I picked her up today.
Congrats. (-:
First time on the road, local and highway, with any motorcycle. Some things of note for a first ride;
Look where you want to go on turns. I caught myself looking behind me checking for cars while turning on an on-ramp. I quickly realized how important it is to look where you want to go.
Important, but don’t forget to keep evaluating conditions even in a turn. Looking to where you want to exit a turn’s important but if you fixate only on that, you might miss that big bumpy crack or humungous pothole on the road that’ll upset your bike and… you get the picture.
Highway riding is for the most part easy.
Yup. But still stressful… Especially, during rush hour commute times. Even more stressful on a bike and dealing with pissed off cagers in stop’n’go looking to get to where they want to go faster than you.
I read somewhere that going fast in a straight line doesn’t make you a motorcyclist.
Not sure what the requirements are for being a motorcyclist. I’m pretty sure riding on a motorcycle must be a big part of it. Others have their ideas on what makes a “real” motorcyclist. Some valid, some arrogant. I find most people’s viewpoints on what a “real” motorcyclist is falls on the side of arrogance. *shrugs*
My father drove behind me and I kept at about 55. Hit 65 once. Only time I got nervous was when an 18 wheeler was passing me up on the left. I definitely felt the wind from the truck but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I will focus my practice on local roads.
A 450 is plenty of power. I can see me later possibly moving up but it is sufficient power for cruising on the highway. I was barely rolling the throttle while cruising at 55. I know she had a lot more left.
If your speed limit’s 65, ride at least at 65. At least here in California, driving under the speed limit on a bike is considering becoming an endangerment to other motorists.
I thought I would like standard bikes and I was right. Though its only been the first day and no real experience on a sports bike I like the way this bike feels. The only issue is my right ankle feeling a bit sore from holding the foot right above the brake. I might be able to adjust the brake so that I can rest my foot flat without pressing the brake.
When riding at speed, you rest the balls of your foot on the foot peg, not cover the rear brake with your foot. This shifts the weight off your ankles. The balls of your feet is designed to take that kind of stress and it aids in balancing in general.
It took me over 3 years to actually get a bike and now I have it. I am excited.
Indeed. (-:
—
If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now…
