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Monday, October 3 New Women's Riding Club in NY I would like to link our club, Cycle Sisters MC on your site, and yours on ours . . . you have a great site :) We are very proud of our new club. We are located on Long Island, NY and our meetings are held, for the time being, at my house . . . I am centrally located to my club members. Thanks, Bonnie, President, Cycle Sisters MC Monday, October 3 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear JJ, If a bike seat is injection molded, then modifications cannot be made. If there is padding, and covered, then a local upholstery shop should be able to open it up, trim the padding, and put it back together. I'd contact a local Ducati dealer and ask! My research shows that the seat height is 30.3" The other thing I'd ask the dealer is if this bike can be lowered by use of a lowering kit, lower profile tires (smaller), or shorter shocks. In general I find that sporty-type bikes have less lowering solutions than compared to standard cruisers. Also, give serious consideration to your riding boots . . . a bit more sole height can make a huge difference! Now I'm going to add one more note: you say that your husband has deemed this bike to be perfect for you . . . but what do you think? Do you like the looks and style equally? Have you done a lot of shopping at dealers to take a look at what's available? Have you made a list of things that are important in your decision making process? It just seems a little weird to have a bike shipped from PR. At the very least, you should sit on a similar model (if that one isn't available locally). Getting a first bike can seem a bit overwhelming . . . but that's exactly why you should stop, take your time, think it through, make some notes, look at lots of bikes . . . and most importantly, don't let someone else, no matter how loving they are, choose a bike for you. A bike is HIGHLY personal and the only person who can say if it's a possible "right" is you! Why jump the gun?! I have a number of links to women-specific sites that are highly tuned to the subject of sporty-type bikes, which you can find on my Women's Sites page. I'd take the time to visit these sites, maybe join the discussion forums, etc. Your research at this stage is going to make a huge difference in your upcoming riding experience. Mama Tuesday, October 4 Your Input for a Magazine Idea Requested! Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear Helene, If you haven't done so already, you may want to contact: 1) Rain, editor of Biker Ally magazine (U.S.); 2) Susan Barber of SisterCycle Magazine (Canada); 3) Genevieve Schmitt, former editor of the now defunct Woman Rider magazine (U.S.). Mama Tuesday, October 4 For JJ who is considering the Ducati Monster 400 as her first bike: Terri's Ducati 600 Monster is actually almost dead on 27". I think the official height of 30" is a little over estimated. And JJ, do not forget that when you sit on the bike, the suspension will lower at least another inch or more. Corbin makes custom seats for Duc's. You can also drop the front forks through the triple tree an inch or more. Any upholsterer can trim foam off the seat also and then recover. My question is . . . did Ducati import the 400 into the USA at all? And if not . . . can you get parts for it easily or will everything have to be ordered from Italy? Kevin (note from Mama: great points to consider!) Tuesday, October 4 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear Ruth, My initial source for heat resistant fabrics is a bit pricey. The company charges $85 per yard for one of the layers and $40 per yard for the second and $35 for the final. However, I have come across a more reasonable site: Beacon Fabrics located in Lakeland, Florida. They can be reached at 800-713-8157. Beacon offers the heat resistant fabric used for ironing board covers as well as the heat resistant quilted backing. A yard of each can be purchased for a total of about $20. You will have to confirm with them if the fabrics can be washed or dry cleaned. Mark the section of the pants (either with tailor chalk or pins) that you'd like the material sewn into. A tailor can sew the material onto the inside of the pant so that it is not visible. There's no need for a Velcro on/off and the pants look great. This past weekend, my husband and I rode to Long Island's wine country, an 80 mile round trip ride. My right thigh was as comfortable as my left. But the biggest thrill for me is that this was my first real group ride. The two husbands and my riding buddy (a member of my women's riding group) treated me like an equal. They did this by keeping my abilities in mind and letting me ride my own ride. VTwin Mama, I can't began to tell you how much help this site has been to me. Without the information and the experiences, I would not have meet the wonderful women in my group. Moreover, I have been able to put my jitters in perspective and have places to turn for tips on techniques and for skill improvement. Keep It Movin' Audrey L.I. (note from Mama: thanks for sharing and yahoo on your latest conquest! Glad the VTwin Mama site is able to help!) Tuesday, October 4 Dear
VTwin Mama, It was one group of biking males that harassed me relentlessly and didn't want to take no for an answer that i wasn't interested in partying with them. I tried explaining that we were there to see the bikes and the vendors and enjoy the camaraderie of other bikers. I was so disgusted by the male machismo and harassment from this one group that I changed my entire plans and came home early rather than spending the night in the cabin we had rented. I really assumed that my daughter and I would be safe but we didn't feel that way. I am writing a letter to ABATE on this subject as well. It is a real shame that men who are supposed to be our biker brothers think that they can humiliate us and treat us with such disrespect. Do I not have a right to enjoy biking rallies without harassment from men with small brains an even smaller errrr . . . ? Well you get the idea. If ABATE is interested in attracting women into their organization, then they need to take huge vocal steps in stopping sexual harassment. Pissed Off Purple Pony Gal Dear Purple
Pony Gal, I'm glad you'll be letting ABATE know about your experience at one of their rallies. I'm just not sure that they can control how anybody, man or woman, conducts themselves. My thought is this: was there some sort of rally organizing group on site? These would be the people who handled registration, coordinated events, etc. Something like the host/hostess for camping sites (who are tasked with handling camping complaints). At camping sites, these people are clearly identified, but at the rally, that may not be the case. For future events, should you decide to attend another one, it might be useful to identify these people when you arrive and ask who you should go to if you need an official to intervene on your behalf. As I do not have children, I am not going to venture an opinion on whether rallies are considered a family-oriented event. Readers, if you're going to chime in with opinions on this specific point, please make sure they are well thought out and offer insightful information. Mama Tuesday, October 4 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear Tiny
