What did you learn from/about motorcycling this year?

Learned not to ride past people waving in whoops yesterday without looking a head, or I may again hit a large rock, that may kick out the rear wheel, could launch me, resulting in a broken scapula and then have to ride 10 miles through the desert back to camp while the bones keep shifting.

James Burleigh said:

Zolton said:

I learned to live life for today.In 2007 I found out I had cancer. I had 3 surgeries followed by chemotherapy and radiation every day for seven weeks. I dropped to 130 lbs and looked like death. Then, a woman whom I had a crush on back in high school (some 32 years ago) phoned me out of the blue. Her husband had been killed at work less than a year prior. I'm divorced. We started dating and I took her for a few rides on my somewhat neglected SV650. She had never been on a bike before but loved it. She knew that I love to go on long bike trips so..... having just lived through what we both had, we agreed that I should start looking for a bike that could take us both on those same long trips. We bought an '06 FJR and on Halloween and hit the road for a five day trip before the snow fell. The bike is in the garage for the winter and we can't wait to get back on it. It's been quite a year!

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I was gonna say what I learned but Zolton spoiled it. How do you top that????

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We all learn different things...go ahead and add yours. :clapping:

FJamR said:

Learned not to ride past people waving in whoops yesterday without looking a head, or I may again hit a large rock, that may kick out the rear wheel, could launch me, resulting in a broken scapula and then have to ride 10 miles through the desert back to camp while the bones keep shifting.

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Ouch. Broken bones suck, I think....Never actually had one, just some broken nose cartilage and dislocated ribs, which probably hurt about as much as broken ones.

Too bad you had to learn that one the hard way....Did the waving people laugh?

I learned that there are things that I will never understand - but I have to accept them, because they happen.

I learned that life is short, and can end at any time for any number of reasons.

I learned not to be judgmental.

I learned that we have a profound influence on those around us - and that our responsibility for those people needs to be primary in our existence. Something as simple as a "how ya doin?" can be huge.

I learned that listening is the strongest part of conversation.

I learned that I have a wonderfully understanding wife. I always knew this, but I just have to be reminded.

And I learned that college age sons, even though no longer in their teens, can still suffer from cranial-rectal inversion. I love the boy, I really do, but sometimes.......... :blink:

Toecutter said:

FJamR said:

Learned not to ride past people waving in whoops yesterday without looking a head, or I may again hit a large rock, that may kick out the rear wheel, could launch me, resulting in a broken scapula and then have to ride 10 miles through the desert back to camp while the bones keep shifting.

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Ouch. Broken bones suck, I think....Never actually had one, just some broken nose cartilage and dislocated ribs, which probably hurt about as much as broken ones.

Too bad you had to learn that one the hard way....Did the waving people laugh?

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My first broken bone, although I should have had many. The people I waved to was my wife and daughter. They better not have laughed!!! They were videoing me going up these pretty sick hill climbs and after coming back down and past them they captured the entire stupid incident for years of enjoyment.

I learned --

* The wait to buy my 07 was well indeed worth it. .

* I'm glad a bought a Shoei x-11 full face helmet instead of something cheaper or with half the protection.

* It's worth the effort and energy to learn to farkle for yourself.

* The stock windshield and seat really sucks.

* If you take off the gas tank and have the inlet-door open, then gas will spill out if you turn the tank over.

* That gasoline on your clothing will smell up the house.

* If you show your friends photos of your new 07 FJR then they'll be just as excited as your are!

* Other motorcyclists on the road may ignore you but they do see you, but cagers on the road just don't see you and don't care.

* Taking off the fairings and plastic seems hard at first but easy-breezy-cover girl the 2nd time around.

* The true motocycle lovers who work at the dealership will congratulate you if you buy an FJR.

* The FJRForum is a great place to learn, share, joke, have fun... and almost everyone here always goes the extra mile in helping and guiding.

