American Flag with Motorcycle! 3' x 5' polyester for $13. Click below and scroll down to Novelty, Miscellaneous and choose the Motorcycle/USA model.
Dear VTwin Mama,
How are u? Would u please teach me how to shift gears while riding
a motorcycle? Thanks. I'm about to buy a new motorcycle . . . I haven't
been used to it for such a long time. Thanks. –
Brandon Le
Dear Brandon,
My, my, my. Shifting is rudimentary. Pull in the clutch lever (usually
on the left side handlebar), move the shift lever into first (usually
with your left foot in a down motion from the neutral position) and then
slowly ease out the clutch lever while giving it a little gas. Repeat for
another gear (usually found in an up motion from the neutral position).
But quite frankly, if your skills are that rusty, I'd be more worried about knowing where the front and rear brakes are than anything else! Go dig out the owner's manual to review where all the crucial controls are. Practice far, far away from anything you could run over or in to, dress like you might fall and then go for it!
You might want to consider taking private instruction to relearn the mechanics or riding and then a motorcycle safety course -- that's about riding safely at all times and learning how to handle yourself and the bike in a wide variety of situations.
Gosh Brandon, I hope this was the type of info you were looking for. Don't hesitate to write in again with more info on what your situation is because we certainly are here to help. Consider checking out the Women on Wheels organization for the name of a woman rider in your area who is willing to give moral support. – Mama
Tuesday, September 25
Dear VTwin Mama,
I would like to take exception to your reply to Brandon about changing
gears (see original question).
You told her that it was rudimentary. Well it isn't -- that is the one
thing that almost made me quit trying to learn how to ride because I could
not get my hand and foot coordinated to work together. In fact I failed
the MSF course the first time I took it because of the gearing difficulty.
Fortunately, my mentor Phil would not let me give up. Finally after a lot
of practice and hard work I finally got things together and learned to
listen to my engine to tell me when to change gears. Even after riding
seven years, I am still not great with the coordinating.
I think you should have told Brandon to take the MSF course and if she failed it to take it as many times as necessary and not give up or let anyone talk her out of riding. Find a road or parking lot with little traffic and practice, practice, practice!!! – Bobbye
P.S. Also I would love to have a big
motorcycle flag similar to the ones that people hang out on the side of
their houses. I know you are in the know of the motorcycle world and
thought you might know of a company that makes such flags. I want one that
is not brand related, just a generic motorcycle.
Dear Bobbye,
As Ann Landers, my idol, would say, I deserve a wet noodle lashing
for not fully considering all the angles to the question of how to change
gears. You are right -- just because I didn't experience this coordination
snafu, doesn't mean that others don't. After all, riding in gravel still
sets my teeth on edge and others might not consider this a major biggee.
Your response is much more caring and understanding and I appreciate that you took the time to set me straight. This is how we learn.
As for the motorcycle flag question, I found this:
American Flag with Motorcycle! 3' x 5' polyester for $13. Click below and
scroll down to Novelty, Miscellaneous and choose the Motorcycle/USA model.
Readers, do you have any other sources for generic motorcycle flags that hang from the house? – Mama