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Hi Mama, I have traded for a 2002 Yamaha VStar 650 and it is beautiful. Problem? I seem to have lost my confidence. I had dropped the Boulevard 3 times, two of which were not my fault but I have since lost the VStar on gravel - 2 weeks ago. I was downshifting properly to make a left turn from the highway but a car surprised me and I THINK I must have hit the back brake because I skidded. The crash bar was excellent and I even remembered to hit the kill switch. I did get back on and rode a few streets home. Since then I did a major 60 km walk for cancer and hadn't touched the bike for 2 weeks until yesterday .... and I had lost all of my confidence. I didn't work my clutch properly ... didn't give enough gas going up a hill, etc. and finally parked it and my husband took her home for me. I have been sitting saying I am going to sell but in my heart of hearts I don't want to do this. I am seeing the negative side of biking but I have wanted this since I met my husband in 1993 with his Goldwing. HELP! I am definitely going to print out your response to Sandy. Thanks for listening, – Patricia Dear
Patricia, So, I'm happy to hear that you've taken my response to Sandy to heart and will be heading back to a practice lot for some review of bike controls. This is very smart and will help you see that you've not completely lost your abilities! Yesterday was a fluke ... my guess is that instead of focusing on the positive, you had every negative possibility in mind, which caused an almost total brain freeze. When the brain freezes, our hands and feet cannot do what they need to do! There is nothing pretty about gravel (unless it's in a catalog picture!). For riders, it's a constant problem. Entering a gravel section requires that we're upright and the bike is moving straight forward. The gear and speed should be pre-selected and no other changes made. The brakes should be considered non-existent and the throttle used to maintain the most steady of pace possible. If you did hit that back brake, you may not even have really jammed on it because even a small amount of pressure could send the bike's rear end skidding. It's just that touchy of a "road" situation. So, when you return to the practice lot, I want you to use positive imaging. Decide what skill sets you'll be doing in that session and the day before and right up to the session, see yourself doing everything calmly with good results. If something isn't going right, take an immediate break, get out the water bottle, and think about what's going on. Don't let negative emotions gain control (i.e. omigosh, I can't do this, what's wrong, why am I not getting this, etc.). Instead, it's ok, something isn't clicking, let me think this through and review what I should be doing by talking it out. Then try it again. And again. And again! Learning to ride shouldn't be considered a negative side of biking. You didn't think that when you were learning to drive a car, did you? No, you thought I will learn this so I transport myself and I'll keep working at it till I do it right. I'm wondering if you've inadvertently put a "time frame" on when you think you should be a good rider. Many newer riders do this, thinking that in xx time they should be xx far along in their ability. That's nonsense. Learning to ride should be viewed as "here is the skill I'm going to work on and I'm going to keep working on it till I get it. Then I'll move to the next skill polish section." So, take a deep breath, and give yourself permission to take it one step at a time. Maybe even make a list of skills on a piece of paper and get out those gold stars to reward yourself when you've got it! Each gold star will be your visual reminder that you are moving forward with your lessons and working towards your goal. Gold star yourself into being a safe, confident and happy solo rider! – Mama Monday, September 3 Dear Petra, Please advise everyone to be very careful at night, even on the highway. And get to know the locations of you local wildlife. Up North, there are tons of raccoons everywhere, just waiting to make you go SPLAT! Love to All. – Mary Martin-Gay Dear
Mary, Yes, critter interference must always be taken seriously. The other night I was coming home from a ride and decided to stay on the Interstate rather than take the shorter back road run home as I know that's deep country road riding and the chances of critter encounters is much higher. Still, even on the Interstate, my eyes were casting left and right for any signs of movement. Even if you catch it though, some animals move so fast that you're left with few options. Thank you for the timely reminder though ... it's always good to review that we can't let our guard down. – Mama Monday, September 3 Hello VTwin Mama, I've noticed over the years that A LOT of ladies use this function (seems like about half of all the "tell a friend" emails are from women which is pretty amazing to me) to tell their friends about the site (and it's funny/interesting how the ladies will type a few sentences telling their friend about the site and why they like it and discuss some roads they would like to try while the guys don't include any message or something short like - "check it out" … thought you might appreciate that observation). Anyway, I was thinking about advertising the site and so I thought to myself that maybe a good group to advertise to would be ladies as they seem to be very interested in letting others know when they see a good thing. So I did a Google search on "women motorcyclists" and your site came up. Having said that, I'd like to invite you to check out my site (if you haven't already) and I'm hoping you will like it so much that you will let your visitors know about it by giving it a plug or posting a link to it on your website somewhere. I think you will like the site as I've been working hard on it for 8 years now and if you want to know more about why I created it you could go to my "about us" page. Thanks for your time and consideration and if you have any questions or comments, just let me know. Thanks, – Bill (webmaster@motorcycleroads.com) Dear
