I love riding!!!

[Jaysin]

Thats what i learned this week. It's the single most exciting thing ive ever decided to do with my life. My stomach was in knots during three intense days in the MSF course and the fourth day dropping 5k on my new bike and all the accessories/gear. The first day out on the road, well out in the parking lot, i couldnt imagine i would be out riding 50 miles in a day only going home cuz my forearms and buttcheeks were getting sore. This is only my 5th day of riding after never having been on a bike before last tuesday. It's my 1 week anniversary and I FEEL GREAT!!!

[sbg8r]

and many many more yrs to come..... It is a great feeling....Congrats

[soc_monki]

woot woot! i always take the long way home from work...just makes the day that much better

you say our forearms are getting sore...try lightening the grip on the bars (tennis grip they call it...) and gripping the tank with your knees more. itll help i promise! something i learned while riding dirt bikes

what kinda bike did you get btw?

[Jaysin]

I have a green 06 ninja 500. When i was looking at pictures of bikes online i wanted a 600. When i met the beasts in person i immediatley knew better. And i do definitly notice a immediate relaxation in my arms when i squeeze a bit with my knees but am still trying to teach my body that its ok to ease off the deathgrip i have on the handlebars. Hmmm i dont like the word "deathgrip"...

[soc_monki]

Originally Posted by Jaysin

I have a green 06 ninja 500. When i was looking at pictures of bikes online i wanted a 600. When i met the beasts in person i immediatley knew better. And i do definitly notice a immediate relaxation in my arms when i squeeze a bit with my knees but am still trying to teach my body that its ok to ease off the deathgrip i have on the handlebars. Hmmm i dont like the word "deathgrip"...

LOL well it is like a deathgrip...i notice myself doing it on occasion, and i immediately lighten up and grip harder with my knees. take the strain off and my forearms can pump blood freely again first time i rode my 600 i only rode for about 10 minutes but my arms pumped up horribly, just like they did the first few times riding my MXer.

from that point on it was "squeeze with the knees, lighten up on the bars" and its been great ever since.

ill admit the 600s are intimidating at first...but im cool with it now. if i were a first timer like you then definitely a 250/500 would have been my choice. i had experience with dirt riding and i tried out a 250 and i knew the 600 was the one for me, and after about a week of riding i know my decision was the right one

its good you know your limits though...if youre not careful the 600 will bite you. the smaller bikes are much more forgiving if you give them bad inputs! theyre all great bikes though...it wouldnt matter what bike im on, its always just fun to ride

[sbg8r]

waut till you get caught in the rain....I had to peel my finger off the grips....

relaxation comes with experience, the more you ride the better you will relax

[Da_Honest_Truth]

they all said it. it takes time to lose that 'grip' i still at times find myself doing it (mostly when the wind is trying to push me off the road) but its amazing the feel of just going. i've had my new (new to me i mean of course) bike almost 2 weeks now and have put almost 300 miles on it, if not more, and have ridden it every day except the 3 days we got rain. yesterday i was out riding, the trip odometer said 39 when i left, when i got home it was like 80 sumthin. i sat in my living room after class and wondered how the heck did i get up that high and i didn't go anywhere. then i remembered i just kept riding and 'got lost' on the way home. oh well... i see a few more 'lost' days in my future.

keep riding and feeling great!!

[tricker]

i still have the death grip sometimes.. but only when i'm going through some insane twisties.. When i do find them they're fun but not entirely used to them....

[House_of_Dexter]

Originally Posted by tricker

i still have the death grip sometimes.. but only when i'm going through some insane twisties.. When i do find them they're fun but not entirely used to them....

If you don't loosen up on the grips...the first wind gust will push you all across the lane...So squeeze with your legs...You will automatically loosen your grip...You will thank me when that first wind gust pushes you and you remember to squeeze with your legs...and you'll wonder why people make a big deal about wind gust...

[tricker]

Originally Posted by House_of_Dexter

If you don't loosen up on the grips...the first wind gust will push you all across the lane...So squeeze with your legs...You will automatically loosen your grip...You will thank me when that first wind gust pushes you and you remember to squeeze with your legs...and you'll wonder why people make a big deal about wind gust...

Generally when i ride i have loose grips on the bike. I have been pushed across lanes before but i was in about a 30 mph corner and there wasn't much i could have done besides lean harder. I like to think i've ridden in nearly all types of weather. Monsoons, strong winds, flurries, 100 degree heat. 20 degree cold. Its possible I thought I had a death grip going but actually was having hand cramps from driving 1k miles in 2 days.

[House_of_Dexter]

Originally Posted by tricker

Generally when i ride i have loose grips on the bike. I have been pushed across lanes before but i was in about a 30 mph corner and there wasn't much i could have done besides lean harder. I like to think i've ridden in nearly all types of weather. Monsoons, strong winds, flurries, 100 degree heat. 20 degree cold. Its possible I thought I had a death grip going but actually was having hand cramps from driving 1k miles in 2 days.

Heh...I just quoted the wrong person...meant to quote the OP...

[DammitMike]

Congrats, I'm a fairly new rider myself. Passed the MSF last summer but just got my first bike about a month and a half ago, and already have put 800 miles on her!

Where in the DC area are you located? I'm about an hour outside of DC in Montgomery County MD. If you're anywhere near there you should check out bike night at Criswell Powersports in Germantown every Wed night 6-9pm. Huge turn outs each week and free hotdogs/drinks, it's a lot of fun.

[Jaysin]

Man that sounds awesome. I actually live in College Park by the University of MD. I also have Wens nights free. I've been looking to find a place to meet other riders in the area. Thanks!!!

[Jaysin]

Originally Posted by sbg8r

waut till you get caught in the rain....I had to peel my finger off the grips....

relaxation comes with experience, the more you ride the better you will relax

Ha wouldnt you know i got caught out in the rain twice in the passed few week. We've had alot of "isolated" t-storms around here this week and sure enough i left the house with bright blue skys and ended up in a downpour only 10 mins out on my ride. At least ive experianced it i guess. Wasnt really as bad as i thought it would be.

[DammitMike]

Originally Posted by Jaysin

Man that sounds awesome. I actually live in College Park by the University of MD. I also have Wens nights free. I've been looking to find a place to meet other riders in the area. Thanks!!!

Nice man, Criswell is only about 30 min from College Park(in the uncommon event that there is little to no traffic on 495). It's really a good time and on top of the free hotdogs, each week a sponsor usually is there giving things away. The past two weeks Hooters has been there giving away free wings and Monster Energy was there last week. Send me a message or something if you're going to be there one week. I ride a Black 89 ninja 600r a rock a bright white Icon helmet.