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Motorcycle?
Inx
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Hey guys.
Lately I've been considering getting my motorcycle license. However, other than the fact that I like motorcycles, I really don't know jack-all about them. My problem here is that I don't really know where to look to find out what might be good for me, where I could get one for a good price, and where in my area I could take some classes.
Any advice where I could look, or anyone with a good bit of knowledge willing to pass down some nuggets of wisdom?
Lately I've been considering getting my motorcycle license. However, other than the fact that I like motorcycles, I really don't know jack-all about them. My problem here is that I don't really know where to look to find out what might be good for me, where I could get one for a good price, and where in my area I could take some classes.
Any advice where I could look, or anyone with a good bit of knowledge willing to pass down some nuggets of wisdom?
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For all your riding school needs. An MSF class takes care of your license exam too. They assume you have never even SEEN a motorcycle before, and teach you everything you need to know.
Find a local weekend riding course to help with your insurance. There's usally a link to them from your state's DMV database.
If you have no riding knowledge or skill whatsoever, don't go over a 500CC to start. In fact, if it's just for getting around town, I'd reccomend a 250. They're dirt cheap, hold resale value, are great to learn on, and you can upgrade in a year or two without losing money.
I'd just check out the bike dealerships to see what they have in a good used starter bike. They usually have a few lying around in the back that will run decent enough that they'll part with under 2K
That does depend a little bit on how much you weigh and what you're comfortable with. I'm 200 pounds, I wouldn't want to take a 250cc bike on the highway.
Basically, the OP should take the MSF course from the site RUNN1NGMAN linked. They will have bikes (usually 250cc) and helmets available. That will give the OP a feeling for a 250cc bike.
If you're comfortable with that, then you can buy a similar bike. Or you can step up to a 500cc bike if you're a big guy or if you just want a little more power.
I agree, though, 500cc is usually the top-end for a first bike.
Disclaimer: I don't ride, but I have a lot of friends who do, and I'm taking the MSF course in a few months and I've been talking to a lot of people about what kind of bike I should get for my first bike.
the "no true scotch man" fallacy.
This is a dumb comment. There is absolutely an increased risk involved with motorcycle riding, and you should acknowledge and prepare for it. A crash is certainly going to be more injury prone, but if you can avoid them in a car you have a good start to avoiding them on a bike.
I just bought my bike this summer, and I took the MSF course. Absolutely take it do not consider anything else until you do. Get your temps, they're required for the class, it's an easy written test.
Regarding motorcycle, I bought a 580cc honda shadow cruiser. It's awesome, and runs fine on the highway. I won't take it much above 85mph though, it starts to shake and just struggles to accelerate much past that. I think it'll do it fine, I'm not opening the throttle all the way, but I see no reason to.
I don't think it's too much bike, and I'm very glad I didn't get a 250. If you're getting a crotch rocket it might be a different story. 250 on one of those is probably plenty fast. I went riding for a couple hours last night with a 600 crotch rocket and he got up to 110mph like right now for a stretch. My bike can't come close to that, so they're different in a lot of ways.
Meanwhile, about 700,000 Americans die from heart-related issues every year, but you don't have six people posting in every "I need barbecue advice!" thread to remind people how dangerous steak is.
But seriously if you plan on getting a crotch rocket 250cc to start out is plenty in terms of speed. You will also learn a lot about the bike itself and how to work on it. It also won't cost you a lot. If you're looking for something like a touring bike you'll want a bigger engine as they have much more weight.
Please be careful, and please, please God please do not become a sloppy rider. I've run into a lot of them this summer specifically and for the life of me I cannot understand how they are still alive. I mainly run into them in packs, because for some reason 3+ guys on bikes become wannabe hells angels. The things I'm talking about are mainly situations in which one biker does not want to become separated from the group and pulls an incredibly dangerous move to cut off an oncoming vehicle. Also bikers blocking passing lanes on highways and avenues so that they effectively control the road they are on.
Shogun Streams Vidya
Gear. There have been many posts about which bike to buy, but don't forget to buy gear. If you can't afford to buy gear, you really can't afford to ride.
Gear is really important because it's the only thing between you and the harsh, harsh world if you come off your bike.
