Everyone has to start somewhere and I think that to start my blog I have to start at the beginning. My first real post will be about my first bike and first ride.
I had finally reach a point in my life that I was able to financially afford to purchase a motorcycle. I had talk to several of my friend whom had owned bikes and had been riding for years and everyone agreed that the first one should be a Japanese bike. Their rational was the first one is going to be the bike you make all of my mistakes, so it has to be cheap and durable. At the time I couldn't believe that all my friends, who only owned Harley's, were telling me to buy anything but a Harley. With my friends advice in mind I kept talking to my new co-workers and one happen to be a big bike fan. He had been riding for some time and was a big on the sport bikes. He had done some checking around and told others to start to look out for a bike that would suit a beginner. In no time he had a friend that located a great deal and sent me to take a look at it. Wow, I couldn't believe my eye's when I saw it, it was truly a beautiful bike. It was a bright red Ninja 600cc. To cut the boring details, I bought it and was ready to pick it up and start riding, but that is where the real story begins.
This was the day to pick the bike up, but little did I know I wouldn't be dropping off the check and taking off on the bike. It turned out to be my first lesson and my introduction into the bike owner community. The sales person could care less if I had a license, or could even ride, so I thought for sure I was out the door soon. I have to admit that I was a little nervous since I hadn't been on a bike in 15 years and never had rode one on the road better off a highway/interstate. The salesman took me to the garage and introduced me to the mechanic who was setting up my bike and getting it ready for me to take it home. After the salesman left, to this day I'm eternally grateful to him, but can't remember his name. The mechanic started going over the bike, where everything was located and the features. He then started questioning me and with every answer I could see the apprehension build and build in his face. After many questions and not very good answers he informed me that I wasn't leaving this lot until he felt comfortable with my riding. First, when you're riding, don't care if its an American bike, or a Japanese bike, he said, you wave. Being a motorcycle rider is a community and we're all in this together, so you pay your respects, even if they don't wave, you pay you're respects and wave at all motorcycle riders.
The second lesson was to begin.. He said we're getting ready to close the shop here in about 30 minutes but
we're not leaving this lot, thankfully the shop was located on a large parking lot, until I feel comfortable you can ride safely. I said, really, don't you have other things to do then hang out after work to make sure I can ride. He said the only thing I have to do is make sure that you get home safe and I will not let you leave this lot until you can demonstrate to me that you can ride this bike home safely. So, he gives me a few pointers on how to find the clutch sweet spot, as he called it, and how to shift gears. I was really nervous now as he talked and his friends started showing up. Clearly he had plans but after meeting me, they would have to be put on hold, until I passed his test. The first lap around the lot went OK, but my trouble was not driving or getting from one gear to another, it was taking off. I laugh now, but I struggled with that one for a long time. I knew that I had to do it well enough to satisfy him. Lap after lap I got better and better and it got later and later and darkness was approaching. His friends were getting a little nervous that they and I would be here for some time to come, but he wouldn't let anything deter him, and they're would be no short cuts. Lap after lap I would stop and he would give me pointer in something he saw I was doing wrong and I would take off and put it to use. I was really starting to get the hang of it and was really starting to love it and becoming less and less nervous. His friends were even cheering me on and would make helpful suggestions. I'm not sure how much time had gone by but I was there for a better part of a couple of hours, riding around and around this lot. As time went on I didn't think, was this the lap I get to go home, I was just looked forward to his next suggestion and little tip he would have for me after each lap. Then to my surprise I stopped after going around, what must have been the 100th time, he said you're good to go! What? Really? He said you're good, just remember what I have taught you, take you're time, don't be rushed, don't be scared, and always pay you're respects to you're follow bike riders.
I don't know if he did this with everyone he set up a bike for, but I'm eternally grateful for what he did for me and the time he took to teach me how to ride. It was the beginning for me and the start of a wonderful adventure.
