She’s sure pretty sitting there in the garage. It’s so fast, she runs like a top and handles the road like the fast road racer she is. “So why aren’t you out riding today.” was my question to my friend. His answer was anticipated by me to be the standard “I gotta’ clean the yard today.” …It was, instead of being honest with me and with himself. I could tell this machine scares the hell outta him and he limits his riding because of it.
“Very low miles I see, you must have a very nice yard.” I said.
He finally came clean; “To tell you the truth Hammer, she kind of scares me. Yeah, it’s fast, so fast I find myself running red lights because I can’t get stopped without skidding so I just go through, it’s so fast. She will do 90 in third gear in a half block, it’s so fast. She handles and feels like a race bike and besides it’s just like the other bikes my friends ride. It’s not very comfortable so my wife doesn’t go with me anymore, but man is it fast.”
Don’t own a ride that intimidates you, or a bike that demands a style of riding you are not capable of, or comfortable with, because it will limit your riding time and the riding skills and joys you encounter on a scooter will suffer. Not all humans are capable of the same skills, take Bruce ‘Catlin’ Jenner, one hell of an athlete, but not much in high heels. It’s the same when choosing a motorcycle, it’s gotta be you.
My skills have developed through the 49 years of riding I have done by matching my riding time and skills with a scooter that I and my wife feel safe on, which really ups the fun factor of riding. If someone tells you “Hey Man, cool bike” smile and say thanks, but don’t give yourself all the credit for owning such a machine until your bike of choice contains all the requirements set down by you considering safety, comfort, quality and being able to sit back and enjoy the ride on a machine that will not get you in a situation you can’t ride out of.
John “Hammer” Hanzlik
ALR Road Captain
Omaha Chapter 1

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