My first 100 miles......

I am a new rider and just picked up my first bike a couple of weeks ago. I took the MSF course back in July, but was not able to get a bike until now. I ended up with a 2007 Yamaha V-Star 650 Custom and I couldn't be happier! The 20 mile ride home from the dealer was definitely nerve wracking as that was my first time out on the street in traffic. I took the back roads home with my lovely bride following me in my truck. We stopped for lunch about halfway home and I can tell you that I was totally soaking wet with sweat when I got off the bike at the restaurant (some from the absolutely beautiful, hot sunny day, but mostly from me white knuckling the bike!!!) I made it home without dropping the bike or causing a wreck, but I did manage to kill it a time or two when I was starting out at some of the intersections.

The next two rides I did were just around town and they were only about 10 miles long for each one. I was able to make it through both these rides with no problems, although I did manage again to kill it once one the first ride, but made it all the way through on the second ride without a hitch. I cruised on over to the the local industrial park and practiced driving through the vacant parking lots and streets. On my way back home, I tackled crossing over some railroad tracks and going over a drawbridge with a steel roadway deck (That was a little squirrley!).

Today, I hooked up with a buddy of mine and his bride for a ride through the country side. I met them on the other side of town, which meant that I had to run the drawbridge and railroad tracks again (This time I was more relaxed as I had done it once before and knew what to expect). It was an another absolutely beautiful day (in the 80's here in Northern Calif!). They both run Harley Davidson Dyna Low Riders. We cruised around the back roads through the wine country for a bit, stopped for a nice lunch and then cruised on back home. I found that I felt much more at ease riding with a couple of other bikers than just by myself. Although we were on the country back roads, there were stretches where the speed limit was 55mph, so I was able to get cruising pretty good (for a newbie), but I still felt that I was in my comfort zone and not being pushed. There was one short stretch where we jumped on the highway for a bit and that was exciting for me to get it up to 65-70mph for my first time! I didn't know we were going to do that, but I was able handle it without freaking out (Like I envisioned I would!).

I just checked the route we did on MapQuest and it turned out that we rode almost 65 miles today, which I think is a pretty good ride for a newbie! So that, coupled with what I had ridden earlier, puts me at around 100+ miles so far. This is just my fourth time out, but I find with each ride, that I am getting more comfortable being on the bike and I my ability to process the seemingly one million things to do at once is getting a bit easier!

The best advice I have gotten so far was from another buddy of mine who has been riding for many years. He told me to "Keep my head on a swivel, ride like no one can see you and everyone is out to kill you"! I plan to live and ride by those words! I can't wait to get out do some more cruising:D!!!

Mick

Well Hey Mick, sounds like you had a GREAT ride! You are doing wonderful; keep up the good work and enjoy the V-Star.

congrats on the bike, i'm picking up my first bike this week, 2006 v star 650 classic. so excited to get it, but also worried as to how i'm going to do on it. haven't had a chance to take the msf course yet, as i didn't know about it till recently and busy during the next 2 weekends that they offer it. but can't wait to start learning!

congrats to both of you on your new bikes.
I to started riding this year very late month before last .
I had to fix my bike before I could ride it but it is running and I have 802 miles under my belt.

It is nerve racking but try to keep calm white knuckling does not help in any way.
Try to forget the worries but all ways look and listen then repeat repeatedly.

It is not safe out there!

But if you take this advice you will be just fine.
most of all

Have fun , ride hard and ride safe!

Congrats....I take my MSF BRC the 2nd week of Dec here in Fla. How is the V-Star as a first bike? That's one of the cruisers I have been eyeing....I also like the Vulcan 500 and the Honda 750 Shadow.

Congrats....I take my MSF BRC the 2nd week of Dec here in Fla. How is the V-Star as a first bike? That's one of the cruisers I have been eyeing....I also like the Vulcan 500 and the Honda 750 Shadow.

FL Adam,

The MSF course is great and I learned a lot when I took it. I cannot say enough good things about the course and I am glad you are signed up for it.

I don't think you can go wrong with any of the three bikes you are looking at. I chose the V-Star for several reasons, one of which is that I really like the looks of it and it fit me perfectly. I also have two Yamaha ATV's and they have been great performers for me, so that was a factor and finally there is a Yamaha dealer close to home, so parts and service are not a problem if I need them.

I have only ridden dirt bikes before (and that was many years ago) so I really don't have much to compare my V-Star to. The Honda Nighthawks that we rode in class were nice, but I felt kind of cramped on the 250's and. of course, we never took them out of the parking lot.

I didn't feel "Outgunned" by my buddies' Harleys when we went out for a ride over the weekend. I was able to keep up with them with no problems. I do want to add a few more mods to her, such as floor boards, Highway bars and saddle bags, but I am pretty happy with her as she is right now!

Ride safe and have a great time at your classs:D

Mick

Congratz on the new bike! I'm feeling like pretty much the same situation, I've just broke the beautiful 1st 100 miles on my bike as well, I can't wait for it to keep on rolling through the break in period so I'm not too freaked out about over stressing it. I've got pretty much the same bike as you only blue and 2009.

Congrats on your new scoot ! I recently bought an 08 Yamaha Stratoliner S. I bought it from a dealer about 14 miles from my home. As I was bringing it home, I made a right turn near my house that had water in the ribbon gutter. (no biggie, right?) WRONG !!!! Apparently there was some oil or slick substance that caused the ass-end to slide out from underneath me, sending the bike sliding on it's right side. 100 yards from home and I lay it down. Damage was minimal as I an an experienced rider so I was able to maintain a bit of a controlled crash. I was going to change the pipes anyway, so it gave me an excuse to go by some good aftermarket ones. (a plus there) After 46 years of riding and I loop out on a slow turn.......pathetic ! LOL
They say accidents usually happen close to home. I guess I had to prove that theory, eh ?:o

Way to go, enjoy this time of learning to ride. You'll look back at this as some of the best times you'll ever have on your bike.

Congratz on the new bike! I'm feeling like pretty much the same situation, I've just broke the beautiful 1st 100 miles on my bike as well, I can't wait for it to keep on rolling through the break in period so I'm not too freaked out about over stressing it. I've got pretty much the same bike as you only blue and 2009.

Hey Icewatch,

How do you like your V-Star so far? I am loving mine! I actually wanted a blue V-Star when I originally started looking for a bike, but the red one was a great deal and had a lot of the parts I was going to add anyway, so that is what I ended up with and I am very happy with it!

I am working towards setting her up like a Silverado cruiser with floorboards, saddle bags and highway bars. She is halfway there already with the extras that came on the bike when I got her.

I see you are from Sonoma County too.....maybe I will wave at ya on the backroads sometime!

Mick