Teaching my wife to tame the FJ1200

[ssuv93]

Marsh White asked me to keep everyone updated on my wife's progress in learning to ride an FJ.  For the complete history please see my introduction "Hello from Maine". 

To recap, my wife wants to learn to ride our FJ.  She rode a motorcycle a few times in her teens.  I had her sit on the bike on it's center stand and practice control operation (starter button, kill switch, horn, clutch and brake operation, shifter operation, etc.) until she had everything memorized and could do it all without looking.  I had her move the bike around our gravel driveway, on the bike and off the bike.  We went to a large parking lot and I had her do large figure 8's, shifting, starting and stopping.  She did well with the usually apprehension of slow speed turns. 

On Sunday we went to a friend's cookout, and he lives on rarely used back country road, with about a 3 mile, 3 road circuit (triangle).  She did well on the circuit, used all the gears and got up to about 45 mph.  ALL of the intersections had an abundance of gravel on the tar.  I had pointed these out to her on the way.  At one point she had to make a rh turn onto a road.  She felt she was going too fast for the turn, wasn't slowing down quick enough, so she purposely overshot the road and turned around and went back.    I told her that this was an excellent decision and never be afraid to do it again.  The only other problem she had was when she came back and parked.  She didn't fully extend the kickstand (I forgot to teach her to double check the kickstand like I do).  The bike went down, but she was able to control the fall and laid it down softly.  Softly enough so that there were no scratches, broken plastic, no broken anything (on tar), only a bruised ego. 

Marsh White was prophetic when he said the weight would be the problem.  I have commented that my wife was 5' 11" slender but very strong.  But as Marsh knew, not strong enough to stop a 580 + pound bike from going down.  I had thought that I would be angry if something like this happened.  But have found that I was more concerned about her than the bike.  I realized that this is all part of the learning curve (I had done the same thing with my first bike).  All in all I think she did a great job.  What do you all think? 

(Prophet)Marsh, anything else I have forgotten in my lesson primer for Sherry?  Anyone else?  The next road training I am going to try to teach her the concept of countersteer.  She does it on her mountain bike, but I don't think she even knows she is doing it.  We watched the video posted of a new supermoto driver crashing (in this forum) and showed her what happens when you "steer" into a corner, and not countersteer.  The video also graphically showed "operator freeze/panic" and that you should really be "in" the moment.  I also thought it showed the danger of trying to keep up with much more experienced rider.  (To the Supermoto rider, no insult intended, it probably would have happened to me). 
                  Murray & Sherry
                       

[FJ Flyer]

I would include the basic MSF concepts, my favorite being keep the bike in gear when you stop (this one literally saved my bacon from being part of a fireball), with one foot only down on the ground (that part may be tougher for her in the beginning), as well as following distances (count of three), picking your track in the lane, and most of all - all the cages are out to kill you, expect them to try in every circumstance and think ahead of what you'd do.

You're way ahead of the game.  I wish I could even get my wife to ride on the back (wait, then again, maybe not so much  ).

[Arnie]

Murray & Sherry,

While it seems like you're progressing with her training pretty well, and we can provide some suggestions, it would be a good idea for Sherry (and maybe you too) to take a "Returning rider course".  Most of the MSF and other rider training organizations offer these courses and they will have instructions and insights that most of us have forgotten.
The FJ is a heavy bike, and though it has a low seat height, it still requires quite a bit of upper body strength to control.  How's Sherry feel about weight training?

Cheers,
Arnie

[Mark Olson]

Murray and Sherry,

The 86fj is a beast to ride in stock formation, beware late braking into corners cause it likes to stand up and put you into a ditch. brake early and ride thru the corner.
be careful with 2nd gear.

have fun.

[ddlewis]

...
You're way ahead of the game.  I wish I could even get my wife to ride on the back (wait, then again, maybe not so much  ).

Sometimes think about how great it would be if I could get the wife interested in riding her own bike and have a built in riding buddy.  In theory anyway.  The reality is she's not that good a driver.  The kids call her mini-van "The Bumpercar".   Seriously doubt she would be any better rider.  basically I would start worrying the minute we pulled out of the driveway. 

Also she has no interest.  17 years married to me, always garage with motorcycles, and never once said 'show me how'.  I've offered, she's declined.  I may be able to talk her into it if I really tried, but probably just not a good idea.  *see bumpercar.

She likes to ride on the back sometimes.  I think we could get into some two-up touring if we had the bike for it..  Maybe a goldwing in our future. 

[ssuv93]

Thanks all, Sherry is enrolled in our state's certified motorcycle safety course.  As far as weight training, she used to do a full set of workouts weekly.  So I think she would go back to it easily.  However, I said I would never be married to a woman who could take me in a fair fight.   I have told her and she has seen that cage drivers think of motorcycles as "sport".  Good suggestions on keeping your foot on the ground and the bike in gear, and picking your track in the lane.  I have also tried to show her how to ride in the "third dimension" by knowing where you need to be in a lane 100, 200, 300 yards ahead.  Mark help me out with the second gear thing.  I know FJ's have an issue with second gear, ours doesn't, if we ride it sanely will we still have the problem down the road?  The bike has 40,000 miles on it now. 

You guys are great.  I wish there was something like this when I was starting to ride.  My only lesson was a set of keys to a Harley Superglide and the admonishment not to hit anything. 
              Murray

[Mark Olson]

If you have 40k on the fj you are probably ok with 2nd gear.

It only becomes a problem when you miss shifts and hit false neutral on the 1-2 shift and bend the shift fork.
Then when it gets bad enough it will start popping out of 2nd under load. The fix is to replace the shift fork to a later year fj with a beefier fork.

If you  are not drag racing or power shifting all the time you will not have a problem.

[vulcanbill]

If she would like some inspiration, here's my wife who is 5'7" and about 125 lbs on her FJ.  She's 33 and has been riding since 18 y/o.  With practice and lots of miles, the weight just becomes part of the bike.  Girls and FJs go together quite nicely.  Tell her to keep it up.   

Friday BRP | vulcanbill

Then, after mastering the FJ, smaller bikes become like toys... 

Chasing Kim on the Dragon 7/8/9 | vulcanbill

The Hero Wide camera distorts.  Everything is sharper (turns) and distances are closer (between bikes) than the camera shows.

BillO

[TRoy]

Hi Bill, great videos..  looks like she could teach you a thing or two about choosing your line 

Peace & Love! 

[vulcanbill]

Hi Bill, great videos..  looks like she could teach you a thing or two about choosing your line 

Peace & Love! 

Thanks.

She did and does.  I love following her because she's so clean.  The student becomes the teacher.   

BillO

[tqmx1]

Sounds like my wife when she is on her CBR 929 & when she gets in the grove 3 turns later and Stef is gone!!!

[ssuv93]

Thanks for the inspiration vulcanbill!  I enjoyed watching her in your videos, when I could see her, that is!      Thanks for posting the videos, I am anxious for my next ride. 

         Sherry