[owlie]

Hope you all had a great thanksgiving, full of pie, turkey, and the optimal dosage of extended family.

Owlie

[owlie]

My hair is already short. Any shorter and people will start asking what my husband thinks about me having a girlfriend.

[owlie]

Congrats on the new bike!

Loyal to Suzuki cruisers to the end or at least until the Bonneville comes up cheap on Craig’s List?

[owlie]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on the bike. While, as Eon points out, it may not be the best choice for a first bike, what really matters is that you approach it with an open mind and the right attitude. It sounds like you made it first the first few weeks, just watch out for when your confidence comes up in the next few months and pass your skill level.

Best!
Owlie

[owlie]

No CFA to study for, I am your research assistant at will.

[owlie]

That is a sweet looking bike. I’m with your wife, a few butterflies will add just the right touch to change it from construction yellow to something fun.

[owlie]

Congrats on the new bike!

I notice that you are continuing with your black and white color scheme. It looks like it will be a fun little ride.

[owlie]

My problem is usually that my hair gets shoved down in my eyes, not that my ears get in the way. I just shake my head back and ease the helmet on from the front rather than the back (not sure if this description makes sense to anyone but me…)

[owlie]

Welcome to the group!

Eternal’s handy-dandy spreadsheet can be found here:

“>http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=rU4QBnyJGHjHiCQAtii4KeQ&single=true&gid=0&output=html

It hasn’t been updated for the 2010 models yet, but that sounds like a good winter project…

My advice on bike shopping is to go looking at what is available shortly after you take the MSF. That way you’ll have a better idea of how the bike will feel. Also, on the tailbone thing, you can get aftermarket seats or cushions to improve the comfort. Some bikes are notorious for having hard seats standard.

Best of luck!
Owlie

[owlie]

I don’t do any of that stuff, though generally people who ride in the summer are all over snow machines in winter. The only winter sport I partake in is snowshoeing which was a foreign concept to me when I first moved up here.

In the winter, I do alot of reading. Hough’s books are on my list for this year, but I’m going to wait until Feb for those…

[owlie]

“It’s more that if I have ANY reason to doubt full traction (wet road, cool tires, debris on road surface), I turn into the world’s biggest whimp.”

This is why I stopped riding for the season after the first snow, even though it didn’t stick. When I was out walking, I could see where the ice was hiding in low spots, cracks, etc in the pavement. I just didn’t trust that I wouldn’t loose it on something that I didn’t recognize as a hazard.

In the end, we all have to find our own level for risk tolerance. Yes, that level changes (both up and down) over time and through experience. But as we all know, you have to ride within your own comfort zone. Ride your own ride…

[owlie]

My next big challenge is going to be getting back on the bike after 5+ months of winter. They don’t have the schedule posted for the ERC, but it is high on my to-do list.

I’ll skip rehashing my trials and tribulations from the first few weeks that I owned the bike, but unfortunately, as late in the season as I bought it, I didn’t really move beyond them (at least as far as I would like).

[owlie]

That sounds like a blast. I’m with JTown- one more reason to try to convince my sweetie to move back to the lower 48.

[owlie]

Congrats on the bike. I love the can on it.

[owlie]

That is a pretty ride.

Congrats on 22 years. That is a real accomplishment!

[Author]

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