spaceace12

Well, that was my second time trying the box, I mean really really trying. I actually did most things right on the box during the test. I did pass over the line once, but it was way better than I would have expected on Friday when I had never ridden a bike in my lifetime.

In that picture, it looks like I was leaning forward. That was practice and my first attempt at the small box. I got more comfortable with riding after that picture was taken. As for the helmet, yeah, if it isn't sold, I am trying it on first, then if it fits, buying it.

I plan on getting a full faced helmet, in fact, might be getting a HJC c14 this weekend (friend is selling it for 50 since he got a new one). Or I might get a modular helmet so I can have the face up during riding in the city during hot weather.

Somewhere around 250-650cc engine, cruiser or dual sport. No crotch rocket for me. Anywhere around the 400 and below means I have to get a new bike once I am ready to hit the highway. 5-650cc, means faster and a bit heavier (not by much), but once I am ready to hit the highway, I got a bike that will carry my big butt to highway speeds.

I look funny in all the pictures of me. I had a full faced helmet on the first day but it got hot after a while. So I switched to a 1/2 helmet and safety glasses, but the sun was bad the second day so I was wearing my sun glasses.

Background. About 2 years ago I had decided I wanted to learn how to ride a motorcycle. Work and other things put that on a back burner. With gas prices hitting (I think) four dollars a gallon, I decided it was time to bring it to the for front. In July, I called the local college that offers a class for people to learn how to ride a bike and it was full for the year (ran through last weekend). I was put on a waiting list. In August, they called me and said they had a couple openings and I immediately signed up. Fifty dollars for class, 40 for boots, and 20 for gloves and I was ready. The basic class teaches you like you have never ridden before. Good thing since I had never ridden before or even drove a car with a manual transmission. First day is spent all day in the classroom learning things like pedal, lever, and buttons for each function. Second day starts out at the driving range, for cars not golf, with you getting assigned a bike. My location has two bikes. A Kawasiki Eliminator, a 125cc cruiser. Or a Suzuki GS-250, a 250cc cruiser. I got there last and so I got the Eliminator. Perhaps a omen of the class? They start out with you learning about how to start bikes, the friction zone, turning, and all aspects fo riding. Turning sounds simple, and it is, but it is rather confusing. Instead of turning the handle bars, you press in the direction you want to turn to make the bike lean. In tight slow turns, you actually turn the bike and shift your weight to make the bike turn sharper. They run you through many excercises like weaves, swurves, turns, shifting, and a few more things. Me personally, I killed the bike so many times by letting the clutch out too fast. By the second day, I only did a few times. Some of the other things they teach you is stopping in a curve (not as simple as it sounds), quick stopping, and the box (more on this later). Long story short....I missed one on the written test and passed the riding test. I still have to get my permit to ride, but after 30 days I can get my M license and not have to take the riding test (good thing since I don't actually have a bike yet). Here is a link to the Motorcycle Safety Foundations website to find a class in your area. In Indiana, you can take this class at age 15. There was a 60 year old in my class who had never ridden before he bought his current bike this year. http://www.msf-usa.org/ Enough talk, lets post some pictures. One more time because I look bad to the bone....not. Anyway, can't wait to actually own a bike. I wish I could afford one right now, even though winter is only a couple months away. The box and a sharp turn. Sorry for the bad quality....had to use M$ live local for a overhead map. Anyway, start out on bottom on black line. Do "the box" (black line that looks like a figure 8). Box is only about 8 feet by 20 feet long. Then do shapr turn on red line and repeat. The hogs...I mean piglets....are being put away, that means the riding test is done....did I pass, guess you should have read the text part above if you haven't already. I should have stopped faster, but I did pass this part of the test on the actual testing. Stupid box quick stopping. Accerate up into 2nd gear and once you hit the que cones. 1. pull in clutch and downshift to first 2. while doing that press down on rear brake and pull on the front brakes without locking them up. Swerving. Going fast and making a quick lane change to avoid a obstacle. Still working on the box. I did pass the box, but I did cross the boundry once. Me working on "the box" The class The instructors setting up some obstacles. my piglet the driving range The hogs, or piglets since they weren't very big.

Me riding a motorcycle for the second day ever. I want one bad now.

I can atleast ride 20mph on a motorcycle now. I can let out the clutch and not kill it tyring to take off. All things I couldn't do this morning.

Bye bye Carnage. Wes was still third.

There should be two from me. I sent them on Thursday.

For the next three days I will be riding some 250cc cruiser at the local college's class on riding. Then next spring I will buy my first bike, the least I am going to buy is a 500 cc cruiser. Later I will either get a Sportster 883 or a Suziki Vstrom 650.

For the next three days, I will be learning how to ride a motorcycle...can't wait to actually own one next spring.

I bad to the bone....actually, I am not but that is a new dlc release for RB2...

Your on about 15 minutes into the show...wow, you got some big ones to ask that question.....

I actually have to work at a CBS station, but I usually miss most of Letterman. IF I was at home, I would miss it all. My station is battling Time Warner, currently, the Terre Haute Cable system has no CBS on it. I am hoping it doesn't last too much longer or I will figure out something and cancel TW because thier customer service sucks (I am not the only one cancelling cable or thinking about it).

Uh, if this is real.....please please, somoene get it on youtube. I work at a CBS station and don't get off work until Midnight.

I didn't read the first post fully, please ignore.

Two will be sent from Indiana tomorrow.

just the first one. IE7

I have never seen a lunch buffet Pizza Hut, but we did have a Pizza Inn (and then it was Leonardo's) buffet place. I wish Terre Haute had a CiCi's pizza place. Five dollars for a pizza buffet is excellent.

I know one Pizza hut around here is becoming "Pizza Hut and Wing Street" or something like that.

You do realize that they stopped that running gag after the 5th or 6th season, right? He barely dies anymore. Actually i didn't, I don't watch the show anymore and liked seeing how they would do it. Is there a site online that has episodes in full length?

I hope they don't kill Kenny.

I hate Time Warner Cable. That is all I can say without getting in trouble from the people upstairs.

Looks like I am going to Kings Island a few times next year. Maybe GOCC will have thier spring fling there.