Considering getting a motorcycle... need advice

[gulfcoastliberal]

With gas prices soaring,the globe cooking, and currently living in a non-bicycle safe area, I'm thinking of getting a used motorbike. Honestly, I'ma bit frightenedof the things. I once drove a Honda Hurricane around aparking lot and dropped it. 1000 CCs was too much.

I'm eyeing a 1993 Honda Nighthawk 750 with 6000 miles. Is a 750 too much for a beginner? All advice appreciated. Thanks.


Edit: Bike I'm lookin at:

[QuestionAll...]

1. check out what your state rules are.

first time bikers may be limited to 500cc

[gulfcoastliberal]

3. Florida has no such restriction.

They don't even have a helmet law!

Is a 750 cumbersome?

[QuestionAll...]

6. Cumbersome? Is that like a Hoggly Fergeson? nt

[Red_Viking]

2. I drive a 750 and I'm a chick

I've been riding for about a year. Before getting licensed, I did take a state-approved rider safety course, mainly because I had no idea what I was doing. The course was great, it got me over my fear, and I've enjoyed riding ever since. I agree about the gas mileage and pollution--motorcycles are a good solution.

As for what kind of bike is right for you, that's a hard call because it's such a personal decision. I still think of myself as a novice rider but I like the 750 because it's a very solid ride. I was riding a 650 but on the open road I was really getting blown around. Now, having said that, I have to tell you the bike is pretty heavy for me and sometimes I have a hard time maneuvering it. I have to get the boyfriend to park it for me sometimes, which isn't great, but I'm working on it!

I highly recommend taking a safety course before deciding on a bike, if you haven't already taken one. Then, just take it slow. I would bet a 750 is just fine for you, as long as you ride within your limits. That's the key. Plus, wear safety gear. Big must for me!

Good luck to you--I predict you'll have a great time, not being in a cage any more. :)

Peace,

RV

[gulfcoastliberal]

5. Thanks for the info, RV.

I'd definitely take the 18 hour state class and wear safety gear. I really like the look of that Honda 750 and it's a good price for only 6000 miles, even though it's 13 years old. I appreciate you sharing your experience with me.

[TomInTib]

4. If you are afraid of bikes, stay the heck off of them.

A 750 is a lot of bike for a beginner.

Maybe you should look at scooters. There are plenty of road-worthy scoots out there and they are much easier to handle for a newbie.

Make sure that whatever you are thinking about buying that you can pick it up in a tight spot.
I guarantee that you will drop it at a light, at some point.

If gas is the issue, maybe you should buy a really efficient auto.

[gulfcoastliberal]

7. Well, I picked up the Hurricane by myself!

Course that may have been the adrenaline working. Scooters are an option (I rented one in Kona and had lots of fun zooming down the hills) but I want something slightlymore substantial (if bikes can be considered substantial). Plus I need somthing that goes 50-60 mph without the aid of gravity.

[TomInTib]

8. Do you have a car?

If so, keep it while you are learning the ropes on a bike.

I, as a life-long bike rider, see bike initiates do some really dumb things.

Not knowing where you live, I would recommend staying out of high-speed freeway traffic until you are thoroughly confident of your bike and your abilities.

[gulfcoastliberal]

10. Yeah, I have a car, always have for the last 14 years since I turned 16

Of course that means I've had about 5 cars in that time; my first new car was purchased in 2001 and still my only mode of transport. I have no intention of ditching the car - I just don't want to drive it everywhere when it's just me in it. That's why when I bought my car I got a coupe - no wife/kids to schlep about.

The bike's solepurpose would be economical solo transport.

BTW, are you in Tiburon? I was born at French hospitalin SF and grew up in San Rafael? My dad spends his time between Davis and Berkeley.

[TomInTib]

41. I am in Tiburon

We live at the top of Old Town, directly above the Ferry Landing.

San Rafael, eh?
It's a small world.

[MadHound]

18. Well, if all you need is 50-60 mph, I have the scooter for you

A Bajaj Chetak



It cruises at 55-60mph, it gets 100mpg. At 145cc, you will probably need a motorcycle license and plate to ride it, I did. A very stable, easy fun bike to ride. I take it out on the four lane roads in my local berg, however I don't recommend taking it out on highways where the speed limit is 70mph. I got mine last fall due to gas prices, and have put 5100 miles on it so far. I've got a fifty two mile round trip commute and I just love the performance. Curb weight is 253 pounds. Transmission is four speed manual, hand shift. I found that easier than the foot shifter, and a manual tranny gives you great pick up off the line, also a plus.

You can get more information at <http://www.bajajusa.com>

[gulfcoastliberal]

20. Cool, thanks!

I will definitely look into it. Sounds like a sweet little ride!

[htuttle]

31. I'll second that recommendation

I've been riding one everyday that the streets haven't been covered with ice here in WI for the last 4 years. Reliable, fun, and you can't help but hear cheezy Italian pop music in your head when you drive down the street.

As they say in India, "Seats two, carries a nation."

[theHandpuppet]

33. Ooooooooh -- I want one!

Um... how much are they?

[MadHound]

64. I bought mine for $2800

I imagine that the price is still in that ballpark. I also recommend that you budget enough money for a helmet and for a high quality riding jacket, one that has elbow, shoulder and back pads made out of ballistic nylon. Victory(the people who make the motorcycle of the same name) makes a very nice jacket for $260. I know that sounds like a lot, but it is well worth it if you ever have to eat the pavement at 50-60mph. Besides, it is nice and warm, with an extra lining. I regularly ride in temperatures below freezing and am still toasty. Make sure your helmet has a face shield, and that you have a good set of gloves.

[truth2power]

35. Questions about a scooter...

I was looking at scooters the other day. Looking at a "Buddy" made in Taiwan. Automatic trans, but I'd go with a manual, too. 125cc, 60+mph. I like the cargo space in the Buddy. Also, the front panel comes completely off so you can work on on it. So many questions:

Would you recommend auto or manual? I live where there are lots of hills, most not really steep, though. The guy I talked with says he gets up the one particularly steep hill around here with no trouble with his auto trans.

Also, some scooters are 2 stroke, gas and oil mix. Every 2 cyl lawn mower I,ve ever had was junk. Engines get gummed up. Maybe not good comparison though.

As to motorcycles: I'm one of those who's afraid of them, but I don't think that means I couldn't overcome that. I started one of those weekend safety courses and had to bail on the second day because of family things that came up. I'm going back, though.

I was riding a Honda Rebel. Really like that bike. I got a really nasty burn on my leg, from the exhaust pipe, dismounting the passenger seat on my son's bike awhile ago. (Yes, I was wearing shorts.. :blush:) Makes me antsy on a bike. But I have the motivation to work thru all that.

Thanks for any input.

[htuttle]

43. Regarding Bajaj Chetaks

They're four stroke, manual transmissions with the gear selector on the left hand grip. They're working on an export-model auto transmission, but I like the manual transmission ones -- they're more fun. :) I have no trouble with hills around here, and seem to have a lot more acceleration than most cars (at least until I get to 50 mph...), since the scooter is so lightweight (250 lbs + me). I had a little trepidation when I first started riding it, but that went away once I got more comfortable with the shifter. I feel a lot more safe than when I rode a bicyle in traffic, that's for sure.

I have about 4,000 miles on mine, and the oil still stays clean, though I change it at least once or twice a year since it only holds about a quart for the engine and tranny together. I did have to switch to a 'hotter' spark plug to avoid fouling in winter, since the climate in WI is a bit cooler than India (at least it used to be until this summer...). Also the stock tires you get on the Chetak (Nylogrips) can last a long time, but aren't that great on wet pavement -- switch to something stickier like Continental Zippy 3's, and you'll be much happier in the rain.

Re: burning your leg on the exhaust -- can't happen on a scooter like this. In fact, I've read that the reason for the body style of the 'classic scooter' (aka, like an old Vespa) was to allow Italian men to ride motorcycles to work and keep their legs and shoes clean. Probably somewhat apocryphal, I suppose...

BTW, Bajaj used to make Vespas, then bought out the design decades ago to make their own variants like the Chetak.

[MadHound]

67. Frankly I prefer the manual tranny on my Bajaj over an auto

Any scooter that I've had with an auto tranny tends to be slow off the line, which can be a problem in heavy traffic. My Bajaj gets up and going quicker than virtually any car, and quicker than some bikes.

Also, I would recommend that anything you get has a four stroke engine. Two strokes tend to be more polluting and noisier.

Can't get a burn on the Bajaj, the exhaust system is located underneath, out of the way. And if you're leery of a bigger bike, I really do recommend these little Bajaj scooters. They're a blast to drive, very stable to ride, and easily controlable. I would recommend that you also budget in money for a helmet, gloves and a high quality riding jacket. Because a spill at fifty or sixty would give you one hell of a case of road rash otherwise.

[TahitiNut]

36. I really wish more people drove something like this in the US ...

It'd be more than adequate for about 75% of my driving, even in Michigan. I might get one when I have the $6500.

[theHandpuppet]

40. Link?

Would like more info. Thanks!

[htuttle]

44. Here's the US importer

http://www.bajajusa.com/

[TahitiNut]

45. Same site as posted by MadHound - under 3-wheelers.

I had to transfer the image because DU filtered the site's image URL as "illegal code."

[tkmorris]

65. It's a Lizard!

Well, that's what we used to call those things when I was stationed in Sicily anyway.

Those vehicles were everywhere, though I rarely saw them used as personal transportation. They used them more as small pick-ups, or work vans would be used here in the States. Everyone from the produce vendor to the local plumber would load them up with their stuff and go to work.

For personal transportation, at least locally, Vespas were the order of the day. Many (most?) families owned cars, but usually only brought them out for longer trips. Gas was outrageously priced on the Italian market even then, I shudder to think what it is now. But I digress.

As for the motorcycle I have considered buying one as well but I really can't get past the safety issue. People here just don't SEE motorcyclists on the roads. I suppose it wouldn't be so bad as long as you aren't on the highways much, but do drive defensively. Expect people to act as if you aren't there, changing lanes into you and the like.

[mike_c]

9. a 750 is a nice ride, not too big for most folks IMO....

Still, I'd recommend a bicycle if your real motive is greening your personal transportation. Learn to ride assertively-- most areas can be "bike safe" if you ride properly. There's lots of info regarding that available online.

[seriousstan]

11. Walk away from bikes while you still can.

You are not suited for motorcycles. You are the one expressing doubt.

[aikoaiko]

12. 750 is, I believe, the cutoff for small bikes versus big bikes for...

...insurance companies -- at least it used to be. I think you pay alittle more fore 750+ cc.

The 750 nighthawk is a nice bike. As long as your feet can touch the ground, you shouldn't drop it. Whether 750 is too big partly depends on your height and weight. The rule of thumb I learned was that if you couldn't pick it up after laying it down, then its too big.

[Karmakaze]

13. Non-bicycle safe?

And you think putting a big arse motor on it makes it safer? LOL.

[ForrestGump]

49. I've lived in places where I wouldn't even consider bicycling

but I'd get around by motorcycle -- yeah, they're out to kill you, but a motorcycle has acceleration (better than any car) enough to get you out of trouble (and into it, of course, if you're not careful) and there's a lot to be said for keeping up with, or ahead of, traffic.

[Karmakaze]

59. Yeah for sure...

I definately didnt mean to imply that motorbikes themselves were dangerous, because from my friends and family who ride bikes I have heard (and believe) that the most dangerous part about riding bikes is being on the same road as *cough* idiots *cough* in cars. Although some bike riders do stupid things, car drivers seem to have a blind spot when it comes to bikes.

My uncle for example was almost killed when a woman in a car just pulled straight out in front of him on a roundabout. She saw all the car traffic, but for some reason she saw the gap caused by my uncle on the bike as being an EMPTY gap and just drove right out in front of him, like he was invisible.

Thats why I say bikes aren't safe - not because of the bikes but because of the cars.

[truth2power]

71. "drove right out in front of him, like he was invisible."

Yes, SOME drivers are idiots who hate people on bicycles or motorcycles. But it really is true that we look down the road and we expect to see a car, and often, our brains just filter out the presence of a motorcycle. I've heard this story over and over.

Years ago, cycles didn't have the headlight on all the time. Now it's on whenever the engine's running, day or night. I think that's been a great improvement, safety-wise. Just one more thing to announce your presence. I think bicyclists and motorcyclists should wear those orange-glo vests too. Anything to make yourself more visible, because sometimes reasonable, careful drivers just don't see you.

[ForrestGump]

76. The first time I heard the term "cognitive dissonance" was in

relation to the way (many) car drivers (too often) see motorcyclists. There's definitely often something other than true visual failure or whoopsies going on, and that's aside from people who are distracted or multitasking and a certain proportion of drivers who are actually out to get motorcyclists, intentionally (usually intending to inconvenience them or annoy them but very occasionally there are people who intentionally use their cars as weapons...undoubtedly rare, but hardly surprising given the generally muderous tendency of the human species and the number of unrestrained crackpot sociopaths running around out there these days).

[TahitiNut]

14. My first bike was a Honda 350cc.

My second (last) was a Honda 550cc. They were not that much different in weight.

When I bought my first bike, I'd never ridden one at all before. I "learned" by getting it home from the dealer on residential streets, avoiding any highway or traffic. Yep. Silly. I was back from 'Nam and split from my wife. It was part of my "recovery." It worked.

The method to my madness was that I didn't want something I'd have trouble lifting off its side. I knew I was interested in back roads and didn't want to ride freeways. I didn't get a dirt bike or knobbies since I wasn't interested in trails or motocross ... primarily the two-lane blacktops that cover the country and an occasional packed dirt road.

The 350cc was quite adequate. I took it on a trip north from Detroit, over the Mackinaw Bridge, up through Sault Saint Marie, west across Canada north of Lake Superior, over to 10,000 lakes, south through Minneapolis/St. Paul, down along the Mississippi to Pekin, then east through Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to Columbus, then back north to home. When in Canada, I took side-trips north on old logging roads until I found places to "commune with nature." The bike worked fine. It worked fine on the 2-lane roads and 4-lane roads, only taking freeways for short times when no other choice was reasonable. Lifting it off its side was something I had to do occasionally, but I never wiped out.

The 550cc (Magna) was a superb bike. Just the right size for me - a 6-foot-2-incher weighing in at 240# or so. It was perfect for the kind of commuting and sedate weekend rides I'd use it for. I also had an occasion to lift it off its side.

While there're techniques one can use (engine and twist) that avoid the dead-lift, I didn't want to rely on them to get it up. I also didn't want to count on being in top shape and not bruised or aching - the circumstances might not be ones where I was perfectly healthy and fit.

For my taste, a 750cc is just slightly too large ... but I'd do it with the right bike. The Honda Nighthawk is a decent ride, imho ... very close to the kind of bike I like. I still prefer a 500-600cc bike. I'm not a Ninja and have no interest in carrying cargo (or passengers).

Most states have riding tests on a painted parking lot that're easier to do with smaller bikes with a shorter wheelbase. A lot of riders borrow a friend's bike to do them. Taking a bike course is wise. There are riding techniques that all bikers should be VERY familiar with.

Hope this helps.

[gulfcoastliberal]

21. Thanks for sharing. Remindsme of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maint.

Minus the maintenance and annoying kid of course. I was thinking a 500 would be ideal but I came across thismint '93 Nighthawk and it's burning a hole in my wallet. But I need some due diligence soI'm asking my fellow DUers for pro bono "Directors ofLessons Learned". ;)

[theHandpuppet]

15. Ever given consideration to one of these?

If you want some green, about-town transportation how about one of these?

http://wirelessdigest.typepad.com/hippyshopper/2005/04/mean_green_scoo.html
http://wirelessdigest.typepad.com/hippyshopper/2006/03/retro_electric_.html
http://www.thegostore.com/evtion.html
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/04/don_dunkees_diy.php
http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/solarpowered-scooter-solarin-turtle-180333.php
http://wirelessdigest.typepad.com/hippyshopper/2006/06/ego_helio_recha.html

[Bear down under]

16. I rode a bike for nearly twenty -five years.....

...and would happily do so again. (I live in the city and my own wheels are a luxury I can't afford right now.) Go for it!

I am inclined to second the thought that a smaller bike would be better for a beginner, both from the weight aspect and becuse a 750 has an awful lot of power to keep under control -- it can out-accelerate just about every car on the market. On the other hand, there are times in traffic when the ability to accelerate out of the way can be life-saving, and little things like scooters and 150 cc "commuter" bikes just don't have it. I once borrowed a scooter (100cc) for a week when the BMW was in the shop for an overhaul and I felt I would have been much safer getting off and walking.

But if you have fallen in love with that 750, buy it. Just be extra careful until you're used to it.

Something in the 350 range would be a good compromise; and if after a year or so you feel the need for something bigger you can always trade up.

Get yourself properly taught to ride -- ask your local police about rider training -- an practise away from traffic till you get your confidence. And get adequate protection and wear it. Every time. There is an old saying that there are only two types of riders, those who have crashed and those who will. A full face helmet at very minimum; a tough jacket (leather is still the best) and stout boots. Proper motorcycle leathers are best of all, and you can often buy them quite cheaply second hand. And wet-weather gear to go over all when needed. The sort of things campers use will be fine.

Sure, it all sounds a lot of bother, but you are going to have a lot of fun..

Oh, and one further thing. If a biker on the road waves to you, wave back (with your left hand, of course). The camaraderie of the bike is not what it was, but there are few things more heart warming than to be stopped by the side of a country road just, er, relieving yourself and have a stranger pull up and ask if everything is all right.

[soothsayer]

17. How big are ye? Where ya gonna' be riding? I'd go more

middle of the road (500) cuz they're plenty agile enough for city driving, and big enough for highways without totally getting blown away by big trucks. I don't think a 750 is a good starter bike tho, sure, it could totally be done.

[gulfcoastliberal]

22. I'm a skinny 5'11 150#

But strong enough to pick up a Honda Hurricane! God that was emabrassssing (dropping it in a parking lot going 5mph). Broke the throttle in half. Friend pisssed but he was the one who encouraged me to try it out.

[ForrestGump]

19. I've written some things about this

before on DU...here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=5162838#5164363

And here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=4124041#4125742

Also, I used to ride a Nighthawk (a 1984 650, with aftermarket fairing added...still have it in storage in another state) and I testify to the uber-reliability of the beast (Hondas, in general, tend to be very good that way) and the ease of maintenance and operation that its shaft drive brings. Great bikes, with a 'standard' riding position. Can't go wrong with a Nighthawk, really. But 750 is bigger than I'd recommend for most people who're just starting out. The Nighthawk's hardly a proverbial "crotch rocket," but 750cc on tap in a bike is still substantial. I believe there's a 500cc Nighthawk, and -- all things being equal -- something like that's more what I'd recommend if it's available to you.

Motorcycles are great, but you need to be more careful and more alert than you ever were in a car to be a good rider. In turn, being a good rider on a bike -- and plenty out there are not, partly because motorcycles of any kind provide ample entree for the worst kinds of poseurs -- will make you a far better car driver. Riding is far more demanding, in every way, than driving. That's one reason why you not only need to be good, and have the right attitude (very defensive even if, as in my case, that defensiveness may include riding hard or fast to stay ahead of traffic...I usually feel safer way out in front, as far from the pack of cars as I can get), but why you'll be a far more proficient driver after riding a while. You learn quickly to anticipate all sorts of contingencies and to look not just right ahead of you but far ahead, always anticipating and alert to changing situations and environmental conditions: dogs running out, car doors opening without anyone looking first, and, of course, things motorcyclists have to worry a lot about like gravel, ice, oil, leaves, metal plates and such, painted markings, etc.

Good luck...read up on the topic as extensively as you can (lots on the Web for new riders), think about it a while, and then make your decision. Don't let some unethical f***knuckle at a dealers (if that's where you buy a bike) talk you into some superbike you're not ready for, because I've heard that some of these people actually do that (and, in the teen and early-20s males they target, they have a willing audience...all those young guys tend to want the 'Gixxer' 750 or 1000, the Suzuki sport bike that seems to be the prime choice of what are, in America, called 'squids' by people who're more serious and cautious in their motorcycling).

Be careful out there. Believe that everyone is out to kill you and you'll be okay. But also enjoy what only riding a bike can give you, all practical considerations (pro and con) aside.

[gulfcoastliberal]

23. Thank you for the advice and links.

No way am I interested ina rice rocket or a new bik for that matter. I'm looking on Ebay for a decent low mileage bike for around 2K max. That Nighthawk caught my eye cause it fits the parameters except for the larger motor. I always figured if I got a motorcycle it'd be either a Honda or Yamaha- something reliable.

Edit: Looking for the baby Ninja now.

[ForrestGump]

26. I've never bought a bike new

and always bought them from private parties (my current Ninja was my first real eBay purchase...seemed crazy, and there were some obvious scams going on in that category, but it worked okay). There're several online motorcycle marketplaces I used to look at...can't recall any of them now, but look around and you'll find them.

The baby Ninja is a great little bike, and more than peppy enough. There's a lot to be said for a lightweight bike. It seems like there aren't too many street bikes marketed these days in the US in the 250-450cc range (used to be very popular, with classics like the Honda 350 and 380, etc, and all the great 400s and 450s) and I'm guessing it's because all the sportbike poseurs (and the Harley poseurs, of course) are all starting out with bikes too big for them, like 1000-1300cc monsters or at least those like the phenomenally fast 600-something cc Kawasakis and Hondas. Overseas, where motorcycles tend to be seen more seriously as means of transport (as opposed to toys or fashion accessories), the smaller-displacement bikes are way more common. Find a '70s or '80s 400-450cc bike, a four-stroke with a good engine (a good motorcycle engine will last a long, long time), and you'd be doing okay, too. :-)


Here're a couple of sites that have some interesting background info, and there're tons of bulletin boards out there on the Internet (avoid the ones dominated by 'squids' and 'stunters'):

http://www.flamesonmytank.co.za/ride.htm

http://www.survivalskills.clara.net/rskills.htm

And here is an excellent rundown of what to check when buying a used bike:

http://www.clarity.net/~adam/buying-bike.html



Oh...just found one of the pages I used to look at when hunting for a bike...it's probably the most exhaustive (outside of eBay) that I used:

http://www.cycletrader.com/

A couple of examples from there...2002 baby Ninja (250cc) for $2000 in Mt Pleasant, PA:



And a 2004 Nighthawk 250 with <700 miles from Pompano Beach, FL for $2500:



The next step up for these particular bikes would take you to the 500cc range, which is about where I'd stop looking for this first bike.


All right...found these online listings, too, from my old files:

http://www.100motorcycles.com/

http://www.thebiglot.com/find_used_motorcycles.asp

Happy hunting!

[rolleitreks]

24. A 750 might be a bit much for a beginner.

Have you taken the safety course? Lots of people downsize their ambitions after they grasp the difficulties of handling a bike.

Many people recommend starting out with a 250. They are light, easier to handle, and easily meet your speed requirments. They are also light on gas. Your options are the Kawasaki Ninja 250, a sport/standard, the Honda 250 Nighthawk, a standard, and the Honda Rebel and Yamaha Virago, small cruiser style bikes. The Ninja is probably the best of the bunch, with a more powerful engine, better handling and a low price $3,000 new.

Here's a website devoted to them: http://forums.ninja250.org/

If you search the web you can find reviews of all these bikes. I would strongly recommend that you take a riding course before you buy a bike. You'll have a much better idea of what is suitable afterwards.

[TahitiNut]

32. Even as an experienced biker, I'd probably go with the Honda Rebel 250

... even today. I like the 'classic' riding position (rather than pretending my body is some projectile) and the superior handling - I hate trying to muscle the bike over/under/between things when parking and storing and whatever. The 250 has as much or more pep today than the 350 had in the early 70s.

[truth2power]

38. Tahiti, see my post above...

I started the State sponsored safety course, here. Had to bail because of other situations, unrelated. But they use 250s of one brand or another. I was riding the Rebel. I REALLY like that bike. Yes, I'm afraid of them, but I'm working on it.

[TahitiNut]

42. IMHO, it's HEALTHY to ride with trepidation.

Despite the fact that I love the experience of biking, I NEVER lost that feeling of healthy respect for the danger of inattentiveness.

It was a large part of my mental/emotional 'adjustment' from Viet Nam. Riding a bike safely requires 120% alertness and attention ALL THE TIME. There's just no room in the skull for regrets, reflections on failed marriages, reviewing workplace slights, or dwelling on combat events. It's a very "Here and Now!" experience - the "Zen" of any life. When the senses and attention are devoted to harvesting absolutely everything one can be aware of in a 360 degree circle with a 50' radius (and more), then we're truly "in the moment." It might be the closest thing many have to meditation.

About once each year or two, I had one of those "life-saving experiences" of losing control of the bike without losing my life. Whether laying it out on a patch of ice plant due to first rains on an oily roadway or having a brain fart and gunning the bike out from under me and landing on my ass ... the adrenalin and instant of stark terror (without injury) served as that little reminder that a loss of focus could be deadly. It'd take a year or two before I forgot ... and would have my next adrenalin reminder.

[truth2power]

72. Thanks for the encouragement, TN...

I disagree with those here, who say if you have concerns about your ability you shouldn't get a bike. I think the only people who aren't shaky at first are those who were riding dirt bikes when they were 8 yrs old.

Re: your experiences laying your bike down. Yikes! My son has a Honda..um...700 something. If anything ever happened to him on that, I'd never forgive myself. Because I'm the one who prodded him into getting it. He really wanted a bike, but he has a family and well, there's always places for the money to go rather than into a motorcycle, ya' know?

Anyway, he really enjoys it now. Loves getting out on the open road. Says it gives him a feeling of freedom. And since he's very safety conscious and wears a helmet, can't ask for much more.

BTW, a few months ago a cyclist was killed near here when a deer jumped in front of him. Some things you just can't anticipate.

[newportdadde]

25. I'd recommend getting a more fuel efficent car, safer.

I can't believe I'm going to be anti-bike here. I'm 30 and grew up riding ATVs out on the farm without a helmet. Miss that feeling, it was fun, crashed once but got lucky.. anyways. I've been getting a bug to get a motorcyle for gas reasons too but I have a wife who would divorce me if I got one and 3 little ones, all under 3 at home so no bike for me.

My take on it is this, the fuel efficency is not worth loosing that steel around you. I saw a motorcyle once that had been driving down the rural road where I grew up. This was a black top road, two lane. So he was out riding and an old farmer decided to go across the road from one side to the other, one gravel road to another. He didn't see the motorcyle. My father and I went past after life flight had taken him away. The bike was trashed, the guy had that I know of 2 broken arms, collar bone and a broken leg and internal organ injuries.

Someone here on DU once shared a story of a guy who wiped out on the freeway, they rushed over to help him and he was screaming, he had no hands left just stubs and his stomach had ripped open with his guts everywhere.

Sorry to be a downer, that bike looks fantastic, just be careful.

[trotsky]

27. There's a reason why emergency room workers call them "donorcycles."

Even the best motorcycle rider is no match for a surprise patch of gravel or a vehicle that doesn't see him.

[tabasco]

28. I'm thinking about a BMW 650GS.

You can ride it on the road or on timber trails.

They are a bit expensive and hard to find a used one but you might take a look.

I rode dirt bikes like a crazy person when I was younger. I was always kind of afraid to ride a street bike, though. But now that I'm older I think I'm mature enough to ride EXTREMELY CAREFULLY.

[ForrestGump]

48. Careful

about getting back on a street bike (the 650GS is one of those paris-Dakar enduro-type tour bikes, isn't it, though?). Going from an offroad bike to a street bike requires some adjustment...my first crash was a result of not really appreciating that when I bought my first street bike. They handle differently and you ride them differently.

It sounds like you haven't ridden dirt bikes in a while, though, so the real issue is getting back on a bike after a long break. I did it with my current bike after 12 years of not riding to any significant extent (I had a bike but wasn't able to ride it because it got damaged in a move and I was so busy with grad school I never fixed it, and then I went overseas) but what I really should have probably done is take an MSF course as a refresher...where I was it just turned out to be a hassle and hard to schedule, so I skipped it. I starting riding at age 11, but even now I could probably benefit from at least the advanced MSF course. I'd recommend you consider it, anyway, especially because your previous experience was on dirt bikes. Yes, it is very much like 'riding a bike,' but you know how quickly things can go wrong on a motorcycle as a result of any one of a seemingly infinite set of circumstances and with even a moment's inattention and lack of focus.

Good luck!

[catnhatnh]

29. Pretty Beast!

I reckon this one is gonna be a battle twixt your heart and head....rode for over 30 years and walked away (bad back)...I'd like to see you start a little lighter and with a tad less power,but the heart wants what the heart wants....that said you had best know that there are only two kinds of bikers-those who have dropped it and those who are going to.I've been down over a dozen times and injured a bit twice.So here's my advice...leather,lot's of it and GOOD quality-you want the outside of a cow to cover all parts you would like to keep your skin on top of.Good riding boots with full ankle support.A state of the art full coverage helmet (little brother could tell you the value of the chin section and the advantages it has over eating gruel through a wired jaw for 4 months).Shatterproof riding glasses or googles-never any cheap shit near your eyes.Finish it off with a proper set of riding gloves and wear them-any and every time a biker goes down the hands are one of the first points of road contact, and hands are DELICATE and COMPLEX....Now the hard part-you live on the Gulf Coast and need to use ALL this stuff EVEN IN THE SUMMER-failing to do so is like having unprotected sex "occassionally"...Look into cooling products like neck gel coolers and use them if you must.But wear the gear or decline the bike...just my take..../Regards,Cat.

[TahitiNut]

34. My personal priorities for riding apparel ...

I say this as someone who didn't do trails, motocross, or freeways/expressways. I did most of my riding on clean-surfaced asphalt - although blown beach sand near coasts made my riding experiences a little hairy far more often than I wanted. (There're always trade-offs.)

#1 - Eye (and face) protection! If I were riding nude on a private driveway, I'd NEVER go without shatter-proof eye protection.
#2 - A brain bucket. Mine had a full face shield and I wore shatter-proof glasses underneath. I often considered getting a helmet that didn't cover the ears and carry both. I like having unobstructed hearing.
#3 - Leather riding gloves - skin tight with vents.
#4 - Never sandals, preferably hard-soled shoes. More is, I feel a lower priority than ...
#5 - Arm/upper-body protection, a denim jacket at a minimum but leather advisable
#6 - Leg protection, denims at a minimum.

I preferred a bike with a small aftermarket windshield/fairing. Nothing ruins a ride faster than flying debris.

[ForrestGump]

55. Yes, protection is priority

You may never need it but, hey, that's what insurance is all about.

And Mr Nut is right...after the head, it's the hands and feet that take the most punishment in most involuntary dismounts. Gloves are vital, and so are purpose-made boots (preferably) or the sturdiest footwear you can find. I've never thought steel-toe boots were a good idea, though plenty use them, because when I was young it was pointed out to me that if a car rolls over your foot, or you otherwise crush or impact it in an accident, the steel could cave in and amputate toes or a good chunk of the foot.

Florida's one of the states where idiots are allowed to ride with no helmet -- I'll never join the biggest US bike organization because they lobby against helmet laws (not that I'm really a 'joiner,' anyway) -- but you should wear a helmet, and make it a full-face helmet. Don't believe the Luddite f**wits who claim fullface (or any) helmets are more dangerous than going bareheaded, because they're lying in service of an inane agenda. Three-quarter helmets can be fine, but you should have the jaw and face protection a full-face provides, and they come with a polycarbonate visor. I would be dead -- no question -- for sure once and most likely two or three times if I weren't wearing a helmet; my father would have extensively messed up his face and jaw/teeth if he hadn't grabbed my fullfaced helmet, for a change from his three-quarter helmet (I was overseas), the morning he rode to work and was hit by car driven by a 15-year-old girl who'd just earned her license.

I live in the desert, but even in temperatures of 114°F in the shade (so 120° or more at the surface of all that black leather...who knows how hot inside) I always wear, without exception, the following:

* full-face helmet (I've got three right now, all vented, though the vents on one are almost useless...I recommend a vented helmet, and KBC is a new brand that does a lot for the money)

* leather jacket with vents and/or perforations and compressed foam armor on shoulders, elbows, and spine (with other padding sewn in at strategic points)

* leather pants, that zip to the jacket, also with slip-in armor (knees) and additional padding (hips, especially)

* leather or leather-mesh gloves...all of mine have Kevlar pads and armor all over and most have gel palm pads for added comfort...I like gauntlets, with secure wrist straps so they don't fly off

* leather boots with waterproof Gore-Tex and internal plastic and leather armor (mine are Oxtar Matrix boots...the heavily-plastic racing style boots offer more armor but are tough to walk in and only good for riding)

You'll need a rainsuit (lots of choice, including just regular ones...I ripped mine a year ago and haven't had to wear it since, luckily) and the tighter it folds up, the better -- reflective tape or bright colors are a good idea, thought he reality is that drivers won't see you even if you're covered in flashing neon signs. I wear Under Armour heat gear (for summer) or cold gear (for winter) long-sleeve tops and bottoms under my leather...it's perfect for that use, and makes things a lot more comfortable. In winter I also add an Under Armour balaclava and thin climber's glove liners. These days I wear soft foam earplugs when I ride a significant distance at speed, because wind noise will result in permanent hearing loss and I probably messed with that enough during more youthful marathon rides (after which I could barely hear for a day). Wind noise really is significant, even with the best helmets, and it's at a level above the threshold at which protection is recommended by OSHA et al..

I haven't bought any yet -- thought about it -- but they make heavy-duty mesh suits and jacket-pants sets that offer similar abrasion resistance to leather and also come with pockets for armor. The advantage is that these suits are cooler -- air flows through the mesh holes -- than leather, though leather still seems to win on abrasion resistance and they've not yet come out with anything that beats trusty old leather.

In younger years I never had leather pants, so I wore the toughest Levis I could find. Levis can do the job in a very light lay-down, but they're as useless as any other clothing in a serious incident. Some clothes can be worse than wearing nothing, potentially, and some synthetics will melt on you from friction as you slide down the road.

An expandable magnetic tank bag functions as my 'purse,' a replacement for the rucksack I for so many years toted with me, and a small cargo net will handle most other around-town loads. If you're wearing a backpack on your back while riding, it had better contain nothing you don't want smashing into your back if you come off...no cans of beans, bottles of drink, or anything like that.

Of course if, like me, you adopt the bike as your only or primary means of non-predestrian transport, you're going to have practical constraints. One is that you can't carry all that much, especially if you don't have panniers or the like, though you can fit an awful lot on a bike's back seat and tank if you're creative and imaginative (or desperate). You may also have problems carrying a friend, not least because you should be demanding that they, too, wear clothes that provide at least a minimal degree of protection (and you're likely to find many females, in particular, not too excited about that). And, unless you're going someplace like work and can change there, whenever you go out in all this leather and armor you are stuck in this leather and armor. I hardly ever wear 'normal' clothes any more, for example, because when I'm working I'm dressed like Elvis, when I'm at home I'm lounging around in boxers (trying to get cool), and when I'm out running errands (unless I do them on foot, or undertake one of my regular two-hour strolls) I'm dressed head to toe in black leather. Just as well, because most of my clothes are in storage. Basically, too, I'm always sweating. The stuff is practical, though, as well as being protective...for example, if you ride in good shoes or boots they will get scuff marks on top from changing gear (and oil on the soles from intersection stops) and shoelaces can and will eventually tangle around footpegs or levers and you'll find yourself taking a tumble after stopping, because you can't get your foot down. Sorta the same reason why people wear specialized boots while riding horses.

Bottom line is that anyone who doesn't wear ample protection -- at minimum leather (etc) jacket, jeans, sturdy leather boots, gloves, and helmet -- is looking for pain. People who don't wear helmets, where that's legal, either have never had a serious crash or are dense enough that they had one and still didn't learn from it. Either way, they're stupid. And I've received a bit of flak from a shallow relative-by-marriage (and even from someone else I was close to a while, to an extent) along the lines of how I look goofy all done up like Darth Vader and suffering for it when "everybody else" is running around on sport bikes or cruisers in tank-tops and flip-flops. F*** that attitude and the chopper it rode in on...I was never one for peer-pressure but, even if you are, do not join the ranks of half-naked f***wits who ride around on bikes that are as much a fashion accessory as the bling-bling belt buckles they wear. For a start, just ask an ER nurse what happens to the foot when the sole of someone's flip-flops hits the ground and the thing part decides that it's going to keep going the direction it was going...that vision has made me cringe for years.

[Phx_Dem]

30. Tip for used bike purchases

Whenever you check out a used bike take a close look at the fork down tubes. You will see that they are coated with a grey material, it's teflon. As miles are put on the bike the teflon wears off. First you will see little vertical shiny streaks that start a few inches above the dust seal, many miles later you will see shiny patches. The streaks will usually start becoming noticeable after maybe 15-25K miles, depending on a lot of factors. Once the streaks are larger the forks will need to be replaced soon (very expensive repair)

By looking for streaks, shiny patches, you will be able to determine if the odo has been "rolled back" which happens a lot with bikes IMO.

[Robbien]

37. I would hold out for one of those Smart Cars

Not much bigger than a motorcycle and gets great mileage.

[MyNameGoesHere]

39. Motorcycles are not that scarry

however the other motorist are. If you do get one just remember that most drivers do not consider the existance of 2 wheel vehicles and totally can kill you. Never asume that you are seen by a car. Just assume they are going to hit you.

[TahitiNut]

46. Yep. 120% attention to one's context is required.

I'd also say that people (I WON'T call them bikers) who do "lane-sharing" are fucking insane!

The most dangerous things on the road are the idiots in cars ... particularly that asshole tail-gating the biker who doesn't have a prayer of stopping fast enough to keep from burying the biker in an emergency stop situation. Morons who change lanes and cut off a biker or nearly run 'em off the road should have their licenses pulled.

