Most terrifying thing I've done in a while

[The emperor has no clothes]

Well, she is her Daddy’s girl after all.  

[MarkT]

Serk: When folks are learning, foot dabs to correct slow speed mistakes are common. Please get her a good pair of over the ankle boots. She's a great looking yungin'. Keep her safe.  I hope she's on the high school volleyball team.

I know this is an old post, but...

Over-the-ankle boots aren't necessarily a good idea.  I had a pair of those give me a new ankle location when I fell over standing next to my Gold Wing and the high edge of the stiff riding boots levered a break into both the tibia and fibula.  I have a steel plate and screws holding them together since.  I won't use high-top boots again on a bike - ride ever since with Nike shoes. (Or Costco's rendition of them for $17).  If I go to a M.O.S.T. advanced rider's course - they will allow me to use them or I cancel the class and get my money back.  I'll tell them the story and show them the surgery scars - that will have to suffice. Or I could wear my insulated fabric-top hunting boots - they won't break an ankle.  Would not tolerate the horror stories given here of A-hole DMV ѕo-ѕhitѕ.  I don't have any bad experience with the DMV in CO - they seem to set up programs that keep good attitudes within their employees - and efficiently expedite folks through their tasks. That would be the vehicle license offices - can't speak about driver testing offices; I never go there.

One other comment:  When I got Deerslayer ('98 Std) in 6/97 I dropped it several times the first cpl years.  Usually by forgetting to put the kickstand down.  Go to leave someplace, remember I forgot something so stop, then forget the sidestand.  Once when I turned sharply in a parking lot at walking speed and the bike slipped on sand.  It took me a while to learn to pay especial attention to balance when going slow, particularly as I was approaching a stop.  After learning that - and with more experience - I haven't dropped it at all for over a dozen years.  Have never dropped #2 (Jade) or #3 (George - all pictured below). I would guess Kali may need plenty of practice as I did before never dropping the Valk.  Or I could be just full of it.  (She might be far more balance-skilled than I am)

[Gryphon Rider]

Serk: When folks are learning, foot dabs to correct slow speed mistakes are common. Please get her a good pair of over the ankle boots. She's a great looking yungin'. Keep her safe.  I hope she's on the high school volleyball team.

I know this is an old post, but...

Over-the-ankle boots aren't necessarily a good idea.  I had a pair of those give me a new ankle location when I fell over standing next to my Gold Wing and the high edge of the stiff riding boots levered a break into both the tibia and fibula.  I have a steel plate and screws holding them together since.  I won't use high-top boots again on a bike - ride ever since with Nike shoes. (Or Costco's rendition of them for $17).  If I go to a M.O.S.T. advanced rider's course - they will allow me to use them or I cancel the class and get my money back.  I'll tell them the story and show them the surgery scars - that will have to suffice. Or I could wear my insulated fabric-top hunting boots - they won't break an ankle.  Would not tolerate the horror stories given here of A-hole DMV ѕo-ѕhitѕ.  I don't have any bad experience with the DMV in CO - they seem to set up programs that keep good attitudes within their employees - and efficiently expedite folks through their tasks. That would be the vehicle license offices - can't speak about driver testing offices; I never go there.

You might have fallen victim to the rare circumstance where that style of boots proved to be a liability, in a similar way that wearing a seatbelt is a safety liability when your car is sinking in water, or when your car is on fire and you or your rescuer are unable to quickly release the buckle.

Racers and off-road riders view stiff riding boots as protective from injury.  Boots, even non-motorcycling-specific ones, compared to shoes or joggers, reduce the risk of injury to the feet and ankles by half (see this study from Australia: Motorcycle Protective Clothing: Protection from Injury or Just the Weather?).  The most obvious advantage of boots is that they stay on one's feet, rather than being knocked off at first contact with pavement.  Boots also tend to be made of tougher material, providing abrasion protection, and some have padding and/or armour, providing impact protection.  Although our feet and shins are fairly well protected on our flat-six-powered motorcycles, other riders will find boots make a huge difference in protection from adverse weather, large insects, and tire-spit gravel.

