For the final submission from experienced riders sharing knowledge with new riders, we have five women with lots of experience and miles.
Susan Garza has been riding for years. She has ridden several different formats of machine, but seems to prefer the sportbike. She’s an ATGATT rider who makes riding look effortless.
Susan sez:
Pay careful attention to your riding. Work on your skills every day, every ride. Like everything you endeavor to excel at you need to practice, practice, practice. Take the MSF course, and then go out to a vacant parking lot and practice all that you learned in the MSF course. Take the advanced riders course, and again, practice, practice, practice. Also get a good reference book to read. When you’re not riding, or practicing, read and then go out and practice. When I started riding I wanted to become the best rider that I could be. So I bought couple of good reference books. I found Proficient Motorcycling by David Hough to be a great help. He does a fine job of diagraming different riding scenarios. For myself I found it much easier to see and understand diagrams of the riding references that I heard about. I would read about a riding scenario and then on my next ride I would practice what I had read. Each time I went out for a ride I would concentrate on a specific skill that was covered in my book.
After every ride review all that has taken place, “The good the bad and the ugly”. Assess your riding techniques and make a note of things that need to be worked on. If you’ve done well, review why. If you’ve had an “Oh s**t” moment, review what caused that moment and work out a plan to avoid having the same moment again. If you’ve had a really “ugly” incident, review how you got to that point and reassess your skill set to make sure you are able to do everything possible to avoid the same scenario.
After you get to know your bike, take a few track schools. Not to race, but to learn more about your bike in a controlled environment with proper instruction. The skills that you learn on the track translate to your daily encounters out on the road.
Don’t leave your bike maintenance to others. Know how to check tire pressure, oil levels, oil your own chain and most importantly learn to plug a tire.
Find a good mentor, other than your s/o.
Lastly, ride, ride, ride as much as you can in all the conditions that you can. You will greatly improve your riding confidence and skill set with seat time.
We next have Jeanette Bull who has been riding since she was a child. Jeanette too, has ridden many different bikes, and still rides her Harley and her sport touring bike.
My name is Jeannette Bull, I have been riding since I was a little girl. My Dad placed me on the tank and use to say “hang on or die”. I remember being really scared but that fear was accelerating and that is how it all started.
I think the one thing that riders should grasp and hang onto are the butterflies you get in your stomach; sometimes known as fear. It can help you overcome many obstacles.
Fear: the one thing that keeps me in check with reality around me. Some may wonder fear? well its not entirely that it is just different degrees of it, for ex on a scale of 0-10 as we learn and progress the higher the number but as you practice and conquer the challenges they become less but to some degree its there and can make you a better rider. You know your limits with this and set different goals as you practice and the butterflies start to go away.
Some folks ask, why aren’t you afraid of parking, not afraid of the tight twisties, not afraid of u-turns etc. I get a lot of these and many other types of questions by riders new and old. Reality is I do, I fear I may drop the bike but fearing this makes me have a plan. A plan on how I want to pull in. Or how I want to maneuver and park so I don’t drop the bike. As a seasoned rider I have prepared and planned for many different scenarios.
As I ride and navigate the roads I formulate a plan on how I should ride the safest route. When out riding I have a fear of some cagers or what we motorcyclists call auto drivers, for example those on their cell phones and not paying attention, the fear of them helps me recognize my surroundings and what I need to watch out for and to be aware of and a way out if need be.
Having the courage to face my fears and conquer the challenges give me strength and empowerment as a lady rider. Might I add I am only 5’2 and some say petite and I can ride……it’s just how I roll.
Syd “FishWitch” Sheppard is a motorcyclist ignited. Since the day she picked up her first bike, which was only 8 years ago, we haven’t been able to pry her fingers off the handlebars. She uses her Victory Kingpin for work and pleasure and everything in between. She has more miles that any woman I know, between her first Yamaha VStar 650 to her Kingpin she has ridden over 200,000.
Syd offers this advice:
Hi Ladies,
When I started riding I had no mentors or even knew anyone that rode. I was totally on my own. I’d never been on a bike….Well maybe when I was about 3 yrs old I think my dad had a little red scooter but that doesn’t count.
I had no clue where or how to get started. I went to the HD shop because I knew I wanted a cruiser & not a sport bike. Sat on a few bikes & was like eeek!!! Does this make my arse look big? LOL Donna & I were on a ride where we did see this poor guy(he must have been a plumber) riding but that’s another story.
I asked where I could take lessons. I had no idea there were even classes that were available!
I was thrilled to hear there was The MSF Program. It took me 3 times to pass. I could have done it the 2nd time but I freaked and bailed because I thought I had made too many mistakes, not to mention I wanted more practice. 3rd time was a charm!
In the mean time I had talked to anyone I saw on a bike asking about info. I went around to every bike shop looking for something I felt comfortable on. I must admit when I sat on an HD 883 it was not comfy to me. I kept talking & looking & someone turned me on the the Yamaha V Stars. The minute I sat on the 650 I felt comfy. That bike was meant for me.
I rode my BIG BIKE (hehe) for over 15,000 miles in 6 months. My first ride out of a parking lot was almost 300 miles. I thought that was normal! LOLOL Of course I dropped my precious bike before I ever got out of the parking lot as I had never ridden anywhere exept the MSF course. I was like OMG What have I gotten myself into!?!
I had driven the route in my truck & had my route home well planned out. I took it slow & easy. I DID IT!!!!
It was the best decision I have ever made in my life! I love riding.
My best advice is HAVE CONFIDENCE! Choose YOUR bike, don’t let someone else choose it for you.
Go Practice, watch Ride Like A Pro (available on You Tube) Commit your self when you turn. AND MOST IMPORTANT!!! >>>LOOK WHERE YOU WANT TO GO!!! Push your bars that way and even a bit of that elbow accentuates your turn. Even tho you think you are exaggerating the look, you prolly aren’t. Enjoy!
Suzie and I are forum friends, and have never ridden together, but I do look forward to the time!
Suzie’s advice is very practical. She didn’t want to repeat what others have said, but I believe a good idea is a good idea no matter how many times repeated. Also good advice repeated make it automatic. I ride with my mantras.
1. Practice, practice. No matter how good you think you are or how long you’ve been riding.
– Those turns – turn you whole head, not just your eyes
– Braking
– Gravel – never know when you might come upon it and it is good to know not only your limitations, but your bike’s limitations
– Hitting your apex
– There are numerous good reads out there. Read one or two of them.
– Not only take the basic MSF course, but the Experienced Riders Course and take it periodically
2. AGATT – All the Gear All The Time – just might save your life one day
3. Ride at your own pace. Pushing yourself is good but don’t try to keep up with those that ride at an uncomfortable speed for you.
4. Always know where you are and where you are going. Don’t necessarily depend on someone else in case you get separated. Keep a map on you at all times.
Lastly, My advice sweet and simple…
BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
If riding is your passion, get a bike that fits you, wear the gear and practice your skills. Practice them every time you mount your machine and believe that you can do it and you will.
Now get out there and ride and ride and ride!!!