M
MetalAbrahm
Guest
I've always heard people saying things about when they ride, they're free. You could quite literally say that about anything like reading a good book, eating chocolate, or wrestling with a bear. I bought my first bike, the 1981 GS650L around Christmas time and couldn't wait for my first chance to jump on it. I've had very little experience riding before 2006. Three of my friends own Ducatis and I've ridden up and down the streets on these Italian stallions a few times, but I didn't see what the fuss was about (or the price). But anyhoo, three weeks ago it was 57 degrees here in Indiana, so I had to take mine out. It was my maiden voyage with my father and his Excelsior-Henderson (1388 cubes, ever hear of em?). I must admit, it was the single greatest moment in my life thus far. When you ride, you do feel free. Even though the sun was shining, it was freezing at 50 mph. I didn't care. I had to pull a 10-hour shift at work in 13 hours. I didn't care. Pure bliss.
The bike handled excellent with plenty of pick-up. I rode for about 5 hours that day on the country roads. I've never been more comfortable with something so dangerous, which is a bad thing, but I've never been happier.
This past weekend I rode with my Ducati friends thinking they would leave me in the dust. I couldn't have been more wrong. I know it's stupid to try such daring things considering my lack of experience, but I'm young and invincible, right? At first we were just cruising around town asking one another where to go when we eventually hit some country roads. I could feel the speed pick up. I looked at the speedometer. 90 mph! I couldn't believe it. I was keeping up with my friends' Ducatis. No problem. We maintained the speed for a little while and eventually stopped. We pulled into a restaurant and started to chew the fat. Needless to say they were impressed. Not one of us could have imagined the power that the 25 year old bike oozed out. As fun as that was, I don't think I will ride like that for a long time. Sitting here in my computer chair it frightens me. But then again, when you're on the bike, you're free.
The bike handled excellent with plenty of pick-up. I rode for about 5 hours that day on the country roads. I've never been more comfortable with something so dangerous, which is a bad thing, but I've never been happier.
This past weekend I rode with my Ducati friends thinking they would leave me in the dust. I couldn't have been more wrong. I know it's stupid to try such daring things considering my lack of experience, but I'm young and invincible, right? At first we were just cruising around town asking one another where to go when we eventually hit some country roads. I could feel the speed pick up. I looked at the speedometer. 90 mph! I couldn't believe it. I was keeping up with my friends' Ducatis. No problem. We maintained the speed for a little while and eventually stopped. We pulled into a restaurant and started to chew the fat. Needless to say they were impressed. Not one of us could have imagined the power that the 25 year old bike oozed out. As fun as that was, I don't think I will ride like that for a long time. Sitting here in my computer chair it frightens me. But then again, when you're on the bike, you're free.
/
Anyway, I finally made it to the next town (read village) and found out that my speedometer is about mile off from the hubby's... Maybe I was going faster than I thought all this time? Anyway, after yesterday, I'd give nearly anything for a windshield... LOL, I felt like a cat toy being bat around by a mountain lion.... 
