Sienna Brick Road

Archive for the ‘Motorcycles’ Category

I have recently been discussing falling off of the motorcycle with some riding friends and I have to report I went down on my new bike on Sunday on the way to a rally. I know that none of us want to hear that another member has fallen off (well I guess that depends on the person ) but sometimes it does help to know you are not the first or the last to have to deal with dropping the bike.

I have been riding my first bike, a 650 Vstar since I bought it new in 2006. In April I bought my dream bike, a Honda Valkyrie. It is too big for me and I have been doing mods to make it fit me better so I can ride. The bike is so much different then my little 650. Its longer, taller and much heavier and much more powerful. My leg position is a lot different and the clutch is harder to squeeze. I know how to ride the 650 and I am quite comfortable and confident in any situation that comes up on it. So if I had progressed from 0-10 on the small bike, when I get on the bigger bike I drop instantly back to a 3 or 4. All the old familiar fears come back when I take the big one out. Heart jumps out of my chest frequently. The advantage is that I know how to ride a motorcycle, I just have to learn how to ride THIS motorcycle. Another advantage is that I really WANT to. I love this bike, but I also love my limbs so I have to be realistic and take it slow as I can.

What happened on Sunday was a rookie mistake and I know better. But my nervousness and lack of confidence on the bigger bike made me forget the rule. I missed the highway turn off so I had to turn around. I did not feel confident making a U turn because of the small highway I was on, my lack of skill on the new bike and the amount of traffic. So I made a left turn onto a gravel side road and would attempt the low speed turn there and go back up onto the highway. I made the turn and as I entered the gravel part and started the turn I was facing down a bit. I looked down, mistake one, was using my front brake, mistake two, and was not giving power to the rear wheel, mistake three. OF COURSE I WENT DOWN!! Sheesh.

Now I want to mention what I did right so I can at least come out of this with something. I attempted the turn in a place where I was not going to get hit by any cars or cause any problems. I was wearing full protective gear. I had rear crash bars installed to ensure that if I did go down I would not get pinned under the bike. I didn’t panic, actually I didn’t have time to panic but still.
I got up dusted myself off, made some pain faces, checked myself and my bike and got back on and rode to the rally. I didn’t have to pick the bike up myself, it was back on the stand thanks to my husband being behind me.

Oh one more mistake I should mention. I should have maybe milked the situation for a little more sympathy.

And something kind of cool happened as a result. I kind of feel like I got it out of the way and I actually feel better and more confident and relaxed now.

Take care everyone and ride safe.

Sienna

Here is a good example of proper gear. Click the image for more on this rider.

HELMET

                                                   Full Face Helmet   This helmet is going to provide you the most protection. It guards your mouth and front of your chin as well as your head. The first few I tried made me feel that my peripheral vision was compromised so I looked for one that was cut deeper into the helmet and did not give me that feeling of wearing blinkers. It also felt very heavy to me at first but I got used to that element very quickly and it was not a problem.  

 Modular Helmet  This will be my next purchase for a few reasons. As you can see in the photo, it looks like a full face when its closed, but the piece that goes across your chin flips up allowing you to eat or drink or most important to me, I can put it on after I have my sunglasses in place. This particular model also has a drop down sun visor on the inside that I find handy. If I wear my contact lenses this feature is great because I can just flip that visor down to keep the sun out of my eyes or lift it up when the light is low and I don’t have to wear sunglasses at all. 

  Three Quarter Helmet    

Skull Cap

How to Choose the Best Helmet for You

There is a lot more to think about in terms of expense then the motorcycle and insurance. I have a budget like most people but I try not to scrimp (is that a word?) and save on safety equipment. Of course I look for sales and discounts wherever possible, but I won’t buy inferior products. Helmets have a minimum safety standard in order to be legally sold in Canada and to my understanding this applies in most countries. It is not within the scope of this article to go into detail about the various standards and testing that goes into the safety standard ratings but if you are interested, there are some helpful links at the end of this article that you may find of interest. If you buy your brand name helmet from a reputable dealer and the helmet displays safety approval stickers then you can be reasonably confident you are purchasing a piece of equipment that adheres to current government regulations for safety.

Do not buy a used helmet for a few reasons. First of all…ewwww, it’s a personal item and I just feel better with something new. Most important however is that once a helmet is dropped, even on the floor in the store, it is considered unsafe. They also expire as materials can degrade over time and become less safe. The helmet can be dropped and not show any external damage so take that into consideration.

Next you must decide what type of helmet will suit you best. Don’t rush finding the right one, you will be wearing it a lot and if you are comfortable then you will enjoy the ride and that’s why we do this after all. As I outlined above, each helmet style has its advantages and disadvantages, so try to find the one most comfortable with the best safety features. This is so very personal I will not recommend one way or the other. All I can tell you is that I will feel best with the full face modular. It also makes the people that care about me feel better about me riding and that is a consideration. If you ride with the attitude of safety in your equipment and riding habits, it does tend to put the nervous bunch at ease somewhat.

