Learning to Ride (First Two Weeks):  Started out in parking lots, practicing what I learned at the MSF course.  Was scary riding MY bike.  Amazed it was MY bike!  Did a lot of starts, stops, turns, figure eights, and riding in circles.  Because I live in a particularly hilly place with lots of curves, I also practiced starting on a hill and having to make a tight turn.  After two extended parking lot sessions, I was ready to head to a local park (has some traffic, but not much).  Did ok but ended up stalling at a stop sign and had trouble getting going again.  Cars behind me added pressure and highlighted my greatest problem.  My BIGGEST ISSUE was/is starting out smoothly into a turn.  I was afraid to give it too much gas as I did not want to shoot out and end up in the ditch on the other side of the road, so I tended not to give it enough gas and then the bike would buck and stall.  Dropped the bike because of this (see below).  I am getting better and what has helped me the most is learning to pull the clutch in if needed so that I don’t stall the bike.  Is only an issue in tight turns up or down a hill.  

In the beginning it was hard to remember everything – things that come so naturally to experienced riders.  Things like shifting smoothly, how to take a curve – decelerate before (if needed) so you can accelerate through the curve; using and TURNING OFF the turn signal; using both brakes evenly; and remembering that cars may not see me.  All are coming with practice and time.  Just a month in and I am much more competent.

Learning to Ride (Second Two Weeks):  Gradually have gotten more comfortable.  Am now riding in traffic, on major roads.  Took my first solo ride recently (during early riding, husband accompanied me on his bike).  I felt great riding on my own (the joy, the freedom!) but of course I still have a ton to learn.  Was reminded of this recently when we were riding over a bridge and saw a kayaker.  My husband was riding behind me.  We also kayak so I wanted him to see the kayaker.  I waved to the kayaker and then looked in my rearview mirror to see if my husband saw me.  Was just in a silly mood.  Well, next thing I know I look up and discovered I was awfully close to a guard rail (there was a slight curve in the road I had missed in my silliness).  It was close.  I was scared but recovered fine (my husband said he was sure I was going down).  A lesson to me:  PAY ATTENTION at all times!

Dropping the Bike:  Am bummed it happened but it did.  My driveway is on an incline and to get out of it, you have to make either a left-hand turn up a steep hill or a right turn down a steep hill.  The ditch on the other side is deep and surrounded by woods so not making the turn would be a very bad thing.  On my first official ride to the park (having graduated from parking lots) I stopped, made sure the way was clear and then tried to turn right.  I turned the fork because of the tight turn and proceeded to stall the bike.  It bucked and given that the fork was turned, I lost control and dropped the bike to the right.  ANOTHER LESSON to me: learn to pull the clutch in if needed to avoid stalling!  It is also worth mentioning that if I had been concentrating on leaning into the hill (like in skiing) I might have been able to keep the bike upright despite the stall.

I was very shaken, upset and mad but ok.  Protective gear worked well.  Love the gear (see below).  The bike has a small dent in the tank (courtesy of the handlebar), a scraped mirror, scarped foot peg and a broken rear turn signal.  The handlebars also twisted out of alignment.  My husband helped me fix the handlebars – we just took them off and realigned them.  

Funny story about our handlebar alignment job: when we were all done, we were putting back on the little plastic covers that go over the screws on the dogbone and my husband dropped one.  We heard “ting, ting, ting, tinkle, tinkle, tinkle”.  The darn thing rolled down the bike into the chrome engine cover right below the gas tank.  Of course, we did not know that was where it was.  Spent over an hour figuring it out and had our first “fun” experience taking off the gas tank.  Story is only funny now.  Was not funny then!

Joy, mods and gear in next post...

Welcome to the Savage club.  I'm not being a smart-a-s-s, but why didn't you buy some old crappy bike to learn on and get comfortable, before buying a nice new bike.  I bought my 2001 a little used, and I had riding experience.  My next bike may be a new one, but after a few years of riding, I still consider myself a newbie.  Don't feel bad, though, my first bike was a $800 Suz 250 that was scratched up, and less than perfect, but it was perfect for learning because I wasn't too concerned with the look of it.  It was light and nimble and great for getting accustomed to clutching, and braking.  I had it 2 years before I moved up to a nicer, newer bike.  So far, I haven't so much as scratched the Savage, knock on wood.  Gotta go, but be careful, and we look forward to hearing about your next ride.  Keep the rubber side down.

I saw the Suzuki engine guard and thought it looked kind of wimpy too.  I ordered one from Accessories International and just put it on last weekend.  It's probably much more like what you are looking for.  Try this: http://www.accessoryinternational.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store...

Susan wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:07:

My significant other is the same way about purple.  She likes the color of my bike, though.  I guess I can let her inherit mine, and buy me a new S40 Boulevard.

Hello all. This is my first post. I am not even a new savage rider yet as I am putting my order in for one today and will get it next week.
I just took the riders course a couple weekends ago and it was very helpful.

thanks for the detailed description of your first month. I found it useful.

Susan wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:07:


The MSF wasn't around when I started riding, and I never thought that I NEEDED it.....

Not to mention that my "newbie then" spouse got to watch me lay mine down in some leaves one day before we took the course.  Nothing serious except scratches on the bike, my jeans, leather jacket and mostly my pride  

It was a good case of looking where I WASN'T going because I looked back to see where she was....(see, I included visual aids with my training program)  8)

Went on the highway for the first time last night.  It was ok except merging was a little scary and big bumps are a lot bigger at 65 mph.  Just kept focused and remembered what I learned in MSF class and it was fine.  Back country roads are a lot more fun but the highway was ok.  Still grinning everytime I get off the bike!  Susan