Things I learned this year

[oldryder]

Well; in MN we're done for the year. It'll be 5 months before I can reasonably expect to get the bikes out again so this is the time when I plan winter activity and reflect on what I learned this year. SOme of this might be useful to others so here goes ....

1. training my daughter to ride starting last year with a 250 ninja and letting her graduate to the FJR this year was a very rewarding experience with a lot less stress about her getting hurt than I expected.

2. The track day classes we took together this year taught us both a great deal about how to ride a motorcycle. Even after 35 years I'm a much more technically proficient rider and she's already better than I was for most of my riding years. I can only think knowing how to radically turn or stop a bike might be real useful some day on the street. It was also a hell of a lot of fun. IMHO anyone that rides that has never done it would benefit greatly.

3. the advice to look at your tires weekly REALLY is important. I bought my bike with Pirelli Corsa's and was riding on exposed steel when someone pointed it out to me. I simply didn't know some tires could wear out that quickly (3500 miles) when I'd been getting 6000 miles or more thru all my years of riding.

4. A non mechanically inclined person that learns on a 250 that revs to 14,000 and needs to be cruised at 6 or 7 grand needs to be told you don't have to do that on a bike with a 1300 cc. motor.

5. A fully enclosed engine can throw a LOT of heat on the rider. It seems to me an OEM that could design the bodywork such that the rider can get mass quantities of heat (like a Gen 1 FJR) or non at all would have a real advantage in the marketplace.

6. A GL1500 riding 2 up with all the heavy stuff in the saddle bags gets about 40% less mpg than an FJR with a 130 lb. rider one up.

7. A dad that teaches a daughter to ride and lets her ride his bike(s) gets a LOT of "cool" points from daughter and all her friends.

8. J&M CB is an excellent farkle with radio/intercom performance comparable to stock Gold Wing electronics.

9. I'll never buy another touring bike without an electric windshield.

10. This forum is great. I got 2 suggestions here than were very important to the success of my effort training my daughter.

11. Corbin GF&L seat is not an "all day touring' seat.

12. If you post about a trip you better include pictures.

13. If you groom one of your kids to be a riding buddy you have to expect that they might be leaving a lot sooner than you expected. (daughter leaves for marine boot camp in June.)

thats about it. many thanks to everyone that has provided suggestions and advice. My FJR is the bike I'd keep if I could only have one.

 

[FJR-RemingtonRider]

Well; in MN we're done for the year. It'll be 5 months before I can reasonably expect to get the bikes out again so this is the time when I plan winter activity and reflect on what I learned this year. SOme of this might be useful to others so here goes ....

Lessons learned, I see a small learners manual building....

Props on spending that QT with daughter and sharing in the experience....with such a great relationship w/dad, she'll make a heck of a marine.

Curious, passing through NM in January, you say you guys have already shut it down. How bad does the weather get along the

I-10 corridor? Does it get snowed out or something, or you prefer warm sunny days for enjoying the Feej?

 

[ShawnKing]

daughter leaves for marine boot camp in June.

Please pass along our thanks to her for her service and ask her to be careful!

 

[oldryder]

MN (minnesota), not NM. I wish it was this time of year

also;

14. protective gear is worth every penny. daughter and I both went down twice in full race gear at 35 - 55 mph during track day exercises (our fault every time). no injuries either time.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Things I learned...

1) Sometimes the worst case scenario doesn't happen

2) Going 2up with your teenage son can be pretty fun

3) Screw the weather forecast and go ahead with the trip, most of the time the weather isn't as bad as they say it is going to be

4) FJR riders can be very helpful when asked politely and will go the extra mile - sometimes without even asking.

5) Lots of FJR owners, or family members out there suffering with serious health issues, lots of people to be praying for

6) College is expensive

7) Make a list of daring destinations and trips beyond what you think you will do...then do them.

 

[wheatonFJR]

daughter leaves for marine boot camp in June.

Please pass along our thanks to her for her service and ask her to be careful!

+1 from me too.

 

[Crash Cash]

5. A fully enclosed engine can throw a LOT of heat on the rider.

Thank god! It's getting pretty chilly in the mornings and at night here. The FJR keeps me in the normal-weight jacket and not needing to put on anything to keep my legs warm.

It seems to me an OEM that could design the bodywork such that the rider can get mass quantities of heat (like a Gen 1 FJR) or non at all would have a real advantage in the marketplace.

Suzuki did a pretty good job there on my SV-650. It's got no bodywork at all, and stays really cool. Seriously though, bodywork==heat because you're going to have a pocket of slow air.