The Fit

So now that you have tried some on and have a pretty good idea of the style you want and are assured they are safety rated you will find the hardest part (at least for me) is the fit. There is more to it then you might think.

It would be so much easier if we all had the same shaped head then we would just find the right size.. but we don’t. Not only do we have different sized heads, they also come in a lot of different shapes. Are you a Stewie a Charlie Brown, Conehead or Sponge Bob? There are egg shaped heads, narrow heads, round heads etc. Different manufacturers make different shaped helmets and you have to look at each one to find what works for you. (refer to the link at the bottom for more information) The inner padding might adjust slightly to your head but usually not enough to make the helmet comfortable for that reason alone. Riding for an hour with the helmet pushing relentlessly on one portion of your skull can drive you crazy, make you lose concentration and ..of course that’s exactly what you don’t want on a bike. Try on many helmets of different brands and models within the brand. When the helmet is on your head and properly fastened it should move with you and not rub when you move your head from side to side or up and down. It also should not be so tight you have a headache within minutes of pounding it down on your skull. I hold the chin straps and spread the helmet as I position it over my head to make it a bit easier. Walk around the store for at least a half hour. I know you look a bit silly but anyone that rides will understand. Try talking and opening and closing your mouth and clenching your teeth and see how it feels. Make sure the chin strap is wide enough and padded enough to fit comfortably. I know some people like the quick connectors but I have caught the skin on my neck a few times and I prefer the double ring type fasteners. Also the plastic and springs in the fast connect type can break and if you don’t have a replacement handy, the helmet is pretty much useless.

Most helmets are vented so check and see what type of vents there are and how easy they are to open and close while you are wearing the helmet and with a gloved hand. Also check that the visor can be easily flipped up and down with gloves on. Make sure your peripheral vision is acceptable. Some full face helmets made me feel like I had lost most of my peripheral vision and that makes me uncomfortable. I looked until I found one that was designed in such away that the visor wrapped around more and gave me much better vision to the sides.

The shop where I bought my helmet told me I could take it home and wear it as long as I didn’t use it on the bike so I could have a better idea of fit. And I felt better sitting in my house with it on then walking around the store. Turns out I kept both so far and didn’t need to return them so ask your store if this is an option.

My helmet also has a removable liner that can be washed…yayyyy. Nice feature.

If you are in a bike shop go and sit on a bike similar to your own and see how it feels. Sport bikes have a different rider position for instance then a cruiser and so the depth of the visor might make a difference to you. Of course you can’t test wind and noise factors without riding and most places won’t accept a return that has been in the wind. So make some notes, take your time and find something you like. It was suggested to me that a light color is more noticeable especially at night and therefore safer. Again that is personal preference. I have a reflective stripe on the bottom of my black helmet that shows black and doesn’t interfere with the look and that is adequate for me for now.

So go shopping already and get out on the road. J Good luck.

________________________________________________________________

For more information try the following links:

• NHTSA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration page on helmet compliance testing.

• Snell Memorial Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that, for over fifty years has been dedicated to research, education, testing and development of helmet safety standards. Since its founding in 1957, Snell has been a leader in helmet safety in the United States and around the world.
• SHARP (Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Program)
• webBikeworld

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Another season of riding has come to an end here in central Alberta. Now it is time to put the bike away for the winter. On my last ride I filled my gas tank and added fuel stabilizer. If I am not going to drain the fuel tank then I use the stabilizer.  I purchased oil and a filter according to the manufacturer guidelines and when I got home and while my engine was hot, I started the oil change. Make sure you choose motorcycle oil because motorcycles have a wet clutch that is lubricated by the engine oil. If unsure go to your dealer and ask them what to use. Old oil is acidic, so if it is going to sit all winter I want it to be with fresh oil. That is why I do the oil change before storage and not in the spring.

The first thing I did was locate the drain bolt and loosened it slightly using a 17mm wrench.

Draining the Old Oil

Loosening the drain bolt.

 Then I positioned an oil pan under the engine making sure it would catch the oil as it flowed out.  I try to center it the best I can so it doesn’t splash over the edge.  I use a pan made especially for catching oil because it is designed with spouts and handles that make handling the old oil a bit easier.  I transfer the old oil into jugs to dispose of at my county collection area.

Now, with the pan ready to catch the hot oil I can loosen the bolt and remove it.  Do this slowly and carefully so you don’t suddenly have hot oil on your hand or drop the bolt into the oil. It tends to gush out fairly fast at first and can get you by surprise.  I was wearing shop gloves to help protect my hands.  Set the bolt aside ensuring it stays clean and let the oil drain into the catch pan. 

