Hi everybody. Just got my first bike two days ago. I haven't registered or insured it yet, so I haven't made it out of the driveway, but I hope to by next week. FYI, I'm taking the MSF course this upcoming weekend, and I can't wait to get going.
Although I probaby won't be up to speed for a while, I'd love to eventually join some of you for a ride. Are there any other beginners out there or those that don't mind riding a bit slow?
~T
I'm a noob and always up for a ride, but I'm in Maine. :-\
I passed my MSF in July and I wouldn't have done it any other way; it is a great way to start out.
Have fun, do EXACTLY as the instructors tell you, and just stay relaxed. Between ecercises I would sit quietly on my bike and just take deep breaths, and I ended up with one of the best scores in the class.
Good luck and keep us posted! :)
Quote from: Shortie on September 24, 2008, 08:10:53 AM
I'm a noob and always up for a ride, but I'm in Maine. :-\
I passed my MSF in July and I wouldn't have done it any other way; it is a great way to start out.
Have fun, do EXACTLY as the instructors tell you, and just stay relaxed. Between ecercises I would sit quietly on my bike and just take deep breaths, and I ended up with one of the best scores in the class.
Good luck and keep us posted! :)
Thanks for the advice. I'm trying to absorb all the information I can before I attend as well.
btw, nice photos on your site.
~T
congrats and welcome...
good move on taking the MSF course. who are you doing it with? I'm sure you will have a blast!
-O
Quote from: fromario on September 24, 2008, 10:36:56 AM
congrats and welcome...
good move on taking the MSF course. who are you doing it with? I'm sure you will have a blast!
-O
Thanks.
I'm doing it with Ironstone Ventures in Uxbridge, MA. I would have asked around more about who does it well, but it seems that the curriculum for this course is pretty standardized. I was just trying to find a place where I could book it soon. I can't believe it's only wednesday. I can't wait to start riding.
Quote from: Takster on September 24, 2008, 08:16:40 AM
Thanks for the advice. I'm trying to absorb all the information I can before I attend as well.
btw, nice photos on your site.
~T
Thank you ;D
I was a passenger with my beau for a long time before I pulled the trigger on the class, and I think it helped a lot. Riding on your own is obviously waaaay different than riding cupcake but riding with him got me used to lean angloes, speed, and helped tune my awareness as far as staying away from the crazies on the road.
Remember - everyone is out to kill you. And wear proper gear!
I also started riding a dirtbike about a month before the class to build my confidence and I believe it helped.
The MSF class is a ton of fun. The other students in my class were very cool; you make some friends and future riding buddies while you're there :)
Quote from: Takster on September 24, 2008, 11:13:07 AM
Thanks.
I'm doing it with Ironstone Ventures in Uxbridge, MA. I would have asked around more about who does it well, but it seems that the curriculum for this course is pretty standardized. I was just trying to find a place where I could book it soon. I can't believe it's only wednesday. I can't wait to start riding.
i took the course they offered in Ayer, good crew, fun times
It's funny after i took the course i noticed that my driving (4-wheel that is) became much more defensive
make sure you ask them how to properly do a wheelie from a stop [evil] just kiddin
Quote from: fromario on September 24, 2008, 01:10:42 PM
i took the course they offered in Ayer, good crew, fun times
It's funny after i took the course i noticed that my driving (4-wheel that is) became much more defensive
make sure you ask them how to properly do a wheelie from a stop [evil] just kiddin
I'm hoping to use the "Hey nice bike, ever take it off any sweet jumps" line from Napoleon Dynamite extensively during the course. :)
~T
before you do get a tshirt made up with this on it [beer]
(http://failblog.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/knievelfail.jpg)
Hey.. welcome. Keep a look out for rides and feel free to join. There is also neduc.org that is more NE focused.
ya sorry... nedoc.org :P
There is also the Mountain Dogs...if you want to ride in NH.
Welcome to the monster world and congrats on your purchase. Really brilliant idea taking the MFS too! There should be plenty of riding days left in the year so hopefully I'll see you 'round Boston or out riding in the country side. Be sure to check out MotoMarket in Acton. It's a very friendly place for Ducs and the surrounding area is nice for riding.
mark
Also you should post some proud pics of you and that new bike of yours. Posts always go better with pics!
Quote from: Charlief on September 24, 2008, 03:24:11 PM
Hey.. welcome. Keep a look out for rides and feel free to join. There is also neduc.org that is more NE focused.
hey, i'm getting a 404 on http://www.neduc.org/ got an updated URL?
~T
Quote from: Takster on September 24, 2008, 06:52:56 PM
hey, i'm getting a 404 on http://www.neduc.org/ got an updated URL?
~T
works for me
Quotehey, i'm getting a 404 on http://www.neduc.org/ got an updated URL?
they might mean http://www.nedoc.org/ "o" not "u"
That works for me
Quote from: SkullDaddy on September 24, 2008, 08:04:26 PM
they might mean http://www.nedoc.org/ "o" not "u"
That works for me
Well, that's much better thanks!
Quote from: SkullDaddy on September 24, 2008, 06:32:53 PM
Welcome to the monster world and congrats on your purchase. Really brilliant idea taking the MFS too! There should be plenty of riding days left in the year so hopefully I'll see you 'round Boston or out riding in the country side. Be sure to check out MotoMarket in Acton. It's a very friendly place for Ducs and the surrounding area is nice for riding.
mark
Also you should post some proud pics of you and that new bike of yours. Posts always go better with pics!
