motorcycle-commute thing

[mckitterick]

Things about commuting on a motorcycle that suck:

1) Wind blast at 75-80 mph is seriously un-fun. There's no way to ride the Johnson County Speedway (aka Highway 10) slower than that without getting rear-ended. Crosswinds add excitement, too.
2) Handlebar vibration at 4500-5000 RPM on a Suzuki Bandit is like getting one's hands massaged with a jackhammer.
3) The stock seat on a Bandit was designed by the Marquis de Sade to torture boy-bits. It has a grippy surface and leans down-and-forward, making one's weight roll onto one's... well, one's 'nads. Un-fun.
4) And then I have to do it again, commuting home after class (students are doing an in-class exercise now).

The good news is that my gel modification worked: The foot isn't any more sore than if I'd driven a car. However, time to buy a car, methinks. Or stop teaching at the Edwards campus... though this campus' desire for a tech-writing program is a big reason I came to KU. Sigh.

Anyone want to trade an equivalent-value car for the Bandit? I suppose I could just sell it; after all, the Aprilia scooter is technically a motorcycle, which makes me still technically a motorcyclist, right?

Back to teachin'.

Chris

Comments

[roya-spirit.livejournal.com]

Is there no one you could co-commute with to that campus?
Seems a shame that there wouldn't be at least *someone* headed that way each day.

[nous-athanatos.livejournal.com]

Things about commuting on a motorcycle that suck:

5) Rain feels like big cold bullets.

6) Snowstorms.

7) Right turn. Left lane. Wrong turn signal.*

This from several months of doing it while living in Santa Fé. Hope your transportation needs work out soon.

* From a little old lady who hit her right turn signal, moved into the left lane, and then indeed proceded to make a right turn from there into a business driveway and directly into my path. She couldn't make the turn sharp enough from the right lane. Cracked fairing, but no other damage to either my faithful Honda Hawk or to me.

Windscreen?

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

That picture was of a bike without a windscreen -- ick!ick!eatingbugs! Do you have a windscreen?

Riding

[kansas-dave.livejournal.com]

What kind of a helmet are you wearing? How big is your bike? I ride a 750cc Honda Shadow Spirit & wear a full helmet with the visor down when I'm on the highway, and haven't been having any problems. Since your stock seat isn't comfy, maybe consider a Corbin or some other replacement?

[chronovore.livejournal.com]

To quote Johnny Cash:
"Don't take your nads to town son
Leave your nads at home Bill
Don't take your nads to town"
(guitar strumming)

[adammaker.livejournal.com]

I like my sit-up-straight seat.
I like my nads.

I miss commuting with ya.