|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, November 1 Hello
Petra (VTwin Mama's real name!), On September 7th, riding to Maine on our vacation from Jersey, in New York a tractor trailer came over the line and took me and my bike out. I'm told I was in a coma for 4 days. I had a crushed ankle, broken arm, collapsed lung, head trauma, broken ribs, broken eye orbit, and broken scapula. Don't whine about the weather LOL. I praise God I'm recovering wonderfully. I'm writing hoping you will emphasize to all our lady friends to remember the trucks can suck you into them and push you away from them. I don't remember the accident at all, I only know what I'm told, so right now I don't have a fear of the bike but I don't know if I'll ride again. Please let the ladies know about the trucks! Thanks. – Terri (liquidvnotch@aol.com) Dear
Terri, Consider me fully reprimanded on weather whining when clearly there are more important life issues at stake. In a subsequent email you noted you weren't yelling at me, but still, it doesn't hurt to be reminded how fragile life is, the importance of keeping our eye on the bigger ball, and that every moment is to be cherished, even the cold ones! I certainly have had my share of near misses when it comes to trucks and want to add that if a truck looks like its weaving in its lane, the driver may be drowsy. Another point of interest is any vehicle pulling a hitched trailer . . . some of these drivers don't realize that when they swing around a curve at high speeds that their trailer is swinging out of their lane. The bottom line is that big rigs require our complete focus. In your case Terri, the situation was created so fast there was no time to react . . . obviously the worst case scenario possible. About six months into the creation of the VTwin Mama site (August 2001), I received my first accident survival letter and created the Accident Survivor page. Here you'll find previous postings from other survivors and heartfelt discussions about riding again. You let me know that I could publish your email address so that other accident survivors could email with you one-on-one if they wished to. Contact Terri at liquidvnotch@aol.com or simply respond to the VTM site if you would like to post a "hug" letter. – Mama Tuesday, November 1 For Lisa who is looking for fake fur tails to attach to chaps or jeans: The reason you cannot find any synthetic ones is because they are actually real animals' tails. Like you'd want a dead critter's tailpiece hanging off ya pants, yes? Anyway, in Custer, South Dakota, there is a trapping shop that sells everything you can imagine to do with dead critters, including fox tails and raccoon tails and it is called the Trapping Store I think. They ship all those dead bits USA wide. – Kevin in Sydney, who was in the area on his recent trip to the States (note from Mama: yuck, but then, not everyone is opposed to real fur "couture.") I've only seen the tails in a few places. Outside of Sturgis at a very popular, but small leather shop (who's name eludes me right now), at Rendezvous, in LaCrosse, Wisconsin (a weekend long re-enactment of a frontier fur trading post), in Canada at different gift shops along the Lake Superior tour route, and at various bikes shows. At all of these places the tails were, unfortunately, real and of a great variety: raccoon, wolf, fox, ermine, skunk, etc. Of all the women I've seen wearing them, whom I've asked, they were also real. I did a Google search for "faux fur tails" and came up with tons of sites, but mostly for fake fur coats. Unfortunately it appears that the tails out there are all real and if you want a fake tail, you'll have to make it yourself. Google "fursuit" and you will find many sites with detailed instructions for constructing a fur animal suit including the tail (faux, of course) for yourself; I can't help but shudder and think of that CSI episode . . – Jennifer in Wisconsin (note from Mama: thanks for the search tip on finding fake tail construction.) Tuesday, November 1 Dear
VTwin Mama, Anyway, you were talking about the custom paint jobs (in the latest Newsletter), and they are really cool. We usually go and hang out at the bike events in Daytona, and even with hurricane Wilma coming, it didn't stop Biketoberfest. I saw an amazing bike totally painted to look like a blue and gold macaw. The front fender had even been shaved off to resemble a beak, the back fender cut to look like tail feathers. Of course I only had my cell phone camera with me, so couldn't do it justice, but the sidestand and foot pegs were even replaced with custom ones that were bird feet. Very awesome. Well we're off to go drool at the bike shops again. Take care! And later that day . . . Okay, we weren't planning to, but we both bought Suzuki Boulevard M50s today. I still had the Sabre in mind, but had liked the looks of the M50, so I sat on it . . . perfect fit for my height, and felt pretty much the same balance, etc., as the Sabre. I actually didn't think I could get financed, and almost fell over when the guy came back and said the bike's yours and we have it in red! A little scary buying a brand new bike as a first timer, but the guys at the dealer were pretty educational. And the bike costs the same as the used Sabres I had been seeing. So we did it . . . I think we're both still in shock . . . hahaha. I don't smoke, but tonight I did. They'll be delivered tomorrow . . . I'm so excited, even if I don't have a license yet! If I'm good enough by bike week in March, to ride to Daytona (about 60 miles each way), I'm definitely having one of the airbrush artists name it "Midlife Crisis" on the back fender . . . now I'll be pouring over the VTwin Mama site even more . . . take care : ) – Kat Dear
Kat, As I'm guessing that most likely you won't be riding the new bikes until you've completed the course, that doesn't mean you can't begin learning. One of the most confidence building things to do is to get the full service manual for the bike and begin identifying and locating those things that will require routine maintenance. This sounds simple enough, but until you actually read the procedure and look at the bike, it's sort of a "yeah, yeah, that's easy enough." Even little things like how you'll check tire pressure, read main oil and other fluid levels, where fuses are, how to access spark plugs, etc. will help you be that much more in the know when it comes time to actually do the procedures. I'm thinking you should also make sure to start the bikes at least once a week and run them for a bit so the battery doesn't go dead by accident. Likewise, you can get a feel for the weight of the bike by sitting on it, duck walking it back and forth, leaning it side-to-side and such. If you do decide to venture out (the itch to do so may prove to be VERY powerful!), then gauge whatever housing/roadway set-up you have. If necessary, have someone with riding