Haven't ridden in four months

[DELETE-PLEASE]

Or is like riding a bike (pun intended)?

I'm going home on leave and moving my bike from my uncle's house to another place to store it. It'll be a 2.5 hour trip to my girlfriend's town, ride around the town a bit, then a 3.5 hour trip to where I'm going to store it.

I mean, I highly HIGHLY doubt it'll be a problem, especially since it'll just be around town, highway riding. And I plan on driving it around the block and around the suburbanite neighborhood a few times to get the feel of it back.

Alexi

PS - It'll mostly be solo, maybe a LITTLE two-up after a few days.

PPS - For prior riding experience, I have about 10k miles under my belt, a little less than a year.

 

[dc1300]

You should take it easy for the first few miles. After four months we tend to get a little rusty, so don't jump on it and ride like the hammers of hell, just go easy and get you motorcycle "legs" back.

DC

 

[kolonial72]

My crack-up came at just under 10k. Guard against over-confidence. Over-confidence was a big contributor to the demise of my first MC.

 

[Bustanut joker]

I usually borrow Howies Training wheels for the first few days...

Hell, seeing as how he busted his bike and is to damn lazy to fix it, ya just might be able to use 'em fer a spell.

:jester:

 

[wfooshee]

Be prepared for the depression of "Damn, look at what I've been missing all this time!"

And then, of course, packing it away again. Be sure and tell it you love it, or it'll be pissed and spiteful when you come back.

It has a name, right?

 

[wheatonFJR]

you'll be surprised at how much rust you have...

 

[DELETE-PLEASE]

Be prepared for the depression of "Damn, look at what I've been missing all this time!"
And then, of course, packing it away again. Be sure and tell it you love it, or it'll be pissed and spiteful when you come back.

It has a name, right?

Yes. Gertrude will be sorely missed.......But I intend on doing some riding when I'm back. A weekend trip with the woman. To a city not far as the crow flies, but I won't be taking the expressways of course....
Alexi

 

[Lone12]

I imagine that within the first 1 minute on the bike you'll say, wow I remember how to do this.

Just remember that after you start to feel comfortable, never stop looking and thinking. This is pretty much the way you want to view it if it has been 5 minutes or 5 years since your last ride. Experience doesn't prevent you from being put into a bad situation, it just gives you the knowledge to try and come out of it a little better off.

 

[Solo]

I think you'll be fine. A little rusty, but it comes back pretty quickly. After riding and racing bikes a lot from the age of 15 'till I was 34, I took an 18-year break (family time). In 2002 I rode out of a dealership with 18 years of rust. But the rust fell off pretty quickly. If you throw a leg over thinking that you need to be extra careful and you challenge yourself to work on your skills as you ride, I think you will be okay. Best of luck, and thanks for what you do.

 

[weekend rider]

There will be a test on friday on chaptrs 1 thru 10 on how to ride and be grade on the curve so do not crash

 

[dcarver]

you'll be surprised at how much rust you have...

Say now.. yah didn't visit Howies place recently did ya?

 

[krashdragon]

Or is like riding a bike (pun intended)?
I'm going home on leave and moving my bike from my uncle's house to another place to store it. It'll be a 2.5 hour trip to my girlfriend's town, ride around the town a bit, then a 3.5 hour trip to where I'm going to store it.

I mean, I highly HIGHLY doubt it'll be a problem, especially since it'll just be around town, highway riding. And I plan on driving it around the block and around the suburbanite neighborhood a few times to get the feel of it back.

Alexi

PS - It'll mostly be solo, maybe a LITTLE two-up after a few days.

PPS - For prior riding experience, I have about 10k miles under my belt, a little less than a year.

1. Put your brain in gear BEFORE the bike,

2. Take it easy.... the FJR is a BIG bike.

3. tickets are NOT permissible...

3. Have fun.... :yahoo:

Mary

 

[SacramentoMike]

The first 15 or 20 miles are extremely dangerous. Get them out of the way as fast as possible. Then you'll be ok.

 

[playgtar]

It's kind of like the start of a new cycling season. I always ride on my own for a couple of days before letting the wife on the back. I ride familar roads and take the ear plugs out. I want to hear the bike and and noises it's making that it shouldn't be. Familiar roads just to get back into the swing of things. Like baseball in the spring, you don't start off facing 90 mph fastballs, but ease into it. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Malve]

I would have chosen different verbage but sticking with yours...

You should be concerned before and during every ride.

The best time to not be concerned is after you park it for the day. And even then, you run the risk that you may just get back on it so on second thought... the only time would be when you've parked it and sufficiently inebriated yourself to the point where you absolutely won't ride.

 

[old&slow]

Alexi ,,,

might be a bit rusty after a four month lay off...

Just be careful ,,, MC riding is like sex,,,

you don't forget how ,,,

but after four months your first ride may be a short one..

Usually takes a little time to get back into riding form in the spring of the year..

 

[ahchiu]

Don't forget to check the tire pressure, and get used to the braking, warm up the tires, and watch out for all the hazards you may encounter form deer, dogs, stupid cagers etc. and you will be fine.

 

[Spook]

I would have chosen different verbage but sticking with yours...You should be concerned before and during every ride.

The best time to not be concerned is after you park it for the day. And even then, you run the risk that you may just get back on it so on second thought... the only time would be when you've parked it and sufficiently inebriated yourself to the point where you absolutely won't ride.

Not a good idea. I have seen one whole lot of people who when drunk they just know they are the best riders on earth and Kenny Roberts better move over. A few are dead a couple are paralyzed. Only way you are safe in that condition is if some one takes your keys and is willing to kick your ass when you try to get them back.

Don't forget to check the tire pressure, and get used to the braking, warm up the tires, and watch out for all the hazards you may encounter form deer, dogs, stupid cagers etc. and you will be fine.

Still a lot of sand left from winter still out there.

 

[Bulldog9]

I just came of a 19-20 month riding break, so I am really taking it easy, even on my old trusted XS. I probably could ride faster than I am, but have deliberately taken it easy. After 3 months of riding, I finally took my wife, and then in some solo riding started to step things up.

SO much of riding is muscle memory, and happens without thinking, but you must engage your brain. I'd say keep it to the speed limits, take your time, do a good safety inspection and ENJOY yourself. Your biggest enemy is complacency or being nervous and uptight. Smooth Slow Steady.