[eon]

Very very nice. Here’s hoping you keep it sunny side up. Seems like there have been a few drops on here recently.

[eon]

You’ve ridden 8,700 miles and not been rained on? I need to move to where ever you are
Riding in the rain isn’t so bad if you have gear that stops you from getting wet and cold. Visibility is my biggest problem with it. You very quickly miss having wipers to clear the water away. Wiping it away with your hands tends to smear it and make things worse (though there is something called the finger squeegee I have yet to try).

In the beginning my biggest challenge was not chickening out half way through a corner and hitting the brakes. Having the confidence to roll on the throttle and lean when I already think I’m going too fast was hard. Then later having the maturity to slow down and work on proper technique instead of barreling into corners so as not to look like a slow poke.

I sucked at the box in the BRC so I spent months working on that. Made sure to practice at least once a week. Literally took me months to get perfect at it but got there in the end and it felt good

My biggest challenge by far is overcoming the fear I developed after a low side. I still struggle with that today on damp roads. Are the roads really as slippy as I think they are, are my tires shot that explain my lack of grip, or is it all in my head? (I think the answer is A but it is something I struggle with).

Lee Parks Total Control is on my must do list but I will probably take an offroad course before that. Someday soon I hope.

[eon]

Hard to say why you fell but damp roads can be incredibly slippy. Soaking wet roads offer only slightly less grip than dry (allegedly, I’m not out there testing this you understand), but damp roads can be like ice. I live in downtown Seattle and every time the roads are damp it looks like the Exxon Valdez crashed out there. Does not appear to matter how much it has been raining in the days before. At this time of year you also have wet leaves adding to the fun. In short, try to keep the bike as upright as you can in corners. Better safe than sorry, especially at this point in your learning curve.

[eon]

I’m curious what constitutes “proper protective gear” in a Harley store. Not trying to be funny but I know what 90% of cruiser riders wear and it’s not enough for my tastes. There are also large Harley dealerships here and I’m wondering if I’ve been missing out in a good place to shop for gear? Might actually have to go inside one of them next time

Oh, and welcome to the board.

[eon]

I grew up reading my brothers Bike magazine and in the back of them they had a strip called Ogre. Now that was a classic. Can’t find much of it online which is a shame.

[eon]

I smiled when you called it a good book. To me it is the good book, the bible of street riding. Certainly helped me survive those early days and the lessons learned last a lifetime.

[eon]

Like you in my crash everything happened in the blink of any eye and all my actions were instinctive. I landed on my left side but it was my right hand that came down to absorb some of the impact, which makes sense I guess. Anything with my left arm and that would easily have been bent backward out of shape. I actually spent most of my time sliding along on my ass (which is a good reason not to wear chaps).

Be careful when you get back on. I was surprised to find the moment of my crash going through my mind the first time I leaned for a corner after my bike was repaired, which resulted in me wobbling through a few corners. Hopefully you won’t be affected like that.

[eon]

I agree your friends take some responsibility. I mean, if they had not blocked the road then would there have been any drama? But I guess the buck stops with you and you alone. I’m glad there was no major damage. In some ways your fall was similar to mine, slippy conditions caused the fall but probably aided in reducing the damage.

I’m curious though why you believe using your hands would have resulted in more injury. It’s instinctive to use your hands to break your fall. I certainly did and thankfully did not damage anything but I do wear expensive gloves (Held Steve).

[eon]

Hah, no such great weather in the NW. We’ve been having it very wet and windy. I was out Friday night and felt like a grizzled veteran just by the fact I made it home in one piece. I’m glad you had a great day though.

[eon]

As the others have said, just loosen up on the handlebars and be smooth and steady on the throttle and you will be okay. The bike may track around a little bit but will keep going in the general direction you want The interstate here has been this way for months now. Lot’s of fun at 70mph.

Be careful around construction sites as who knows what other crap is out there. Potential for lots of gravel etc. I went over a wet metal plate on Friday night only to hit a large metal object on the other side. Didn’t even see it, just heard something metal go clang. I honestly thought something had flew off my bike and I went back to see what it was. Just some several pound metal bar that had been lying on the road. Thankfully no damage was done except to my underwear.

[eon]

Ah, the joy of a new owner Was that 10:37 at night you were out there making videos? Hope you get to go touring before too long. That’s on my list of things to do as well. Somehow never got around to it this year.

[eon]

That was very cool. I kept thinking WTF was that at the side of the track and why are we not seeing them hit it. Very cool

[eon]

I have the Tourmaster Flex pants and have been very happy with them. I’ve been using them in all 4 seasons. They cost me around $100 from a bike shop. Not sure what they would go for online.

Of course, I recently bust the zipper at the waist but in my defense the store only had a size small so when I wear them over jeans they are *really* tight. Something I have to consider every time I look at a doughnut

[eon]

Kudos for not getting into debt to do this and putting aside the temptation to get one now. Looks like your old Dad has had more of an affect on you than you realized
Unless he helps you out it seems like waiting and saving is the name of the game. One thing that has not been mentioned is insurance and I don’t think that will be pretty reading for a 19 year old. I guess the longer you wait the better it will be for you.
But the longer the wait the sweeter it will be when that day comes. Best of luck!

[eon]

I’m 5’9″ with a 32″ inseam, I think I could manage the height but I would not like to be any smaller. I was thinking with a bike like that I would have to go on long trips with some offroading thrown in. Most of my riding is day trips and I live in the middle of a city. It’s not the ideal urban bike

[Author]

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