 

[James Burleigh]

What a great thread! A lot of wisdom there. And your daughter sounds really cool. Thanks for sharing.

Makes me want to think about what I've learned this riding season, now that I've put my bike away for the season night. Maybe I can come up with some stuff right now. Let's see....

• dCarver is a prick. (Okay. Just kidding. No he's not. He's really a toady. :lol2: )
• Minnesota is a pretty state. (My son who just moved there said Minnesotans are faced with questions such as, "Should I buy the boots rated to -100 degrees, or would -40 degrees be adequate? )
• Freeways around Minneapolis are all under repair, and the detour signage sucks the big kahoona.
• Cats are not very useful.
• Tiger Woods is a great golfer. Possibly not a great husband. :glare:
• I get 10,000+ miles on Metzler Z-6s.
• Why would anyone drive a car?
• Why would anyone want to live anywhere outside the San Francisco Bay Area?
• 40 degrees is f**king cold! :cold:
• Forget what MSF BRC taught you about how to hold the throttle. Wrap your hand all the way forward to start so you can always engage the brake and toggle between throttle and brake.
• You can drag a knee puck on an FJR in a parking lot. (Not me; Lee Parks.)
• Moving from one job at UC Berkeley to another at UC Berkeley may be like moving from one room on the Titanic to another.
• Montana has two seasons: winter and construction.
• Between South Dakota and Kansas there's a state called something like Alaska. No, Nebraska.

I think that's everything I learned. :yes:

JB

 

[Patriot]

OK, let's see, ten things I learned this year:

1) if ya hear marbles in a can, replace your ******' CCT

2) if ya hear marbles in a can, replace your ******' CCT

3) if ya hear marbles in a can, replace your ******' CCT

4) if ya hear marbles in a can, replace your ******' CCT

5) if ya hear marbles in a can, replace your ******' CCT

6) if ya hear marbles in a can, replace your ******' CCT

7) if ya hear marbles in a can, replace your ******' CCT

8) if ya hear marbles in a can, replace your ******' CCT

9) if ya hear marbles in a can, replace your ******' CCT

10) Not all ebay engines suck pond water

 

[dcarver]

What a great thread! A lot of wisdom there. And your daughter sounds really cool. Thanks for sharing.
Makes me want to think about what I've learned this riding season, now that I've put my bike away for the season night. Maybe I can come up with some stuff right now. Let's see....

• dCarver is a prick. (Okay. Just kidding. No he's not. He's really a toady. :lol2: )

I think that's everything I learned. :yes:

JB

That's all I need JB,

Thank You bud!

:****: :rofl:

Hugs n Kisses

What did I learn?

Not much, I'm stoopid, in a good kind of way

for me..

Just ride

Life is short

I had some Jim Morrison kinda of stuff to put here

but it was too weird to post..

Back to mainstream thoughts, :lol:

If you die tonight

what would you want to do 2morrow?

Then why didn't you do today?

To cold?

To wet?

Back hurts?

I'll postpone for another day?

Just wonderin'

just what so important today

I didn't do what I wanted to -

to appreciate riding fully and get away

Sobby BS rant over

I learned that

1. You need to keep your electrical wiring in good shape for your heated vest when it's 22F outside (sound familiar, JB?)

2. Sometime ride 'leaders' aren't, and you really DO need to have your own route at the ready (maps, gps, etc)

3. When your bud says "I'm cold", listen to him, just because you're warm does NOT mean he's not ready for hypoT-ime (sorry)

4. When you find a really cool stopping place, even if after only 60 short minutes into the ride, appreciate it. Stop, talk, take foto's, enjoy the moment. Live the moment. They are limited.

I have more, but will stop now..

:****:

Hugs n Kisses

 

[Tyler]

Live the moment. They are limited.

Pretty much sums it up.

 

[Khunajawdge]

I learned that, when the "village *****" (that's me) strikes again, it all evens out in the long haul. I usually do quite poorly as an estimation of my yearly career earnings when compared to others (I'm a lowly glassblower). Yet, now that everybody else's earnings are less, mine seem to be on par. It's not ALL about rocket science, thank goodness!

Wish I could ride more frequently as of late, however I look forward to getting out more often after the "Holidaze" are over. Looking forward to this Winter and Spring before everybody else has to pay income tax on April 15. I'm currently saving my recycleable items for fuel money this spring!

See ya down a road! :dribble:

 

[PlaynGuitar]

great post oldryder and a great time of year to do the contemplative reflection thing.

before I add my thoughts I wanted to say:

13. If you groom one of your kids to be a riding buddy you have to expect that they might be leaving a lot sooner than you expected. (daughter leaves for marine boot camp in June.)

