS NOT ALONE!) Friday, May 5 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Leslie, Monday, May 8 Advocacy Opportunity Did you know that May is Motorcycle Awareness Month?! Are you up for a little bit of advocacy work? The AMA has come out with three new 15-second public service announcements for free distribution to radio stations. You could send a few emails and point out the need and the page! Mama Myrtle Beach Bike Week Is Almost Here . . . 2 VTwin Mama Rides Planned If you're going to be at Myrtle Beach Bike Week any time, come join me for a ride! I've got two ride dates planned . . . Sunday, May 14th and Saturday, May 20th . . . details can be found on my Meet VTwin Mama Page. Whether one person joins me, or many more, I'm going for the ride! Monday, May 8 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Paula, What a horrible accident and result you have experienced. I am in awe of your courage over the last 9 months as you rebuild your strength, physical capabilities, and willingness to address the mental component of all of this. I need to preface my comments with a note that I am not trained in the area of any counseling professions, but will suggest some things you may wish to consider in your bid to ride again. As a person in their own right (as separate from anyone else), you have a mindset about the accident, the recovery, and your wishes for the future. If you were single, then even extended family and friends would have a viewpoint, but ultimately you would be "free" to choose for yourself. However, your husband and children add a layer to your experience that cannot be denied. As witnesses, they underwent a trauma on their own level, including a feeling of helplessness as they saw the event and the outcome. You are an important person to them. You husband "forbidding" you to try riding again is a natural reaction to never wanting to go through that again. It may be the only way he has of expressing his fear of the situation (potential loss of wife and mother to his children). He may have been leery of your riding right from the start, and now the fears are confirmed. He may have been supportive of your adventure, but now reading about such things in the paper has hit close to home. He may be a rider himself, and rethinking the sport because you have children at greater risk of losing a parent. I doubt it will do any good to point out that people have accidents in all sorts of way, as motorcycling is often considered an "optional" thing to get involved in. Most people need to drive a car for day-to-day life, but not a motorcycle. If your husband is a non-rider, he may or may not have a clear understanding of what your motorcycle riding has given/added to your life in terms of your own individuality. When you voiced your first thoughts on riding again, did you talk about what motorcycling means to you, what you've lost and wish to regain? Most people try to overcome the hurdles on their own and are hesitant to consider professional counseling (not for us/me, too expensive, what for, why should I, etc.). Still, if your husband refuses to talk it out on a meaningful level, you may wish to seek an accident survivors group, private couple's counseling or something similar. This would provide a place for both of you to have your say with a professional moderator on hand to guide the discussion to a useful exchange of thoughts and feelings (vs. it all reducing to screaming matches or angry silence). You could also explore the need to bring your children in at some point (depending on their ages). Part of this equation may also include your specific steps to riding again. That was a brand new bike, but it doesn't follow (necessarily) that you were a relatively new rider at the time. An honest review of your own skill level is important. Have you mapped out steps in your mind on how you would proceed? What steps could you add to show your family that you take your rider education/skill level seriously? Even as an experienced rider, an advanced course might be one of those steps. While motorcycle riding may provide an experience independent of anyone else for you, perhaps an interim period of choosing something that the whole family could participate in could be considered. For instance, if the whole family were to ride bicycles together, it would be a shared experience, and one in which safety issues can be addressed and shared, and the risk of being on the road "balanced" against the joy of pursing an enjoyable sport. Your desire and path is not easy, but is you who has to be
strong and clear on how the family can heal together and to map out the
steps to achieve that. Great courage is needed so that this doesn't get
shoved under the carpet for all time. If it means you attend counseling on
your own, consider it, as you don't want the anger of "being
forbidden" to fester either. I wish the best for you and your family
during this challenging time.
Mama Monday, May 8 For Martha who has a bum knee which is hindering getting on as a trike passenger: What I usually do is just stand on the left side of the trike, kick my right leg straight over the seat, instead of trying to bend it. I learned this from a short friend who rides a Harley Road King on two wheels. It looks like you are trying to strike something at seat height on the other side of the bike with the heel of your boot. If I bend my leg to get it over the seat the toe of the boot gets caught on the seat leather or my luggage. If the rig has floor boards instead of pegs, a real short person can just step up, step over and sit down. With the bum leg, you'd start from the side of the bike that let you stand on your strong leg, and kick the weak leg over. Hope this helps. Gila (note from Mama: yes, I can see that floor boards would offer an easier time of it! ) Monday, May 8 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Living to Ride, If you really like the current seat size/styling, you
may wish to consider having the seat opened up and a gel pad insert added
(they shave out some foam), or simply adding a gel pad exterior to the
seat (stylish models are available!). Just type in "motorcycle gel
pad" to get started on research.
