Tuesday, November 14

Hi Petra,
I am back- the doctor says I can ride again as long as 1) I don't fall on my repaired rotator cuff or 2) if I drop my bike, I don't pick it up. 

The screwy thing is, I am not afraid of the bike, but am afraid to drive my car. I think it may be because I was told by 2 different staties that being on my bike is what saved me. Ever heard of this? I do know that people think I am crazy to ride again, but it was not my fault I wrecked, it was the idiot that crossed the center line.

Of course, the first ride I took had to be a hundred miler. I do not see me staying off a bike again as long as I did once. – Susan

Dear Susan,
How wonderful to hear that that which seemed it would keep you off the motorcycle until next year in fact is ok enough to allow you to ride again now. I'm glad to hear that the first ride was awesome despite the horrible nature of your accident.

It's an interesting point about driving your car now . . . there is no doubt that the observations made by those state cops had an influence on your viewpoint. Of course it's impossible to look back and say that if you had been in a car that the outcome would have been better/worse . . . although that may in fact have been their conclusion, it also might have been statements designed to minimize the mental trauma of being on a bike when that idiot crossed the line and caused the accident. So, statements made to let you know that you did your very best given that you were on a motorcycle and they were genuinely impressed with how you handled the situation overall. Just a thought.

Joy to you as you continue riding! – Mama

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Wednesday, November 15

Hi Petra ( VTwin Mama),
Updates to the Auto Tranny Motorcycle Models page: The production version of the Aprilia 850 auto-tranny motorcycle is at the Milan show.  – Freebird

Dear Freebird,
Thanks for the update! I immediately went to the photo file and was pleasantly surprised to finally see an auto tranny motorcycle with a sport styling (vs. cruiser styling). We've definitely had questions about that before! More about that:

"The rider has two possible options:
– Completely automatic: everything is controlled electronically, the CVT transmission enables the engine to be run at maximum torque at all times, emphasizing pick-up and acceleration. The electronic control system has three different mappings (Touring, Sport and Rain), enabling the rider to choose the type of operation most appropriate to the situation or his own needs.
– Sequential: The rider chooses the gear himself by means of either the control on the handlebars or the pedal command. A servo-assisted mechanism acts mechanically on the main pulley, making changing between the seven ratios extremely rapid."

Of course, here in the States, it will probably be a year or two before it crosses the "pond." All good things to those who wait?! – Mama

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