- This topic has 85 replies, 22 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 3 months ago by RoboChrist.
Ready to be flamed…
-
AuthorPosts
-
September 25, 2008 at 2:40 pm #12735Clenzer72Participant
Any updates?
I’m curious to see how the riding is going?September 25, 2008 at 6:04 pm #12749ranetteParticipantClenzer, thanks for the interest. I pretty much decided not to update the thread simply because it seemed as if the prevailing view on the board was that if I was making progress it might lead others into an incorrect choice as they might not take into account some of the factors in my favor(location, maturity, etc.). However, I’m still on the board and still make an occasional comment in another thread.
As for my riding, since you asked…still taking things very slowly, STILL have ridden the scooter faster than the Duc. However I think things are going very well. Every day I get a little more comfortable, pulling out into traffic-light Vermont traffic by the way-is no longer a daunting task, rather an every day occurrence. The hour or so I put aside to ride is my best hour of the day. I make time to practice low speed maneuvers, quick stops, and starts on steep uphills(as I mentioned I do live in Vermont) in parking lots and then ride to one of our neighboring towns on a different road every day. So far nothing has come up that has been beyond my skill set. Am I developing skills at a slower pace than I would on a smaller bike? I do not have a clue. Am I developing skills and muscle memory? Absolutely. Am I a danger to myself or others on the road? I truly do not believe so.
Please, please, no more comments on what I don’t know. To paraphrase Donald Rumsfeld(I wouldn’t believe I’d ever do that) I know that there are both known unknowns and unknown unknowns lurking around every stretch of pavement and still, and probably always will, approach this as if I know nothing and have everything to learn. I have registered for a BRC in mid November and am looking forward to it, both for what I hope to learn and to finally see what riding a 250 is all about.
Since I won’t be updating the thread, if anybody has any specific questions about how I’m doing or questions about my take on a newbie on a bigger bike feel free to toss me an email at [email protected].
September 25, 2008 at 6:53 pm #12755smokeizfireParticipantWhat makes America great??? Freedom of Speech. I think people need to lighten up. It seems you can’t post anything other than the “mainstream beliefs” before the politically correct-ees swarm in as if they know you from a couple of lines they read…..then attack.
One thing I’ve learned about riding a motorcycle and being part of the fraternity of bikers. Everyone has an opinion of what you should start on. These opinions vary from the far left to the far right. This guy started on a 250….that guy started on a Harley……this guy started on a Duc. Different strokes for different folks. An uninformed decision is the dangerous one.
I think people are too quick to judge and jump to conclusions when YOU make a decision for YOURSELF, then OTHERS deem it as if you are making it for the whole world. Or, someone may look at what you did and do the same thing. There is only 1 man I know who came to live for the world. You nor I are Him(and that’s if you even believe in Jesus).
I think you should continue your thread and let us know(HERE) how your experience is with your Duc…..Good and/or bad. This is the bike you chose to begin on. This the Best Beginner Motorcycle Forum. I’m listening ; )
HE WHO DIES WITH THE MOST TOYS WINS
September 25, 2008 at 7:23 pm #12756ranetteParticipant“being part of the fraternity of bikers.”
Funny I was thinking about that this morning. So far I don’t think I’ll have any problem developing a real, not online, fraternity of riding partners. Most people in town who know I’m learning how to ride offer help and let me know that they’re ready to go for a ride any time I feel ready to join them. However as far as an online fraternity, simply to ask advice of those more experienced than myself, I do feel kind of stranded. The Ducati forums are no place to ask stupid newbie questions, most discussions center on performance upgrades and the like, but I feel that any answer that I might get here is probably going to have the disclaimer, “well that would be my advice if you’d started on the proper bike.” Not complaining, for all I know if I had started on a smaller bike I might be just as zealous in my views, just stating how I feel.
September 25, 2008 at 8:14 pm #12757Clenzer72ParticipantGlad to here it’s going well.
September 25, 2008 at 8:42 pm #12758RupmiscParticipantRanette, if you have tried it and don’t like it, no problem. If you haven’t tried it, you might want to take a look at http://nedoc.org/forums/index.php which is the New England Desmo Owners Club. They have been very nice to this newbie, and I’m only thinking about buying a Ducati. My questions definitely qualify as Newbie and people are down right enthusiastic.
Good luck.
September 25, 2008 at 9:10 pm #12759AndrewParticipantIf you have specific riding questions then ask away. As a fellow noob I am happy to see questions that I may be able to help with or may be able to learn about.
September 25, 2008 at 11:23 pm #12763ranetteParticipantThanks Rupmisc. I found that site yesterday, registered but didn’t get a chance to introduce myself. I will within a few days. Also, thanks to Ben for permitting links to other helpful sites. Some other boards would filet your manly parts for daring to post a link to another board.
September 25, 2008 at 11:24 pm #12764ranetteParticipantThanks for the good words,
Randy
September 26, 2008 at 12:18 am #12765RupmiscParticipantNormally, I wouldn’t expect an enthusiast’s forum to object to connecting with other enthusiasts.
Also (and given some of the threads lately I’m telling you right up front that what follows is humor)…My manly parts are safer here than they will be if I buy that 696, on several levels. I wouldn’t be surprised if there wouldn’t even be some gratitude if there were fewer Ducati questions here.
September 26, 2008 at 2:30 pm #12789ranetteParticipantAll right, about 2 1/2 weeks in and I’ll give some impressions on how I feel about my decision. More specifically about my bike rather than specifics about my riding. I stress that if I am satisfied with my decision that in no way means I am endorsing a GT1000 for every beginner out there. Many, many factors obviously come into play.
