31 Aug 2009
by Lauriein Motorcycles, Soapbox
Everyone knows someone, or knows someone who knows someone, or has read about someone, or has seen someone on TV who was horribly injured in a motorcycle accident.
People who do not like motorcycles (or who don’t like the idea of me on a motorcycle) take a special pleasure in regaling me with these stories. It’s been happening ever since I first decided I wanted to ride a motorcycle, which was when I was approximately ten years old. Twenty years of horror stories tends to make one immune to the hyperbole.
You know what? I understand that a motorcyclist is at a higher risk of death or injury than a car driver or passenger. I know (firsthand!) that drivers do not see motorcycles on the road. Motorcyclists die. They get horribly mangled.They aren’t riding in a safe 3,000 pound cage surrounded by airbags.
I’ve been in a semi-serious motorcycle crash as a passenger, caused by an inattentive driver who ran a red light. That was the day I decided that I was done being a passenger; if I ever got on a motorcycle again it would be to learn how to ride it.
(Not that I blame the rider at all; I’m grateful for his quick-thinking. It saved us both from being hit by the car which would have been unimaginably worse.)
I knew I was addicted to riding the first time I went for a ride on the back of an ex-boyfriend’s GSX-R 400 (now that was a neat bike). Even though it was November and goddamn col I knew about two minutes into that ride that I wouldn’t be happy unless I got my own bike someday.
People take large and small risks everyday. Some people will never feel comfortable with the risks associated with riding a motorcycle. And that’s okay. I feel that I have taken the precautions I need to do in order to minimize the risks (lessons, proper gear, not riding like an asshat). I know that a lot of the risks are out of my hands: I can’t take the cell phones and Blackberries out of the hands of drivers, or teach them to look for motorcyclists (and scooters, cyclists, and pedestrians for that matter). I can’t take the idiot riders and make them better.
I’m not an idiot rider, but I’m an ignorant rider – I know that there is a lot more to learn. But ignorance is fixable. I know my limits and for now I’m content to ride within them. When I’m ready I’ll go somewhere safe (track days, Pacific Advanced Riding School) and start improving my skills and learning more.
I know people are concerned about me, but please spare me the horror stories. You aren’t going to change my mind. I love bikes, I have for many years. I do my best to stay safe.
29 Aug 2009
by Lauriein Motorcycles
Kyle drove us out to North Shore Suzuki Yamaha to pick up Paul’s bike this morning. Horace, one of Kyle and Paul’s coworker’s came out on his bike to ride home with Paul while Kyle and I followed behind in the van. It was awesome that Horace was there to ride with Paul; I think it made it easier for him and he gave Paul some tips when we got back to our place. Horace and Paul have gone out for a ride…they’re probably having a great time since the sun is shining but it’s not too hot out.
I picked up my helmet last night so I have the basic gear I need. It’s going to feel like forever until I can go get my bike…depending on our finances I may be able to get it on September 5th.
Here are some picture of the new addition:
First time sitting on the new bike!
Checking things over before starting 'er up.
That inline-four sounds smooooooth :)
See you at home!
26 Aug 2009
by Lauriein Motorcycles
I put a deposit on a black Ninja 250R! I’ll pick it up on September 12th, possibly earlier if things work out financially.
I was a total girl and spent an extra $400 to get the colour that I wanted.
Yay! Yay! Yay!
24 Aug 2009
by Lauriein Work
You know, instead of actually working: pursuing the Poo Trap website.
Check out the FAQs. We were laughing so hard we were crying.
24 Aug 2009
by Lauriein Motorcycles
I’m going to get a new Ninja 250R. Black is my first choice, but I’d be just has happy with blue. (Edit: apparently not, since I paid extra to get a black one.)
I know that I said that I said that I was going to get something bigger, based partly on what Kramer and Taro told me (I’ll outgrow it too soon, I’ll find its acceleration on the freeway slow) but something else got in the way.
Insurance.
To insure a motorcycle with a displacement over 400cc will cost me at least $2000 per year because I don’t have a discount with ICBC.
I guesstimate that a 250cc bike will cost about $1500, which is a significant difference.
Edit: found out later that this is not true, the woman who quoted me must have done something wrong. Oh well.