experience take one of the bikes to an empty parking lot (hunt around for school/church/ closed businesses) with smooth pavement and that is relatively obstacle free. Basic straightline work to get into gear, smooth stops, etc. can be worked on! Trust your gut instinct about whether this is something you want to do. I'm jazzed that you're working on achieving your goals and am grinning like the Cheshire Cat! – Mama Tuesday, November 1 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Leslie, Tuesday, November 1 From Sleepless in Mexico City who is looking for an inexpensive bike to get started on: Pocket bikes! LOL! Thank you very much for the info ;) To round up the data I'd included in my first email, here's the link to that pocket . . . I mean Yarak TK110-2B mini chopper I was curious about: http://www.tank-sports.com.mx/tla/tankmoto.asp?moto=87. You couldn't find it online because strangely enough, it's not advertised on any Tank Scooters site except the Mexican one. Hmmmm sounds odd, doesn't it? Kevin from Sydney got me thinking on that whole cheap Asian products thing and I decided to stay away from them to focus on the local market instead. I've found a few Mexican manufacturers (not importers of Chinese motorcycles or parts, which by the way have flooded the market around here), and naturally their bikes, although still affordable, cost two or three times more, so reaching my goal of owning a HD would only be a matter of some more time and money I'd be willing to invest for quality's sake (I also like the idea of supporting the national market) Here are the links to two of those Mexican models that look nice and real even if not overly powerful for a novice like me: http://www.dinamotos.com/sub/bandid.htm Don't know if you've heard of them before but I've seen tons of their bikes around here, especially Carabela's, which have been around since the 70's. Thanks for everything! – Sleepless in Mexico City (note from Mama: I knew I should have kept up on my Spanish lessons! Still, it was easy enough to see that the Bandid is a full size 250cc bike and the Carabela C150 Cruiser is a full size 150cc bike. Neither is a pocket bike and would be useful for learning on. Although you note that they cost more, the fact is that you would have a street-legal bike to ride while you continue to save your money for the dream bike . . . and riding and learning is the point! You'll definitely want to check into the resale value and market for these bike models . . . it will be an important point in the future. If possible, talk to owner's of both bikes to discover what they have to say! I also looked to see if one of the women's riding organizations had a national Mexico chapter . . . but couldn't find anything. You may want to contact the Women's International Motorcycle Association (WIMA) to see if there is anything being worked on in Mexico for women riders.) Wednesday, November 2 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Dorathy, Wednesday, November 2 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Black Widow, Wednesday, November 2 For Sleepless in Mexico who is looking at bikes manufactured in Mexico: I know nothing about Mexican motorcycles, but I do think they look like "real" bikes. I would swear the 250 and 150 bikes have copies of Suzuki motors from the pics I could see. And I love the wheel designs, those mags look great. Find a local shop that is NOT a dealer in new Mex bikes, ask the mechanic there what he thinks of the reliability of the Mex bikes compared to the Jap bikes. No point asking at a dealer, they are just going to tell you how wonderful their products are. Good luck. – Kevin in Sydney (note from Mama: good point on getting an independent opinion from people who work on bikes!) Thursday, November 3 Hello
again
VTwin Mama, Dear
Puneet, Thursday, November 3 Hi
there Mama, Dear
Nikki, A 750cc bike is a good mid-range bike and quite frankly, that's how I started back in 1979 . . . just got that size bike and started learning! I will add though that because I was in the Navy at the time, they required that I take a riding course with that bike in order to ride on base. It was a very good thing to do! You may wish to check into the MSF Experienced Rider Course to further polish your beginning skills, but on these specific bikes. Alternatively, you could gain insights by checking into the DVDs from Ride Like a Pro to strengthen what you learned in your first course. Mention the VTwin Mama site and get $5 off the shipping/handling cost! If you prefer reading up on things, there are a number of excellent books on the subject . . . you can find these on my Education Center page. The overall point is that you're interested in learning, and becoming totally one with the beastie is important . . . so get some more input from experienced sources. Why learn your next lessons the hard way?! Happy riding you two . . . it's a grand life adventure! – Mama Thursday, November 3 Lindby engine guards for sale! Dear
VTwin Mama, I also would like to know if you could post this: I bought a set of Lindby engine guards that I used for just a short period of time. Not a scratch on them. Want to sell them for cheap: $200. I will have to find out how much shipping is and of course, add that onto the price, but depending where it goes I will wait on that. They usually run a good $300+ or more. They are great but my husband bought me another set instead and I used those. I love reading this site. My friend in Northern California has passed her course just last weekend. I intend on riding up there this Spring and having fun riding in the wine country where beautiful roads are all over the place. – Kathy H. Dear
Kathy, Those interested in the engine guards, please email me at vtwinmama@vtwinmama.com. – Mama Friday, November 4 Fatigue and the Effect on Riding Ability VTwin
Mama here! http://members.cox.net/bmw-ldrider/Fatigue.pdf More for Lisa who is looking for fake fur tails to attach to chaps or jeans: Ladies, the fake ear and tail sets can be obtained from Aerostich and the big, bushy raccoon tail type is usually available through your local leather clothing shop. Just a plug for Aerostich: if you don't mind being the class clown, the helmet ears are worth their weight in golden good-will. Everybody waves at you if you're wearing them, even the cops. It's so much nicer than being run off the road because they didn't see you. – Kyri (note from Mama: Ok, these are made for your helmet and mount with suction cups . . . you can get cat, dog, bunny, pig and tiger sets here!) Monday, November 7 2000 HD Deuce for sale in Calabash, NC 2000 HD Deuce with 14,000 miles, silver, with extras like Corbin seat, Vance & Hines pipes, forward controls, boosted engine performance and lots more! $16,000, will discuss, call Allen at (910) 579-1110 or email at allen_rising@yahoo.com. Monday, November 7 Dear
