Any Wonen Motorcyle rider out here

Whisperinghorse

For those who have lost their bottle or have been pushed a bit too quickly, seek out the advice of a sympathetic instructor that you gel with to get over confidence issues...

I would suggest finding a large off road area to start with (if you are lucky enough to be near one) then start gently. Find a quiet 2 mile block and ride it. Next time do it twice.

Riding on your own can be sublime, you and the bike becaome almost symbiotic, like a horse and rider (although my bike has brakes)

I hate seeing students here lose their nerve because somethings happened either caused by another driver or by a bend coming up too quickly...

I imagine most of you are in the US, but here in the UK I would recommend doing a BikeSafe course run by the local plod (just out in bikesafe under google) 2 days observed riding. They're not instructors but will offer an assessed ride and give a report which you can take to your advanced instructor with areas to work on such as attitide, system planning, defensive riding etc. In the UK passing a bike test is really hard now, if you've achieved it recently then hats off to you, keep it up

Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly...

booyainyoface

melanie- you are from NH?! cool, i grew up in vermont right on the NH border near dartmouth/hanover...

my mom used to ride her own bike, but now just rides on the back of her husbands. short riding season back east with lots of variable weather to plan for! i got lucky by getting my motorcycle down in san diego... were it rains very little and is more than predictable

-kell

Starzy696

I am not a street rider, but I am a dirt bike rider!

Whisperinghorse

I just bought my first bike a couple of weeks ago! I have ridden for more than 20 years on the back and guess I am having a mid life crisis and wanted my own. I ride a 2012 BMW F650GS. My husband has a 1997 BMW R850R and we love to ride.

I am with several of you on the fact that I am really nervous about riding on my own. I kicked butt at the MSF safety class two weekends ago on the little Yamaha 250, but the bigger bike does make me nervous. Just now really getting a feel for it and haven't ridden anywhere but parking lots and little side roads with very little traffic.

I look forward to getting in some riding time really soon! Feel free to add me!

Melissa

I have a friend who has a 30th anniversary 650GS, she loves it, but has to be careful where she parks it as the stand is so long, she cant get off it!!! She does the BMW off road school in Wales and has ridden in Morocco in sand dunes and all sorts....

LooseWheel

Can say yes to that due to getting my licence a month ago and my bike just over 2 weeks ago! Very very cool. It is such freedom getting out on the road. I'm gonna explore Australia a truly enjoyable way! Got myself a Yamaha Virago 250. She's an oldie but a goodie so far. Starting out real small to get used to riding b4 upping the power with a bigger bike. That will come with time! Hubby has a naked road rider thats bigger as well as newer, so that is a fun beast to ride also!

cheers
Lou.

Sunscreenandsweat

I drive a motorized scooter if that counts.
=]

silby8919

Been riding since I was 5 years old. My first motorcycle was a Honda 50-J. I was too short & my feet didn't even touch the ground. My cousins had to ride me around on it for the first couple of years!!

My current ride is a '95 Road King.

Happy trails to all!!!!

LooseWheel

I just bought my first bike a couple of weeks ago! I have ridden for more than 20 years on the back and guess I am having a mid life crisis and wanted my own. I ride a 2012 BMW F650GS. My husband has a 1997 BMW R850R and we love to ride.

I am with several of you on the fact that I am really nervous about riding on my own. I kicked butt at the MSF safety class two weekends ago on the little Yamaha 250, but the bigger bike does make me nervous. Just now really getting a feel for it and haven't ridden anywhere but parking lots and little side roads with very little traffic.

I look forward to getting in some riding time really soon! Feel free to add me!

Melissa

Hey Melissa, Firstly congrats on getting your licence, you sound as fresh as me! Got mine a month ago and had the yamaha 250 for 2 weeks! Gaining confidence will come with riding more frequently. Bike riding is a skill that can dimish quickly without use, so keep doing what you're doing with riding local firstly and take it steps at a time like night riding and riding in the rain. Your confidence will most certainly grow along with your love for riding! Cheers matey. Louisa (LooseWheel)

Valkyriewoman

Hi! I ride a '74 custom Harley Shovel. Been riding 22 years, currently on my 4th Harley. Loving looking hotter on it this season!