* Lastly, as stated in another thread, there are times when God gives you another chance at life. And when He does give you that chance like He did for me this past year, take it and ride it like you stole it.

Don't do something stupid like taking your eyes off the road (diverting your attention) even for a second and crash like I just did.

MikeYork5 said:

Don't do something stupid like taking your eyes off the road (diverting your attention) even for a second and crash like I just did.

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And we almost did.

I spend too much time at work which I will correct in 2008.

I rode to 750 miles to EOM alone and I found that I didn't mind riding alone.

Rode to the Dragon with my son and a couple of other guys and found that I don't mind riding with friends.

Even riding to work is fun.

When I'm riding I'm happiest.

I have always loved riding motorcycles, but never as much as I do since getting my FJR.

My wife likes the FJR too, which means I get to ride even more.

The FJR has brought my wife and I closer together because we go on rides together more often.

Sometimes the conditions for riding are not ideal, in fact, sometimes they really suck, but those are the rides you remember.

I've learned...

They're still out to get us all!

There's always something to learn.

You cant' ride too much... you can ride not enough!

People you've never met count. RIP to all those who are no longer with us.

Internet forums in cyberspace are a great way to meet interesting people in a real world.

What a person rides has little bearing on their character... especially if they're really characters to begin with!

Best wishes to everyone!

Mary

I learned a few things, but not as many as I would have liked to have done, due to an involuntary lay-up for several months. Here are some of my reflections from 2007;

1. Since there are so few bikes out there that fit a 26" inseam, I have to just suck it up and deal with riding a bike that is too tall for me. Oh well!

2. 10mph in deep sand on an itty-bitty dirt bike is a whole lot more frightening than 120mph on an FJR on a decent road.

3. Slow speed skills take a lot of practice to build, and then some more practice.

4. Coaching novice riders is humbling yet empowering at the same time. While I will never know everything there is to know about motorcycling, the novices remind me that I do know a fair bit. And then, while I'm polishing my halo, I find out that there is some basic tenet that has completely passed me by.

5. Camping, with motorcycling friends is a far more enjoyable activity than I had ever dreamed it might be.

6. There is a deep appreciation of exquisite scenery that cannot be found while in a car. Many times, I have ridden through nature's wonders and been reminded of an ancient hymn tune "To God Be The Glory, Great Things He Has Done". Not only has He created this scene but has allowed me the privilege of enjoying it while piloting the best motorcycle in the world. I am part of an exclusive minority who have experienced this pleasure.

7. People who seem to be happy and well put-together on the outside may be hurting on the inside, yet no-one can tell. I've learned to be more appreciative of my friends and try to be more in-tune with what's going on. I miss reading Orangevale's ride reports and wise advice.

8. There are forums out there that really suck. This one, in comparison, is a very slick and professional operation.

9. Colorado is calling, at the end of July.

Jill

Bad judgement leads to experience.

Experience leads to good judgement.

1. "oh shit" in a curve means "LEAN MORE"

2. "sightseeing" on a curvy road means looking at the road not whats passing by.

3. gravel is an invention of the devil.

4. I like rotarys a whole lot better than stop signs.

5. The bugs don't magically come off the front over winter.

6. When people tell me I look like a "dork" in my Hi-Vis yellow suit it reallly means "I saw you" and I thank them.

kaitsdad said:

And I learned that college age sons, even though no longer in their teens, can still suffer from cranial-rectal inversion. I love the boy, I really do, but sometimes.......... :blink:

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I hear what you're saying there Hal. There are times when you just have to shake your head, thinking WTF? and be grateful that they survived their teens with a chance to grow into a useful adult one day.

Jill

Silver Penguin said:

kaitsdad said:

And I learned that college age sons, even though no longer in their teens, can still suffer from cranial-rectal inversion. I love the boy, I really do, but sometimes.......... :blink:

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I hear what you're saying there Hal. There are times when you just have to shake your head, thinking WTF? and be grateful that they survived their teens with a chance to grow into a useful adult one day.

