OT-Motorcycle

[HILife]

So, I just got back from the Community College were I signed up for the Motorcycle Rider Course. It's one day of classroom training and 2 days on a bike. If I pass I can go to the DMV and get my motorcycle license.

Been wanting a motorcycle for years, but was always afraid to fall off and didn't want to spend all the money on motorcycle and gear. I figured it's about time to go ahead and get things started, so here I am.

What I want to know is, who out there rides and what do you ride (pics welcomed)? Also do you have any advice for a beginner?

EDIT: If you have bike recommandations I'm 6'2" and prefer a Sporty looking Bike for now.

Thanks
hilife

[bronclvr]

Hell yes I ride, and there is really only one Bike to have (all others are posers)-buy a Harley! If you don't you will always want one-

If I were in your shoes I'd get a Sportster-easy to learn on, low center of gravity, easy to control, Belt Drive, and reasonably priced-best of all, it will keep it's value better than anything out there-

[SoDak Bronco]

"Wear a helmet"-- mom

[SoDak Bronco]

Here is what Kelen Winslow recommends

[Dukes]

Originally Posted by SoDak Bronco

Here is what Kelen Winslow recommends

What about Rothlesburger?

[broncofan2438]

KTM Supermoto

[HILife]

Originally Posted by bronclvr

Hell yes I ride, and there is really only one Bike to have (all others are posers)-buy a Harley! If you don't you will always want one-

If I were in your shoes I'd get a Sportster-easy to learn on, low center of gravity, easy to control, Belt Drive, and reasonably priced-best of all, it will keep it's value better than anything out there-

I really want a sport bike and Harley, from what I can tell, only makes crusiers. I would ride for a while before I got a crusier.

[HILife]

Originally Posted by SoDak Bronco

Here is what Kelen Winslow recommends

I prefer not to fall off the bike. So you won't mind if I ignore his recommandation.

[Cito Pelon]

Originally Posted by hilife

So, I just got back from the Community College were I signed up for the Motorcycle Rider Course. It's one day of classroom training and 2 days on a bike. If I pass I can go to the DMV and get my motorcycle license.

Been wanting a motorcycle for years, but was always afraid to fall off and didn't want to spend all the money on motorcycle and gear. I figured it's about time to go ahead and get things started, so here I am.

What I want to know is, who out there rides and what do you ride (pics welcomed)? Also do you have any advice for a beginner?

Thanks
hilife

Stay out of blind spots. Keep it in a lower gear on the freeway so you can accelerate out of trouble as well as braking to get out of trouble. Don't skimp on a helmet, get the best. Keep your tires with plenty of tread. Carry spare fuses, especially the main fuse. Carry a spare tire valve and a valve tool.

Start out with a lower CC bike for a year to get used to riding, buy it used from a dealer, their reputation depends on selling decent bikes, say a 450-500. They're cheap and it's hard to f up buying a bike. If it's clean, has good tires, doesn't leak, chain's in good shape, all the lights work, both brakes work, it's probably a good bike.

Go through the low gears slowly on the test ride up to the redline, listen for bad sounds, vibration. The test ride is the only time I recommend going without a helmet, and that's only for the low gears. If there's no bad sounds or vibrations in the low gears up to redline, just go through the rest of the gears cursorily. You'll want to take it up to 55 mph at least to check for vibrations.

Downshift through every gear also, and stress it downshifting from high RPM's.

Don't get too excited and jump on a 600 crotch rocket right away. Learn the ropes first, and there's a hell of a lot of ropes to learn. One year on a smaller bike in the school of hard knocks and you'll be doing it right.

[Pony Boy]

Originally Posted by hilife

I really want a sport bike and Harley, from what I can tell, only makes crusiers. I would ride for a while before I got a crusier.

You are correct when you said you want a bike, a sport bike is just that a bike not to be confused with a real motorcycle. Harley Davidson makes a real motorcycle for real men not a bike for boys. Riding a sport bike is a completely different experience from riding a Harley. Not saying riding a sport bike is not fun, I'm sure it is but don't call it a motorcycle. I ride a 2003 Scramin Eagle road king.
"Just be careful I see a lot of newbies splattered on the road, The one good thing about sport bike riders is they usually wear leather protection and a full face helmet.

