Monday, 8 July 2019

First ride, first wave, first impressions


It is a fantastic day. :D​I took my MSF course several weeks ago and bought a Kawasaki Vulcan S over the weekend. I ordered a full set of gear from Revzilla that arrives on Wednesday, but I took the bike out after work today in my sister's gear.I took a couple laps around my complex before I turned out onto the road. There is one intersection, and then it turns into a straight back road through a neighborhood for 5 minutes or so until you reach a lake. I got to the lake and parked, took my helmet off, and just stood there in excitement. After a few minutes I turned around to go home down the one road I came from, but I ended up passing my complex and looped around the immediate area for another half hour. I passed one other rider - he waved at me, I waved at him, and then I yelled "I GOT A WAVE". My voice echoed in the full face helmet way more than I was expecting.Some main observations from a fresh new rider:The MSF course I took was done on a Kawasaki Eliminator, 125cc. The Vulcan S is 650cc with the same engine they use for the Ninja, but I didn't feel surprised or overcome by the engine power. As a 150lb, 26-year-old female, the bike is definitely heavy, but not too heavy for me to maneuver and the handling is buttery smooth. At least up to 45 mph, since I didn't go faster than that.I was definitely too tense in my riding position though, and I had to keep reminding myself to r e l a x. In my focus to avoid a jumpy throttle, my grip would get tighter, which made it worse. I expect that once I get used to the handling and shifting and I don't have to think about it so hard, that problem will go away without needing to deliberately correct it.It was very beneficial to ride with traffic, but I pulled off for a break any time there was too much around me and I avoided all intersections and streets that I knew would be tricky for day 1 (busy, tight angles, multiple lanes, etc).I forgot to put my license in my pocket before I left. I need to buy a pocket wallet.I put my hair in a simple ponytail at my neck below the helmet and that was a BIG mistake. I had to use practically an entire bottle of conditioner and ages of careful combing to untangle that mess when I returned. I will probably tuck it in the helmet from now on. I've never been one for braids.​I have a lot of neighborhood and parking lot circles ahead of me, but I can't wait.​https://imgur.com/fiOHU4j via /r/motorcycles https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/comments/catgyn/first_ride_first_wave_first_impressions/?utm_source=ifttt

No comments:

Post a Comment