Ducati Monster Forum

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- I late last year I discovered that my idea that she knew how to operate a moto was incorrect. She'd passenger'd many times in the past, but had never been at the helm. So I set about to finding out if she had an interest in learning. Obviously she did, but with some trepidation - so I set out to research options.

In the DC area there's Apex - a private school for moto (local comm colleges also arrange BRC and the occasional ARC). They also offer a limited number of ladies only BRC classes. The ladies only notion was received well and I bought her a gift cert for x-mass.

This weekend was her class and she came home with her BRC certs. I knew she could do it- though she was a bit nervous (had a tip over drop on day 1).

Though she's got no current plans to ride, she enjoyed the learning and is glad to have skill set. And who knows... I might get to research a beginner bike if the mood fully takes hold.

Though she wants a cruiser...   :-\
- Which might not work at our house as the drive is more ADV bike turf than a drive despite the fact it's paved. Literally steep enough for 1-1 stairs for half of it.

Congrats to her!  An XT250 is a light, confidence inspiring bike.  She could play around in the dirt, and see if she wants to go further.

to maybe settle the difference, perhaps a standard like a GS500e or this -> http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/mcy/2948357584.html (http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/mcy/2948357584.html)  will do?

We'll see what the final disposition is. She's interested, but as other interests that jockey for time. We've talked over the beginner bike theory and some of the options out there... and it might just come down to a time issue.

No pressures here. We shall see. Just proud of her for grabbing the bull and not getting fussed after her drop. According to her she announced to the class that they should all relax and thank her now that the first drop was out of the way for the session.

My drop tails are a little more epic - I managed to get a 'Dude! Are you ok?!' Out of one of the more stoic CornerSpin instructors after a particularly colorful dismount.

A bike was dropped in my class.  I have dropped a bike or two myself...How tall is she?

Better part of 5'10" - Though a bit shorter in the leg than the height might indicate.

Excellent!  I'm only 5'5, so her extra height will make things easier.  I'd get a Ninja 250R, or the aforementioned XT250 if she wants to try a bike of her own.

She's no interest in the sporty bikes - so the ninjette is probably out unless it was just as a temp learner. We've chatted about standards, the SV - the whole gammut. She does have a soft spot for the Bonnie, but know's it's not the first bike.

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Little street-legal dirt bike is cool. Easy to learn a lot of skills fast in the dirt..., but your driveway sounds more like a trials bike.  ;)

Of course, the real issue of riding on the street is not your skill set nearly as much as it is learning what it's like to be "unseen" and what those crazy car drivers do! Anticipating all that WELL in advance is the main survival skill.

BTW, a Bonnie is cool and tractible for going slow but is damn heavy relative to a Monster. My T-100 gets more comments than just about every bike I've ever owned. Somehow I think its appearance is non-threatening. Needs mods badly to be comfortable though. http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/lambroving/Miscellany/Various+Bikes/DB-Brewery-T-100.jpg.html (http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/lambroving/Miscellany/Various+Bikes/DB-Brewery-T-100.jpg.html)

yeah - especially around DC the drivers are crazy/rude/over-self-important/oblivious etc etc

Apex, the same school does a 'street survival' course as well. It's not on their site, bus as it was relayed to me there's some chalk talk and then you hit the road in a small group with chatter-box(s) or similar so the instructor can point out things. Aimed at the new(er) rider. Seems interesting, though I do wonder a bit about having a new rider who's mentally taxed getting over whelmed with instructions coming in as well.

Either of the small Suzuki cruisers would be a good choice.  I think there is a GZ250 and the TU250.

Actually that chatterbox would be great if not abused. Most drivers can't drive past their noses. Many beginning bikers ride right into "situations" totally oblivious of the box they are getting into. That's where things go bad fast I think you'll agree.

For several years I gave advanced sports car driving instruction courses for both road and track. That's most productively done one-on-one. The chatterbox could make the same thing possible on a bike as long as the instructor was calm and cool. You have to teach people to constantly check far, near, and mid distance continually.

The best way to do this is..., "See that green car up there? Now watch what he does next!" Believe me, it gets the message across quickly.  ;) (Especially when your "student" is not a relative! ;D) We used to say that we got very good at reading other driver's necks.  8)

You seem to know, but just see where she goes with it. Everything has to be her "idea".

Yeah - it comes down to the instructor in so much. With the chatterbox and a new(er) riderI think it's just magnifies things for good or ill is all I'm thinking. It could be a great teaching tool for sure.

Oh yeah - I'm not pushing on any front, other than good gear, which she'd really embraced anyway.

I just passed my BRC this weekend. The bike I was using was a Suzuki TU250x - quite a nice machine - I had fun on it for the weekend. Very affordable at only $4000 new.  I'm half tempted to get one as an inner city commuter.  Fuel injected, lots of torque, good brakes, classic styling.

Duchess

I think she was on a V Star 250, at least that's what she requested. Things got confused between the office and range. But they had some of the small stars, TU250 and possible Shadows as some of the stable. A ninja250 and some flavor of DS bike were available too.

Though I'm not much for cruisers I hear tell the Star warrior with just a few suspension adjustments is quite something to ride.

'Hey honey... you want that Warrior... right?'
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