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I usually pull at 2k. My canopy takes 400-600 ft to open. Depending on the jump I may pull a little higher 2500-3000. The only issue I've had (so far) was when I jumped an accuracy canopy that someone else packed for me and it took 1k to open, that scared the crap out of me. I would adjust my opening for a different DZ that I was not used to jumping at but for solos at my home dz it's 2k.

When I did my course they used the buell blast (492cc) that were pretty beat up. The one I was on only had 400 miles, I think most of them were laying down. It was a pretty well balanced bike but when they don't have any weight to them that's not had to do.

I've been traveling for 8 years. I have a wife and an 18 month old girl at home. I'm out of town Mon-Fri or Wed-Sun depending on the week. It's great and kind of sucks at the same time. I spend about 250+ nights a year in a hotel and I drive (company van) whenever possible, up to 600 miles 1 way. If it pays good and you think you can spend the time away from your wife and child, do it, at 6 months old is when they start to be fun.

I figured I would post an update to my thread since I had so many replies when I created it. I have taken and passed a MSF Basic Rider Course, I now have an "M" on my license even if it says Restrictions = MC Novice, that will go away in a year. I took a Riders Edge course at my local Harley Dealer. I have almost 1000 miles on my bike now.

I "use" 22, but I install them. 10 touch screen cash registers, 10 terminals, 4 servers (2 headless) At home I only have 2. 1 20" in a closet (Omniview on two systems) and 1 32" hanging on the wall in the living room. One system runs my camera's and the other has 3 HDTV and 2 SDTV tuners. I don't have anything fancy like those pictures. I used to work at a tape library (AS400) and I had to watch 15 monitors for tape mount requests. PITA. Yes, I put your backup tapes in for you. (You know who you are.)

I was at wally world the other day and "asked" my wife if we could get it and she said NO. I told her that it was no wonder that when she looks at the games she always finds something "new", even if I've had it for 6 months. I told her that I asked, now I'll just get it when I am on the road. She threatened to check my bank account.

Myself and my wife both had a pair of Asolo boots. They were pretty nice but mine did not really seem to last like I would have expected for the price that I paid. Hers still look brand new (5 years later) but she barely ever goes hiking. I would not get a pair without checking the fit, they are all different. Right now I have a pair of Footprints (Birkenstock) brand boots that I have been wearing a lot for the past 4 years and they have been great. Not that I have been hiking a lot, but when I am not outside I've been wearing them to work (On my feet moving around for 8-10 hours a day) and I'll maybe need a resole in another 6 months or so. Most expensive shoes (boots) I've ever had, but they have lasted longer than anything else. I'd pay a little more for something that I know would last.

Gosh no, I DON'T live in RI, I just had to come here for work. I don't think I could ever live here. No one knows how to pour a good drink up here. I live in OH with all of the deer, corn and soybeans.

Looks like a nice ride. I'm going to be getting tags when I get home from Rhode Island. It appears that AIR is not taken yet. That is also my kids initials.

I completely get what you are saying. It's 60 LONG miles to the DZ, even if on back roads in the middle of a corn field. I know that I need to practice at LEAST what you said. What I really need to do is take a week of vacation from work and just do the MSF BRC ( at most Harley dealers, OR since I live less than 100 miles from a Honda training center I could do it there.) The State offers BRC's for $25 but they are full until at least November. I don't have the time to do stand-by. My bike came with a book by the MSF and the States manual has a lot of things in it as well. I really need to stay away from other people until I can "for sure" do the things that are listed in at least those manuals. It will build so much confidence (and for me a more healthy "fear"). I don't know if I can do the speed up then brake with 90 degree turn and stop. I don;t think I want to try it for the first time when I "have" to do it. Like the downsizing checklist, I CAN do everything on it, yet I'll keep my Synergy 170 and Classic 304. I really want to thank everyone that has commented on this thread. I know that I DON'T know shit about riding a motorcycle and everyone has told me that as well. When I get home (or a few extra minutes) I'll call Honda or Harley, or whomever has a course that I can take SOON. then I WILL take time off of work to do it. Sure I can also find a parking lot and practice as well BUT the bike is provided on the course, I wont have to even think about scratching up mine... When I have (2 times, once from the dealer, 10 miles, and once on a US route 35 mile round trip) been in traffic I was somewhat "scared" and I thought, very careful. My wife followed me from the dealer (on a 45mph curvy road, a few stop lights and lights with hills that were green), the US route was pretty straight and 55 mph most of the way with semis and dump trucks. I was way more conservative out there (and scared of the other people). I really want to ride to and from the DZ BUT I do not think I am ready yet. That's how I'm going to stand, ASAP I will take a course, even if its a few hundred dollars, I paid way more to learn to jump and I've always thought jumping was way less dangerous.