Whisperinghorse

We should make this into a group!! :drinker:

smiles4deb

I'm fixin to take a riding course in the summer. I've been riding on the back of my hubby's for last 7 years. We've talked on and off for the last couple years of me getting my own. I'm really nervous because 3 years ago he was in an accident and spent 4 months using a wheelchair and a walker, but think it would be really cool to have my own. He's been showing me some stuff and says he will take me to big parking lots to practice, so I think I will be fine, it's just a huge step for me.

Whisperinghorse

Hi! I ride a '74 custom Harley Shovel. Been riding 22 years, currently on my 4th Harley. Loving looking hotter on it this season!

Yep losing weight to look good in leather....


How fickle can you get!

Whisperinghorse

I'm fixin to take a riding course in the summer. I've been riding on the back of my hubby's for last 7 years. We've talked on and off for the last couple years of me getting my own. I'm really nervous because 3 years ago he was in an accident and spent 4 months using a wheelchair and a walker, but think it would be really cool to have my own. He's been showing me some stuff and says he will take me to big parking lots to practice, so I think I will be fine, it's just a huge step for me.

I would suggest just doing an hours instruction with a decent school near you and see how you feel with it... Try to be one to one as well so no pressure from other peopl..

It is the best thing though and you'll lurve it!

Annie_Oakley

I'm a rider as well.
Had a bad accident in August 2011-crushed 3 vertebrae in my neck, now sporting some hardware.

HOWEVER...

I'm looking into my next bike. I had a Kawasaki KLR 650.
I've got my eyes on a Kawasaki Vulcan 500...or someting similar.

Looking forward to gettin back in the saddle...

CAGE FREE WOMAN! lol

MonicaT1972

Hi! I ride a '74 custom Harley Shovel. Been riding 22 years, currently on my 4th Harley. Loving looking hotter on it this season!

I'm with you there...even though mine soft tail deluxe is no where as cool as yours. I like getting checked out now intsead of reading that look "there goes the fat lady"

Fun4me2bFit

2006 Triumph Bonneville. Hubby has HD Sportster 1200. We ride NC mountains often and love it! Rode this past Sunday up to Boone and will ride again Memorial weekend for a few days near Brevard to chase and play in the various waterfalls.

bigbugboo

Hi there

I presently ride a 1981 vintage Suzuki GS 650 Custom, and have been riding all my life (well, since I was 10 years old, when I used to steal my elder brothers bike and ride around our green, lol)

mdmomof4

Thank everyone for your advice. I will keep you posted lol

KristysLosing

My husband rides, but I have been on the bike once since we've had kids...4.5 yrs! And we both gained weight, so technically too much for the bike we had. But he just bought a Triumph Rocket III Touring that I cannot want to get a ride on! It's been too long!

Annie_Oakley

kpleet, I hear you on the weight thing.
I don't even have a helmet yet - and hubby's 650 just isn't built for 2
I've got a pair of riding pants i wanna fit into, and gotta get another mesh jacket.
I'll never ride unarmored...

Whisperinghorse

Nope skin and tarmac dont mix!

ChevyChick88

Hi everyone!!!! I have had my license for several years... But, have not come up with the moolah to get a bike of my own yet! Any extra money I manage to save for a bike, I end up putting into my car (I think I love cars just a bit more). Plus, I have a wedding in a month - OMG... these are crazy expensive events! But, as soon as I stop finding cool stuff for my car and dont have a wedding to pay for, I hope to get my Kawasaki 636... orange to match my Camaro! :happy:

I also took the riding safety course for the bike... best thing I ever did. I went from being scared as heck, to feeling comfortable and confident. Plus, if you do well enough in the class I took, you didnt have to go down to the DMV and take the test. That alone was well worth giving up the weekend! And, I will be taking this as a refresher course when I do find a bike!

hdsqrl

Thanks for the tips and encouragement on how to deal with the fears. Funny thing, just THINKING about getting back on it makes my chest tighten up in panic. I'm kind of at the point of thinking - if it's THIS stressful for me, maybe I should just accept the fact that I'm just not a rider, and settle in behind my husband for the rest of my days. If I'm that worked up over it, me being on my own isn't safe for me OR for those around me, right?