Old oil draining into the pan.

Removing the Oil Covers

 While the oil is draining you can start removing the outer oil filter cover.  There is an outer and inner cover. The outer cover is removed with a 4mm allen wrench.

Outer cover and allen wrench.

I keep a little container handy to put the bolts in so I don’t loose track of them and they stay clean.  Using the allen wrench was a bit hard so I had to wrestle with it a bit and use another wrench to extend the handle and finally got all the long bolts out. 

Once the outer cover is off you can start taking out the bolts on the inner cover.

The outer cover removed.

 When the inner cover is removed you can easily remove the O-ring and the oil filter.

Cover off showing O-ring and filter.

There is a place on the drain pan to set the filter to drip until you are ready to dispose of it properly.  I check to make sure the surface is clean and put the new O-ring and filter in place. Now I just work in reverse and put the cover back on using a torque wrench to tighten the bolts to the suggested specifications. When tightening the bolts I use a criss-cross pattern and do not tighten them all the way at first.  My manual said the cover bolt was 10Nm (1.0 m-kgf, 7 ft-lb).  The torque wrench is pretty easy to use.  You set the amount of torque you want and turn it till it clicks.  This will ensure the bolts are tightened properly and neither too loose nor over tightened.

By now the engine oil should be just about drained.  My bike was on a kickstand so I sat on it and picked it up and put it back on the kickstand several times to get as much oil out as I could.  When I was satisfied all the oil that was going to come out was out, I replaced the drain bolt ensuring it was clean and hadn’t picked up any grit or dirt.  I also made sure the washer was in good shape and clean.  This bolt is also tightened with a torque wrench.  The manual says 43 Nm (4.3m-kgf, 31 ft-lb).

When that is done, you can remove the pan and put the new oil into the filler.  I go by the manufacturer specs on this and make sure I have the correct type of oil and the right amount for my engine.  My engine (when changing the filter as well) takes 2.80 L.  Take care that everything going into the engine is very clean. I clean the filler and I am careful no contaminants get into the oil.  Once that is done you can replace and hand tighten the oil filler cap.

After one final check that everything is back in place, you can start the engine and let it idle for a few minutes and watch to see if there are any leaks.  I watch and make sure the engine light goes out in the appropriate time and listen to the engine noting if there are any unusual clattering noises.  (If that’s the case, shut the engine off immediately.)  If you did everything right it should be ok.

All you have left to do now is shut the engine off and check the oil level in the site gauge.  This is best done with one person checking the site and another holding the bike in an upright position.

A future article will go into the other preparations for storage. 

Changing the oil isn’t that hard and it gives you confidence to try other things.  If you are unsure, have someone with experience watch you the first time and make sure you do everything right. 

I just make sure I follow the guidelines and instructions suggested by the manufacturer. 

Good luck!

Review – Ride Like A Pro – Jerry “Motorman” Palladino

I have owned volume four of this DVD since I got my first bike in 2006. I still like to watch it from time to time to refresh my skills. I often find things that I had learned at one point but still need to sharpen up on. Jerry Palladino is an experienced Motorcycle Cop who shares what he has learned during his training. All of it is valuable if you want to learn to ride well, not just ride.

There are several different kinds of bikes featured in the video with male and female riders. Being a woman I was encouraged to see that even a woman of medium to small stature can handle the biggest cruiser type bikes and make it look effortless. It even shows what to do if you drop your bike. This is something both male and female riders can appreciate and it’s a valuable technique.

There is a lot of slow speed maneuvering that helps you learn how to use your clutch in the friction zone and lots of simple easy to learn tips to make life so much easier when you are out on your bike. You don’t have to avoid tricky situations anymore because you know how to handle the things you are likely to encounter.

The DVD comes with a handy fold out exercise guide that helps you go through the skills you need to obtain your motorcycle drivers license.

Jerry is likeable, friendly and knowledgeable, the instructions are clear and he does not overwhelm you with too much information, he simply explains what you need to know and demonstrates it flawlessly. You get to observe students as they learn and even see a dropped bike or two. This also taught me it’s not the end of the world if you and your bike are properly equipped. The students have fun but also learn that biking has a serious side which is why we all need to learn to drive safely. I highly recommend you add this to your library or give it as a gift to friends who ride or want to learn to ride. Its money well spent in my opinion.

There is information at the end of this article as to where you can obtain your copy.

~Sienna

The following is a description of the product and links to other reviews. I think you will enjoy having this in your library.