VTwin Mama, It's been running great for a couple of months. But now it's suddenly not starting right up like it used to. It takes literally 20 or 30 times to fire up. And it takes a good 10 minutes or so to warm up before I can actually drive it. It used to just start right up and be smooth when we first got it going. I haven't changed anything since then, so I'm not sure what's up. I have to keep on trying to start it until it catches. And then I have to keep the throttle revved up high to make it stay on long enough to warm up. I've tried adjusting the choke to various levels and nothing seems to help. I would appreciate any suggestions you might have! Thanks! P.S. I'm learning how to ride for the first time, so your website has been very helpful and inspirational! :) – Jax Dear
Jax, Keeping the KISS principal in mind, I'd start by yanking those plugs and taking a closer look. It sounds like they're not sparking correctly. So, check the gap end for crud build-up and the white ceramic end for cracks. Double check with the local dealer's parts department that you've got the right plug in (yes, it makes a difference). Reving the bike to keep the bike running is a clue . . . and might be that you've finally burned off the excess deposits from the plugs or you finally shook lose a mini piece of crud in the system (carb, gas line, gas filter, etc.). That you don't run down the battery while doing this is a small miracle! Also, double check your air filter . . . a dirty air filter will alter the air/gas mix to the carb and you don't mention checking it. Otherwise, KISS tells me that you might have simply gotten a tank full of crap gas or you've got a small amount of water in the system, possibly from condensation. You might want to drain the gas tank and carb float bowls again and see if globs come out (the water will be separated from the gas and easily identified). Or, you could add some carb cleaner (be careful of the ratio) to a full tank of gas and see if it helps. While it may seem that your hard start happened suddenly, it's probably more a function of something slowly eroding over time. If all these things don't solve the problem, a general tune-up by a professional may be called for . . . things like valve adjustments, etc. but I'm thinking a review of KISS items will clear this up. – Mama Monday, November 7 For Donna who was considering a Suzuki Boulevard C50: My husband I bought a pair of these, 2005 model, in October 2004. Over the past year we have put 1600 miles on these bikes, mostly in short rides around town. The stock seat is only good for about an hour or so before the butt pain kicks in. (However, the seat height, 26.5" is low enough for me to flat foot, and I am 5'2" tall). We recently replaced the stock seats with the Mustang Classic. The new seats took care of the butt pain, but do raise the seat height about an inch. I do find that the new seat has moved me further back in the saddle and I have more trouble reaching the handlebars. I'm looking at pullback risers that I think will solve this problem. We like the bikes. The '05 model has fuel injection which has improved the gas mileage over the reported mileage on the carbureted models--we are getting around 50 mpg. As far as accessories, I wanted removable saddlebags that would lock. My husband wanted a reasonably large capacity. We found the Krauser K4 side cases which are each about the size of the largest bag you can carry-on to a plane. – Sharon (note from Mama: thanks for sharing your take on the C50 model. I've added your bike and notes to my Motorcycles for Short Riders list, and an added note about the Boulevard model numbers and how they correlate to the old model names!) Monday, November 7 Dear
VTwin Mama, In short, she has growing confidence with it and has ridden with me and on her own. She's about 115lbs. or so. I am @167 lbs. with a long inseam, but I've ridden her bike several hundred miles also (transporting it places for her because her confidence doesn't include highways and 150 mile distances.) I feel that the Virago 250 has simply amazing power for only 250cc., as motorcycle.com staff noted. No problem whatsoever keeping up with traffic, and that's with all my weight aboard. It's really too small for me to be comfortable on it, and I hate the cruiser position because I cannot stand on the pegs to get off my seat/prostate gland to rise up over pavement irregularities, as I can on the Bonneville and my Yamaha YZF600R. BUT, It's all right for shorter distances for me, and she loves it. She feels that she can adjust her orientation on the seat easily, move back or more forward if she wishes, and the center of gravity and weight of the bike are so low that she has no fear of dropping it. I think it's quite a bargain, considering its power and the apparent build quality, and it is one of the prettiest motorcycles I've ever seen- and I'm more of a sport bike fancier. I've changed the oil~ it takes just over 1.6 quarts during the change! And it's gotten, consistently, 70 miles per gallon of gasoline!!! You do have to check tire pressures frequently, as seems to be the case with tube-lined tires, but that's simple enough, if you get your own gauge and a simple bicycle floor pump. The headlight is fine, too. You must plan for a long warm-up time, which can be a drag, but it's just the nature of some motorcycles. While it's warming up (and it will not allow you to ease in the choke until it has gotten warmer for several minutes) you can check the tires, add air, etc., read a chapter of one of David Hough's fine books, or something. I could well understand a woman wanting a more substantial bike for highway riding, since then you won't be a leaf in the wake of large vehicles. And my ride on a drizzly cross-windy day on it was very UN-fun, partly because of its light weight. But for moderate distances and ordinary road conditions, without too much large truck traffic, it's a great bike. And Yamaha is currently still keeping it in their line-up, even though the larger "Viragos" aren't made any longer. – Andrew Dear
Andrew, Monday, November 7 Dear
VTwin Mama, 1) Last month I started learning riding basics & bike anatomy on a friend's old Honda XL175 in his rural neighborhood. Now I'm excited to get something for myself. I've narrowed it down to the ever-popular small bikes, the Rebel, Virago 250 and GZ 250. I'm 37, 5'4", 110lbs and during the week will use it to commute to work everyday in & through downtown Chicago. Is there real world advice for someone trying to choose the bike best-suited to defend against kamikaze cab wheels & cell-phone distracted pedestrians, i.e. handling/braking issues? 2) Is there a good time to buy a new bike and gear due to traditional sales in mid-winter? My bikes are pricing in the $3100-$3300 range, so I'm not sure how much leaner they get come sale time, or does everyone really advocate getting a used first bike (but the '06 GZ250 comes in a really sweet Pearlescent ice blue!) 3) The Int'l Motorcycle Show is coming through town in February. Is this a good place to walk out with good deals, or more of a Show & Tell environment? Thanks for any help! – Alex Schilling Dear
