Oh yes getting started! My brother got his second bike and my mind just said, that would be fun. So I casually mentioned it to the hubby and surprisingly he said, sure, you can get a bike if you take the MSF course and pass. So I kind of took that as a challenge, I think he might have thought I wouldn’t pass – BUT I DID! So I did tons and tons of research on what kind of bike I wanted. I already knew I probably did not want a sports bike, I had sat on my brother’s Yamaha R6 and didn’t like the lower back breaking feeling of leaning over so far plus I didn’t really need to go that fast anyways. I really, really liked the Triumph Bonneville T-100 for the looks but I decided I didn’t need a $9000.00 brand new 800 cc bike for my first try so I ended up with a Suzuki Savage – USED. I love that thing it is so perfect for me.
Then the first time I rode it to work people kept telling me these horrible stories about accidents and people they know who died on their bikes. I was in such a panic that I was going to die on the way home that I had to find a way to calm down before the end of the work day since I live 30 miles from work so then I did TONS of research on statistical stuff and advice on how to ride the safest and all that ( thank goodness we were slow that day at work). Which actually was a good thing because I then found some tips I really liked about riding in traffic and where to position myself. I also read an article on HOW TO CRASH which I found interesting and like I might have a chance of surviving maybe. yeah. Then I rode my bike home and I was fine.
For my gear, I had already purchased a white helmet and white riding jacket because I had read that I would be more visible in white, although, I don’t really depend on that but if it helps…. Like someone said above, looking cool was a LOW priority! I look cool anyways, doesn’t matter what I wear, ha ha!
My first very short season out (Sept – Nov) I made a few rookie mistakes, learned from them and kept going! I love it!
