Wow! It's been three days since I was in the saddle, and boy did it feel gooooooood! I started the bike with the 2/5ths indicator lit, and one excellent lap around the neighborhood took that second-to last fuel mark away.
I did 5 quick-stops, and not a single one broke traction from the rear tire. The few starting and stopping turns that I took were very comfortable and natural feeling. I had no fear of pushing the bike into a low speed lean in one of my starting turns, and I had incredibly comfortable control of the throttle, even with two fingers covering the brake the whole time.
This wasn't yet the time to take the bike down the road to the gas station, at least not without the consent of my instructor.
3 miles, 15 minutes, big smile.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
V-Strom Parts
I might mention that this is a Nevada company, so be sure to claim your purchases on your state use tax...
Monday, April 14, 2008
MSF Riding Tips
I actually found this booklet among the documentation which the previous two owners had saved with the Falcon (my DL1000). The outside cover of my copy is green with a copyright date of 2001, and it has a Suzuki Logo on the front. Interesting, then, that MSF uses these exact exercises for the BRC?
That is not to knock Suzuki. Honestly, I think that any marketing campaign which attempts to ensure that new riders turn into old riders has a tinge of brilliance to it. At any rate, one may more easily hold Suzuki (and their marketing staff) in higher regard.
The small booklet seems to transmit the following message 'Learning to ride might be easy, but learning to ride safely is going to be tough. Don't let the word spread, though.'
Because the booklet has been released in PDF form, I will probably use it make my own 'exercise plan,' using the diagrams to help describe the basic parking lot skills that [I feel] I at least should be proficient in before heading out on the streets. Can you imagine what a help a simple 8.5" x 11" cheat sheet would be, placed under the clear window of a tank bag while drilling in the high school parking lot on a Saturday Afternoon?
(Let me be clear: I am NOT advocating that anyone should practice their motorcycling skills on or near any municipal parking lot, as the municipality would likely not be able or ready to accept such staggering liability. Grocery Store lots, however... just kidding).
NOT COOL!
My first return item for Cycle Gear: A brand new pair of Frank Thomas summer riding gloves.
The cuff of the Right-Hand glove tore, in the middle of the leather no less, the first day that I was using them. I think it was the third or fourth time that I was putting the gloves on, as well. I don't think I have any other option but to apply the gloves by pulling on the leather cuff... 'RRRRRIP!'
I must say that I am really quite put off with this little experience. I have always associated 'nearly-top-quality' with the term 'British-Made,' up until now. That the home land of the Aston Martin DB9, Triumph Tiger, and even Virgin Galactic would suffer such a blight upon the U.S.A... oh well, the glove must have been their revenge upon us for Gateway.
This is one case where I am thankfull that Cycle Gear's retail stores have a '100% Satisfaction Guarantee.' Even though they may not carry every piece of top-quality gear in every store, at least you can order it on line and return it to the retail outlet if you don't like it. In this case, I just bought the gloves from the local store, and I do intend for them to order me a new pair (probably in XXXL, instead of the just-fitted XXL).
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Proficient Motorcycling
This is a MUST READ! Do not go out on the roads again before reading this book.. or at least taking the MSF BRC course.
Motorcycle Consumer News published this book, and I am grateful.
Motorcycle Consumer News published this book, and I am grateful.
Day 2
It has been 33 miles of criss-crossing the old neighborhood today after a total of four hours of riding. The temperature rapidly climbed into the high 80’s, so I stayed out of the saddle during the mid day, opting instead to replace the after-marked Leo Vance pipes for the stock ones. Thanks to a gift of Joe Rocket warm-weather mesh riding jacket from my Father, I was able better tolerate the heat in order to get in a few more miles before the sun set today (more about that later).
I must say that throttle and clutch control was much easier and more intuitive than it was yesterday. I really think that ‘sleeping on it’ almost always makes a significant difference when it comes to learning new physical skills. Yesterday saw me struggling to grip the throttle correctly, sit with a relaxed posture, and slow the bike without breaking traction. Today, after sleeping on my first practice session, I immediately felt more comfortable keeping up and managing my speed, rolling on throttle, and breaking effectively. I finally got comfortable in the saddle, and was able to focus on staying relaxed, keeping my elbows down, and covering the front brake and clutch with two fingers each throughout the day.
My Trainer’s Challenge for today:
The hill drills took a bit of practice, where I needed to get used to hearing and interpreting the engine noises as feedback regarding clutch position all the while coordinating foot brake release.