Bill, Monday, September 3 Hello again, On my Ninja, if I'm riding it hard, the tachometer seems to do weird things. The tach goes up to 15,000; redline starts at 13,000. As soon as the needle passes 14,000rpm, it suddenly jumps down to about 6 or 7,000rpm. Why does it do this? At first I thought that maybe there was some sort of system in place to limit the revs when it starts getting dangerous to the engine, but then I realized that if the engine really had jumped to have the speed in less than a second, I definitely would not have still been on top of it without a slipper clutch or something. So, I figure it's just the tachometer that's faulty, but then I notice a funny noise happens as it jumps down. Obviously, this isn't something I do every often, as I try to shift before or at redline, but in the few times I've waited that extra second or so to shift (when it's your ONLY chance to overtake that farm tractor doing 15mph), this has troubled me. Any ideas? – Skippii Dear
Skippii, Monday, September 3 Dear VTwin Mama, At the moment, I'm building a special like you would not believe. Please, would you combine a desired seat-height figure with an arm-reach figure and hand-grip height. Many thanks. – Peter Gregory Dear
Peter, I always hoped someone would build a machine that you could sit in and then superimpose the selected year/make/model of a particular bike underneath. Then the bike could be manipulated to show how to achieve the perfect fit through available modifications at the click of some computer buttons. Now that would be some invention, wouldn't it?! It would negate the need to sit on bikes and imagine changes ... thus removing guesswork! Ok, somebody get cracking on this concept! – Mama Tuesday, September 4 Hello Petra, Dear
Patricia, Take a moment and think back on the original moment of when you decided to learn to ride a motorcycle. In your case, you met your husband-to-be who rides a motorcycle. What vision did you have when you decided to try riding solo? Is that vision still intact despite the oopsie falls? Now take a look at the type of person you are. Do you normally tackle a project, give it your all, and come out triumphant? Are you disappointed that the learning curve of riding a motorcycle is more than you bargained for? What are you willing to do to realize the goal of being a confident rider? Ask yourself this question: "If someone told me that they would buy my motorcycle and I never had to ride solo again, would I be relieved or would I fight tooth and nail to keep trying?" If the overwhelming feeling is one of relief, then sell the bike, hop onto hubby's when you want, and give yourself permission to let go. If the overwhelming feeling is to not give up, then figure out the steps you need to move forward. This could include going back to the basic riding class and going through the course again (many do it!), asking those instructors if private lessons are available (some do and it can make a real difference), or planning baby steps to regain your confidence and polish skills one by one. I use to take awful photos. So I took a class and now I take ok photos. Every time I see a beautiful photo I wish so much that I had that talent. But I don't. It's disappointing but I have realized that my gifts and talents lie in a different direction. The point of this example is that despite my desires, my efforts didn't match up with my vision of the possibilities. Sometimes we start something with one vision in our mind, but as we go along, that vision changes because we learn our limitations or simply have a change of heart. It's up to us to be truthful about what's happening. Letting go can be as liberating as saying, "I'm going to keep trying." What's your gut telling you? – Mama Tuesday, September 4 Dear VTwin Mama, I have a problem. I took a rider training course but did not get my license because I didn't feel comfortable on the bikes as they were all too tall for me although the instructor kept telling me that anyone can ride any size bike. I am short and didn't feel comfortable not being able to touch with both feet down when stopped. The course teaches that the best position is the tripod position with the left foot down for the stopped position. However my right foot was way high from the back brake that they wanted us to use in the stopped position. I had a hard time starting to move as I had to almost jump up to get on. Being a real newbie (I hadn't been on a bike before) this was really scary and I dropped the bike many times (not so good for self confidence). If anyone has any suggestions as what to do so that I could feel more confident and comfortable it would be appreciated. Thank you in advance. – Cheryl, a very frustrated and terrified wanna be bike rider Dear
Cheryl, So, my thought is to call the course up, ask to visit and sit on bikes while class is not in session, identify the lowest seat bike, and wear those boots. Do you have a solution that will get you back in class with confidence? Make sure you get that bike reserved for you! If that doesn't work, then make a note on paper what models this course has. Call up other courses in the area and note the challenge you faced. Don't forget that some Harley-Davidson dealers offer courses that are based on the MSF. They use more powerful bikes, but ones that are offered in a 25.5" optional seat height (they use the Buell Blast). Go sit on one of those. Take that course if it makes sense. That's about all I am able to noodle out. Readers, any more thoughts? – Mama Tuesday, September 4 Hi Petra, 2) Our first destination might be Dear