Please extend our sincere gratitude to your daughter for her decision and for her willingness to serve our country. I continue to be impressed by the change and maturity I've seen in both of my sons since they joined.

As far as things learned, here's a few:

-- I need to have a bike of some sort in the garage. After selling my FJR last Spring due to some unexpected financial issues I about drove everyone in the homestead crazy. really. But, in late summer I walked into a Honda dealership to buy an oil filter for my wife and ended up purchasing an overstocked new warrantied '07 VFR800 for a lot less than my previous payments had been. Its not a feejer by any means, but its great to have two wheels again. Two wheels are always better than none.

-- Even though I don't believe in fate or kismet or what-have-you odd coincidences do occur. The cat who bought my FJR had owned a VFR before buying my bike. strange switcheroo.

-- Even though I don't own an FJR any longer I keep coming back to this forum. The views and opinions expressed herein apparently have me hooked. I'm scanning the forum at least once a day.

-- No matter how old your kids get, no matter how adult they are, no matter if they live in another state, across the country, or somewhere around the world... as a parent you're still deeply concerned for them.

-- Skype is one of the best free products of the technological age. Being able to see my youngest son while talking to him when he was in Iraq was priceless. Skype is the shyte!

-- There is much more to be thankful for than there is to be unhappy about.

-- Getting out and riding is way better than talking about riding.

I reckon I could go on, but that's enough for my part.

Patrick

 

[kolonial72]

I learned: It's not about the other guy's choice, it's about the choices I make.

You can "live and let live" and still have high standards within your professional relationships.

It rains a lot in Nova Scotia.

Meeting a cherished family member (Dad) half-way (about 600 miles) for a few days of riding in the mountains is worth every bit of trouble.

Processed dog food is garbage. You're better off preparing certain types of meals for your pups, especially if you have a dog with gastrointestinal issues.

Don't slide the MC you're riding on its side off an embankment. Okay, so that was last year and (most of) you knew that already, but still. It's important.

Cats are worse than useless, they are a detriment to our society.

This forum does in fact rock the Kasbah.

EDIT: One last thing I haven't quite learned yet is that I should not post when I'm tired, or I'll be editing that post at least once!

 

[krashdragon]

Kudos to your daughter and all the kids in the military. They have my sincere appreciation.

What I learned this year.

I don't have an FJR any more, but this is an illuminating and interesting forum. In many ways!

115F in Texas is hot.

30F in Texas is cold.

Just about anything in between is good riding weather.

Everyone take care and ride safe!

Mary

 

[rfespinosa]

OldRyder, great story about you and your daughter. I wish her the best in her upcoming adventure.

I don't have any profound "what I learned this year", I am the kind of person that is always learning. But.... I retired this past July, and I like not working much better than working. (that's not a learning, I knew that all along)

Ron

 

[flyball]

More things I learned this year

1) The FJR is a great bike

2) If you buy your wife a big diamond ring you will get laid a lot and not get any grief about buying stuff for your motorcycle

3) College is expensive, and having 2 kids in college at the same time is DAMN expensive

4) Numbers 2 and 3 will put you in the poor house

5) There are too damn many deer, javelina and other animals crossing the roads in Texas

6) giving someone a nobel peace prize for global warming means it will snow in Houston earlier than any other time in recorded history

 

[bang-n-gearz]

Good post oldryder-

I have learned to not assume you have the ROW on a green light.

Buck

Dls.TX

 

[dcarver]

Live the moment. They are limited.

Pretty much sums it up.

You ROCK gurl - what a wonderful spirit mi amiga... So fragile, yet soo strong. Now wonder I love women, they have 'it'. Boyz, leave this one alone, it's meant very, very seriously..

Boyz have the idea, Women know the facts, just sayin'...

I learned that, when the "village *****" (that's me) strikes again, it all evens out in the long haul. I usually do quite poorly as an estimation of my yearly career earnings when compared to others (I'm a lowly glassblower). Yet, now that everybody else's earnings are less, mine seem to be on par. It's not ALL about rocket science, thank goodness!
Wish I could ride more frequently as of late, however I look forward to getting out more often after the "Holidaze" are over. Looking forward to this Winter and Spring before everybody else has to pay income tax on April 15. I'm currently saving my recycleable items for fuel money this spring!

See ya down a road! :dribble:

I hear yah buddy, we should ride some local stuff, I love your artistic perspective -and we can do so on the cheap, eh?