I speak from personal experience when I say that gear is really important - I dropped my bike going round a corner, and slid along on the road. I walked away without a single scratch on my skin (a bruise or two, yes) but holes in the outer weave of my riding pants and jacket, and scratches on my boots. Also replaced my helmet because I slammed my head into the road when I fell. *
Seriously, gear. It's pretty much the only protection you'll have, and you'd be daft not to have any.
* I've since slowed down going round corners and learnt how to corner properly.
Absofuckinglutely this.
While I'm pretty vocal about my thoughts on bike safety ("they're not nearly as dangerous as people say as long as you're not a dumbass"), I've seen first-hand what happens when you decide to be a dumbass. I saw a guy gun it at a green light, only to realize he didn't have as much space as he thought between the intersection and stopped traffic ahead. He ended up doing a stoppie, going over the handlebars, and sliding a good forty or fifty yards.
Shirtless.
Pretty much every inch of skin on his torso was flayed off, blood and gore everywhere, and he was dead within a few seconds of reaching him. Easily, by far, no question the worst thing I've ever seen in my life. He did it to himself -- reckless riding and poor control of his brakes -- but he'd probably have lived through it (or even WALKED AWAY) if he'd been wearing protective gear. Get a good helmet. Consider underarmor. And always wear your fucking leathers.
Shogun Streams Vidya
I'd recommend a Kawasaki Ninja 250. They're inexpensive, hold their price extremely well (the 2008 actually got MORE valuable), and are no slouch on the freeway. Since they don't depreciate fast, you need to consider if buying NEW is worth the heart-wrenching feeling if you drop or total the bike. Used isn't much cheaper than buying new though, and new will get you the peace of mind of mechanical integrety, but then you need to break in the engine...
It's all a matter of what you consider most important.
I'm actually looking for a used Ninja 250...
Let 'em eat fucking pineapples!
Those are some really odd statistics. The majority of motorcycle fatalities (of which there were 5,154 in 2007) are still the result of multi-vehicle collisions where speed and alcohol aren't a big factor -- it's the "I didn't see them" syndrome. Alcohol and speed (and overconfidence) kill in single-vehicle collisions, but those are easily avoided with a little common sense.
Regardless, you're right, the danger is vastly overstated.
Anyway, MSF (or equivalent), wear gear, start small.
Did some quick googling (my numbers are from a white paper that's probably a few years old), and JESUS FUCK are fatalities up in the last couple of years. They were down around 1,000ish annually nation-wide when I got my license. I wonder if it's just more bikes on the road (fuel costs) or what?
true. riders under 30 accidents have steadily gone down.
Do you mean bicyle shorts? They work great.
I can, first hand, attest to wearing the right gear. I got run off the road and highsided, at around 50mph. I was wearing leathers, boots, gloves, full face. My only injury was from htiing my knee when the bike slid out and down. It caught and flipped before I could get away from it, throwing me about twenty feet. I slid about another 100 feet in grass and gravel. Most of this was on my back. Right after I hit the ground for the second time, I saw my bike go over me and could hear it tumbling as I followed it down the ditch. The bike was totalled. I walked away with a slight limp and not even a touch of road rash.
I rebuilt the bike and road it for a couple of more years.
As far as gear, yeah, I wouldn't go near this without gear. I just need to find comfortable gear that I find nice-looking, but I imagine that's not hard. How much does gear run you, approximately?
Best way to find comfortable gear is to try it out in store. It's hard to visually gauge what'll fit and what won't, because some gear will have inner lining or armour to bulk it out. You'll also want to ask the saleguys if you can wear the gear while sitting on a bike.
This is because you want to see how far the sleeves will ride up when you bend your arms/legs the way you would on a bike. No point buying gear if it only covers you while you're standing.
Also, I'm guessing jeans are bare minimum at best for pants?
Side question: Does the gear for my legs go over clothes, or will i be stuck in them all day if I dont bring a change?
Unless the biker jacket is legitimately supposed to be a proper bike jacket, then it probably wont be much use, as it will lack the reinforced stitching, internal armor, and generally wont fit snugly enough. Jeans are absolutely not good enough, though you can get protective jeans specifically designed for motorcyclists. Draggin Jeans is one such manufacturer, though they are australian based i'm certain you could get either them or an equivalent in the US. I consider these bare minimum, and even then its still preferable to have proper gear. Gear for legs can go over clothes, just shop to fit.