Mama Monday, May 8 Mama, I have a request. We are having a
bike rally here in Huntsville, Alabama. It is the first annual Rocket
City Motorcycle Rally for UCP (United Cerebral Palsy). It is going
to be on May 19-21, 2006 at John Hunt Park. The gates open at 4pm on
Friday, 10am on Saturday and on Sunday they are open from 9 until 12 with
the blessing of the bikes at 10am. Ive never done anything like this
(talked about a rally Dear MommyDBA, Monday, May 8 Hello Mama, Yet, I made myself another pact. If I could pay it off in one year . . . I would buy myself some personal leathers, made just for me. I did just that, 2 months ago. Man . . . those custom leathers feel great !!!! There ARE rewards out there, ladies. Keep on doing what you are doing and set some personal goals for yourself for doing so. Tell your husbands and all your friends this: It's not easy, but it is exhilarating, exasperating, but where else can you get this kind of rush, legally, for free? Scotka Dear Scotka, Tuesday, May 9 Hi Petra, Having ridden a
motorcycle for only 3 years it is amazing to me how many times since
beginning that stories have come up of a car driver killing, maiming or,
thank God, merely scaring the life out of a motorcyclist. The story
almost always includes the part about the driver not seeing the bike. When
I took the MANYS/MSF course our instructors told us we are putting our
lives in jeopardy if we do not consider ourselves, while on the road,
invisible at all times because automobile drivers all to often do not see
us. Well, it is spring time and Im not sure what is popping up
more, tulips or motorcycles on the roads! It is up to us to change
the fact that we are not seen out there beyond at least addressing
conspicuity and utilizing proper riding techniques. Now, I realize that various groups do what they can to raise awareness of motorcyclists on the roads but, being someone who thinks the TV is supposed to be on if I am awake as a form of white noise, I hate to say that Ive never seen a public service announcement advising car drivers to be aware that motorcyclists use the road too. Not even once have I ever heard such an announcement on a radio station and, Ive never seen a booth at a health fair or a shopping mall with folks passing out motorcycle awareness information. Only motorcyclists can make this change. Dear Diamond Lil, Tuesday, May 9 For Living to Ride who is exploring new seat options for her Honda 750 Aero: We had Russell seats built for us. My husband has a teeny tiny butt; mine is more the Rembrandt type. Both Russell seats were perfect. We love them more than the Corbins. Anonymous (note from Mama: excellent, another option to explore! ) Tuesday, May 9 Hi VTwin Mama, Dear M., Meanwhile, if you wish to proceed, I'm going to give you general guidelines. Please understand that I don't have an office full of service manuals for every bike out there! First, get a sense of what clutch cable free-play is (bike at room temp). Grab the clutch cable near the lever and pull it straight back with gentle force. You'll see that there is a distance between the metal sleeve on the cable and the lever housing. It's only about 1/8", but this is truly important as you'll see. Loosen the clutch cable locknut (it's right at the lever). Undo the bolt holding the clutch lever to the assembly so the lever and attached clutch cable are free from the bike. Then, flip the lever over to see the routing of the cable internal to the lever. Sometimes it's "right there," sometimes it's a bit hidden. Continue loosening the cable from the lever and looking at the routing in the lever (it's often easier to see once the tension is taken off). Look at your new lever and correlate the pathway so that it's burned in your brain. If needed, draw it out because you definitely don't want to get this wrong! The cable will have a ball at the end that fits in a slot in the lever. Back the cable out until the ball is clear to pull out and the cable pulls through it's slot into the lever. Thread the cable through the new lever, route it in, get the ball in its slot, turn the cable to begin taking up the main slack, and re-bolt the lever in place. Now it's time for the final free-play (slack) adjustment. Too much and the clutch will be difficult to disengage (i.e., the clutch is pulled in but the bike wants to creep forward anyway or you hear gear crunching noises). Too little and you'll set the bike up for premature clutch wear. This is because as the clutch and engine parts get warm, they expand, and if there is no free-play in the clutch cable, it can't take that into account. Call your local dealer's service department to get the exact free-play measurement (usually around 1/8") if you don't have the service manual. Now, aren't you glad you looked at the free-play of the original set-up? Tighten the locknut, check the free-play, adjust as needed. Then test the bike. Adjust as necessary. Not ready to do this? Call the dealer or an independent
shop and ask how much they will charge to change it for you! Ask to watch
the procedure so that you know for the future!
