Topic: My first ride... (on pavement)

[Swede]

Here in small town Oregon there are very few pre 80's bikes running around and I get a lot of comments on the 90 and the 550.  Now that my 550 is starting to get the cafe treatment I have had a number of people at stop lights asking me about the bike. 

[smccloud]

Here in small town Oregon there are very few pre 80's bikes running around and I get a lot of comments on the 90 and the 550.  Now that my 550 is starting to get the cafe treatment I have had a number of people at stop lights asking me about the bike. 

one night i got 3 comments on my bike in under an hour.  i think a lot of people are suprised it still runs.  and this was in the town i work in (live 15 miles away).  its a college town and everyone wants crotch rockets (college students) or cruisers with drag pipes.

[Klark Kent]

one day you wake up and hope for the ass-puckering decreasing radius downhill turn to pop up on the next unknown road you decide to see where goes.  but it was only a little over a year ago when i was being spooked by highway speeds and unknown roads.  yesterday i was picking up speed after a traffic light on a six lane 55mpher  when i heard the tractor trailer next to me give a small hoot- i look over and the guy is yelling at me "you rode that all the way up from maryland?" (im in upstate NY) i go "yup" he goes "i used to have one just like it, great bike."  i  go "yup, thanks buddy," give him a wave and flip my visor back down, all while maintaining my focus keeping the fleshy side up.  they also tell me that most accidents happen right about where i am at now- confidence is high but i am still a relatively new rider. 

i wave at everybody except scooters, because i have never seen a scootist wave and i dont wave at tenspeeds either.  i do the two fingers under the bar, but am open to the GHOF open handed above the bar and almost anything a rider can do to acknowledge me other than that, seemingly harley rider exclusive, shooting fake guns thing.  dont point your air gun at me douchebag.  but as usual i digress.

[csendker]

Don't worry about the wave until you have some confidence on the bike one-handed.  It's better to give a big head nod than to crash.  I got my permit at 41, goobers-r-us.  And I now have two options to lock up my helmet - the hooks under the seat and the spiffy mirror-peg thingy.  If I'm in-and-out of a store, I'll just toss it on the peg.  If it will be a while out of sight, I'll use my super high security $0.99 lock.  Long term or nasty neighborhoods and I'll use the seat hook or take it with me.  The good thing about being older is that I just don't care what other people think about me anymore.  Besides, the riding jacket usually gives me away anyway.   

[smccloud]

Don't worry about the wave until you have some confidence on the bike one-handed.  It's better to give a big head nod than to crash.  I got my permit at 41, goobers-r-us.  And I now have two options to lock up my helmet - the hooks under the seat and the spiffy mirror-peg thingy.  If I'm in-and-out of a store, I'll just toss it on the peg.  If it will be a while out of sight, I'll use my super high security $0.99 lock.  Long term or nasty neighborhoods and I'll use the seat hook or take it with me.  The good thing about being older is that I just don't care what other people think about me anymore.  Besides, the riding jacket usually gives me away anyway.   

i almost always wear a joe rocket bright green riding jacket.  i have had many people tell me i'm crazy for walking 2 blocks in it to my bike after work on a 90+ degree day.  i just tell them i'd rather not have to fight to put it on in 90+ degree weather when i also have to fight to put a back pack on.

[Swede]

On the topic of jackets or lack there of I can't believe how many people I have seen riding crotch rockets wearing tank top, shorts and flip flops... are these people nuts or what?!

[smccloud]

On the topic of jackets or lack there of I can't believe how many people I have seen riding crotch rockets wearing tank top, shorts and flip flops... are these people nuts or what?!

yes, they are

[paxtonpony]

On the topic of jackets or lack there of I can't believe how many people I have seen riding crotch rockets wearing tank top, shorts and flip flops... are these people nuts or what?!

Those are what ya call contributors to the insurance rates.  You know for damn sure it's a matter of time before those idiots crash and when they do it's going to hurt and it's going to cost money.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Leather is cheaper then a skin graft.

[Helo229]

I had my first ride about a month ago, so congrats! Like a couple people here said, def. take the MSF course, it's well worth it!

I was so looking forward to my first wave. I know it's weird to say, but I had been looking forward to riding for so long (the bike I bought was in peices for 2 months while I had my license), that when the dude passed me by and I saw the hand go up it brought a big smile to my face and the only thing I could think was "Wow, this is it! I'm a member now!"

It's got to be the most awesome thing about motorcycles! Anymore you can pass 100 people on the sidewalks, walk through neighborhoods (even the one you grew up in) and you're lucky to get a 'hi, hello, how are you..' But motorcyclists, strange as it sounds, we're like the last bastion of courtesy.

Sure, we make cracks at Hardly riders, and they have some interesting names for us Jap riders, but never the less, there's still respect and courtesy when we meet on the roads (although a lack of front emblems on our bikes may have something to do with it  )

I dunno, just my thoughts, I'm sure a few of you feel the same. Congrats and welcome to the club! Be safe brother!