I agree with the statement : If you cant afford to get proper gear, then you cant afford to ride. And of course its crucial that you wear it. This thread has shown that the people who suffer are those who thought gear was optional. Of course even in full gear, things can go terribly wrong, thats the risk of riding.
Do a course as mentioned before you jump in and buy a bike, to see if you enjoy it (many people simply dont).
Having said all that, riding is awesome, so i hope you enjoy it
Also, any good places to find a used bike online, should I eventually decide to make a purchase?
for refrence, i want to know about these http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/3/11/99/4/CLASS/Cruiser-Motorcycle-Leather-Jackets-Mens-Riding-Gear.aspx
Those will all be fine for gear. I bought a synthetic jacket with armor and various liners because it is brighter colored. You will look cooler wearing leather, but more people will see my bright ass red jacket with reflector liners
There is a ton of resources out there for motorcycles. If you're going to pick your bike, then you'll have to go sit on them. I just recently bought my second bike, a 2006 Suzuki Katana 750, and I've sat on probably 50 bikes while looking around. Don't get trapped into the mindset of the best/fastest/greatest bike. You're not going to be able to handle it. Last I checked, the Suzuki Hayabusa is one of the fastest production bikes out there, and there's NO WAY I'd touch it with only 2 years riding experience. If you screw up on a shift from 1st to second coming out of a driveway and "accidentally" hit the throttle, you're across the street and into whatever is there in a straight line in a flat second... from first.
If you want some good advice on what to buy, read this.. http://www.oldguy.us/easy-riding/bg.php
There is really no way you should be buying anything over 500cc's for your first bike. Also buying new isn't really a good idea either. You WILL drop the bike at some point. Even if it's just a low speed drop in a parking lot because you leaned too far (personal experience) or you lose it on some gravel in a turn because you have no real idea what counter steer is, it WILL happen. Those of you who didn't have any sort of accident are simply the exception that proves the rule.
Also, ATGATT. All The Gear All The Time. Jeans just don't cut it. Ever. They are NO protection at all.
This is a highly uninformed opinion with no facts to back it up.
Well lucky for me my chrome messenger bag which i intend to tote everywhere on my bike has lots of relectors. Also, i plan on adding a little color on it just like my old jacket.
like this
Well when he takes the MSF course they'll inform him of the risks invovled, and the high number of motorcycle fatalities every year. Also, every experienced rider I know says the same thing: "There are two types of riders in the world, those who have dumped thier bike, and those who are going to dump thier bike"
OP, just remember to ALWAYS wear a helmet and protective gear no matter how confident you are in your riding skills.
EDIT: Im planning on taking the MSF myself pretty soon, and getting ahold of this baby here:
http://www.cbxmanmotorcycles.com/Qlink-Legacy-250-Automatic-Cvt-Cruiser-Motorcycle-Black.aspx
Everyone Ive talked to about it agrees that you wont find a better beginner bike anywhere else, and it comes with the best warranty you could ask for.
I totally agree about the dumping of the bike. Though I do plan on delaying it as long as possible on my shiny Katana through solid defensive driving techniques, and intelligent risk mitigation. Also I plan on taking some advanced training courses this coming spring to sharpen my skills further.
What I would like to see is a fatality percentage of overall drivers. X% of car drivers are killed each year, X% of motorcycle drivers are killed each year. I keep hearing that motorcycle fatalities and accidents are on the rise, without any corresponding information on what the increase in motorcycle riders are. That, and you simply cannot trust the media, they're out to sell news, not report the facts correctly.
I'm going to say this again just to remind you. I know everybody is saying 500cc is the newbie max, but if you buy a 250cc cruiser you're going to outgrow it like real quick. A crotch rocket will have plenty of getup, but my 600cc Honda Shadow (I love this it's great to learn on) can do everything I want in a motorcycle, and still isn't going to blow anybody away.
Also does that say automatic transmission. Come on if you want to ride learn to use the clutch.
Personally, I have a different set of gear for my commute-riding and for weekend riding, but not everyone can do that. I prefer not to ride at night at all, but with commuting, I don't always have that luxury, especially with the day getting shorter as we're getting into fall and winter.
