What did you learn from/about motorcycling this year?

camera56 · Dec 26, 2007

In the spirit of the season, I wondered if folks had a story or insight to share about what they learned this year . . . something to do with you and your motorcycle. For me . . .

I spent time on a track for the first time. Four different track days actually. What a revelation. Each time I went I took advantage of instruction and instructors. The opportunity to ride without oncoming traffic is just the start of the fun. On the third session, late in the season, it all started to come together. I was able to pick and hold an aggressive line, instead of the line picking me. Everything slowed down even though I went faster. I found I could make mid-turn adjustments if I needed to. Low and behold, my knee touched god's own terra firma. If you haven't, get yourself out on a track. It's fun. People are incredibly helpful and supportive. You'll ride better.
On another front, I took a couple of wonderful long rides with my best buddy from college. We've gone all over the west together and it's an indescribable pleasure to have someone to ride with that has a similar sized bladder, rides at the same pace, likes to ride the same distance per day, likes to look at the same things, and is great company when it comes time to stop. Those are happy times.
Going 90 towards town at 7:00 pm on a Saturday night outside of Susanville California is a great way to meet the local constabulary.

Happy holidays and safe riding to all of you. Now share your stories!

RRA · Dec 26, 2007

1. I need to be more deliberate about my pavement visibility.

2. VFRs suck in gravel when leaned over to the pegs, they just will not hold a line!.

3. Safety gear works! (I actually already knew that but apparently I needed a reminder)

RRA

juniorfjr · Dec 26, 2007

This year I learned to never leave on a long trip with marginal tires. If you get caught away from home needing a tire, bend over. Because the local stealers are going to rip you a new one.

That, and to plan more time for riding.

Few men, when asked at the end, "I really wish I spent more time at work"

TheAxeman · Dec 26, 2007

Lets see.....

I rode my first rally this year and realized that its fun but not necessarily my cup of tea. It takes a special breed and mindset to not only participate but to finish in a respectable position.

I found out for the first time what its like to break down far from home and have to spend valuable riding time dealing with the logistics of getting the bike repaired and everything else that goes with that.

I continued to ride with the Patriot Guard Riders, mostly Harley guys for some reason, and found that 99% of the time the type of bike I ride was never even mentioned. It was always all about the reason we were there in the first place which was to honor the fallen warrior.

Discovered how much fun a cheap, basic motorcycle can be when I bought a KLR.

I've finally come to the conclusion that I like the solitude and freedom I have riding by myself instead of with other riders.

For some reason, in some sick way, I enjoy riding in torrential rain.

twowheelnut · Dec 26, 2007

Crashing is not fun. Ever.

NoCage · Dec 26, 2007

Hitting a forest rat doesn't feel "fluffy" at all... it's like hitting a fookin' pile of bricks.

SkooterG · Dec 26, 2007

camera56 said:
3. Going 90 towards town at 7:00 pm on a Saturday night outside of Susanville California is a great way to meet the local constabulary.

Yup. I feel your pain.

twowheelnut said:
Crashing is not fun. Ever.

Amen, my brother! Most fortunately, 2007 was a crash-free year for yours truly. Thank god.

For me, I had a bunch of time on my hands and got to ride my *** off in 2007. This led to renewing some great friendships, and starting some new ones.

- Got to ride out for the Smitty's Hooterville 400 back in May and meet a bunch of GREAT folks and forum members from the midwest.

- Rode up to Washington for a Techwest event which was another great gathering of fine FJR bretheren.

- Got to live my dream of riding in the Iron Butt Rally. An experience I have yet to be able to put into words.

- Won my first rally, the LOE1000. A bittersweet victory, as I lost another FJR brother to a fatal crash during that rally. RIP Al Ladner.

It was a great motorcycling year for me. Don't think I will come close to repeating it for a long time to come.

wfooshee · Dec 26, 2007

I learned how stupid I was to spend the last 25 years saying, "I just can't justify the money for a bike. . ."

Now if I could just skip 6 or 7 seven house payments, I'd come out about even. . . . .

madmike2 · Dec 26, 2007

twowheelnut said:
Crashing is not fun. Ever.

I learned that pavement is hard...and so are guardrail supports.

If you are not going to drink enough water on a hot day and so choose to pass out on your bike...wear good gear. CyclePort and Shoei can save your life!

Doctors and nursed are wonderful people...its more pleasant to meet them socially than in the emergency room and ICU.

