After that episode on the driveway I knew I needed to learn a little more before attempting to ride the monster again. For sure the last thing I wanted to happen was to finally get my dream machine, and then to stupidly run it into the ground because of inexperience. So, that night I went and read the manual cover to cover. The manual also came with a very handy "Riding Tips" booklet that is filled with lots of great information. I read this entire booklet also. I also went back to the Internet again. Of course on the Internet there were many warnings of beginners purchasing sport bikes as there first bike.

You see,... here is my situation. I have my MSF course coming up in one week. The MSF course spans three days. The first day is classroom training (4 hours), the second, and third days have practical exercises on a motorcycle (~12 hours ). After successful completion of the course you can receive a motorcycle endorsement on your drivers license. Now I would like to get as much out of the course as possible. I've driven/used manual transmissions before and they usually take time to get comfortable with. So I would like to get some recent experience managing the throttle, clutch, 1st gear combination so that I don't spend my expensive class time focusing on stalling every time I move off, or come to a stop. I also want to get as much as possible from the classroom experience, so I studied the motorcyclist information at the state web site and went and got my learner's permit.

Alright, learner's permit? Check. Read manual and safety tips? Check. Checked the bike before riding? Check. Okay. Now let's try this again shall we.

I donned all my gear, rolled it onto the roadway, started her up, and THIS time I kept my right palm fairly flat. Gripping the throttle purposely with only the thumb and index finger, keeping my palm fairly flat and the other three fingers on the brake, I started it up and rolled on the throttle. Easy now. Not too much.

Of course the first few times I tried to move out of 1st gear I stalled miserably. When I finally did get it moving I over revved, and then got scared, causing the bike to heave and buck like a wild horse. But, I finally got it going. Trying to keep it in 1st gear at this low level of experience was torture. Heave, buck. Heave, buck. Heave,.. You get the picture. Horrible. I finally opened up the throttle a little more and slipped it into 2nd. This felt a lot better.

My neighborhood has a pretty good shape for tender practice. It's a half mile long oval w/ culdesacs off the tangents of one of the bends. In the culdesacs you can practice figure eights.

I went around for 1 lap and then stopped at my driveway to see if I could start off without stalling again. I couldn't. I stalled about three times before being able to move forward again. I also stalled when coming to a stop on the second and third lap. At least I got it moving though.

I'm done for the day.