I also found considerable shortfalls in the quality of my short, slow turns. Specifically, I found myself making wide turns while engaging the clutch higher RPMs. I felt myself panic and nearly miss the opposite curb a few times today. That is when I decided to focus on starting and turning technique. Therefore, I spent the last hours of sunlight practicing right and left-hand turns at intersections while rolling, as well as making turns from a dead stop.
The day ended on a good note as I started getting used to the principals of counter steer. I look forward to gaining enough skill to automatically push the inside hand grip even harder, while rolling on a little more throttle the next time I feel myself going wide in a turn.
It is now four hours, three litters of water, and 60 pages of David L. Hough’s “Proficient Motorcycling” later, and I am ready for the next practice session.
I must say that throttle and clutch control was much easier and more intuitive than it was yesterday. I really think that ‘sleeping on it’ almost always makes a significant difference when it comes to learning new physical skills. Yesterday saw me struggling to grip the throttle correctly, sit with a relaxed posture, and slow the bike without breaking traction. Today, after sleeping on my first practice session, I immediately felt more comfortable keeping up and managing my speed, rolling on throttle, and breaking effectively. I finally got comfortable in the saddle, and was able to focus on staying relaxed, keeping my elbows down, and covering the front brake and clutch with two fingers each throughout the day.
My Trainer’s Challenge for today:
Task #2
Stop on an incline, and start again without stalling the engine ten times in a row: Success!
The hill drills took a bit of practice, where I needed to get used to hearing and interpreting the engine noises as feedback regarding clutch position all the while coordinating foot brake release.
I also found considerable shortfalls in the quality of my short, slow turns. Specifically, I found myself making wide turns while engaging the clutch higher RPMs. I felt myself panic and nearly miss the opposite curb a few times today. That is when I decided to focus on starting and turning technique. Therefore, I spent the last hours of sunlight practicing right and left-hand turns at intersections while rolling, as well as making turns from a dead stop.
The day ended on a good note as I started getting used to the principals of counter steer. I look forward to gaining enough skill to automatically push the inside hand grip even harder, while rolling on a little more throttle the next time I feel myself going wide in a turn.
It is now four hours, three litters of water, and 60 pages of David L. Hough’s “Proficient Motorcycling” later, and I am ready for the next practice session.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Gear
Call me shallow, but at this early stage of my indoctrination to two-wheeled motor transport, I think that one of the best parts about riding is the gear. There’s tons of it!
Every gear wholesaler or retailer has their own ‘house brand,’ the major manufacturers all have different lines of clothing for the various markets, and every year brings new entrants to the game.
I suppose that I like the kinds things sold to motorcycle riders so much because each item is a careful blend of form and function. I believe this is because the motorcycling industry itself is sill in the early stages of a rather precipitous boom. I cannot think of any other industry that is more accessible to the ‘average joe,’ while still not selling out it’s adventurous roots by creating all kinds of crap that nobody needs but every one wants, besides the motorcycling accessories industry.
Seriously, have you ever taken a good hard look at what is available just in the way of riding gloves? Not only does every manufacturer seem to segment their target markets differently, but each seems to have their own design philosophy and therefore offers a tiered level of products to each segment.
New technologies show up in riding apparel every year, so major manufacturers like Alpine Stars, Fox Racing, Joe Rocket, Tour Master, or even Dainese will update their gear every few years, unless they find a real winner! AeroStitch (one of my personal favorites) has built a tremendous business by selling the same Darien, Falstaff, and Roadcrafter riding jackets and suit lines for at least the past 20 years, perhaps with just the occasional update for materials, processes, and technology enhancements.
Taking the time to drive around town, visit all of the bike shops, and trying on all of the jackets is, in my opinion, time well spent. This is partially due to my belief that no person should ever compromise on protection, and there may be something out there that is better than what you have in your closet already. I also believe that the experience will provide anyone with at least an afternoon’s-worth of entertainment, should one take the time to examine the features and compromises every manufacturer offers to it’s customers.
Joe Rocket, for example, has an exquisite touring jacket called the Alter Ego. It sports all kinds of well-thought-out features like velro-sealed mesh panels that can be opened by simply finding the little rubber nubbin at the end of the string (quite easy to do with riding gloves on), and pulling on the line to open the otherwise water-resistant shell to allow more ventilation on the road. Brilliant!
Every gear wholesaler or retailer has their own ‘house brand,’ the major manufacturers all have different lines of clothing for the various markets, and every year brings new entrants to the game.
