The day did finally come and what a day it was.

[Bone crusher]

Well, the much anticipated moment had finally come as I prepared to leave Team Moto Springwood on my oh so nearly new 2012 Rocket roadster. This was my first ride in nearly 20 years bar my one day ride nearly 2 months earlier I had at the Q-Ride centre in order to get my open bike licence. My mouth was dry and all I think off was don't drop it on a busy Saturday afternoon outside the bike shop. The other thing raising through my mind was the look on the faces off nearly all the sales people in the shop when they found out while chatting with me that my first ride in nearly 20 years was going to be on a Rocket. Hell they wanted the sale and so were going to be encouraging but I could see that they were thinking something different. It was setup for me on the gutter outside the shop and as I sat there on it with it idling I could tell that I was being watched so I slammed it into 1st revved the **** out of her dumped the clutch and monoed all the way up the street and around the corner. Well, maybe not. I was quietly quivering though and after fidgeting around with my gear for an eternity I turned the front wheel up the street let the clutch out gently and purred away on a beautifully behaved monster. I road for over 100 ks that day and in no time at all I was feeling relaxed and comfortable with the way she handled. How could such a heavy bike be so well balanced, so well mannered and at the same suck a mad muscle bound monster. At the end of my ride that day I was exhausted from the concentration I had spent and still couldn't wait for tomorrow. It will be a grand love affair I'm sure. I look forward to catching up with some off you guys soon out there.

 

[Mittzy]

Cool mate, shoulda come with us on Sunday.

 

[MickyB]

Nice Crusher, good story.

 

[cusso ken]

Nice Crusher, good story.

Be careful BC,20 years is a lot of riding rust , the instinctive reaction time for emergency braking takes a little time to return, I lost a mate returning to motorcycling after a 15 year break who unfortunately got very confident too soon,when legally riding a big sports bike because he had retained his licence all those years, got taken out by a car doing a U turn he just reacted too slowly at 100 Kph and only just started to brake before the impact , I felt slightly guilty because he had told me he wanted to return to riding because he saw how much my mates and I enjoyed going away on the boys Weekends , refresher courses are a great thing for returning riders, Mate not trying to be condescending in any way, it just concerns me when people start again on a big powerful machine ,as I said be careful till you get your skills back

 

[Bone crusher]

Great advise cusso. I've also had the same idea. **** happens but most of the time I put myself in that position. I'm a more experienced road user and like most of us old timers you can usually see the **** coming. Not to say that I've got things covered and I don't take the advise in any negative way. I'm a dad and I intend to do my best to stay one but I don't want to stay wrapped up in cotton buds either. Year thanks mate good advise.

 

[motolink]

Great , I am sure you will enjoy the ride. Might see you around the area.

 

[Wrecka]

Haha great story mate , day i picked up mine i thought they sold me a broken one , Mr Dumbass forgot to pull the clutch in t ostart it.

 

[Fingers]

Enjoy your re-intro to riding on the beast

 

[ozrider]

Good onya @Bone crusher , a ballsy move but sounds like you have it covered.
I brought a VMax after a 20 year lay off and eased into it but I later did a refresher course and picked up quite a few tips and sorted out a few bad habits
Hopefully see you around for a ride with some of the Brissie crew

 

[Mittzy]

I recon I could do with a refresher course as I have plenty of bad habits..
Seriously I would do a refresher, let me know if your keen an I might do it at the same time.
@ozrider where did you do your refresher?