Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 13:30:27 -0400 
From: "Peter A. Simon" <ps3p+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: beginner's luck
	<1992Aug26.210628.24124@i88.isc.com>
Distribution: usa

jeq@i88.isc.com (Jonathan E. Quist) sez:

>In article <4eaxnvK00WBKQ4jm5G@andrew.cmu.edu> "Peter A. Simon"
<ps3p+@andrew.c
>mu.edu> writes:
>>rpearl@athena.mit.edu (Rachel A Pearl) writes:
>[request for info]
>>RAP
>>
>>I'm not your size but here's my take on it:  I am teaching my 31 year
>>old girl friend (5'4", 125#) how to ride my "spare" bike which is a
>>Honda CM400.  It's what's known in the trade as a "standard" (vs sport,
>...
>>Second, while I find the bike underpowered, I think the low power to
>>weight ratio is good for a beginner.  It won't get away from her and
>>she's more likely to stall it than kill herself when she mistakes the
>>throttle for the clutch (it's happened to me!).  Also, she's 60# lighter
> 
>And you're teaching her how to ride?
> 
>>Fourth, I paid $585 for it and she can trash it in the learning process
>>for all I care.  The bill for damage so far is around $100 which brings
>>us to 
> 
>And you're teaching her how to ride.
> 
>>Fifth, it *may* be too heavy for her to pick up when she drops it. 
>...
>>applies to your question in general).  She's dropped it twice but each
>>time I, in a manly manner, picked it up for her.  Next time out we're
> 
>And you're teaching her how to ride!
> 
> 
>It might be easier to teach her not to drop it in the first place.
>Or be a pal, and get her into the MSF class...
 
(Oh, yeah... :')

Like I said in a post on a different subject:  I don't know much but I
share what I know.  :-)

Judy can't get into an MSF until next year.  She WILL take the MSF class
then.  She wants to ride NOW.  I am teaching her how to ride the way *I*
was taught to ride.  I am still alive many years later.

And, further in my defense, I would like to reproduce the following post
from netnews.alt.motorcycles.harley:


>From: stafford@msus1.msus.edu
>Subject: Women who wish to ride, take heart
>Date: 21 Aug 92 03:14:18 GMT
> 
> 
>Re: Women who want to ride
> 
>...or for that matter, anyone who wants to ride.  
> 
>You _will_ drop your motorcycle and it _will_ be the best bike you
>ever had.  Consider this not a prophesy, but an attitude you
>should accept so when it does happen you are neither devastated nor
>ashamed, just a little wiser.
> 
>I know, I know, there are riders in netland who have been on the
>road for decades and never dropped their prized machine.  Save your
>rebuttals, sisters and brothers, you aren't done riding yet and if you
>think you have retired with no drops, you've probably never really
>ridden or you are a statistical anomaly.
> 
>Why is this mentioned?  These things come to mind; a friend who
>took up riding with her boyfriend who is a veteran MC rider and
>MC drag racer gave her no end of shit for a falling down.  I've also
>seen such silly behavior among younger riders.  _Never_ have I seen
>an experienced, even hard-core sterotypical 'outlaw' type bikers derride
>a fallen rider and they know (oh, how they know) how close any of us are
>to err.  And finally, my exwife was no great athelete (in fact she had 
>multiple sclerosis) rode, fell down and would arise with a grace that
>empowered anyone she rode with.  Especially me.  She rode and loved it 
>as you will when you ride, if you ride with heart.
> 
>Enjoy.  Live.  Drop that big Harley, or whatever.  You cannot
>take it with you.  This is it.
 
> john stafford
 
Anyway, smart ass, how do you teach somebody how not to drop a bike when
what happens is:  They pull up in front of where you're calmly sitting,
real proud of your student for such a smooth stop, say hi to you, and
just let the fucking thing topple over on its side (while gracefully
jumping free, fortunately)?  I mean, just what would *you* have done,
said or shown ahead of time that could have prevented this?

Any wisdom, oh great one, would be gratefully appreciated.


-peter

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
*                             WATCH BACK!                           *
*                                                                   *
* DoD #10o00                 Suzuki LS650H         NAUI INST. #1434 *
*                             (for sale)                            *
*                             Honda CM400                           *
*                           (for sale, too)                         *
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Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles