My first ride on Harley Davidson

This weekend there's a special event - the Harley Davidson Open House event, where the new 2012 models will be launched, plus a chance to purchase merchandise, with proceeds from selected stock going to impoverished women around the world, in association with the United Nations World Food Programme.

One highlight however will be a bike parade, where motorcycle riders from across the UAE will meet to ride around part of Dubai. Now in previous events such as this, literally hundreds of bikers have turned up with rides in all shapes and sizes - which is an amazing sight to see, let alone the thunderous raw of the engines.


Now I was going to take the Honda Shadow, my little purple Ronnie bike, however it's battery is struggling and it feels a bit rickety these days, so I called and asked if I could hire a Harley for the ride - all booked out - GUTTED! However, because I'd RSVP'd to the event as media, I was told that they would be sorting a bike out for me to ride, a DYNA - COOL :-)


I suddenly realise that I haven't actually ridden a Harley, nor a bike that big before, so before the event, what am I going to practice on? Hmmm let me think, the boyfriend has a Harley V-rod. Actually it was his suggestion that I have a go on his bike first and let's face it I really didn't put up much of a fight. So this morning I get all kitted up and get read to take his bike out - he's obviously nervous, he's at work and he's trusting me not to a. crash his bike and b. hurt myself - please has a little faith.


I am a tiny person compared to my boyfriend, he's 6ft 3, I'm 5ft 5, so reaching the foot pedals on his bike meant that I had to scoot right forward in the seat, which meant for a not great riding position, but never mind, suck it up and get on with it. The minute you start one of these bikes, you just have to sit and listen to the engine sound 'bub bub bub bub' - beautiful. I roll back out the driveway and get ready to pull away, giving a nice few revs - sorry neighbours. Easy enough and I decide to go for a gentle ride around the small streets to get used to it. 


The V-rod is quite heavy on the handling and you really have to lean into the corners, because the huge fat rear wheel just wants to go straight, but it means it feels really stable and not likely to fall over at any given opportunity. After pootling about the small roads, I decide it's time to get out on the bigger roads and open her up and see what she can do.


HOLY COW! You lean a little on the throttle and your head gets slammed back and I feel like I'm going to shoot straight off the back - ok, maybe not quite so aggressive on the throttle then. I love it. Easy handling, responsive, power to get you out of trouble when you need it, there's everything to like and enjoy about this bike - apart from me having to be so far forward, which would do my back in if I had to ride it for a long period of time.


But now, I'm super excited about riding the DYNA at the weekend. Getting kitted up and going out for my first en-masse motorcycle experience. Bring it on! :-)


http://www.harley-davidson.ae/

Becoming an 'Easy Rider' pt7

Part 7 already? Wow what a mission this is turning out to be! So a week later and I'm ready to re-take Level 2, after of course completing my mandatory eight extra classes. I arrive at 7am on the dot and am relieved to see that it's the same examiner as last week. There are only two of us  redoing this test, everyone else is doing their Level 1. So of course we are told to go first and I get to go first out of everyone - oh no! My nerves were getting the better of me - big time. But I managed to do my curves left and right with no issues, far better than the previous attempt.

Then, the dreaded light bank comes out! I cannot tell you how much I hate this thing. It's just something that would never happen in real life and you really have to try and stop your brain from guessing what order your going to get the stops and swerves in. The instructor can see I'm extremely nervous and I told him I'd taken a few falls the previous week, so he's like ok I'm going to give you two stops, then left, then right. My first braking attempt is ok. The second my head is all over the place and it's probably the longest stopping distance I've ever done. The examiner makes it clear, that I cannot afford to pick up any points during the swerving, which thankfully I don't.

I end up with a total penalty point score of 31. You're allowed a maximum of 41. So I passed and I didn't fall Hoorah! I'm still annoyed though, as during my school assessment I only picked up 16 points - oh dear. But it's a pass and that's what I needed.

So, what next? Well the final stage which is the Level 3 road test. Of course you don't get to do it the same week, you can't even book in until the next day, and road tests are only done on Thursdays, so that's over a week to wait. But I'm looking forward to it.

Another step closer.

Happy riding :-)

Difficult to become and 'Easy Rider'!

So after contemplating this for a while and watching the other half zoom about on his oh so sexy Harley, I decided that I'd like to go for my motorcycle license. However, this was not as easy as one would think. How I wished I'd done it in the UK, then I'd just be able to transfer it across, like I did with my car license.

However, because I have no biking experience, means that I have to do 30 compulsory lessons - are you kidding! I passed my car test in 12! - humph, oh well can't fight it, as that's just the way it goes. But, to even enroll was a complete mission to begin with, because I have a visa from one emirate and a drivers license from another and being loathed to transfer everything to one emirate, meant a little bit of ingenuity. First off, I find it quite amusing that I have to get a letter of no objection from my sponsor, just because I'm a woman! Mind you, everyone looked at me funny when I said I wanted to do my bike license.

If you can get a letter to prove that you live and work in the emirate that your drivers license is issued in, then it seems that the powers that be are quite happy to go with that - a centralized system would be so helpful at some point.

Anyway so now I've managed to register, paid my fees and am waiting for my learners permit LOL then I guess it's 30 lessons of riding round in circles, figure 8's and cones. First, must go and by some cool kit :-)

Will keep updating this process as it goes along. Happy riding :-)