None Taken. I think that way because it seems to keep me more safe. If I think I will never wreck, I may not prepare or train for the possibility of it happening. About CC's, I may be wrong but it seems that more CC's make for a heavier bike, sure I could have gotten a 1200cc cruiser or a big ass Honda Goldwing, but I'd be a dumb ass if I did, I couldn't hold up the weight. I hope that nothing ever happens to me when I am out on my bike but I need to think about what could happen. Even when driving my personal car or work van (1000+ miles a week) I think about if the guy behind me does not stop in time or if my brakes fail, is that a-hole going to pull out in front of me? (I started driving on $100 cars, I was lucky to have brakes) Always looking for outs. Too much thinking, maybe. One night I was driving down the highway at 85-90 mph working my way to pass someone going almost the same speed, they were a little ahead of me, then without warning a DEER ran across the road (from right to left) barley missing the other car. All of us (both cars and the deer) would have been dead if the deer hit that car then the car and / or deer hit me. It was really close. Not that this story has anything to do with what we are talking about but now I think about things a little more. Skydiving I approach like, when not if I have to cutaway. I know I can cutaway, I have twice. What if... is the way I look at a lot of things. When I stop having a healthy fear of the things I do, I quit doing them. I stopped rock climbing because I found myself without a partner (moved away) and free climbing short but less than easy climbs by myself (5.11's and such). Back when I was "on rope" I alway told myself "if you fall, you die", then, there I was, upside down, 100ft from the ground, no rope, having to climb back down thinking WTF, dumb ass.

No, you were clear, my reply was just a ramble. I'll lay it down stopping, starting or on a corner (most likely). I was just commenting about NOT getting something bigger than my experience level. At this level I can use all of the protection I can get my hands on. Like, I have about 400 jumps, I DO NOT need something smaller than I have now (170). I have less than 1000 miles on a bike, I don't need a 1600cc bike or a custom chopper, a sport bike, or the like. Sure I can get killed on this just the same but... Risk management, right? I hope to have a BRC and a few thousand miles under my belt by the time it starts to get cold out. That is one of the best things that I can do for myself. (As everyone has already pointed out.) I do really appreciate anyones advice or comments (internet... instructor... take a class....) One of the things that scares me the most is low speed (sharper) turns, just because I have not done very many. I have looked a a lot of documentation (most of it by the MSF) and I don't know if I can do half of that stuff. That is the things I need to work on to be more confident AND not a danger to others on the road. I will be getting new boots and pants as soon as I possibly can, then a MSF approved course. (Maybe I need a tatoo first?)

I don't post very often. No one wants to be my friend. No worries. Is an occasional bite bad?

When I got it I told the dealer to order some turn signals for me, I'd be in for them at some point. There were a few 20mph 90 degree corners (going down a hill) along my route to the DZ with nothing but cornfields around (extra dirt, mud or maybe gravel) on the road. I slowed down a lot in the car and thought about meeting the guard rail on my ass, bile first. Maybe I read too much into things but I think it is good to think about what could and "will" someday happen. I should always keep in mind my little kid, if nothing else I'd want to be around for her. I just don't know about getting the pants online. With as much as I travel I need to start checking in the places I go to. The guy that sold me the bike was telling me about a few of the wrecks that he was in, not that it was helping him sell it to me, I already knew what I wanted when I went there but really, did I need to know that? The possible wrecking was one of the reasons that I got a "smaller" bike. I'd be a retard to start on a 1200 or so. 600cc is more than plenty for now. So I only have 4 gears, I guess I wont be doing 150 mph in 3rd gear.

Like Pilotwings for Wii.. I've been wondering if they will come out with that for virtual console. If you make it I will buy it.

