rk custom
04-23-2007, 06:55 PM
This ride took place Saturday April 14
Ms. Custom aka Christy has been watching Craig’s List for a bike in her price range.
She was going to buy a H-D but thought it would be wise to see if she enjoyed riding on here own before assuming the financial obligation to pay $20,000 for a motorcycle.
She took the motorcycle safety course and I was pleased at how well she did and figured she was ready for a bike.
She found a bike and made arrangements to meet the fellow that sold her the bike in Williams Ca. Williams is a small town where Hwy 20 and I 5 meet. We made agreed to meet Saturday morning. Never passing up an excuse to ride I thought we should ride down on my bike and we could ride back together. Christy thought it was a good idea so it was a plan.
As Saturday got closer it looked like rain but the seller of the bike had plans for Sunday so it had to be Saturday or she would have to wait till next week. I figured we could ride down pick up the bike and head back. If the weather was too bad we would spend the night at a motel wait for the weather to clear and head back Sunday.
Saturday morning rolled around and we woke to rain, steady rain. You know the soaking kind. Christy still wanted to go pick up her bike and me never wanting to pass up a chance for a ride said what the heck. We geared up and hit the road. Our original plan was to go Hwy 299 to I-5 and then come back 20 to 101 but I’ve had trouble with rocks on 299 in the rain and decided to just go 101 to 20 and back the same way.
We left the house at 8:00 it rained steady till we got to Willits. We pulled into Williams at 12:20. Covering 250 miles. Now I don’t know how many of you have ever ridden in Northern California but the roads aren’t straight for too long. Beautiful scenery and Hwy 20 goes around Clear Lake and is beautiful too.
The bike was off the trailer when we got there. I looked it over and was pleased it had new rubber on the back and a newer tire on the front. I road it around and checked it out. After I gave it a clean bill of health we settled on a price took care of paper work and the deal was done.
Now the fun part. Christy in her eagerness to get this motorcycle never considered riding it home. Well I’m sure she did but didn’t.
When it was time to go the tears welled up in her eyes and she said call him and have him come back. I don’t want it. I asked her why and she said she didn’t like the way it felt, that it felt way different than the bike she rode for the safety course. So we talked and I told her she would get use to the different feel and that the bike was perfect for her in ride height and fit. I suggested she ride in the parking lot and get use to it she said she would look like and idiot and didn’t want anyone to see her. So I suggested we ride the side streets and she could get the feel for the bike that way. After about 5minutes I could see she was feeling confident and as it happened we eased onto Hwy 20 and started home. I had her ride in front of me so I could keep and eye on her and she could see me in here rear view mirror. My experience has taught that this is the best for helping a new rider. Then every so often we could pull over talk about things she was doing right and input on correcting any thing that might not be right.
As I figured she had it down pat right from the get go. She had the ability to hold her line through the curves right from the start. We went at her pace and took our time. All the while her confidence built. By the time we got on 101 and had to increase our pace she was ready for it. I was grinning from ear to ear watching her abilities improve as we went. By the time we were 60 miles from home she had us running at a steady 65 mph and was confident. The ride ended at the house. We ride in light rain, wind and clear skies on the way home. I must say that I averaged 50 miles per gallon with Christy setting the pace. That is the best I’ve ever gotten. Since then we have ridden many miles and that day will be a favorite of mine and I know she will never forget it. I am so proud of her. She has heart and will probably ride for the rest of her life.
Ms. Custom aka Christy has been watching Craig’s List for a bike in her price range.
She was going to buy a H-D but thought it would be wise to see if she enjoyed riding on here own before assuming the financial obligation to pay $20,000 for a motorcycle.
She took the motorcycle safety course and I was pleased at how well she did and figured she was ready for a bike.
She found a bike and made arrangements to meet the fellow that sold her the bike in Williams Ca. Williams is a small town where Hwy 20 and I 5 meet. We made agreed to meet Saturday morning. Never passing up an excuse to ride I thought we should ride down on my bike and we could ride back together. Christy thought it was a good idea so it was a plan.
As Saturday got closer it looked like rain but the seller of the bike had plans for Sunday so it had to be Saturday or she would have to wait till next week. I figured we could ride down pick up the bike and head back. If the weather was too bad we would spend the night at a motel wait for the weather to clear and head back Sunday.
Saturday morning rolled around and we woke to rain, steady rain. You know the soaking kind. Christy still wanted to go pick up her bike and me never wanting to pass up a chance for a ride said what the heck. We geared up and hit the road. Our original plan was to go Hwy 299 to I-5 and then come back 20 to 101 but I’ve had trouble with rocks on 299 in the rain and decided to just go 101 to 20 and back the same way.
We left the house at 8:00 it rained steady till we got to Willits. We pulled into Williams at 12:20. Covering 250 miles. Now I don’t know how many of you have ever ridden in Northern California but the roads aren’t straight for too long. Beautiful scenery and Hwy 20 goes around Clear Lake and is beautiful too.
The bike was off the trailer when we got there. I looked it over and was pleased it had new rubber on the back and a newer tire on the front. I road it around and checked it out. After I gave it a clean bill of health we settled on a price took care of paper work and the deal was done.
Now the fun part. Christy in her eagerness to get this motorcycle never considered riding it home. Well I’m sure she did but didn’t.
When it was time to go the tears welled up in her eyes and she said call him and have him come back. I don’t want it. I asked her why and she said she didn’t like the way it felt, that it felt way different than the bike she rode for the safety course. So we talked and I told her she would get use to the different feel and that the bike was perfect for her in ride height and fit. I suggested she ride in the parking lot and get use to it she said she would look like and idiot and didn’t want anyone to see her. So I suggested we ride the side streets and she could get the feel for the bike that way. After about 5minutes I could see she was feeling confident and as it happened we eased onto Hwy 20 and started home. I had her ride in front of me so I could keep and eye on her and she could see me in here rear view mirror. My experience has taught that this is the best for helping a new rider. Then every so often we could pull over talk about things she was doing right and input on correcting any thing that might not be right.
As I figured she had it down pat right from the get go. She had the ability to hold her line through the curves right from the start. We went at her pace and took our time. All the while her confidence built. By the time we got on 101 and had to increase our pace she was ready for it. I was grinning from ear to ear watching her abilities improve as we went. By the time we were 60 miles from home she had us running at a steady 65 mph and was confident. The ride ended at the house. We ride in light rain, wind and clear skies on the way home. I must say that I averaged 50 miles per gallon with Christy setting the pace. That is the best I’ve ever gotten. Since then we have ridden many miles and that day will be a favorite of mine and I know she will never forget it. I am so proud of her. She has heart and will probably ride for the rest of her life.