Yeah, I may outgrow this bike a little sooner than a 600, but I’m okay with that. Paul and I talked about keeping it when I’m done and making it into a track bike, so if we want to go to track days to learn skills (i.e. not to race) we have a bike that’s already been stripped of lights and fairings, and won’t be a disaster to crash.
Honestly, I think I’ll feel a lot more comfortable on this than some of the bigger bikes I’ve been looking at. And I know that I’ll be happy with it and I won’t regret the decision to buy it.
In other good news, the FZ6R is coming home on Saturday!
20 Aug 2009
by Lauriein Motorcycles
Paul put a deposit on his bike: the 2009 FZ6R in raven. We got it for under the MSRP. It’s on it’s way to the dealership from the warehouse; it may be ready to pick up early next week (!)
On Saturday we’re going looking for a bike for me. I have a few ideas about what I want, but I’m going to look with an open mind (well, as open as it can be as long as it fits in with what I want: a sportbike 650cc or less with a less-aggressive riding position).
On my list (I’m looking for a used, not new bike):
17 Aug 2009
by Lauriein Motorcycles
I saw a 2007 Ninja 500R in metallic titanium that has 4300km on Friday. (This was after I saw a CBR600F2 that I fell in love with – not this exact bike, though. It was an exciting day.)
Paul’s pretty set on a black FZR6. Originally we were going to get two new bikes, but after thinking about our budget it would be a lot of money. I’m happy enough to ride the used bike for a couple of years and then sell it to another beginner, and maybe take on the FZ6R when Paul’s done with it.
I know that a lot of people find the 500R to be kind of ugly, but I have a soft spot for the retro late 80s/early 90s bikes. The Ninja 250R has been recently updated to look more modern, but I don’t think Kawasaki has any plans to update the 500R. (In fact, I think it’s going to be supplanted altogether by the 650R in the lineup.) It’s a solid beginner’s bike.
On Friday I purchased my helmet and textile jacket. Both are made by Scorpion. My jacket is the “Selene” (in black) and my helmet is the EXO-1000 in Sublim black. My helmet’s on order from California.
Yeah, I know it’s all motorcycle, all the time around here but it’s a childhood dream coming true.
12 Aug 2009
by Lauriein Motorcycles
Our ride days were Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Our first ride day had me feeling nervous, especially because I had a bad night in to lot before. I was really worried about stalling on the motorcycle in traffic, and the night’s lessons before included shifting and braking at speed (well, at speed in the lot; all things are relative when you’ve never ridden before). Friday night’s lot lessons took a lot out of me because I wasn’t able to do them well, so I was struggling with that plus my desire to do everything well. I was nearly in tears by the break and I wasn’t sure why. I had to take time to get a grip on myself.
We rode from the school to a motorcycle dealership in the next town over (from Newton to Langley). Traffic was stop-and-go because of construction, and I could feel myself getting tense.
But as we got out of the traffic and we were able to spread out I realized that I was grinning and having a great time on the bike. By the time we pulled up behind Taro at Holeshot the three of us were grinning like idiots. We had had a taste, and we wanted more.
On the way back I not only stalled in traffic, but I got separated from the group twice (the second time a lady cut me off. She looked me right in the eyes and cut me off. I knew that I’m invisible, but really?) I didn’t die, panic, flail – everything was alright and I got back with the guys and carried on.
The big ride was Sunday – from Surrey to downtown Vancouver (via hwy 1), through UBC and back to Surrey (via hwy 99 & 91).
More
12 Aug 2009
by Lauriein Housekeeping
My @cutetoaster.ca email account has bounced or junked all of the messages I’ve sent since Saturday. Apparently my mail server is stupid and my email address looks like a spammer’s address. So if you’ve received mail from me from two email accounts I’m sorry. Who really wants to wade through my blatherings twice?
I’m going to use my gmail account as my primary address from now on.
Life is complicated.
12 Aug 2009
by Lauriein Motorcycles, Work
I hate spreadsheets.
This was one of the reasons I wanted to work in a place other than an office. I’m on day two of working on laboratory test listings and markups and it’s so boring.
All I can think about are motorcycles and gear and riding and the road test…
…and how much I dislike Excel.
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