[HILife]

Originally Posted by Cito Pelon

Stay out of blind spots. Keep it in a lower gear on the freeway so you can accelerate out of trouble as well as braking to get out of trouble. Don't skimp on a helmet, get the best. Keep your tires with plenty of tread. Carry spare fuses, especially the main fuse. Carry a spare tire valve and a valve tool.

Start out with a lower CC bike for a year to get used to riding, buy it used from a dealer, their reputation depends on selling decent bikes, say a 450-500. They're cheap and it's hard to f up buying a bike. If it's clean, has good tires, doesn't leak, chain's in good shape, all the lights work, both brakes work, it's probably a good bike.

Go through the low gears slowly on the test ride up to the redline, listen for bad sounds, vibration. The test ride is the only time I recommend going without a helmet, and that's only for the low gears. If there's no bad sounds or vibrations in the low gears up to redline, just go through the rest of the gears cursorily. You'll want to take it up to 55 mph at least to check for vibrations.

Downshift through every gear also, and stress it downshifting from high RPM's.

Don't get too excited and jump on a 600 crotch rocket right away. Learn the ropes first, and there's a hell of a lot of ropes to learn. One year on a smaller bike in the school of hard knocks and you'll be doing it right.

Good advice. I will keep it in mind. Wouldn't anything less then 750 be to small for me. I 6'2" and I tried to sit on a 600 crotch rocket and it was very crampt

[HILife]

Originally Posted by Pony Boy

You are correct when you said you want a bike, a sport bike is just that a bike not to be confused with a real motorcycle. Harley Davidson makes a real motorcycle for real men not a bike for boys. Riding a sport bike is a completely different experience from riding a Harley. Not saying riding a sport bike is not fun, I'm sure it is but don't call it a motorcycle. I ride a 2003 Scramin Eagle road king.
"Just be careful I see a lot of newbies splattered on the road, The one good thing about sport bike riders is they usually wear leather protection and a full face helmet.

Wouldn't mind a Harley one day, two people at my work ride one.

[Cito Pelon]

Originally Posted by hilife

I really want a sport bike and Harley, from what I can tell, only makes crusiers. I would ride for a while before I got a crusier.

Don't start out with a sport bike/crotch rocket. Get into them slowly. Even if you only ride your first slow bike for a few months, you learn the basics you're gonna need to ride fast and safe. You learn a lot those first few months, make your inevitable mistakes on a slower bike. That's good advice, life.

[Cito Pelon]

Originally Posted by hilife

Good advice. I will keep it in mind. Wouldn't anything less then 750 be to small for me. I 6'2" and I tried to sit on a 600 crotch rocket and it was very crampt

No. You can find what's called a commuter bike just to get your feet wet so to speak that won't leave you cramped. IMO, it's important to make your inevitable mistakes as a first time rider in traffic on a slower bike. A 750 is too big to start out with. It's not a matter of how tall you are, it's a matter of experience. You're gonna be surprised how many ways you can get into trouble on two wheels. It's better to get into your inevitable trouble at slower speeds when you're first learning.

If you want this to be a lifelong enjoyment of riding, I say start out slowly. It's not like your first bike is gonna be the one you ride all your life.

[bronclvr]

Originally Posted by hilife

I really want a sport bike and Harley, from what I can tell, only makes crusiers. I would ride for a while before I got a crusier.

Harley makes Sportbikes! (by the way, the one in my Avatar is my Bike)-

[HILife]

Originally Posted by bronclvr

Harley makes Sportbikes! (by the way, the one in my Avatar is my Bike)-

That's a sexy bike.

[HILife]

Originally Posted by Cito Pelon

No. You can find what's called a commuter bike just to get your feet wet so to speak that won't leave you cramped. IMO, it's important to make your inevitable mistakes as a first time rider in traffic on a slower bike. A 750 is too big to start out with. It's not a matter of how tall you are, it's a matter of experience. You're gonna be surprised how many ways you can get into trouble on two wheels. It's better to get into your inevitable trouble at slower speeds when you're first learning.