Rider, Yes, any helmet is better than none, but that's only because it could potentially handle some minor problems, like bugs tangling in your hair, birds pooping directly on your head, or a direct bump to the head at a dead stop because the bike decides to take a nap at that moment. You're catching my drift now, right?! I once saw a site page that described in gory detail what happens to the brain when it impacts something at any speed. Unfortunately, I cannot find it again, but will describe as best as possible: the brain floats around in our skull (more or less) and when going from any speed to a dead stop (impact accident) the brain slams into the side of the skull. Without any kind of cushion, other than the skull, it's free to keep sloshing about, absorbing that speed internally until finally it comes to rest. It's exactly like Shaken Baby Syndrome. The damage is immediate. Tested and approved helmets are designed to take the brunt of that impact energy. Remember basic physics, where kinetic energy, the energy of motion, once created, will continue until something slows it down to a stop? The helmet materials absorb and distribute this energy throughout the helmet and helps slow and stop the energy of motion much more quickly, giving you a better chance of surviving with your brain intact. So, suck it up and get an approved helmet if you're going to wear one. I am a staunch supporter of the right to choose, but it's always helpful to have the facts to make an informed decision. Mama Tuesday, October 4 Dear
VTwin Mama, My question is this: My boyfriend told me that I should place the bike in neutral when I approach a red light, that way, I could rest up my hand a little; and also, he says that is better for the bike, that is like a "brake" for the engine. I asked some people on another web site specifically dedicated to my type of bike (Rebel 250) and they said that putting the bike in neutral while waiting for the traffic light to change was a "bad habit." I have to admit that I've been doing it, I've seen many bikers do it too, so I thought that it couldn't be that bad, but the doubt is killing me. Could you clear this up for me, please? What is the best thing to do when I'm at a red light? Rebel with a Cause Dear Rebel
with a Cause, I'm not sure if there is a perfectly right answer to your question. If I know that a stop is going to be longer, and I'm riding through lots of traffic signals, I shift to neutral so I can rest both hands. If I can see that the light is going to change sooner than later, I stay in first. However, in chaotic traffic (think right after work, when the road is most cluttered with cage drivers), I tend to stay in first so that I can more quickly zip out of a situation behind me (i.e. cage driver that doesn't look they are paying attention, etc.). So, I'm thinking that you have more control of the bike at a stop by remaining in first. Readers, what other points might a person take into consideration on this issue? Mama Wednesday, October 5 For Rebel with a Cause and whether to shift into neutral at stoplights or not: Remembering my MSF course - taught that one should always be in first at a stoplight. Even though it is tempting to rest one's hand, you are not in a ready position to make a move if necessary. For instance, even if there is a car at a stop behind me, I never know about the car behind them, etc. I have continued to employ the first gear rule ever since. Lisa (note from Mama: thanks!) My DH has said the same sort of thing to me, and he always puts his bike in neutral at a stop. However, having come extremely (within a hair!) of getting rear-ended at a stop, I DO NOT put my bike in neutral unless as Mama pointed out Im waiting for a very long time, not crazy traffic, and car(s) have already lined up behind me!! Making a quick getaway is very important!! Besides, when the light changes Im ready to go and DH is still putting his in gear!! Kansas Gal (note from Mama: stuff happens, best to be prepared!) I stay in first gear at a light in case I have to get
out of the way in a hurry. If I need to rest a hand or make a personal
adjustment (i.e., remove sunglasses), I never shift to neutral at a light
unless I see the traffic behind me has stopped, whether during high or low
traffic times. Holding the clutch in at a light helped me when I was
learning to ride, in that it forced me get into the habit of keeping the
clutch pulled in so I wouldn't forget and release it accidentally. Lastly,
putting the bike in neutral when approaching a light is probably not a
good idea when learning. How many times do you approach a light and then
it changes before your feet ever go down? Probably more times than when
you actually stop. This is not a problem now, but when I was really new at
this, it would have been too much to manage while rolling, balancing, and
keeping an eye on a traffic signal, to kick it down into first or up into
second. Even the MSF class material advocates being in first gear when you
stop. Wednesday, October 5 Dear
VTwin Mama, I found her a Yamaha Virgo 250 and she fell in love with it as her first bike. She only rode it once, then had to have open heart surgery in Feburary and it took till July for her to get back to doing some things she liked to do. She was not getting as well as the doctors liked till July . . . when I took her to the bike and said at least try it again. Well, let me tell you she really has gotten better faster now than the doctors can believe and it is due to being able to ride and in control. She loves it, but has stated many times it is because the bike was small in size and she was not afraid of it to begin with. She says it is a keeper forever even with her moving up to an 883 Harley part time now. But it was the fact that she and the bike fit each other from the start that has kept her going and she rides it everyday rain or shine. It has been a life saver to me and her and a Godsend for her health and happiness. Sorry about the long post, but I get caught up in it about the size thing . . . bigger is better some times and on some things, but the right fit for a bike and rider is the most important fit there is. Thanks for hearing me out. Dave T. Dear Dave, Is there anything more icky than a bike that doesn't fit a rider?! Me thinks not! It erodes confidence, whether a rider is new or experienced. I know that when I bought my current bike, a 1200cc, that I started second-guessing myself whether I should have gone for "more" bike. After all, I've been riding for 26 years! After putting 2500 miles on it, I realized that it wasn't the cc rating that mattered . . . it was the totally right fit for me . . . the most important point, just like you said! It CAN be difficult for a new rider to determine what bike is going to be the right fit though. That's why we talk so often about digging deep into one's gut and heart and not only determining how we feel, but also saying what we really need and where we think our adventure is going to lead us, and then being adamant about sticking to our guns on how to proceed! It was interesting to read how your wife's health improved much more quickly when she was able to