I Finally Did It - Learning to Ride

kai said:
Great to hear! I just got my first bike 2 weeks ago and can't believe i waited so long. Of course, the gas crisis was my excuse :)
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Nice bike. :)

The gas thing was one of my excuses to finally pick up a bike. I got a Buell 1125R and I love it -

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taormina, very cool story, man. :beer:

Yeah, I've heard the California motorcycle test that you take at the DMV is tough. That's why so many people opt for the class given by the CHP. You take the class and take in your certificate and you get your license that way. I went to the DMV today and got my permit (not the license, cause I need to either a) take the riding test given by the DMV or b) take the CHP class, which is what I'm going to do).
 
Wow that's a gorgeous bike..

-Kegan

P.S - how do you go about signing up for riding lessons at a community college? Mind you, I guess its a little different in Canada, where we don't really have them but just thought I'd ask.
 
Kegan Sant said:
Wow that's a gorgeous bike..

-Kegan

P.S - how do you go about signing up for riding lessons at a community college? Mind you, I guess its a little different in Canada, where we don't really have them but just thought I'd ask.
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Cause all the local colleges host classes that are approved by the california highway patrol. So if you take their class, they give you a sheet that you take to the DMV and boom, you're done. I would have done it that way had I had the patience.

Still happy though.
 
brianluce said:
The blackened exhaust pipe is scary. Looks like it could melt the flesh from your leg! Not an issue?
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I think you might be mistaking the intake feed from the airbox (matte black, to the rear of the cylinder casing) - which is cold - for the exhaust pipe to the manifold (chrome/blued) at the front of the cylinder casing), which is hot.
 
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taormina said:
Here's my story.

Around a year ago I was in the same situation as you. Always lusted after a bike but never even sat on one. So one day I walk into the Harley dealer and basically buy a brand new '07 Fat Boy on the spot. He asks if I want to test it out, I'm like - no way man, I don't even know how to ride.

I had them deliver the bike - that afternoon, it shows up at my house - It's a spectacle outside - the neighbors all coming out and looking at it being offloaded in my driveway.

They were saying things like "I didn't know you rode" - and of course I didn't!

So I run to the DMV, read the book, and take the learners permit test. One month later was my road test appointment. I passed the learners test, and got home.

My friends and family were wondering when I was going to take a course. Honestly, I tried calling but couldn't wait the two months. So two days after I bought the Hog, I opened up the garage door and said to it "I'm going to figure out how to ride you, and that's it".

I already read about the gears and brakes, and already drove a stick - what the hell - how hard can it be.

So I started by driving down the driveway, only practicing letting out the clutch smoothly and getting the bike rolling. Then I ventured onto the street. I would ride down my street (a quiet one) in first gear only, and soon graduated to going around the block like that.

By day 3 or 4 I could ride around the block and get up to 2nd or 3rd....

By day 5-6 I was easily a pro at going up and down my block (which is pretty hilly and littered with stop signs...about a 1 mile trip).

After the first week I had convinced myself I was ready for the open road!

The cars where scary as hell. It was difficult to maintain a proper speed, but just practice, practice practice and I kept at it.

During my first month on the road, I stalled out the bike a half dozen times at various intersections. I never spilled it - although I came close once. it's easy to lay it down when you are stationary or almost so.

But I practiced and persisted so long - rode the bike everywhere for a month, and would go to the DMV after hours and practice in their lot for the test.

The California test is kinda tough, you must weave the bike through some cones, go twice around a tight radius circle (must be like 12-15' around) and weave back. You must do this twice each way. Put your foot down and you fail. Very tough.

And made tougher by a 1750CC 700# harley. My friends wanted to lend me their little 250s to go do the test, but I wasn't hearing it. I said the Harley was my bike and that's what I was damned well going to test on.

And I did.

I was told by the test guy that I was one of the few he had ever seen pass the test in such a big bike. I passed it the first time flawlessly and drew applause from spectators even. I got my license on the spot. Prouder than hell!

I've ridden over a year now, and have thousands of miles on my bike. I may not have done it conventionally, but I'm not really one to listen to advice.

Hope that helps!
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Whoa, there's no way I could learn on a Harley. I'd be paralized by the very expensive drop factor. Glad it worked out though dude.
 
Yeah, well I learned on a....oh wait.....I am crazy!

Come on, man, if I trashed it it would have only been $26K ;-)
 
Maybe a nice roll up and down the Angeles Crest...?

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Looks like a custom job (the bike, that is). Nice.
 
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