Getting Started On A Motorcycle
If you haven’t read the post on how this vintage GS 550 motorcycle came to life, check out my post.HOW IT BEGAN. I had no clue how it would be. I had spent hundreds of miles on road bike and mountain bike. This was my preferred stress relief outlet for nearly 10 years. I hit a point where i thought it was time for a new chapter. I valued that experience of being on an open road, isolated and free to think and clear my data banks from anything that was building up. How could i maintain that and not have to worry about getting hit by a car, having a heart attack pedaling home when its 90 degrees out, or fixing a flat every 3 weeks? Upgrade to a motorized version of what i liked. What i liked was the time alone. The time to be out in the open and free to think.
Learning the Ropes
Once I revived that old Suzuki, i jumped on and took it around the block. Piece of cake! I was now a motorcycle rider. Nope, not even close. While i was getting better at riding this 400 pound fossil around my neighborhood, i was neither licensed or safe. I had goals however. I did register for a motorcycle safety course. Not cheap, but it was “worth it” from every review and resource i read. I sought out the MSF course offered at Johnson County Community College . Over the course of 3 days, i was immersed in focused and fun training that reviewed safety, mechanics, and skills that would allow me to both have fun on the open road and hopefully NOT DIE . There are many places that offer a certified course. FIND ONE. It’s the best way to start out with the correct habits, safety awareness, and perspectives.
The First Legal Ride
The MSF course completed, license in hand, I was now able to freely enter the domain for the RIDER. I jumped on the bike and cinched up my helmet.
Inside i pictured myself as….
However i was more like a cross between PeeWee Herman and Frank the Tank. Clutching on to the handlebars with all I had. 40 miles an hour felt like 60. Holy crap! How do people do this and let go of the bars?? Never the less, it was F.U.N! So , for the next month, i rode every chance I got. City streets were no sweat, as long as no one was…In front of me, beside me, or behind me. I was a tense rider.
Keep Riding
The winter was warm. I rode the GS550 about ever week through the months of November and December . I recalled even riding some on Christmas. What a relief to get away from the hustle and bustle. No one was out and about.
It occurred to me that i wasn’t pushing myself to get comfortable at high speeds. I could maintain 50, that was no problem. Get me above 60 and the shakes started to settle in. Not the motorcycle, me. I pressed on. I jumped on a couple highways and made myself do it. 70..I’m doing 75 ALRIGHT. Tension started to subside the more i did that. However , i was still hoping that i would not cross another rider. My death grip was preventing me from giving the wave. Eventually though, it got better. It took hours of riding at speed to get to that point though.
Focus and Practice
About the 6 month point i decided to take my old Suzuki back to the MSF course at JCCC to see if i could sling around. 30 minutes later, i was smiling. I did it. I felt confident, happy, and a renewed sense of accomplishment. Focused practice , once you’ve started motorcycle riding, is a must. Every skill you acquire must be maintained. You do that with practice and attention to the techniques and skills needed. By skipping that step, many riders develop and cultivate bad habits and become legal but unsafe riders. So stick with it and do not forget to push your self that first year. Time keeps ticking away and competence will grow , along with confidence . Practice it is said, makes perfect.
Ride on, midlife rider, ride on.