[Munch]

I am a man for the traditional look. I have 11×9.5×6’s on my Vulcan….more then enough room for gym clothes. I was like you and heard contradictions on brackets. Alot of my decision to get the brackets has more to do with my commute. I Drive almost all highway and the back roads have few but tight turns. I neededed to make sure that the bags could stay on at 75+mph for more then an hour plus not get flung into the rear wheel on a tight turn. Just the lay overs give you a high risk of both . The saddlebags I got gives you options even with using brackets. You throw them over then use “quick release” straps that are looped through attached d-rings to be able to take the bags with you. Or you can hard mount them by running the bolt through the bag and bracket.
http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1=255&L2=261&L3=&L4=&item=TUC_10-8923&tier2=77
The style that I got but ofcourse not the exact ones….mine are studded and don’t have the rear pocket :^( I had to downsize a tad.

Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is a prediction, but today…… is a Bi**h

[Munch]

Both of em ;^)

Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is a prediction, but today…… is a Bi**h

[Munch]

I thought olives go in Martini’s?

Let us know how your final day went expecting higher (lower) marks then I. I scored a 13… I fluttered the throttle on the 170 degree turn … last 2 cones… doh! >< . And broke plane once in the "figure 8" hopefully you do better....but hey ...pass is pass and I just got my endorsement today.... I'll take spiccnspam's drink.... keep the olive. Friends don't let friends ..... wait... wrong public announcement.... ummm...... underage drinking is .... dang it....daddy mode kicks in....signing out before I start handing out restrictions. Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is a prediction, but today…… is a Bi**h

[Munch]

Good to read you are already heading off in the right direction by excersizing caution. Make sure to always ride your own ride. Peer pressure is rarely good…. even more dangerous in the bike world.
Hope your experiences is as addicting as the rest of ours! And 3 times safer.

Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is a prediction, but today…… is a Bi**h

[Munch]

I to took the Riders Edge version of the MSF. It is an awesome alternative to the basic MSF sponsored by the community colleges here in NC. The average waiting list here is 6-8 months. I got in the RE version in 3 weeks. We to got to do the tour of the Harley Dealership which at first I was kind of irritated at but didn’t mind a whole lot…. then I sat back during the 15 min they give you to shop at the discounted rate and watched. It gave everyone in our class who did not already have one (because they were brand spanking new riders) chance to buy helmets, gloves, boots etc. under the guidance of the instructors. I thought it was very very professional of them to afford the class that . Especially after the lady in our class went straight for a boot that was close to be a riding boot but not a good option. They really put the effort into making each part of the class a learning experience… even in the Tour.
In NC the instructors do the final review/test. Which is great as our DMV personnel here are very few and far between. They already limit their riding tests to 3 days a week…now convince the same government instructor to work the week end also. For some you may as well ask them to give up one of their many holiday days.
Mine was a 4 day course… 2 textbook and videos and 2 full days of riding. Through out all 4 days we were givin’ many a story from the instructors experiences. Of course being that they were both as good ol boy-ish as I am…..there were definitely many a story. Gives you things to think about, un-intentional pearls of wisdom to pick up on should you be listening. Heck even some humor added in.
Now DCJohn is only 4 hours away from my location…. depending on Richmond and Alexandria traffic. You can already see some of the differences.

Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is a prediction, but today…… is a Bi**h

[Munch]

Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is a prediction, but today…… is a Bi**h

[Munch]

“It’s tough for me to judge the speed and sometimes I slow down to much so the turn. But I think with practice I will get better”

Ride your own ride….. better to go in slower then needed then faster then you can hold…..

Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is a prediction, but today…… is a Bi**h

[Munch]

Saddle Bags!!!!!

Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is a prediction, but today…… is a Bi**h

[Munch]

Ok reading what you stated it just sounds like your time was boring and un educational due more to the Instructors and possibly even the other students then the actual quality of the course. With the responsibility they had for the disabled and hurdles they had for it. It can be understandable that attention to you was not as encompassing as you hoped.
Did you ask questions about situations that may get you to learn more? Did you challenge yourself in the riding portions of the course. I rode excessively before my MSF course…. although the most basic I knew, it gave me a chance to learn and practice slow maneuver turning. Since I drive 90% highway in my daily commute I needed this part of it more then the rest. I practice tight space u-turns so I can keep on top of my game in case on the many many back roads here I get lost I can bang a U-ey and head back with no worries. Parking lots have become less a concern also. Go in with “the mind of a child” and listen and learn. Even if the information seems mundane try to find situations that you may want to learn about and ask questions about it. They have a set curriculum they have to follow as certified instructors…. the course would be infinitely longer if they had to try and cover every situation you may come to . Track what your commute is and what you would like to do on your bike…… then ask questions playing the “What If” game in your head.
Be wary of broad stroking dissatisfaction of a program due to variables of reason that made your experience not what you expected. I to paid the $200+ and even though I knew most of what the planned course covered we asked plenty of questions, myself and fellow students, to get more information from the experienced instructor. I also got to experience the tighter turns at the risk of dropping their bike and not mine…….bonus!
When you go back… try to make the experience better for yourself and others…. don’t expect…. move it into that atmosphere. Ask questions, try to push yourself to tougher standards then just what they are looking for…. slow crawl lane….instead of the standard 8 seconds push for 10 or 12…… “figure 8” see if you can nail it in the confined box every time or tighter. Improvement comes from you pushing yourself , they are there to help you with the tools.

Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is a prediction, but today…… is a Bi**h

[Munch]

“Now on a different note, most would say if the rear slides out, you should roll on more throttle so the rear has an easier time getting contact with the pavement which I would is probably what you should’ve done.”

Pavement yes…. he was on gravel which is a HUGE wrong answer.

Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is a prediction, but today…… is a Bi**h

[Munch]

Todays oil is all pretty much standardized….your not really gonna get too exotic unless your looking really hard to.
In todays time of innovation mixing “synthetic” with “non synthetic” is ok… though the world still has a taboo about it.
All the API (american petroleum institute) and all are basic standards ,,,, kind of like calling medicine FDA approved.
the 10w 40 tells you the weight of the oil and so on….. unnecessary information unless your getting into racing and want to finegle with clearances in the cylinders and such for better lube and compression. It will also hep judge the temperature ranges that the oils keep their liquid like properties and freeze or boil and breakdown. Just follow the MOM on the 10-40 and if you have a question about brand call the local dealer what they recommend. Oil products are like drinks though …. everyone has their favorites.

Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is a prediction, but today…… is a Bi**h

[Munch]

I live down a long dirt road. I have intentionally gotten the rear loose in me in the gravel and I just let my body roll with it and get off the throttle. I do it intentionally to get the feel of it incase it does happen with out notice. Ofcourse that’s on my cruiser. Feet stayed on the pegs the whole time…..but that comes from 4 wheeling alot. Now a sport bike I can imagine is a whole different monster…not to mention the event of it not being a planned skid.

Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is a prediction, but today…… is a Bi**h

[Munch]

Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is a prediction, but today…… is a Bi**h

[Munch]

Heard a Buick at 30 mph can help ya with it to…. though…. stopping at the 180 mark might be a challenge.

Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is a prediction, but today…… is a Bi**h

[Munch]

Manufacturers Owners Manual (MSF anyone?) there may be a way to move or position the bike for correct level sighting… Mine, I have to have it perfectly straight up to get the correct level…leaning on the side stand don’t get it .

Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is a prediction, but today…… is a Bi**h

[Author]

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