Firefight911 Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 I just signed up my beautiful bride, Jamie (2bmwfan), for the MSF Basic Rider Course!!!!!!! I, and she, are so excited for her to take this next step. She has been my back seat driver (pun absolutely intended ) for a while now but is ready to set out on her own bike. In some ways I am really scared. Not for what you might think. I am worried she will never want to ride 2-up again once she is out on her own bike. Oh well, we'll just have to get the FRS set-up and ride 2-up while in formation with our own bikes. If there are any others out there in the Sacramento, CA area who want to take the course with my wife, here is the site. HERE She is signed up for the January 20, 2007 class start date, 7 AM - 12 Noon. I love you honey! Do well and get ready for the ride of your life!!! Link to comment
Blake Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 In some ways I am really scared. Not for what you might think. I am worried she will never want to ride 2-up again once she is out on her own bike. I'd be more worried about her wanting YOU to ride on the back for a while! Way to go Jamie! Now you can give him a run for his money. Link to comment
Firefight911 Posted November 22, 2006 Author Share Posted November 22, 2006 In some ways I am really scared. Not for what you might think. I am worried she will never want to ride 2-up again once she is out on her own bike. I'd be more worried about her wanting YOU to ride on the back for a while! Way to go Jamie! Now you can give him a run for his money. Be afraid, be VERY afraid! Hadn't thought of it that way!!! HONEY.... Oh honey!!!!!!!!! Link to comment
Blake Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 In some ways I am really scared. Not for what you might think. I am worried she will never want to ride 2-up again once she is out on her own bike. I'd be more worried about her wanting YOU to ride on the back for a while! Way to go Jamie! Now you can give him a run for his money. Be afraid, be VERY afraid! Hadn't thought of it that way!!! HONEY.... Oh honey!!!!!!!!! I guess you better make sure that honey-do list is in order! LMAO!! <smack> - OUCH!? Honey? What do you mean I shouldn't say things like that..... Link to comment
Heck Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 You have not lived until you have ridden B&*ch/////pillion on the back of a trike..... (I'm not admittin' nothin'!!!) Link to comment
Carnadero Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 Think she'll be good to go by next May? Torrey awaits.... Link to comment
bakerzdosen Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 Congrats Jamie. As we all know, you're a lucky guy Phil. So, we'll look forward to the two of you with your Concours and her r1200r in Torrey. Link to comment
90%angel Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 Yay Jamie! Have fun...but be prepared to soon hear yourself say things like "I only did 6 track days this year? What's up with that? I need a raise so I can do more..." or "sure...I've always wanted to ride 'The Dragon', or ride to Torrey, or see TWO, or (fill in the blank)...Let's go!" Link to comment
Les is more Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 Jamie is so gonna rock as a rider! As far as riding pillion goes, I ride on the back of my Jamie's bike once in a while. It makes him happy and sometimes it just doesn't make sense to take two bikes. It was much harder to give up that control factor once I'd ridden my own bike though, that's for sure! As for you riding on the back, cowboy up pal. All the firefighters are doing it. Here's My husband on the back of my bike going up and down Palomar Mountain and lane splitting in the rain on the 15. He also rode pillion on my R1200C over the Grand Mesa in Colorado and to Creed. I was one year new to riding then and he was back there enjoying the scenery! By the way, he pretty much sucks as a pillion. He tries to steer from the back! Congratulations Jamie!! I look forward to riding with you! Link to comment
Firefight911 Posted November 22, 2006 Author Share Posted November 22, 2006 You have not lived until you have ridden B&*ch/////pillion on the back of a trike..... (I'm not admittin' nothin'!!!) So, is that what you kids are callin' it these days?! As for you Lisa, she who must be (and willingly is) obeyed will NOT be doing more track days than I! But then again, if she gets with you and ends up at Pahrump and Femmoto, who only knows what will happen!! Hey, Russell wanna hang out?? Link to comment
Whip Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 I think she should get her own name now.....2bmwfan won't work any more... How about 1FJRFAN....and a bike to go with it. Whip Link to comment
Joel Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 You go, Jamie, mmmmmmmkay!?! Feel free to ping Heidi if you'd like to compare notes. She began leaning into that learning curve about a year ago. Phil, I can't really describe what this transition has been like for me. There's something both cool and a bit unnerving about seeing one's dear wife up ahead or in your mirrors for the first few times you ride together on separate bikes. For me, it has been more cool than unnerving, but that little bit of unnerving puts a perspective on what Heidi might have been thinking as I picked up riding again a few years ago. Regardless, enjoy! Link to comment