Mary, Whatever previous information we've had on the subject can be found on my Riding Gear: Transport a Motorcycle page. There's not a lot there, but some links that may help. Then I headed to one of my favorite directories, the WebBikeWorld and found their Trailers page. It segments different sorts apart, offers an insight on what the Department of Transportation demands, and has some reviews. In my mind, for a covered trailer, I'd want something wide enough so when the first bike is loaded and secured you still have room to walk the second one in and handle the tie-down without having to be a contortionist. A built in ramp would be nice. When I was still in NC, on the border of SC, I was on the coast. Lots of the best riding is in the western part of the states. I'd take a look at MotorcyceRoads.com for some ideas, including Deal's Gap, home of the Tail of the Dragon. You might also want to check into back issues from Road Runner Magazine. They do a nice job in their articles! – Mama Tuesday, September 4 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
Anon, Wednesday, September 5 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
Susan, Wednesday, September 5 For Mary "Pixie" about choosing an enclosed trailer: Just one note of thought when purchasing an enclosed motorcycle trailer, is the size and towing capacity of the tow vehicle. So many times I have seen SUV/trucks towing trailers that are way too large/heavy for appropriate handling. Yes, the vehicle may have enough power to pull the trailer, but loaded with bikes the trailer weighs almost/more than the tow vehicle. This can lead to serious accidents! – Anonymous (note from Mama: good point! Even when I bought my pickup truck with the idea of loading my motorcycle in the bed, I double checked what weight it could hold.) Thursday, September 6 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
Jenny, If you haven't taken or signed up for a motorcycle riding course, this may be your first action item! It'll give you a chance to learn some basic road rules and riding skills you'll need. It will also give you a better idea of what you think you can handle on your own for those first 6 months to a year. 250cc motorcycles are great for those that come out of a course and need some more practice time on something smaller, or for those learning on their own (like I did!). Find something used, cheap and running. This includes the Honda Rebel or Nighthawk, Yamaha Virago, and Suzuki GZ250 (among others). There are some good comparison article links on my Type of Bike to Ride page. New ones run from about $3200-$3500. If you did well in a riding course or feel you can handle something just a bit bigger, than you can head to the Buell Blast, Honda Shadows, Yamaha VStars, or Suzuki Boulevards, which offer models in the 500-750cc range. Anywhere from $4700-$6800 new. I'd sign up for a class and visit dealers and sit on bikes (take along a notebook so you can jot down thoughts!). Some may sit too high for your comfort, so go to my Motorcycles for Short Riders list to see the best ways to handle that ... you'll be able to talk with a salesperson more easily! Have fun starting your new adventure! – Mama Thursday, September 6 Hi Petra, I rode for 2 more months and then got a 2008 XL883L Sportster. I had the Harley place put 10” shocks from Lickscycles.com on it. I changed out the seat to a Reach Solo Seat. I then took my men’s elevator boots from Richlee and took those to a shoe cobbler and he added 1/2 “ sole on them. I cannot flat foot, but I can ride. I also had engine guards put on my bike, and am planning on switching to Heritage handle bars so I don’t have to lean forward slightly. That is what a really short rider goes through to ride! Thanks for all the advise and encouragement. Your site helped me to realize my dream of 25+ years. Thanks, – Gigie Hyneman Dear
Gigie, Congrats on passing your course and getting the bike and many happy road miles to you! I'm glad this site was able to help you noodle out some things. – Mama Thursday, September 6 Dear VTwin Mama, The only thing I am unsure of is making the jump from my standard rear tire to a larger one. Do you how big I can go on this bike and does a larger rear tire affect the ride? Thanks! – Melissa Dear
Melissa, The standard rear tire is a 170/80-15, which means it's 170mm in width, has an aspect ration of 80% (so a height of 80% x 170 = 136mm), and a rim diameter of 15". You want to be careful putting something fatter on because rims are designed to support tires of a certain width. Sometimes a larger rim, and therefore different tire, can be put on a bike. Otherwise, typically you can go about 10mm wider, and a slightly higher aspect ratio (but that could interfere with the fender) but I'd double check with the local dealer's parts department on that one. You want something approved by the bike manufacturer (and double check on any impact on the warranty). Yes, a wider tire will affect your ride. More width, more traction, more traction, new handling realities in slow turns and high speed curves. Nothing that a little parking lot and road practice won't solve. That's the key whenever you make a change! – Mama Friday, September 7 Dear Readers,
Friday, September 7 First let me say that I just started reading your site yestereay and am going to subscribe to you newsletter asap. I am that impressed with you VTwin Mama. [thanks!] I have been scanning some topics and am proud of the ladies with the big bikes. I have a 2003 Ridley automatic 700. I love it. No shifting what so ever. Plus I am short (5'3"), the seat is only 24" off the ground. It only weighs 480 lbs so that's a plus too. I had never rode one before I got this one a few months ago (only on the back). I have 3,200 miles under my belt. I did take a MSF and learned so much more than friends could tell me. Keep up the good work. – Deb (note from Mama: the Ridleys are definitely gaining popularity and I loved the handling of it when I had a chance for a test spin. Other than this knee jerk reaction of trying to clutch my way through a slow turn, I was at one with the motorcycle!) Dear VTwin Mama, And
what about "scrubbing off" speed in a curve?? Back brake,
downshift, what is best, do ya think?? Dear