return to a dream/goal and take control of the situation. I wish for you both a gazillion years of riding together and sharing the joy. Mama Wednesday, October 5 For Purple Pony Gal who had a horrible rally experience with her young daughter: I will definitely be watching to see what sort of response you get from ABATE. Im assuming you are speaking of the big ABATE rally held annually at Lake Perry in Kansas. I have lived in the area my entire life and have always heard that this is a wild rally and to not go anywhere near the area when it is going on. I also have not attended since I started riding motorcycles. How sad that your plans with your daughter had to be ruined in this way. I attended Sturgis last year, and then attended the BBandB Rally in Fayetteville, AR this year. In my opinion the rally in Fayetteville is much more family-oriented, and if we had young children would not hesitate to take them! There were lots and lots of motorcycles and we had a good time. Please keep us all updated on any response you get from ABATE. Kansas Gal (note from Mama: hmmmm . . . makes me wonder if one can contact rally coordinators in advance and get their thoughts about the "wild" level. Readers, what other ways do you think someone could find out if a rally is more family-oriented?) Wednesday, October 5 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear Kim, At this point I'd put in a call to the most local dealer and query their parts department if you haven't done so already. Part of the challenge may be that it's a 10-year-old bike, but the question remains whether a larger retrofit tank for a newer/similar model would still fit on yours. I'm out of thoughts on this one . . . readers, any ideas? Mama Thursday, October 6 More for Purple Pony Gal who had a horrible rally experience with her young daughter: In my
experience, motorcycle shows are family oriented, but rallies
and runs are for bikers and unless it is put on by a family group
(such as our Southern Cruisers) with an open invite for family members,
probably not a good idea to take children to. My
husband and I have been attending the Oyster Run in This run
is a one-day deal and in a small town over 80 miles from Check
out motorcycle shows in your area. These are usually sponsored by
the various dealerships in the area. Ours happens in Thursday, October 6 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear Tina, Thursday, October 6 For Leslie who was investigating how chain/belt/shaft drive affects the actual ride: I wanted to let Leslie know that the few mechanically inclined men I have talked to are in full agreement with the information you posted from your "bible." A shaft responds differently to the bike, as he notes, but you only notice if it you have a chance to ride and compare each. I definitely favor a shaft drive for low maintenance and ease of operation. But Harley uses the belt a lot and their bikes shift very nicely. The belts are supposed to be good for 100,000 miles - not something most riders will ever see on their bike. Shaft or belt are definitely my recommendations. Ride often, take care! April (note from Mama: thanks for sharing!) Thursday, October 6 Dear
VTwin Mama, Wow, I was beginning to think that I was the only woman who'd failed the Motorcycle Safety Training Course until I read Marsha's post on Sept. 1 2005. Whew, I'm not alone! Holy Cow. I took this course at Team Arizona on 9/30, 10/1 & 10/2. I passed the written test with a 94 out of 100 but I was beginning to think I was the "only one" (of course there are others, but I hadn't yet found a "failure" post) who'd failed this course. I scored a 24 (you need 20 points and under to pass. I was super bummed until I talked to HammerLady (one of your mentors and an instructor) who gave me renewed confidence and some seriously sane advice that help make sense of what the instructors were teaching. She also helped me see that I should be proud of the fact that having never owned, ridden on or even sat on a bike prior to my training weekend, I'd managed to accomplish as much as I had. (It was hard to see that past my wounded ego) So thanks to you for starting this site, Marsha for letting me know there's a "club," and HammerLady for inspiring this newbie to try and try again! Big Virtual Bear Hugs all around! : ))) Tammi in Arizona Dear Tammi, Thursday, October 6 More for Rebel with a Cause and whether to shift into neutral at stoplights or not: I work in the insurance industry and I heard about a claim the other day and I'd thought I share this. There was a claim one of the adjusters was working on and it involved a truck and a car. Here is the story: There was a line of cars sitting at a red light waiting for it to change, the last car that stopped happened to look in his mirror and saw a semi come barreling down the road towards them at a high rate of speed. He panics and moved his car out of the path of the truck thereby avoiding the whole accident. The car in front of him, who was stopped, wasn't so lucky. He never saw the truck, the truck never stopped and hit him so hard, it pushed this car underneath the truck that was in front of him. Needless to say, the driver of the car did not live. Try not to keep your bike in neutral at a light, you might need to get out of the way very fast. My boyfriend was almost rear-ended by a car that was not paying attention, he saw the car in his mirror and motored out of there before the car had a chance to hit him. Always look in your mirrors at what is coming up behind you, no matter how far ahead in line you may be, you never know what idiot is back there not paying attention. Needless to say, the above story got my attention as I am the worst offender when it comes to shifting into neutral at a light, I do it all the time and I don't check my mirrors either. I always check my mirrors ninety million other times, especially when I am moving, but it doesn't really occur to me to check my mirrors at a light after I see the car behind me is not going to hit me. You can bet that from now on I will be triple checking my mirrors at every traffic light. Thanks! Doreen from NJ (note from Mama: ok, that's it . . . I'm officially coming off the fence post on this issue and advocating that a rider remains in gear at a stoplight so that there is a better chance of quickly pulling out if something bad is barreling down on the rider. And you can bet that I'll be adding mirror checks at a stop as well . . . I too have never gotten into the habit of doing this . . . something learned, something gained today . . . if my clutch hand is tired, then it's time to pull over and rest . . . thanks for sharing this story Doreen.) Thursday, October 6 Dear