Jill

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Agree wholeheartedly, (is that a word?), when I read Hals post. But we also got to remember we too were once numb between the ears and just didn't make sense most the time as a teen or early 20's. My wife still thinks that I'm a little... :unknw: well, you know. PM. <>< :crazy:

not to look where i am not going

sometime slower is better

take life one second at a time . There might not be a next one .

Pictures do no justice you have to ride the blue ridge pkw .

Same goes for the cherohala skyway .

I am very glad i stumbled upon this wonderfull site without it i would be riding a harley

And to all the people on this forum with there info on bikes and every day life .

After 4 months of not riding during my recovery and having just returned from L.A. for New Years:

FJR owners and pillions are special.

Friends met while riding are "real" friends.

I'm fortunate to know the riding group we have in NorCal.

Meeting and having dinner with FJR Forum members in Pasadena was wonderful.

I have missed the social aspect of motorcycling. Riding is great, the people are special.

- It's exponentially more fun to ride a motorcycle than to work on it every weekend.

- Don't be afraid to try something new. In my case, take never-heard-of roads to a far-off destination.

- Motorcycle folks in general, FJRForum members specifically, will go out of their way to help.

- I still have a lot to learn about motorcycling and I'm raring to go for my next lesson.

God bless... C'ya on the road.

-=Chris

madmike2 said:

Meeting and having dinner with FJR Forum members in Pasadena was wonderful.I have missed the social aspect of motorcycling. Riding is great, the people are special.

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It was awesome to see you too Mike and all the other friends that were there! I'm so glad dinner worked out for so many of us.

This year has been another life changing year for me and motorcycle. When my 06 arrived, I had no idea how greatly it would impact my life and my personal choices. Now 08 is here and I'm hella nervous about all the big things I'm gonna experience this year on the bike. But I'm excited too as NAFO will be my first long distance trip.

I learned this year to care a lot less about what other people think about me, my bike and my skills. It was something I really needed to learn. 06 was kinda hard for me in that department. Now I concentrate on the road more and their yapping less.

I learned that this is the bike I want for a long time to come and I do want to travel on it. But I also learned that I have a lot pain in my knees, back and shoulders riding this baby. So I've thrown lotsa money into it lately and am almost done getting it decked out. 08 will be off the hook!

I've always known this forum is a special group of peeps just based on how many real friends I've made off of here, in such a short time. People that call me weekly to see how I'm doing, because they know me from here and then met in person at WFO. People that IM me from the Great White North all the time and even stop by on their way through TX! People that will get together and have dinner with me when I'm in Cali visiting my family. People that will help me put together a rally in Arkansas so more of us can meet up and become friends. People that will let me jump on their backseat so I can go out touring with them.

I've learned that I don't want to live in Texas anymore because of this motorcycle. I want mountains. I learned this year that I'm in love with the western part of this country and someday I will leave here, simply because I want roads that are more fun than what we have here. I was a motorcyclist when I moved here, over 6 years ago, but these thoughts never occurred to me then. All I cared about was better weather. Now I've learned its way more about good roads to ride. Now the west is all I see in my future.

I've learned that I'm not at all embarrassed or hesitant to explain to people who you guys are and what this forum means to me. Most of you are old enough to be my dad and I can't wait to hang out with so many of you! I get some funny looks occasionally but I'm so way past caring about that. This is a family that I'm very proud to be a part of!

I've learned that the FJR is way cooler than I originally thought, and I really thought it was pretty stellar when I first laid eyes on my 03. I learned that Yamaha will take care of us and any big issues that come up with this bike. Just be patient.

I'm sure there's a bunch more I've learned, but I gotta get back to work!

I learned that manufacturing happiness is as easy as desiring it and focusing on it. I learned that forgiveness and gratitude are key elements to the manufacturing process. I learned that love is an inevitable byproduct of the manufacturing process.

I learned that there are many riders on this forum who already know this.

Peace out.