Product Description
If you’ve ever seen Motor Officers handle their heavy-weight cruisers with the ease of a child’s toy and wondered in amazement how they do it, wonder no more. This DVD will show you how to use the 3 simple Motor Officer techniques the cops have been trained in for more than 60 years. Until now, these training secrets have not been available to the general public. I have developed a simple step by step procedure that will allow you to master the 3 Motor Officer techniques in just 3 to 4 hours. I know my step by step plan works because I’ve put hundreds of students through the exact course you’ll see on this DVD. I use a modified version of the Police Motor Officer course that can be mastered in just 1 day. Even riders with 20 years of experience will improve their skills by 100%. I’ll even show you the tricks to passing your State motorcycle endorsement test. This DVD will also show you how to master the actual Police Motor Officer course so that you too can be among the top 2% of riders in America. Featuring 6 male and 5 female riders. DVD NTSC std. 110 min. color.

Ride Like a Pro DVD Vol. 5 – Jerry

by David Hough

This is another favorite of mine.  Easy to understand, good illustrations and very valuable food for thought as you ride.  ~Sienna  

Until recently, I’ve never had the desire to ride a motorcycle, mainly because I was afraid of becoming an organ donor. However, that suddenly changed a couple of months back, probably due to turning 37 and sitting through a marathon viewing session of “American Chopper” episodes. So, I began to shop around for a bike that would fit me, and at the same time I tapped into all the informational sources I could find about motorcycling (friends, the Web, etc.). “Proficient Motorcycling” was one of the first books I read, and I bought it based on the good reviews I saw on Amazon.com. It was my desire to arm myself with as much knowledge and hands-on riding skills as possible before swinging a leg over the motorcycle I finally settled upon (a Harley-Davidson Fat Boy). I signed up at a local Harley-Davidson dealer for a “Rider’s Edge” class, and “Proficient Motorcycling” was an excellent supplement to the MSF course materials. Indeed, Mr. Hough recommends taking an MSF course, and frankly I can’t imagine a novice trying to ride without formal instruction. The techniques that Mr. Hough advocates in “Proficient Motorcycling” have made me a better AND safer rider. I feel more confident riding my new H-D, and therefore I’m able to enjoy my road-time that much more. I’ve already started reading the book’s sequel “More Proficient Motorcycling: Mastering the Ride” to build upon what I’ve learned so far. If you want to be a good motorcyclist (and not a “donor-cyclist”), then by all means dive into “Proficient Motorcycling.”

I have read this book a few times. Every season I bring it out again to refresh my memory on the lessons.  It has excellent advice and is well presented.   I recommend it to any rider at any level who does not just want to ride, but ride well.  It could save your life.  The following is some information about the book, how to get it, and what others are saying about it.  Its a classic.    

~Sienna

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Whitehorse Press; Second edition (Oct 1 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1884313477
• ISBN-13: 978-1884313479
• Product Dimensions: 26.4 x 20.8 x 1.5 cm
• Shipping Weight: 704 g

“So you say you’ve been riding for thirty years and you’ll bet there’s nothing this book can teach you? I’ll take that wager. The discussions on proper cornering techniques and the relationship between the forces acting upon a bike are alone worth the price of admission. You’ll also benefit from a detailed chart on the T-CLOCK inspection method that serves as an excellent check sheet for prepping your bike, whether for a day ride or a long-distance tour.

Know someone who is considering taking up the sport? Do them a favor – buy them this book and then encourage them to enroll in a safety course to practice the skills it covers. What the book does especially well is serve as an intelligent introduction to the world of motorcycling. It will help a person understand the risks involved in the sport and how to minimize them. –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Motorcycle Times, Mar/Apr 1995

North East Area Concours Owners Group

BMW Owners News, April 1995

Street Bike

BMW Owners News

Motorcyclist

Kansas City Star

Iron Works

Product Description

Here is a book for the motorcyclist who wants to do it right! The most complete, authoritative book ever published on safe riding techniques and strategies. More than one million students have completed courses developed by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, and this book is the culmination of what that leading rider training organization has learned about teaching students of all ages and experience. It is the perfect refresher for anyone who has taken an MSF course and will be an eye-opener for those who have not yet discovered them. In a clear, engaging style with detailed diagrams and extensive full-color photographs and illustrations, the book covers rider attitude, proper dress, performance, maintenance and troubleshooting, as well as basic and advanced street skills. Included are tips on how to stop quickly when necessary; avoid traffic hazards; apply evasive maneuvers; countersteer for better control; travel skillfully in a group; identify and fix mechanical problems; ride more smoothly at high and low speeds; maintain momentum in off-highway riding; and much more. A remarkable source of riding wisdom, the first edition has been a best-seller and the definitive reference for the sport. This new second edition features the latest insights from the new, updated MSF curriculum, plus all new photos and graphics that make its valuable lessons easy to follow. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Guide to Motorcycling Excellence: Skills, Knowledge, and Strategies for Riding Right

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Guide to Motorcycling Excellence: Skills, Knowledge, and Strategies for Riding Right (2nd Edition)

One of my favorties, the Honda Valkyrie, no longer in production. Something to grow in to.

