MOTORCYCLES
UPDATE: January 31, 2004I haven't ridden my bike since December when I took my girls (separately) around the neighborhood to look at the Christmas lights. Before that I took a 25 mile round trip on 59 in November late one night. I FROZE. My face and hands were so cold and both my legs were shaking! So, I've put the bike "up" for the winter. I ordered a windshield and got it this week, but still haven't installed it fully.
UPDATE: Sunday, September 14 8:12AM
I just came back from my first ride on the Rebel. But, getting started was a comedy of errors...
The helmet arrived on Friday. I was watching Fedex Tracking via the internet at work all day and watching my package move from station to station. Then, it came time for delivery. They went to my house, but, because I was not home, returned the package to the distribution center. You can imagine the scream I screamed at work when I saw that message on the screen. So, I ask my boss if I could leave early so I could go to the distribution center to get the helmet. Fortunately, he laughed at me so I peeled out of work. I went to the distribution center and finally got my helmet!
Friday night. I'm in my garage. I put the bike in neutral and turn it around so the headlight is facing out to the road. I'm excited, my first ride is tomorrow. I start the bike, just to hear it, turn it off and try to turn it on again. This time, bike won't start (picture me flipping out here). Okay, I calm down and get the owner's manual. It says, check your start procedure. Well, I do and discover I took MSF for a reason, I had it right all along. Then it says, check for blown fuses. Panic! I've never done this before. Fortunately, there are pictures in the owner manual. I open the right side of the bike and find the spare fuse. Okay, where is the main fuse? Ah, there it is, under the wire connector! It takes me a while to pull this out, but I get it and pull the fuse out. I compare with spare fuse. They look exactly the same. Okay, now what? Back to owner's manual and this time I see weak battery. Oh crap! I don't have a battery charger for a motorcycle.
Saturday morning. I call around and find a 12V battery charger and I get in my car to go get it. I pull into the motorcycle dealership. I am the only woman in the store, but I am not going to be intimidated. I walk up to the counter and wait. My turn comes. I say, I called earlier about a battery charger. And parts clerk says, okay, follow me. I follow. He shows me two chargers. Then he says something like where is the battery at? I had taken the battery out of the motorcycle and brought it with me (just in case) so I say, it is in the car. And he says to me, it's a car battery? And I just close my eyes, I am so mad. Then I open my eyes. I say, no, it's for a motorcycle. This guy thought I was so dumb that I would go to a motorcycle dealership for a car battery charger! I'm annoyed, but I buy the charger anyway and walk out, thinking just by riding a motorcycle and fixing it myself, I am taking a little chip out of the monopoly men have on the sport.
I get home, read the directions and start the battery charger up. The clerk told me it would take about two hours to charge the battery. Wrong. It takes eight hours. Eight hours later, I put the battery back in the bike and hook it up. The Fates smile on me. The bike starts!
Sunday morning. I get up at 7am. My heart is pounding. I get my license, insurance, helmet, keys and sunglasses together. I put the bike in neutral, sit on it and walk it out to the street. Then, I sit on the bike for a minute and try to think of everything I learned in MSF. I FINE-C and then pull the clutch and put the bike in first. The bike moves forward and I put my feet up and shift again...
10 miles later I back. I'm tired from keeping a death grip on the bike. Also, I am seeing a little more traffic so I decide to head back to the house. No reason to push it. Shifting is smooth, braking needs some work, and I need to make sure to turn off my turn signal, but overall, I am better than I thought I would be.
When the first car passed me, I almost had a heartattack. And I also saw a motorist look right through me and I was wearing a bright red shirt. I'm sure she won't be the last. That was creepy. I anticipated her move into my right of way and I avoided my first accident. So, I've started! Check back for updates!
UPDATE: July 2003
Passed Texas DPS Motorcycle Exam (100%)
UPDATE: July 2003
Passed MSF Basic Rider Course
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| 2002 Honda Rebel 250cc |