Wish List

Oh, my goodness, there's some cool stuff out there.  The frustrating thing is not being able to see it, touch it, try it out or try it on.  For example the Ubersprocket (Kawasaki Vulcan) is a bit uncomfortable for me.  I suspect that changing out the handlebars to modify the sitting position would have made the Sprocket a great fit for me.  However, you can't run to Bike Depot tocheck out your options and test them out.   Even finding shoes or protective apparel is tough... Bummer.  I'm looking forward to a couple of bike shows in the next couple of months and am hoping that they might fill some of that void.

Jan 9-11 in Washington, DC International Motorcycle Show

Friday is 1/2 price for women with a coupon which you can print here

Jan 23-25 in Reading, PA - Northeast Motorcycle Expo

coupons are on the website to reduce the $17 entrance fee

Feb 6-8 in Timonium, MD - Timonium Motorcycle Show

Coupons on the site or you can buy from some local shops.  $5 off the $15 entrance fee

I'm in the market for some new protective gear and I'd really like to be able to try it on live and in person!  Short of that I'll make a plug for New Enough.  I ordered 3 different items in a couple sizes each so I could try them on a compare.  The website takes its own pictures and customer service answered my questions by putting the woman who modeled the jacket on the phone so she could give me details.  Then, when all the pants had to go back and the jacket I didn't choose went back, they were great about communication and I had no problems with the return.

So! I impatiently wait the shows to see what they hold before ordering stuff online.

(Can she do it?..)

Waiting for the Groundhog

Well, it's winter in Maryland.  There have been two days in the 60's in December, so I have taken out the Ubersprocket for short jaunts, but it's always warm enough to surf  for motorcycle stuff.  Interestingly, my newest acquisition wasn't found on any of my surfing expeditions, but on a friend's.  Jon was surfing for plane stuff and accidentally hit the motorcycle tab, as I remember the story, so he thought he'd see what was out there.  Jon and I have been looking at bikes before and he knew I particularly enjoyed sitting on the Suzuki Boulevard C-series.  The C109 is bigger than I was interested in, but the 50 and the 90 are both very nice bikes.

The C50 is the same size as the Kawasaki Vulcan I have now.  The C90 is about the size of Jon's Mean Streak 1500, which he has always been kind enough to let me borrow (even after dropping it :/ )  So, I had my eye on one of those two.  Jon found a beautiful 2007 white and silver C50 not too far from where he lives in Florida.  Blah, blah, blah, Jon rocks and now I have a gorgeous bike sitting in his hangar in Florida.  

Luckily, with it being too cold for me to ride anyway, it's not too painful to have it out of reach. :)  But it does have a power outlet on it, so that opens up a whole new area to shop for!...

I'm off to look into heated apparel!

Wanna learn to ride??

I am new to riding.  I didn't finally realize a lifelong dream of owning/riding a bike.  I didn't grow up in a family of bikers.  I didn't see a motorcycle on the road and think 'I want to do that!' It was just a musing one day.  An idea that I put on my "List of Things to Do Before I Die" list.  (yes, really.)  One of those thoughts that crop up while doing taxes or grading papers or some other tedious task you mentally escape with the bizarre: "What would happen if I was being chased by some evil minion, crazed lunatic, rapist, or Avon lady, and my only escape was on a motorcycle?"  I would seem less 'she's-one-fry-short-of-a-Happy-Meal' if I said I was looking for something more economically sound given the rising price of gas, but, really, I needed to be able to escape some knife-wielding stalker in a dark alley when I had left my Glock in my other pants.

Whether you have sane or not-so-sane reasons (clearly I'm not one to judge), I highly recommend the Motorcycle Safety Foundations Basic Rider's Course.  In Maryland, and many other states, once you pass their course you can go directly to the MVA to get your endorsement.  No learner's permit or waiting period.  No need to be followed around because you have to have a licensed rider near you at all times.  You're done!  And, instead of trying to figure things out the hard way, you get a well thought out and very supportive program to get you on your way to responsible riding.  Some states now require you to take a course before being allowed to get your endorsement.

The class I took was in Florida, but Maryland wouldn't accept my certificate for another state so I ended up doing both MSF and MVA (#@%^!), but the classes are basically the same everywhere.  5 or 6 hours of classroom work which reviews the materials you were given for homework and then 2 half days on a bike trying not to fall over.  (Ok, if you fall over it's really ok unless it's during testing, um, or if you hurt yourself - that would be bad.)  I kinda wished I'd fallen while I was on one of their bikes, just to get over the fear of it, but, hey!  I managed to keep the rubber side down.  Maryland apparently supplements the MSF materials with their own info...

ANYWAY, while it lacks actual riding on the road, it was a great class.  Absolutely amazing teachers, a pretty well thought out progression of skills, and a lot of basic stuff that you don't have to learn through the School of Hard Knocks.  You don't need to own a bike or a helmet, they will supply those.  You need shoes that cover your ankles, long sleeve shirt and long pants and you're good to go!

There are other places to learn to ride, too, but this is the only one I have first hand knowledge of.  Search online for other options, but if you're curious, pick one and definitely give it a shot!

All this reminiscing about the MSF course because Jenny is taking her class this weekend. I'm so excited for her and I have no doubt that she'll do fabulously.  Break a leg, Jenny!