Kat, So, if you've in 4th gear, gliding in, having come down to 20mph, if you needed to speed up, you would have a sluggish throttle to work with, or would need precious seconds to downshift to the correct gear to get that oomph you want. For the same reason, most people advocate staying in 1st gear at the stop. If something behind you started going wrong (car coming in too hot, lost brakes, etc.) you could get out and around faster. Speed into a curve should be handled in the straightaway before entering the curve. It's useful to decide the gear and speed one wants, get there, and then enter the curve. The throttle will be responsive if a bit extra is needed or the back brake can be tapped lightly to bleed off a bit. Judgment of proper gear and speed is a combination of the posted speed, your experience level, and road conditions, and is honed through practice and more and more miles on the road. – Mama Monday, September 10 For Melissa and Susan on adjusting the VStar 650 clutch lever: I'm not sure what the difference is between the 650 and 1100 VStar as far as how the clutch cables are attached. But on the 1100, you just loosen the locking nut (looks more like a wheel) then turn the cable end nut to the desired amount. I had to do this after they adjusted my clutch for some reason on the first service. They set it so the clutch didn't engage until the lever was literally ALL the way out! A guy at work said they did the same thing to him. Hope this helps. – Michele (note from Mama: while this is the standard adjustment on most motorcycles, it is my understanding that doing this on the 650 VStar only adjusts the freeplay. If you try to move the engage/disengage point, you end up with a loose clutch cable, which is not right. Not sure why this is.) I also have a 2007 VStar 650 Classic and have read a lot of posts regarding the clutch lever problems. At first, I found it very difficult and certainly very different from my previous bike. But with a little practice it has now become second nature. Didn't have to get the clutch adjustment kit you mentioned. – Denise from Newfoundland (note from Mama: yes, many riders will keep working with a system that may not be optimal but doable with practice. I think I compensated for many things over the years, but with the advent of the Internet, it is so much easier to talk things out, and if a different set-up is available, it may be something to consider. Yahoo to the Internet!) Monday, September 10 Dear VTwin Mama, Everything was going great until one day when I was riding home from work, I was approaching an intersection. I was driving approx. 40mph and was approx. 15' away from the intersection when the lights turned yellow. There was a car that was sitting in the middle of the intersection getting ready to turn and I got scared so I jammed on the front and the back brake, as you can guess I fishtailed pretty bad, but thankfully did not spill the bike. I guess my question to you, is what is the best way to approach an intersection and if I need to brake, what is the best procedure to do so to avoid a highside or fishtailing? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for your help and I love the site!! : ) – Sally Dear
Sally, However, you judged it differently on the motorcycle and I think it has to do with the fact that as riders we are more vulnerable. In that second where you made the decision to brake instead, I'm pretty sure you registered that it was possible that the car waiting to turn may or may not see you (you've heard many stories about cars that don't see us even when we are right in their straight line view). In scanning one's environment, subtle clues come into play. I would have noted that car in the turning lane and registered whether they appeared impatient. You know the type, then keep inching forward and brake, brake, brake .... waiting for when they can gun it across. If I don't see them doing it, I have more confidence that they have seen me and won't try to cross my path. If I see the impatient moving, I might cross the intersection, but if I was in the left portion of my lane, I would have moved right (the driver would hopefully register my added movement) and taken the crossing in the furthest point away from that possible cross. I would have also gauged whether I had an "out" beyond the intersection and/or to the right in case that driver did in fact do something to put me in a bad position. All of this plus scanning for any other vehicles that could cause me problems. It's a lot to take in! So you reacted by deciding that not crossing was the better option, but even stopping a motorcycle in 15 feet is dicey, as you found out. You hit your brakes like you would in a car, but jamming on bike brakes can set up the fishtail. Still, you kept it upright, so that's good! Now it's time to go back to an empty parking lot, set up some markers, and practice approaching that "stop distance limit" at different speeds and seeing what braking power you have without causing more of a problem. For instance, measure off 20 feet, approach at 20mph and see how much room you need to do a controlled stop with just the front brake. How about both brakes? Did you need 30 feet? 20 feet? Get a feel for your distance on this Fat Boy! Better intersection judgment will come with more miles on the road, but no matter how many miles you have, intersections are never a given. You're looking to train your brain in quickly scan ALL the possibilities and choose your best option. – Mama Monday, September 10 Glad to see you're still going strong. So am I. I've sold a couple of my bikes and settled happily on two Buells. I still ride the Blast to work and recommend it to beginners, small people like me, and those who want to save some bucks at the gas pump. My other Buell is a Lightning Long, which is a little tall even with a lowering seat from Sargeant's, but I'm talking to my mechanic about lowering it a bit more with custom shocks. I like the handling and transmission, seating position, everything. It's no slouch on fuel economy also. Thanks again for all your encouragement during my low period (sometimes at ground level). Viva la V-Twin Mama. Regards, – Sarah (note from Mama: how wonderful to hear that you've doing well on your Buell and I'm glad I could be of help when things weren't going quite as smoothly! Another think I like about the Buells is that riding courses offered by Harley-Davidson dealers use the Buell for training, so it's a good opportunity to see how you like it and where to go from there if desired!) Monday, September 10 Dear Mama, My husband has taken me out to the local college several times to get me used to my bike & I feel I have done real well; in FIRST!!! My problem is shifting. I have very short feet; my left heel gets caught behind the shifter. We have searched all over for boots that have no heel & good traction, but have not found anything that is within a reasonable amount of $$$. I have asked at our local motorcycle shop (where I bought my bike & my husband bought his earlier this year) about a shorter shifter, but they couldn't come up with anything either. Any suggestions or insights? I have thought about floorboards, but until I get through the Safety Course I would rather stick to what I will be used to (standard peg & shifter). My husband has been great by taking me on road trips with my bike, but I am soooo wanting to get out there and ride freely... Thanks, – Anonymous Dear
Anon, Riding boots without heel is difficult to find, especially one that still has that traction sole that is so useful for pushing a bike around while sitting on it. Readers, did we find anything useful lately? – Mama Monday, September 10 Dear VTwin Mama, Yesterday I finished the Motorcycle course, with a passing grade and confidence. I got home and told my husband "Let's go." While taking my bike out of the garage, I dumped it (it was on an incline and the bike stalled). Luckily into the grass, but it did scrape my leg a bit. After we got it picked up my husband took it around the block, to make sure it was okay for me to ride. My confidence was shaken. I did fine in the class but then laid down my own bike 5 foot from the house, so instead of "riding" we went to a parking lot and practiced some more. How do you know when you are ready for the road? According to the state I can have a license, but I'm not so sure. – A Little Nervous Dear
A Little Nervous, And you are on the right track! You've found a practice lot nearby and have begun redoing all your course drills but on the "new" beastie. This is good. Keep practicing. The more you get in an empty parking lot, the less lumps you'll take when there are other things, like traffic, to consider. Approach road rides much like the course, meaning that you should take things one step at a time. Pre-plan your first road ride as carefully as any parking lot drill you might be doing. Go in the car and look through your "bike" eyes, identifying challenges, obstacles, etc. Keep it relatively short and plan for an early Sunday morning ride, when traffic is typically at its very lowest. Don't tackle things like steeper inclines, gravel, etc. until you've got the beginning basics down. Keep it short and simple. Have hubby assist as it sounds like he's fully willing to do so. He wants you to be confident as well! Then, step by step, add a bit more, planning carefully what you'll need to deal with, talking out the plan, and giving it a try. Don't impose an artificial timeframe on your beginning learning curve ... good riders get that way because they took the time to practice and really learn about themselves and the motorcycle! YOU CAN DO IT, just plan your steps and build in little rewards along the way! – Mama Monday, September 10 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
Bill, Tuesday, September 11 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
Pam, Tuesday, September 11 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
Billie, Sportys got a bad rap on handling because of their center of gravity. That's where the mass of the bike is located (engine) and on Sportys it sits higher than other makes/models. This is important as it impacts handling slow turns and higher speed curves. But like everything else, one learns the nuances of the specific handling characteristics of a motorcycle and gets on with it! Comfort is specific to the rider and there are lots of solutions. Everything from the seat to the position of the handlebar, etc. Hop onto my Motorcycles for Short Riders list to expand your view of bikes that women your height ride and the modifications they made to make it all work for them! If you are determined to stay with the HD brand, there's been lots of chatter that the Fat Boy is a better choice than a Sporty. It's more ccs and heavier, but I hear the handling is so awesome that you would love it! – Mama Tuesday, September 11 Dear VTwin Mama, I do have a question I don't think I've seen lately: now that I am trying out new bikes in contemplation where to go from my Honda Rebel 250, I noticed that just standing some of the larger bikes upright from their kickstands requires some good upper body strength. Can you suggest some good lateral arm strengthening exercises for a (more than) slightly out of condition middle aged Wannabee can manage to help steady the beastie? – Biker Wannabee Dear
Biker Wannabee, So, first, let's share a little "trick" for those bigger bikes. Yes, if the wheel is turned to the left, it's a bear getting it off the kickstand and centered. Tons easier if you simply twist the handlebar so the wheel is to the right. Pops right up! The reason is that you're not fighting the front tire and having to overcome the side tread to get to the center. Take a look and I think you'll see what I mean! I always advocate exercise for riders as riding does take a toll on the body. The better shape you're in, the easier it is! That includes sit ups (as they strengthen the belly, which supports the back muscles), leg squats (because thighs are our best helpers in lots of different moves, including picking up a bike that took a nap on its side!), and free weights for upper arm strength. There are a ton of online sources for simple exercises, so get going! – Mama Wednesday, September 12 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
