Cancel that motorcycle order

[chelelev]

I attempted my motorcycle class over the weekend. I did fine on the classroom work, the test was not that difficult, 50 questions, I got 50 correct. However, things did not go as well on the actual bike. I guess I do much better in theory than in application.

I was fine rocking it back and forth. I could even walk the bike with no power. Power is when I got into trouble. We were to power walk, which means engage the clutch just a bit and let the bike pull you across. I could do that but not a fast as the others in the class (who had all been on a bike before and I was the only one totally clueless). When I went to put my bike in neutral, first fall, no injury to me or the bike. Tried things again, finally got my nerve up to try and balance and ride, went all over the course, got it to stop and dropped it again. This time I scraped the hell out of my right leg (bike landed on my left leg). I quit then but I would have been asked to go home, rules are after two drops you are out.

Mark seemed ok with it but I think he is a bit disappointed. He wanted to find me a little used scooter to start learning on. I don't want to try again, not for some time. It is a combo of the weight of the bike, doing 4 things at once, balance not that good and some intimidation because the rest of the class was so advanced (some riding since they were 6). I had trouble getting my foot under the shifter to pop it into nuetral, I didn't want to look straight ahead, I wanted to look down (which is where I went). Maybe in 4 years or so, I will think about getting a trike (3 wheels, much easier) and try again. It is not the end of the world and I can be happy on the back of Mark's bike yelling at him through the headsets. I am pretty sure he regrets wiring that up at times.

Walking that bike is better than any thighmaster. My thighs hurt so bad (as does the large removal of skin on my right leg, it scraped off my tan, now I will have to watch it in fake and bake).

Comments

[walktrotcanter.livejournal.com]

You're having me rethinking me getting a motorcycle too...

[chelelev.livejournal.com]

Have you riden before? I do suggest (if you can) borrowing something and getting used to where things are. It might have been a good idea that I had put a bike on its center stand and practiced shifting, clutching, etc. before I got out there. My boots made it difficult to get my foot under the shifter. I wasn't used to pegs, the Goldwing has floor boards. I am glad we hadn't already bought me a bike before I took the class. You might not have any problem.

[spocks-girl.livejournal.com]

Hope you don't mind a stranger commenting on this post... I also took a Learn To Ride class several months ago. Passed the written with flying colors; during the Riding Test I got nervous, oversteered my bike, and down I went. I still plan to get my bike endorsement, but right now I'm a bit apprehensive. I feel your pain, believe me.

Not just thighs benefit--depressing the clutch is guaranteed to give you hand strength beyond your wildest dreams.

[chelelev.livejournal.com]

You really aren't that much of a stranger, I friended you through Beanpop when you lost your mom.

Apprehensive doesn't discribe it. It is a combo of the weight of the bike and the difficulty I had getting my boot under neath the shifter. Just couldn't do it easily.

I am willing to walk a small bike around for the thigh workout though as long as no one can see me doing it. I wasn't nearly as fast as the boys.

Hand strenght beyond wildest dreams....why did my mind go straight to the gutter? Bad me, bad me.

Hope you can get back on and get the endorsement. I might just wait until we can get me a trike. No balance issues there.

[spocks-girl.livejournal.com]

I actually enjoyed the riding part of the class. I did much better than I thought I would. My one difficulty was with the dang U-turns. And guess what was the very first maneuver we were tested on? (I also developed an obsessive fear of high-side crashes, but that's another story.)

My husband has a Honda ST1300. He absolutely loves it; I'm a good passenger but even if I did get my endorsement I couldn't ride solo as my widdle legs are too short for the bike. I've sat on a Gold Wing trike before--I agree with you about the security that comes with not leaning!

Hand (and other) strength has all sorts of applications... ;)