Wilsons Sandbox

Well, I know you've all been waiting with baited breath for the ride report I promised over a week ago. I am now happy to oblige... The weekend turned out to be rather ugly weather-wise. We decided to postpone the event until a time when the roads were bone-dry and the holiday-makers were back where they came from. That time came yesterday afternoon. It began with quite a ceremony; my mother and sister came out to 'cheer' us on, laughing at how nervous I looked. Anna (the passenger) and I had previously practiced the mount and dismount maneuver, so that part of the ride went off without a hitch. Next, give myself a final mental once-over (and run through all your suggestions), make sure Anna's still into actually doing this, plunk her (the bike) in gear, and pull away slowly. I live in a true suburban area, so for the first 10 minutes or so, cars were not a problem. We started out slow on the back streets, with me feeling the difference in control, acceleration, and braking. Anna just stayed quiet, and did her thing. I didn't have to coach her at all on the procedure of being a passenger; she's had lots of experience with that already, and was fully comfortable behind me. Apparently, the waist straps on my JR jacket make great handles. We then moved onto a slightly bigger road, with longer corners and even the occasional car! At this point, I'm still trying to get used to the whole 'I can't lean the bike as I'm used to' thing, so off we go onto the side streets again for a little cornering practice. After a few laps through some tight alleys, I felt a lot more confident. Next, it was time for a break, so down to the local ice-cream shop we go! I reasoned that since she had just put her life in my (capable) hands, I owed her at least a single-scoop waffle cone. Aren't I romantic? Anyway, the trip went off without a hitch, and we're planning to do another one next week that'll take us a little farther from home. Baby steps are the way to go! Some things I noticed: 1. My bike (with a preload of 1) sagged a LOT with the two of us on its back. Now, I hate to bring up chain adjustment, but should I be worried about chain tension if I've already adjusted it to spec when its on the sidestand? 2. I really, really liked being able to have both feet flat on the ground (can't wait for those links to arrive!). I guess once I lower the bike, I'll have to increase the preload to avoid dropping the bike too low? 3. If we're going to do this often, a SS front brake line is in the near future. 4. Anna's right foot was getting a little warm from the engine; nothing to be concerned about, just something she noticed. Have any of your passengers mentioned this same heat? Is there anything I can do about it? 5. There's nothing better than hearing a giggle of glee emit from your passenger as she congratulates you on your improvement, and encourages you to "try it a little faster next time". Sorry this post went so long. If anyone has answers to my questions, I'd love to hear them! Tim Ryce A9 - 22030km