Here is a clip i sent to a fellow lister about my motorcycle experience....
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I have been riding since high school...and have owned about 10
bikes at last count...with no incidents (now knocking on artifical wood :)
Lots of people never take the intro riding course offer by 800-CCRider...and
even less (including me) take their advanced riding course. Track days and
back road jaunts help with the bike handling skills. I read 2-3 different
motorcycling magazines and always read and digest the riding tips and mental
riding articles....cus knowledge is power. Thats is about as much as a I have
done personally to stay in tune with bike tech and riding skills and
experiences (better to learn from someone else's mistake or insight). Beyond
that proper riding gear is essential. I see lots of "squids" with brand new
150 rwhp machines with no gloves, hightops, t-shirt flapping in the breeze
and sometimes (and sadly so) a naive female clenching on, wearing high heels,
tank top, and tight stretch pants. Anyways...its better to dress for the
crash as they say....I wear roadrace boots wi
th ankle bone and shin protection, full sized gloves (no knuckles showing or
cut-offs), Aerostich Darian jacket in High Viz Lime Yellow, and Aerostich
pants, both have hard shell plastic armor over memory foam....(the jacket is
awesome...visible for miles...its the same color as those lime green fire
trucks...and cars can see me coming down the middle)...and to top it off a
red full face helmet. I do travel between the cars at above the legal speed
(25 mph) but several factors like personal fatigue or morning sleepiness,
weather, the angle of the sun on you and other drivers eyes, wind etc. all
play into what make a speed feel safe. I try not to take un-necessary
chances...figuring riding a bike is risk enough. Just pay attention, check
your mirrors...cover the brake lever with two fingers, don't flip anyone off,
respect others space, anticipate anticipate anticipate other drivers
moves...keep a safety buffer around you...always look for an escape path...if
you brake hard make a quick check in the mirrors...
don't try to impress yourself or others...stay level headed...look
ahead...you can travel fast and safe with practice....stay visible...don't
sit in blind spots...wave to friendly drivers that give you room...keep a
good relationship with commuters, chances are you'll see them again...and
stay smooth
thats about as much of a brain dump as I can do for the moment. I encourage
you to pick up a motorbike magazine..bike have come a long way...and if still
considering a bike look into the Suzuki SV650 and 650S...its a nice 70hp
v-twin...370 lbs...real tossable..non-threatening, great brakes and handling
and only about $6k new.
~Nanda
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