Tonya and PQBON's WebLog

Tonya's new TTR-125LE

I was giving Tonya time to blog this herself but I have lost my patience (the little I have!). ;-)

This last weekend (Saturday), Tonya and I picked out, bought, and picked up her new 2004 TTR-125LE. This was our compromise to her learning to ride a motorcycle. She said she would learn but she wanted to do it off-road so we could go dirtbike riding together. This solution didn't greatly upset me. After bringing the bike home we went over the basics of operation and Tonya started riding a big loop in our cul-de-sac (yes, I know it is technically illegal!). She only had one sketchy moment when she was first getting used to the bike she nailed the gas and went shooting off towards a parked car. She saved it with great skill and then slowly toppled over (she used the front brake). At the end of the day she was set for the next day.

Sunday, we went to the Santa Clara Motorcycle Park on Metcalf road. We spent a while in the novice oval doing laps while dodging kids on bikes and quads. Then we went out on trail 2. Tonya did a great job with some rather technical riding by taking it slow and steady. Before completing trail 2 we spent some time on the TT track. This was the only problem we had all day. In some soft dirt the TTRs rear washed out and Tonya had her second crash on a motorcycle. She was fine and so was the bike. In flailing trying to get her leg out from under the bike she managed to burn (very very very minor, her Fox Racing pants have a kevlar patch the slightly melted but basically protected her leg) her free leg on a hot exhaust pipe. Then when waiting for me to help her with her bike, some ASSHAT hit her bike doing the only real damage to it (cracking the rear fender). Her pants were irritating the burn so she called it a day there but we plan on more riding maybe next weekend.

In the extended body you will find the skills/exercises we have worked on and the ones we are going to work on.

Done: (In the street by my house)

1. Controls - Where they are and what they do...
2. Basics of throttle control - smooth is the name of the game and the game is smooth!
3. Getting the bike moving - learning to move the gas and clutch to different body parts (hands not feet)
4. Holding the throttle open and using speed to help balance - again smooth is the game.
5. Use the clutch and brake at the same time!
6. Turing with your feet on the pegs - you need to be using some gas to keep the bike moving - on a dirtbike you lean the bike and keep yourself upright.

(At Metcalf)

1. Refamiliarization... - where is that dang clutch?
2. Body position - lean forward when you give it gas, lean back when you use the break
3. Turning on the dirt...
4. Rules of the dirt (person in front has the right of way. If you are over taken it is there responsibility to get around you cleanly NOT your responsibility to get out of there way.
5. Going up and down hill
6. Turning on a cambered surface

To do:

1. Refamiliarization... - where is that dang clutch?
2. Learn to be smooth on the brake... - Key to any part of a motorcycle is SMOOTH!
3. Getting out of first gear - clutch, shift, ease out clutch....
4. Starting out in second grear - avoid granny gear if you don't need it...
5. More riding... MUCH MORE RIDING!

Posted by pqbon at January 21, 2004 11:49 AM | TrackBack