Next weekend I’m doing parking lot exercises for the motorcycle course I’m taking.  Then the MST… and then the road test the week after.  I’m so pumped!

Today is the beginning of my new life
I am starting over today
All good things are coming to me today
I am grateful to be alive
I see beauty all around me
I live with passion and purpose
I take time to laugh and play every day
I am awake, energized, and alive
I focus on all the good things in life
and give thanks for them
I am at peace and one with everything
I feel the love, the joy, the abundance
I am free to be myself
I am magnificence in human form
I am the perfection of life
I am grateful to be…
ME.
Today is the best day of my life.

It’s a list of bikes that are rode by the more “vertically challenged”

2011 Harley-Davidson Sportster Superlow

The Reviewer
Name: Audra Baldinger
Height: 4’11″ (26” inseam)
Years of Riding Experience: less than a year

Bike Basics
Manufacturer: Harley-Davidson
Model: Sportster Superlow
Year: 2011
Type: Cruiser
Purchase Details: I originally purchased a 1992 Yamaha Virago to learn on, but found the levers too difficult to reach and the bike top heavy.  After a lot of tears and frustration, my husband found a superlow at Trev Deeley’s (the last one!) and bought it for me.

Engine Displacement (cc): 883
Number of Gears: 5
Final Drive: Belt
Cooling System: Air
Seat Height (unmodified): 25.5″
Carburetion Type: Fuel Injected
Fuel Capacity: 17 liters
Weight: 563lbs

Comfort (original set up)
Hand/Foot Controls: The hand controls are way better than the Virago, as I can actually reach them.  The foot pegs I hated as they weren’t straight. They dropped back… a picture is worth a thousand words

They made it so my short feet couldn’t reach the shifter peg.  It was an easy fix though, and an excuse to get new pegs. I got stock pegs from an Iron 883 that someone had taken off for $20 at the dealer.
Seat: Solo seat designed for the superlow in that it is very narrow and low making it easy to reach the ground.
Long Rides: I haven’t gone very far with her yet, and if I would relax a bit more she would be comfortable.

Handling
Highway Power/Zip: She’s got more than enough power for me at my current skill level.
Tight Turns: She’s been able to maneuver any tight turns I’ve tried on her so far, and would probably even turn tighter if I’d relax more (new rider syndrome *grin* )
Twisty Roads: I haven’t had a chance to take her on any real twisters yet as I still have my learners, but she’s been great everywhere we have been and I feel confident on her.
Wind/Rain/Heat: I haven’t had any problems with her on wet roads, and she runs great even on hot days.  With the fuel injection, she starts every time and I don’t have to play around with a choke.  Nor do I have to worry about her stalling when cold.
Braking Power: She stops awesome!

Modifications Made
What I Changed: So far just the foot pegs.

Added Extras
What I Added: Just a tool bag and a windshield.

Maintenance
What I’m Doing: Usual maintenance like checking the oil & tire pressures.  She’s still under warranty with the dealer.

Conclusions
What I Think: I love my bike!  She’s comfortable for me to sit on, and doesn’t feel top heavy like the Virago did.  With my short legs, I do wear boots with heels but I could probably use a ½” more so it’s easier to duck walk her around. I don’t have any problems with her stalling on me, and it’s easy to find her fiction zone.  I also don’t look quite so little sitting on her, nor do I feel so small… we fit each other. She gives me a better a sense of confidence. The weight distribution on her feels low and not so top heavy… it’s like she wants to stay up straight. I’m not sliding around on the seat, and can easily reach the clutch & brake lever! Because she’s fuel injected, she’s not nearly as temperamental and hasn’t stalled on me yet… believe me she should have!  Oh, and she will shut herself off when she does decide to take a nap *blush*

Did I mention that I love my bike?

And her bow, plus she now has a headband.

Now I just got to decide how I’m gonna make her arrows and then do it.  Then a stand and seal her face.  Home stretch!

• Very thin tooling leather (I used 2oz petite calf, but I think this will work just as well
• A sharp exacto knife
• Pattern
• A well sharpened pencil
• Clear tape

For this tutorial, I created this pattern.  It’s a very simple bustier that will be laced up in the back….

Ok… so you take your pattern and roughly cut it out of the leather leaving a bit of an edge all around it like so…

Now take a damp sponge or  cloth and wet your leather… first the back side…

Then the front making sure it’s all evenly damp…

Now for the hard part… go do your dishes or something else and let the leather dry to where the color is just about what it was before you wet it.  This is called casing the leather, and if it’s too damp the leather will heal itself.

Is it ready yet?

Ok… now get that tape.  I used just regular tape here, but in hindsight packing tape would have worked better.  Whatcha gonna do is tape the pattern overtop of the leather and onto the table or a mat.  You want to completely cover your pattern with the tape so that as you are drawing over the pattern, the paper won’t warp because of the damp leather.

Once you have it securely taped down, take your pencil and go over the entire design pressing down firmly.  I use a pencil for this because for one reason, I can see where I’ve been and the other reason is that the pencil seems to glide nicely.

Got it all done?  Are you sure?  Absolutely sure?  Ok, let’s take a peak…

It’s marked into the leather!

Now… get the exacto knife and carefully cut the pattern out.

Now it’s time to form it onto the doll.  My leather was still slightly damp at this point, but if yours isn’t then wipe it at the bust spot with your damp sponge.  Don’t soak it, just dampen it a bit.

Using your fingers, push the leather around her bust starting from between her boobs.

and around the top of her breasts, smoothing it out as much as you can.

Keep pushing the leather to form around her breasts until it fits smoothly.  I use a little piece of tape to hold the back together so it stays on while doing this.

Let it dry completely on her, then you can paint it and add the eyelets in the back so you can lace it up.

“A tip over is only a moment’s pause from the fun”

Resources For Women Motorcycle Riders | Harley-Davidson USA.

I wish Tandy still sold the petite calf… I love that stuff. 

It took me a couple full days to work out the pattern & to tool them.  Then it took me a couple of hours just to lace them up.  By the time this gal gets her boots on, she’s missed the hunt!

Anita Moorjani | NDE Details.