At this point in time I do feel comfortable on the bike and as I have previously mentioned feel as if I am making progress every day, and at this moment in time if I had the decision to make I would definitely make the same decision I made a few weeks ago.
My impressions of learning how to ride and that what separates my bike from a smaller one is the importance, make that the absolutely necessity, of very precise throttle control. One inadvertent twitch, one unexpected pothole could lead to disaster. The other big difference is that bigger bikes are simply that, bigger. 500lbs, 600lbs and up, quite a bit of weight to control at any speed but especially tough for slow maneuvering. I know that there are more differences, somehow I get the impression I’m about to hear a litany of them, but those seem to be the major ones.
If there is one thing that I have concentrated on during this process it has been throttle control. That is a matter of self preservation and as I’ve mentioned before I am no speed demon. At this point I can say I have quite a bit of confidence in my ability not to grab too much throttle, I also feel that one bit of muscle memory that has developed quickly is that if I do feel as if the revs are a bit too high to start to put in the clutch immediately to tame that gnarly beast. I realize that 1/8 of an inch can mean 20mph and my right hand is very disciplined. A few times I have hit potholes and the wrist has twitched a bit, maybe a bit of a jump, 2-3mph but nothing more before I put the needle back where it had been before the bump. Now I am not nearly knowledgeable enough to know the different types of engines and their characteristics but I have been told that power from my 1000cc is evenly distributed so it’s not all going to kick in at once as it might on some sportsbikes. I can’t say this as a fact as mine is the only bike I’ve ridden but I can say that the way I’ve been riding so far, the throttle, though very powerful, is also very predictable. I have never felt as if I had a rocket between my legs, more like a powerful sports sedan. People think Ducati and then think Ferrari-must be an Italian thing-my impression if you were going to compare a GT1000 to a car is that it is much closer to something like a BMW 7 Series.
The other factor often cited in choosing a smaller bike to start out on is the weight. My GT1000 has a curb weight of 402 lbs, a Ninja 250 is 375, a Ninja 500 is 434 lbs so in my mind this is a non issue. The size is very comparable to bikes which most have no problem recommending as starters.
I am not advocating the Ducati GT1000 as an ideal beginners bike. I am saying it is probably not quite as horrible or dangerous of a choice as some might believe, especially if you’ve got a steady right hand and a overall conservative approach to learning new skills.
One last thing, I reread this entire thread last night. There was a well documented dustup between myself and Amoryl which we quickly settled by admitting we both acted like asses, which we had. There were a few other posts that I felt were knee jerk reactions to the words “Ducati” and “Newbie” in the same post but I let them go. One post which didn’t offend me at first did offend me last night, and when I say offend I don’t mean I found it personally offensive, just that when I reread it it just seemed to be wishing not harm, but certainly difficulty, to anyone who might start on a larger bike, that was Budd’s first post. And Budd please don’t take this as an attack, it is in no way meant as one, but you wrote “What I hope to hear is, “man, this is tough, I should have started smaller.” Aren’t we all in this together trying to get better for ourselves and any others on the road? Shouldn’t what you had hoped to hear from me be what you have been hearing from me, “It’s going great for me, I’m progressing, though I realize that just because it may have been the proper choice for me doesn’t mean it would be the proper choice for you.”?
September 26, 2008 at 4:45 pm #12802smokeizfireParticipantThat last line says it all.
HE WHO DIES WITH THE MOST TOYS WINS
September 26, 2008 at 6:04 pm #12806BuddParticipantThat was supposed to be as opposed to the next line. I wish you no ill will and hope the bike works out for you. I realize different strokes for different folks, but you have to admit that your learning curve has probably been slower than if you were on a smaller bike, no?
“I am the best there is at what I do, and what I do ain’t nice.”-Wolverine
September 26, 2008 at 6:30 pm #12809ranetteParticipantBudd I realize that you wished me no ill will, but what I’m saying is that we should all be rooting for each other to progress regardless of whether we choose the same path or not. What your line said to me was that you kind of hope I don’t progress that quickly and join you in your feeling that I would have been better served by starting on a smaller bike. Again, just a little thing and I realize you meant no harm whatsoever by it, but really look at what you said and tell me if I’m not correct. All I am saying is there is never one perfect solution to any question such as this. Just because the accepted wisdom is to start smaller does not always mean that it is the best solution for everyone out there. Having me progress at a slower rate might support your view, however, simply for that reason should you hope that I progress slowly? I think not. Am I rooting for anybody who’s starting on a 250 hoping to move on to a bigger bike not to be able to make that jump for 5 years while I hope to be a capable rider on my Ducati within about a year? No, no no. Everybody go out and learn to ride the bike you’re on as well as you’re able to, if that is the bike you want to be on for the next 10 years great, if you want to move up to something larger I hope that you are able to do it in a time frame that is acceptable to you. That is my sincere wish for everybody who might be reading this.
As for whether I’m progressing slower than I would on a smaller bike there is just no way for me to honestly answer that as I’ve never ridden one. I can tell you that I am pleased with my rate of progress.
September 26, 2008 at 6:48 pm #12813BuddParticipanttaken in context with the rest of my post, I don’t think that I come off as malicious. I gave my opinion, stated that I was interested in your progress, reinsured you that you would not be the first. Honestly, in the spirit of this sight, I do hope to one day here you say, “I should have started smaller.” If for no other reason, than to encourage those that are not as methodical and responsible in their learning to start smaller.
Anyway, you said ready to be flamed. I think, “I hope to her you say, ‘I should have started out on a smaller bike,” is probably just a spark. I do wish you the best on your bike.
“I am the best there is at what I do, and what I do ain’t nice.”-Wolverine
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.