If you want this to be a lifelong enjoyment of riding, I say start out slowly. It's not like your first bike is gonna be the one you ride all your life.

words of wisdom. Thanks.

[Cito Pelon]

I'm a BMW guy myself, lately.

I started out on Honda's, a 450 twin to start, then a '77 CB750, then the Big Daddy 1979 Honda CBX.

After the CBX I had the '82 BMW R65S. What a bike. I liked it so much I bought a '75 BMW R90. I love those BMX boxers. Superb handlers, just flat superb.

[mr007]

Originally Posted by Pony Boy

Harley Davidson makes a real motorcycle for real men not a bike for boys.

I guess I ride a bike for boys.....



As far as what bike you should start with.... I started with an R6 but I had experience riding dirt bikes. You need to be very careful with crotch rockets, they are much faster and much more dangerous than "real motorcycles." If you haven't ridden before I would suggest something like a YZF450 to get your feet wet for about 6 months before jumping up to the faster bikes.

My 2 cents.

[worm]

Originally Posted by Pony Boy

You are correct when you said you want a bike, a sport bike is just that a bike not to be confused with a real motorcycle. Harley Davidson makes a real motorcycle for real men not a bike for boys. Riding a sport bike is a completely different experience from riding a Harley. Not saying riding a sport bike is not fun, I'm sure it is but don't call it a motorcycle. I ride a 2003 Scramin Eagle road king.

Harley riders actually ride? I see the majority of them with all their 'cute' orange and black logoed gear sitting at a bar. Or broken down somewhere. Most Harley riders also don't seem to want to wear a full face helmet, regardless of what safety stats tell them, because it isn't cool and doesn't fit into the 'scene'. Makes no sense to me.

Hilife. Find the type of riding you like to do...and don't let anybody tell you this is better than that. ALL riding is awesome. Sport. Cruising. Whatever. Even on a Harley.

Start off slow. Master the basics. Then get out of the city!

My vote goes to Dual Sporting as my favorite type of riding. Riding to places that few get to see....then fishing\hiking\camping is heaven to me.

Leaving on Wed for Northern Glacier NP. Weapon of choice this time is the old girl. The bike that started dual sport as a type of riding. It is my backup DS bike now but is like an old shoe. Bike has gotten me back every time from truly off the grid locations in Canada and the PNW.

[broncofan2438]

[Rohirrim]

Don't forget to fill out the organ donor card.

[HILife]

Originally Posted by Rohirrim

Don't forget to fill out the organ donor card.

see, that is the stuff that scared me away from bikes for so long.

[Cito Pelon]

Originally Posted by worm

Harley riders actually ride? I see the majority of them with all their 'cute' orange and black logoed gear sitting at a bar. Or broken down somewhere. Most Harley riders also don't seem to want to wear a full face helmet, regardless of what safety stats tell them, because it isn't cool and doesn't fit into the 'scene'. Makes no sense to me.

Hilife. Find the type of riding you like to do...and don't let anybody tell you this is better than that. ALL riding is awesome. Sport. Cruising. Whatever. Even on a Harley.

Start off slow. Master the basics. Then get out of the city!

My vote goes to Dual Sporting as my favorite type of riding. Riding to places that few get to see....then fishing\hiking\camping is heaven to me.

Leaving on Wed for Northern Glacier NP. Weapon of choice this time is the old girl. The bike that started dual sport as a type of riding. It is my backup DS bike now but is like an old shoe. Bike has gotten me back every time from truly off the grid locations in Canada and the PNW.

I thought BMW started the dual stuff.

[Cito Pelon]

Originally Posted by hilife

see, that is the stuff that scared me away from bikes for so long.

If you ride safe and smart you'll be ok. Riding smart is a big deal. Stay out of blind spots, if you see somebody turning left into your lane flash your brights and weave a little bit. Cars turning left into your lane and they just never saw you is one of the rider's banes. And wear the best fullface helmet.