VTwin Mama, We met at a town 40 miles from my home, and then went on my first poker run. There were 38 bikes on the run and it was apx. 130 miles total. The members hung near the rear with me so I would feel comfortable. So nice. Anyway, enjoyed it a lot and can't wait for winter to come and go so I can go on many more. Like my mama said (she's 82) "It's ok that you ride a motorcycle, just don't ride with those biker gangs who wear those funny things on their heads!" Ha! Well, many of the people who were on the poker run did wear those funny things on their heads, and I couldn't have met nicer people anywhere. My ride home was so enjoyable. I was by myself, and the farmers were in their fields harvesting corn. A beautiful sight as the sun goes down! Just thought I would share this experience with you. Every day I get more comfortable with my bike. Ride Safe! Penney from Iowa Dear Penney, About my riding, my own Mama (who is 74) just says, "I don't want to get a phone call." So I make sure to continue to polish my riding skills, to be vigilant while riding, pay attention to the needs of the bike in terms of maintenance, let others help me when needed, and not jump to conclusions about how a rider or their bike looks (!) but doing so without sacrificing my own safety. I could easily envision you finishing that ride on your own through the farmlands, savoring the joy of a good ride and new friends. Yahoo! There's nothing like a happy letter to make my day! Mama Thursday, October 6 For Kim who is looking for a bigger gas tank for her '95 Honda Shadow VT 1100: Yes, as Kim has discovered, finding a longer range gas tank for road bikes is NOT easy. Off road bikes are no problem at all. Plenty of 25 to 35 litre tanks around for 600cc road/dirt bikes. Almost none at all for pure road bikes. A couple of choices are; find a larger tank off another brand of bike and try and make it fit on your own bike. Doable but a pain in the arse if you aren't much good at improvisation. Take your tank . . . or a second hand copy of your tank from a wreckers . . . go to a metal fabrication shop and have them split the tank and remake it with more metal into a bigger tank. If you are going touring and don't care what the bike looks like, get a plastic tank from Acerbis ( the big dirt bike company). Tanks not pretty but they are lighter than metal and hold up to 35 litres (that's 9.25 gallons folks!). I always question why bike companies are making such piss poor sized tanks these days. The 600 Shadow I used in the USA recently got exactly 97 miles before it hit reserve. That's ridiculous! Kevin in Sydney (note from Mama: so Kim should check with the local dealer to see if another model's bigger tank can be retrofitted to her bike . . . it may just be possible . . . or I find that independent bike shops are very resourceful when it comes to these types of changes. Thanks for sharing the Acerbis source . . . I hopped on and now realize that again, it would be choosing a bigger tank and then someone has to get this to fit.) Thursday, October 6 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear Sara
(and her VLX calling for help!), Friday, October 7 Even more for Rebel with a Cause and whether to shift into neutral at stoplights or not: Mama, I absolutely love your website and greatly appreciated all of your hard work! (thanks!) I have read with interest the various opinions concerning whether to shift into neutral at stoplights, and thoroughly agree that remaining in first gear is the safest way to wait for the light to change. Another thought that came to my mind was to always keep your brakes activated, either by hand or foot, to keep your brake light on. This will allow other drivers behind you to know you are stopped. Many drivers use the brake light as an indicator of whether you are moving or stopped. So if you are sitting still with your brake light off, there may be an impulse of the driver behind you to "jump the gun" or not slow down at all and hit you from behind. Ride on VTwin Mamas! Ridingranny in Benton, KY (note from Mama: good grief, I'm just doing everything wrong! I'm on of those people that also rested their brake hand/foot at a stop, and though the bike's brake light is smaller, I can see now that every little thing helps . . . I'll be correcting my own riding habits immediately!) Friday, October 7 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear Denise, Friday, October 7 For Penney who shared her continuing adventure in riding: Too funny! Those funny things on their heads
took me a minute to realize you meant our do-rags! One of the
little tidbits of information that my motorcycle safety instructor passed
on (and verified by a leading helmet manufacturer) natural hair and
skin oils break down the padding in your helmet! So do the chemicals
found in hair spray, gel, styling spritz, etc. With this natural
process wearing down the padding, he recommended changing your helmet
every two years or whenever it got dropped or damaged in anyway. Friday, October 7 For Kansas Gal who offered rally thoughts and whether they are family-oriented: Thanks so much for your input, but it was an ABATE rally actually in Oklahoma. If what you say is true I am so glad I didn't go to the Kansas ABATE rally. I appreciate your support and will more than likely skip anything ABATE related in the future. For my family and I, motorcycles are a huge part of our lives and we almost always include our children which consist of a 15 year boy an a four year girl. I went to Sturgis this year to check it out, was a first for me and see no reason not to take my kids next year. My son rides as am sure my daughter will when she gets old enough. I would consider it a shame to keep them away from all the great bikes and activities going on that are family oriented and feel competent enough to shield them as a parent, should the need arise. What part of Kansas are you from?? It is such a small world, Petra's (VTwin Mama) hometown is Junction City. I see few women riders in this area and in my small town I am viewed as a novel eccentricity buzzing up an down the roads in my purple camouflage riding gear!! Purple Pony Gal (note from Mama: my own experience at Sturgis was this . . . I limited my town visits to daytime as too many riders were drinking throughout the day and then riding at night, so while I was being a "good girl," others could cause problems on the road for me, and who needs that?! I also realized that there was a greater chance that something could get out of hand quickly at night. As a single gal, and traveling by myself most of the time, I keep these things in mind.) For Denise who is looking to lower the overall profile of her Intruder 800: I have had both an 800 and 1400 Truder and used Progressive shocks and a shaved down Corbin Forward Gunfighter seat on both to reach a comfort level I liked. Handling after the lowering was fine, stopped and in neutral - or first? Around here I usually go to neutral to rest my hand and also even if in first - there are cagers everywhere so there would usually be nowhere else safe to take off to in a hurry. Dorathy (note from Mama: thanks for sharing your Intruder lowering solutions. On the issue of neutral or first gear at a stoplight, I think it would be better to haul off into a ditch than have someone slam into you from behind, IMHO.) That all depends on how much ground clearance she has now. You make a good point Mama, when you say that lowering the bike can bring altered components closer to the ground. My question to her would be: when you go around corners, how far over do you have to lean before your pegs start scraping? If you can lean pretty far, you can probably gain some more inches with a lowering kit. There is a company in Colorado called MB Products that will shorten your shocks for $70. You