[old2soon]

          THAT leavin at 33 degrees is something a RIDER would do-NOT a wannabe!  And while it may be a bit smaller than our Valkyries She STILL puts it all out there as we do-other RIDERS!  Glad her unload-if she Had ta have one-were a fairly easy git off!  Screw the bike-I'm Happy Kali is as O K as She can be after an unload.  Thankin ya fer the update there Dad!  RIDE SAFE.

[Daniel Meyer]

I can't even imaging the twitchin' in Dad's hands as she pulls out...but ya gotta let 'em go sometime.

You are a strong man Serk.

(and have raised a strong daughter).

[cookiedough]

good for her for getting right back on the horse, so to speak.  I would be leery though for taking any 2 wheels below 35 degree temps, especially newbies like herself.  I would have said no and explain to her that prefer riding temps 40 degrees or above since roads can be slippery at those 35 and below temps at night in the dark.  She would understand am sure of it. 

Also,  I had my son practice in front of my house on a wider road no traffic making a U-turn SLOW crawling speeds NOT putting his feet down on his 97 magna.  I showed him how, with practice, I can do it on my larger Valk I/S doing figure eights all over 2-3 mph and turning on a dime NO feet down.  Is good practice and although he has not gotten as good as it as myself,  he is much better.  Balancing at lower speeds helps with stopping while turning as well. 

should be pretty easy on the honda helix since NO clutch and lighter.  I would not recommend her doing it on your Valkyrie too big, too heavy for awhile for sure though, she will probably tip it over and then am sure she will be upset at herself, not a good thing for a newbie on 2 wheels. 

[Serk]

Well that didn't take long... Kali's been driving (or ridingg) a week or so now... Came home from swim tonight and announced "I hate driving. PEOPLE ARE SUCH IDIOTS!!!!!"

[Willow]

... Came home from swim tonight and announced "I hate driving. PEOPLE ARE SUCH IDIOTS!!!!!"

Good to learn that early.

Impress upon her that about half the people which she comes into contact with today will be below average in intelligence.   

[cookiedough]

road rage, keep her calm and collective daddy Serk!

I get flipped off and cut off all the time usually does not bother me if I am in the right mood not caring, but if in a bad mood,  I can see someone flying off the handle doing something bad to the idiots around. 

If there is one thing cycle riding teaches us driving a car,  try to keep as much distance away from all others while on the road whether cycle or car.

[scooperhsd]

Well that didn't take long... Kali's been driving (or ridingg) a week or so now... Came home from swim tonight and announced "I hate driving. PEOPLE ARE SUCH IDIOTS!!!!!"

Glad she learned THAT lesson so early in the game.

Rules to live by
1. Ride like you're invisible
2. They ARE out to hit you

[Serk]

No pictures, but a brief update.... Once again today she rode her scooter and I rode my Valk Standard to the high school parking lot, and she rode the Valk around and around, stopping, starting, 1st gear, 2nd gear, 3rd gear, back down, stop, shift up, shift down, etc. etc. etc...

And I made the offer, and she accepted.

On the ride home, I rode the scooter, and she rode the Valk on the street for the first time.

And of course, a cop pulled out right behind her and was following us the whole way home, nothing to make a brand new rider nervous or anything...

She did great, enjoyed it and is looking forward to the next time.

I'm not quite ready to let her go out with a Valk on her own, but the seal has been broken.

[msb]

No pictures, but a brief update.... Once again today she rode her scooter and I rode my Valk Standard to the high school parking lot, and she rode the Valk around and around, stopping, starting, 1st gear, 2nd gear, 3rd gear, back down, stop, shift up, shift down, etc. etc. etc...

And I made the offer, and she accepted.