I suppose that I like the kinds things sold to motorcycle riders so much because each item is a careful blend of form and function. I believe this is because the motorcycling industry itself is sill in the early stages of a rather precipitous boom. I cannot think of any other industry that is more accessible to the ‘average joe,’ while still not selling out it’s adventurous roots by creating all kinds of crap that nobody needs but every one wants, besides the motorcycling accessories industry.
Seriously, have you ever taken a good hard look at what is available just in the way of riding gloves? Not only does every manufacturer seem to segment their target markets differently, but each seems to have their own design philosophy and therefore offers a tiered level of products to each segment.
New technologies show up in riding apparel every year, so major manufacturers like Alpine Stars, Fox Racing, Joe Rocket, Tour Master, or even Dainese will update their gear every few years, unless they find a real winner! AeroStitch (one of my personal favorites) has built a tremendous business by selling the same Darien, Falstaff, and Roadcrafter riding jackets and suit lines for at least the past 20 years, perhaps with just the occasional update for materials, processes, and technology enhancements.
Taking the time to drive around town, visit all of the bike shops, and trying on all of the jackets is, in my opinion, time well spent. This is partially due to my belief that no person should ever compromise on protection, and there may be something out there that is better than what you have in your closet already. I also believe that the experience will provide anyone with at least an afternoon’s-worth of entertainment, should one take the time to examine the features and compromises every manufacturer offers to it’s customers.
Joe Rocket, for example, has an exquisite touring jacket called the Alter Ego. It sports all kinds of well-thought-out features like velro-sealed mesh panels that can be opened by simply finding the little rubber nubbin at the end of the string (quite easy to do with riding gloves on), and pulling on the line to open the otherwise water-resistant shell to allow more ventilation on the road. Brilliant!
Friday, April 11, 2008
Falcon and My Ego
WHAT!? WHY Such a Big Bike?!?
Simple: even with repair costs factored in, the bike is cheaper than any other used DL650 or DL1000 I have seen. On top of that, I have strongly desired a motorcycle that can safely haul my 6'4", 300 lb. frame, and all of the gear that I may decide to take with me, around the shire. I have had a few people (both amateur and professional riders) tell me that they would not have started me out on a 996 cc. sport-tuned V-Twin in the first place. I must be crazy, right?
Actually, I do have two other driving reasons to not start out on a DL650: Experience and Ego.
Experience: I don't know why, but when I was much younger, I wanted very badly to learn to ride a horse. In order to earn the privilege, I had to muck stalls. For two years I would start my Saturdays ride my bicycle up one of the steepest hills in the county, muck at least 10 stalls, and then take my lesson on on of the oldest, surliest, nastiest horses in the barn that went by the name of Falcon. I look back fondly on those years, because I finally figured out what it meant to work hard for something that I desired. I also learned that the most sweetest victories are those which are most hardly won. When it was all over, I was extremely proud to have been the kid that worked so hard to earn lessons, and to be the first to get Falcon to canter at will. I stopped riding shortly after Falcon passed away. I had grown so accustomed to dealing with the most ornery horse in the arena, that nearly every other horse I rode was a total let-down because I didn't have to work as hard. The spirit of the game was lost. I didn't want the safe horse, I wanted Falcon.
I see the DL1000 as my new 'Falcon.' In fact, I have decided to name it 'Falcon' from here on out.
The funny thing is, no one ever knew that the old Falcon was a nut for baby carrots. As soon as I had found his weakness, we established a new rapport, and he decided that I was not a bad person to haul around the Arena after all. Through adversity, I gained greater skills.
Ego: I just don't want a DL650. Not when I can have a DL1000.
Simple: even with repair costs factored in, the bike is cheaper than any other used DL650 or DL1000 I have seen. On top of that, I have strongly desired a motorcycle that can safely haul my 6'4", 300 lb. frame, and all of the gear that I may decide to take with me, around the shire. I have had a few people (both amateur and professional riders) tell me that they would not have started me out on a 996 cc. sport-tuned V-Twin in the first place. I must be crazy, right?
Actually, I do have two other driving reasons to not start out on a DL650: Experience and Ego.