can access them through www.skullenterprises.com. However, be aware that your ride might change a lot. Whereas it might have comfortable before, it can be harsher with the lowered shocks. I personally would recommend doing the seat first and seeing how you like that before moving on to lowering kits and shorter shocks. I am having the same problem with my HD Street Bob. I need to gain some inches in the bike, but lowering via shocks or lowering kit is NOT an option at all for me since when I go around corners, I scrape pegs big time and I am not even leaning aggressively. At first I thought the scraping was a figment of my imagination (which is impossible because I don't have one, LOL) but it kept happening. So now my only option at this point is to do what Denise is doing and get some padding shaved out of the seat. Doreen from NJ (note from Mama: good point on shaving the seat or getting a lower profile one if there's a chance it can do the job . . . before lowering the bike and altering the handling characteristics. I visited the site you offered for shortening shocks . . . and all the skull products brought a smile to my face . . . as my last bike, a '76 Harley, was all skulls and snakes and such. Scroll down though, and you'll find the shock stuff.) I'd be real careful about putting a lowering kit on this model bike, they are low to the ground to start with. Lower it any more and I doubt you will be able to ride over a brick without the bottom of the bike striking it. You might go over a raised bump in the road, the front wheel will go over it, it's possible the frame or the bottom of the motor will then scrape. And on the Intruders the battery boxes are right there at the bottom rear of the bike in front of the back wheel. I would stick to having the seat padding cut down and wearing boots with heels instead. Kevin in Sydney (note from Mama: wise words!) Monday, October 10 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear Barb, Second, the overall center of gravity (COG0 is lowered . . . the COG being at the center of the bike's overall mass, so generally speaking, the engine. In studying the dynamics of a beastie's handling characteristics, the bike pivots around its COG when a rider goes into a turn or curve. The lower the COG, the easier the pivot around the center mass. The caveat is that one has to watch for ground clearance, as scraping the engine bottom or footpegs can be dangerous and sounds horrible. Lowering kits from the manufacturer takes into account the bike they originally designed themselves. Aftermarket solutions are typically designed for specific year/makes/models also. Beware of generic kits . . . just because they promise the bike can be lowered 3", and that's what you need, doesn't mean the bike is going to handle well once the modification is done. Mama Monday, October 10 More for Leslie who was investigating how chain/belt/shaft drive affects the actual ride: My 800 Vulcan Drifter comes stock with a chain drive. I converted to belt drive about a month or so ago. The change was very noticeable. Converting to belt drive changed the gear ratio and allows more pick up speed in lower gears. For someone with just an 800, I can now keep up with the big boys for a short time.. Ok, so they can catch me and pass me, but I very quick on the starting line and can keep with them for the first couple of gears he haaa. One thing to note, converting to a belt drive really needs to be done by someone who knows what they are doing. Proper belt adjustment is very important and you must check the belt tension regularly. This prevents belt breakage and allows for longer belt life. Belt drives are also quieter than chains and you dont have the grease or chain wax getting all over your tires. It is cleaner (I have white walls)!!! Now, if there was a way to prevent that brake dust. (sigh) Bonnie (note from Mama: thanks for added notes about changing from chain to belt drives . . . it's greatly appreciated!) Monday, October 10 Dear
VTwin Mama, My husband recently discovered Motor Trike's 750 Scooter and thinks that might be just the ticket for me. The dealer agrees but thinks I first need more time on a motorcycle, mainly to get comfortable with a twist throttle. My husband has suggested we replace the thumb throttle on my ATV with a twist throttle so I could get used to it on a vehicle I know -- and without the horror of trying to stay upright. I guess that's a long way to get at the bottom line question: is it necessary to master the motorcycle before moving to a trike? Patricia Smith in McMinnville, Oregon Dear Patricia, Since I'm ATV ignorant/challenged, I'm not sure if you shift gears on an ATV or not! If not, you're going to have to learn about clutch shifting a bike. This can be learned on a trike. I'm less concerned about you moving from the thumb throttle to a twist throttle than I am about you realizing that trikes have very specific handling characteristics on a road and street/road riding etiquette and safety are very specific. The main point of handling a trike is all about taking curves . . . while, you're used to steering an ATV around a curve, and that's what you need to do on a trike, riders who rode a two-wheel motorcycle, and are use to leaning and countersteering, need to realize that the trike doesn't lean or countersteer. As I've heard of trike-specific riding courses available in the U.S., I did a check in Oregon. The Evergreen Safety Council holds trike classes and I'd check the Oregon listing which shows sidecars, but may offer trike classes as well. This might be an excellent step to take, as your overall confidence will be built right off the bat! The courses usually address issues of street riding as well . . . including visibility issues of bikes on roads, etc. Your safety on the road is very important, and it's good to learn the lessons from an accredited instructor who is going to point out all sorts of things! Mama Monday, October 10 For anyone searching for a hydraulic clutch solution for Sportsters (1986-2006) for easier clutch pull: JP Cycles has that Magura "main street" hydraulic clutch. DF (note from Mama: thanks big time for pointing this out!) Monday, October 10 Dear