norah Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 Do well and get ready for the ride of your life!!! Go for it!!! Link to comment
GelStra Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 Heh, heh. <Rubbing hands together> Next thing you know, "Uh, honey, don't take this the wrong way, BUT your body position through that turn was ALL wrong. Why, of course, I'll bring the video camera to your track day. Uh, honey, Lisa's doing the Helen Reddy 'Chicks are Rockin and Kickin' their Hubby's Butt' Ride for Breast Cancer awareness, PMS headaches, and continued world domination in BFE. I won't be more than 5 or 27 days and I'm really sorry, but no, you can't even be my pit be-yotch. No mens allowed. It's the rules." And then Honey needs to "borrow" your bike "for a little while until I can get my own/better/new bike" and you're left with this. Yup, have a great Thanksgiving, buddy! Hey, there's always Mac vs. PC threads left for you and.... Link to comment
Yankee_Dog Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 I just signed up my beautiful bride, Jamie (2bmwfan), for the MSF Basic Rider Course!!!!!!! ............ Yeah, that's what I said. But wait until she goes out on her own and you sit fretting the whole time she is gone. Or she is following you and you blow a stop sign because you are paying more attention to her in your mirror than to your own riding. Now I know what my mother felt like. Yankee Dog Link to comment
Firefight911 Posted November 22, 2006 Author Share Posted November 22, 2006 Thank you all for your warm wishes, thoughts, tips, and all the Bi-yotches....those made me laugh!! I can see it now " hey Phil (1bmwfan) let's go for a ride, ooh no, we are going to take mine. Get on bi-yotch!" I am really excited to take this next step. Thanks again for the good lucks, welcomes, and laughes!! You all rock! Link to comment
Huzband Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 I just signed up my beautiful bride, Jamie (2bmwfan), for the MSF Basic Rider Course!!!!!!! Well, at least half of ya'll will know something about handling a moorsickle. Link to comment
AdventurePoser Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 Thank you all for your warm wishes, thoughts, tips, and all the Bi-yotches....those made me laugh!! I can see it now " hey Phil (1bmwfan) let's go for a ride, ooh no, we are going to take mine. Get on bi-yotch!" I am really excited to take this next step. Thanks again for the good lucks, welcomes, and laughes!! You all rock! I imagine you will feel they way I do when I watch Jennifer fly. She is evolving into a very competent paragliding pilot. Still, I opt to launch first when we fly together...I love watching her fly, but there is that twinge of nervousness and worry about "what if..." Those are tough feelings to put aside, but I know she is happiest in the air, and has the skills to deal with emergencies. It will be the same with Jamie! Cheers, Steve in So Cal Link to comment
Huzband Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 Congrats on taking the course!!! It's something my Lovely has wanted to do for a while. I'm sure her day will come soon. BTW, I'm sure once you start to ride, you'll be getting lots of unsolicited advice from, umm, I'll just say other riders. Don't let him, uhh, I mean them, distract you. Happy trails! Link to comment
TN_R_Girl Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 Hooray for chicks on bikes!!!!! Welcome to the club Jamie!! Link to comment
Laura Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 CONGRATS JAMIE..........CONGRATS TO BOTH OF YOU REALLY !!! Link to comment
Redbrick Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 CONGRATS JAMIE..........CONGRATS TO BOTH OF YOU REALLY !!! Just think; you get to buy another bike, double your insurance costs, have twice the costs of maintenance and on and on....... I wouldn't trade it for anything....Kathy is a very good rider and is avid about it, I love to ride with her....... My best friend came over for garage/bike talk the other day with Kathy and I and as he left he said "I think it's great you two ride together but I'm glad I don't have the costs of 2 BMW's".... It's great and the cost is incidental to the enjoyment........ You two are in for a new experience together.....Enjoy..... Phil.......Redbrick Link to comment
stubble! Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 Congrats, Jamie... you'll do great and you're gonna have a ball! Link to comment
