Some day I'll learn
I hope he gets it together and enjoys it down the road.
Forgot to mention that Stage 2 work he told me about before we took off. Yea he had the rider course too. He just needs lots of road time with that bike. Just not around me.
Forgot to mention that Stage 2 work he told me about before we took off. Yea he had the rider course too. He just needs lots of road time with that bike. Just not around me.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 44,908
Likes: 29,889
From: PNW
I kinda feel bad for the guy. He probably just wants to be one of the "cool" guys and fit in. It probably stung to get reprimanded by a seasoned rider - someone he was hoping to impress I would imagine. But if he feels frightened over 50 MPH on an Ultra, he should probably find a new pastime. At a bare minimum he needs to get his *** into a riders course.
Last edited by nevada72; Mar 30, 2019 at 08:08 AM.
I suggested a couple of back roads near us that have some straights and curves. Told him to learn the road so he has no surprises and ride it back and forth to get use to riding it and the feel of his bike, increase his speed a little at a time, then branch out. Not many substitutes for road time.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 5,064
Likes: 4,696
From: Fix'n 2 N, TX
When I ride with two buddies around the Metroplex, we stay a tight 3 and the runs are enjoyable. But the main guy I ride on trips with, is slower and I'm sometimes waiting on him. I've learned to just keep my pace and he'll catch up eventually.
I have to cut him some slack, as he's just got one eye.. but I'd still like to punch it sometimes.
I have to cut him some slack, as he's just got one eye.. but I'd still like to punch it sometimes.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,598
Likes: 1,231
From: Southeast Texas
I remember the days of being a newbie rider,bought a brand new 1978 Suzuki GS750E when I was 19 and went riding with 2 friends who both had Yamaha 350's.They brought me on some long sweeping curved roads and smoked me real good.I remember the pucker factor trying to keep up but I'll be 60 next week and my patience ain't what it used to be. Hopefully like you said he'll get some seat time and relax a little. Oh,and one of those guys only had one eye!
Last edited by piper59; Mar 30, 2019 at 10:01 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,185
Likes: 2,134
From: W. Texas
"Turns out the guy was scared to death, worried about the weight of the bike, and freaked out every time we got over 50. The wobble was because he had a DEATH GRIP on the bars."
Have done group rides off and on for many years and found myself in your place more than a few times.
One was to a tee of the ride you mentioned and another was much the same except the guy had his wife on the back.
I pulled the group over after watching them for about 45 miles.
She almost jumped off the bike and was shaking and saying I'm not getting back on.
After a polite but very frank conversation he called someone and asked them to bring a trailer to come get them.
The rest of us left after that.
In resent years I''m not near as quick to join a group ride as I used to be
WP
Have done group rides off and on for many years and found myself in your place more than a few times.
One was to a tee of the ride you mentioned and another was much the same except the guy had his wife on the back.
I pulled the group over after watching them for about 45 miles.
She almost jumped off the bike and was shaking and saying I'm not getting back on.
After a polite but very frank conversation he called someone and asked them to bring a trailer to come get them.
The rest of us left after that.
In resent years I''m not near as quick to join a group ride as I used to be
WP
Last edited by WP50; Mar 30, 2019 at 10:34 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 14,438
Likes: 2,421
From: Pittsburgh, Pa
Hopefully he keeps at it and learns and does not give up. Give him time and l, if possible, make sure he keeps at it. If he is scared he might stop and never get back on.
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Might sound strange, but I guess I never was a newbie. Step-dad started me out when I was 12-13 and I rode for years in pastures, dirt roads, and where ever, then at 15 started on the street. Nobody my age had a bike so I mostly rode by myself, then met up with some older guys and just fell in. I raced some MotoX. At 18 I had the first year KZ 900, played street racer in the curves, wheelie guy on straights, and made a little money racing against cars.All that said I've crashed, endoed, slid out, and high sided. None of that prepared me for the PUCKER FACTOR of riding with and watching over a Newbie.