But then...there ARE new tires on it, so I'm not giving up just yet. Also, it could be the style of the bike itself - the Aero has a long front rake, and you can't easily make a U-turn on a suburb street without running into someone's yard (hubby even ran into the yard on it, which shocked him - he thought I just couldn't turn well, lol), so it's worth considering trying a different bike altogether, I think. We'll see...no huge rush...have 2 kids heading to college this fall, so that's where our money will be going for now.

I do have a different question for you all - this summer, we're planning a trip to the Chicago area to take our son to a music camp, and we'll hang out in the area for a week while he's there. Hubby wants to follow us in the car with his bike, so when it's just the two of us, we can hop on the bike and scoot around the city. Have any of you been in Chicago traffic? It's insane. Would trying to navigate that on a bike be a death wish, you think? (I fully trust his ability on the bike - it's the OTHER drivers that worry me.)

mamakira

I am riding a Yamaha Virago 535.

I have my licence since 1988 but first didn´t have the money, then had 4 kids. Just started riding again last year.
Unfortunately the season where I live is very short, mid May till September only. Time to get my bike out, yeah!

Annie_Oakley

hdsgirl, i can TOTALLY understand the fear.
even when i'm in my vehicle, i get nervous where i wrecked
met a minivan head on in a blind curve - before sunrise
my choice at that split second was hit her head on, or try to get around her
i chose the latter and ended up head first in the ditch
got a life flight to uk med center - most frightening time of my life...
fear is there - but you can't allow it to control you
trust your instinct-you can't go wrong

kitkatwag

I dont ride myself YET, but I completely love being on the back of my husbands Harley. We took a trip to Arkansas with a bunch of friends over spring Break. I have been sad that the last two rides we have been unable to go on. I miss being on that bike. I would like to get one of my own and learn to ride, but then I would have to choose when to ride with him and when to ride by myself lol (we are still newlyweds)

ChevyChick88

I do have a different question for you all - this summer, we're planning a trip to the Chicago area to take our son to a music camp, and we'll hang out in the area for a week while he's there. Hubby wants to follow us in the car with his bike, so when it's just the two of us, we can hop on the bike and scoot around the city. Have any of you been in Chicago traffic? It's insane. Would trying to navigate that on a bike be a death wish, you think? (I fully trust his ability on the bike - it's the OTHER drivers that worry me.)

I live a couple hours away from Chi-town and go there a couple times a year. I value my life... so, I personally would not drive or ride up there. But, I have seen plenty of people on bikes there. It also depends where you are riding. If its just around the main streets and not on the highway, I might. But, crazy people doing 80 - 100 mph on the highway is a scary NO for me. Bumper to bumper traffic on Michigan Ave... annoying, but not scary.

bevsdietfor2011

My husband has a Goldwing and I ride with him (on the back). I have had 3 back surgeries and cannot hold one up on my own. I love going with him. He has only had it about 3 yrs and we love it.

Annie_Oakley

My husband has a Goldwing and I ride with him (on the back). I have had 3 back surgeries and cannot hold one up on my own. I love going with him. He has only had it about 3 yrs and we love it.

The weight of a bike is intimidating to me as well.
Worry that my knee will give out - so I'm lookin for something smaller...yet able to go on a road trip.
I absolutely LOVE riding my own bike behind my husband - there's nothing like it...the sheer freedom

hdsqrl

I do have a different question for you all - this summer, we're planning a trip to the Chicago area to take our son to a music camp, and we'll hang out in the area for a week while he's there. Hubby wants to follow us in the car with his bike, so when it's just the two of us, we can hop on the bike and scoot around the city. Have any of you been in Chicago traffic? It's insane. Would trying to navigate that on a bike be a death wish, you think? (I fully trust his ability on the bike - it's the OTHER drivers that worry me.)

I live a couple hours away from Chi-town and go there a couple times a year. I value my life... so, I personally would not drive or ride up there. But, I have seen plenty of people on bikes there. It also depends where you are riding. If its just around the main streest and not on the highway, I might. But, crazy people doing 80 - 100 mph on the highway is a scary NO for me. Bumper to bumper traffic on Michigan Ave... annoying, but not scary.

Yeah - you're echoing my own thoughts. True, parking would be easier in the city with a bike, but getting in and out of the city (we'd be staying out west a little in the Lombard area) means insane highway madness both ways. Knowing him, we'll wind up out there with the bike, but maybe I can convince him to use the car for days we actually go into the city, and use the bike for more rural excursions.