sundance Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 THATS GREAT JAMIE!!!! You gotta love it when a woman wants to get into riding a bike...its so cool!!!thumbsup: My wife got her license this Spring...took the MSF course. I took it with her just for fun, and to support her. I shut up thru the whole class and let them do the teaching. AT the end, when they tested us, out of 36 students only one got a perfect score. Yeah...ME. I walked away quite smug over that. She protested..."but thats not fair...he's got experience". By the way...she got 2nd highest, tied with another student, a male. She did a Great Job...I was proud!!! But....I was still the master. Actually the scores are irrelevant to the knowledge and skills they learn. That really is the whole fundamental reason of the MSF. Those instructors do a great job in taking a complete novice and teaching them how to operate and maneuver a motorcycle safely. I was AMAZED by everyone's progress. Sooo, that was MAY....FAST FORWARD to two weekends ago. We went riding;just a 2-3 hour jaunt through the backroads,twisties around here in WV. When we got back I asked how was the pace, since I'm always conscience of staying within her comfort zone. She says,"Well, You were goin kinda slow....I was even thinking of passing you cause you were really just in the way...especially when we got to the twisties" Yeah...ABSOLUTELY TRUE!!!! Good Luck Jamie! R1200ST (Hers) R1200GS (The slow poke's) Link to comment
Tank Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 This is just so cool Jamie, I just can't wait for your first DVD or 50 CC or(fill in the blank) while Phil is on Station duty. I can hear Phil now.... "an be sure to post lots of pictures" Link to comment
LuckyLeif Posted November 24, 2006 Share Posted November 24, 2006 Thank you all for your warm wishes, thoughts, tips, and all the Bi-yotches....those made me laugh!! I can see it now " hey Phil (1bmwfan) let's go for a ride, ooh no, we are going to take mine. Get on bi-yotch!" I am really excited to take this next step. Thanks again for the good lucks, welcomes, and laughes!! You all rock! If you get a chance to read the course handbook before class, you will be glad you did. I think you can download (but not print) the handbook from the MSF website. Also, trust your instructors when they talk about counter-steering, counter-weighting and related concepts that sound counter-intuitive (jeeze 3 counters in one sentence). Finally, memorize the phrase "slow, look, press, roll" prior to class. I give this advice to all my students - only a minority seem to take it, but they are the ones scoring highest in skills evals. Go figure! Have fun. Advice for your SO -- probably best not to observe her doing the range work. Some students feel pressure (that you are not intending) rather than your intended support. I always ask the cheerleaders to leave the range until the day is over. If the SO wants to help via practice at home, ask the instructor at the end of exercise 9 (end of Sat range) for pointers (what we call coaching). For newbies, clutch contol is the major skill needing practice. If the student is already skilled in use of a clutch (car or bike) this point is nil. Oh yeah, use the time before class to strengthen her left hand -- shes going to "squeeze and ease" about 500 times in 2 days. Link to comment
Firefight911 Posted November 24, 2006 Author Share Posted November 24, 2006 Thank you all for your warm wishes, thoughts, tips, and all the Bi-yotches....those made me laugh!! I can see it now " hey Phil (1bmwfan) let's go for a ride, ooh no, we are going to take mine. Get on bi-yotch!" I am really excited to take this next step. Thanks again for the good lucks, welcomes, and laughes!! You all rock! If you get a chance to read the course handbook before class, you will be glad you did. I think you can download (but not print) the handbook from the MSF website. Also, trust your instructors when they talk about counter-steering, counter-weighting and related concepts that sound counter-intuitive (jeeze 3 counters in one sentence). Finally, memorize the phrase "slow, look, press, roll" prior to class. I give this advice to all my students - only a minority seem to take it, but they are the ones scoring highest in skills evals. Go figure! Have fun. Advice for your SO -- probably best not to observe her doing the range work. Some students feel pressure (that you are not intending) rather than your intended support. I always ask the cheerleaders to leave the range until the day is over. If the SO wants to help via practice at home, ask the instructor at the end of exercise 9 (end of Sat range) for pointers (what we call coaching). For newbies, clutch contol is the major skill needing practice. If the student is already skilled in use of a clutch (car or bike) this point is nil. Oh yeah, use the time before class to strengthen her left hand -- shes going to "squeeze and ease" about 500 times in 2 days. All good advice! After teaching the MSF course for 9 years, I learned along time ago to not teach your SO!!!! Link to comment
Amac Posted November 24, 2006 Share Posted November 24, 2006 Congratulations! This is certainly the right way to go about it. for the MSF and the rider training that they offer. I hope you both have many years of enjoyable riding ahead of you. Good luck! Link to comment
Todd_Z1 Posted December 11, 2006 Share Posted December 11, 2006 Phil, That is so cool the Jamie is getting her own set of wings! Nothing to be afraid of yet but if she passes you on the outside some day in the future then I would be scared! Heh, heh! I look forward to riding with both of you in the future. Hey I just thought of something, that means you will have two bikes to chose from. That's not fair! Cheers! Todd Link to comment