Choosing my first motorcycle was not easy but it was exciting.  My only experience was riding a 250cc cruiser type bike in the safety course.  I understand why they start you off on a small bike, its easier to balance because it’s lighter, and they are a little more forgiving if you tend to be a bit quick with the throttle. 

Doing the Homework

I did a lot of research, reading magazines, talking on the boards online, talking to my instructors, sales people and anyone that would listen that had an opinion.  I was pleasantly surprised by how friendly and helpful most people were with their advice.  Even the sales staff, who are obviously interested in making a sale. Fortunately, the ones I came across probably knew I would be back in a few years for something bigger and wanted me to be safe and have a good fit so they steered me in the right direction most of the time.

The very first bike I sat on that I was interested in purchasing was a Yamaha Vstar 650 Custom Cruiser.  I liked how it looked and liked how it felt sitting on it in the show room.  My feet touched the ground flat footed and I was able to bring it off the kickstand into riding position without too much effort.  I had someone hold the front of the bike so I could put both feet up and feel how the riding position would be, how close the handlebars are to my body, if it was easy to shift and brake etc.  I could do a full turn on the handlebars without having to lean forward.  It felt good. 

The 2006 Vstar 650 Silverado Model with bags, backrest and windshield.

For the next week I sat on every other bike for sale in a 100 mile radius—or so it seemed.  Because I have small hands I was particularly concerned with brake and clutch levers.  Some clutch levers are really a stretch for me to grasp.  Some bikes I would get on and immediately know it was not for me.  Usually the reason was that it was too tall and wide and too heavy.  With some the seat would dig into my thigh and even in riding position it just was not comfortable. 

If I found a bike I liked but was not quite right for me I discussed ways I could adjust it to suit me.  Some offered very little or no adjustment options and others were designed more in favor of some tweaking.

The first few days I had eliminated the 125 and 250 cruiser types.  I think they would have been ok for a few weeks but I felt I would out grow it very fast and it just plain wasn’t what I wanted.  I felt it was too small.  I am not a very big person, 5’5” and 135 lbs with a 32” inseam.  Most cruiser type bikes are low enough but some are much wider then others and are a bit uncomfortable.  

My concerns about power were not that I would get something too powerful for me to handle, but rather not enough for hills and highways.  From my years of riding horses I have very soft hands and I am not likely to twist the throttle too hard but it is a consideration.  My thoughts are that if I am a beginner my brain and body need to learn things and I am likely to make mistakes, so make them on something that might be a bit more forgiving.  The power offered by the 650cc v twin seemed about right to me, so anything in that range I felt would meet my needs for several years to come. 

Another thing to consider is how easy is the bike to maneuver in tight parking places, how wide a path do I need to turn, can I push it easily if I have to etc.  It seemed to fit the bill in that area fairly well.  Not as easy as the 250 but everything is a compromise.

I even tried a few sport bikes but did not seriously consider it as a possible first bike. I liked how light they were, but the riding position intimidated me a bit and most were a tad too tall for me.  I could put my toes on the ground but I wanted flat feet to feel more confident.  I am now looking for sport bike after 4 years but that’s another story for another article.

Lovin the Hayabusa for "someday".

I pretty much knew from day one I wanted a cruiser so that helped a bit, I could walk past the sport tours, the big touring Goldwing types, the Hayabusas, dirt bikes and naked bikes.  I did sit on them though and I am glad I did.  Even back then I can say I loved motorcycles, all of them, I just realize that not all of them will make me happy.

So now that I narrowed it down to a cruiser type bike in the 650 class, somewhere around 550 lbs, give or take, I could start researching brands, reliability etc.  I never planned on taking a passenger unless and until I had a lot more experience so I did not worry about passenger comfort at all.  I think many manufacturers put a passenger seat on as an afterthought anyway and unless you really want to torture your riding companion you won’t take them farther then a block.

Patience Pays Off – Narrow Your Choices

So back I go on my rounds of the local dealers.  At least now I know the type and size I want.   Price was not the biggest thing for me but certainly important and of course I take that into consideration.  But dealing and making the sale was the last step in my plan.  Now I started sitting on the potential bikes without as much distraction and with a more critical eye.  Some bikes seemed much better balanced then others just because of the way they are designed.  Today as I have progressed to larger bikes I notice this even more and the heavier the bike is the more important it is to me that it be balanced the way I like. 

All of the bikes I was considering were similar and I narrowed it down to a Honda Shadow or a Yamaha VStar.  The dealer made the difference for me and I got a bit of a better deal on the Yamaha and went with it.  Coincidentally it was the very first bike I ever sat on, I was drawn to the look of it and when I sat on it, well it felt “right”.  My instincts were right on and in hindsight I can see I made the best choice for me at the time.  I have ridden that bike for four seasons now and although I am looking for something bigger in the cruiser class and something totally different in a sport bike, I cannot imagine selling the 650.  I simply love her.

Trust Your Instincts

A word of caution about well intentioned friends.  A quick story about a woman I knew that was shopping for her first bike.  She had narrowed her choices to two and was about to make a decision on a new bike.  A friend saw a bike for sale that he thought was perfect for her and excitedly told her all about it.  It was obvious this was HIS dream bike, not hers and HE could not afford to buy it for himself.  She thought it was nice but way too big for her first bike.  He told her it was twice the bike she was considering buying for just a bit more.  It was used and her choice was new.  He told her how cool would it be for a girl to come riding up on this beautiful bike.  She was very very skeptical.  Yes he was right, it was twice as big and probably a good deal.  But he ignored the fact that it was not the right bike for HER.  Long story short, she bought it, dropped it twice, it terrified her and she was so put off and financially drained that she did not ride at all that season.  Last I heard she sold it, at a loss and has not decided if she will even buy a bike now.  What a shame!  Just remember that some big gorgeous custom might make you look good in your fantasy but when you fall over at bike night and see your dream scraped and dented its not so pretty.  Always ride within your means.  Be sensible and you will gain experience, have fun and who knows you may be on that dream bike sooner then you think.  And do what is right for you.  I listened to everyone that offered advice and appreciated it, but in the end I had to decide what was best for me.  Trust your gut, it is usually right. 

Good luck. 

Nordegg Alberta, me on a 99 Valkyrie Interstate

As my fourth season of riding motorcycles is nearing an end here in Central Alberta, it is hard to imagine a time when I was so terrified of motorcycles it made me physically ill. Riding was not always the pleasure it is today, far from it really.

When the idea of learning to ride was presented to me,  I didn’t really see it as something I wanted to learn. I have always enjoyed drag racing and other sports involving cars; but motorcycles did not appeal to me much. At that time I spent much of my spare time around horses. They were my relaxation and therapy. I also think that part of my reluctance has to do with my false perception at the time of the type of people that rode motorcycles. Yes I know this type of thinking is outdated and uninformed but the image that readily came up in my mind when the word “bikers” was mentioned was negative. My thoughts as I write this article are very different. It occurs to me now that I can add another positive thing to what motorcycles have taught me—don’t pre-judge anyone based on appearances. That statement can be added as a sub-category to “don’t knock it till you tried it.”

When I finally did agree to take the Motorcycle Safety Course in the spring of 2006 I was confident I would do well. “How hard could it be?” I thought. I could ride a bicycle, a horse; drive a manual transmission car and operate a snowmobile and various forms of farm equipment after all. I thought the progression to a motorcycle would be a matter of learning a few new skills and getting used to the wind in my face. I had decided taking the course would, if nothing else, help me to decide if I wanted to pursue the sport any farther. I did balk at the cost of the two day course, somewhere in the neighbourhood of $400, but did agree to give it a try. At the end of two days instruction I did not see any reason I would not leave with license in hand. This was not what happened.

I do not want to go into detail now on what I thought of the course, I have it marked as something to explore in another post sometime in the future, as this is a story in itself. What happened was I crashed. Three times. The first time the instructor told half of us to mount the bikes, without starting the engine, and get pushed from one end of the parking lot to the other by another student. I still don’t quite get the reasoning behind this exercise but I was there to learn. The lady that was assigned to push me decided to take a run at it from behind and knocked me clean off the bike. Later in the day with engines running now, we were instructed to reach a certain speed and apply both brakes as hard as we could. We were assured we would NOT go over the handlebars. They were wrong. The third crash ended with me  tangled in the bike and I was injured beyond scrapes and bruises. I tried my best to shake it off and did manage to get back on and ride another half hour or so but the physical injury was severe enough to require medical attention. It took me many months to completely recover from the damage to my leg. The psychological damage was worse, as I would later discover. For the record I was not the only one to come off my bike that day, but I believe I was the only one to receive injury severe enough to knock me out of the rest of the course.

Buying a Bike

A few weeks later I went shopping for a motorcycle that was going to be my bike but would be shared with my husband until he bought his own the following year. I decided on a new Yamaha V-Star 650 Custom. I almost went with the 1100 model but there was some concern it may have been a bit too big for a beginner. My plan was to heal from my injury and continue riding.

My first bike, me and my dog Zorro.