Bwire, Wednesday, September 12 For Billie who is 5'2" and looking at a Sporty 1200: HD's for shorter women: try out the Deluxe, the Heritage, or the Fat
Boy (as Mama said). I know shorter women (5'1" to 5'3")
who own each of those and they manage just fine. I have an 883
Sporty (2003 Hugger) and find no problem with the handling of the bike as
far as center of gravity goes, but I'm 5'7". I learned on
this bike and it has been fabulous for me. (Note: the previous
owner of my bike is 5'1" and she rode this bike for two years -
putting 24,000+ miles on it -- before moving up to the Heritage.) Thursday, September 13 For Sally who is learning about handling intersections correctly: Dang, I just had a flash back. On July 25th, 2007, the same incident happened to me that happened to Sally. Only this 90-year old guy appeared as if he was moving towards me and was going to cut me off, so I overcompensated on the brakes, fishtailed and landed some pretty nasty road rash in 110-degree Arizona heat. $1000 in med bills (I'm currently medically uninsured & unemployed) and a $500 car insurance deductible later, I've decided to go back and do my refresher course at the MSF. That is my suggestion for Sally & everyone else as well. Kudos, Sally for keeping 'er upright! R.S. – Tammi (note from Mama: I'm glad to hear that your ouch has propelled you to consider more learning! Sometimes we only find out that our skills could use some polishing when we find ourselves in a nasty situation. The MSF offers its Experienced RiderCourse, which is open to anyone with a bike and ready to challenge themselves, is an excellent suggestion!) Thursday, September 13 More for Billie who is 5'2" and looking at a Sporty 1200: I am 5’ 2” too and I have a ’07 1200 Custom. I find I fit very well on this bike and I don’t find it top heavy, although I only have other Sportsters, a Honda and a Suzuki to compare it to. I do have a 29” inseam and I also wear 2” heel boots, but I feel very comfortable on this bike. I agree with Rose on sitting on a lot of different models, that way you will have a better idea on what really fits you. When I first sat on my 1200c, it felt a lot bigger, because of the larger tank, I think. But, after I started riding it I just got used to it. – Lisa (note from Mama: thanks for sharing how you fit on the Sporty 1200 Custom!) Friday, September 14 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
Frank, Since my crystal ball is in the shop for repair (!), I headed to Google and thought, heck, probably won't get anything. Ha! Here is a Wikipedia page that clearly outlines models and years with the problem (info taken from a Motorcyclist magazine article). According to this, you should stick with 1989 and newer years to avoid starter problems with the XV750. There are added notes on other models as well. – Mama Friday, September 14 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
Naim, Friday, September 14 Dear VTwin Mama, I definitely didn't know what I was in for. My father refused to get the lowering kit, although it was apparent that I barely touched the floor with my left toe when the bike was stopped. He finally gave in after I fell off trying to stop 2/3 times, and bought the kit, and now at least, both of my toes touch each side. I barely have free time, but yesterday was a holiday, so school & work were out... came home to practice my riding... and I couldn't even back the darn thing out of the driveway. For some reason, the slant scared the hell out of me. So I backed it out extremely slowly.. then I figured I'd turn it around, so I could just go out head first, after doing so, I was BEAT. Sweaty.. and tired. I almost gave up. So I went inside, and surfed the web for "how to back out of an inclined driveway, motorcycle," and I found you! I read through a couple of posts, and your encouraging words "you can ride anything! just keep trying! etc." Really helped me. But of course, what helped me most of all was the links to "how to pick up a fallen motorcycle." That was it. I was afraid of dropping my bike! So with the tool that you lead me to... just a few moments ago today, I WOMANned up... got on the bike, hit the ignition, and rode around the block. I inched, and rocked the bike a little bit at first... like how they taught us in the rider's course--just to get the feel. But wow, I'm really pumped now, and I'm excited to see what other challenges come ahead. Thanks so much VTwin Mama. – SportyShorty Dear
SportShorty, I think you would greatly benefit from joining the VTM Message Board as well ... 500 registered members (since October, so far!) offer first-hand practical knowledge in a super supportive way. Even though your time is tight, it's a thought! Congrats on passing the course, getting the bike, convincing Dad that the lowering kit was a must, and having the courage to face the challenges. We all did! Many happy road miles to you as you live your dream and adventure! – Mama Friday, September 14 Dear VTwin Mama, I had taken my motorcycle training course from a local college. So, why not offer the training course like a college course? You will have more time with the instructors (semester or trimester) and more time on the bikes. Some people do not have anyone to ride with, so, this will help them with any problems they have and might help with the jitters as well. Also, I think it will help riders bond with each other. Just a thought. I know that I would pay for a course like that! – Tonya Dear
Tonya, I'm wondering if they haven't considered this before, but found the cost high and the interest level low, meaning that in any one given college, they would need x amount of registered people to make it work. Still, I would make contact ... answers are so much more fun that wondering about something! – Mama Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
