On having a motorcycle

My Motorcycle Now that I've had the motorcycle for a few months I have a little more perspective on it. It's turned out to be really fantastic. There is still something a bit scary about being on a motorcycle, but at this point it's a good kind of scared. It's an exhilaration, a bit of an adrenaline rush. I've only got about a thousand miles under me, which isn't much, but it's enough that I'm reasonably confident in my ability to control this machine under ordinary road conditions.

I've dropped the motorcycle once, when I stalled it while making a U-turn. There wasn't any damage to the bike, but I hurt my wrist. That taught me a couple of valuable lessons.

1. If the bike is going over, don't try to stop it, just get out of the way.
2. If you've just adjusted the idle setting, learn how it behaves at low speed before getting cocky and trying to pull off u-turns.

My wrist is better now, although considerably weaker than it was before. I used to curl 50lbs dumbbells, but that wrist can't currently handle anything over 25lbs.

One of the interesting things I've learned is that motorcycling is always enjoyable, but often not very pleasant. The seat on my bike is not designed for long-distance riding, and by the end of my daily commute I'm starting to develop a good case of monkey-butt. In late October and November, when I was still riding (I last rode the week before Thanksgiving), I was frequently bitter cold. And I miss every minute of it.

I keep waiting for the weather to get above freezing and the roads to melt, so I can ride again. I'm hopeful that this weekend, when the weather is supposed to be in the 40s, that I can ride over to see a friend, then put the bike away again for another month, while I wait for the weather to get nice again.

For all the discomfort, the ride is a massive thrill. It's like driving a sports car, but a lot cheaper and a lot more fun. Like sports cars, it also makes you a member of a loose fraternity of other riders. Riders always try to wave when they pass each other. Wearing your riding jacket is a near instant introduction to other riders, which is great a social gatherings where you're the new guy.

I hope to be posting lots of cool pictures from trips here once the weather warms up. I'm already planning day trips up to the thumb, and I need to figure out how to work fishing trips with a motorcycle.

For now, I'm keeping the rubber side down.