Introduction: Five weeks, 800 miles, already almost killed once

[Belrix]

As a letter of introduction, I'll cross-post this from another forum I'm part of...

It started out with a day off - so I can blame my boss for this. He gave me a day off for working a hellish number of hours the previous week.

I decided, among other errands, that I'd satisfy my desire to look at scooters. I've been feeling the pinch of the current gas prices, I use about $5 per day to commute, so a scooter seems like a practical device.

I would walk into a store, point at myself, and ask what they had that could move me around (I'm about 6'3", 350) I made the mistake of walking into what was primarily a motorcycle store at first. They had the Suzuki Burgman but nothing smaller. $8k for the Burgman. Gee, the Honda Shadow & Suzuki Boulevard on the showroom floor are $1500 cheaper and much much cooler. That Burgman looks easy to drive, though. Might look like a dork, though. Thanks - I'll think about it.

Intrigued by the possibility but scared by the learning curve, I left the dealer.

But, gee... around the corner is another dealer. I went there. They weren't Honda & Suzuki like the first, they turn out to be Kawasaki, Yamaha & Victory. They've got a "super scooter" like the Burgman, too, the T-Max. Also $8k.

While you're here, hmm - that Vulcan 900 Classic is very pretty. Very, very pretty.

A couple days later I get a call from the salesman at the second dealer. They're clearing out their 2008 floor models and that Vulcan is 10% off. Damn. I didn't need a decision like this right now. I'm a big one for buyer's remorse, I second-guess almost any purchase over $20 for days and days.

I told him I'd be in that evening to take another look.

I couldn't resist - the allure of it all - the Je Ne Sais Quoi. Years and years I've wanted a motorcycle but never followed up on that wish (I'm 43). So - obvious at this point in the story, I bought the thing and then signed up for the MSF course held next door.

For two days we did 25 miles in that parking lot, a space maybe 20 by 50 yards. Round and round and round. Back and forth and back and forth again.

For the whole course, I fought the damn training bike. It was too small for me (a Yamaha Virago), the controls were ill-placed for a man of my size. My knees were bent too far back, my hips ached, and I kept missing the forward controls with my feet when I tried to use them. Still, I was doing pretty well.

Something started to change though as the second day wore on. What I could do at 2:00 was not working right at 4:00. It was so noticeable the instructor called me over and asked if I was OK. I was tired, beaten & told him so but also told him that wanted to tough it out - see it through - and while I didn't do well on the "final exam", I did pass it, just barely, but I passed it.

I took my MSF card, went next door, and picked up my bike. I drove home (about 4 miles) on the back-roads, trying to get the feel for this much heavier motorbike.

It's now five weeks or so. In that time, I've put just under 800 miles on it and I'm in love. I'm probably obnoxiously single-minded about it right now. My desktop wallpaper is now a motorcycle. I'm reading up on motorcycles.

I've taken it on two long drives already, about 100-120 miles each, trying to keep it under 50 mph because of the break-in. The mountain roads are good for that - most have a 45 mph speed limit. The rest of the miles are around town, commuting & the like.

After the first long ride, I arrived back in town and decided to stop by the MSF course & show my instructor the bike. It was soooo much better than the training bikes. The large frame of the Vulcan fits my body so much better and I'm not fighting the machinery just to operate it.

I rode about 110 miles by that time that day and I arrive at the right-hand turn into the course's parking lot. I signal, slow, and begin to turn. There's the squeal of brakes and a loud double thump.

I come to a rapid stop (my MSF course skills handy there - didn't hit the fence, didn't drop the bike, stopped cleanly).

The guy behind me, a Magnum station wagon, had tried to pass me on the right as I was turning right. I checked - my right-turn signal was on - still blinking from where I didn't cancel it after I stopped.

There's bike lane on the right side of that street. The guy saw me slow, he saw me move left a bit (to improve my turning radius - I'm still in my lane), and he decided to pass me in the bike lane. Dang - here I am doing it all right and this jerk decides to pass me illegally, despite my turn signal. "I thought you were going to turn left," he said.

The double-thump was him dragging his tire & suspension through a very deep ditch that parallels the road. I hope it messed up his alignment. Just desserts.

My second long ride was this a couple weeks ago - turns out I chose a road being used for a rally that day. I got my pic snapped by a photographer recording the ride. Nice!

I can only ride every other week or so - half-time custody of my children means I'm driving the mini-van around the other weeks.

I'm disappointed - because of my children and a planned vacation, I'm not going to get much riding in for the next three weeks. Come the end of that period - it's starting to get chilly with winter coming on. I'm hoping for a few of Colorado's unseasonably warm fall & winter days to keep the jonesing down.


Things to add: Windshield - buffeting is pretty bad at highway speeds and I'd like to add the Cobra lightbar to improve my visibility to others and see a bit better at night.

I don't really want the huge street-cop type windshield - just something to break the wind around my body some. I'm pretty broad and make a pretty good wind-brake. Any suggestions?

The seat is pretty uncomfortable after 60 or 70 miles - not sure what to do about that - I either need to grow calluses on my butt or hope the seat molds a little more to my bones. Suggestions?

[07Ninja250]

Nice story. Glad you didn't get mangled so early in your riding career.

One piece of advice...don't move left to make a right turn. Unless your bike is super long or the driveway is super narrow, you shouldn't need to do that. People just aren't paying attention and can be misled by this move. No, what he did wasn't right. He misunderstood your intentions because he's a dumbass. Don't give people any reason to question your next move.

[mrmegadeth]

^^ Nicely said. Always make you moves blatantly obvious.

[Belrix]

It was learner's fear that made me move left.

A steep lean through a sharp turn was (and still is) still a bit nerve-wracking. I'm getting a lot better about that, now, thankfully.

[kumite]

Since you are now a convert to safety conciousness..... buy a headlight modulator. I promise that it will improve your odds for an accident free ride.

Additionally, you have to drive much differently that when in your auto. Assume that you are invisible or that people will intentionally do the wrong thing. As such, you will be prepared for the avoidance maneuvers. (SEE from the MSF course)

If you learn this early you have a good shot at a long, injury free motorcycling career. If you do not...... it will just be a matter of time before you get a lesson the hard way.

Glad you got your first lesson very cheaply. Keep the eyes open and prayer flying upward.

R. Todd

[cmptrmn.1]

^+1

As for windshields. I have a Memphis fat 19". I am only 5'6 and this is just a tad tall for me. Might be the perfect size for you

[jesse web]

There is no way I'm reading all of it. no time for me. But welcome to kawa!

[Jamie C.]

^+1

As for windshields. I have a Memphis fat 19". I am only 5'6 and this is just a tad tall for me. Might be the perfect size for you

My windshield on my 800 was 19.5 and too tall for me. ( I'm about 6 ft even )
I cut it down to 16 - 16.5 inches so I could see over it. It's perfect now, with little buffeting.

[pb641]

Glad to have you here, welcome!!

I say give the seat a few hundred more miles. Lot's of folks buy aftermarket seats with mixed results.

Get a quality windshield. The top should be just under your eye level in normal seating.

Great looking ride, and great choice.

[artz]

welcome to the forums.
As you are finding out quickly, all the training in the world doesn't make you accident free from others, But it gives you more tools to put in your toolbox. Some tools you use all the time that you ride, and some you will use in an emergency.
Don't let people in cages intimidate you. Take your time and Ride safe.

[flbiker]

I had a similar experience today on my way home.....a big ole Ford F-350 was following me home,kinda close,I stuck to the speed limit 40 MPH,when I went to make a left on to my street the Ford decided to go around me to the right when I stopped to let oncoming traffic go by.Just as he went around me an unmarked car was coming from the other direction,he hit his lights and pulled the Ford over.Justice was sweet today.

[Belrix]

I want to celebrate the instant karma but it does remind me that my wife got a ticket for passing on the right just a couple weeks ago - around a car but just as illegal.

I got bulldozed in a Dakota pickup one time by a big Ford PU (rolled my truck, totaled it).

I hate to think of one tailgating my bike. That's a big grill.

[keithert]

I use a Memphis Shades Shooter model windshield. Just big enough to break up the wind hitting my head so it doesn't try to rip my helmet off. The only time I want anything bigger is when it is cold out.

[pb641]

I use a Memphis Shades Shooter model windshield. Just big enough to break up the wind hitting my head so it doesn't try to rip my helmet off. The only time I want anything bigger is when it is cold out.

very nice bike. That black and pewter is a good combo. Where did you get the back rest?

[keithert]

very nice bike. That black and pewter is a good combo. Where did you get the back rest?

It's a Grasshopper backrest. Very comfortable and got great customer service from the owner of the company.

[Belrix]

Crud - looks like it's not available for the 900. Very nice.

[jbsmd]

Can hardly wait for chapter 2. Windshield and lowers, and the stock seats don't get more comfy as time goes by.

[rod2625]

As far as windshields I am 5'10" and a 17" Memphis fats with quick release works great for me. As posted earlier the 19" either the fats or slim might be better for you. The shield should come up to the tip of your nose so you are looking over it. Look at the thread for what fits the 900. There you will find part numbers and what fits. Of note is that you have to be careful on what lightbar you get with the Memphis shade, they don't all fit (noted in the thread). You can see pics in my link below.

[VindianaJones]

Welcome to the forum. You might want to check this brake light modulator out. Its called the Night Rider LED. It will flash 3 to 10 times when you hit the brakes and you can hook up the Night Rider part of it so the whole light flashes across ( like KIT in the Night Rider show ) Its illegal here to have it doing that, so I just have mine flashing 10 times when I hit the brakes. The other part, I have hooked to a toggle switch so that I can turn it on when I get to my Coffee destination or whenever we're stopped for awhile.
Heres the link. If you like, I can send you a video of mine in action.
Night Rider LED Light Bar

Its very bright and all my friends say you can see it for blocks. It gets the cagers attention as well.

[spitfire9]

Good story. Glad to hear it worked out okay, and you didn't buy a scooter, hehe.