VTwin Mama, Let me back up a little bit. Me, the girl who got 24 points on her motorcycle course the previous weekend, got a lovely 4 points Friday. Zero being a perfect score. Who's the woman? The difference? The one-on-one training for my problem areas that I received Friday in a short 1.5 hour lesson. Amazing the difference in my level of understanding when I had one instructor focused on me and what I needed to change to be a safer, more efficient rider. My instructor was patient (unlike the first guy) and helpful and I kicked ass. And so as a treat, I bought the 2006 Silver Honda Shadow VLX Deluxe I've had my eye on for the past two months. 600cc's is very different from the 250's I learned on, but I rode her home today (after getting the blessed "M" from motor vehicles today....woo ha!). Thanks to woman like you and HammerLady, I was a lot more confident this time around and I am so stoked to be in "the cool club" of Lady Riders now. Wow, who'd a thunk it. Oh and I have to explain to my boss today why I blew off work when I promised to work a half day. It kinda just happened. I passed the test, I went to DMV, and while at lunch with a friend, my local dealer called as I'd asked to say MY silver Shadow had come in minutes ago, I went, I bought, I drove my first 11 miles home on my own bike . . . Oh My God . . . I could explode from the perfect day I had. I apologize for the ramble. Surely you remember your first bike? Thanks again for creating a forum for women like me. Big ole hugs and a sloppy kiss on the cheek, Tammi, grinning ear to ear Dear Tammi, Tuesday, October 11 VTwin Mama Calls For Input It hit me this morning that the VTwin Mama site could be even better if I created a specific page to house a directory of your favorite sites that you go to when you need technical information or a discussion forum . . . specific to your make/model bike. So, I started one! It would be nearly impossible to scroll through the over 6000 letters on the VTwin Mama site to capture all your input over the years, so please email me at vtwinmama@vtwinmama.com if you don't find your favorite specific link listed on that page! No generic sites please . . . this is for specific make/model sites: technical info and/or discussion forums. Tuesday, October 11 1978 Hondamatic 750 For Sale in Montana I have a 1978 Hondamatic 750 for sale. It is in very good condition. The mileage is approximately 34,000. The man that owned it before me completely rebuilt it from the ground up, I think at about 29,000 miles. I have had it for 5 years and put about 4,500 miles on it. It runs great, I would keep it but I'm ready to let it go and get a 4-wheeler. It has a new battery, fairly new back tire, comes with a new front tire, and a full faced helmet. I am asking $2,250. Contact me by e-mail or call (406) 491-0943. I have 2 pictures available. Chester Tuesday, October 11 For Patricia who is considering a trike as her first street bike: For Patricia, and anyone else who's interested in a trike, I would recommend taking a look at Mystery Designs. They make a conversion kit called the Tiltster, which allows the frame, front end and rider to tilt when going around curves, just like a two-wheel motorcycle, but keeps both rear wheels flat on the ground. It makes the whole vehicle much more stable. Li in Florida (note from Mama: how interesting! I hopped onto the site to take a look and will note it can be used on all HD 1984 - current and 1988 - current Honda Valkyries and Goldwings.) Tuesday, October 11 Dear
VTwin Mama, I've been looking for a Honda Rebel, which is the bike used in the class, or a Yamaha Virago. I know I can ride a Rebel at least good enough to pass the test and from what I've read, the Virago is just as easy but with a little more fun. The problem that I've had is that there was a mad rush on these smaller bikes when the gas prices went up, which means that the used ones are next to impossible to get my hands on and the new ones aren't in the showroom long enough for me to sit on and see how they feel. If I had to order one of the 2 sight unseen, I would have to go with the Rebel, but my gut instinct is saying the Virago. My common sense says that to order a bike that I've never seen much less been on is stupid, but if one more salesman tries to sell me a bike that I don't feel comfortable on yet I'm going to have to sacrifice them to the motorcycle gods. I can sit on both the Honda Shadow VLX and the Yamaha V-Star Custom and have my feet on the ground, it's the weight that I find a little intimidating with only 3 days of riding experience. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. By the way, I love this site. (thanks!) I read it before I signed up for the class and told anyone that I was going to get my motorcycle license. It's helped me see through all the well meaning, but mis-focused advice. Lisa Dear Lisa, Congrats to you and hubby dearest for getting your endorsements! Sacrifice every single person who thinks that getting a bike without seeing it, sitting on it, and giving it due consideration is ok . . . you have my express permission. Depending on where you live, I'll join you in a ritual bonfire dance and/or putting together voodoo dolls! If the dealers aren't willing to call you to see a bike that will exit the showroom quickly, why not set up a tent on their doorstep! Ok, not so practical! How about doing a search for a motorcycle show in your area . . . many are held during winter months . . . check Motorcycle Events for listings . . . a great way to see many bike make/models under one roof and well worth a bit of travel time to go see! I can appreciate that the mid-range bikes have a weight that's intimidating at this point. The answer is: you have to dig deep into your gut instinct and decide if you think you would greatly benefit getting practice time on a smaller bike first before graduating to a bigger bike, or if you think you could get a bigger bike right off the bat and take it to an empty, distraction-free parking lot to run through the drills you learned in your course and work on learning the handling characteristics before graduating to the streets. I know you're chomping at the bit to get a bike . . . but now is the time to have patience and formulate your battle plan in light of bikes that disappear as fast as they appear! Mama Tuesday, October 11 For S. Lockhart who reported she failed her course three times and needed advice: Learning how to ride safely can be frustrating, but well worth the effort! When I took the MSF class through Harley Davidsons Rider's Edge program, it ranked right up there with some of the hardest days in my life, so you can understand my disappointment when I failed my initial DMV exam for stalling two feet off of the starting line. However, the next week I returned and managed to pass even though I had fear in the back of my head the entire time. As they say, practice makes perfect . . . but also a safety net of some seasoned riders can make you feel more comfortable. I agree with VTwin Mamas suggestion of checking out local riding organizations and groups to meet more people who ride. The Women on Wheels organization changed my life and Ive met some incredible women and gained some valuable experience in riding and in life! Candy Kitten -- Chrome Kitten Cruisers, Chicago, a WOW chapter (note from Mama: thanks for your message of support and noting the difference joining a specific women's riding organization made to your riding experience! Additional women's riding groups can be found on my Women's Sites page.) Tuesday, October 11 Dear
VTwin Mama, I first started out as you suggested. I mapped out a route around my neighborhood in my car and then had my husband follow me on his bike. Each day I was able to go a little further and a little faster, a few more intersections and then eventually out on the country highways. I did everything I could in advance of going, from planning my entrance and exit from the gas station, where and how to park and my route there and back home. I change the route each time I went to include four way stops, yields, lights, hills, school zones, anything and everything that would offer me experience at a speed at which I felt I comfortable. I practiced everyday that I could and in three weeks had my license. We each have different abilities and just taking a training course doesn't mean that you're ready to ride. Confidence in your own ability to handle the bike and the situations in traffic has a lot to do with it. Again, thanks for your positive approach and advice to new riders. Yesterday I traveled 100 km (all by myself, for the first time) to meet up with friends and ride for the day and then back home. Oh, how I love riding this bike, I should have done this years ago! Sharon Dear
