[japac1]

I hear you both. Today I purposely leaned farther than I think I do, but no scraping floorboards. I think I’ll handle it ok when it does happen. Still loving it. I bought a 2007 with the silverado package: windshield, saddle bags and sissy bar. I sat in the garage and stared at it for a while! I don’t miss my Virago; although she was very good to me!

[japac1]

Well, I bought the 650 silverado! I had to ride my 250 50 miles on highway! Difficult ride. Got blown around but did get her up to around 65 mph. Got to the dealer, sat on the 650 and took her for a spin. Yes, it’s heavier, but you really don’t notice. It’s actually easier to ride than the 250. It has a low seat height which makes me comfortable. And even though when compared next to the 250, when you’re in the saddle you can’t really tell. So far I’m happy. Will hit the parking lots tomorrow, but the 50 mile ride back home was incredible! Bottom line: it’s not unmanageably heavy, way to fun to ride, seems to be easier to handle than the 250, and looks great!!

[japac1]

I have a pair of Joe Rocket Pheonix pants. I love them. The knee armour is adjustable height wise. The hip armour is removable and movable and the pants fit true to your jeans size, but fit over them well. In the summer, I wore them over shorts and had some good ventilation.

[japac1]

Just my $0.02

I would understand Counter-steering and not rely on body english. Leaning your weight on the pegs is not going to get you out of that emergency swerve.

I agree with others about rear brake trailing in slow speed manuevers, however, like others have said, and which I always do – is to brake with both brakes – all the time. A good habit, you’ll want perfected when you need them.

I also corner using the “delayed apex” route. I’ve found it very helpful to see a little further around those blind curves, and it you get into the corner too hot, you’re already on a good exit line, less likely to enter the other lane or fly off a cliff!!

Good luck to your continued riding!!

[japac1]

That’s what I thought. I found a manual online (since my OP): Turn handlebars all the way to right, and then slightly to the left, as you lock the fork. But, it still keeps the handlebars (I feel) turned too much to the right. Thanks

[japac1]

Find a good starter bike and hit the parking lots for lots of practice…

[japac1]

Glad nothing bad happened. I am a brand new rider and still have to remember to keep a better eye on my rear. Looking at your photo, I wonder if I would’ve sped through the intersection. It doesn’t look like a confusing intersection: you have a good look at vehicles that may turn left in front of you. It looks like you don’t get a great view of traffic coming through from the right. Not sure what I would do differently. Good topic for discussion!!

[japac1]

I recently bought a pair of Sliders. They look and fit great. Of course, as was already said, they’ll be useless in a major crash, but for my parking lot practice and slow neighborhood streets, I think they’ll work.

[japac1]

Sangria or Ian: Have you compared kevlar jeans from other brands? I was looking at Draggin jeans the other day.

[japac1]

Thanks for the responses, as usual. I’ve been riding considerably more and practicing these turns as much as possible. I still find that as I am approaching a left hand turn (not as much with right hand turns) I am braking and clicking down the gears (not engine braking, yet…ok maybe every once in a while) but find when I am ready to lean into the turn, I feel too fast (I don’t think I am though) and usually wind up in the friction zone during the turn. I know that’s wrong…I need to brake harder and considerably slow down more prior to the turn.

Another item I need to practice is when I am clicking (or downshifting) I once thought I was now in 2nd, only to be in 1st and really revved the engine. I hope it doesn’t take long to get familiar with what gear I am in.

[japac1]

Agree. I had NO motorcycle experience prior to the BRC. Obviously, I didn’t own a bike. But I took the course, which waives your having to actually take a riding test at the DMV (still no need to own a bike), then after I got the endorsement, I searched for a cheap, good used bike to practice with. Found a good deal and started riding. Went to the local dealers to look for gear before touching the bike….Good luck

[japac1]

I think it’s because it would look funny with the mesh jacket.

[japac1]

I’ve been riding for only a couple of weeks. For years I would see the MSF students at the college I drove past and always thought about signing up. Then I moved to Texas (from MD) where there are bikes everywhere. I found the local MSF school and went to their web site a few times a day for perhaps 2 weeks. I was always too nervous to sign up. Finally, I gave in and thought why not try it and if I didn’t like it, I would at least know. So, I took the BRC over 2 days in February. Cold, rainy and a little ill. Otherwise it went fine. I called my wife early on the second day and thought I was going to fail the riding test. I actually did pretty good. So, now I have my BRC certificate and promptly went to get my endorsement.

Now it was time to look for the bike. I read a lot, searched online and decided on a Virago 250. My brother in law kept telling me to get at least a 750cc…something about the torque. I disagreed and am glad I have my small cruiser to train on. But I got ahead of the story. I spent the next several weeks on craigslist and Ebay looking formy Virago. If I found one too far away I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to ride it home. I ultimately found a 2003 Virago with 4000 miles about 2 hours away and the seller trailored it to my house!!

Next, I rode around my small street. I have a circle to practice on. After 2 weekends of doing this and feeling what it feels like to run out of gas and use the fuel knob, I said either go out into the street or sell the bike. So, I rode out into the neighborhood. Had fun. Almost no traffic. A squirrel ran out in front of me and once I put my left foot down at a stop sign right on top of slippery cardboard box and almost fell off. But otherwise no problems. I love my bike and really enjoy riding it. My issues to practice:
1. Cancel the turn signal
2. Better braking/downshifting prior to turns
3. Smoother starts and smoother turns from a stop
4. Keeping the balls of my feet on the pegs, not my heels.

[japac1]

I’ve posted this before (not sure if it was here.) I am a new rider with a Virago 250. I am a normal size guy. I can’t find a comfortable position on the pegs. I seem to constantly have my heel on the pegs and my right foot, for example, riding over (not touching) the brake lever. My left foot is usually under or over the shift lever, but I have started to rest the ball of that foot on the pegs. It just seems uncomfortable bringing my feet back to have the balls resting on the pegs. I thought about boards or wider pegs, but I am pretty sure I’ll be outgrowing this bike sooner or later.

[japac1]

Got my “first wave” yesterday. It’s pretty cool…

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