On the ride home, I rode the scooter, and she rode the Valk on the street for the first time.

And of course, a cop pulled out right behind her and was following us the whole way home, nothing to make a brand new rider nervous or anything...

She did great, enjoyed it and is looking forward to the next time.

I'm not quite ready to let her go out with a Valk on her own, but the seal has been broken.

That would be the ultimate...to be able to ride with your daughter/son. Sounds like you're going to have a lifelong riding buddy there Serk 
My youngest daughter road a scooter for a couple years,  but sadly never  graduated to motorcycles.  Guess I can't complain....they're both in their 30's and married now but they still like to hang out with their old Dad and love to go fishing with me.

Too bad you don't have pictures....you riding a scooter would be interesting to see

[Jess from VA]

Too bad you don't have pictures....you riding a scooter would be interesting to see Wink

Capital idea!!      

[The emperor has no clothes]

[Serk]

Too bad you don't have pictures....you riding a scooter would be interesting to see Wink

Capital idea!!      

How 'bout an old (As in this pic was taken in 2003) picture of me on a friend's CBR600RR?

[Jess from VA]

I can't be certain, but I don't think that's Serk.     (for one thing, his hair's too short   )

[Willow]

   Great progress.  

Too bad you don't have pictures....you riding a scooter would be interesting to see Wink

Capital idea!!      

How 'bout an old (As in this pic was taken in 2003) picture of me on a friend's CBR600RR?

I rode my son-in-law's CBR600 twenty miles from my house to his.  It was torturous.  I had such a hard time getting my shoulders low enough and my head turned up enough to see down the road.  That machine, though, does hit 90 very easily and quickly.  

[Leathel]

I just got back from a 550km day ride with my Daughter...very happy with the way she rides and its great to share the adventures, I look forward to reports from your adventures with her

a couple of pics from today

[Serk]

As requested, this was just sitting on it in the driveway, but...



Sometimes it's fun to ride it from the back seat just for reasons...



Or just being goofy...

[Jess from VA]

 

You fit on that OK.  (better than a lot of motorcycles)

I wonder if it could be towed on a small trailer behind a Valk.  (what's it weigh?)

Nice boots. 

[Rocketeer]

Serk/Kali,
I'm still not seeing the over ankle boot protection in the pictures.  Only takes one get off or close encounter with a curb to change your life without it.  Not trying to be a smart ass, just want to share good safety practice with fellow Texans.   

[Serk]

Now that I have two functional Valkyries again, another milestone has been crossed - Both of my Valkyries went on a ride together.

Me riding my Interstate and Kali riding my Tourer/Standard.

Not terribly far, but it was a route that included several stop signs and stop lights, uphill and downhill starts, crossing lanes of traffic for left turns, rush hour traffic, turn up pot holed parking lots, parking in a restaurant, etc...

She needs to work on controlling her RPM, not over-revving the engine and not (Cringe!) grinding away my clutch, but that just comes with practice, and only way to get practice is to do it, so...

Overall she did great!

She's REALLY wanting to ride the Valk to school and, hopefully to Taos, but she needs a lot more miles and hours riding with me before I'm ready to allow those, but we shall see...

(I've also had to emphasize to her that although I may let her occasionally ride my standard, as long as I'm still sucking air and physically capable of throwing a leg over it, that bike is MINE and will remain so...)



They sure do look purdy parked together, if I do say so myself...



Wonder if we'll need to trade the scooter in on a third Valkyrie eventually..... Hmmm.....

[The emperor has no clothes]

 

[Jess from VA]

That's pretty cool Brian.    Good for her.

What about running over to a DMV on the weekend and having her try to stay inside the MSF box for a while?

Our DMVs have the MC test box painted out in the parking lots.

Another thing comes to mind.  When there are multiple drivers and vehicles on a family policy, insurance companies like to have different family members be listed as primary drivers/riders (IE they don't believe you are primary on several vehicles).  And charge accordingly, for that teen primary driver/rider.

