potential buyers remorse

Troll · July 13, 2013, 17:39:33 PM

Clutch control...remember ex 4 and 9? Clutch control with eye control...practice the pause and go...there WAS a reason these were put into the curriculum

John Hopkins · July 13, 2013, 16:54:08 PM

I was at a bikers funeral a few months ago..it was at walking speed and in first gear walking the bike..that is sitting astride with one foot on each side and actually walking..It's quite a strain on the bike's cooling system and quite a few bikes had to stop and cool down particularly on steep hills..The 1500 drifter seemed to have a pretty good cooling system.

Slow riding is much more difficult than fast riding and you have to keep alert..You will find people on smaller bikes running rings around you..just let them..it is not a competition..

John.

49Reo · July 13, 2013, 16:07:54 PM

Good points all; also, don't be afraid to ride at those super-slow speeds(like in Sturgis) with your feet down; if you have to slam on your brakes, your feet are already down. A buddy of mine, on take off in heavy traffic, trying to look cool, I guess, put his feet up on the highway pegs as soon as it was rolling; guy in front of him stopped, down went Bill; oh where is a cam-corder when you need one...

badboy194 · July 13, 2013, 10:57:16 AM

Practice slow speed balance as much as possible. With the huge crowds of bikes you are in almost a parade configuration around the Sturgis area. If you ride 2up in these traffic jams balance is very important.

Trailering your bike is fine. Don't listen to or let anyone tell you different. It is your life. As John Hopkins said "you may think you are under pressure from other riders to do something they do...you are not..." Do only what you are comfortable with, No more, and you will be fine.

Troll · July 12, 2013, 19:54:01 PM

Actually, John, more people trailer to Sturgis than you would believe. This phenomenon caused the T-Shirt saying " I Rode My Bike to Trailer Week" to come into existence. I can totally relate to banning cars at bike rallys...they won't do it here. As an extension of that idea, I'd like to see all "show" bikes be road worthy...but that won't happen, either.

CDNRatMan · July 12, 2013, 19:49:44 PM

here depending on were you live people do trailer to events because it might be snowing in your area , like me trying to go to Bike week in Daytona. In this case with a spouse who cannot ride far on a bike trailering is an option, I have friends who did a cross country trip on their bike while another couple drove their car along with them. Each to their own...

John Hopkins · July 12, 2013, 19:27:04 PM

I can understand going in a car to enjoy Sturgis with your wife..but I can't understand why you want to trailer the bike..It will cost you more in fuel, it will be more difficult to drive the car and trailer, it will leave you open to theft of the bike, the trailer, and the car..

Leave the bike and trailer at home this year and enjoy Sturgis without any worries..

Over here bikers ride to rallies, in fact some rallies are closed to people who arrive with their bikes on trailers..I realise none of our rallies compare to Sturges but I am pretty sure that most of the bikers at Sturgis will have made the trip on their bikes..

John.

draconarmy · July 12, 2013, 17:27:07 PM

lol yeah but with the wifey going and her having back problems she cant handle long bike rides. not to mention I think it would be irresponsible of me to start riding double so soon

John Hopkins · July 12, 2013, 15:17:43 PM

Wow you certainly got me there..It never occurred to me that someone would trailer a working bike anywhere unless they weren't bringing it home ..

John

CDNRatMan · July 11, 2013, 14:45:55 PM

AH ok ..then start to practice slow riding and balance.......

draconarmy · July 11, 2013, 12:54:28 PM

thanks everyone but I think many of you misunderstood. im not riding to Sturgis, she is being trailered there. I was more worried about laying it down at the slow speeds of Sturgis

chief · July 11, 2013, 12:15:43 PM

Yeah, don't go too quick... you really need to ride the bike around in parking lots, around the block, etc. until you are comfortable with it. It is a heavy bike... you need to be able to handle it on hills, corners etc.

My personal opinion is two weeks worth of riding isn't going to get you prepared to ride from Kansas to Sturgis.

First... the winds on the Great Plains is really a problem... the big fenders make it worse. Been there... it will wear you out. Secondly, as you get tired the bike feels like it weighs more.

My recommendation: Put off riding to Sturgis until next year... go in a cage. In the meantime, ride the bike in safe areas until you get used to it. Learn how to pick it up when you drop it... you will drop it... and you really need to learn how to pick it up properly.

DC · July 11, 2013, 08:26:19 AM

I'm not sure about the buyer's remorse part. The 1500 is a great bike.

I think what you're saying is that you'd rather have more seat time before going on a long ride. If you've taken the MSF course already, then transfer all those exercises to your Drifter in a parking lot at first. Practice stops at different speeds. That's where I had to gain the skill on my Drifter. . . . predicting how the weight will react in different stopping scenarios.

After practicing in the parking lot, then gradually hit some local roads. As my MSF instructor said "Practice Makes Permanent".

John Hopkins · July 11, 2013, 07:01:50 AM

Yes the drifter is not a good bike for a newby, a 250cc might be better..

However..

If you are well rested and the roads are well surfaced and you can keep calm then the long ride to Sturgis will soon have you riding like a pro..

Here are some hint's that will help..

On a long run choose the path that is clearest.

Allow anyone to overtake, ride at a speed that is comfortable.

Do not try to keep up with a group..If you are riding with a group it is their job to ride at the speed of the slowest rider..not the other way round..

Don't try to race..your bike only has a top speed of about 107mph flat out..other bikes can easily go faster than you..

When you are feeling comfortable and the road is smooth, remove one hand from the handlebar, start off by just opening your fingers, then release and hold and release and finally rest your hand on your thigh..This prevents the 'death grip' that tires you out quickly.

Stop and rest and drink when you stop for gas, take a short walk to remove the tension from your legs and back before riding on.

Make sure you know the route before you start because if the other riders go too fast you can catch up at the end of the day..

Don't drink alcohol before or during a ride.

All of the above is common sense but you may think you are under pressure from other riders to do something they do...you are not...

This is your first ride..enjoy it..

John.

CDNRatMan · July 11, 2013, 06:59:57 AM

Well being Army and so you have to be smart, agile, strong, fit, and you have the power to over come and conquor. Ok that being said, just get comfortable and relax and you will be fine, once you think you have it ace you will be in trouble. Never ride faster then your guardian angel can fly and you are ok. Just remember your ability and what you are comfortable with and ride to that level.

Bucko · July 11, 2013, 00:58:29 AM

Quote from: draconarmy on July 10, 2013, 21:27:22 PM
the FIL (father in law) kkeps assuring me that these girls handle like a bike half its size.........am I in trouble?

Your FIL has obviously never ridden a bike half the size of a Drifter.

draconarmy · July 10, 2013, 21:27:22 PM

so I just got my endorsement last month. about a week after leaving the inlaws house for my new duty station here in Kansas, the father in law calls me about the 1500 I now own. they are going to trailer it up along with his two tone drifter then about a week latler we are supposed to head to Sturgis. now im beginning to worry that I bout way to much bike for my first go, considering im 5' 10" 130lbs soaking wet. Monday will be my first chance to ride (army mandated and funded MSF course) think they got little 250s for us to ride. the FIL (father in law) kkeps assuring me that these girls handle like a bike half its size.........am I in trouble?

*my one saving grace is I am comfortable with manual trannys