Alex, 1) All bikes have their quirks, but having lived in Chicago for 12 years, and understanding the downtown congestion and danger, safety is largely not a function of which bike you get (big, loud pipes can make a difference), but your skill level and understanding of how to identify a potential hazard and circumventing the situation before it becomes a problem is important. Consider taking a course where they'll point out safety issues and also consider getting the Ride Like a Pro: Surviving the Mean Streets DVD (mention VTwin Mama when ordering and get $5 off the shipping/handling cost). Or, if you're more of a reading learner, then there are excellent books that address this (check my Education Center page for suggestions). The main thing here is that you need to practice and learn the specific handling characteristics of any bike you get so that when you need to make a quick maneuver, you'll know exactly what to "tell" your bike to do. That's the key and the only way to learn it is to practice, practice, practice . . . preferably in a more safe zone before you take on traffic issues! 2) My understanding about bike pricing is that you may be able to get a deal on last year's model (i.e. the 2006 models are coming in, so look for a 2005 model that the dealer wants off their showroom floor ) . . . but if they aren't willing to come down in price, negotiating for extras is a possibility or bringing down the extra fees (all those pesky set-up charges and such). With the recent gas price increases (which are coming down again), there was a run on the smaller bikes so there was no wiggle room. An added note: if the dealer's sales person and you aren't clicking or you feel they aren't listening to you, go to another dealer who is willing to address all of your issues. Also, since the service department might be something you'll be using, you'll want to see how you click with those folks as well! The reason to consider a used bike is that this is your practice bike and given that oopsies may occur, why ding up a paint job and chrome and extending parts (mirrors, etc.)?! It really can add a measure of trepidation for a new rider and losing confidence in the beginning is harder to regain than starting on something that doesn't add a measure of "omigosh" to boot! 3) At any local/regional show, the manufacturer is going to have the national team on hand as well as local dealer's reps available, so go and compare bikes, drink it all in, and also make sure you're taking with a local dealer rep when you're ready to talk price. The same thing applies though . . . if a bike is in demand, relatively little wiggle room will be available. Since shows can be quite busy, keeping the rep's attention for an extended talk could be a challenge so you may want to use the opportunity to narrow down your bike choice and leave the negotiations to a later time. I've sent an email to Motorcycle Events to get their take on all of this . . . so let's see what they email me! – Mama Monday, November 7 Dear
VTwin Mama, This message is for all trike riders who don't want to get duped. We had a Voyager Trike Kit put on my husband's Harley Softail. The type is an "A". He did not like the kit for himself so I decided to buy a bike and install it for myself. Pulled up Voyager's list of compatible bikes and bought a 2003 Honda Shadow Spirit. After buying it Voyager informed us that we can not use the belly bracket, axle and axle brackets. In order to install on the Honda I have to spend another $504 plus shipping. We were not told that the kit would only fit the Harley Softail or Harley Dresser when the kit was purchased. Their video that they give you with the kit also says "easily converts from one bike to another". Yeah, right. I noticed a lot of women and elderly riders were discussing the Voyager and it is good and stable but make sure that the bike you put it on is the one you want. If anyone else is in the same predicament and they need belly bracket, etc for Harley Softail and they have for Honda Shadow, would be willing to trade parts to save us all extra money. – Pat Holtzclaw Dear
Pat, Tuesday, November 8 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Dawn, Now, don't let the winter months simply slip by without any motorcycle learning! I would like to suggest that you visit my Education Center page, where you'll find a number of books and DVDs on the subject . . . all chock full of practical advice to extend the knowledge you gathered during your course. In this way you'll retain the connection to the course material, be able to further your knowledge, and be that much more ahead when spring arrives! Believe it or not, sitting at a kitchen chair, with your arms and legs extended into position for hand and foot controls, with your eyes closed and imaging a course route or street route, and thinking through the sequence of maneuvers WILL help you gain confidence! I'm glad my site has already been of help to you. In the Riding Techniques pages you'll find so many previous letters addressing issues and concerns and how to overcome challenges. Read through these subject by subject to drink in what others have gone through and what you'll most likely encounter when you get your first bike and get ready to practice. Also, if you're getting ready to shop for a bike, you should check to see if a motorcycle show is coming to your area . . . lots of them are during the winter months! The Motorcycle Events site is a good place to start your research on this. And there is no reason you can't check into women's riding organizations and local chapters now if you're thinking you would like to meet other women riders in the area. Check my Women's Sites page for these! Why not make contact, attend a few meetings, and get involved. Toy runs are coming up and they always need helpers . . . wouldn't this be a fun way to get to know riders?! – Mama Tuesday, November 8 Dear
VTwin Mama, Just realized something, never seen any ladies on your site mention Yamaha V Max bikes. Which is odd because out of all the cruiser style bikes they handle the best and are the fastest by far. Can be lowered via seat cut down and lowering kits also. Very popular with guys in the USA who don't like normal cruisers or Harleys. Have a cult following here in Oz. Hundreds of bolt on parts available in Europe to make Streetfighters out of them. 1200cc V 4 motor, which does prove that you don't need a huge CC size to go fast. Before the Hyabusa came out, Mr. Max was the King of straight line speed! Ride safe, – Kevin in Sydney Dear
Kevin, Wednesday, November 9 Dear
