Re: hauling. I’ve never used the stand in transit. Since I have a trailer hitch, I rent a ramped trailer from U-Haul. The only one they seem to have is nine feet long. (The smaller trailers don’t have a ramp, and I’m not going to buy one just for the occasional trailer trip.) I put the motorcycle on the trailer with the kickstand down. I attach a ratchet strap to each handlebar and ratchet them down until the motorcycle is being held upright (i.e., no longer being supported by the stand). Then I hook ratchet straps to the rear frame and tighten them. Kickstand up. By compressing the shocks a little the motorcycle won’t bounce around. By leaving the stand up, the shocks can absorb bumps instead of the stand not absorbing them.
I’ve always wanted a 1970 CB750. Classic. (But then, there’s a long list of bikes I’d like to have.)
The world is a dangerous place. What are you going to do? I know a large number of motorcycle riders and none of them have been in life threatening accidents - they all ride safe and have good training. Conversely I knew 6 or 7 people my own age who are now under the ground because of car accidents. Whoever mentioned “19 and going to live forever,” well, I don’t have that kind of stupid mentality and I never did.
If I’m not mistaken, most serious motorcycle accidents happen to people without training or a license, most deaths and serious injuries happen to people who aren’t wearing helmets or gear, and alcohol is involved in a lot of them. None of this applies to me. I’m not stupid. You avoid danger by being careful.
And about Ben Roethlisberger, he was riding a fucking Hayabusa without a helmet. It was STUPID. Every day a million frat boys roar past my window on CBRs with white baseball caps turned backwards and sleeveless T-shirts. They’re the people who are being careless. It’s possible to be a responsible person and be 19.
Sounds like you’ve already done some research. Good for you, Argent.
The best book out there on Motorcycle Safety that I’ve found is Proficient Motorcycling by David Hough. This book is referred to as the source material for a lot of the MSF classes. It’s a very readable book, written by motorcyclists for motorcyclists, and includes some good practice exercises as well as strategies for keeping yourself out of the way of danger. A lot of the info in the book is stuff it sounds like you’re in touch with already - stay away from the booze, wear proper gear and don’t ride like an idiot. I highly recommend you get this book and read it. When you’re finished with it, do like I did and give your copy to another new rider.
I also recommend the MSF course highly. It’s a couple days long, it’s a lot of fun, and you learn a lot of important skills really quickly. Many states will give you a motorcycle endorsement (aka motorcycle license) automatically if you pass an MSF course - you don’t need to take a driver’s test.
Something else I’d like to caution you about - for some reason a lot of smart motorcyclists who know a lot about safety turn into total morons once they hit the highway. I don’t know how many group rides I’ve been on with supposedly “safe” people where the leader suddenly gunned the engine and a minute later everyone was going 110. A coworker who brags about what a smart rider he tells tells me he’s safe with alcohol because he “…only has one drink an hour”. This is all dumbass thinking which is unfortunately very prevalent in the motorcycling community. Keep reminding yourself to resist dumbass thinking and not to cave to peer pressure. It sounds like you’ve got your head screwed on straight - keep it that way.
And oh yeah - U-Haul will screw you on the bill, too. See if you can find a better option.
Congrats and good luck! Keep the rubber side down!
Someday, when I a) have money and b) magically have grown at least six inches taller so I can, I’m going to buy myself a motorcycle. Until then, I give you jealous looks over the internet.
I’m a bit vertically challenged myself. The late-model Honda Shadow cruisers have a seat height of 26 inches, plenty low enough for me to put my feet flat on the ground.
The money I can’t help you with, but a good used bike could be had for $3500 or so.