[htuttle]

47. When I'm riding my scooter, I assume I'm entirely invisible

I don't EVER trust someone else's turn signals, either.

[lumberjack_jeff]

56. Yes. And every car turning left is a menace.

Whether they're turning across your lane of traffic from a stop sign or an oncoming car turning onto a cross street in front of you, assume they don't see you unless they make eye contact. Even then, when I approach one of those situations, I always have two fingers on my front brake.

[lectrobyte]

80. They are pretty scarry. I have this weird scar on my shoulder that

looks like Luxembourg, and the place on my shin that looks like a cheese grater hit it. And the thing on my ankle from when I was riding with no socks and got too close to the exhaust pipe. Probably some more I'm not wanting to think about right now.

[Codeine]

50. My advice. Walk away now.

Nurses don't call 'em "donorcycles" for nothing. An on-line friend was killed the other day on his bike, just weeks after graduating from college, a bright future cut off like *that*.

For your loved ones, and yourself, get a good, fuel-efficient car.

[freethought]

51. If you're thinking of getting a motorcycle do this first

Your desire to save on gas is admirable but if you are thinking of using a motorcycle to commute do so with some information. One thing is true they are not as safe as cars and one must operate them at a higher state of awareness than a car.
It might be good to do some reading first,
"How to Ride A Motorcycle" by Pat Hahn - its pretty basic and a quick read. Shows you the bare basics.
If you are more serious read "Proficient Motorcycling" by David Hough. It is much more in depth and a longer read. You may want to read more than once. It goes into the physics of motorcycles, accident stats (some may surprise you), what type of road conditions/hazards to look out for etc...

Consider trying to find a Motor Cycle Safety Foundation sponsored beginner riders course. You may find it very helpful. Here's a link http://www.msf-usa.org/ .

You're probably right about one thing, getting on 1000cc crotch rocket was probably not the best wat to introduce yourself to riding a motorcycle.

As far as a Nighthawk 750, if 750 is the cc level of the motorcycle, that will be just a little less powerful than the Hurricane you rode. You might want to consider something less potent.

[lumberjack_jeff]

52. I've been riding for 30 years.

1) If your area has lots of traffic, don't plan on commuting with it. There are few things more scary than heavy stop-n-go traffic surrounded by ignorant cage operators on cellphones. A bike can still be a good pleasure vehicle, which can travel long distances economically. The bike you're considering should get 45mpg+
2) The bike you're considering is *dimensionally* not too big for you, nor too powerful, given your weight.
3) I highly recommend a protective riding suit. Aerostitch makes the best one, but it's not cheap: budget about $900 for a suit and $250 for a helmet. If you can't afford protective gear, buy a cheaper bike.
4) The MSF class is also very highly recommended. Disclaimer: I've never taken it, but I know without a doubt that even after 30 years of riding, I'd learn a great deal.
5) Everyone on the road will kill you if you get in their way. Once you internalize that idea, you ride with the kind of defensiveness that is required to do it safely. Ride visibly. Sometimes that means aggressively, but it always means riding where cars aren't, nor where they're likely to go in event of emergency.
6) In my experience, a person who lacks the attitude and skills to ride a 750 safely also lack the required attributes to ride a scooter safely. A SCOOTER IS A MOTORCYCLE. If you want a scooter because it's more economical than a bigger bike, go for it. If you're considering a scooter on the basis of ill-considered advice that they're safer than a big bike, I suggest you reconsider. I see so many moms who are fine with putting their flip-flop-clad teen on a scooter and onto the streets because they're somehow more benign than a real m/c.
7) The tiny wheels on a scooter reduce the gyroscopic effect that helps keep a motorcycle upright. They also react worse to irregularities in the road. A skateboard wheel will feel even the tiniest bump where a bike wheel won't. Only if I made lots of trips less than one mile from home would I consider one.
8) If fuel economy were my overriding consideration, I'd look at some of the really good 250cc motorcycles before I'd consider a scooter.
9) I'm about your height but closer to 200#. I learned to ride a streetbike on a 650 Yamaha, then graduated to an 1100 bulletbike. The bulletbike had more horsepower than I had courage. I now ride a 1982 750 suzuki and it's perfect for me.

[ForrestGump]

57. "A SCOOTER IS A MOTORCYCLE"

Yes!!!

Well, they sorta are.

Indeed, if you're thinking about getting a scooter, please don't think about it any more. I wrote a whole tirade about why, if you want to read it:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=5166035#5166445

They have their place, but I'm no fan of them. Essentially, they're dangerous, inherently -- they embody the worst of both worlds, with all the safety disadvantages of a traditional motorcycle and none of the handling or power. Worse, if I am disgusted by the way Americans tend to see motorcycles as toys, attitudes toward scooters are even worse. I was appalled to see that here in Nevada (where motorcyclists must wear helmets) people on scooters don't have to wear helmets. That's insane.

And in tourist areas, like Key West, anybody can rent a scooter and tool around, even if they've never ridden a motorcycle in their lives...it's beyond dangerous and is plain unethical...it's 100% greed for the tourist dollar. I lived in an island nation where tourists rent scooters and not only were you dealing with 55-year-old couples from Des Moines (who'd never ridden a motorcycle before in their lives) wobbling along on the roads and endangering themselves and everyone else -- accidents were very common and fatalities not unheard of, though probably lower than if the speed limits were higher -- but they were having to do so while dealing, perhaps for the first time, with traveling on the left side of the road. Sick.

If you're thinking the risks of motorcycles are too great (actually, the main inherent dangers -- such as problematic surfaces -- are to a great extent manageable through alertness and experience; bikes aren't inherently dangerous, and most accidents are around town and involve a car, a car that's usually at fault) don't try a scooter in hope that it's better, because it's worse. Again, motorcycles would not be very risky at all were it not for all the idiots bumbling around in cars -- and mammoth SUVs (and the self-centered attitudes that so often go with them) and cell-phone usage have only made things worse -- but the fact is that this is what we've got to contend with, and I'm only grateful that we are at least smaller targets and more maneuverable.

Try the MSF course and see how you feel...if you've got undue trepidation going on after that, take the course again, and repeat until you're ready to ride or ready to walk away from what is not the right idea for you.

[bunkerbuster1]

63. The "scooter" category includes a lot of stuff these days

I'm not going to argue the mostly-valid points you'd raised, but I'll just say there's a world of difference between, say, a pokey Honda Metropolitan and a 100+ mph Honda Silver Wing.