VTwin Mama, I am a new motorcyclist. Hubby and I have had our bikes about three weeks now. Might I mention Hubby has more experience riding than myself. I am new new. We both have Honda Shadow Aero 750s. Sunday we went out on a long ride through the central hill country of Texas. We left at 9a.m. and returned at 5:45p.m. We did many stops to rest, to eat, and for gas but they were not long stops. I was so fatigued when we got home I didn't know if I could make it off the bike. I do believe those are just uncomfortable seats to be sitting on for very long. Now it was more than "saddle sore" for me. Seemed like all my muscles were so tired and I was so sore the next day. My question . . . is this going to get better with time or am I to expect this when we go on long rides. We were wanting to take a trip to Alabama for Thanksgiving to see our family but I am definitely having second and third thoughts on that subject. We have looked at some replacements seats on the web but they aren't cheap by any means. These seats look like they would be comfortable but believe me, it felt like I had been sitting in a horse saddle all day long. Again, it wasn't all saddle soreness but total soreness. I hope I can build up my stamina and won't have to worry so much about being so tired after a few hours riding. We kept ourselves hydrated and it was a beautiful day for riding. Again, I just love this website. I wonder how you make the time for riding and tend to this site as well as you do. There is so much information here and it is about questions I am interested in. Thanks again Mama! – Nikki from Dallas, Texas Dear
Nikki, I'm thinking that part of your overall fatigue is part and parcel of the very fact that you ARE a new rider. Your muscles are not yet used to holding what is really a fairly static position. I truly believe you'll find that over time this will lessen in intensity. In addition, while an experienced rider doesn't have to pre-think many basic maneuvers (traffic, turns, stops, etc.), you're mentally reviewing every single thing you need to do in order to successfully handle a wide variety of situations. This is normal and will take many more miles of riding before things shift to a more subconscious level of thinking where responses to what needs to be done is automatic. Yes, mental fatigue will affect the physical as well! Certainly the overall set-up of a bike, and the comfort and lack thereof, becomes more apparent on a longer haul. Still, over the years that I have ridden, I find that there is always a "break in" period of my butt and neck. Since you are just starting out, and hubby dearest hasn't been on a bike for some time, I'd give this a little bit more time as well. If you would like to do something short of changing out seats, but gain some comfort, check in a gel seat pad by typing in "motorcycle gel seat pad" in a search engine. Just be aware that this will raise your overall profile in the seat and affect your leg reach to the ground, etc. which may or may not be of concern. I'll also add that sometimes what translates to a sore butt can be caused by something else in your body position that is not quite perfect. So, sit on your bikes off the sidestand. Check your arm position. Are you reaching for your controls? This could be causing your shoulders to hunch and your back to curve. The addition of a pullback riser would bring those handlebars into better position for you and realign your body and butt seating position. Now, the reason that people add highway pegs, or engine guards with pegs incorporated, is so that on longer hauls you have at least two body positions to ride in, allowing you to shift every once in awhile! Some riders find that by adding full floorboards or mini ISO Wings provides more foot support, which leads to more comfort. In regard to your hopes for the trip to Alabama in two weeks, it's simple. How many miles did you do on that long ride? How many miles will it be to Alabama? How many days do you have allocated to the ride to your destination and then back? Do the calculations and then trust your gut instinct on this. Also, what if you run into a bad weather day? Trust me on this, riding 200 miles in pouring rain is as fatiguing as doing 500 miles in clear weather! If you encounter a high wind day/period, it will also need to be factored in. These considerations should not be taken lightly. I appreciate that you recognize the amount of time that has been poured into the creation and upkeep of this site! VTwin Mama will be 5 years old on January 29, 2006 and I estimate that there are 6,000 questions, responses and observation posted, as well as all the other information gathered over time. My day starts out with VTwin Mama and I usually spend between 3-4 hours a day with it. Although the site does generate enough money to pay the basic costs, it's not enough to draw a salary, so then my day proceeds to paying work from my freelance writing clients. The saving grace is that as a freelancer, everything is handled from my home office, so there is no commute and I can work in my underwear if I want! Throw in handling the house, spending time with the dogs, and doing things with family and friends, yes, it's a miracle I ride at all! As with everything in life, it's simply a matter of priorities and sometimes I have to make due with a 300 mile ride in a day and then the bike sits for a week Sometimes I do routine tasks on the bike to get my ya-yas out! Hee, hee, and sometimes I just "disappear" for a day or two when I simply can't look at the computer any more! Ditto for the bike . . . sometimes it's more important to take the dogs to the beach than ride. You'll find that the life balance becomes an interesting challenge, but the call of a beautiful day allows house cleaning to take a back seat, or is that the pillion seat?!?!?! – Mama Wednesday, November 9 1994 Ducati Monster for sale in Sydney, Aus. Terri's 600 Ducati Monster is for sale in Sydney, Australia. It's got the 680 Speed kit installed and lots of other custom, Italian factory, special bits. First offer over $6000 gets it. Can be viewed at here. Wednesday, November 9 Dear