KMG_365 Posted December 12, 2006 Share Posted December 12, 2006 So, when is the class?? Hiya, sweetie! Link to comment
Firefight911 Posted December 12, 2006 Author Share Posted December 12, 2006 Her class starts on January 20th. She will be done before the end of January! She is SOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited!! She is really looking forward to the motorcycle show this weekend as she is looking for "her" now! Link to comment
KMG_365 Posted December 12, 2006 Share Posted December 12, 2006 She is really looking forward to the motorcycle show this weekend as she is looking for "her" now! Dude, you are SO screwed now!! Link to comment
ian408 Posted December 12, 2006 Share Posted December 12, 2006 Her class starts on January 20th. She will be done before the end of January! She is SOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited!! She is really looking forward to the motorcycle show this weekend as she is looking for "her" now! If you come down on Saturday, swing by the BMW MOA booth (booth 132) and visit. I'll be there from 2:30-8:00. I look forward to hearing the passing news Link to comment
Firefight911 Posted December 12, 2006 Author Share Posted December 12, 2006 We will definitely stop by!!! We are there on Saturday. Link to comment
rrrich Posted December 12, 2006 Share Posted December 12, 2006 Her class starts on January 20th. Sweet! The MSF emergency stop exercise...on ice...can be a real brown moment. Ah, learning! Link to comment
philbytx Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 To Phil and others....and I know there are some on the board that have experiences such as these. It truly is both a blessing and a curse if you love your partner After Deb took her MSF and we did parking lot instruction for weeks thereafter, she was doing really well and handling the bike beautifully. Then....We were out on a nice sunny Sunday when she hit some road snot while turning left at a T junction and lowsided. The bike just had a broken windshield, scratched engine guards and bent clutch lever was all but we then discovered (after she rode home then went to work the next day and almost passed out when she got home) that she had broken 2 ribs and collapsed a lung. This was due to her carrying a small hard plastic tube for her earplugs in her breast pocket (WARNING TO ALL!!) However, the experience of seeing her disappear from my mirror was VERY unnerving. The last emotional straw (for us both!) was when she wrecked in the twisties on 39 West of Kerrville. We were out for a nice casual ride when I saw her go off the road in my mirror and a cloud of dust rise up. She ended up down a small gully and had end over ended on the bike. I can't tell you how I felt when I went back to the spot, ran down and saw her lying on the rocks. Fortunately we are ATGATT and she ended up with bruising and a small area of gravel rash (Rev'it gear ). However, the only salvageable part of her gear was her BMW boots. Afterwards, she was so mad at herself because she KNEW what she did wrong - she had looked away from the road at an architectural feature on a ranch and...tada! she went where her eyes were looking. Since then, she has found it hard to 're-trust' herself after almost ending up dead because of a momentary lapse of attention. She loves to ride pillion (still), tell's me that she gets bored with the view on longer rides (back of my helmet instead of the road ahead!)but she still get's the occasional urge to get back on a bike. However, she still has the self doubt...and, to be honest, I miss our rides together but I know now that I would worry like hell about the lady I love. So, that's the OTHER side of the "Yippeee!" equation.....you can't baby 'em, just love 'em but when something like that happens it is probably one of the scariest and most emotional moments you will ever experience But, all that being said, go for it girl and I hope you both have many happy and uneventful rides together Link to comment
KMG_365 Posted December 14, 2006 Share Posted December 14, 2006 Philby, I can certainly relate to the concern, but I haven't experienced the crash yet. It is one of my greatest fears, but Leslie is an amazing pilot and aside from a few very minor drops due to terrain, extreme slopes or hurricane force winds she's been solid as a rock . . . thankfully! Unfortunately for me she no longer enjoys riding pillion as much now that she's had her own set of handlebars and I really miss having her cuddling up behind me. Oh, she still jumps on now and then for logistical reasons if we're just running somewhere close, but I still enjoy her humoring me anyway. Link to comment
