Motorcycle riders...

[GQchris]

What's up all, just wanted to get some advice from the motorcycle riders on here. Well I am 33, never rode before and I am thinking of taking the MSF course and then getting a motorcyle. I am way past the stage of wanting to do any stunts or anything like that, so I'll probably be steering away from the Sportbikes with all the racing stripes on it, I was thinking of something like a touring bike, minus all those little compartment carriers that make one look like a really old dude, lol.

[Tant01]

I'll tell ya... Two wheels are lots of fun to ride but for the price of a gallon of fuel these days a motor bike may be a good investment.

[GQchris]

I'll tell ya... Two wheels are lots of fun to ride but for the price of a gallon of fuel these days a motor bike may be a good investment.

That's exactly what's pushing me to get a bike since I also always wanted one anyway.

[Bjjexpertise@be]

Crotch Rocket all the way!

[Tant01]

I'm thinking a little scooter would be just the thing... Put-put...60MPG!!!LOL

http://www.happyscooters.com/150cc-2008-Model-Gas-Motor-Scooter-Fully-Assembled-p-438.html

[gregimotis]

I rode an SV-650 a few hundred miles once. Really agile, really comfortable good all round bike. I'd love to pick a used one up and they aren't very expensive either.

The V-Strom is based on the same engine but a dual sport.

The 250 ninja is supposed to be one of the best entry level sport bikes out there - good to 90MPH.

A lot of BMW's out now. I rode a BMW 1100 RS and it was comfy and fast, but not nearly as quick as I expected.

A lot of people have liked the Honda VFR's for sport-touring.

Harleys are IMOP underpowered, overpriced, and unreliable. Also many of the 'enthusiasts' are douchebags trying to buy their way into bikerdom.



For older bikes, the whole CB line is great and well supported at SOHC4.net.


Try to get a machine with enough power to do 90+mph. Even if you don't see yourself going that fast, you'll want to be able to freeway without getting overrun by the cars.

[gregimotis]

People will advise you get a small 'starter bike'. As long as you are reasonable (don't go get a speed triple or a Hayabusa) this is not necessary. Get something with enough juice to grow into and as long as your attitude as a learner is good, you won't have any problems.

Get something you can put both feet down flat. For men, that's most bikes unless you are short.

[GQchris]

People will advise you get a small 'starter bike'. As long as you are reasonable (don't go get a speed triple or a Hayabusa) this is not necessary. Get something with enough juice to grow into and as long as your attitude as a learner is good, you won't have any problems.

Get something you can put both feet down flat. For men, that's most bikes unless you are short.

I am starting off with nothing more than a 600cc bike.

[gregimotis]

Get less than a 400 and you'll be trading it in by the end of the summer and you'll never be able to get your date on the back

Some mid displacement bikes are faster than others. Also consider weight and saddle height.

V-twins (cruisers) tend to be slower off the line than similarly sized inline-4s (sport bikes). Dual sprots tend to have high saddles and some folks can't get both feet down. Older bikes can be really heavy and unwieldy at parking lot speeds.

The attitude of the rider is gonna be a bigger safety factor (imop) than the size of the bike itself (of course, riders with good attitudes may tend to get smaller bikes anyway...)


Controlling the motorcycle isn't very hard to learn - it's anticipating the cagers and staying alert that takes effort.

[Ahsen]

GQChris how about CBT ?

[GQchris]

GQChris how about CBT ?

What is that?

[Ahsen]

What is that?

Certificate of Basic Training
Its for people who wnat to ride like Mopeds, Motorcycle

After reading what MSF, I realise that you are based in the US
CBT only applies to people in the UK.

[GQchris]

Yeah I plan on taking the MSF course;

[Ahsen]

Well good luck

I hope things turn out well