VTwin Mama, I just read the entry from the woman who just passed the MSF course . . . we're already having anxiety about going back. Not because of any fears, but the way it was being run. We went with Orlando Harley, because some people suggested it over the safety council. Big mistake . . . we gave in because of the heat last month, but honestly the class was anything but fun. I can't believe her course ran over two weekends. That would be so much easier for a new rider. We were under the impression that the instructors would actually teach you the techniques, but when we went they were definitely treating the class as if we were supposed to already be riders, but there to be tested on the exercises. They weren't taking the time to teach us anything, and it was stressful trying to keep up with what they were saying regarding the next exercise. I really thought I was doing the right thing by going for the course, but I wish we had taken it anywhere BUT Harley. They're squeezing into 5 hours what other courses do in 8. We can't get our money back of course, so we're going back there, but getting more and more anxious about it. I've read enough message boards to realize that a lot of people have mixed experiences with this course. I just hope we have different instructors this time. I guess I'm not stressed about passing or failing . . . I won't feel too bad if I fail, considering how the class was done. I fully expect to go back, and like before, be shown the exercise, such as the tight U-turn, ONCE, before being expected to perform it . . . hahaha . . . I would have found it ridiculously funny if I weren't about to pass out from the heat at the time last month! We decided that this dealership believes in the Darwin philosophy of rider education . . . Ah well . . . it was nice to see someone having a good experience though. Funny that central Florida is such a big bike area, and yet you'd think would have better rider education. I feel a little better just having my own bike now, and having a better sense of where everything is. We're using the Buell Blasts for that class, and I think I had trouble with the bike simply because it's small and the footpegs are not in a comfortable position for me at 6 ft tall. By the time I found the damn pegs, we were coming to a stop in the class . . . hahaha. Shall I say it again . . . I love my bike . . . just can't wait to actually ride it! Though sitting on it in the garage isn't so bad . . . a friend calls it a very expensive chair though. I don't care . . . I've waited all these years to have one and I'd have it in the house if I could get away with it. Take care, – Kat Dear
Kat, Kat, in your case, if you haven't addressed your disappointment with the Harley dealer, I would do so if you feel the course was misrepresented to you. Since you can't get your money back, I'd take it again and use it as a practice session. I'd also insist on a different instructor, meet them, talk it out, etc. Still, you might surprise yourself and do very well the second time at it . . . simply because your initial foray into it has happened and hopefully the weather will not be such a huge factor this time. If necessary, then investigate other courses in the area and use the guidelines above. For instance, the MSF runs a SAFETY course, which is designed to teach safety, not basic riding. Yes, they take on new riders with no experience, and some will find a natural talent so that they pass the first time, but you are certainly NOT ALONE if a second course is needed. I still feel the MSF doesn't really clearly state this on their site, but calling ahead (on any offered course) and talking it out should reveal the more in-depth insights needed to see if it's right for you! I'm sure you'll find your pathway as you have a beautiful bike waiting for you! – Mama Thursday, November 10 Dear
VTwin Mama, Well, I'm happy to say I took your suggestion to take a MSF Safety class and was even able to talk my husband into going with me and the two of us both passed. We are in the process of looking for the perfect bikes and I just wanted to say thank you to you and all the others that gave me advice and encouragement. I look forward to sending you a picture of me and my first bike very soon! Thank you and keep up the great work and advice. – Anita Martin Dear
Anita, Thursday, November 10 Dear
VTwin Mama, I really can't believe how excited I have gotten about learning to ride since I made that decision. I wanted a Harley Heritage Classic but the owner of the dealership would not sell me one. He was afraid that with my not having the experience that I would get hurt on a big bike. Ironically, a gal had just gotten her license that day and was rolling a brand new Sportster onto a trailer. The owner of the Harley dealership came running out and said come look at her Yamaha. She had bought it (2002 Yamaha Virago 250) just 6 weeks ago to practice on for her test. So guess what? . . . you got it . . . we bought the bike and they delivered it to my home for me. I guess it was meant to be. I'm so glad the owner insisted on a smaller bike for me. The first day I was on it and was getting off I forgot to put the kickstand down. I was able to catch it and keep it from hitting the ground, however, if it had been a larger bike it would have been on the ground. I can't believe how powerful that little bike is and I know without a shadow of a doubt I would not have been able to handle the larger one. At least not now anyway. I now have a great deal of respect for my little bike. I have taken the written portion of my test and hopefully this weekend I can go out to a parking lot with my husband. I'm registered to take the riders safety course the end of the month. My husband is the one that found this site for me. I'm so glad he did because I think what you have done here is terrific!! (thanks!) I've only read a few things so far but I've already learned from it. I'm fixing to go out and practice turning on my reserve tank without looking. I will also probably be picking out a mentor in the next day or two. I rode a little tiny bit when I was a teenager and even had my mc license. I probably had less than one hour on the road so for the most part I consider myself having zero experience. I am 52 years young and a retired pharmaceutical sales rep of 23 years and a retired Dental Hygienist of 4 years. I look forward to meeting riders and learning more on your site. Thanks! – Cindy Dear
Cindy, Mentors are available from lots of locations . . . from my Let's Ride page, my VTwin Mama Mentor Program page, and you'll find the main women's riding organizations, which will lead you to their local chapters, on my Women's Sites page. It really can make a difference! You're well on your way to becoming a rider again . . . we'll have our biker waves ready for you! – Mama Thursday, November 10 For Nikki who is a newer rider and is fatiguing on her longer rides: In addition to all mentioned by VTwin Mama herself, I would like to add that you may have to condition yourself to longer rides. I used to worry about that too (will I ever be able to...?). Even with a comfortable seat/position/bike/etc., I couldn't go for long at first. When I surpassed my limit, I would get sloppy and rubbery with my control of the bike. The stress of being new didn't help either. Stops, turns, shifting, timing, alertness, all that was affected. The more you ride, time after time, longer and longer at a time, that subsides. Now, if I get very fatigued, the obvious things help, like having a cup of coffee, etc., etc., but the best thing by far has been to take a LONGER BREAK. I wouldn't have thought so, but I find that works wonders. – Linda C. (note from Mama: aha, getting more blood flow from a longer break and shaking out those muscles! I'm finding lately that I