Motorcycle Riders

[kneedownnate]

I my 48mi a day to work eats about a gal. most people say they get around 35, blame it on the 48mm carbs. not bad from my 17mpg 4runner though

Shoot, 48mpg is about twice as good as I've heard they get!  My f4i gets about 35.

I am going to try to go down this Weds. and apply for M1/take the test/whatever.  Any tips/thoughts/helpful stuff?

Go in with a bike you're very comfortable with, and practice tight turns.  The guys who had the easiest time were the guys on dual sports, they just putted right through.  The guys on harleys/big cruisers...    that was funny to watch!

[KDXSR5]

I took my little driving course test on my old tw200. That has got to be the easiest bike I have ever ridden, it is so maneuverable.

[Hammerhead]

I took mine on an XT250.  I agree with nate...  Small enduros are the way to go for the test.

[Misfit4Runner]

i wonder if you could take it on one of those little bicycle/mopeds? Their would be almost NO way you could fail....almost

[jaywross]

or could it possibly have a single SIDED swingarm?!  I'm no rocket surgeon, but I'm pretty sure all bikes have a single swingarm  

what the hell is a rocket surgeon???  

[kneedownnate]

Try it and get back to us misfit 

Rocket surgeons are kinda like brain scientists... 

[jaywross]

ohhhh ok, i get it now...    

[Rockcrawlintoy]

i should be going to apply for my permit sometime this week, ill be finishing DT tomorrow and then hopefully go for the M1 permit and sometime thru the summer take the CHP course in Red Bluff.

my brother is goin to be doin the same class.

[NorCalToy]

whens he goin ni?

[Misfit4Runner]

lol nah ill save the embarassment for when I fall on a big bike

[SamuelEngelking]

My new one!! 2007 Yamaha R6

[Misfit4Runner]

nice time to start wearin in those tires.... and I dont need to tell you that licence plate holder needs TO GO!!  I dig the stubby cans too. same carbon fiber would look sweet their!

[NorCalToy]

thats sick. i can apply for my permit tomorrow after school.

[SamuelEngelking]

Yea i haven't done anything to it yet cause i got it this weekend, but yea i got and exhaust and frame sliders, flush mounts, lights, and a fender kits on the way. . .

[kneedownnate]

Congrats!  Those are excellent bikes and I'd love to ride one on the track.

[SamuelEngelking]

Thanx dude. . yea there are a  blast. i need to get some more practice before i take mine out, this is my first bike and i only got it Saturday the 24th

[kneedownnate]

  that's scary!  Be careful and extremely aware, but try not to be stiff.  Even if you feel comfortable going fast in the corners, use all the self control you can to force yourself to get more time under your belt before pusing it.  It's easy to gain confidence quickly and THINK you're in full control, but make a bobble in a corner while pushing it and you'll quickly find out how ill prepared you are. 

When we used to go on frequent rides I used to have a similar talk with newbs all the time.  We'd ride at a quick pace and if one of them kept up they'd be stoked, but I'd always remind them that we're riding with a reserve, meaning we can comfortably ride much faster, while they were pushing at the edge of their limits and had no backup in case something popped up.  It almost always sunk in and was understood, but you'd ocassionally get a hard headed guy and a lot of the time they'd be the one you'd be sitting with while waiting for the ambulance. 

Respect the bike and it will respect you, and don't be afraid or too proud to take a motorcycle safety course.  After you have a little time on the bike I highly recommend attending some track days and seeing if you can get an instructor to follow you.  Even better would be to attend a track school.  Not because you want to race, but they'll teach you a lot about the ins and outs of riding well and help you gain tons of confidence.

I've long said the faster you're capable of going, the better prepared you'll be when riding at a quick pace on the street when something unexpected happens.

[Duffil]

  that's scary!  Be careful and extremely aware, but try not to be stiff.  Even if you feel comfortable going fast in the corners, use all the self control you can to force yourself to get more time under your belt before pusing it.  It's easy to gain confidence quickly and THINK you're in full control, but make a bobble in a corner while pushing it and you'll quickly find out how ill prepared you are. 