Sharon, Tuesday, October 11 More for Denise who is looking to lower the overall profile of her Intruder 800: I wanted to offer my experience with the Progressive shock for Denise. I wish I were 5'10", but I am 5'4". One of the first changes I made when I started riding this year was to add a lowering kit from PCS for my VStar 1100. It was great while I was learning. It brought me down about 1 1/2 inches. I later added their Original seat which lowered the seating height another inch. As I began to gain confidence in going faster, I began to have harder hits over bumps. I could turn ok, but the lean angle was restricted. Nothing that caused a problem. I took another course to help with cornering and found I was starting to scrape the floorboards which was both good and a sign I needed to do something different. I called Progressive before buying the shock. They did recommend the standard shock but I did end up going with the inch lowered shock. I thought they were great and very helpful. I bought the shock from mawonline.com. Much less expensive but make sure you have the right model number for the shock you are ordering. I had my local dealer install the shock. The installed price ended up being about what it would have cost to order the shock elsewhere had I not searched around for a decent price. Bottom line is, I don't bottom out anymore and I LOVE it that I changed to the Progressive shock. The handling and cornering are much improved and it is very smooth. Progressive advised it might be a stiffer ride going with the inch lowered shock. I am 5'4" and about 140 lbs, so I figured it might be just fine. And it is. Go for it I say. I had a guy friend try my bike out and now he wants one. I hope this helps and ride on! Sandra (note from Mama: thanks for the specific notes on changing to a Progressive shock, it's greatly appreciated!) Wednesday, October 12 For Lisa who is bike shopping but the current gas crisis is making them more scarce: First, I'm of the male persuasion and I find your site very helpful (thanks!) and helps me to learn and get tips how to help my wife be a better rider (what a wise mentor you are!). Now to the bike finding issue. You are likely aware of this, but just in case, there are other places to go to look for new and used bikes besides local dealers and newspapers. There are several web sites you might want to check out for used bikes. E-bay, Cycle Trader (cycletrader.com) and the other Craig's List (www.craigslist.org then choose your city from the list). Cycle Trader is a place where many people advertise bikes and you can search for bikes in your area. The other is Craig's List. This is a free site in terms that you don't pay to advertise merchandise for sale. Many of the ads in the Portland area have pictures too, which I like. I posted my Virago 250 on that site and had more response than I did in the major daily paper here in Oregon. I had friends who bought 2 Honda Rebels off of E-bay several years ago and where happy with the process. They bought them sight unseen. Not something I would be comfortable with though. And I just had another thought. I bought the Virago 250 from someone from a Virago Owner's group list. I had been reading posts and asking questions about the 250 and someone said, I have one, you want it. I don't recall which list now. A web search for motorcycle groups using the terms Virago, Rebel, Yamaha, and Honda should give you many places to check out. And of course, don't forget local motorcycle riding clubs/groups. And my 2 bits about which bike. And remember you get what you pay for here. My wife had never ridden before and had some difficulty in passing the riding course. After much thought I bought her a Virago 535. It turned out to be a good bike for her. I got the 250 later thinking that it would help build her confidence. She didn't stay on it long before she wanted the extra power. This summer she put on over 7,000 miles on that Virago over all sorts of roads. And the last thing. I think it is better to get something too small to start with than too big. Too big and you may give up riding . Too small, you build up your skills, learn what you can handle and what you like. Ride safe, Kurt (note from Mama: what a wonderful expanded view on places one might search for a bike for sale! And I appreciate that you've strengthened the message about choosing too big vs. choosing too small when a rider gets started.) Having rode 6000 miles across the USA on the Honda VLX 600 Shadow, and also swapping over to Purple Pony Gal's Yamaha XVS 650, I have to say that the 600 Shadow is MUCH easier for a new rider to use than the Yamaha. The Honda is way lighter, feels like a much smaller bike. The Yamaha feels like a much bigger bike. See if you can get a test ride on the 600 Shadow Lisa, I think it will not feel much different to the 250 Virago. Kevin in Sydney (note from Mama: my research shows that the Shadow is about 50 lbs. lighter than the Yami 650, and for new riders, every added pound does have an impact.) When I parked my VLX and looked for a smaller bike, I remembered sitting on a Virago at a show a couple years before, but I wanted to sit on one to be sure. Like Lisa's situation, none were to be found, but for other reasons (03's gone, 04's not out yet). She doesn't say where she lives, city or country, but I'll offer this anyway. I called every Yamaha dealer in the phone book until I found one that had a Virago in the showroom. We found one in Akron; we live in a suburb of Cleveland, about thirty miles away. I also called dealers to find Rebels, Suzuki 250s, and Eliminators (125). Even though we are within walking distance of a Honda dealer, we always deal with State8 Motorcycles, also down around Akron, because they always treat us right and their service department is excellent. When I made my decision, they looked for a Virago 250 for me. They trucked one in from Michigan (!!!), I went to look at it, and immediately got cold feet. They held on to the bike for me for a while, I decided to buy it, and the rest is history. My advice: call around first to see who has what and feel them out to see who will work for you to FIND what you want. The starter bikes get snapped up quick anyway, but a dealer willing to do some footwork is worth some return visits, even if there is some distance involved. Linda C. (note from Mama: an excellent reminder that not all dealers are created equal, and finding one within reasonable distance who is willing to go the extra needed steps is well worth hunting for.) Wednesday, October 12 Dear
VTwin Mama, I want to thank each person that had encouraging words. I will continue to practice until I'm better at riding. Sooo! How do you like me now?! For those having a tough time, if I can do it, you can to. Keep at it. S. Lockhart Dear M.
