Got my license the hard way!

lizardywizard · July 7th, 2016, 12:32 PM

Sorry I haven't been around for a while - more time riding, less time posting... I broke Hurricane all the way in and started getting her up to freeway speeds, and I've been going more places since then. Not on freeways at first since I was still on a permit, but faster roads.

I don't think I mentioned, but I took my skills test twice - failed the first time, the DMV course was on a freaking slope and trying to control around the Dreaded Circle at 5mph was not happening. I practiced in that lot over and over and I was getting it on average one time out of twenty.

So I tried a different DMV. Nice flat ground and suddenly the circle was (relatively) easy. I wobbled a little but the instructor passed me and now Hurricane and I are free to go where we please, when we please!

...well, except on the 5. Not touching that monstrosity for a while.

Here's my girl just after we got it... gave her a lei to celebrate.

Hope you've all been doing well!

Yakaru · July 7th, 2016, 12:34 PM

Congrats! And keep practicing the 'low speed on an incline' maneuvers if you can, I'm trying to do a lot of that with my better half as she works on her newbie skills.

EternalNewb · July 7th, 2016, 01:00 PM

Oooh, nice! Congrats on the license and giving the incline a shot anyway. I could use practice on tight drills with the bike, too. Always room for improvement and all that jazz, as much as I usually loathe absolutes in the extreme.

csmith12 · July 7th, 2016, 01:11 PM

Gratz!

lizardywizard · July 7th, 2016, 01:13 PM

Thanks guys!

Yeah, for sure I definitely need to practice inclines more. The kind of terrifying thing about the one course was not only was it on an incline, but right where you need to start giving it more throttle to get up the slope is where you're being faced with a brick wall right in front of you as you turn around the circle... doesn't exactly make you feel confident about giving gas since if you turn too wide you're going straight into that wall

It's a nightmare course.

But yeah, in general I'm still training with Dom at expertmotorcycletraining.com. He's been invaluable in helping me with the low speed stuff. If you're anywhere around Temecula i highly recommend him.

CaliGrrl · July 7th, 2016, 04:04 PM

Congrats!!!!

And I'm with you on the 5. It's a mess. Pick less insane freeways to play on for a bit.

snot · July 7th, 2016, 05:54 PM

Congratulations

motodancer · July 7th, 2016, 08:32 PM

congrats!
I love the lei. so cute

July 7th, 2016, 12:32 PM	#1
lizardywizard green stig Name: V Location: California Join Date: May 2016 Motorcycle(s): '15 Ninja 300 ABS (Hurricane) Posts: 140 Blog Entries: 2 MOTM - May '16	Got my license the hard way! Sorry I haven't been around for a while - more time riding, less time posting... I broke Hurricane all the way in and started getting her up to freeway speeds, and I've been going more places since then. Not on freeways at first since I was still on a permit, but faster roads. I don't think I mentioned, but I took my skills test twice - failed the first time, the DMV course was on a freaking slope and trying to control around the Dreaded Circle at 5mph was not happening. I practiced in that lot over and over and I was getting it on average one time out of twenty. So I tried a different DMV. Nice flat ground and suddenly the circle was (relatively) easy. I wobbled a little but the instructor passed me and now Hurricane and I are free to go where we please, when we please! ...well, except on the 5. Not touching that monstrosity for a while. Here's my girl just after we got it... gave her a lei to celebrate. Hope you've all been doing well! __________________________________________________ You treat her like a lady. And she'll always bring you home. --Admiral Leonard H. "Bones" McCoy
	2 out of 2 members found this post helpful.

July 7th, 2016, 12:34 PM	#2
Yakaru The Violet Vixen Name: Yakaru Location: Issaquah, WA & Las Vegas, NV Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): Perigee (250), Hotaru (250), Saturn (300), Pearl (300), Zero (S1000RR), Chibi (Z125), Xellos ('18 HP4R) Posts: A lot. MOTM - Jun '16	Congrats! And keep practicing the 'low speed on an incline' maneuvers if you can, I'm trying to do a lot of that with my better half as she works on her newbie skills. __________________________________________________ "most folks racing this bike get it in a competitive state of being with much less invested than you've already put in Saturn." - Alex

July 7th, 2016, 01:11 PM	#4
csmith12 The Corner Whisperer Name: Chris (aka Reactor) Location: Northern KY Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much. MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13	Gratz! __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

July 7th, 2016, 01:13 PM	#5
lizardywizard green stig Name: V Location: California Join Date: May 2016 Motorcycle(s): '15 Ninja 300 ABS (Hurricane) Posts: 140 Blog Entries: 2 MOTM - May '16	Thanks guys! Yeah, for sure I definitely need to practice inclines more. The kind of terrifying thing about the one course was not only was it on an incline, but right where you need to start giving it more throttle to get up the slope is where you're being faced with a brick wall right in front of you as you turn around the circle... doesn't exactly make you feel confident about giving gas since if you turn too wide you're going straight into that wall It's a nightmare course. But yeah, in general I'm still training with Dom at expertmotorcycletraining.com. He's been invaluable in helping me with the low speed stuff. If you're anywhere around Temecula i highly recommend him. __________________________________________________ You treat her like a lady. And she'll always bring you home. --Admiral Leonard H. "Bones" McCoy

July 7th, 2016, 05:54 PM	#7
snot sammich maker Name: snot Location: West Ohio - in the kitchen Join Date: Feb 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 white 300, 09 KLX 250 SF, 09 thunder blue 250(traded) Posts: A lot. MOTM - Apr '15	Congratulations __________________________________________________ https://www.brocksperformance.com/VZ...0035+C450.aspx

July 7th, 2016, 01:00 PM	#3
EternalNewb ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: S Location: CA Join Date: Nov 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250R, 2007 Ninja 650R Posts: A lot.	Oooh, nice! Congrats on the license and giving the incline a shot anyway. I could use practice on tight drills with the bike, too. Always room for improvement and all that jazz, as much as I usually loathe absolutes in the extreme.

July 7th, 2016, 04:04 PM	#6
CaliGrrl ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Kerry Location: Ventura, CA Join Date: Jan 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja250 Posts: A lot. MOTM - Apr '18, Apr '17, Apr '16	Congrats!!!! And I'm with you on the 5. It's a mess. Pick less insane freeways to play on for a bit.

July 7th, 2016, 08:32 PM	#8
motodancer ninjette.org member Name: S Location: Midwest Join Date: May 2016 Motorcycle(s): 08 250 Posts: 134	congrats! I love the lei. so cute

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