01/16/2024
Wanted to drop a note thanking everyone for the kind words about the business. So if you get a chance to follow the Fine Tune Studio page and instagram account (finetunestudiopgh) please do. It helps, so I am told!!!
I thought since I hadn't posted in a while I would give an update as to what is going on with myself, and hopefully more of you will give me updates on yourself!!! I love catching up, and seeing how everyone is doing, I just fall into the "life" situation and don't get to it.
So I have been teaching the motorcycle safety and riding for about three years now. We have the basic riders course, where we teach folks who have never ridden (and anyone else who wants a refresher), I also teach the BRC2 which is a bit more advanced and you can use your own ride. It can be helpful to use your bike and get tips on small idiosyncrasies that you might not notice. I also teach a 3 wheel course. If you own a trike or a Can AM, you can bring your own bike, and if not, we have a full shed of brand new Can Am Rykers for you to spend the day on. They are really, really fun to ride, and as far as prowess in acceleration and braking, unbelievable.
Other than that, I spent some time riding the FZ and the CBR last year. I cleared out the older Interceptor as I never had time to work on it, and the Ducati 900 is still propped up on the workbench. I need to take it to a shop or good Duck mechanic, but again, time to dedicate to that is the issue, so someday (or maybe I just do what Tracy did and tear it down to each individual bolt and rebuild it). Though I doubt I would have the same glorious results as his 748 (if I remember right that's what it was).
As to the FZ, this has been a full season of riding it bobber style. I like the looks of the bobber, but not sure I like it as much as when it has the sport classic tail section on it. I have to either put it back to that and refine the taillight and under tail plastic or put together a fiberglass or metal body piece to cap the bobber tail. Oh to have the time. One interesting thing I noticed was a benefit on the bobber was that I didn't have to swing my leg high to get over it. Didn't realize that was something I wanted until then.
Also, spent some time on the track at Pitt Race taking an ARC (advanced riders course). It was an unparalleled experience to me. They took us all out on the track (I was in group 3 of 6, group one being fastest, so pretty proud of that at 51), and we followed one of the leaders at a very quick pace. Then he would get behind each of us and follow us. After a 20 min session, we would go back to the classroom and get individual instruction on our technique and ways to improve.
I have been watching racing forever, and have seen several techniques that worked for different riders. Some had very intense body movement like Russell, and some had smooth lean angles with not as much body movement like Chandler. I felt pretty comfortable with almost the max lean on the FZ8 (I dragged the pegs a few times) so I was a bit more like Chandler though not comparing myself in really any other way. They kept telling me that the optimal technique was to turn your shoulders so that you were facing the turn, and when you turn, lean forward and almost put your chin on the tank. So a very extreme body lean. It was unsettling, but I started to get it by the end of the day. I thought "they are probably younger and teaching one technique, but it is cool to learn something that I am not doing". Then I watched MotoGP and noticed that literally all the riders are doing that. So really good ARC.
Short of the motorcycle stuff, it has all been focusing on Fine Tune Studio, the business.
Anyway, that is enough blathering on about what has been going on with me. Please, if you haven't already, let us know what is going on with you!
