March 30: Ready for Adventure!

Woohoo! I am ready for adventure! Today I got my seat customized so that I fit better on the new baby. I even had the windshield cut down so that I can see perfectly without looking through the windshield. Finally, I found an inexpensive duffel bag on Amazon that fits my luggage and meets Iceland Airline luggage requirements. I am so darn excited about summer.

I absolutely love my new (to me) Honda CB500x. But after riding it for a few weeks I decided I would feel more in control of the bike if I could touch the ground with more than the tips of my toes. So, on Monday of this week, I had Bob Lanphere’s Beaverton Motorcycle install a lowering link and new kickstand and lower the front forks to match the rest of the bike. The change was immediate and remarkable, making it possible for me to rest the balls of my feet on the ground. Wow!

Today I headed south to Mr. Ed’s Moto to have Ryan Denno create a new seat for me out of the one that came with the bike, making it possible for me to be even closer to the ground as well as to the front of the bike. Ryan left the existing seat pan but removed some of the factory foam from the middle and front of the seat. He added some high-density memory foam and a top layer and then put the old seat cover back on. With the lowering links and new seat, I am now able to rest both feet lightly on the ground and push off firmly from the balls of my feet. Victory!

Not wanting to settle for anything less than a complete fit I decided to stop in Woodburn on my way home to have my windshield cut down by the same amount we took out of the seat, making it possible for me to maintain a clear field of vision. Paul did an incredibly professional job, and it was great to trade motorcycle stories with him while he was working.

As I confidently drove down Paul’s loose gravel driveway to the country road back home, I reveled in the fact that my bike was ready for adventure, and I was fully ready to ride the bike. Not wanting to end the good news for the day, I took the time when I got home to make sure my motorcycle luggage fit in the inexpensive duffel bag I ordered from Amazon. Success! Summer here I come.