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Messages - ARS

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16
General Banter / Re: Winter
« on: December 03, 2012, 04:49:50 PM »
56 degrees today!! Wehew!!  I took the day off and I went for a short ride just to warm up the oil.  Got the bike winterized, cleaned up and put her to bed for the winter.

Good ideas lowering the insurance for the storage guys.  I’m going to check into it.

17
General Banter / Re: What it takes to be a good rider.
« on: November 28, 2012, 10:16:33 PM »
”Hi, my name is Bill and I am not a good rider” (“Hi Bill”).
 
The first step is accepting the FACT that you don’t know everything about riding.

The second step in becoming a good rider is to ask the big question, “What does it take to be a good rider?”.
Steps 3 through 12 . . . I’ll defer to the previous posts, because honestly I don’t know. . . I am not an expert.  I’ve ridden with faster, smoother and safer riders.  I’ve had fun and I’ve crapped my pants! (you’ll know when you get that age where you can’t trust a fart).

Our motorcycle endorsement is only a license to learn.

Stay safe, but keep pushing the envelope.

18
General Banter / Re: Near Misses
« on: November 06, 2012, 09:43:46 PM »
I should've posted this in "Safety and Riding tip" Jared's sting =>Sharing Safety "Moments". . . Newbies!!! :o

19
General Banter / Near Misses
« on: November 05, 2012, 07:58:02 PM »
The recently shared discussions about accidents are a wonder and selfless act of individuals sharing their misfortune with the hopes that we may all learn something.  This got me thinking. . .
. . .at my job we're suppose to report all accidents and near misses.  The overall goal is to learn from each incident so we can possibly prevent it from repeating itself.  I'd like to share a near miss I had a couple of weeks ago on my C14.

Heading to my job in St. Paul on my favorite back road from Princeton early one very windy morning I was taking a familiar bend in the road when I dimmed my lights for an oncoming car.  When I passed the car I turned my high beams back on just in time to see one of those green recycle bins blown out onto the road brush very close to my right foot peg!  I know I should've turned around to kick the bin out of the road, but my mind was too busy thinking how lucky I was.

Lesson learned (relearned):  Don't out run your headlights accounting for low beams in a turn.

Please share your near misses so we can all learn and live to learn some more.

Bill

20
General Banter / Re: The "Wave"
« on: October 23, 2012, 10:22:58 PM »
...still F'n funny...I'm in tears!!  I like my Timberlands!

21
General Banter / Re: The "Wave"
« on: October 23, 2012, 01:02:31 PM »
Mmmmaybe it’s an open air thing?  When I once owned a Jeep Wrangler it was a “Jeep Thing” to wave to each other.  In the fishing boat the “wave” happens all the time.  I’ll put on a helmet the next time I go fishing and let you know the results. ;D

22
General Banter / The "Wave"
« on: October 23, 2012, 12:38:34 AM »
O.K.  I’ve been out of riding for around 20 years and I guess in the last two decades there seems to have been some sort of a disconnect between “Harley” riders and the “Rice burners”.  I’ve been accustom to waving to every biker coming my way and most return a friendly wave, with the exception of 75% of the Harley riders (unofficial pole).  When I say “Harley” this include many of the imported cruisers.   I’ve been ignored and even glared at!?!  At first I guess I was somewhat irritated, but after a while I found myself smiling.  It reminds me of the old show “Little House on the Prairie” where Nellie the snobby little rich girl tromps around town with her new dress (made in America I guess) and Laura Ingalls in her shabby farmer drab cross paths and snare at each other.
Hey, it’s less about image and more about the fun factor. . .you go Laura!
I’m still waving
Best Regards,
Bill

23
Great topic.
The common denominator in this discussion string is situational awareness. . .staying mentally ahead of your machine. For someone to maintain situational awareness physiological factors and honest self-awareness is critical.  When you preflight an airplane, you also preflight yourself.  How am I feeling, am I mentally in the game today?  Did I get enough sleep?  Is your mind on your job or family problems? and so on.  The grey matter between your ears is your best and only real defense out there, and if it’s half full of the “other stuff”, you’re not situationally aware.
I’ve cancelled many flights (plane & bike), I’m still here.

24
Introductions / Re: New rider from Princeton, MN
« on: October 13, 2012, 03:01:27 PM »
Thanks for all the salutations guys.  A weekday trip might be a great break from work sometime John.  Thanks again Joel for the links to zggtr.com

25
Introductions / New rider from Princeton, MN
« on: October 10, 2012, 10:55:58 PM »
Hi Guys & Gals - My name is Bill (49 yrs.) and I'm a new owner/rider of a 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14.  Purchased three weeks ago and have enjoyed some cold morning commutes to my job in St. Paul and a few short trips.  I've been out of motorcycling since my first Wife got pregnant with my first Son 20 Years ago.  Looking back, I think it was a wise choice since I wasn't too smart on my then 650 Yamaha Maxim.  I had an Uncle who introduced me to riding in the mid seventies and his advise was "once you lose all fear of the bike, it's time to get off it."  Well I never lost my urge to ride, but I've lost the urge to ride unsafely.  I know the riding season is coming to an end, but I'm look forward to meeting up with some riders in the area interested in some weekend trips next year.

Best Regards,

Bill

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