[NewValker]

Now that’s a new bikers smile for sure!
Craig

[Serk]

When there are multiple drivers and vehicles on a family policy, insurance companies like to have different family members be listed as primary drivers/riders (IE they don't believe you are primary on several vehicles).  And charge accordingly, for that teen primary driver/rider.

Thus far USAA (Cars) and Progressive (Bikes) haven't had any issue with me being listed as the primary operator of 2/3 of our cages and 2/3 of our bikes.

[Jess from VA]

When there are multiple drivers and vehicles on a family policy, insurance companies like to have different family members be listed as primary drivers/riders (IE they don't believe you are primary on several vehicles).  And charge accordingly, for that teen primary driver/rider.

Thus far USAA (Cars) and Progressive (Bikes) haven't had any issue with me being listed as the primary operator of 2/3 of our cages and 2/3 of our bikes.

Well, whatever you do, never call them and ask about it.   

(Which is as stupid as calling them to ask if car tires are OK.)

[Serk]

(Which is as stupid as calling them to ask if car tires are OK.)

I actually did just that back in the bad days of the Dark Side Holy Wars (I never claimed to be a smart man afterall), the head of "Recreational Vehicles" for Progressive Insurance called me back and went on the record saying of course it's covered, as long as they're DOT approved, what idiot would try to say they wouldn't be?

[Jess from VA]

(Which is as stupid as calling them to ask if car tires are OK.)

I actually did just that back in the bad days of the Dark Side Holy Wars (I never claimed to be a smart man afterall), the head of "Recreational Vehicles" for Progressive Insurance called me back and went on the record saying of course it's covered, as long as they're DOT approved, what idiot would try to say they wouldn't be?

And I remember it.

Of course, that is the correct answer. (DOT approved)  For now, anyway.

But if enough people all over the country called their insurance companies with this question, it would only be a matter of time until their in-house safety fanatics (and risk managers) read all the internet nonsense about the certain death awaiting all motorcycles with car tires, that they would all huddle up and issue a new policy prohibiting car tires on motorcycles, or refusing to insure them.

Just because everyone starting asking about them being covered.

Just another instance where the ignorance is bliss rule applies.  (Their ignorance, is our bliss)

[Ice]

Serk, I have to agree with the comment about Kali's choice of foot wear, especially if she was riding with the ones in the last pictures, those laces stand a huge chance of getting caught in the pegs/shifter or brake and that will not be a very pleasant experience if she needs to put her foot down and cannot. Seen it happen, and the bike lands on the rider because they are unable to get their foot out of the way.
As a former instructor I have to agree with some over the ankle boots, preferably without laces.
Just my $.02
Other than that I think it is awesome you sharing the love of the Valk with her. I never had the guts to get my two girls licensed at that early age.

[Jess from VA]

I wear 8" lacers all the time... but they always get tucked well down inside the boots.

I had a lace get caught once many ears ago and it was terrifying (and humbling), going over with a stuck foot.

[Serk]

Hope I'm not boring ya'll be keeping this thread going, but just having fun with it...

As the weather allows, and as my heart can handle the stress of looking back and seeing my daughter on my Valkyrie in my rearview mirror, been taking her on longer and more complex trips; last night gave her her first taste of starting from a stop on a steep hill.....

She handled it great! Had a nice ride with Brian Jr. on the back of my Interstate and Kali following along on my Standard, went to a Mexican restaurant we'd never been to before (And will probably never go to again, not bad, but there's so much better around here, you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a dozen good Mexican/Tex-Mex restaurants here)


(Yes, Brian is holding his sister's purse. I didn't even notice that until just now...)

They sure do look nice next to each other.....



The food wasn't BAD, per se, just so much better available.



Although it was in the 70's for the ride out, as the sun went down it dipped into the 50's, so we were very glad we'd brought our cold weather gear for the ride home!