like fewer breaks but longer ones, but the bottom line folks is that if you're tired, it's time to stop! Immediately!) What a long ride for a new new rider! I've only been riding my bike for seven months, and just now can feel that "floating feeling" while riding. I did get a nice Corbin seat, and pullback risers, it all helped, but I discovered the main reason I was coming home sore was because of the "death grip syndrome!" Now I naturally relax on the bike, but for a long time was not. I kept checking my arms, legs, butt, neck etc. while riding to see if they were stiff, and usually, they were. Relaxing your muscles sure helps, along with experience and practice. – Penney from Iowa (note from Mama: aha double! I forgot the pesky death grip and have to admit that in rough weather, I find myself taking a tighter grip as well, which just heightens body tension. Yucko!) Thursday, November 10 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Sherri, I find that using the Want Facts site is a great way to get a list of bikes to my liking and then checking for weight/seat height. Click on Motorcycles, New, Search by Feature, choose the manufacturers you are interested in and the category of bike (touring and sport touring sounds right and by definition these are 900cc or higher), limit the weight category to under 600 pounds, and then bring up the list! I took a quick look and to my amazement, some of the heaviest bikes in the touring and sport touring categories where the ones with the lowest seat height and the one with the lowest weight had the highest seat height! Still, none of these bikes were under 500 pounds dry, so that's just something you're going to have to cotton up to. My quick check under 600 pounds revealed a number of bikes for consideration (your BMW RT is showing at 1150cc not 1100cc). You'll see the Moto Guzzi California Stone Touring and at 542 pounds, a seat height of 29.9" and 1064cc , it looks like a good candidate! Happy shopping! – Mama Thursday, November 10 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Penney, Thursday, November 10 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Alex, Since you're already getting some practice time in on a 125cc bike, I'm thinking it's not wrong to go ahead and get a mid-range bike for yourself, as long as you continue your practice sessions in a distraction-free area, etc. At your height (5'4") and weight (110 lbs.) however, there are more concerns than just a wide open throttle. The bigger bikes are heavier and you may find that you're going to have to lower that height with a lowering kit so that your feet are flat on the ground at a dead stop (helps with sense of control of the bike and ability to push that thing around while sitting on the bike). It all depends on the make/model you find to your liking. I must admit that I've never heard of a switch to limit the throttle, so am hoping that readers will chime in with their knowledge of this temporary modification and whether it's a good idea or not. Quite frankly I'm a bit concerned that you're being pushed into a direction that was not your original intent. It's not that the suggestion doesn't have merit, but it's YOUR RIDE, YOUR EXPERIENCE, and YOUR BUTT ON THE LINE. What does your gut tell you? Listen to it! And then proceed at YOUR PACE. I'll say it again . . . regaining confidence because you start out on too big of a bike is more difficult than starting out smaller, getting the confidence, and then moving up in size. If your gut screams 250cc bike, then hold out till you find one. There's no harm checking the bigger bikes out, but harm to your state-of-mind if it doesn't feel right for now. – Mama Friday, November 11 For Alex who is considering a 250cc or maybe a mid-range bike to star out on: I see you wanted a 250 cc but are going to go with a larger engine because of the difficulty of finding smaller bikes. You also said your boyfriend was going to limit how far you could open the throttle. I'd like to encourage you not to do that. I started out on a 250cc Rebel, but very quickly found I was not comfortable in traffic on such a small bike. I felt like I wouldn't have enough power to get out of the way quickly if I needed to. After a very short time (about 4 months), I went out and bought a 1200cc Sportster. The larger engine size made me much more comfortable in traffic, and I never had any trouble handling the more powerful engine. I would worry that a throttle limiter might impede your learning process and maybe even be dangerous in certain circumstances. Believe me, it's nice to know that you CAN spurt out of the way, even if you never have to! And you don't HAVE to open the throttle all the way to get the bike to move. Even though I have a lot of power and can go fast, my roommate and I most often just go out for low to mid speed pleasure cruises. You can tell from this site there are a lot of women riders, so you're not alone out there! Don't be afraid to get a bigger engine and learn how to use it. You won't regret it. – Li in Florida (note from Mama: thanks for your take on this!) Friday, November 11 Hey Mama, My question is this . . . I am 5'2" and about 160lbs. I rode an Eliminator 125 in the class and it handled like a dream. The Magna on the other hand feels like pushing around an elephant!! It handles great and is even easier to shift than the 125, but it is sooo heavy!! I am looking at bikes on e-bay and checking out the specs on the styles I like. I have noticed they are all around 500 lbs. (Vulcan 750, V-Star 650, Intruder Volusia). Should I be worried about moving around that much weight? I don't have any fear of the ride, but parking (having to walk it backwards, etc) scares me. What do you think?? Thanks for all the great advice!! – Amy Dear
Amy, So, what to do?!?!?!? First, pushing around a bike while seated on it is much easier if your feet are firmly planted on the ground. If the bike you fall in love with doesn't allow this, then you need to make sure you can get a lowering kit or shorter shocks or a lower profile seat or take a closer look at your riding boots (with a little bit more sole on it) . . . or a combination of these things! Next, if you are not doing it already, it is wise to strengthen your arms and legs by doing simple exercises with free weights and lunges. I know, yucko, exercise, but it really does make a difference. Since you already have your hubby's Magna at hand, why not start your push practice now! Start by having your hubby straddle the front wheel and taking a grip on the handlebar. The bike should not be running and should be in gear so it can't roll on you. Now, lean that bike to the left and to the right. Get a feel of the weight . . . he'll be there to help! Now, with the bike in neutral, but still not running, start rolling the bike forward and back in a straight line on a flat grade and get use to it. Then roll it with a slight turn of the