(with much glee!), Wednesday, October 12 Dear
VTwin Mama, I got into motorcycling in 1989 at the age of 35, & taught myself how to ride. There were no beginner's riding courses then, & very few women rode their own bikes. I have owned 14 different bikes since then, usually 2 or 3 @ a time. I am 5' 8" tall, so the size of the bike wasn't a big issue. The first time I saw a trike was at Americade in Lake George, NY. I thought, "now THERE'S a crazy idea . . . he ruined a perfectly GOOD motorcycle . . . ," but after a while I was bitten by the trike bug--I absolutely loved the looks!! I rode a Motor Trike conversion as a passenger @ Americade, then drove a Lehman trike to compare. I preferred the Motor Trike's handling. Another reason for choosing that kit was with Lehman you have to have a machine shop cut down the driveshaft, etc., whereas with the Motor Trike it's not necessary. There's wide differences in pricing from one trike conversion maker to another. After exhaustive research to find the right trike kit for my needs, I chose Motor Trike for the looks, engineering, & reasonable price. I found a great dealer in Gorham, Maine--Reynolds Motorsports. They were wonderful to deal with & very supportive during & after the conversion. There's a lot of controversy surrounding independent suspension. I have read that it's better at slower speeds, etc., but those kits seemed to be much higher-priced. Trikes really seem to perform best on the straightaway. In 2000 I bought a used 1995 Gold Wing GL 1500 SE that I converted into a trike. My former husband & I did the conversion in our garage, about a month's time, after work & thru weekends, & saved about a thousand dollars installation fee. A friend did the paintwork for me, too. It took a few weeks to become accustomed to piloting a trike. People considering a trike should be aware there's more upper body effort involved taking a trike thru corners, etc. It's totally different from leaning a "normal" bike into a turn. I spent an additional $1K to "rake out" the front end, which made the steering a bit easier, & I've been lifting weights for years! It's irritating that a lot of people assume I am somehow physically impaired becuz I ride a trike, but it's understandable. A lot of people assume it's an automatic, too, or that Honda makes trikes. Riding my trike is wonderful, a Gold Wing has all the bells & whistles, & the Motor Trike air-ride suspension is SO comfortable. Everywhere I go, people just love the trike, & they're always full of questions about it. I also own an '04 Kawi Vulcan Classic 1500, & just bought an '06 Harley Softail Deluxe. The hardest part of having 2 bikes & a trike is moving them around to access the one I want to ride! If you're thinking about a trike conversion, be sure you take the time to investigate all the manufacturers out there, then you'll be confident you made the right decision. Even if you decide after a conversion that it isn't for you, trikes are making huge gains in popularity all the time, & you will never lose the $ invested. Good luck & keep the shiny side up! Lisa Dear Lisa, Friday, October 14 2001 Suzuki Savage 650 for Sale in Mississippi Dear
VTwin Mama, Friday, October 14 Dear
VTwin Mama, I finally got to do what I had wanted to do since we started looking, I sat on both the Virago and the VStar Custom. I did more mileage between those two bikes than I thought was possible. After much deliberation, and even more sitting, I decided to get the Virago. My final decision was based on my car. Let me explain, in the lag time between passing the test (failed the first time, passed the 2nd) and finding the Virago I had a lot of time to mull over the things I learned in class. I realized that most of what they taught, that I found hard to get a handle on, I did naturally when I drove my car. My head was in the direction of where I was turning, I looking at the road ahead of me not the stretch of road that I presently occupied, etc... I had been doing these things since I was 16 (I'm presently 38), but it had been so long since I had taken that driving test I forgot what it felt like to not do them almost subconsciously. I chose the Virago because I think it will enable me to concentrate on the learning and (hopefully) mastery of motorcycle riding and not get so wrapped up in the size and weight issues. I figure, if in a year I am so comfortable and in control of this little 250 that it becomes like driving my car (second nature) then I'll look to upgrade. There are much worse things than having to look for a bigger bike, aren't there? We now get to look for a bike for my husband, I think he'll be easier to fit, he's 6'4". I appreciate all of the advice. It helped a lot. Did I tell you I love this site? Lisa Dear Lisa, Friday, October 14 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear Bob, |
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