I should definitely put up some pics. I'll snap some tomorrow.
Quote from: Charlief on September 24, 2008, 03:24:11 PM
Hey.. welcome. Keep a look out for rides and feel free to join. There is also neduc.org that is more NE focused.
way to go charlie [roll] [laugh]
and good luck with the msf Takster [thumbsup]
Quote from: SkullDaddy on September 24, 2008, 08:04:26 PM
they might mean http://www.nedoc.org/ "o" not "u"
That works for me
yeah...that's it.
I didn't even notice the misspelling.
Quote from: DuCaTiNi on September 25, 2008, 04:01:35 AM
way to go charlie [roll] [laugh]
and good luck with the msf Takster [thumbsup]
LOL, charlie's been drinking again!!
Quote from: ducpainter on September 25, 2008, 04:33:31 AM
yeah...that's it.
I didn't even notice the misspelling.
Isn't eyesight one of the first things to go when you get old?
J/K DP! :-*
hey now... I'm allowed a mistake or two or three....
:P :P :P [drink]
I fixed the original post!
Quote from: Charlief on September 25, 2008, 03:54:24 PM
hey now... I'm allowed a mistake or two or three....
:P :P :P [drink]
I fixed the original post!
the new guy will never trust you now ;)
Quote from: DuCaTiNi on September 25, 2008, 04:40:36 PM
the new guy will never trust you now ;)
I'm very trustworthy [evil]
Quote from: fromario on September 25, 2008, 08:24:11 AM
LOL, charlie's been drinking again still!!
Fixed it for ya!
Just an update...
I did the MSF course, finally got the title, insurance, and reg, and I've been on the road for about a week. Started with a few laps around my (quiet and residential) block, moved on to a deserted parking lot to get used to slow speed maneuvering, navigated some city traffic, brought it up to highway speeds, and found a couple of twisties to learn to trust the lean. I'm trying to stay as humble as I can, keep my head on swivel, and have come to realize that basically everybody with 4 wheels is homicidal. I'm leathered up, and slowly expanding my comfort zone. I'm learning that leaving some reaction time between me and every potential hazard is key... learning that sometimes, my gut instincts have shit for brains.
A coworker of mine just gave me a pile of books to read on the subject of riding, I've been voraciously reading msgroup.org, as well as DMF. I am learning SO MUCH from everybody here.
I just replaced my levers yesterday with Pazzos. This made a huge difference as far as my confidence is concerned. I feel that the friction zone is exactly where I'm comfortable, and I have the perfect reach to my front brake now. My first official mod. I think I've opened Pandora's box... thank god there are limited options for the 696 right now.
This coming weekend, I'm going on my first ride with another rider. He has a few years of experience on me, and we're planning to do a day-trip into New Hampshire. He's been told to expect to ride at "newb-pace". He knows the roads very well, so my plan is to let him lead and follow his lines through turns. If I get anywhere near the edge of my comfort zone, I have no problem with letting him go and riding my own ride.
I've only been in my car only once since I got on the road with my bike, and that was just to pick up groceries. This is really starting to get fun.
~T
Nice one, Tak. Hey, noticed you are in Waltham. I'm in Belmont and if you want to link up for a ride, let me know. Before it gets too cold, of course. :'(
Quote from: dutchy73 on October 15, 2008, 04:50:02 PM
Nice one, Tak. Hey, noticed you are in Waltham. I'm in Belmont and if you want to link up for a ride, let me know. Before it gets too cold, of course. :'(
Hell yeah. This weekend is out, but maybe the one after. I'll PM you with my contact info.
~T
T,
I know you had PMd me to see if I'd be interested in a noob ride with a more seasoned rider at the helm, and I suppose we'd need to nail down a few more specifics. I have a wedding to attend midday this coming Saturday, so that's out. I'm also a couple hours away from any place worth riding in NH that would be close to you as well, so that might make it tough (I've only done 80 or so miles at a time so far). We could always get a feeler post going to see what kind of interest there would be, and maybe throw a post up for the Monster Women as I know there are a couple other new ladies in the NE area.
It stinks that we're all so spread out. I'd love to ride with my NE peeps as much as possible but 2 hours just to get to the starting point of a ride kind of makes for a long ass day, ya know?
A feeler post is a good idea. NEwbs or something... anyway, I think that this weekend is out for me as well, so that gives us a bit more time to think / plan. I'm totally willing to do a 'meet half way somewhere' kind of thing as well. There are much worse things than driving up the coast.
~T
Quote from: Shortie on October 16, 2008, 01:38:30 PM
and maybe throw a post up for the Monster Women as I know there are a couple other new ladies in the NE area.
Do any of them ski too? [cheeky]
Quote from: gage on October 16, 2008, 04:32:56 PM
Do any of them ski too? [cheeky]
I wouldn't be surprised. Lots of ski bunnies round these parts.
I snowboard but haven't been in nearly 2 years as no one I know likes winter nearly as much as I do :-\ I've been hesitant to go alone as I drive a standard and the last thing I'd want to do is blow out a knee and not be able to drive home! [laugh]