Mama Tuesday, May 9 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Qbunny, It's true that the VTwin Mama site does tend to get more input from readers interested in, and involved with, standard and cruiser style bikes. If you visit my Women's Sites page, you'll find links to women-specific sporty bike sites that I think you're going to enjoy visiting as well! The choosing of one's first bike is a balance of many things. Start too small and you can quickly outgrow it; start too big, and there is a chance you'll be overwhelmed and lose confidence, which is harder to regain once lost. I have no magic formula that will predict the exact right choice for you and neither does anyone else. What I do know is that you are thinking human being, and if your gut tells you to start smaller, than listen to it! So what if in three weeks or 3 months you find you're ready to move up. Buy a used, inexpensive bike, get your practice time in, and turn around and sell it. Between the course and your "little bike" practice, you will be in much better position to formulate what actually constitutes your "dream" bike. And despite what anyone says, this is YOUR experience, YOUR adventure, YOUR ride. There would be no reason to "be mad" about starting smaller . . . it's all about learning and YOU need to define for YOURSELF how that learning will proceed. Heck, race car drivers don't hop into a fast car and head for the track when they start out . . . nope, they're in Mom or Dad's family car to get their driver's license and move forward from there! Ok, ok, some of them are on junior racing tracks, but you get my drift. So, in the sporty style, from what I could find, you're looking at the Kawasaki Ninja 250R and 500R and then there is the Suzuki GS500F. As you move up in engine displacement (cc) the seat height goes higher and although one or two inches doesn't seem like a lot, at your height, it makes all the difference in your ability to be centered on the bike and have your feet reach the ground and be firmly planted. Typically shorter riders need to explore options, such as lowering kits, shorter shocks or taking a closer look at their the heel on their riding boots. Of course it doesn't follow that just because ultimately you want to ride a sporty bike, that you have to get your initial practice time on one. You open up your options if you include standard style bikes in the 250-500cc range, and there may be more available on the local market that meet your "buy cheap and resell" financial realities. Now, riders are pretty protective of their bikes, but has your boyfriend offered to let you try his Ninja 600 once you've got your license? Would he be willing to take that bike to a big empty parking lot and let you get some initial practice in? If you think he's going to be totally nervous about it, don't go down that pathway (his trepidation is going to make you a wreck before you even give it some gas and let out the clutch the first time!). Finish your course, visit dealers, and sit on bikes,
checking your foot-to-ground contact and reach to foot and hand controls.
Ask about lowering options. Take notes. Some dealers offer smaller new
bikes with a turn-around trade-in option because they know a rider who
starts out small may quickly move up. Ask. With this beginning
understanding, then you can check what's on the used market, look up bikes
and specifications, and balance those against what you saw at the dealer.
Happy shopping!
Mama Tuesday, May 9 Dear VTwin Mama, I dont normally give that sort of guy the time of day; they arent worth the trouble. I have the pleasure of knowing several great guys that are completely supportive and always ready to lend a hand or information. It is a shame that there are some that dont want us to be able to do what they can do just as easily as they do it or is it that we just arent supposed to have any fun? I TAKE what I want and laugh at the nay-sayers! If the pack you ride with is a bunch of yappy curs, find a new pack to ride with! Or go solo . . . Ive been doing that quite a bit as well . . . Ive found I kinda like it! As long as I have my cell phone . . . keep the rubber side down, everybody! Amy in Washington Dear Amy, I love how you quickly and calmly made it clear that you
are in charge of your ride. I say, point out their oil (or brain) leak,
and get on with your own agenda!
Mama Wednesday, May 10 For Diamond Lil on getting the motorcycle awareness message out there: Up here in British Columbia, Canada May is motorcycle awareness month. This the month most of us put our bikes on the road so it's a good idea. The provincial government puts ads in the paper reminding drivers that motorcycles are out there, etc. The school that taught me to ride suggested keeping your high beams on during the day to be more visible. I'm thinking of putting louder pipes on as I think most people don't check their mirrors enough and they may hear me better. B.C. Bonni (note from Mama: how wonderful to hear that you've seen awareness ads in your area! Thanks for noting ways to make ourselves/motorcycles more visible . . . it does make a difference when we have more options to attract someone's attention. ) Wednesday, May 10 Hi Mama, Dear Anon, In your case, take a look at hypercharger kits, which
are also called big air kits. These are basically alternative air cleaners
that will boost the bike's power by allowing more air into the carb, which
then needs to be re-jetted so that the gas/air ratio is again balanced.
Mama Wednesday, May 10 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Banzo, |
