From: carlp@frigg.isc-br.com (Carl Paukstis)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: Re: beginners luck
Date: 29 Aug 92 20:58:46 GMT
Organization: ISC-Bunker Ramo, An Olivetti Company

OK, I'll share my sister's "begginer's luck".  Lest ye forget, our 
story thus far:

My sister Karen, 5'4" ~28" inseam 32yrs. nurse lives in Dallas.  Rode
on back of Harleys for years, always wanted one.  Took MSF course in
~June, went on "sibling revelry" ride with me in July.  Went back to
TX, tried a Sportster & dumped it, decided it was too tall & heavy,
didn't have anyone to help her select a used droppable bike, bought a
1992 600 Shadow week before last.

And now:
Karen's been riding around the parking lot at her big apt. complex,
imagining stop signs, avoiding pedestrians and some traffic, building
up her confidence.   Her biggest problem in MSF:RSS and since was 
clutch control.  She stalls a lot taking off from a stop.  I tried to
teach her to drive a car with a clutch in 1975, and she's never been
the same (and never tried again).

She found a possible riding partner (Through the bike salesman,
unsolicited!  Doesn't hurt that she got all the "cute" genes in our
generation).  This woman also owns a Shadow, isn't a very experienced
rider, is about the same age and lives about 30 miles away.  So Karen
is feeling pretty confident in the parking lot, and her new buddy
comes over after work on Tuesday, about 6:30.

This is a pretty heavy-traffic time in Far North Dallas, but they're
just going up two blocks and over three, then into a residential area
just to putt around and practice.  They turn right out of the apt.
complex, go the two blocks, and stop for the left-turn arrow.  Four
lanes each way, plus left-turn lanes.  The light turns, Karen stalls.
Her partner waits with her, as does the cage behind her.  She stalls
again, and cages farther back take off around them on the right,
screeching across in front to make the left turn.

Karen reagins some composure and waits for the next cycle of the
light.  It turns green.  She takes off with spirit, and tries to turn
starting from takeoff.  As she put it "I was going too fast.  I leaned
far enough, I just didn't TURN far enough.  Not enough push left."
I suspect she's mis-evaluated the lean/turn interrelationship, but no
matter for now.

Her rear wheel hit the curb on the far side of the cross street (she
_almost_ made the turn), and she high-sided.  Shin hit the curb on the
way over.  When the guy came running over from the store to help, she
asked him "would you please pick up the bike?"  This guy drove the
bike home for her (scratched muffler and aircleaner, other minor
scratches including touch-up-able fender); the woman in the cage which
was behind them at the light drove Karen home; the riding partner took
her to the emergency room.

Badly sprained ankle, 6 stitches in her shin, sore shoulder.  She's on
crutches for a week or so.  Her biggest concern when she called me was
that her bike was out in the parking lot uncovered and unlocked, and
she couldn't get down her 3rd-floor stairs to take care of it.  This
was taken care of Wednesday by a friend who also brought her
groceries.

Her attitude is good, so far.  I just hope she doesn't have a morbid
fear of letting the clutch out, now.  She says she's gonna ride the
parking lot some more, as soon as she's able.  She's also planning to
ride mid-morning or some time with very little traffic - apparently a
major contribution to her flustrage was the honking and discourtesy of
cages when she stalled it.
--
Carl Paukstis, RRR&RSG           | "Good men must not obey the laws too well"
 ISC-Bunker Ramo / Spokane, WA   |    -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
 Phone: +1 509 927-5439          |  
 Mail: carlp@frigg.isc-br.com    |  My employer accepts no responsibility...
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles