Got kicked out of church (moderately long)

(This is not meant to demean the church)
First off, I'm a newb, so I need to practice.
Well, I went to the church tonight (10:30) to try and gain a little experience with slow speed handling. This church is the perfect practice area. It's got a huge smooth paved parking lot with plenty of lighting. There's maybe like 8 street lights in the whole lot, so they are not a problem. Up one side of the lot are evenly spaced little "islands" consisting of a small tree with a curb around it. Perfect for some in and out weaving.
Well, there was only one vehicle in the whole place. Guess...yep, a minivan. I figure that's the preacher practicing his sermon. So, I start doing some lefts and they start to feel good (actually, it was kind of hit and miss, but when I got them tight it felt good), then I try a right and almost dump it. I did maybe two or three good right turns. The throttle is just too twitchy in first gear. You're either zooming or you're hearing the tranny going Rrrrrr...Rrrrrr...Rrrr...Rrr (engine braking). I did a couple of slalom runs through the islands and that was a blast! I was riding for about 20 minutes. Just as I start a tricky right hander around one of those islands at the begining of another slalom run...PPOOOOOOOOFF!!!...out go the lights. All of a sudden I can't see where the street lamps are! My head light looks like a cheap flashlight with dying batteries.
So, I get my bearings back and head for the exit...still not comfortable with my low speed handling.

Shoulda picked a different place. Respect the church. He was probably getting annoyed by hearing your motorcycle while trying to practice his sermon.

hey atleast you bike didn't spontaneously explode...or hail fall from the sky...but you did get the hint one way or another...i stay away from them churchs...scary stuff man

Nice....

Hey, I think you got the right idea. Open lots are a great place to practice.

[Jumperalex]

HAHAHA that is funny cause I started my first lessons with my buddy who taught me to ride in a church parking lot as well. it was a saterday (so why would anyone be there) well someone came out and said we were distubrning them. I don't see how, his bike was quiet, but we politely said ok and left. I'm still wondering what the hell they were doing there on a saterday, but we just went to the slightly more crowded park down the road to get some more practice in.

I'm still amazed at how I learned to ride, it was pretty much throw me on, show me the clutch, throttle brake shifter and go. didn't tell me anything about counter steering etc so the first turn I took after the slow speed parking lot ... I had ot go straight cause I couldn't get the bike to turn trying to just use my weight.

of course I knew even less about body steering. kinda interesting how I am "back to the beginning" on the whole trying to steer with my legs/body now that I have hit the track

Yeah....

Its bad enough the church has child molesters in their clergy attracting negative attention...now sportbikers riding through their parking lots? Heaven forbid you pick up a nun....

Good thing the LA Times wasn't around to do a story on ya...:thumbsup

oh my god...that was funny....yea...i think the noise was interrupting the priest's concentration...them damn alter boys can run fast...


that was terrible...but damn it i should have thought of it earlier...

Wouldn't take it too personally- but if you get hurt on their property, they could get the short end of the stick.

Hhaah Rolling I told you to goto Cordova High School parking lot its huge and no one will mess with you there ;) heheh you went to belvue im sure. ROFL ;)

Depending on the size of the church, the will split it up and have service on Sat and Sun, so that everyone can attend and sit. Just an FYI.