[Munch]

Highways are boring to most riders as its nothing really challenging. Mostly straights and everyone’s going the same direction. Ride ’em long enough and you learn the turbulence of various vehicles and know which ones to get behind and which ones not to.
Some things newer riders here don’t seem to realize is the “sluggish” transition from straight line to merge or turns. It is very different from the dice offs you can do at 50 mph.
Remember pass trucks on the left, never if possible on the right. If they need to come over… slow down let them. Don’t try to race them. Watch the head movements of the cars in front and beside you. It will give you alot of warning on whats about to happen. I don’t care what anyone has said before, here in these parts throttling down or braking a bit will save your ass more then trying to find your speed to get ahead of em. Not gonna happen, chances are they are speeding up with you.
If your riding where theres alot of bridges…memorize them. In hard storms especially where lightning is involved it can help you plan some shelter.

[Munch]

That I am unsure of. I ordered mine online….kinda threw a hell mary with ordering it. The boots are really comfortable . Almost feel like moccasins more then boots. I think CycleGear still sales them and if you google them you can find them pretty easy. Oh yea….. additional side note….. far from water proof. If that’s a deal breaker I feel I should warn ya. Very breathable though. Also the shin guard on it, which is really the only armor it has, works well for the stray rock that will get kicked up by your front tire or the car in front of ya.

[Munch]

You can try boots like that of the Vega touring…they lack in armor but have zippered sides and Velcro calf adjustments. Other companies have a varying flavor of thier own design as well.

[Munch]

My only question is top heaviness.. I have no experience with either types of bikes … so I am learning just as the same as others on the respects to those two styles. I know some bikes like Buell go through lengths to keep the CoG low. The retro’s (however ugly I may think they are) just look top heavy to me. Personally when looking for a first bike and getting the feel for low speed maneuvers… top heavy would not be on the short list. Again no experience… just basing off looks. I could be very wrong.
I can agree on the aspect of keeping available parts readily available. Though anyone can dig online for such things as long as they don’t mind the down time.
Knock on wood I have yet to lay either of my scoots down. My 5oo came close and I saved/ man handled it back up. The 9 got real close to…came within inches of touching off on the highway bars, but again I man handled that one back up to.Both happened to be in very slow maneuvers and using too much front brake, kick myself in the ass both times for it. A mistake not made anymore. I always keep my checklists in mind now days . I think planning on the lay down is in the same spirits as gear is. Keep it in mind for IF it happens…not that it will or when….. but IF.

[Munch]

hmmm interesting….may take a look at it further over the week end. Thanks!

[Munch]

glad to hear it’s coming along for ya!…hmmm my only thought though is how this picture really does prove my point to my sport bike fan buddy how alot of them look extremely a lot alike.

[Munch]

Hmm…..funny…. I don’t wave to scooters….. only one reason…. while I was growing up in my area they are known to be “A drunk mans harley” and the way I see it , how fair and caring is it for me to wave at him and add more challenge to his/her already impaired mind by initiating a technique that would require a controlling mechanism be removed ever so briefly from the controls to wave back possibly inducing a spill, swerve, unscheduled get off?

I kid… a little. If they wave .I wave. They don’t….I don’t. I did however have fun with one the other day. It started off as a genuine thought of being friendly. He was hauling it done the road (as best as the scooter could anyways) saw me and hugged the line on the side. I looked at the speedo and thought ” you know , it’s 45 mph through here anyway, I’ll piggy back him for a while …give him a little more visibility to the traffic”
Well I guess the ol’ boy wasn’t a mind reader. He kept checking his mirrors every 10 seconds he had to spare. First side road and he immediately dove off on it. Now watching my mirrors I saw him bang a U turn and get back going in the same direction we were headed. I had to laugh.
OH yea… another funny little detail, he had a bright yellow shirt with a big black palm print on the back with a message in it and I quote :
“See ya later Hater”….. had to laugh at that one to…..not nice of him to pick on the lawn mowers he was passing ( I gest)

[Munch]

simple little device…windshield! Well for the cruisers anyways.

[Munch]

some times fashion has to be overlooked when there’s a need and a low budget.

[Munch]

HAh!!! Howdy….. Us natives are the rarest breed. I think one of these days we need to just all get together and have a tarheel meet and greet.

[Munch]

Welcome!

[Munch]

Good luck!!!! first and foremost… RELAX!!!!
oh yea and those full lock turns ….. practice them and keep reminding yourself to use the friction zone with rear braking …it will help “stabilize” the bike better.

[Munch]

6) One shape does not fit all

[Munch]

ummm…….sorry I am an ass this way but…….. what style of bike is tickling your fancy at the moment. Have you sat on any yet? MSF or equivalent should be the first thing on your to do list.

[Munch]

+1 The first maintenance interval is more to be a check up to make sure everything is operating properly and holding together as it should. Not sure what the 250 calls for but a good dealer will walk through all the fasteners and such to make sure they haven’t walked out, check the chain/belt/drive shaft to make sure it is doing exactly what it should in the tolerances it’s supposed to. Check the oil for excessive metal in the oil from the break in etc etc. Most manu’s that I have talked with almost require it to keep the warranty valid. Not necessarily having to be done by the factory licensed mechanic but a competent one none the less with a paper trail thats genuine and valid.

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