I went and took my skills test on Tuesday, passing it with 4 points (panic stop: I took 17 feet to stop when it should have taken 14).  It felt so good to pass it the first time around since so many people claim that it's nearly impossible.  Having the GS definitely helped because of its maneuverability.  Right before the last two exercises, the examiner said "you don't have any points yet...that's highly unusual."  Good thing he couldn't see me grinning like an idiot inside my helmet    **Thanks to Wrecent Wryder for getting me the information on the skills test...I would've been clueless if not for that**

Back inside waiting to get the license, I was talking to a guy who said he failed his the other day because it was "physically impossible" to get his R1 to complete the u-turn, so he's gonna use his friends Ninja to re-take the test.  He also said that I got the strictest examiner there - that made me feel even better.  Then when I found out that the $30 I paid to get my learner's permit covered the license fee as well I thought the day couldn't get any better...

Then I went for my first solo ride.  It was amazing.  I just tooled around some back roads for about a half hour, but it was great.  I opened it up on some straights just to see what it felt like and it blew me away.  Yeah, I know that she doesn't have a whole lot of power, but I'm new to this and it was plenty for me.  Luckily I was planning on getting some gas while I was out, because on the way I found out what it feels like to hit reserve.  At first I was a little confused, worrying that something was wrong, but then I remembered what I had read here and realized what it was.  I hadn't familiarized myself with how to switch to reserve while sitting on the bike, I was in the middle of a long curve with limited sight distance, and there was no shoulder, so I found a driveway to pull into and switched it there.  Also, as I was riding down one of the bigger roads, i waved at a rider coming the opposite way and he patted his head.  It took a second for me to remember what that meant, but I slowed to 5mph above the limit (everyone normally cruises at about 20 over on that road, but I'm keeping it to about 10 on the GS since I figure cops will usually single a bike out when they may not normally pull over a cage) and sure enough, there was an officer shooting radar up ahead.  It feels so good to have that connection with other people - only one guy didn't wave, and I think he may not have seen me. 

Hopefully I'll go back out for a little today.  I keep my bike at my dad's house since he has a shed I can keep it in with his Harley.  I just can't wait until I can get a place of my own and keep her at home with me.  Now that I have my license, I don't have to rely on my dad wanting to ride at the same time I do.  This feels great.

Congrats! Sounds like a great day. 

If that guy couldn't do a U-turn, it's probably not a good idea that he has an R1. Congrats on your test and first solo ride.

w00t! Congrats!! 

 

good write up.  be safe and don't worry about those that don't wave back. Theres a judgmental prick one every now and then but most bikers are cool.
be sure to wear a helmet and jacket.  don't learn the hard way. and HAVE FUN!! 
**(now you can take your dads harley! - I bet he's dreading that)

r4

Awright!  Congradulations!

Quote from: Wrecent_Wryder on April 13, 2006, 01:06:46 PMthey seem all to be HD riders

Yeah... It's funny...  HD riders and scooter riders rarely seem to wave back... 

I wonder what the connection is. Small pee pee?

I think scooter riders just don't know about the waving thing.

Quote from: aaronstj on April 13, 2006, 02:39:48 PM
I think scooter riders just don't know about the waving thing.

Why would they? They ride scooters, not motorcycles! 

Yeah, I've nodded to another rider when I was in a turn, but the ones that don't acknowledge me don't bother me.  To me it's one of those things that's cool if they do, but still ok if they don't.

I went for another short ride today...found a cul-de-sac in the middle of a development in progress and practiced tight turns.  I rubbed my boots a few times surprised the hell outta me the first time!  I'm loving every second of this. 

That's the cool part about riding on my own: if I feel like screwing around doing something like that, I can do it without my dad sitting there waiting on me to "get back to riding."  To each their own, I guess.

Thanks for the words of encouragement everyone

Quote from: RVertigo on April 13, 2006, 01:15:44 PM

Quote from: Wrecent_Wryder on April 13, 2006, 01:06:46 PMthey seem all to be HD riders

Yeah... It's funny...  HD riders and scooter riders rarely seem to wave back... 

I wonder what the connection is. Small pee pee?

It needs to be the official (motorcycle) side wave to the t for a harley guy to wave.
They are suspicious of scooter riders just moving up to a bike (no offence), harley guys dont like scooter guys if you didn't know by now.

e3

Quote from: 16V-Dub on April 13, 2006, 07:32:23 PM
It needs to be the official (motorcycle) side wave to the t for a harley guy to wave.

I had some D**khead on a (brand new) Harley, wearing (brand new) leathers and (new) boots, pull up to me and comment about my wave not being correct.  I usually just let go of the clutch hand and point to the ground next to me, as my wave.

I didn't say nothing to him, just looked at him and drove off.  I shoulda flicked him off.  "how you like them apples?"

anyway my "wave" is noticeable whether it's right or not. I don't think it matters.  at least I acknowlegde every biker.

[3

Quote from: 3imo on April 14, 2006, 07:00:54 AM
I had some D**khead on a (brand new) Harley, wearing (brand new) leathers and (new) boots, pull up to me and comment about my wave not being correct. I usually just let go of the clutch hand and point to the ground next to me, as my wave.

Around here if you pass a Harley Rider they all wave to the side with the peace symbol. When we were up in Montreal my uncle didnt wave back that way. They didn't like that so much, we stopped to eat and his bike was laying on the ground (he had a fat boy) with a nice lil HA business card with writing on the back that said "respect authority" My local area has recently been a bit sketchy as we have two groups struggling over "territory" Its just kinda funny that they are The Native Riders (who I'm not a big fan off because they use Iroquois symbols on their jackets and act like idiots and none of them are native; they all just have indians) and the local Legion Post group. Its kind of ridiculous. A wave is supposed to be friendly not establish stupid dom/submissive fantasies for biker gangs 

Quote from: 3imo on April 14, 2006, 07:00:54 AM
...  I usually just let go of the clutch hand and point to the ground next to me, as my wave...

This is what I do because it's essentially what I've seen most other bikers do.  The first time I tried waving, I put my left hand up in the air, like a normal wave, but the other guy just let go and held his open hand down to the side.  So I started doing that.  Others have pointed, some have given the peace sign, and a couple just opened their hand while keeping it on the grip. 

I agree with 3imo - it may not be the "correct" wave, but it's the easiest for me to do and I'm still acknowledging other riders, so it works.

According to More Proficient Motorcycling, the "proper" motorcycle wave is clutch hand (for obvious reasons), two fingers, palm out (as to not be confused with 1 finger....).  It's not a peace sign, but rather "greetings, fellow 2-wheel enthusiast."  I always try to give the 2 finger wave, but if I can't take my hand off the clutch at that moment, they have to suffice with 2 fingers held up from the grip.  It's the thought that counts, IMO.

Most people I see are doing the hand down low thing, most of them giving two finger (which I'm also assumed is for two wheels).  I'm still giving the big noobie "Hi!  Look at me!  I have a motorcycle!" wave.  I guess I'm gonna have to become one of the cool kids and start doing in the two-finger down low way.