[owlie]

I started riding about the same time last year as you. The guys that were on the board when I did can tell you that it was not an easy experience for me. I tried pushing myself too hard too quickly, and nearly gave up altogether in less than a month of riding. However, like you, I knew, absolutely knew, that I could do this. I just had to get over the hump.

You know what you did wrong, now you need to move past it. I think that the other guys are right- build positive memories and set your own pace. I would throw out a couple more suggestions-

1) take another riding course. Especially if you are at the start of the riding season, this will force you to practice the basics that might be rusty and give you some confidence. I don’t know about where you are, but the group that I took the BRC from also offers a course for riders with their own bikes and a little experience.

2) tell your sweetheart that you know he loves you, and you appreciate his support, but you’d like to do some riding on your own for a few weeks. This will completely eliminate him as a factor in your rides. You aren’t going to be trying to keep up with him, and you don’t have to think about whether you are doing what he wants you to do (speed, route, cornering technique, etc). If he is worried about you, tell him your route, how long you’ll be, and let him watch as you put your cell phone in an easily accessible pocket.

Best of luck,
owlie

[owlie]

Or too busy with the clutch….

Glad to hear she’s having a good time. I know it took me a couple weeks to work up the courage to remove my hand from the handle bars to wave. And it feels rude to not return a wave…

[owlie]

The video idea is very cool. My suggestion would be a tripod.

I appreciated the fact that it felt unscripted, but you had a definite set of items to cover in the review so it didn’t go off base.

I also appreciate that she pointed out the back zippers to adjust to fit different hip sizes (a problem I have with gis, but I haven’t tried enough riding jackets to know for gear).

[owlie]

Also consider that since this has to do with beginner bikes, the consensus tends to be that the Ninja 250 has plenty of power for a newbie, but there isn’t a 250 version of the GS500.

[owlie]

Glad to hear that you are having a good time out. We still have plenty of grit and sand on the streets and unfortunately, we have gotten spring snow showers rather than spring rain.

[owlie]

That is pretty sweet. But I think I like walking.

[owlie]

Welcome to the group. Congratulations on joining the military. We appreciate your commitment to serve.

My first suggestion is to wait until after Basic to see where they are going to send you before making any major purchases. It would be a shame to have that nice shiny new bike sitting in storage while you are sitting in a desert.

My second suggestion is to wait until after you take the MSF class to decide what bike to get. Also, check with whatever base you are going to end up at to see what their requirements are for riding on base.

As for the rest… I can’t really help you.

[owlie]

Jeff,

It is sad that you are unwilling to respect the choices that the rest of us make with respect to the bikes we ride. In this respect, I lump you unashamedly in with the very small group of Harley riders who hate any other manufacturer than their own. You are just as responsible for perpetuating the myth of the prejudiced Harley rider as they are themselves.

I really can’t believe that I am responding to this thread again. Eon is right-

Owlie

[owlie]

The whole neighborhood is like that. I don’t know who did the platting (30 yrs ago), but it is laid out like a lot of these new neighborhoods with curvy roads and culdesacs, but has too many berms, trees and underbrush to have a good line of sight… I have no doubt that alot of the craziness has to do with where the ponds were when it was laid out, but at this point, it seems to have no logic.

[owlie]

+1 I can totally see Santa on a Harley- its probably a trike to boot!

[owlie]

I’ll leave it to more knowledgable people about the old bike vs new bike question…

However- for Blitz- you say that the Ninja 250 doesn’t fit your style. Have you considered a Honda Rebel or a Suzuki TU250? Those are very different styles from what you have indicated, but still suitable for beginners… The Rebel is easy to find used, but the TU250 may be a little more difficult.

[owlie]

Hello and welcome to the group!

Our first advice is to go take an MSF course. We tell everyone this since it is just smart and good practice. It is doubly important for you before you buy a bike since it sounds like you aren’t even sure if you want to ride. You may decide that riding just isn’t for you after you take the class.

Good luck, and let us know what questions you have!

Owlie

[owlie]

What a pain, but thanks for the info. I hate being ignorant.

[owlie]

I could be wrong (I’m not military), but I think that you only have to take one. When I took the MSF class, we were told that if someone wanted to ride on base, we would need to show the completion card from the class. If they encourage you to take the class on base, it probably counts toward the endorsement. You might check into it a little more closely. Although- there is no harm in taking the class twice.

[owlie]

I didn’t read the Complete Idiot’s guide, but I imagine that it is very similar to the MSF book- ie covers the basics in a very accessible manner- from controls to safety gear to basic riding strategy.

I tend to agree with what you say regarding “Proficient Motorcycling”, though I don’t think that it is bad to read it before the MSF course. Just that you will probably get more out of it after the class.

[Author]

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