So my buddy just married another friend of mine last summer, first child already on the way, and she tells him the motorbike's gotta go. To my hangar, anyway .
He gave me his old bike ... with the caveat that he can come ride it in secret whenever he wants. 1983 Yamaha XS650 Heritage Special. I figure the airport is the perfect place for me to get used to the thing and get some instruction from Stu, my CFI buddy who is a long time motorcyclist, before hitting the streets. Now I just have to get up the b-lls to ride the thing. I've always wanted to ride, but to be honest, the things scare me (partly because of all the stuff I see in the ER).
Chad, did you ever get going on yours last summer?
A little fear is not a bad thing when starting out. I have been riding for a loonnggg time and still fear the other drivers, probably more than ever. Just figure they are all out to get you. As far as the bike once you get used to it you won't fear it but you do need to respect it. Kind of like an airplane in my opinion.
Another thing I do is wear all the gear all the time. I know a lot of people don't but I do and highly recommend it, especially for new riders. Once you get profecient it is up to you but to me it is a little like flying without belts. I don;t plan on using them but it give me a warm fuzzy feeling ot know the right gear is there if needed.
Have fun!
JohnR
RV-7A - Fuselage - SOLD, just not supposed to be
Numbers 6:24 - The LORD bless thee, and keep thee
Did you ever get into one of the rider classes? I am having trouble getting into one here in IN, too - they fill up fast.
Stu has an old (very old), small bike (like 175cc I think) that he is gonna get going and let me practice on for a while at the airport before I hop on that one. We'll see how it goes...
Thomas, very nice! That reminds me a lot of my '80 XS1100 special. I have never had anything but Yamaha as my Aunt and Uncle owned a Yamaha shop. But they just sold it late last year I hope nother on my bike breaks any time soon
Let me know how you like it. I've always thought I would enjoy an ST but living where I do the big duallies fit my needs the best. I really enjoy an afternoon of riding gravel in a light drizzle (kills the dust.) Put on the Gortex and get three or four guys to go along and it is a blast. We usually just plug a destination into the GPS that is 100 miles or so away and then follow the arrow. Anytime a crossing road is more direct you have to take it, highway, gravel, dirt or mud. The games we come up with. It is fun though.
That ST looks like a great way to eat large sections of asphalt. It sure looks ideal for a trip to Osh!
JohnR
RV-7A - Fuselage - SOLD, just not supposed to be
Numbers 6:24 - The LORD bless thee, and keep thee
I was wondering if anyone would ask ... unfortunately it's not mine. I share the hangar with a pilot buddy who has a body shop - that belongs to a client and he is keeping it there to keep it out of the weather (shop is full). It has been there over the winter and with the humidity when the snow melted it grew some serious mold on the headliner . Not sure if he knows about that yet... it is a seriously souped up ride!
Being an ER doc, I know what you mean - that is my main reservation about riding the bike. Although to be honest most of the serious accidents I see from motorcylists involve alcohol - most, but not all. And there is no way I will have a drop and get on the thing!
Most friends I know have sold theirs mostly due to the frequent cutting off by cars. You will see the more hardcore trauma in the ER, but in my FP practice it is usually road rash from a lay down (just saw a guy today who slid into a guard rail a couple months ago at high speed, and he was between the bike and it ). Safe riding.
.
CJ
1100? 1300? Nice!! 
CJ
. Not sure if he knows about that yet... it is a seriously souped up ride!