As a female firmly in her 40’s learning how to ride a sports bike was not on my top ten list of things to do.
Thank goodness plans change.

Riding did not come naturally or swiftly for me.  In my mind there are implied “coolness” factors that go along with riding and if you’re not "cool" you’re hopefully a newbie (and not a *"squid"). My definition of cool is that you thoroughly enjoy riding and you do it well. My definition of a newbie is you know the basics of riding in your head but you are still working out the physical application of what you know. I could look cool to you if I am standing next to my bike in full gear, however, once I’m on the bike you may decide to reclassify me. Here’s why…

Coolness rule number one “Don’t drop your bike”.

Hills are the bane of my riding experience. Hanging on to a heavy bike on a seemingly 45 degree angled hill, during a red light, causes a series of explicative’s to roll out of my mouth. You’ve got to keep the bike from sliding backwards and you got to get it to gun forward swiftly and smoothly when the light turns green.  In other words you have to be coordinated.  I therefore have dropped my bike twice.

Based on my physical size, maneuvering a Suzuki Bandit weighing 418lbs back to the upright position is about as easy as picking up a refrigerator that has landed on its side. I have since gotten a 250 pound NX 250 and while it too had to be picked up, with coworkers watching, the mental and physical recovery was swift.   Bike weight can make or break the coolness factor.

Coolness rule number two “Don’t stall out when the light turns green”.

What’s up with the neutral gear?   Why is it so tricky to find?   If I can find neutral I can get to first gear, the gear I want to be in when I have to stop.  Being in second or third gear at a stop will pretty much guarantee a stall when it’s time to roll. (If you don’t ride, neutral is between first and second gear and it’s a pisser to find when your desperate for it).

Coolness rule number three “Stay within the lines when you’re turning”.

I once rode up on the sidewalk going around a corner too fast on one of my first outings. My bike munched a few shrubs but I finally landed back on the street. Fortunately I was riding the NX 250 which is an off road and on road  or "dual sport" bike. I am grateful for this bike because it puts up with a lot of newbie mistakes. The right way to go into a turn is to slow down, lean into the turn, look through your turn, and smoothly roll on the throttle as you exit the turn.  I wish for you, the new rider, good luck with that.

So why do I keep riding if I am such a newbie at it ?

Two reasons; it’s thrilling to ride when you’re riding well and I am part of a unique group of females (18%) who actually do ride.

Unique and thrilling, how can I say no?