What did you learn from/about motorcycling this year?

[CraigRegs]

A Valentine One will save your bacon, especially if you don’t ride as if the V1 will always save your bacon.

And this forum is the most useful accessory for any model FJR. Thanks to all for their wisdom, tips, insight and entertainment!

Craig

 

[camera56]

Some recurring themes here . . .

• ATGATT.
• Ride like your life depended on how you ride, because it does.
• Doing dumb stuff reliably produces the appropriate results.
• Get off your ass and ride more.
• Slow down and have a look around from time to time. You might enjoy it.
• Consider yourself blessed to enjoy little things like decent health, great family, and good friends. And if they're not decent, great, or good, you're probably still blessed.
• We've got ourselves a pretty fine forum here. Bunch of sentimental old fools really, but enough smart-asses to keep us all from drowning in excessive amounts of bullshit or fuzzy focused emotional treacle.

 

[El Toro Joe]

I learned to stay back far enough when following an SUV to be able to avoid obstacles such as construction debris...bent my front rim

 

[Thug]

Yep.....I still love riding!

 

[airboss]

I learned that if I extend my day trip to long, I get grounded............................but it's worth it.

See me GRIN

 

[vabrzn]

I found a 1964 Honda C100, my first bike in 1968, in a junk pile at a slavage yard and brought it home. What was I thinking?

I remembered why I brought it home

 

[artistic rider]

I learned motorcycle safety school was a very good thing and I was right in using this forum to help me decide the motorcycle that was right for me. Thanks everyone for all your honest opinions and information.

 

[cougar8000]

I am learning that no mater how much I try some will just don't listen and demanded on making their own mistakes.

I learned that I rather ride alone sometime then worry about been hit from behind. Finding a good riding partner is hard.

I learned that I have the dirtiest FJR in the group. And I promise to give it a bath more then 4 times in this coming year. I suppose riding in the rain does not considered a bath, ah?

I learned that sometimes demons take over and that Breadman has a direct line to then and makes them come out :devil:

Pay more attention to the road. I it looks like it could kill, it just might. Avoid it at all cost.

 

[boogahboogah]

I learned the same lesson again this year, maybe this time I'll remember it...

If it looks like an unmarked car, slow down to his speed & check for the uniform...

 

[Last Chance]

I am aware of all the points made so far and agree with them.

My only contribution is this: 1. Once you remind yourself that new tires are "slick" and to be careful....Remember it! 2. If you change the computer, the throttle might actually be more responsive and quicker. This is important especially in conjunction with number 1. 3. Failure to heed numbers 1 and 2 brings ATGATT immediately into play and brings on the realization that. 4. Being body slammed onto pavement really hurts. 5 Hurt ribs (cracked/broken) really, really hurt and take a long time to heal!

6. Cost of these lessons at University Motors reduced prices....$1400!!!!!

LC

P.S. Cycleport gear is really tough. Not even a smudge, didn't slide much just slammed!!!

 

[burnergold2B]

I got my Expert license this year with CCS, did my first weekend with -really- fast guys @ BFR, and learned....

a. I'm slow again.

b. Nick Iaenatsch's "pace" on public roads is much more affordable than closed course competition.

c. Day rides are still a blast and I don't have to lead.

d. Yamaha is still making great machienery. (I race Suzukis & Hondas.)

e. This is probably one of the best virtual clubs around.

Happy New Year to all. :fans:

 

[dragonchef]

My motorcycle has been in storage since I took this job with the Army in Korea, they told me leave it home, and my contract was for 2 years.

17 years later, I'm still here (without a bike), took a bad fall while WALKING, ruptured spleen, delayed diagnosis, almost died.

Spent recovery time deciding what kind of bike to get, FJR Forum answered that one for me.

Bought it in Texas (Tony O), rode it for a week, did the first service, trucked it to SFO and had it flown over.

I wish I could remember who told me to leave the other bike home (it's still in storage somewhere). They had NO idea what a great place this is for riding, once you get out of the city.

You cannot imagine what a bunch of nice people Korean bikers are (or maybe you can, because they are like many of the bikers are in the states).

Same adventurous spirit, and desire to break free.

Howie: please get back on. You were one of the reasons I bought a bike, specifically FJR. I also cried like a baby many times reading about Ovale, especially my first ride after it happened. We will never know why, but we can cherish our memories, and all the PM's we got about our posts...

This year will be better, as soon as it warms up enough, and the snow melts in the mountians....

I learned how precious a thing life is, how truly short it is, and how important each moment is. Again.

Lest we forget...

 

[Toecutter]

Howie: please get back on.

Woof!

As soon as you're ready....

 

[USMC CWO]

I've learned the following:

-how much I miss lane-sharing now that I live on the east coast. One of the many things I liked about riding in CA. Now I get stuck in traffic and have to basically park my bike while the traffic eases.

-that going 150 on my FJR isn't fast enough.

-the most experienced rider can still learn something from the new guy.

-MSF refresher courses are ALWAYS a good idea.

-riding is about the journey not the destination. I still don't understand the whole "Iron Butt" thing.

 

[Zolton]

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!

 

[Toecutter]

Wow! Just Wow! What a story. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Old Michael]

Great story Zolton. All the best! Have a fantastic '08!

 

[Ric in Sac]

It is about great friends with a common passion. You don't fully appreciate how close and special your friends are until you lose one (Orangevale).

 

[Bustanut joker]

[*]We've got ourselves a pretty fine forum here. Bunch of sentimental old fools really, but enough smart-asses to keep us all from drowning in excessive amounts of bullshit or fuzzy focused emotional treacle.

I learned how to use the edit function for fun and relaxation :evilsmiley03: at others expense.

2- And assless chaps ain't all bad (on most wimin :chickawow: ) to many years of odot p.m.ing me with pics of him in em :blink:

3- Alot of cruiser riders are afraid of the front brake lever.

4- people :wub: me.... Lookit my friends list

5- learned I'm not mature enough to own a gixxer 1000

6- Life, without my Dad around, still sucks sometimes.

7- Good gear makes all the difference when mother nature gets pissy.

:jester:

 

[James Burleigh]

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!

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