Experience: I don't know why, but when I was much younger, I wanted very badly to learn to ride a horse. In order to earn the privilege, I had to muck stalls. For two years I would start my Saturdays ride my bicycle up one of the steepest hills in the county, muck at least 10 stalls, and then take my lesson on on of the oldest, surliest, nastiest horses in the barn that went by the name of Falcon. I look back fondly on those years, because I finally figured out what it meant to work hard for something that I desired. I also learned that the most sweetest victories are those which are most hardly won. When it was all over, I was extremely proud to have been the kid that worked so hard to earn lessons, and to be the first to get Falcon to canter at will. I stopped riding shortly after Falcon passed away. I had grown so accustomed to dealing with the most ornery horse in the arena, that nearly every other horse I rode was a total let-down because I didn't have to work as hard. The spirit of the game was lost. I didn't want the safe horse, I wanted Falcon.
I see the DL1000 as my new 'Falcon.' In fact, I have decided to name it 'Falcon' from here on out.
The funny thing is, no one ever knew that the old Falcon was a nut for baby carrots. As soon as I had found his weakness, we established a new rapport, and he decided that I was not a bad person to haul around the Arena after all. Through adversity, I gained greater skills.
Ego: I just don't want a DL650. Not when I can have a DL1000.
Some Background
If you are going to take the time to read through my blog, I guess that you should get a little background about where this is all starting from.
First: The Bike
It's a 2003 DL-1000 'V-Strom' from Suzuki. I am the third owner. The first owner only rode it about 10,000 miles, and apparently lives in Santa Barbara, CA. The second owner put on another 26,000 miles commuting between Lompoc and Santa Barbara.
I don't know who did what to the bike, but I do know the following from my mechanic:
$800 bought me a full engine/radiator flush, tune-up, a new clutch lever, flush-mount head lamps, new LED Tail lamps, and some piece of mind.
Next: Me
I should tell you now: I am new to blogging. Up until now, I have had very little that I felt compelled to 'blog' about. Why motorcycles, then? Simple: I am passionate about motorcycle riding, and I want to share my own first experiences with anyone who may be interested. If you don't like motorcycles, please feel free watch YouTube some more, and save the google's bandwidth for people who might care about this stuff.
Yes, I know that google buys their own fiber networks, so they are at no shortage of available bandwidth, and that YouTube usurps more network resources than any other website. Up until recently, I worked in the Telecomm industry.
At the time of this posting, I have not ridden a motorcycle more than about 70 miles in my life. My log book consists of two Motorcycle Safety Foundation classes (probably 30 miles a piece), and the two or three miles it took to become familiar with my dad's ST-1100 and ride it home while he was in the hospital.
First: The Bike
It's a 2003 DL-1000 'V-Strom' from Suzuki. I am the third owner. The first owner only rode it about 10,000 miles, and apparently lives in Santa Barbara, CA. The second owner put on another 26,000 miles commuting between Lompoc and Santa Barbara.
I don't know who did what to the bike, but I do know the following from my mechanic:
- The oil filter was probably the original item installed from the factory. This is a bit troubling, should it be true, as the second owner has a bill of sale from a well known motorcycle dealer in Santa Barbara.
- The front indicator lights have been broken off. The previous owner swore that they were missing as a result of children playing around the motorcycle, but I have no way to corroborate the story. The funny part of the story starts with the square holes cut in to the upper fairing (photo or diagram to follow) in through little wires protrude, most likely in some fouled attempt to place flush-mounted turning lamps 'sport-bike style'.
- The knobby end of the clutch lever has been broken off cleanly.
- At least one valve has been sticking for quite a while. Apparently the oil has been changed once or twice, but no one is sure with what frequency.
- The seat is torn across the top of the ridge connecting what could probably best be described as the connection point between the front and rear passenger's cushion.
- The mufflers are LeoVance glass packs. Yes, my hog sounds like a Duc[ati]. The stock pipes came with the bike.
$800 bought me a full engine/radiator flush, tune-up, a new clutch lever, flush-mount head lamps, new LED Tail lamps, and some piece of mind.
Next: Me
I should tell you now: I am new to blogging. Up until now, I have had very little that I felt compelled to 'blog' about. Why motorcycles, then? Simple: I am passionate about motorcycle riding, and I want to share my own first experiences with anyone who may be interested. If you don't like motorcycles, please feel free watch YouTube some more, and save the google's bandwidth for people who might care about this stuff.
Yes, I know that google buys their own fiber networks, so they are at no shortage of available bandwidth, and that YouTube usurps more network resources than any other website. Up until recently, I worked in the Telecomm industry.
At the time of this posting, I have not ridden a motorcycle more than about 70 miles in my life. My log book consists of two Motorcycle Safety Foundation classes (probably 30 miles a piece), and the two or three miles it took to become familiar with my dad's ST-1100 and ride it home while he was in the hospital.
