I know you did not laugh...?? Sometimes it is hard to get both hands, both feet and thumb working at the same time. Keep encouraging her and you will have great riding buddy.
Wife crashed twice on her first day riding!
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 786
Likes: 1
From: Sheridan, AR
Wife crashed twice on her first day riding!
Well, she finally decided that she wanted a bike of her own, so on Saturday we went out and bought her a 2005 Buell Blast with 950 miles on it. Got a great deal.
Yesterday (Sunday) I take her out to a large vacant parking lot to teach her some basics (she's never ridden, and can barely drive a standard).
We start out real slow learning clutch, throttle, and brakes, before too long she's doing great! Running laps around that lot. Well she got a little cocky, got too close to a fence, panicked and grabbed a handful of front brake....... down she went.... couple scratches on the bike, and a broken turn signal lens hurt her pride a little.
She didn't give up got back on and before long she was doing figure eights, and practicing object avoidance. She stops and says "I want to learn how to shift gears" I say "ok, but just first to second, and second to first"...... big mistake, too much too soon, she got it in second just as she neared the end of the lot and needed to turn....... panicked, grabbed a handful of front brake again and down she went...... again hard! Broke two turn signals, bent the mirror, bent the handlebars, and bent the frame where the foot peg is attached..... bummer! She had a couple minor bumps and bruises (good riding gear).
She said "she was done for the day" I agreed. Went home and started repairing the bike. Was able to pull the frame straight with a ratchet strap, got the handlebars almost straight, straightened up the mirror a little and ordered new turn signals ($18.00 ea.).
After all that she still remains positive, and still wants to ride. The smile on her face when she was lapping that parking lot was priceless!
Hopefully she's done crashing for a while.
I will get her set up with the MSF course before I turn her loose on the street; I am just trying to teach her a few of the basics before she goes off to the class.
Yesterday (Sunday) I take her out to a large vacant parking lot to teach her some basics (she's never ridden, and can barely drive a standard).
We start out real slow learning clutch, throttle, and brakes, before too long she's doing great! Running laps around that lot. Well she got a little cocky, got too close to a fence, panicked and grabbed a handful of front brake....... down she went.... couple scratches on the bike, and a broken turn signal lens hurt her pride a little.
She didn't give up got back on and before long she was doing figure eights, and practicing object avoidance. She stops and says "I want to learn how to shift gears" I say "ok, but just first to second, and second to first"...... big mistake, too much too soon, she got it in second just as she neared the end of the lot and needed to turn....... panicked, grabbed a handful of front brake again and down she went...... again hard! Broke two turn signals, bent the mirror, bent the handlebars, and bent the frame where the foot peg is attached..... bummer! She had a couple minor bumps and bruises (good riding gear).
She said "she was done for the day" I agreed. Went home and started repairing the bike. Was able to pull the frame straight with a ratchet strap, got the handlebars almost straight, straightened up the mirror a little and ordered new turn signals ($18.00 ea.).
After all that she still remains positive, and still wants to ride. The smile on her face when she was lapping that parking lot was priceless!
Hopefully she's done crashing for a while.
I will get her set up with the MSF course before I turn her loose on the street; I am just trying to teach her a few of the basics before she goes off to the class.
She sounds like one tuff girl.glad she got right back on it for round 2.I think the course will do her good,and you may be able to relax a little.I remember when I taught the wife how to ride,crashed 3 times in one day on my Road King.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: utah
please sign her up for the Harley riders edge. you are not using your nice bike but a banged up throw away of thiers. and they teach you the basics and move you up when you are ready.
I know, I to am a wife, and never had ridden. I have one year and Sturgis under my belt ( and I too fell at riders edge)
She will be fine, she just needs some time.
I know, I to am a wife, and never had ridden. I have one year and Sturgis under my belt ( and I too fell at riders edge)
She will be fine, she just needs some time.
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