front wheel. Then ride it around the block and park it against the street curb like you would in a real parking situation. Practice is the key and more practice is the confidence builder. There is no shortcut! Now, this last suggestion may seem radical to you at first, but trust me, if there was ever a confidence builder on bike weight, this is it! The bike should be cold, low on gas, and the gas petcock in the off position. Get an old piece of carpet and lay the bike down on it's side. Then pick it up! The proper techniques to this are chronicled on several sites, and you'll find those links on my Pick Up The Bike page. Enlist hubby dearest to review the steps, look at the bike together, talk it out, and he'll be there on the other side. Practice, practice, practice. A small side note . . . start by laying the bike down on something that will keep it an an angle (like a plastic milk crate, etc.) so that the first times you try, you're only doing a slight angle pick-up, then increase the severity of the angle and keep working on it. When you are able to do this, you will KNOW you can handle the bike weight. Ta da! You are one with the bike and the fear has evaporated! When you get your own bike, repeat all the steps suggested! Knowledge is power and learning is good. Remember, YOU ARE NOT ALONE and I know you CAN do it! – Mama Dear
VTwin
Mama, Dear
Short Legged, It might be a long shot, but maybe the dealer has a lower profile seat in stock that they could temporarily put in place. Yikes, readers, any more ideas here?!?!?! – Mama Monday, November 14 Dear
VTwin
Mama, Dear
Karen, A note of caution, It's most likely that you have a lead-acid battery, hence the above stuff. If it's sealed, it's probably a gel battery with gelified electrolyte. That takes a specific type of charger. According to Mark Z., author of The Essential Guide to Motorcycle Maintenance, it could also be that the battery is sulfated (if it's lead acid). Here is a page that talks about the condition, what to look for, etc. This can happen when a bike sits for a long time. Still, I'm hoping that the dealer would have pointed this out when they charged your battery. But maybe not. You also need to check the lead from the bike's frame that hooks up to the battery's ground (black, negative) terminal. It's possible you just have a poor connection to the frame or there is corrosion. Otherwise, it's possible that that the rectifier/regulator unit, or the alternator, isn't working any more (yes, they do go bad) and so you can charge the battery, but while the bike is running, these units aren't keeping the charging process going. If you have a service manual, I'd locate these items and check that their connections are tight first. If you don't have the service manual (this is different than the owner's manual) go to my Education Center page for Internet sites that offer them. It's a useful thing to have anyway! Checking these units, or checking for a load (drain) on the battery takes more electrical know-how to solve. Still, given that the bike is only two years old, this would be the very last thing and KISS tells me it's probably something simpler than a melted wire grounding to the frame or an electrical component (lights, etc.) that are causing the drain. But it's not completely unheard of. So, start with the simple and work your way up. Decide how much you want to take on yourself (it's excellent to learn!) and if necessary, contact an independent bike shop or the dealer for their labor rates and parts prices to solve this. – Mama Monday, November 14 Dear
VTwin
Mama, I still haven't done much with the bike . . . I work a midshift, so get home after dark, and haven't had a chance to call the insurance agent. I was so itching today to try riding it around our subdivision, but I'm being good for now. Our cul-de-sac is perfect for practicing slow turns though, so I'll be trying that when I have a couple of days off this week. I still may not pass the test, but at least I have a better sense of the techniques now . . . he even took the fear out of U turns! Excellent instructor . . . I am finding one problem with the Suzuki M50 . . . it's basically a Marauder, but some things are changed, so I haven't found aftermarket accessories yet to fit, other than the overpriced Suzuki ones. Even saddlebags made to fit the Marauder evidently don't fit this bike the same because of the shorter fender . . . oh well, I can dress it up later! – Kat Dear
Kat, As to aftermarket accessories . . . yes, with the newest model bikes, it takes a bit of time for these companies to step up to the plate and offer their extra goodies. I checked quickly and will note that the 2006 catalogs are not yet out for JP Cycles and Dennis Kirk, two of the bigger aftermarket companies . . . I'll keep monitoring that as they are free and great to have. Hopefully the new Boulevards will be represented! – Mama Monday, November 14 Dear
VTwin
Mama, Dear
Maggy, Tuesday, November 15 Dear
VTwin
Mama, Dear
Mary, Tuesday, November 15 And Omigosh, VTM Wrote in to the Oprah Show! For Short Legged is who wondering on test riding bikes that are too tall: Hi Mama, been reading this site from Lakeland, Florida for a year now. I really appreciate the time and concern you give us ladies. (you are welcome!) I bought 2 new Suzuki's from the same dealership and wasn't offered to test either one. The salespeople do offer to let you try the used ones. So I haven't a clue either. I did the cheap hiker boots and it works. I took the MRA (MSF) course after I had been riding for 3 months and I felt much more confident, better balanced and more alert to trouble than before. I feel the book work was just as important. Yes, they pushed us along pretty fast, however that traffic in that real world is even faster and sometimes nasty to boot. The couple who taught the course were seriously dedicated to our safety and the responsibility we assume when we choose to ride. Mama, what can we do to get you on Oprah? You represent 3, maybe more, generations of cool ladies out here who love to ride their own. Peace, – Patricia, 51 years young (note from Mama: thanks for sharing that the higher heeled boots did the trick, and yes, many dealerships won't let the new bikes out the door for insurance reasons. Sometimes it's helpful to rent a bike for a day when possible to get a feel for it. NOW FOR STUNNING NEWS: I hopped onto the Oprah site and submitted a "women in motorcycling" show idea, noting my own work, but also that Chicago has many chapters of women riding groups, etc. I emphasized the empowerment it brings to women, the joy at the achievement, a chance to get a real-life "peek behind the curtain," that we're the fastest growing segment of riding, and that we have something to say and share! Omigosh . . . I'm feeling QUITE BOLD! Let's see if we make the cut! They promise that every submission is read by the Producers. I'll keep you posted! |
