i'd always wanted to ride, but growing up in the heart of suburbia in mississauga, ontario i didn't even know anyone who owned a bike! since i had no money to buy my own, i figured i would sort it out sooner or later. i met my husband when i was living in edmonton, and he had built his own custom, but before he could even take me for a ride his ex girlfriend sold it out from under him.
we moved to ontario, and i figured after we paid off our car in 2007 i would look at buying a bike that he could ride and that would be forgiving enough for me to learn on.
in march 2005, a 1979 honda cb400t came to our attention for $400. we snapped it up, brought it home on april 1st, 2005 (april fool's day, should have known!) and discovered it needed clutch work. finally got i back by may the 10th, and we were about to leave for friday the 13th in port dover - actually tying on the saddlebags - when i noticed fatigue cracks all around the sidewalls of the rear wheel. checked the front as well - same thing. we weren't going anywhere, especially not 2-up on a rainy, windy day!
got new tires put on the next day, and monday i wrote my test and got my M1 license. that evening we went out to a big empty parking lot, and i spent a nerve-wracking hour learning how to make it move, how to make it stop, and how to make it turn. my husband is a wonderfully patient instructor, and even went through some "dry land" exercises with me: i'd sit in a chair, with my hands on imaginary handlebars, and he'd hold a throwing knife over my left foot. i'd ease out my imaginary clutch, apply imaginary throttle, then roll off, pull clutch, and use the throwing knife as a shifter to practice the motions. this helped me gain some confidence in the mechanical operation of the bike.
less than a month later, i was taking the canada safety council beginner's motorcycling course, paid for as a birthday present by my dad who'd taken it the year before. he made me promise not to ride outside our very quiet residential neighbourhood until taking the course, and i kept my word. i immediately noticed a huge difference in my riding, even after just the first day of practical lessons. i am a firm believer that everyone should seek professional training (not just a friend or family member, who may teach outdated, disproved methods) when either starting or returning to motorcycling.
i got very comfortable very fast on my little cb400, and by the end of the summer i was group riding with confidence. it was then that i discovered my little bike simply wasn't built to keep up with the size of bikes i was riding with.
a couple of days after i started thinking about a bigger bike (knowing what i wanted, but certainly couldn't afford), my dad called and mentioned he wasn't too happy with me riding such an old bike - thought i'd be safer on something newer, less likely to break down. that day in september 2005 we started calling suzuki dealers to find one that had a 2005 C50 in stock!
that saturday i picked up my new bike, doubling my cc's in my first year. i got my husband (with 16 years of experience on all kinds of different bikes) to ride it the 80km home for me, and have been loving it ever since. i bought the perfect bike for me, and have had endless miles of enjoyment riding it, and hours of satisfaction customizing and maintaining it.
in september of 2006, i was given the great honour of being invited to become a road captain for my southern cruisers riding club chapter - just one year after my first group ride! i've since become the second officer of our chapter, along with providing technical assistance and wrenching help to hundreds of people. we may not ride as much mileage as some people, but we ride almost every day, and haven't missed a month since i got my license in may 2005!
riding is a huge part of my life, and i'm pleased to be able to make a contribution back to the community that has shown such support for a newer rider like myself.
cheers!
-mistress k
