Back in the saddle

Today is the first time since I had my operation that I've had the weather and the nerves to get back in the saddle. They say that for those who lock their bikes up for winter are the ones more likely to have an accident when they finally get back on their bikes, because they think that they can ride as fast in winter as they did in the summer. I rode my amazing 'Black Thunder' last November for the very last time before the snow came. But having had almost almost three weeks off work due to the operation on my left leg. Not sure how my injury would hold out, still got some nasty painful bruising visible, but I had to go for it... today is the day I regain my nerve back. Today is the first day of the rest of my life. I decided that the weather conditions today were now ideal to get back on her. I have to admit though I was some how dubious of straddling her, starting the engine then figuring what to do next. It didn't take me long once I'd got over my nerves to knock her into first and slowly ride down the drive. Indicate right, glance in both directions, off I went. With the sun dazzling through the naked trees like a strobe light. I flicked down my tinted visor knocked her into second then third, fourth then fifth and I was away into the distance. The first bend was the same bend that I go round every time I drive out of our village. It hadn't changed, it was still the same sharpness. As I approached it my stomach rolled with the movement of the bike, knocked her down in to fifth then fourth, the engine roared, I leaned her over to my left and out the other side back up the gears into fifth then sixth. My nerves had gone. I was back in the saddle and loving every minute of it. With the roar of the 1300cc engine between my thighs, a broad smile inched it's way across my face. I had this vivid picture in the back of my mind of Spiky holding on tight. Her arms wrapped around my waist, a picnic of delectable delights tucked away in the top box, the wind behind and the sand dunes in the distance... but that's just my wicked mind coming into play. I have to admit it did feel great to be wearing my black leathers again and be Queen of the road once more.

Black Thunder

It is a week today that I had the misfortune of dropping my pride and joy, my Yamaha FJR 1300. It is an awesome piece of machinery and....... bloody heavy. I was parking at my parents house, the same place I park it every time I visit, but.... for some unknown reason, I put the side stand down, it stayed down , but the bike started to slide inward toward me.......
and when that happens, it becomes the point of no return. Down she went, as if in slow motion, but I couldn't stop her! My leg got stuck under her as she hit the pavement. I tried to pick her up but you're looking at a quarter of a tonne of motorbike. I managed to get out from underneath her, scramble to my feet.I was horrified when it happened. My lovely bike, scratched!! My pride "Dented!!"
I did eventually get the bike back up with some help from passers by. I thanked them. I just stood there in shock... I was physically shaking.. I felt sick. My left leg throbbing. BUT... and there's always a but.. at closer examination, I hadn't actually done too much damage, some scratches, but I didn't break anything on the bike, which I'm very happy about. Mirrors, indicators, foot pedals; the little things don't come cheap. As to my left leg, my knee ached some what, but my bones were still in one piece..."phew." The ride home was a nervous one, only three miles to go but I went steadily... my nerves slightly shaken. I have to be thankful that it wasn't a high speed smash, that I wasn't being scraped up off the road, taken to the morgue. I was merely standing still, at the side of 'Black Thunder' when she decided to have a proper rest and lie down!! I look back now, a week later, hopefully wiser, but these things happen, no-ones perfect. My knee is bruised and battered but I'll survive, I have it bandaged up and have had for the past few days. As the week's gone by, the pain has grown. I suppose the muscles that I have hurt are mending, and what with the miles that I cover at my job,the exercise will help heal it.
I told a couple of guys at work what I'd done and they just laughed at me. I can look back now and laugh too. Apparently I've now become a proper biker, I've officially "christened" my bike!
I can think of easier less painful ways of christening Black Thunder. But as I said I'm OK, that's all that counts... we can mend bikes, replace them if necessary. However people aren't always so lucky!!

Facing my fears

Today I've been out on my Yamaha FJR 1300 motorbike. I've travelled a long way. With the sun in my eyes, the throttle between my fingers and the roads beneath my wheels... I've had alot of fun. Today I went to Warwick in Warwick shire- a beautiful county. With endless winding roads to open her up and work my way up and down the gears. I did decide it would be rather brave of me to take her down the motorway, the last time I did that I frightened myself BIG time, today, however.... was easy. My previous bike didn't have the pull that this bike's got;if I want to move away with this bike I do-she has such shear power, she's awesome. I couldn't have chosen a better day for roaming around the countryside, the only down side is, in this heat... I get very hot n sticky in my black leather trousers.... but as I have a fetish for 'black leather' I can put up with it. The clue to riding on a three lane motor way is to keep your cool, concentrate and have eyes in every direction. You need to remember that every body on the road is wanting to get to where they're going as fast as they can... sometimes having little regard for the other users on the road ie: us motor bikers. I did at one stage of the journey find myself relaxing and actually starting to enjoy it, finding myself positioned in the outside lane whilst overtaking. Each and every time I go out on Black Thunder, every time I sit on her and turn the key in the ignition I'm risking everything, but I know what I have to do, I know there are idiots out there, drivers who don't see me, us... other road users who couldn't care less if they cut us up. But, you have to give them a wide birth, I have to know what the car in front of the car in front of the car in front is doing before the two cars behind 'that' car have realised and start to either slow down or start to stop. I have to read every one else's moves, if I don't then I in Big trouble. It's hard work, but I have to do it, for my safety. My safety is paramount to my survival.. and anyone who I take out with me, the pillion passenger is my responsibilty too. I read some where that you have to do some thing every day that scares you. I did that today, and I'm very proud of the fact that I faced my 'fear' and survived. I'm looking forward to going out again and going back on to the motorways, knowing now that they don't scare me anymore. I've faced my fear.

Time to say goodbye

Tomorrow I will be handing over my dear friend Dragonfly, my trusted friend my Honda deauville 650cc motorbike, in a part exchange for my new bike. I'm kind of sad, I always get attached to my bikes, like my cars, but I don't name my cars-just my bikes. Well you've seen the photograph on my blog... I actually get to bring the new bike home tomorrow. I would like it to be a nice day, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a dry journey. I shall say my goodbyes tomorrow just before I ride her for the last time, she's been a great piece of mechanical brilliance and never let me down, pitty people can't be like that.. never letting us down! I have to make room in my life for new beginnings. I know that once I get to grips with the Yamaha FJR 1300 aptly named ' Black Thunder,' I will love riding her. I will have to run her in, go steady for at least the first 200 miles, that shouldn't be too difficult, I'm not a stupid rider, I'd like to class myself as a sensible rider. I had a near miss the other day in the car park at work, some silly bugger didn't stop to see what or who was coming around the corner, it happened to be ME!! I slammed on the brakes, she kind of hit her brakes and we managed to miss one another... her explanation was " Oh sorry duck I didn't see you!" ... That's the main problem with prats in cars, they have tunnel vision and don't look out for any other road users..
For god sake it's a big enough bike ad I was wearing bright yellow fluorescent jacket, how the hell could she MISS me? Anyway, I can't make excuses for the idiots on the road who don't recognise us bikers, they should be given a test to see how they would cope in an accident with a biker or better still how to avoid having the accident in the first place! I will love and care for my new baby, she's brand new. I've had an alarm fitted, data chipped,heated handle bar grips, top box suitable for two crash helmets, and the addition of intercom, so I can talk to any passengers I decide to take on board. I'm quietly excited, tired more likely. I've been up since 5a.m-having started work this morning at 6a.m.