In April I took my MSF course after my wife finally persuaded me to take up motorcycle riding. I figured she would ride with or without me, so I suspended my belief that motorcycles are “Dangerous!” After I completed the MSF, which I HIGHLY recommend, I have since then been filled with an exhilarating desire to ride. At first I wanted to go out and buy a bike by June or July, but for financial reasons I have held back. Reluctantly in August I decided that if I want to ride, I would have to ride her bike, a Suzuki S40. I have since named him Samuel, after the Samwise Gamgee. Much like the heroic little hobbit, the S40 is neither powerful or graceful, but rather a reliable and trustworthy sidekick that never lets me down.
Since the beginning of that MSF class I have been on the journey of learning how to become a motorcyclist. While reading the maintenance schedule for “Sam” I came to the conclusion that riders are like motorcycles. The first 500 mile break in is the most critical time, because it sets the character of both the rider and the bike. Sadly, bikes can be replaced or even repaired. But based on the number of people who ride with minimal safety gear (you know, just a helmet because its the law in California), I have concluded that many riders are bad stereotypes before they have even started.
I joined this website because I have thoughts that I want to share and questions to ask. But above all because I only get to be a beginner once and would like to write these thoughts down, so I can look back someday and remember how it felt in the beginning.
Brian V.
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