When we used to go on frequent rides I used to have a similar talk with newbs all the time.  We'd ride at a quick pace and if one of them kept up they'd be stoked, but I'd always remind them that we're riding with a reserve, meaning we can comfortably ride much faster, while they were pushing at the edge of their limits and had no backup in case something popped up.  It almost always sunk in and was understood, but you'd ocassionally get a hard headed guy and a lot of the time they'd be the one you'd be sitting with while waiting for the ambulance. 

Respect the bike and it will respect you, and don't be afraid or too proud to take a motorcycle safety course.  After you have a little time on the bike I highly recommend attending some track days and seeing if you can get an instructor to follow you.  Even better would be to attend a track school.  Not because you want to race, but they'll teach you a lot about the ins and outs of riding well and help you gain tons of confidence.

I've long said the faster you're capable of going, the better prepared you'll be when riding at a quick pace on the street when something unexpected happens.

I have to agree with this 100%.  I've ridden dirt bikes since I was like 12, but hadn't been on a street bike really(other than a Hardley for a couple blocks)...I mean, I have ridden on the street, just not with a street bike/something that was legal.  Couple weeks back I took a buddies bike out for a cruise, and at low speeds it was totally different for me. I am planning on getting my license here pretty quick(which I should have done years ago) and I was really surprised at how different it feels riding with traffic. Felt like my neck was on a swivel.

[Plekto]

Sorry I'm getting in a bit late on this conversation.

Given your size, you want to get a small dual sport, mostly because they are lower powered and will fit you.  You can usually manage to get a Yamaha 225, 400, or similar for under $1500 - often much less than that, even.  They get 60mpg and go off-road as well.

As for gear, I wear gear all the time.  I used to race my road bike years ago and there's nothing as too much gear.  A few sessions of having your entire side of your leg from your hip down to your foot one big piece of road-rash will teach you right quick about how it's better to kill some fabric or leather than your skin.

Medical bills are hugely expensive as well compared to wearing proper gear.

- Helmet is a must.  Full-face keeps gravel and crap from ending up your nose and in your eyes when you crash.  Or worse, having half of your nose ground off by the asphalt.  Your head is amazingly strong, but your brain isn't - and it just loves to slam against the insides of your skull in even low speed impacts.   I've crashed with a helmet on before and didn't even have a concussion(huge headache, though).  Without it, my skull would have cracked, most likely.

- Special shoes aren't technically required, but even a good pair of hiking boots is far better than nothing or flip-flops/sneakers.  I use a normal pair of Merrill mid-height boots because they don't weigh a ton and are plenty secure on my foot(tuck in laces though!)  I can wear these around town and nobody looks twice at me.  I could get better gear, but this is what I had.(I'm not rich, either - heh)

- Always wear jeans as a minimum.  A full suit is far better, though, of course.

- Unless it's boiling hot, consider wearing a pair of extra-light thermal underwear that Patagonia makes.  These wick away moisture and more importantly, act like a second layer of skin in a crash.  Excellent in colder weather.  There are professional riding suits that do this as well, but this is a cheap and effective kludge to get the same effect if you're on a tight budget.  Even having jeans and this on makes road-rash about 90% neutralized.  And you don't freeze in cold weather.

- Gloves are a must.  No way, no how, should you ride without them, because your hands are the most likely to get hurt at any time.  I'd even recommend ratty work gloves over nothing.  But proper gloves are a godsend and feel great.

- As for a jacket...  Honestly, short of a full body suit or something with skid plates in it, leather won't save you much better than other options.  I personally prefer ballistic nylon with skid plates as it's washable and cooler.  These aren't too expensive.  A thick leather jacket will work in a pinch, though.  Thickness or skid plates is the real key, much moreso that what it's made out of.

Cheap setup:
Hiking boots, jeans, leather jacket.  Gloves and helmet.

Earplugs as well.  I like my hearing, and even cheapie plugs are far better than nothing at all.  custom-fitted ones run $150 though and are highly recommended as they lower sound levels but don't alter the sounds - so you can still hear everything, just softer.

[Duffil]

I got my permit today.

sadly, the only motivating factor was that i've been working on a lot of bikes on the side recently and need to test drive them after.

