First Ride of the Season

 I finally got to the point where I felt confident enough to get back on the
bike.  My newly remodeled foot has healed enough to balance a stopped bike,
so I went for a little ride.

(In case folks assume the worst, my foot was messed up almost three years
ago, and it wasn't a motorcycle accident.  In fact, since I'm so adept at
getting hurt without the aid of a motorcycle, I decided I might as well get
one.)

I took a fairly sedate road for about 10 miles, got on the freeway, and took
the long way back, about 45 miles total.  It wasn't a spectacular ride, but
it felt great!

There was something odd, though.  About two weeks before I put the bike up,
I got new seats from Ultimate Seats.  They were comfortable, but my body was
moved back a couple inches, and while I was relieved at not having my nuts
bounce around on the gas tank, this position seemed to make the bike a
little less stable.  I figured I'd take it easy and eventually get used to
it, but that didn't happen before putting the bike away.

Now, six months later, with a bum foot and a slightly bigger gut from four
months of sitting on the couch, I find that I have more control and
confidence on this bike than I ever had.  The bike seems more stable than
ever, and if I didn't know better I'd swear I've been riding with this seat
since day one.

That was the last thing I expected.

Is this some common 'biker' thing, my surprise being just another silly
rookie antic that old-timers chuckle at?  Last year I had roughly 5 months
of 'experience' on a motorcycle, followed by six months of crutches and
funny "Dr. House" waddling.

CS

 

LOL !!!

 

On the HD FXR, I switch between a low profile seat and a touring seat off
and on. There is always a difference in the way the bike "feels" around the
time of the switch. But changing the seats and then not riding for a couple
of weeks is long enough for me to not notice. I just get on like it's a
whole new bike, and in a matter of a couple of miles I've found the best
comfort position (generally ass slid forward, back slouched, elbows bent,
knees out), and best handling position (ass slid back, back straight, elbows
straight, knees in) with whatever seat is on the machine.

That said, the touring seat (stock) is far more versatile when it comes to
variations in seating position and comfort, so I resist the temptation to
use the low profile seat that the previous owner included in the sale.

The longer I own a bike, the less I give a shit about "outward" charisma,
gee-gaws and doo-dads. The true nature of the beast is hidden from the
onlooker's view, knowable only from the saddle.

 CS wrote:

I think it's pretty common, as you're going through the very steep
initial learning curve for ANYTHING, to see those surprising moments
when everything just seems to suddenly "click" and you're doing
it at what seems to be a whole new level.  I'm not sure that the
change in your experience/skill level/whatever actually HAPPENS
that suddenly, but it does seem that one day you just seem to
notice that it happened somewhere along the way.  A new seat
or whatever on the bike can, I think, trigger it, as you're naturally
going to be paying a lot more attention to how things feel.

I'll also wager that you spent a good part of those six months off
the bike thinking about being back on it, and that sort of thing
can help, too.  Not like actual experience, of course, but it's
a lot better than just putting riding completely out of your mind
for an extended period away from the bike.

Welcome back.

Bob M.