So officially today, I've decided without a shadow of a doubt, a safety course is in my very immediate future, not in a couple months after I have a good feel for it..
I'm a little overwhelmed by all of it, and I freaked out a tad riding in the neighborhood when there started to be cars moving around. I went to the gas station that is off a main road, but I can get there without actually getting on one, and I panicked more than I'd expected to. There were several cars turning off the main road driving quickly, and cars coming out of the gas station. I sat there for awhile waiting turn and then as I turned in made it sharper than I meant to. I got parked and felt a little better, but had trouble getting the key out, then couldn't get my helmet off quickly. When I got done, I couldn't get the bike to start (you have to take the kick stand off
) I got it started, got going ok, was feeling decent.
But then I had an issue turning a corner cuz I got bravish and there was a car turning out, so I over did my turn and almost hopped the curb. I was still recovering from that when I pulled back into the house, I dumped it while I was trying to park it, broke the mirror, which really is ok cuz they were stupid and small and going to be replaced
I know everyone says it would happen, but it's effected me quite a bit. I'm not swearing off the bike or anything but it's enough to make me wonder if I shoulda gotten a smaller one just to learn on. Because had I not been lucky as the bike was starting to topple over, and I hit the dam gas (why I dunno but I did and I realize it was the stupidest thing I coulda done) I coulda really screwed some stuff up from almost a dead stop.
The way I look at it, I have several different options even if I do swear off this bike I can:
1) put it back on sale and get my money back in a matter of a couple days and wait for a 250 to show up on craig's list
2) let the boyfriend buy it from me then use his money for the 250. (our goal regardless is to have 2 decent bikes)
and if I get bored with it quickly, I can sell it and get me a bigger one again
I like the idea that there's tons of options if this particular bike doesn't work out for me. I still think it might, but will feel better once I get some professional instruction.
This is day 2 of my experience on a motorcycle driving. It's still all very exciting, and I can't wait to really get going I'm just a little more cautious then I was before I got on today.