philbytx Posted December 14, 2006 Share Posted December 14, 2006 Jamie, I do understand your concern but I truly hope you don't EVER have that experience and that you and Leslie have many fun and uneventful miles together . Actually, Deb is a GREAT pillion....we've ridden Deals Gap, Cherohala etc plus all the Hill Country fun roads together and it's like she is part of the bike and I secretly enjoy her cuddling up behind me . The bonus being that when I am riding well she gives me a little squeeze with her legs to know that she too is enjoying it One fun story is of our run down TX118 from Fort Davis to Terlingua (about 110 miles) when we visited Big Bend National Park earlier this year. I was truly "in the zone" that day and 118 is a fantastic road with great fast sweepers and there was no traffic. We did the 110 miles in about 1h15m. The ride and the road all seemed so easy, fast and smooth and I had all the corners nailed....when we arrived back at the campground Deb got off the bike, flipped up her helmet and shouted at me "That was &*&$#@ fantastic!" and that she thought that I had never ridden any better ! The flip side to all this is that she also gives me the occasional "nudge" when she thinks I am getting a little too 'feisty' on the corners but (please don't let her this), generally, she's right Link to comment
mikeR1100R Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 That sounds great! My wife neverliked being a passenger and I have never cared for having a passenger. So she took the basic rider course a couple of years ago, we got her a bike, (Honda Shadow ACE), and we now both really enjoy riding together. She rarely ventures off by herself, but the confidence level is slowly increasing with experience. We took our first overnight trip to Burlington, VT this summer which went very well. Next year we hope to ride to FL to visit our daughter. You'll enjoy riding with your wife and I'll bet she won't go back to pillion riding! Link to comment
Francis Posted December 18, 2006 Share Posted December 18, 2006 I started riding with two friends. One, my girlfriend, rode with me for several years and then decided she wanted her own ride. I taught her to ride and we got her a nice 350 cc Honda. Althought she was a proficient rider and would ride her bike with me she always was a bit gun shy drivng her bike in traffic. Never had the ncessary aggressiveness in traffic that is required riding in these parts. After we broke up she rode for a bit longer on her own. Then, around the same time, she and my riding budy each decided to quit riding and sell their bikes. Neither of them ever went down nor had an accident. They each had those small voices of worry in the back of their heads as they rode and decided to hang it up. I thought this was the best decision each of them could make. Some folks we know never should drive a bike; and some learn its not for them before they get hurt. Link to comment
Firefight911 Posted January 21, 2007 Author Share Posted January 21, 2007 Since my beautiful bride is just too bashful . . . She had her first day of class on Saturday, Jan. 21. All classroom on this day. She showed up at 630 AM, worked all they way through until they got out at about 1130 AM and ended up with a 96% on the written. WooHoo!!!! My wife rocks!! Next Saturday, she has her first riding portion. Sunday will be the second and final. I am proud of you honey!!!! After she is done and has license in hand she will decide if she wants to go for it and get a bike. We will then get her going!!!!! Lisa, you may have a Femmoto rommie!!!!!!!! Russell, umbrella duty for us!!! Half shirts and shorts with socks and loafers!! We will be doing some basic skills stuff this week on her dirt bike. FINE-C, blind fold controls drills, etc. This is so fun and scary! I don't mean scary from the "get hurt, crash, blah, blah, blah" standpoint, but from the, "What do you mean you don't want to ride 2-up", and "You're going where with SeaBiscuit, Norah, Laney, and 90% Angel????" Link to comment
Matts_12GS Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 Congrats Phil~ My wife just finished the class today, 100% on the written and passed the skills portion. It's awesome to see them learning! Link to comment
TN_R_Girl Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 Woo Hoo!! Congratulations to you both!! Link to comment
dwightm Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 Great times ahead She will have a blast since the class is so much fun for the students and her accomplishments will be evident by the big GRIN, as the light of learning gets brighter through out the day! Suggestion: Let her tell you what she wants to practice from the class room book with some static practices. She will find it easer to learn the techniques correctly verses having to correct bad ones she may develop practicing this week so don’t over do it. You might want to spend some time with her learning how to use the clutch with out moving the bike more than a couple of feet. Attitude is everything! If she is as enthusiastic as you are she will probably do well. Keep us updated. Link to comment
Les is more Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 Yahoo! Go Women, go!! Russell, umbrella duty for us!!! Half shirts and shorts with socks and loafers!! Don't forget. Black socks and a wristwatch too! Link to comment
Huzband Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 Russell, umbrella duty for us!!! Half shirts and shorts with socks and loafers!! :eek NNNNOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh. Congrats to Jamie. Link to comment
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