motorcycle for primary transportation

[mdf]

*Originally posted by sleepyhead *
**I image that much of what they teach is probably “don’t be a hotdog, motorcycling is dangerous” type of advice, which certainly serves a purpose. In the end it is a dangerous activity and $175 is not a large sum, if I am indeed a safer driver after taking the course.
**

I took the MSF Beginning Rider Course about 1988, after I had been riding for about ten years. I highly recommend this course to everyone who expresses an interest in riding. We were a group of ten or twelve students and two instructors, and we practiced things one needs to remain upright on the street, like acceleration and quick stops in turns, obstacle avoidance, emergency stopping, how to use the front brake, street tactics - you get the idea. Two days of great fun, good practice and relearning things I had forgotten.

Do it. Consider it a vacation. And get serious about developing and maintaining street skills - motorcycling is more like piloting than driving. Getting good at it keeps you safer.

[sub](CRASH!!! Damn! the fscking soapbox collapsed![/sub]

[Coldfire]

*Originally posted by Athena *
Here in Colorado, ABATE of Colorado offers beginning motorcycle rider courses for the high price of $120.00. That’s for 19 hours of instruction - not a bad price.

I’ll say! The costs for my (mandatory) Dutch motorbike license will be around $850. I’ve bought a package that delivers 21 instruction ours, and it also covers the cost of the first exam. Should I fail the first time, it’s another $200.

[Danalan]

*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. *
Danalan: I’ll disagree with you about the helmet.

We can agree to disagree. I think the full-face helmet restricts ones awareness of ones surroundings too much. It’s extremely important to be cognizant of every detail 360 degrees around you when riding. I can’t do that in a full-face helmet – I lose too much hearing, and peripheal vision. I find it too much like a car, and I believe they impart a false sense of security. As for safety, they are fine if fit properly; many are too loose. Too loose and they easily tilt back, breaking your neck.

And finally, the Sportster. It’s too expensive for the performance it delivers (IMO) and a Japanese bike is much more reliable and much smoother. Again, this is a personal choice and I prefer Japanese bikes.

Have you ridden a modern Sportster? Are you familiar with the Buell? I think you need to stop in at a Harley dealers for a test ride. I preferred japanese bikes too, when I was young.

**Good point about the pickup truck (especially if you get a Harley! **

Harleys have been extremely reliable for over 10 years. The quality control issues of the past are gone – and the bikes are solid.

Back to the OP, there are some issues I didn’t mention.

Be sure you have good health insurance, and long-term disability insurance. This may sound morbid, but it’s important to be prepared for a possible reality.

That said, here are the three factors involved in virtually all motorcycle accidents (one or more of these, I mean):

1)Alcohol (or drugs). Don’t even think about it. You need all your senses in top order to survive traffic.

2)New rider/unfamiliar bike. Be extremely careful for the first 3-6 months. Ride any new bike gingerly – and practice braking hard (safely) before going at speed.

3)Too fast for conditions. Speed kills. The motto is ‘Ride Hard, Die Fast’. Take it easy, don’t be in a hurry. If you’re not comfortable, your’e not safe.

[ModernRonin2]

Oh, one last thing related to the possiblity of crashing.

• Get as much “uninsured motorist” insurance as your
  insurancy company will let you have.

Car vs. Motorcycle is always a losing proposition for
the motorcycle. And the person on it. If the person who
hits you has no insurance, you’ll be entirely responsible
for your hospital bills. Which can rank in the millions
of dollars in a bad accident.

I’ll say it again: Get as much uninsured motorist
insurance as your insurance company will let you have.
-Ben

[JamesCarroll]

I took the course offered in my state (Delaware). It cost 35 bucks, but Del has a strong history of biker’s rights. They provided bikes ( little 125’s) and it wasn’t that tough, but Iv’e ridden bikes of one sort or another my whole life. Everyone in the class got something out of it, especially those who had never been on a bike before.

IMHO, the best thing about the courses is that you hafta go and someone is watching you. You might think that you’re the man, but chances are you are not. I picked up some tips from the instructors ( they didn’t like the way I was covering my front levers). Not to brag (OK, just a little) but , after my class I was asked to be an instructor, but my job wouldn’t let it happen.

Insurance, as per above: all depends. I’ve found it normally depends on the loan status of the vehicle in question. I wanted to drop the insurance on my bike down to liability during winter, but my bank wouldn’t let me. “What happens if a plane hits you garage?” The fact that she actually asked it was so funny I dropped the question.

Now the most important question: Will I look stupid? I am also a “bigguy” coming in at 6’3 275lbs. Dirt or enduro bikes are definately a great way to go, and alot of “harley” bikes can acomadate you. If you want a street bike (which is what I’ve always driven) its ALOT tougher.

My first bike was a Kaw GPZ 1100. Great bike!! Totaly flat torque curve ( which means it won’t launch out at 5k rpm or so). Just smooth power, that just pulls and pulls and pulls. Even though it was my first bike I never felt that the bike was “riding me”. Honestly, the torque curve (IMHO) is the best indicator of a bike’s managebility.

Plus, as an 1100 it had great “bigguy” ergos. I didn’t feel or look like a pervert f*cking an 80mph chicken. And it was all black which added to its coolness.

Once you get bored with the GPZ (which should take about 2 months) go for Ninja ZX-11 (1100cc). I know what you’re saying: “1100 NINJA!?! I’ll kill myself!” While the ZX-11 has always been the “beast”, Kaw has focused on the ZX-12R (R in any bikes name means racing by the way and usually denotes a bike with WAY too much power for its weight and a small wheelbase, which makes it easy to “flick” from one side to the other, but make normal riding a real challenge) for its “Kevorkian Carrier”.

The result is a nicer ZX-11. Its still a bad ass bike don’t get me wrong. One time I was pacing a car at 95 on 495 in Delaware, nodded at the kids in the backseat, cracked the throttle and was at 130 before I knew it. But I’ve never felt out of control. Great, great bike.

So safe riding. And good luck. And never take ANYTHING for granted on the road.

[YOZZER2001]

*Originally posted by sleepyhead *
**This thread is inspired by Johnny LA’s thread in MPSIMS about saving gas buy riding a motorcycle instead of a car. I’m thinking of picking up a used smaller motorcycle for precisely this reason and I just had a few simple questions. (I’ve tried checking out a few web sites but I can’t find any that address my concerns so I turn to the straight dope bikers.)

1. How does one go about learning to ride a motorcycle without breaking the law by operating without a license? I’ve seen some courses advertised on the internet but they seem to be all byob {bring your own bike} so it seems you still have to ride the bike around at least a little bit without knowing how. What’s the best way to learn? (I have no friends who could tech me.)

2. What do you do in the winter? Can you ride in the rain/sleet/snow? Do most people also keep a car to use in the winter?

3. If you keep a car for use in the winter, how does that work with insurance? Do insurance companies allow you to insure different vehicles seasonally?

4. I’m 6’4" - 210 lbs., would I look silly on a small bike?

Thanks for all help.
**

1)why worry about breaking law and if worried about driving on roads old feilds is were we do it(yamaha250)
2)get cold,freeze snot to face(ever seen dumber and dumber) rain/sleet/snow yes wet/wet and cold/bloody blue (and wet when warms up)
3)yes they allow you to insure seasonally just phone churchill OH YES OH YES