10 Sep 2009
by Lauriein Motorcycles
So I didn’t pass the class 6 road test today. I failed because I neglected to cancel my turn signal and because of traffic it was considered a dangerous action.
I was horribly nervous at the beginning of the ride and had some horrendous clutch and throttle control (fast hands, the bane of my existence!) but I did settle down and had a pretty good ride other than those things. The assessor was nice and we had a good chat about what I did well and what I need to improve on. He was fair and honest and constructive. I don’t feel too badly about it; I would have liked to pass on the first go, but it was a learning experience. I’m not beating myself up about it, which is weird. Usually I’d be really down on myself about it, but I’m okay. I think my lack of time on a bike since finishing at PRS hasn’t helped, but that will change after Saturday.
Paul passed with flying colours.
But oh, Saturday is soooo close and it feels like being a kid waiting for Christmas. I saw someone riding the same bike I bought on the way to ICBC this morning and I (literally, ask Paul) squee’d with excitement. Look at that guy! He’s riding a bike like mine! Whoo yay Ninja!
I don’t know why but seeing someone riding a Ninja like mine makes me happy, like we’re members of a special little sportbike club. We need a special wave.
08 Sep 2009
by Lauriein Motorcycles
Did not get to pick up the Ninja this weekend. The weather was nice for a few hours and I made plans to go get it before our road test assessments at Pacific Riding School.
The kink in my master plan was the long weekend: I didn’t count on all of the branches of the credit union I deal with being closed. It worked out for the best I think; right about the time I would have been riding home on my brand new slippery tires it started absolutely pouring. The roads were pretty slick; it was a good thing I wasn’t riding my new bike on them.
So, now the plan is to get it on Saturday (the 12th). I could get it after our road test on Thursday, but I won’t have another rider to ride home with me, and I’d feel better with someone else. If I wait until Saturday Kyle can drive me out and Paul and Horace will ride home with me. I’m not really looking forward to riding over the Alex Fraser bridge, but I’ve done it before and I don’t really have any other option.
The road assessment went well. I did okay…I still made the same mistakes that I was prone to making in the lot when I get nervous (starting from 2nd gear, turning too quickly and ending up in the wrong lane position, holding on to the handlebars much too tightly when I get really nervous causing the bike to shake alarmingly…) I did a good job with the things I thought I’d have trouble with (not missing any shoulder checks, the U-turn). I have a good feeling about the road test; thanks to the assessment I know exactly what I need to do in order to pass (basically breathe, look further ahead on the road, and have slower hands). I can do the things I need to do as long as I don’t get too nervous to do them!
04 Sep 2009
by Lauriein Motorcycles
If it’s sunny not raining tomorrow I can pick up my motorcycle!
Minor problem: the forecast is for buckets of rain beginning tomorrow and lasting until Thursday (which is when we have our road tests).
Please keep your fingers crossed, and invoke any good-luck inducing trick you have that the rain holds off until Saturday afternoon.
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