BuckBuckNo1 - Upgrading From 250cc And Learning To Ride The New Bike

**Terminated** · 16th March 2007, 19:25

[This log maintained until 1000km are completed.]

Bike: 1994 Honda Shadow VLX600
[44059km when purchased]

As At 16 March 2007
Elapsed Time: 4 days
Distance Travelled 526km

Day1
Focus:
Engine Torque and gear changing up and down.
Bike balance and counter steering
Emergency Braking

Environment:
Quiet rural region, hills sweeping curves and also gradients up and downhill.
Quiet highway conditions.

Day 2
Focus:
Smooth controlled speed accelerating, down shifting and breaking to stop maintaining safety bubble.
Counter steering
12 second horizon hazard detection

Environment:
Morning - motorway and inner city also anticipating changing weather conditions to wind and rain.
Evening – small group ride [ 2 groups of 3 each] sunset, twilight and dark. [Haywards around inlet to Mana coast and return]

Day3
Focus:
Consolidating days 1 and 2.

Environment:
Morning – SH1 Lower Hutt to Carterton and return. Quiet traffic conditions over Rimutaka Hill.
Evening sunset – Blue Mountains Road up and down, Wallaceville and Mangaroa Hills, and Rimutaka Hill.

Day4
Focus:
Mirrors / Signals/ Headcheck, intersection turns, real hazard detection [How many will I see when I ride out of local valley? I often do this when leaving home.]

Environment
Morning: Quiet suburban district.
Evening: Busy Peak traffic.

General Observations:
The transition from the Suzuki GN250 to the Honda Shadow VLX 600, has been reasonably smooth, governed by the fact that I have been able to choose the time of day, and general traffic conditions from rural to inner city, motorway, and state highway as well as negotiating hills of varying degrees.

The benefits started to kick in on return from Carterton and back up the Rimutaka Hill. The traffic conditions were very light and many elements came together in particular throttle control, holding good lines, and counter steering. Of course it is noticeable the lower centre of gravity on the VLX and the longer wheel base, and it was a real pleasure finding a degree of smoothness in a reasonably short period of time. There are still moments of using the brake when approaching some tighter corners, a case of being aware of the mass and inertia forces, the rake and lean angle.

Heads Up and Enjoy

**crashe** · 16th March 2007, 19:31

BuckBuckNo1 - I look forward to reading more of your transition over to the new bike....... well done on what you have done so far.

**fridsy** · 16th March 2007, 20:01

Man I wish I had the time to go for rides...over 500 k in 4 days...I bloody wish...

Good on ya Guy, sound like your having fun on your new bike!!

Congrats on gettin your full!!!

Need to catch up some time and go for a practice!

Cheers
Fridsy

**Drum** · 18th March 2007, 21:33

Sounds like you and the Shadow are getting on real good. Enjoy your crusin' BB#1.

**riffer** · 18th March 2007, 21:39

Ah, the joys of being retired...

Its great to see you've taken your scientific approach to the new bike, and I imagine it will pay great dividends in the future as you come to grips with the new machine.

Have fun with the new beast Guy!

**Lissa** · 19th March 2007, 20:43

Awesome Guy!! I am glad you have started this thread. It seems you are really enjoying your new bike, and the transistion from a GN to something bigger isnt all too bad, which is what I have been worried about. Have Fun and Keep Safe.

**Terminated** · 25th March 2007, 22:36

To complete this topic:

Originally Posted by BuckBuckNo1

[This log maintained until 1000km are completed.]

Bike: 1994 Honda Shadow VLX600
[44059km when purchased]

As At 16 March 2007
Elapsed Time: 4 days
Distance Travelled 526km

Day1
Focus:
Engine Torque and gear changing up and down.
Bike balance and counter steering
Emergency Braking

Environment:
Quiet rural region, hills sweeping curves and also gradients up and downhill.
Quiet highway conditions.

