I always wanted a motorcycle. so I took a class and bought a bike. But there are a lot of little things that they don’t teach you in Motorcycle Safety Class, or at the motorcycle dealership. Does anyone know a site or board where bikers can ask questions answered by intelligent folks? I’m not looking for a site devoted to custom Harleys or DILLIGIF stickers or road rallys. I’m looking for advice on how frequntly to change the tires, or comarisons between dealer aftermarket items vs. third party items.
Not knowing anyone else with a bike, it took me weeks to figure out when to wave at other bikers and when not to. Who knew that there were rules?
There are rules? I thought the only rule was: “If you drive a Harley, only wave at other Harley drivers.” I wave to oncoming riders (even Harley drivers) on an undivided highway, but not on a busy city street or on the freeway. Closure rates are too great and there are other things that have a higher priority.
As for boards, I just came across this site. You might try it. Of course, there are several riders right here whom you can ask.
Change your tires when the tread gets down to the “wear bars”.
I wave at anything with two wheels. Vespas, scooters, bikes, even Harleys.
Here are some things I found out when I started riding:
On a hot day, be careful with the kickstand on asphalt. It can sink in and drop your bike.
Carry a tire repair kit. They make some very nice small ones with CO2 powered inflators.
Hi Opal!
Expect everyone to pull out in front of you. Even people who are looking right at you. Watch the wheels on a car getting ready to pull out, you can see the movement there first if they go to pull out.
Carry a tire guage, and check air pressure every day. It is amazing how quick handling will go down with tire pressure. A motorcycle tire will look properly inflated all the way down to 5-10 psi, depending on the tire.
Also start reading some of the motorbike magazines (libraries sometimes stock old issues if you don’t want to buy them new).
One of the Australian magazines used to put out a special issue every couple of years called “Your first bike” or something like that, that gave a run down on a whole lot of things that a new bike owner needs to know. There might be something like that where you are but I can’t recommend any of the US magazines as I’m in Australia (if you are in Australia let me know and I can get you in touch with the back issues section of a couple of the Aussie magazines).
You might also consider doing a short motorbike maintenance course at your local technical college (or whatever they’re called in the US). I did one about five years after I got my first bike and kicked myself that I hadn’t done it sooner - lots of hard trial and error (particularly the error part) that could have been avoided.
You might also think about joining one of the clubs. Most of the marques have clubs associated with them these days or there are also plenty of local groups.
check out www.star-riders.org and go to their forum. You will see me there as Dutchman. It might not be exactly what you want but someone there will be able to help you find it.
Another good rule: Don’t be an a-hole. Bikes are a lot quicker than 4 wheelers, and especially the rice burners. I get so pissed off when I see some 18 year old on a crotch rocket that Mom & Dad bought for him, wearing shorts, sandals, and no shirt, weaving in through traffic and just being a menace. Apparently, they haven’t had their bad accident yet, but it’s coming. Along those lines, and I’m sure they covered it in class, but wear protective clothing. Nothing slides on asphalt better than leather…
I also wave at anything on two wheels if traffic allows, even the Harley types in their nazi helmets and wife beater shirts.
There are three types of riders:
Those who’ve gone down.
Those who’ve gone down but will never admit it.
Those who haven’t yet, but are going to go down.
Paranoia, good maintenance and good clothing are your best things for damage control. Since you just got a bike, I’d advise taking it to a dealer or service shop and ask them to give it a safety inspection. They are required by law to get tags here, but even if it wasn’t, it’s worth the $10 charge to have a certified wrench monkey check your tires, steering head bearing, wheel bearings, brakes, etc annually. Tires are your best friend. Don’t milk them out like you can on a car and spend the extra cash and get the best ones you can when you replace them. Around the neighborhood with the 35 mph speed limit I will wear a half helmet and shorts, but anything involving the freeway means the full face helmet, gloves, and either leather or heavy denim jacket, even now when the heat index is in the 100’s. Being hot and sweaty is much nicer than road rash.
*ride like you are invisible, and always wear proper protective gear, even on the 5 minute trip to the corner store.
*spend money on a good helmet. helmets are not a good place to look for bargains.
*buy a cable-lubing tool (good bike shop will have them) and use it.
*tinker with that new bike (if you are mechanicly inclined) to learn how the systems work
*tinted shields are no good in the dark, but clear safty glasses are good.
*consider wearing a neck-warmer, always. It gets hot sometime, but throatshots with rocks and large bugs really hurt!
*keep an eye on chain adjustment, and learn how to tell when a chain is worn out.
