BMW Test Ride Learning on the Go

When Pacific Motorsports, the dealer I purchased my Triumph from, invited me to participate in a test ride on a BMW F800GT, the opportunity was too good to pass up. Sponsored by BMW, groups of lucky riders were lead through Richmond and Surrey on a 45-minute ride on their BMW of choice for as little as a $20 minimum charitable donation.
I wanted to try something different from what I have now, a 2011 Bonneville T100, and from what I have been on before. My first bike was a 535 Yamaha Virago and, after a long hiatus of no riding, my second bike was a 250 Suzuki TU. In a year or two, I would really like to do some more serious long-distance touring and for that I'll need luggage racks, power and reliability. I think I'll need a different kind of bike, like the mid-touring F800GT.

After signing a waiver and making my donation, I searched the parking lot, packed with bikes, for my dance partner. She was not hard to find among the throng: slick, bronze, and with only 700 k on her, this baby was still relatively new and unbroken. I looked her over, got a quick run-down by one of the group leaders, listened obediently to another guy tell us the do's and don'ts of our group ride and then got ready to tango. For the first week of May, a high of 23 degrees is very hot, but it did not take long for all 20 of our group to get rolling on an assortment of BMW models and head off on the Westminster Highway into a refreshing breeze, over the Alex Fraser bridge, along country roads, back streets, sharp turns and speed bumps.

Although I was last in the pack, I managed to stay with the group in spite of my lack of experience and skills so I was happy with my performance as well as the bike's. I absolutely need to work on my turning skills at higher speeds more than anything else. That's what really hurt my time and I could tell from observing the others that I must be doing more than one thing wrong because I would just slow down to the posted speed limit and make the turn cautiously while others were able to attack them aggressively and effortlessly. This is what I would certainly describe as 'learning on the go', both literally and figuratively. Experience can be the best teacher, and you'll never improve if you don't try. Practice makes better, if not perfect. I'm already looking forward to next year's BMW Test Ride Day. Bring it on!

More Bikers Going Yellow

Be visible and protect yourself. It's an investment that will last a lifetime.

I try to be visible in what I wear and when I wearit. Recently, I viewed a t.v. commercial by the State of Michigan and Harley Davidson with a similar message. It's a little ironic coming from Harley since Harley riders invariably only wear black, black and more black. Nevertheless, it's a worthy message and cool video.

 

Garrett Hedlund & Ducati in Tron

Check out some of my favourite videos by clicking on the profile link above (top left) under About Me. View this latest video clip from Tron (2010) starring Garrett Hedlund. The movie was on the tele last night and it was a blast. Seriously, though, don't try this at home. In fact, the purpose of this post is to highlight the very real need to make yourself conspicuous out there on the road. Do this by wearing high visibility colours or reflective material and don't do what Sam Flynn does in this video clip. Keep your lights on. Even though it may look cool, it's dangerous and illegal and it's a fictional movie. Get real! By the way, some of the scenes were filmed right here in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Motorcycle "Bad Girl" Stigma Exploited for Good

 

This new video/TV commercial promo on women's health opens with a woman on a motorcycle, a Triumph, which is what I ride, and the caption, "You don't have to be good to be healthy." I suppose it's cute and harmless, but it does indicate that the stigma of riding a motorcycle as something only outlaws do lingers in the popular consiousness of today. It's a cliche, an outdated point-of-view. I'm not sure how effective it would be in reinforcing the health message of reducing your risk of breast cancer, except it shows a woman being independent and not riding two-up with a man. Is it also saying you can ride a motorcycle safely?  I think, indirectly, it is so I've concluded that, overall, I like it.