Am I Crazy

Post by **MikeB** » Thu May 17, 2007 10:11 am

Hello all. I am totally new to this Motorcycle stuff. I haven't ridden a motorcycle since my high school days and I graduated in '72. I did ride a moped a lot in the late'70's (used to sell them). I do have a lot of experience on a different form of two wheels as I do ride a bicycle a lot for fitness and enjoyment. So am I crazy, I just bought a R 1150 R off of eBay. My wife tells me that I'm crazy and that she will never get on that thing. I hope to change her mind. Any tips for a newcomer. Thanks....

Post by **sjbmw** » Thu May 17, 2007 10:21 am

Congrats on the new bike.

Maybe take a MSF course to settle the wife down, and brush up on the roads as they are today. It's a fine course, and knowledge is power.

Post by **machew01** » Thu May 17, 2007 10:24 am

MikeB,

You are in a great area for motorcycling. I would recommend that you get yourself in a Motorcycle Safety Foundation Experienced Rider Course. These are frequently offered by community colleges. It's a great way to break bad habits and start the development of good ones.

Also, get acquainted with the rider safety gear that is now available. It's easier than it used to be to avoid getting flesh ground off in a spill.

mac

Post by **ProductUser** » Thu May 17, 2007 10:38 am

+1 on what was already said

Start reading all of the archived articles that pertain to oil, tires, shifting, ABS...etc.

ProductUser

Just-Beeming · Post by **Just-Beeming** » Thu May 17, 2007 11:46 am

MikeB
Yep, You are Crazy!!!!.....and you will likely get crazier yet!!!! As every waking (and sleeping) moment of your life will become wrapped up in this awesome machine that you have purchased. You will meet the best friends you have ever had, have more fun while still being legal and find a Free-spirit burried deep inside of you that has been wanting to get out for so long.

As for your wife...Best of luck....maybe she will get struck by the crazies too....it happend to me.

Ever since, I've Been ....'Just-Beeming'

BoiseBeemer · Post by **BoiseBeemer** » Thu May 17, 2007 11:48 am

MikeB wrote:So am I crazy

Absolutely, but it's a divine madness. Welcome to the monkey house.

Arbreacames · Post by **Arbreacames** » Thu May 17, 2007 12:08 pm

Sanity is overrated. Look at MikeCam: totally crazy yet the government pays him to speak up!
Seriously, I believe that some craziness is indispensable for good living but you do need to approach the risk with rationality. If you are scaring yourself or have "near misses", stop, reflect, and correct IMMEDIATELY.

MartyWadd · Post by **MartyWadd** » Thu May 17, 2007 12:27 pm

Congratulations on your purchase! You're going to absolutely love it! Treat her right, and you'll get 20 more good years out of her. Definitely take a MSF course. It will save you $$ in the long run on insurance, and give you valuable safety and emergency corrective action tips. Ride safe, friend!

leoquattro · Post by **leoquattro** » Thu May 17, 2007 12:43 pm

Also from a European point of view you don't look crazy at all: here in Italy the bi-cyclist are considered much crazier!
Enjoy your bike, it will be a lot of fun and will contribute to add a new perspective to life.
ciao
Leoquattro

dragonmojo · Post by **dragonmojo** » Thu May 17, 2007 2:36 pm

Yes.

Until you ditch the wife.

Post by **dnat928** » Thu May 17, 2007 2:58 pm

Yes you are...and so am I...same age too. Got my R1150R (Blue, the fastest color) last year, but did ride a cruiser style before converting to the R, and also had a dual sport. But like you, I took up riding later in life. It's probably best to consider yourself a solo rider for quite a while, two-up is a challenge best left for later. To get my perspective set, I defined myself as a "Rookie" for the first full year of riding, and rode accordingly. BTW, I ride EVERY day. Now about eight months later, I can definitely notice my gradual improvement in riding skill (and a commensurate uptick in fun factor).

For example, in this forum, I picked up the technique of putting a bit of upward force on the shift lever just prior to up-shifting. This made my shifting much smoother - and completly cured occurences of shifting from first to neutral. Just one of many tips on riding to be found here.

Anyway, a much more interesting way of getting about is at hand, enjoy every minute of it - I do.

PS: I'll be riding with a group up to the Sierras, through Yosemite in two weeks, in a four-day ride.

Post by **iowabeakster** » Thu May 17, 2007 5:45 pm

BOOTS, GLOVES, HELMET, JACKET, PANTS, and the MSF instruction.

crazy YES, stupid NO

Post by **OU812** » Thu May 17, 2007 9:35 pm

You are NEVER too old to have this much fun!

Be safe.

possum · Post by **possum** » Thu May 17, 2007 11:10 pm

I could'nt imagine being off a motorcycle for that long....that would make me crazy...So I guess you must a bolt loose.

However, your R1150R will bring to back to life...lol..

CONGRATS on the wheels,and Welcome to a new world..... 8)

riceburner · Post by **riceburner** » Fri May 18, 2007 2:56 am

what they said - get some instruction.

(and LISTEN

)

Sunbeemer · Post by **Sunbeemer** » Fri May 18, 2007 6:37 am

Congrats and welcome aboard! If you're crazy, you've come to the right place

Tips:
Wear AllTheGearAllTheTime
Read David Hough's "Proficient Motorcycling"
Read David Hough's "More Proficient Motorcycling"
Take a Motorcycle Safety Foundation course (Experienced Riders)
Ride your own ride staying within 75% of your capabilities.
Ride like you're INVISIBLE!

Ride solo for a while.
When you finally take your wife out for her first ride, be gentle with her...

Post by **mcollect** » Fri May 18, 2007 8:12 am

I like you stopped riding but only for a short while. In the past several years I have tried four bikes, I rebought my all time favorite a MG LeMans l. Last year I tried out a RR and haven't looked at another bike. I still have the LM but I ride the RR only. My wife said she wouldn't ride a motorcycle, and to this day she hasn't! Her loss, but she really encourages me ride to my hearts content! Although I would love for her to ride with me the freedom, of solo riding is great. Enjoy and don't press the issue of her riding with you.

Post by **MikeB** » Sun May 20, 2007 2:46 pm

Thank you all for the encouragement, I will take heed. I already have a video to watch. I also doing this venture with a couple of friends that are also going into this for the first time. I'm planning on having a lot of fun. As for the post from "dragonmojo", my wife did't see the humor in the recommendation to "ditch the wife". Thanks anyway....

dragonmojo · Post by **dragonmojo** » Sun May 20, 2007 7:33 pm

MikeB wrote:Thank you all for the encouragement, I will take heed. I already have a video to watch. I also doing this venture with a couple of friends that are also going into this for the first time. I'm planning on having a lot of fun. As for the post from "dragonmojo", my wife did't see the humor in the recommendation to "ditch the wife". Thanks anyway....

Just wanted to make sure you knew I was just kidding. What would I know? I've been single all my life.

Right now my combined motorcycling miles average over 10K per year vs my truck at less than 8500 miles total after 3 years of ownership. Have fun!!

Post by **MikeB** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 10:25 pm

No I'm not. I just took delivery of my new (to me) 2004 R1150R (Black) last Thursday morning. This is the most fun I've had in a long time. I've been asking myself since why I have waited so long to try out this whole motorcycle thing. It is really a lot of fun

. In just 2 days of riding I've put on more than 200 miles. If someone out there could please explain to me how to enter a picture of my bike into this reply I would sure like to enter one so that you could all enjoy looking at it. Thanks....

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