[scooperhsd]

Lucky you (Serk) - good kids, being raised right.

[bscrive]

That's awesome Serk.  To ride with your daughter is a special thing.  Enjoy it while you can. 
My wife started riding a Spyder about 5 years ago and I just love going for rides with her.  One of my favorite thins to do. 

[Skinhead]

I'll bet the boys think she's really cool, riding such an awesome bike at such a tender age.  Have you considered open carry around her male acquaintances?

[mrtlc]

Serk you and your daughter are VERY BRAVE. That's a lot of bike. Her height is a big help.  I know when my 15 year old son starts riding street bikes it will be nerve racking and awesome at the same time. There so many little unknown things to bite us on two wheels. And you remember  at that age we know almost everything until we're proven wrong. My son Noah will be coming to Taco with me this
year. You guys ride safe, and  we'll see you both in a couple of months.
Terry Cilley

[Jess from VA]

Very cool Brian. 

Is she 6 feet yet?   (probably just the perspective next to the munchkin)

My legs grew 29" long and just quit, and that was some time ago.   

PS, the first time I took my wife up to a steep hill stop (not planned, just happened), she stalled, got all pissed off, put the kickstand down and got off and left it in the road.  I had to make the turn, park, run back and do the up and over and sharp turn for her.  And listen to her bitch about it all day.

In her defense, she was in the learning mode, and it was one of the steepest, hardest immediate sharp turns you could ever find. 

[Hook#3287]

Brian, I never get tired of reading your post about the First Spawn and her riding adventures.

Keep em coming.

Won't be long and Brian 2.0 will be slinging a leg over one of your Valks.

[Avanti]

Very cool Brian.  

Is she 6 feet yet?   (probably just the perspective next to the munchkin)

My legs grew 29" long and just quit, and that was some time ago.  

PS, the first time I took my wife up to a steep hill stop (not planned, just happened), she stalled, got all pissed off, put the kickstand down and got off and left it in the road.  I had to make the turn, park, run back and do the up and over and sharp turn for her.  And listen to her bitch about it all day.

In her defense, she was in the learning mode, and it was one of the steepest, hardest immediate sharp turns you could ever find.  

Came to a steep uphill stop loaded, needing to make a right hand turn which doubled back to a narrow, no shouldered road in North Carolina. Took one look and said to myself, do not be an idiot today!
Went straight, did a U-turn in an appropriate place and came back for any easy left hand turn. Saved being an idiot for another day.  

[cookiedough]

you are lucky Serk she is taller, especially in the leg dept.   If under 5'9", I would not let her drive such a heavier bike age 16 or age 20 even.  Is a heavy bike regardless of how balanced it is.  Just do not let her drive the interstate as you know there is a difference in weight distribution between the 2.

As far as longer shoe laces,  those that she has on are might long and longer looped than the tennis shoes I have been wearing driving cycles with laced tennis shoes since age 18 not one issue though.  But, those laces do look awfully long might want to consider shorter shoe laces just in case IMO.

I have identical bikes as you do and agree the all black I/S and blue/cream std/tourer sure compliment each other and are both sharp looking in their own right.   I have let my now age 18 senior boy drive my tourer but he has no interest in the bulkier old man bike my black I/S.  He much prefers now his 2004 yamaha fjr1300 is faster, newer, more agile, and fires right up fuel injected with power up/down windshield and still fairly comfy to drive.  He spent his own money on it last year but his first year age 16 only 3-4 months after he got his car license, he put on over 6000 miles 2 years ago on the 1997 honda magna which is MORE miles than I EVER put on in one summer of driving here in WI.  He was on that thing night and day driving all over the place could not get him off of it going thru a set of rear tires in nearly 1 summer.  I must say that 1997 honda 748cc magna 4 cylinder is mighty quick off the line has some ZIP and still gets near 50 avg mpg.