Motorcycles

[tim]

I've been kicking around the idea of learning how to ride a motorcycle. Never been on a motorcycle before, but I think this is the right time to learn.

Anyone here ride? Any advice would be appreciated as well.

[Achtane]

Wear your gear. If you don't have anything decent, get some.
Don't get your ass-length hair caught in spinning wheels.

And also TRIUMPH THRUXTON / KAWASAKI ZII750RS OR DIE




Failing that, all the cool kids ride dual-sports. Harleys are for dentists now.

[tim]

Those look nice. Definitely my favorite kind of bike. I've always thought sport bikes make you look like a tool and Harleys were for the motorcyclists version of TGPers.

Mine (or soon to be mine) is a 1977 Suzuki TS185. Looks similar to this:

[charles]

This is all you need to know about motorcycles.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy8FDjSGmwQ[/youtube]

[dubkitty]

get all the uncomfortable leather stuff and wear it. a guy from the rave collective i used to work in dumped his bike at low speed on a San Francisco street wearing jeans and had to have plastic surgery on his knee to repair the tissue damage.

and be sure before you commit that you have the kind of focus necessary to ride a motorcycle without killing yourself. you're as vulnerable as a bicyclist, but often going 30-45 mph as a matter of course. it's really easy to become an organ donor. i never got a motorcycle because i know i'm too spacey...i'd be thinking about some new guitar riff and BAM! right into the back of a truck like Duane Allman. you've got to be on point every second. you aren't riding a horse, you're riding a tiger, and it WILL bite you if you aren't very careful.

[Hacken]

Got my license last year but havnt been able to get a bike yet. An old Triumph Bonneville or Yamaha XS 650 is whatg im looking for, bad ass bikes!

[tim]

Yes, sir. Those are some mighty fine bikes. Always the kind I envisioned myself riding.

[guitmatt]

I'll echo what the others said, wear gear. Full gear too - snell approved helmet (exceeds DOT standards), jacket, boots, gloves, long pants, etc... Also, I highly recommend taking the MSF course (Motorcycle Safety Foundation). I grew up riding/racing motorcycles, still took the course, & learned some valuable things. Taking the course also helps with insurance rates as well as not having to take the DMV's motorcycle test. Another thing is if you are riding on or through a military base on a motorcycle you MUST have the MSF certification, the endorsement on the license isn't enough for them. Enjoy, motorcycling is a blast.

I ride a Kawasaki ZRX1200R BTW.

[bigchiefbc]

+1 on the MSF course. It gets you comfortable on the bike, and gives you your license at the end of the course too. Great deal. Everyone told me not to buy new for my first bike, because I would drop it. Bought new anyway, even though I believed them that I was going to drop it at some point. Rode the hell out of my Suzuki SV650, dumped the end of my first year on Sturrow Dr. in Boston. My bike was basically fine except for some scratches, same for me. Had a blast. Ended up selling the bike 4 years later to pay for an engagement ring. My wife thought that was very sweet of me and assures me that I'll be able to get another bike at some point. Until then, I wait.

[tim]

I'm going to take the Basic Rider Course (from what I can gather, that's what Ohio calls the MSF) once I get my temporary learner's permit thingy.

Had a private lesson today and I'm feeling way more comfortable on the bike than I was a week ago. However, I still have a healthy respect for it. I'm not an aggressive driver in a car and I will be even more cautious on the motorcycle. Besides, the bike I bought tops out at 60mph so no highway riding for me. This is just going to be a ride-around-town bike but I'm still going to wear all the gear.

Thanks for the info, guys.

[tim]

Just got my bike today. Finally paid it off and had it delivered. Haven't had a chance to ride it since I don't have insurance on it. That will have to wait until Monday, but I'm really excited. I sat on it in the garage and made VVVVVVRRRROOOOOOMMMMM sounds for about an hour and will probably do it again tomorrow.





Sorry for the shitty cellphone pics.

[Achtane]

Right on, man! Looks good and sounds like fun!

[proroby]

Don't have any pictures of mine, but it looks like this:

1980 Honda CB650

[snipelfritz]

VROOOM VROOOM RUPPPUPUPUPUPPPP VROOOM VRRR-VRRR-V-V-V-...VROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM RUPPPUPPUPPUPPUUUPPPP VROOOOOOM!!!

[tim]

That Honda looks great. I'm a total sucker for late 70's/early 80's bikes like that. Simple, efficient and stylish - everything a motorcycle should be.