Got my permit and my Buddy today!!! A banner day!!

Penguinboy · Post by **Penguinboy** » Mon May 19, 2008 10:12 pm

Hi all-

Got our permits at 10 AM today and the 2 Buddies were delivered at 3 PM! Janet jumped on her Pamplona, and with me following on my St. Tropez, we enjoyed our first ride! Took maybe 20 minutes or so to feel comfortable cornering, but that will get better with practice.

I'll post pictures later, as well as my post about how I almost failed my permit test!

-Danny

jfrost2 · Post by **jfrost2** » Mon May 19, 2008 10:19 pm

Brake before you turn or corner, but never DURING them, you'll flip over. Take it slow for a while, and ride in your neighborhood, short low speed rides will help you gain confidence, and put miles on your bike.

brimstone · Post by **brimstone** » Mon May 19, 2008 10:21 pm

congrats!! yep, take it easy and don't go any faster then your comfortable with. avoid sharp turns on gravel or sand and don't mash the front brake, apply both fairly equal. ride safe and have fun!!!

Penguinboy · Post by **Penguinboy** » Mon May 19, 2008 10:30 pm

I don't think I touched the front brake once! Need to work on balancing that out. We learned to ride scoots while we were in Bermuda- 30 MPH on roads that were half the width of US roads! Talk about trial by fire!

Thanks for the tips- keep 'em coming!!

jfrost2 · Post by **jfrost2** » Mon May 19, 2008 10:37 pm

Use both at the same rate, dont quickly grab them either, you'll lock up and skid. Slowly pull them in harder. When driving your car, you dont just Slam on the brakes to stop, you slowly push harder until you can properly stop, same for a scooter.

MarsR · Post by **MarsR** » Mon May 19, 2008 11:07 pm

Penguinboy wrote:I don't think I touched the front brake once! Need to work on balancing that out.

70-80% of your braking power comes from the front brake. You definitely want to learn to use both together, all the time.

ryder1 · Post by **ryder1** » Tue May 20, 2008 12:00 am

Be nice to Buddy...break-in according to manual

Othergods · Post by **Othergods** » Tue May 20, 2008 12:10 am

Congrats on your new buddies, we share this day in common, I just got mine too.

MikieTaps · Post by **MikieTaps** » Tue May 20, 2008 12:12 am

I am a believer in the HARD break in method!!!

... I am also 22 years old... that might explain alot of things...

Post by **ericalm** » Tue May 20, 2008 12:16 am

The axiom for braking is "squeeze, don't grab." This means even when coming to a hard stop, don't grasp the levers as hard as you can. It takes some practice to learn to do it gradually, even when the need to stop is immediate. It's worth practicing in parking lots because it's a skill you'll probably need much sooner than you'd like and will use often.