Maiden voyage tonight

[RichardL]

A big CONGRATULATIONS!

[Greybeard]

Sam, your descriptions are great! You've reminded me how I felt when I got back on my GF after 35 years of no motorcycling.

[beezermacc]

Congratulations Sam and welcome to the club! I've always thought the A10 is an underrated bike (I mean unappreciated not down on power!). A well sorted A10 is an absolute delight to ride as it is so smooth and effortless, and the handling is remarkably good. I'm sure you'll get miles of pleasure and, on the odd occasion when you have a problem, this is the best forum on the planet for getting those little niggles sorted.

[Butch (cb)]

Agreed. But then it is a bit of a partisan crowd here I suppose.

I happened to take my old bitza out for a canter the same evening. Out on the back roads to a Moto Guzzi branch meeting as it happens. Having scouted the route on the way out the return in the dusk with empty roads was a pure delight. Bike tracking true and the boom from the goldies coming back at me from the hedgerows was probably the ride of the year for me. Always has me thinking I should be taking her out a little more regularly.

[Sam C]

And having put 100 miles on it on Saturday morning I can confirm that this is the best thing I've done for a very very long time (excepting getting married of course ahem!)

Beautiful sunny day, relatively open roads (at least first thing in the morning) and reasonably good pace.... all add up to an experience that when you throw in a roaring explosion of noise and petrol smells becomes the perfect cocktail.

What a thing! While it would be lovely to accelerate and stop like modern bikes can, and have the precision and road handling etc., I just don't think I'd enjoy that as much as this. It's perfect. I love it.

All the expense, the early starts for lessons, the shame of cocking up one of the tests, the expense (did I mention that): all well worth it. Everyone should experience this at least once!

[Greybeard]

Where are you Sam?

[Butch (cb)]

Seventh heaven by the sound of it. Good stuff.

[morris]

I LIKE THE NOISE. I REALLY, REALLY LIKE THE NOISE.

 

[Sam C]

I'm in Bath Graybeard.

Thanks for the kind words all. Planning to head out again tonight.

I tend to find (having owned old, only just working properly, cars for most of my driving life) that the experience swings from being 'God this is brilliant - and really quite quick' to 'Oh, that's not quite as much fun as I remembered it - bit slower than I thought' and then back again - with each trip. On that basis tonight may not be quite as good - but we're heading for some faster more open roads so hopefully not.

Happy days :)

[Topdad]

Sam, without being a kill joy , I remember being told by a very experienced rider that the stages of competence/incompetence change very quickly in our brains before we have  actually become more skilful with our bikes .
:- 1) Incompetent
    2)Incompetently /competent
    3)competent.
    4)competently/incompetent

There are more stages but #2 is the tricky one but #4 kills more riders !
Just take it easy and let all continue to read the enjoyment you're getting from these wonderful bikes,  Bob

[Greybeard]

I'm in Bath Graybeard.

Shame; I'd like to find someone in the UK Midlands who'd be up for some ride-outs.

I found myself following an old Triumph in town the other day. I pulled up beside him at traffic lights and asked him it's age; 1954 he said but he rushed off when the lights changed so no chance to become more acquainted. 

[Sam C]

Topdad: wise words.

To reassure you, i'm well award i've got a huge amount to learn. For all my chat, i'm actually very very cautious.

I have a wife, friends that care about me and a family. I'm taking as few risks as possible. Masdive stopping distances, assuming everyone's about to do the unpredictable (which they do!!)... Generally assuming the worst.

I'll take it steady :)

Still bloody good fun though

[Greybeard]

I keep telling my kids that generous stopping distances are one of the best things you can do to make driving safer.

[Butch (cb)]

Ah yes - predicting the unpredictable, sounds like the known unknowns. But a sensible approach of course.

I must admit riding my A10 is pretty much always an uplifting experience, but I do have the luxury of being able to pick those moments, and it might even be natures way of telling me I'm not using it enough.

Still crackin' though. And she's gorgeous.

[duTch]

 One thing I try and do when following another vehicle is ride where I can see their eyes in at least one mirror- long before heavy rigs started wearing the sign " If you can't see my mirrors, I can't see you".
   Trouble with that one is, often I see their mirrors (cars not trucks) but they'd have to be driving from the roof or elsewhere (often in their phone ) to see me. On occasion I've been able to adjust mirrors for them (maybe not while riding )

 

    I LIKE THE NOISE. I REALLY, REALLY LIKE THE NOISE. 

....(sound )

 Ride safe....