Episode one: riding to pick up a new Yamaha R7

Why Episode 1 is hosted here (for now): I am currently experiencing technical difficulties verifying the new @widowsride channel, which has temporarily locked me out of uploading videos longer than 15 minutes. Because Widows Ride is a long-form channel, I’ve decided to upload the complete, uninterrupted First Episode right here on my personal channel. (If you prefer, you can also watch it broken down into 3 parts over on @widowsride). Once YouTube resolves the verification, all long-form episodes will live exclusively over there. About this Episode: I’ve had my Yamaha MT-07 for a couple of months now, and the physical, emotional, neurological, and social benefits of riding have been unexpectedly profound as I work to build a new life after loss. In Widows Ride, I’m sharing my journeys, my thoughts, and a long-term experiment: I love riding so much—and am so committed to keeping speed and high-limit training strictly in the comparative safety of the track—that I’ve gone and bought a brand-new YZF-R7 race bike. It is stuffed to the gills with the kind of modern, high-tech electronic intervention straight off the GP paddock designed to make riding at speed safer and more intuitive. The CP2 Experiment: Both of these bikes share Yamaha's legendary CP2 parallel twin engine, but they wrap it in two completely different geometries. The overarching question of this series: Which of these engines is actually worth derestricting and keeping as a forever bike? I am exploring this specifically with older, safety-first riders in mind. Comparing a naked street machine with a dedicated R7 trackday tool is going to reveal some fascinating truths about training, safety margins, and tarmac. Subscribe and follow the journey over at @widowsride    / @widowsride