My kid and her new dirtbike! WE'RE RIDING - first ride report enclosed!

[mcgalinmd]

Well.........

I now own 6 motorcycles!   [moto]

And the best thing yet, I didn't have to sell my little cruiser to do so!!  Yippee!!  This makes my hubby happy since he all of a sudden did a reversal and was not happy about selling the cruiser because he wanted his boys to learn on it and maybe take a larger trip on it.

One of the fellows that is a new MSF instructor at our range owns a metric MC repair/redo (aka hack it up) shop.  He had a 1994 Honda XR200R for sale for $850, so I bought it!!  He had listed it on ebay, I saw it, sent a panic "don't sell it" message, he called, I went and bought it.  It's all ready for me to thrash it.  New brakes, chain sprokets, the motor is redone.  New grips, etc.  He even gave me new handlebars.  The only cosmetic (since i'm vain, i'll have to fix it) thing is it needs a new seat cover.  But for now, red duct tape will make it beautiful!   

Went and rode it today, it was a total hoot...almost dumped it in his horse riding ring (his wife gives english riding lessons for horses) and was laughing the whole way. 

I pick it up tomorrow after work.  Now i've got to get my trailer modified to fit two bikes.  Oh lordy, the money is flowing!! 

[Kyna]

That's great!  I'm glad you didn't have to part with the cruiser.  Now it's the "family" motorcycle right?  There for the twins and possibly for your daughter to learn to ride on the street as well.  So it shouldn't count in your total. 

[mcgalinmd]

I guess the cruiser is now the family bike  (maybe all of us can ride it at once??) and it allows me to get more???!!!  I think my husband might want to get another before me - he only owns one.  6 (or 5) is truly enough. 

I'm now in the process of finding a cheap pair of boots, helmet (not cheap), and some goggles.  I've got some gloves, and I can wear any long sleeve shirt and jeans.  If I find some cheap pants, i'll get them, too. 

When I have all the bikes home, i'll haul them all out of the basement and line 'em up for a photo shoot. 

[duqette]

You can never have too many motorcycles.  Like, you know, shoes, .... or bacon. 

 

[lauramonster]

Congrats!!  Sounds like you're keeping our economy afloat!!!

This is great - this will really pull the family together.  Enjoy these times - it goes quick!

[brlchief]

I guess the cruiser is now the family bike  (maybe all of us can ride it at once??) and it allows me to get more???!!!  I think my husband might want to get another before me - he only owns one.  6 (or 5) is truly enough. 

I'm now in the process of finding a cheap pair of boots, helmet (not cheap), and some goggles.  I've got some gloves, and I can wear any long sleeve shirt and jeans.  If I find some cheap pants, i'll get them, too. 

When I have all the bikes home, i'll haul them all out of the basement and line 'em up for a photo shoot. 

Good for you on the dirt bike!  You two should have lots of fun together.
Have you ever checked out motorcyclecloseouts.com?  They have some really good deals on MX stuff for women.  Helmets, boots, etc.

[mcgalinmd]

Motorcyclecloseouts.com is a great site; i've ordered gear from there before.  I just ordered my boots (MSR world tour boots; they've got a little italian flag on the back!!) and i'm trying to get a helmet.  I've got some gloves for now.  Color won't match, but honestly I don't care.  Just trying to get off on the cheap.  I'm going to get pants, but not a shirt.  I'm content with a long sleeve cotton t-shirt.

The rear tire of my daughters bike was a disaster.  I've had to get it relaced (spokes) at the cost of $180.00.  If I could have found a used one, I would have bought it, but all I could find was the 16" version, not the 14" like hers.  I'm good at fixing certain things, but not re-lacing a wheel.  I left that one up to the professionals.

All the bikes are home now, but it's looking like we won't get to ride until after our vacation starting next Friday.  My daughter is with her dad at Kings Dominion and then has her first horse show this weekend.  Besides, i've got to teach SAT and SUN for MSF classes (all day both days) and her bike is in disrepair right now.

AND i've still got to get the trailer modified to fit two bikes.  I hope to have that done this weekend.

[Qwack]

Way to go Happy  [moto]

[mcgalinmd]

I wish I could order any womens gear.  I'm a size 16 (but don't look it; i'm "sturdy" built ) and they don't make women's gear that big that I could find.  And I did a lot of searching!  I have almost always ordered mens stuff, so this was not a big deal to me.  The only thing I pretty much could have purchased in women's gear are the boots.  But the price is way over the top, so I got men's boots.  All my gear should be here by the time I leave on vacation.  Good timing, huh?

It's a definite now; no dirt bike riding until August 18th or so - back tire on the kid's bike won't be done, and the trailer won't be fixed until after vacation.  My full and part time job have me occupied every evening from now until we leave on the 8th for Myrtle Beach.  Darn!! 

On a good note, the kid tried on all the gear I ordered for her, and she says it fits great.  The sleeves are a little short on the jersey but it will do for now.  She's a rather tall 5'5" 13 year old gal.

[whidbeymonster]

wow you rule. you can adopt me...  i promise i am house trained!
tara

[Shortie]

I think it's fantastic that you'll be able to ride with your daughter. You will surely make some great memories for her to take along. Keep the updates coming!

[mcgalinmd]

Just got the new spokes in today for my kids rear wheel.  I'll deliver them to the repair shop, and the tire will be done tomorrow.  I'll put the tire and new chain/sprockets back on and we'll take the bike down the alley for a spin to check it out.  Then when we get back from vacation, the trailer will be modified - then we're ready to go. 

My daughter notified me that she went to the basement and tried on all her gear when I was at work the other day.  Everything fit - minus the jersey that has sleeves a tiny bit too short.  I'll order another one and then we're ready to go.  All my gear gets delivered this week.

Both me and my daughter have been invited on our first "play date" with our new bikes.  Have family friends that go dirt biking in western MD and have invited us!!  Yippee!!  I'm so excited - and hope to have my daughter up and shifting through at least 3 gears before that date.  I think we can do it! 

[Kyna]

That's great!  Sounds like things are moving right along.

[mcgalinmd]

Oh uggggggg..............wrong spokes!  Got the 16" instead of the 14".  Well, the only good thing about this is that the wheel will get fixed while i'm on vacation.  I can reinstall it when we get home.

Thank the lord my repair guy is a friend; he's going to pick up the spokes at the dealer when they come in and take care of it all for me; I'm sure this is going to cost me a pretty penny! 

Oh well, time to stop thinking of dirt bikes and start thinking about Myrtle Beach!  Yippee!!

[mcgalinmd]

I just returned from vacation, and my kid's bike is all DONE!!

The rear wheel is re-spoked (by my shop owning teaching buddy) and re-installed (by myself last night).  Dirt bike repair is wicked easy. 

All her gear is here, now mine is on the way, minus boots that were sent to me in TWO different sizes.  AArrrgghh!! 

I am going to take the bikes out tonight and take some pics of them together.  My first ride will be by myself on Saturday or Sunday, next week for the kid and me.  Unfortunately, the kid started high school today.  Bummer.

I think the one thing i've learned through this experience is to be patient.  With bike issues and now gear issues, it seems like a soap opera.  But the end is near and we'll be riding together soon.  Oh, and also that a TON of bike maintenance can be done yourself with the right tools and time.