Amy, So, what you DID get out of the course is a very nice view of the steps towards working on skills. Go to the DMV, take the written test to get your learner's permit, have the b/f get the bike to a big empty parking lot, and then begin practicing, starting with the steps you started with in class. Take it slow, take frequent breaks, talk it out, and keep working at it. If you want it badly enough, you will NOT give up too easily. You will be an adult, decide what got you goofed up in the course, devise a plan to work on your skills, and keep working at it! Riders who make it look easy have spent countless hours and miles on the road, and the smartest ones keep polishing skills and reviewing riding techniques. They don't get lazy or sloppy. They do respect themselves, their motorcycle, and the road. So, who do you want to be? Someone who gives up because it wasn't as easy as they thought, or someone whose dream is waiting for them and can be realized with effort, determination, assistance, and persistence. GO GRAB YOUR DREAM! – Mama Monday, September 17 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
Jerry, Monday, September 17 Dear VTwin Mama, I have investigated and found a supplier to install a Klicktronic gear change over here which is great. However, I can't seem to find any information on mechanically operated jiffy stands or dolly wheels to suit a Road King or any other Harley. Keep in mind my wife enjoys riding pillion with me and coupled with my 6'4" 110kg and her 5'3" 70kg and 320kg of bike, it would need to be able hold up a considerable amount of weight. So if you or any of your readers have any information they could forward on to me it would be greatly appreciated. – Greg Spears, New South Wales, Central Coast Dear
Greg, I think if you look at the Ghost Wheels system (from Safety Features) for big Harleys, you'll maybe have a more cost effective solution. You'll see the install manual online, so that will help you decide if it's something you can install or if you'll need a shop to do it. And of course you can email them for more information, see a demo online, pricing, etc. – Mama Monday, September 17 Even more for Billie who is 5'2" and looking at a Sporty 1200: I ride a beautiful 2007 Sportster Low. I am
5’…maybe 1”. And 49 years young. I have had this ride since last Christmas and have
put 5,600 miles on her. I love this ride … I REALLY do. BUT … I put a
reach seat on her …. it gave me a teensy bit more reach. I wear an Icon
Bombshell Boot which gives me a flat foot effect. I have put the
Sportster “apes” on her with a 4 inch riser but I still sit leaning
too far forward so I am just about to put 12 inch apes on her to see if
that doesn’t get me sitting upright with a straighter back. The ride is fast if I want it to be (and I want it to
be) and I think she handles great in the corners at speed. But I tend to
ride her as if she were a metric sports bike. Lean-Lean-Lean and lay the
bike over. I will say that the slow speed handling is more difficult for
me …. BUT, I am not certain that is all attributable to the bike size. I
think that my size on the bike has to be taken into account coupled with
my own lack of confidence in this area … though I do fairly well I wish
I could do better. I know that the height of the bike plays a big part in
this for me. I do not find the bike top heavy as much as I find I sit less
inside the bike and feel more on top of it (if my feet met the ground in a
natural way I think this feeling would be lessened). This, to me, is not
the same as feeling as though the bikes weight is too high. I don’t feel
the bikes weight is too high in terms of center of gravity. It is a fun, fun ride. BUT, When I sit on a
“cruiser” that fits me, there is just a different feel ….. its
heavier, there is a definite feeling that there is more balance and
because we are talking about almost 100 to 150 pounds, in some cases, of
weight distribution that would make sense. There is more weight down
lower. I would still have to adjust the bars to come closer to me and I
would still have to put on a reach seat …. but I can tell just by
sitting on them that it would be a more luxurious ride, shall we say. I am going from NJ to Monday, September 17 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
David, Monday, September 17 For Nancy who got a bike with Voyager kit for an anniversary gift: I just put one on my 2007 Sportster after trading down from a Softail
because I could not ride on two wheels. It was either the kit or
lose more money because I could not keep the two wheels up. I love
my bike now because I am not afraid of it. Check the Photo
Gallery for a picture – me and my fourike as I call it! Tuesday, September 18 For Amy who failed her course and is questioning her abilities: If it makes you feel any better (and that is the purpose of this response!), I passed the class with flying colors. That happy feeling diminished when I took my brand new bike over to some wide, rarely used roads. I ran up on the curb twice and dumped her, I dropped her 3 times trying to do those tight, slow turns, thought I was going to wear out my starter trying to take off in first gear, and last but not least, I went smooth over thinking I had put my kickstand down when I didn't. Believe me, those aren't the only mistakes I made - - I don't have enough time to note them all! I can laugh about it now, but it sure wasn't funny then. I wanted to quit, but my husband kept telling me to get back on. God love him ... he knew how much I wanted it. That was 5 years ago and I am so glad I didn't give up on my dream. I finally graduated to a much bigger bike and still can't believe it is me when I see my reflection in a window while sitting at a red light. Pretty cool stuff. So, my dear, you hang in there. We ALL have a newbie story! – Pat in Houston (note from Mama: well put ... we all have those beginner stories and they are as individual as we are! If you give up though, then that's it. If you don't, your dream can still be realized!) Tuesday, September 18 More for Diane who was looking for input on Frogg Togg raingear: I had heard from other riders that