10 posts tagged “motorcycle”
The first order, the last day.
So I have this thing for steel bikes. I also have a thing for the color red and italian parts. I like dry clutches, twin cylinders and single-sided swingarms. I like cafe-racers and loud pipes. I like torque more than horsepower, and I have no overwhelming need to race whatsoever. I’ve always enjoyed tinkering with two-wheeled machines, building them, designing them.
I saw my first Ducati on King Street in old-town Alexandria in 1997. I believe it was a 748, and the stance and sound were amazing. There was something really beautiful and honest in its lines, the steel frame and the complete lack of any pretension about being anything other than a race bike for the street. It clanked and roared. There are other steel-framed V-twin bikes. But they never did it for me—the Harley attraction may be a subtle difference, but it’s palpable. My bike will never have a fairing nor a stereo.
After figuring out what I wanted (an S2R 1000), I sat and waited. For a few years. On Sunday I went to Hattar in Marin, parked and immediately walked up to the exact bike I’d been looking for. It was perfect: Red frame, red body, black wheels and a pair of sweet Arrow carbon pipes up the right side.
Negotiations went pretty well, and a few hours later she was mine. The first ride was a dimming Sunday ride back over the Golden Gate Bridge, wind, fog and all—firmly planted in the right lane doing a grandmotherly 50 mph.
I’m taking it slow at first until we get to know each other better; I want this relationship to last a long time. She’s loud, capricious, strong and beautiful—the only way I like it.
On Saturday, Pista got to run in Alamo Square with Stella in a brief window when it stopped raining. Noshed with Jen and Jay at BlueJay Cafe. Bacon, eggs & blueberry pancakes = teh win. Earlier Pista and I went to the Potrero Sports Basement, and after brunch we went to the Presidio store. Pista had snacked on my black shell jacket (the fifth one if you’re counting) and it was time to get more fodder for the Maw. Hoping for a week’s worth of jacket usage this time.
Spent no money at the 2nd SB visit (yes!) but did drop a lot of coin putting together my costume for Misty’s ever-awesome annual Procrastinator’s New Year’s Eve party. I was the Math Avenger, mild-mannered math professor by day, and smacktalking, derivative-calculating, vigilante superhero by night. Will post more about this in a bit…
Before the trip to Clothes by the Pound, I hit Munroe Motors for the Ducati 1098 launch. They had a single 1098S (apparently the S stands for sold), sandwiches and posters to give away. Most people ignored all of that and just lusted after the new bike. It looks better in person than in pictures. Really, drool.
Edit: Realized this post doesn’t contain any mention of cycling or rock-climbing. I went cycling today with Tina (we rocked a modified combined Fairfax + Paradise loop for a solid 68 miles or so. Did it on the fixie because I’m badass like that the road bike’s in the shop. Sunday weather totally made up for the shitty Saturday. Tyson at American insists my bike will be ready by Tuesday for our double next weekend. Excited!
Edit: Rock climbing!
I for one welcome our new side-by-side headlamp overlords. Now where is the 798?
My mind is bended. My mind is bended!
Liz and I rode over to the Panhandle, saw a Katamari get rolling on Bay to Breakers, cooked some albacore, and then rode back through the Mission. It started raining, so we hustled back to my house. Unfortunately the bike doesn't like moisture all that much--it stalled out twice on Folsom and refused to start again a block from my house. Got real acquainted with its weight pushing it up my hill. :)
Rode around Potrero Hill, the Mission and SOMA. Still alive. Thanks Patti
!
Got my motorcycle license today. Woke up way too early for the privilege of being the first person at the San Francisco DMV , took a couple tests and got the sheet of paper (why California insists on this archaic process of mailing your license after a couple weeks is beyond me).
I had taken the CHP motorcycle safety course so I could skip the DMV driving test. I heard you needed a scooter or incredibly tiny bike in order to pass it. The class was definitely worth it.
So now I have to sort out a bike. Patti has graciously offered to loan me a bike for a while, so I think I can put off a purchase for a couple months. Every friend I have who rides has told me the same thing: Don't get the bike you really want first. Get a first bike, get comfortable riding it (translation: drop it a couple times), then spend the lucre on the real thing.
So I've been trying to determine the likelyhood of crashing a motorcycle in the first N units of time. Factors in my calculation:
- I have plenty of experience riding a bicycle in traffic. San Francisco, Los Angeles, Tokyo and rural riding. Mountain biking, road and track (velodrome). I ride a brakeless track bike 300 days a year, rain or shine. Logged a few thousand miles.
- Had an automobile license for 14 years, and no tickets (speeding or otherwise) in 5 years. My car has a stickshift, 300HP and a big spoiler. Still have good driver discount. ;)
- Since I've been cycling seriously, I've had only 2 incidents that could be categorized as crashes.
- Both crashes involved MUNI rails.
- Both crashes were on a mountain bike with knobby tires (note to self: not great for city riding).
- Only one crash resulted in an injury.
- Zero incidents on a road or track bike (brakeless or otherwise).
- Percentage of bicycle rides without a helmet: 0.05%
- Percentage of unhelmeted rides longer than 2 miles: 0%
So I have a good safety record behind the wheel and handlebars. I like to go fast, but with a safety margin. Assuming I keep things reasonable for the first thousand miles or so on a motorcycle, the risk of an injury resulting from a crash or other incident resulting from my own actions should be relatively low.*
*Yeah, I'm knocking on wood too.