The Fear Begins to Take Hold

For the rest of the season as I was healing, I ended up being a passenger on that bike more then a rider. Here is where the fear became a problem. Even when my husband went out to ride on his own, I was consumed with thoughts of something happening to him. He purchased a cell phone at my request so he could call me at regular intervals to try and ease my mind. I would get physically sick when I saw him leave. Later I tried riding with him as a passenger hoping I would get used to the bike and have a better understanding of what it was like to ride on my own one day. Those few months included some of the worst times of my life. My fear was overtaking me and I didn’t like what was happening to me emotionally. It was changing me in a negative way and that was not acceptable. I wasn’t even sure why it was affecting me that way.

Being a Passenger

As soon as I would throw my leg over the seat I would take a death hold on the tiny strap provided for the passenger. I used both hands wedged in there and would not move or let go for anything. My shoulders would ache and my head would pound. I would try to relax my grip and let my shoulders down a bit, but in less then 30 seconds I would be in such a tense state that my body would cramp and ache.

Tears would stream down my face but I would not move to wipe them away under my face shield. It would itch and tickle but I was too afraid to let go of my grip on that strap for anything. I said not one word, I did not scream or wriggle my body or make any movement. I sat frozen in fear while he drove, oblivious to my pain. I made sure I was aware of the route we were going to take and at first just agreed to smaller streets and never more then 70 km/h. Every turn made my stomach tense up so bad I would nearly cry out. Most of the time he drove fine, didn’t do anything too sudden, didn’t take the corners too fast or drive too close to other cars. Still the fear was almost unbearable. Later we would discuss how afraid I was and he would ask if there was anything he could do to make it easier for me. He never forced me to go with him but I did truly want to conquer this fear and so I pressed on in spite of the toll it was taking on me. I wanted this, it didn’t make sense, I did not have to do it and it had clearly become a major stress in my life.

The First Steps to Recovery – Preparation

I had purchased my bike with engine guards installed, but quickly replaced them with crash bars that I felt were safer for me and the bike. They were custom made by my husband. I could see  how the bike would be protected if it was on its side. Also my leg was less likely to be caught under the bike if I went down. Knowing this helped—a little. I also purchased leather chaps and a better jacket with padding. In all my years of riding horses I know I could have avoided a lot of bumps and bruises and even broken bones if I had always used proper equipment. So I used this same logic, and also, I decided that if I felt more like I belonged on a bike maybe it would filter through to my brain and give me more confidence. This also helped—a little. I even toyed with the idea of having a drink (liquid courage I have heard it called) to calm me but quickly thought of this as foolish and better to avoid. I did not want anything, not even one drink to impair my senses. (I rarely drink and one drink would probably be too much anyway.) I did however, a few times take half an ativin when I was riding as a passenger only. This may or may not have helped, I am not really sure.

All of the preparation was good and helped to some extent, but it still comes down to me actually getting on the bike and riding it. Because I have always been able to learn from books and from doing things on my own, I decided to ride my bike around my yard on the grass to get used to how it felt. I live on 12 acres and have a lot of lawn to ride on that would enable me to practice and have something soft to fall on. Well, softer then pavement. Riding on grass is difficult and the lumps and bumps and ridges in my acreage lawn could set me off balance easily if I was not careful, especially at slow speeds. I did master some slow speed manoeuvres over time however and did learn to use my clutch and rear brake fairly well. I dropped my bike twice during this time. Both times it was much unexpected and at very low speed. Once, I think I was actually stopped.

Dropping the Bike and Living Through It

The first time was the most upsetting. I was alone and had spent about 30 minutes riding before getting ready to put the bike back in the shop. It was one of those days where everything was going so well that I started to think I might actually be able to pull this off. I was happily looking forward to reporting my progress, and in particular, my tightened turns. I had positioned my self to enter the shop and dismounted to open the large overhead door. Once I could see inside I decided to move just a shade to the left at very low speed, barely moving really, when I lost my balance and toppled over. Just like that. I hit the ground harder then I thought I would have and was shocked to realize I had no time to fix this, it had already happened, it was over. My shiny new bike, the first motor vehicle I had ever purchased new, was on its side. I wanted a do-over! Fortunately my crash bars did their job beautifully and I am thankful to this day I have them. I scrambled up, shut off the fuel and made sure the engine was not running and turned off the key. Then I winced and felt sick seeing my precious motorcycle that I had this love/hate relationship with, down in the grass, disabled. I think I whimpered when I saw the tail light bent over and now running parallel with the bike, I was certain it had to be broken. I had not checked my own body for damage as I was sure I would be reminded of any injury I may have sustained later that evening. I managed to lift the 500 or so pounds back up and get it on the kickstand so I could assess the damage. There was none! There was some grass stuck to the pegs and the tail light, that I was sure was smashed, sprung back into place. Just as, a few minutes earlier, everything changed, everything changed back. I guess I got my do-over. It was ok, I was ok, and the bike lived. I realized that I had believed prior to this that the bike laying on its side for whatever reason was close to the end of the world. It was not; in fact it was hardly an issue. Hmm, I thought, one of my biggest fears was not bad at all in reality; it was much bigger in my own mind. There must be a lesson here.

