First 200 Mile Ride on Honda Rebel
Well I just completed my first 200 mile ride from San Diego up to Idyllwild 30 miles of Freeway, which was also a first (I’ve done about 2 miles before). Then we hit the back roads and returned on all back roads. Did lots and twisties and got to practice my cornering lines (as I’m reading Proficient Motorcycling right now), it was lots of fun, every time I entered a corner there as a little adrenalin rush as to whether I got my line right, since I was pushing myself to go a little faster than I have before. Lot’s of counterstearing and I was leaning the bike over more than before. My friend commented that I was much improved.
Things I noticed about the Rebel on a longer ride.
1. After 30 miles in the saddle my butt was numb.
2. Quite a bit of vibration on the freeway it was fine for the distance I did but I sure wouldn’t want to be doing 200 miles of freeway at a time with it.
3. Some of the freeway I was on had pretty steep hills and on those sections I was maxed out at 65mph. Other sections I could do 70 or 75 without a problem. But 65-70 was more comfortable with all the wind.
I have a funny story, after we got home, we switched bikes to go to a restaurant I got to ride his 2001 Triumph Legend 955 (the bigger bike is starting to feel more comfortable than when I rode it 4 weeks ago) and he rode the Rebel. I’m tooling along wondering where he is. When he arrived he told me as he was leaving his house he went to put his feet on the pedals and they went right to the ground, he forgot that the Rebel was a cruiser.
Ian
.