Anyway, I think the same kinds of activities you see with bad bike drivers also exist with bad car drivers, anywhere from impatience, to just not paying attention, to buying a vehicle that's "too much" for them, and that they're pretty much the same kinda fools with either vehicle. However, it's a lot easier to become a missile when you have a wreck on a bike.
Just so I know, that way I can plan accordingly.
A good, used road bike may run you a couple-to-a-few grand, but it all really depends on what you're getting. I mean, if you're buying a classic bike or a new Harley, you're going to pay a lot of money, but once you start getting into smaller bikes with smaller engines, the pricing drops. They're about like cars in the variety and models, so it's hard to answer "how much will I pay for a bike?". It's like asking "how much will I pay for a truck?".
I was told by a friend that you should replace your helmet every 2 years or so..
Any truth to this?
I'd set aside between 3000 and 5000 for a decent starter bike and full gear, depending on weather you go 250 or 500 to 600cc (I still recommend 250 though to start, just my .02)
Insurance is the cheap part. Bike insurance is around $50 a month ballpark.
I don't necessarily agree with this statement. But, even if it is true, what do you have to lose? With a relatively decent 250 you can easily turn it over your second season for 98% of what you paid for it. A 250 is going to be a lot more forgiving of your mistakes. It's also going to take a while to learn the physical instincts that will help ensure your survival. What happens if you pop the clutch on that 600? Wheelie? On a 250, you learn how to react to that.. wheel slippage, crappy road conditions, potholes, debris on the road. I really doubt that you will really master a bike in one summer's riding alone, or "outgrow" it really fast.
Haha, this is so true. First night I owned my bike (a GN250), I took it out for a spin in the evening when everything was quiet to practice my riding. I entered a cul-de-sac slowly and started to do a U-turn, when I realised I had taken the turn too wide.
So, in a panic, what do I do? I just slam the brakes like I would if I was in a car. Of course, I'm in the middle of a turn, and the bike's still leaning over to the side - but now the wheels have stopped spinning. Unsurprisingly, the bike proceeds to obey the law of gravity and drops to the side. It was very embarrassing. =P
Only afterwards do I remember words of wisdom from my riding instructor - always straighten up if you need to quick brake in a curve. This actually leads to interesting thoughts/dicussions on where you should place your bike on the road if you're going to take a turn (and also what speed you should be doing at what points in the turn). But yeah. It's taken me over a year of actual riding to really appreciate that.
Anyway, I spent NZD$2.3k on my GN250 (2004 model), and NZD$1k on gear. That translates roughly to... USD$2.3k. I'm planning to upgrade from my GN250 in the next year or two, and looking at current prices, it seems that I can easily get NZD$1.8-2k for it. So really, in the long run, I spent $300-$500 to learn how to ride which I think is quite affordable.
But I also recommend a 250cc bike as a first bike - they're quite light and easy to move around. If you're using it mainly for daily commuting (I think you said that somewhere?), a lot of them have enough power in the speeds you use for commutes.
That's not to say it isn't impossible for the bike to get away from you...more throttle and less clutch will get you in trouble in a 250 though just the same I'd say. We rode 250cc Rebels in my MSF class, the only difference between those and my 600 is that the engine isn't working it's ass off to go 20.
I think you're under-exaggerating the performance of 250ccs ever so slightly.
I know that on my bike and my friend's 250cc Scorpio we'd only be in second gear (accelerating/braking) or third gear (cruising) at around 20mph (I'm doing a mental mph to kmph in my head, so I could be slightly off). We're not anywhere close to redlining the engine our having it "working its ass off".
Alright let's just leave it at I wouldn't want any LESS motorcycle than my 600cc. I do a little bit of highway driving and on the highway I wish I had MORE. I've never felt like I bought too much bike, that it would get away from me, or was uncomfortable with its acceleration. This is my first motorcycle and I've put about 1500 miles on it in the past 5 weeks or so (I haven't even made a payment!)
I don't see this argument or whatever being any more productive so let's just move on.
Displacement has squat to do with power, though. Your 583cc Shadow makes ~35 horsepower, the latest 600 supersports make three times that. 250cc models range from 18 to 40 horsepower.
You don't want anything with less power, that's reasonable, but let's not confuse people with displacement ratings.