New rider frustrations

She's a beast.

My dad dropped off the bike Monday.

We had a nice time, he and I went to lunch and grabbed a cup of coffee at the former Empire Coffee while we waited for the train.

After he left, I was ready to take it out.

I got my Class M permit last week and I thought I was ready to roll.

I was not.

I dropped the bike five times trying to get out of the driveway.

I also crashed into a tree in my yard. It sucked.

I eventually got the beast into the street, got it rolling, turned around the corner ...

And dropped it again.

It was very frustrating.

Tuesday

There was just a little bit of a sprinkle of rain Tuesday, so I put the bike in the garage, and dropped it again.

I hadn't made enough room the garage, so I had to wait for my roommate to get home to pick it up again.

Wednesday

The bike sat in the garage while I worked and the sky rained.

Thursday (today)

After work there was still a bit of sunlight.

I grabbed the helmet, gloves and a jacket before I backed it out of the garage.

Thank you Honda for the Goldwing's reverse.

I got it out of the driveway and onto the street.

I went around the block a couple times without dropping it and pulled into the University parking lot, where I practiced for a little bit.

I have a long way to go, but I'm confident now that I can actually ride this thing.

Please leave a comment, I can use all the riding advice I can get. Happy trails.

Class M permit

Today is my Sunday.

I lazed about a bit, then made the move to the other room.

One of my roommates -- like a flatmate, we share the house not a single room -- moved out a while ago and the other roomie and I haven't been able to find a replacement.

Since I've been living in the smallest room in the house, I decided to move into the open space. I'm paying for it after all.

It took a bit of cleaning, I can be pretty messy, but around 3 p.m. I was about done and had my computer hooked up.

I took a few practice motorcycle tests online and checked to see if the DMV had appointments for Monday to take the written Class M test.

The site said there was a six minute wait. It was 3:40.

I changed clothes, drove over and filled out the form.

Barely any wait, but I browsed through the motorcycle handbook for about five minutes.

Called to the counter, handed over the paperwork, paid the 33 bucks, got my picture taken, took the test.

I had to pee.

Held it in.

Missed two questions.

Passed.

Now I can legally ride a motorcycle.

Just not at night. Or on the freeway. Or with a passenger.

So stoked.

My dad asked my about a month ago if I wanted his bike.

It's a 2000 (I think) Honda Goldwing. A beast of a bike.

Hell yeah I want the motorcycle!

He's bringing it up in a week. I can't wait.

I have almost zero experience on a bike. I rode a friend's dirt bike a couple times when I was a teenager, and I rode my dad's old bike around the block once. I dropped it when I got back to my parents' house.

That's it.

This is my story about learning to ride and riding a motorcycle.