I got a Vega Mach 1 (Full Face) DOT and SNELL approved, and a Nitro Racing? jacket (has the "CE approved protection") No pants or special boots YET. O have boots that are leather and provide pretty good coverage, but they are a hiking type of boot ($300) and have that groove in the middle that makes me have to move my foot out of the groove to shift (or maybe brake) I'll be getting some other type of boot to wear ASAP for that reason. I have no clue about leg protection and I really wouldn't worry about it if I'd ever been on a bike before. It seems like the Harley dealers are better prepared for newer riders, almost all of them offer MSF courses, the Honda dealer really could have cared less. I know Honda offers courses in 4 places in the US, one of them is less than 100 miles from my home, yet there are 3 Harley dealers in my city that offer courses. I am kind of glad that I got a full face for now. On my little ride I had a bug hit my faceshield at what would have been right between my eyes.

It IS really smooth. I took it out last weekend and rode it 18 miles 1 way (4 lane 55 mph US route) and only 1 person passed me to slow down and turn right. I drive my work van (2008 Uplander Cargo Van) like everyone is trying to kill me, so it's not too far to convert that over, just a little more scary when that semi passes me at 58 mph on my little 600cc (450 lbs) bike. I hope that is does not break down, they gave me a "tool kit" it is a baggie and a screwdriver. I guess I just find "someplace" to shove it if I breakdown.

The Initial thought was cost of the bike and fuel to and from the DZ. Yeah 60-70 miles is a long way when you have never been on a bike before, but I (and my wife) thinks that I will be pretty conservative. I'm sure in the long run it will completely change my "style". It's one of the things that was never on my list of things to do and I find myself happy that I rented a locker at the DZ so all I have to do is ride down any chance I get to get a jump in. Pretty soon I'll be one of those retards that I see riding in the pouring ass rain with a rain suit on. I can feel it.

I wanted a Harley but I convinced my wife that the Honda was cheaper and I did not want to scratch up a "good" bike learning to ride.

I didn't know I should do it to mopeds. That reminds me of the 400+ pound woman that was "sitting" on a moped when I went back to the dealer. It made me think of a hover-round dealer. I tried not to giggle as I walked by. And I said that "I" wouldn't do drunken burnouts yet...

My "step" dad says I should winter it in FL. He would keep it in the bedroom at night. I told him that I may consider it if he never said that again. [shudder]. I may think about Texas when I go for a Iron Butt number.

I finally got a title, now I can get tags. With tags I don't need protection AND I can ride on the highway, right? Temp tags scream new rider, now don't they. Within 5 minutes of riding I learned "the wave"... (I'll stick to the back roads for now. and no drunken burnouts or "runway" rides.)

I plan on doing a MSF BRC if I ever get off of work or home long enough to do it. I know it takes less than a week but I'm always out of town. AND in my state, a completed MSF approved Basic rider course will waive the "test" for the license. Everyone that I have talked to that is a rider recommends taking a course. Most even said they took one after riding for years and learned quite a bit.

Shiney is a word, right? Soo.. I've never really been on a motorcycle, It's 60.4 miles 1 way to the dropzone (69 on back roads (temp license prohibits interstate and night time travel)... I got a 2007 Honda Shadow VLX deluxe (1 mile on it). I figure with the 15 month old kid, my wife will need the car a little more this year, and with work putting a GPS in my company van, I can't "sneak" it down there so much anymore. Crazy, maybe. I've scoped out the different routes that I can take (2 lane and 4 lane limited access, state or US route). With fuel prices how they are this can't really hurt my pocket too much. I am a little scared, but I hope that never really goes away. So far I have 45 miles on it, 4 lane and 2 lane roads with a lot of curves. Maybe I wont kill myself on it this year, or better yet maybe someone else wont kill me on it this year.

I got "my" dog at a store. This store took in unwanted (accident) animals. He is a Australian Sheppard / Chow mix. He cost me $30, that is how much the guy had in shots and stuff. Best dog I've ever had... (Sampson Fuzzy Wuzzy) After he pooped in the house 1 time, I told him that he could not do that and he never has since. My wife figured that "all" dogs were that easy to train and started doing foster work with a non profit, no kill, shelter. She kept our first foster dog, a black lab mix named Sampson (he was a kid biter, underground fence shocked dog, dog bit kid that got him too close to fence). Then she went to the shelter one day and came home with a girl dog (some fluffy tail 40# brown dog). Now we have 3 dogs (70#, 50#, 45#) 2 cats, 1 turtle, and a 15 month old kid. My dog will let the kid do pretty much anything to him. I see NO reason to EVER buy a dog from a breeder OR pet store (unless it was like above) anyone can get any type of dog that they really want from a rescue group. There is a group for every type of dog I can think of.