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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.
All joking aside in the Oregon riders course if you down your bike they generally don't turn you loose on the streets. Hopefully you think about safety first on her riding.. sounds like she might want to take it slow for the first month.
Did much better than my wife. First time on her Nightster she drops it coming to a stop forgetting to pull the clutch back in, my fault for not telling her that part. We both take the MSF course and she got coached out cause she couldn't keep up with the rest of the class. Sorry the MSF we had didn't have much patients.
That is why I suggest the Riders Edge. My husband took the MSF and was not that impressed and if you fell you failed. Rdiers edge knows that is what you are there for to learn and ours at least was very patient.
Location: Circleville, O-hi-o <Its all God's country>
Posts: 4,053
Ohio has a state riders class. Very well run, and patient but firm. I would rather she learn that way than someone giving them a break. Sorry, but you don't get breaks out on the road. Learn it once, learn it right. Plus $25 is far better than $300, although that was secondary in our decision making process.
My wife took the MSF class with me in Aug, 2006 so she would have some idea of what was going on. I bought her a 07 1200L for Valentines day 2007. We practiced in the high school parking lot on Saturdays and Sundays. She ran through a 6 foot chain linked fence. Scared her half to death. I convinced her to try it again in a few weeks. I then bought her a 250 Rebel, she rode 300 miles and then went back to her Sportster. 2700 miles later she bought a 07 Heritage. She loves it and had it lowered and the seat shaved with a gel pack inserted in it. It nows has 7000 miles on it and next summer we are riding to Yellowstone. My advice is to get her in a class and then take it slow. As others have said she will get there but no matter how bad you want it for her, she must find the confidence. That takes time. She will do it and it will be great for you.
Yesterday it was in the 40's, the wife and I rode 100 miles round trip for lunch.
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2007 Ultra Classic...... Mine
2007 Heritage Classic Softail... Hers
Last edited by Nellybelle; 10-19-2009 at 06:35 PM.
Glad she made it out with only minor scrapes. She is a trooper jumping right back on the bike though. Someday you'll both look back and laugh.
__________________ Some people ask the secret of our long marriage. We take time to go to a restaurant two times a week. A dinner, soft music and dancing. She goes Tuesdays, I go Fridays.
2004 DS650X (Rotax)
800 Open Mod (Rotax)
617 Mach1 on NOS (Rotax)
1996 D3500 V10 425hp
1996 HD 1250 XLH "Custom" Stage 2 Heads, SE.497 Cams, SE Prog. Race Ignition.
Vet: US ARMY 78 - 81.......Patriot Guard Rider#45266
'02 Ultra & '96 1200 Custom Sportster.