Day 1: The First Mile
I am going to brag now. I was brought up in an excellent neighborhood, where the streets are wide and straight, the parcel map ever more-so, and the traffic is at a bare minimum. I still remember riding our bicycles up and down the streets, kinging back tires in an attempt to startle my friends. Payback is a bitch.
My dad was cool enough to ride my V-Strom back to homestead from the neighborhood Motorcycle garage (thanks, Brad!) during his lunch break, giving me exactly 30 minutes to get in my first practice session.
For those of you who have not ever learned to ride a motorcycle: it is not easy! In fact, I think learning to drive a car was even harder, if only because there were far fewer things to think about, aside from the position, speed, and direction of the car in relation to everything else. The gas pedal was easy to press, and the automatic transmission didn't allow the car to jump underneath me (more thoughts on the topic at a later date).
I am not saying I am an expert, but I do believe I have found the secret to lasting one's first 10 minutes on a motorcycle:
It's actually not that different from learning how to drive a manual transmission, accept that there is the slightest difference of vehicular attitude in relationship to the ground, vis. the loss of two wheels, a composite metal cage, and air conditioning.
My dad was cool enough to ride my V-Strom back to homestead from the neighborhood Motorcycle garage (thanks, Brad!) during his lunch break, giving me exactly 30 minutes to get in my first practice session.
For those of you who have not ever learned to ride a motorcycle: it is not easy! In fact, I think learning to drive a car was even harder, if only because there were far fewer things to think about, aside from the position, speed, and direction of the car in relation to everything else. The gas pedal was easy to press, and the automatic transmission didn't allow the car to jump underneath me (more thoughts on the topic at a later date).
I am not saying I am an expert, but I do believe I have found the secret to lasting one's first 10 minutes on a motorcycle:
- Stay relaxed
- Learn how the motorcycle feels
- Learn how the motorcycle is going to feel when even the slightest adjustment is made.
It's actually not that different from learning how to drive a manual transmission, accept that there is the slightest difference of vehicular attitude in relationship to the ground, vis. the loss of two wheels, a composite metal cage, and air conditioning.
My personal Motorcycle Instructor (also known as "Dad") gave me the first goal to surmount:
TASK #1
"Start and stop 10 times on the flat streets of the neighborhood, reaching 2nd gear each time, stopping without breaking wheel traction, and starting again without stalling the engine."
Having learned to ride from scratch twice before (The MSF Basic Rider's Course), I at least remembered that there is no way to predict what riding a motorcycle will feel like, so be prepared to be surprised. I am glad, because letting out the clutch for the first time in three years was just this side of scary. Wow, what a feeling!
I'll hit the specifics later, but I should at least say that only rubber hit the road today.
And so it begins...
How in the heck to I do this?
How do I learn to ride a motorcycle after lusting over having my own for as long as I can remember? I've been through the MSF BRC twice, and I have had my M1 license for at least two years. You'd think I was serious, or something.
In terms of actually making an attempt to acquire a new bike, I have had at least three false-starts in the past four years. The first time was just lust. The second time was a good deal, but we didn't have the money. The third time we had the money, the deal was even better, but we decided to buy a house. My wife will probably tell you that I wasn't ready for a motorcycle back then. In retrospect, I might be inclined to agree. This time, we have the house, we have the money, and the deal is incredible!
Fate, at long last, has smile upon us. The time is right:
I won't tell you how much we spent on the bike, but the repair bill from my favorite local motorcycle garage was over $800, and it was still cheaper than anything I've seen in the want adds.
So: BACK TO THE QUESTION AT HAND!
Answer: TBD.
How do I learn to ride a motorcycle after lusting over having my own for as long as I can remember? I've been through the MSF BRC twice, and I have had my M1 license for at least two years. You'd think I was serious, or something.
In terms of actually making an attempt to acquire a new bike, I have had at least three false-starts in the past four years. The first time was just lust. The second time was a good deal, but we didn't have the money. The third time we had the money, the deal was even better, but we decided to buy a house. My wife will probably tell you that I wasn't ready for a motorcycle back then. In retrospect, I might be inclined to agree. This time, we have the house, we have the money, and the deal is incredible!
Fate, at long last, has smile upon us. The time is right:
I won't tell you how much we spent on the bike, but the repair bill from my favorite local motorcycle garage was over $800, and it was still cheaper than anything I've seen in the want adds.
So: BACK TO THE QUESTION AT HAND!
Answer: TBD.
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