[NorCalToy]

well i finished my driver traiuning yesterday. finally. so im eligible to get my permit whenever. i just dont have a bike. yet. anyone wanna get rid of a bike?

[Duffil]

well i finished my driver traiuning yesterday. finally. so im eligible to get my permit whenever. i just dont have a bike. yet. anyone wanna get rid of a bike?

thought you just bought a cm125?

[NorCalToy]

well i ave aqcuired one yes... doesnt currently run/ started teraing into it and og spark form it, but it wont run. not totally sure what to do.

[Duffil]

well i ave aqcuired one yes... doesnt currently run/ started teraing into it and og spark form it, but it wont run. not totally sure what to do.

sell it to me. whaddya want for it/got any pics.

[NorCalToy]

just got a pi9c. seat and tank are not bolted dwon right now, thats why they look (and are) out of alignment. but the whole bike looks clean like it was probably garage kept before i got it. seat is dried, but not cracked. make me an offer. pretty negotiable.

[toyo487]

I've had my licence for years not (got it at age  18 so I had to take the Team Oregon ridding class to get my endorsement)  My first bike was an 82 Honda Cb200T and it was a good bike to learn on.  I've owned a couple cruisers, one dual sport and a CBR600.  Currently I don't have a bike but would like to get another dual sport someday.  (I have a 19 month old daughter and my wife and I are expecting our son to be born anyday now)
     I was on-line on Tuesday evening before I went to work looking at the new KTM dual sport/enduro's, thinking with gas prices that it would be nice to have one again.  I work grave yard and when I got to work that night I learned that one of my friend was killed earlier in the day while ridding with at group of about 15 other guys from work.  He did take the Team Oregon ridding class but was still not familiar with the bike he had gotten about 2 months ago.  It is very sad, he was a good friend and he left behind 3 children, 2 of which still lived at home, his wife left him a year ago and he had full custody of the kids (the ex is not a good lady) 
    I just want to let people know ride but ride within your limits, if your ridding with an experienced group of guys and they want you to keep up with them then you should find other people to ride with until you know you can handle your bike.  kneedownnate  hit the nail on the head a couple posts up.  Don't stop ridding but don't push your limits too fast,  Keep respect for the bike and the road.
    My friend Mike Baker was Killed on 5/27/2008 on Hwy 229 in Oregon, I believe lack of experience caused this wreck,  so please know the bike you are ridding and have complete respect for the road, don't be afraid to not ride with friends if they are not willing to ride at your skill level.  When I feel it is time I will buy another bike I can't let something like this ruin it for me forever, but it will help me remember when I start to do something stupid.

Justin

[TheTransporter]

got me a chopper

[Hammerhead]

Does this mean you'll be changin' your user name to "TransSPORTSTER". 

Nice chop trans!!  What year is it?

[abnormaltoy]

This is just to recognize responsible riders and laugh at the idiot riders out there. This afternoon on the way home...I heard the sound of a  prepubescent male revving a Yamaha 600 to the red line...at a stop light. I followed this little putz for about 3 miles with him weaving in and out of traffic and revving his poor little scooter, while sitting still. At every green light he would ride the car in front of him and whip into the next lane and nail the throttle...either he was slipping the clutch on purpose or his was toast. He never got any more ahead of me than he was at the start and I couldn't get next to him (just so I could tell him how cool I thought he was  )...I guess there's no point to this, except, there are some serious goobers who own bikes.

[kneedownnate]

there are some serious goobers who own bikes.

  I can attest to that!  On the rare ocassion my friends and I ride our bikes around town we're frequently reminded of this.  They'z called squids   

I did miss a shift right in front of a truck yesterday - an all too common occurance on a lot of hondas - so I'm sure he thinks I'm a squid.  Then there's the fat 2nd gear scratch I got while still turning as I entered the road that morning.  That got me giggling, which got me laughing, which got me saying "no, NO, NO, NO" to myself inside my helmet.  It took a while but I finally got over my sliding sickness, and all I need is for it to set back in 

Some others may think me squidly by the way I change lanes on the freeway.  I don't waste any time, I like me some 1/2 second lane changes, and it's sometimes a good way to get tailgaters to back off a bit 

And to think, I NOW ride much more responsibly than I used to