Day 2
Focus:
Smooth controlled speed accelerating, down shifting and breaking to stop maintaining safety bubble.
Counter steering
12 second horizon hazard detection

Environment:
Morning - motorway and inner city also anticipating changing weather conditions to wind and rain.
Evening – small group ride [ 2 groups of 3 each] sunset, twilight and dark. [Haywards around inlet to Mana coast and return]

Day3
Focus:
Consolidating days 1 and 2.

Environment:
Morning – SH1 Lower Hutt to Carterton and return. Quiet traffic conditions over Rimutaka Hill.
Evening sunset – Blue Mountains Road up and down, Wallaceville and Mangaroa Hills, and Rimutaka Hill.

Day4
Focus:
Mirrors / Signals/ Headcheck, intersection turns, real hazard detection [How many will I see when I ride out of local valley? I often do this when leaving home.]

Environment
Morning: Quiet suburban district.
Evening: Busy Peak traffic.

Day5
Storm

Day6
Recreation Ride Coffee Ride - Pauatahanui Inlet

Acute Cervical Spondylosis - Was it the Cruiser Style Ergonomic?
Day7
Doctor/Swim Centre

Day8
Swim Centre

Day9
Physiotherapy / Swim Centre

Day10
Swim Centre

Day 11
Physiotherapy / Swim Centre
Ride into Wellington Motorcycles - Considering SV650

Day12
Quiet ride out over Paekakariki Hill, SH1 and around Pauatahanui Inlet and over the Haywards. [Pain management fluctuating 2 out of 10 bad, 8 out of 10 good]

Day 13
Group ride of four over Rimutaka Hill to Martinborough. Pain management 2/10 for 20 minutes on way to M'borough return ride 7/10.

1000km achieved in 8 riding days.

To say I am disappointed is an understatement. Was it a bad golf swing on Day 4...is it the riding style of the cruiser..... was the relapse going to occur irrespective. Do you rush out and get another bike....do you look at the dollars and cents or the commonsense.

Thank you all for your feed back in the other post, I am taking everything onboard and will go forth wisely.

So What Was My View Of The Transition

Here is what I said after Day 4 and 500km:

Originally Posted by BuckBuckNo1

[The transition from the Suzuki GN250 to the Honda Shadow VLX 600, has been reasonably smooth, governed by the fact that I have been able to choose the time of day, and general traffic conditions from rural to inner city, motorway, and state highway as well as negotiating hills of varying degrees.

The key thoughts I would like to leave you with, when you do move up from a 250 are mainly two aspects:

Environmental:
You choose the conditions under which you will ride your next bike and getting to know its 'power' - 5pm on a Friday evening in peak traffic may be your thing, but 30 minutes after sunrise on a Saturday or Sunday morning is more soothing to focus on what you are trying to achieve.

Discipline and Respect:
I have said it before and will say it again and again and again:

"Where Are You Riding" [the open countryside road / the motorway/ inner city / suburbs....]

"How Are You Riding" [is that 12 second horizon there, and/or can you safely stop in you line of sight?]

"Why Are You Riding The Way You Are Right Now!" [Be Safe.]

My first week of transition was very disciplined, the second week though curtailed with aggravating disability, was a week treated with respect. I analysed very deliberately what and when I wanted to focus on over the first four days, Day6 was recreational. The last 3 days 11 thru 13 were analytical of the bike its ergonomic design and my personal circumstances.

A lot of us will have some form of disability that can/may be aggravated when riding. If you are 'up-sizing' and if you have a disability or an old aggravation [eg back and or neck pain], go that extra mile in your decision making processes - put yourself under some pressure, 1000km in 8 riding days over 2weeks will certainly throw up at you any possible issues you need to take onboard when transition from your 1st to 2nd onto you 3rd bike.

In closing, providing you tackle your early riding days in your graduated licencing system with a conscientious approach, and seek out a mentor through this whole period, as well as deliberately focusing on improving your riding technique, then you will enhance you own personal self esteem through achieving a whole series of tasks, and in so doing gain the respect of your fellow riders.

Heads Up and Enjoy