Recovery from motorcycle induced injury, at a certain age, is slow and really, really, really, really, really sucks. BUT its sooooo much better than not recovering!

Getting back on the FJR after a 4 month hiatus is wonderful!

stormrider · Dec 26, 2007

even after reading the bin o facts, and not believing, a shaft bike can do a wheelie with out expecting it

1FJR · Dec 26, 2007

I learned that I can combine a motorcycle trip to New York with a trip for my Fiance to her cabin in New York.

I learned on that same trip that a GPS with weather Radar would have been real nice coming home in all the rain in the midwest in August.

James · Dec 26, 2007

More of a reminder than anything else.

Gravity Always Works.

dcarver · Dec 26, 2007

I learned or reaffirmed that motorcycling is really fun and bikers, of all flavors, are even funner to be around.

I learned that folks like BikerSkier are good peeps and will leave the comfort of their house to sign SS1K documents even though you call them Pete, Fred, Jim, and every other possible name other than his real name!

That even those folks who *seem* to have life all figured out sometimes don't; if you even get the drift of a hint that something is amiss, then SPEAK UP and ask. RIP Andrew.

That, when faced with ones own immortality, I can actually process many good constructive thoughts to make the best out of a bad situtation - thinking back to my deer strike last October.

That, in the end, having health, a place to stay warm and dry, a good dog and better woman are indeed the essence of happiness. Along with, of course, a great bike to take you to places you've never seen before..

Fred W · Dec 26, 2007

I learned that there are a whole bunch of really cool people that ride these bikes made by this Japanese company called Yamaha.

I learned that I can be one of them there cool Yammi people.

I learned that it's way more important that you get out and ride and enjoy these limited days that we have gifted to us here on this earth, than to worry about what kind of bike we ride, what color our skin is, what political party wevote for, or what what religion we are.

I learned that I really already knew all of the above shizwat, but I wasn't paying close enough attention.

Happy New Year everyone. Let's make this the best yet!! :yahoo:

Old Michael · Dec 26, 2007

I learned that zooming through is fun, but that stopping and looking and smelling and breathing and taking tons of photos that I can look at later, and smile - is good.

I ride slower than most, but nobody's gonna beat me at enjoying the ride.

Determined that I'm gonna milk this life thing for all it's worth. Hard to know how much more of it you get.

The simplest stuff is the best. No contest.

ALES, - the darker the better.

Look Ma! Becoming less stupid every year!

jwilly · Dec 26, 2007

A couple of things for me:

You meet some of the best people through this forum and this motorcycle.

And Never, I mean never try to keep up with a guy that I have given the name Haulin Ashe!

Fred W · Dec 26, 2007

Old Michael said:
I ride slower than most, but nobody's gonna beat me at enjoying the ride.
ALES, - the darker the better.

AMEN brother, Amen.

Enjoy the ride, my friends. Cause at the end, the ride was all you get. Well, that and the beer.

( PS - look for St. Bernardus Abt 12 for very nice ale.)

El Gordo · Dec 26, 2007

I learned that with ABS, you can pull your front brake lever as hard and fast as you want when large black bears choose to run across the road in front of you.

:blink: then :yahoo:

Low Level FJR Pilot · Dec 26, 2007

Pulled a bonehead move the other day just before my I left on Christmas Vacation because I left myself with too little time to get to an In Brief I was doing at 32nd street. I came out of our complex on Pac Highway behind a real slow butt and instead of just taking my time and not letting him get to me, I got around him as soon as it was legal to pass. I went to the right lane from the left, passed, went back into the left lane and accellerated through what I thought was water. No...about put the bike into a tank slapper, held it through and grabbed pavement again, kept on going, got to meeting and cleaned out my pants.

Leave enough time to get from point A to B without having to push the limits to get there.
Focus
SIPDE, SIPDE, SIPDE until I'm blue in the face...
- SCAN BY LOOKING AROUND
- IDENTIFY POTENTIAL HAZARDS
- PREDICT WHAT COULD HAPPEN
- DECIDE IF IT IS A HAZARD
- EXECUTE NEEDED ACTION
Focus
Thank God when He protects me from self inflicted mistakes on the bike that could cost me dearly later on.
Focus
Make sure that my pillion is as alert as I am so I don't have to worry about them falling asleep during a ride and taking my attention away from the ride and what is going on around me.

That is probably the biggest of all the lessons I learned from and about motorcycling this year.

What did you learn from/about motorcycling this year?

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