*speaking of chains and such: don’t be afraid to experiment with gearing changes. cheap and easy and can change the charecteristics of the machine entirely. Two six dollar C/S sprockets transformed my suzuki and yamaha into new machines.
*find a local shop with people who ride and are willing to give advise and help with questions, and conversly, just because someone tells you something doesn’t always make it right.
*learn about countersteering and practice it
thats about all i can come up with of the top of my head. ride safe, enjoy, think about joining the AMA (1-800-AMA-JOIN) and have fun!
Wave to everyone who waves to you. There aren’t “rules”, despite what some elitist dorks might tell you. There’s no “cruiser/sportbike” dichotomy, except in the minds of some lame individuals. Spread the love, and wear your damn helmet.
Wimp. If I waited for it to stop raining, I’d never ride! Of course, up till now I’ve only been on my scoot and doing lessons. But a guy I work with is offering me a 750 Suzuki for $1000 Canadian. New tires, new seat, new brakes…
TurboDog - Were those three types of riders, or three types of dates?
OCC - “Spread the love, and wear your damn helmet.” Can I use that as my new signiture?
I seem to have figured out most advice I’m getting here already. I appreciate the words of wisdom, though. I generally wave to anyone with two wheels, even though the HD’s don’t usually wave back. I bought the bike new, and am quite happy with it’s performance and ride. It’s a 2001 Kawasaki 800 Vulcan Classic, and while I’m glad I didn’t get something bigger for my first bike, I’m wishing I had a bigger one now.
I live in VT, so have gotten used to cold mornings. I wear leather, (even got chaps for Christmas) and have thick and thin gloves. I always wear my helmet, and ride safely and courteously, always aware that I am in danger, and representing all riders.
I am not mechanically inclined, and have always relied on the service technicians for automobile service. (I know a fan belt from a serpentine belt, and how to get a mechnic to speak straight with me, so I’ve done okay.) I don’t return to places where they dick me around. (Charge me more than $20 for new air in the tires and I’ll go elsewhere, damnit!) However, I live way out in the booneys and don’t have many choices for motorcycle service. My general feeling is that they’d try to get as much money from me as they can. I’ll check out a few of the sites recommended here so that I know what the mechanic is trying to tell me I should have done.
My tires don’t seem to have tread bars on them. The rear is bald in the center, although there’s good tread on the edges. I assume that needs to be replaced, even though I’ve only put about 7500 miles on it. Do tires usually wear that quickly?
The front tire has over 3/16" of tread left in the center, but I see no wear bars like I’m used to seeing on automobile tires. Am I missing something?
The reason the Harley riders don’t wave back is not because they’re rude but because they’re using both hands just to hold on and get their Harley Ferguson’s to go in a straight line. Also a lot of them would have trouble walking and chewing gum at the same time - asking them to ride and wave is probably a bit more than their brains can handle.
I was on a bike only for 10 months, and I was certainly a lot more careful than a lot of the knuckleheads I see on the road.
Don’t pass cars by flashing by them in an adjacent lane. They may have checked their mirrors a moment ago and not seen you, and then jump to your lane.
Pass them on the other side of the lane if possible, so they have to jump clear across your lane to actually hit you.
GOD FORBID you should go from being in the number one lane, change to the number two, just missing the bumper of the car, and pass him into the number three. If he just checked number three for obstacles, he may jump and hit you, and it would even be your fault.
Keep in the carpool or left-most lane as much as possible. You don’t deal with merging traffic, and you only have to watch one direction for lane changers.
Don’t split traffic while it’s moving more than about 10 miles an hour. As soon as there are any gaps in lanes, someone may decide he NEEDS to switch, and you’ll have a blocked path with nowhere to turn, literally.
I would recommend having your turn signals also function as running lights. The more attention you draw, the better. I had reflective stickers on my helmet too. Heck, if you want to really be obvious, wear one of those reflective vests over your thick leather jacket (you do have one, right?)
Keep in mind that using indicators as running lights may be illegal, depending on where you are. I know it’s illegal in Holland.
TwoBuyFour, 7500 miles for a bald rear tire on a cruiser is quick, but not excessive per se. Do you accelerate at full throttle a lot? How’s your braking, do you lock up the rear at times? Is there a lot of gravel where you live? Sand on the roads? Temperature fluctuations and frost may also be a factor. Maybe try another brand, and see if it lasts longer. But don’t compromise grip for durability. I’d rather burn a tire out in 5,000 miles and stay on, than drop my bike after 10,000 miles on “environmentally friendly” tires that have as much grip as a Turkish oil wrestler trying to grab an eal.