Perhaps that is when I started to overcome my fears although I did not know it at the time. It was like turning on the light in a darkened room fully expecting all kinds of hideous things to reveal themselves, and then finding there is nothing but the familiar room you left earlier.

The next we rode to a quiet neighbourhood and I spent about 20 minutes on the street. There were no traffic lights and little traffic so I had to pay attention of course, but there was not so much activity that would make me feel overwhelmed.

Experiencing a Bigger Bike

My husband had purchased a Honda Valkyrie Interstate around that time. It was huge and because it is designed for touring, it had a proper seat for the passenger. I felt so secure on the back of this bike I think I only held on with one hand the first day and after that did not feel the need to hang on at all. It has a backrest and the seat kind of wraps around and holds you in, making you feel very secure. This helped a lot and I was starting to calm down. I do however remember going on to a highway for the first time and thought I would be sick. Every single instinct was saying “JUMP”. Of course that is ridiculous and I stayed put, but it was terrifying. Even after I had learned to relax the fear would come back and surprise me from time to time. Now I am happy to report many long rides as a passenger with little or no concern that I would make it home alive and in one piece.

A Recent Trip to Jasper National Park on the Valkyrie

Once I was able to relax and actually enjoy our outings I began to imagine myself in the driver’s seat. When he would shift or brake I would shift and brake in my mind. I would watch the road, squeeze the clutch, slow down or accelerate as though I was operating the bike. I scanned the road looking for traffic and anticipating problem spots. I thought of how to position the bike in the safest place, the safest lane, the safest part of the lane. I reacted when he reacted. I knew and understood the mechanics of riding, now I had to put them to practical use. It started to become second nature to me. During this time, I would take short rides on my own bike but only when I was feeling fresh and confident and I was careful not to get cocky too quickly and take on more then I could handle.

I read the boards on the internet and talked to other women riders, some of whom had to overcome fears in their own journey of learning to ride. It was helpful and encouraging to know others had been where I was, that I wasn’t weird, and that it could be overcome.

I read books, such as

• “The Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Guide to Motorcycling Excellence”

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Guide to Motorcycling Excellence: Skills, Knowledge, and Strategies for Riding Right (2nd Edition)

Click here to read my review

• “Proficient Motorcycling” by David L. Hough.

Proficient Motorcycling: The Ultimate Guide to Riding Well

Click here to read my review

I also purchased the DVD

• “Ride Like A Pro IV” by Jerry Motorman Palladino.

How To Ride Like A Pro

All of these publications are highly recommended for anyone who sits a motorcycle, in my opinion. They helped me to think like a professional and keep myself out of trouble.

I was becoming a biker. I had a thirst for knowledge and a strong desire to not just ride a motorcycle but ride well.

The last thing I will credit with helping me is positive thought. I have been around animals most of my life and trained many dogs, horses and parrots. Cesar Millan and his National Geographic program “The Dog Whisperer” reminded me how positive thought, or energy as Cesar refers to it, can help not only in relationships with dogs, but in life as well. When you learn to lead a pack, you learn to discipline yourself, see clearer and focus on your goals. Its not mystical or new age, its just life and how you choose to walk (or ride) through it. All of these things, the focus, the clarity and leadership are all qualities you want to possess when riding a motorcycle. I also recommend looking into the things Cesar teaches especially if you are a dog owner. It’s not about training a dog to sit; it’s about how you see yourself and the image you project. When I was an active rider on horses I learned how to “see” in a different way that helped me immensely. I would visualize what I wanted to achieve as an aid to using my mind and body to further my goals.

I AM a Biker

I am happy to say that I now ride regularly. I can handle downtown traffic, parking, hills, highways, mountains and tricky parking lots. I have ridden on pavement, gravel and sand, in the rain and during extreme heat. I am not saying nothing bad will ever happen to me, but I am on the right track. I no longer sweat and get sick in anticipation of a ride. Quite the opposite, I ride to relax, to enjoy, to feel connected to life. I always pause to say a prayer before I ride to ask for focus and protection and to give thanks for the day and that I am able to enjoy my life. Just like I check my equipment before I ride, I also check my mental state so I don’t become complacent. I love the sport and am happy to report I am shopping for my next bike, something bigger and I am also considering expanding my horizons into the world of sport bikes.

If you have fear there is hope if you really want to conquer it. I feel proud I faced the fear and now it is behind me, it has given me confidence in riding and in life. Now that I have conquered the fear I can hope I can continue to learn something with every ride.

Having fun at the 2009 Poker Run for the Stollery Children's Hospital