used Frogg Toggs that they were very good and inexpensive, so I gave them a try. I'll agree that they are comfortable and did a very good job of keeping me dry. One thing I didn't consider was that everyone I had heard who had tried Frogg Toggs rides a Gold Wing with fairings. I ride a Softail Custom without fairings. Of course, the right pant leg of the suit came into contact with the hot exhaust pipe. I now have two very ugly spots on my pipes where the Frogg Toggs melted. I do not recommend wearing Frogg Toggs if you have exposed exhaust pipes unless you don't mind your chrome pipes being covered with ugly spots. I should have spent the extra money for a good rain suit made specifically for motorcycle riders which have a heat shield on the pant legs. A lesson learned the hard way. – Phil in Kentucy (note from Mama: I had the same thing happen when I got my newest motorcycle and didn't realize that the exhaust pipes extended further out, so fried a pants leg while gassing up. Put some oven cleaner on the icky pipe spots, warm up the bike and then carefully wipe off ... should take care of anything melted on.) Wednesday, September 19 (an update of Friday, September 14) Dear VTwin Mama, I had taken my motorcycle training course from a local college. So, why not offer the training course like a college course? You will have more time with the instructors (semester or trimester) and more time on the bikes. Some people do not have anyone to ride with, so, this will help them with any problems they have and might help with the jitters as well. Also, I think it will help riders bond with each other. Just a thought. I know that I would pay for a course like that! – Tonya Dear
Tonya, I'm wondering if they haven't considered this before, but found the cost high and the interest level low, meaning that in any one given college, they would need x amount of registered people to make it work. Still, I would make contact ... answers are so much more fun that wondering about something! – Mama New Note: In wondering out loud why we didn't get any responses to this letter, it was pointed out that the Message Board offers a good format for certain types of letters like this. So, what I'll be doing from now on is adding a Message Board link under the Share Your Thought link below when I think the board could provide thoughtful input. You don't have to register at the board to read the chat, but if you want to participate, then you can register and join in! Share
Your Thoughts Wednesday, September 19 More for Amy who failed her course and is questioning her abilities: If I had a dollar every time I have told these
stories I’d have the bike of my dreams! Wednesday, September 19 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
Stacy, Most solutions are about the stiffness of the clutch lever action, i.e., more ergonomic, meaning that the pull and release can be "softened up." For many of the newer motorcycles though, this is really not an issue. One thing you can do right off the bat is to take a closer look at your hand position relative to the clutch lever. If the whole assembly is secured on the handlebar is such a way that it's causing an arch of your hand, you could loosen the assembly and rotate it down a bit, thus aiding your overall ability to operate the clutch lever. If the positioning is fine, but the overall handlebar is a bit far away, you can investigate whether a pullback riser would help. The OEM or aftermarket solutions for levers that let a smaller hand grab and release with greater ease are more difficult to research. All I can offer is that you'll need an enlightened person at the parts desk of the local dealer. By opening up their vast catalogs of aftermarket products, they may be able to identify a clutch lever that has a greater bend or is overall flatter and thus not as far from the grip. Many bikes offer a "dial" adjustment, but you would have seen that already if your bike had it. Some motorcycle clutch levers can be adjusted so that the engage/disengage point is closer to one end of the range of motion so at least your smaller hand can work the friction zone properly. For this I would call up the service department and put forth your dilemma. If none of this helps, the only other thing that's been suggested is that you take it to an independent shop and investigate whether they can heat and bend your current lever. It's been noted that this could weaken the lever, but a knowledgeable person could offer more input on that. Last but not least, the LS650 Savage is now called the Boulevard S40. It's useful in your research to note that there may be a S40 solution that would fit to your 2006 model. – Mama Thursday, September 20 Dear VTwin Mama, Anyway, after riding only once last season, I thought I'd better sell it or convert it to a trike. Did the conversion with a kit from Lehman and it's a beauty, but boy was I surprised to get on it. Not what I expected. I thought it would feel stable but with the added comfort of another wheel. I knew the stories about turning, etc., but frankly, the wobbliness scares me! I've yet to get it out of the parking lot! As soon as I start out, the front wheel wants to turn and I immediately react as if I were it were a two-wheeled bike and was getting ready to fall! I really need some pointers on riding this thing! My husband is so frustrated with me and with the $$ we've spent, I really don't want to sell it. Classes aren't an option right now, as there are none in my area right now. Thanks, – Kittie Dear
Kittie, Another avenue that I think holds a possibility is to visit Trike Riders International. On this page, if you scroll down to the bottom, you will see state-by-state listings of coordinators and other people. Make contact to see if there is a trike rider in your area who would be willing to come out and assist you. I'd be hoping that they could first ascertain that all is well with the trike itself and do some basic drills and address your concerns. Also note at the top of this page is a link to the message boar |