A modern water-cooled scoot of 250cc or more will cruise at highway speed, generally has 12" or larger wheels for very good stability, and serves a lot of the same purpose as a smaller motorbike without some of the nastiness (exposed engine/exhaust).

[ForrestGump]

78. That's true.

There're larger scooters out there now that are basically not a lot different than motorcycles of similar displacement except in that they're missing the tank between the legs (though that would still freak me out and certainly affect the way I handled the bike, something that may not be a factor for someone learning on such a beast). Most of the scooters I see running around are the Vespa-looking kind with tiny wheels and tiny engines, though (come to think of it, I haven't seen the venerable Honda 50 and Honda 90 stepthrough type in years in a US city).

[bunkerbuster1]

79. The closest thing to those step-throughs

are the so-called big-wheeled scooters, such as Kymco's "People" series:

http://kymco.com/us/showroom/scooter/showScooter.asp?intInfoID=61



and, to a lesser extent, Piaggio's 16" wheeled BV series:

http://www.piaggiousa.com/pscooters/bv500.cfm

[mahatmakanejeeves]

53. New to Motorcycles: My Thoughts

dupe delete

[mahatmakanejeeves]

54. New to Motorcycles: My Thoughts

I think it is a bad idea to buy a bike because you want to save money on gasoline. You should drive a bike because you want to drive a bike. The ones who get into it to save money will, I believe, give up quickly. Of course, then their low-mileage bikes will be available secondhand dirt cheap, so we do wish to encourage them to buy bikes. I believe your first bike should be secondhand. There is not now, nor will there be, a shortage of motorcycles. Motorcycle prices will not soar in relation to the price of gasoline.

Still interested? OK. Before buying or even getting on a bike, the one thing you absolutely must do is take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course for beginning riders. No exception.

Here's how it works in Virginia. The introductory "never, ever" course, the Basic RiderCourse, is taught at the community colleges. I believe it is taught at community colleges in Maryland and Pennsylvania too. The cost varies from state to state; for 2006, it is $135 in Virginia. It is not a wise idea to try to save the $135 by having your friend teach you everything he knows. Further, you'll get a break on insurance by having taken the Basic RiderCourse.

You show up on a Friday evening to watch some videos and get some idea of what you'll be doing on the following Saturday and Sunday. The next morning, you show up ready to ride - long sleeve shirt, long pants, boots that cover the ankles, and gloves. The motorcycle, helmet, and closed course are provided for you. Bikes are 250s from Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Suzuki, provided via local dealers. Thus is answered the twin dilemmas of how to learn to ride a bike without owning one, and how to buy a bike without knowing how to drive one. Notice that the bikes on which you will learn how to drive are nowhere near a 750 in size. You don't want anything that big for your first bike.

You learn how to start, stop, steer, and generally how to stay alive on a bike in traffic. The various maneuvers take two days to learn. It is immensely helpful if you already know how to drive a manual transmission. Trying to learn how to shift while trying to learn how to drive a bike is a recipe for disaster.

On the following Friday, you come back to the course, if you so choose, and take the practical portion of the driving test under the watchful eyes of DMV personnel. At that point, if you have passed the written test and the driving test, you pay your extra $1 per year for the motorcycle endorsement on your license and become a licensed motorcycle operator. Then it is up to you to buy a bike.

The courses fill up quickly, but you might be able to walk in at the last minute on a Friday evening and take the place of a no-show. I took the course in April 1987 at Northern Virginia Community College. In July of that year I bought my first bike. I was a total nervous wreck the first time I went out on a real public road on a motorcycle, but I got over it. A few weeks later, I thought I'd go down to the post office, on the bike of course. The next thing I knew I was in West Virginigia. Bikes are like that.

It's one of these, an '82 candy apple red Yamaha Seca 400. I still have it, but the bike that I have on the road currently is an '87 Kawasaki EX500.

I have long contended that any guy who goes through life without ever having owned a motorcycle has made a big mistake. I'd like to extend that thought to women as well. There is no reason for them to miss out on all the fun.

In the US, call the MSF at 800-446-9227.

Mandatory Canadian content:

Motorcycle training in Canada

Where You Can Learn in Alberta - Gearing Up: Canada's National Motorcycle Training Program

Calgary Safety Council, and click on "Motorcycle Program"

Best Wishes

[TahitiNut]

58. "any guy who goes through life without ever having owned a motorcycle ..."

"any guy who goes through life without ever having owned a motorcycle has made a big mistake"

I agree. That said, "fear" is a sane/healthy starting point. (People who stay at the 'starting point' are children.) Some of the most worthwhile experiences I've had in my life were the result of preparation, familiarization, and training ... without which, fear is the substitute for a sane person. We should be mentally leery of doing that which we're unprepared for. Letting fear rule one's life, however, is not what I'm about. From bungee-jumping to scuba-diving to motorcycle-riding, I wouldn't surrender a single moment.

Without fear, a person cannot know what courage is - and the core of courage is heart. I rarely call it 'fear' anymore, though, since 'excitement' is physiologically identical.

[lumberjack_jeff]

60. I used to sail

I find both sailing and motorcycling to be exciting and somewhat scary.

I still ride a motorcycle but I no longer sail - for two reasons:
1) I don't have to pay to moor my motorcycle.
2) When something scary happens to me on a motorcycle, my family is not generally in the predicament with me. There are degrees of expendability.

[TahitiNut]

62. I sailed (windjammer and sloops/ketches), too.

One of my aspirations is to get a Hobie Cat. When I was 19, I sailed to Europe and back on this ....



I agree that there're some common activities. I know that among the number of scuba divers I've asked, the percentage who've also ridden motorcycles is at least twice the general population.

[MisoWeaver]

61. If you are scared of them, STAY OFF OF IT!

A 750 is too big for you as well.

[oc2002]

66. ..are you nuts?

.. the insurance agency knows a bad risk, and motorcyclists are very risky from being not seen and driven off the road.

its not worth the hassle. get a car.

(and the rear drum brakes on that bike are worthless. you will not be able to stop the bike without ample front brake application)

[Maiden England]

70. As far as insurance goes

We have full coverage insurance on 2 2005 Harley Sportsters 883cc (mine and my husbands). The cost for both for a year is $290. Progressive Motorcycle Insurance. I totally recommend them.

We've only held licences with motorcycle endorsements for one year.

Both our vehicles, an old Acura and old Ford Ranger, are $800 a year for liablity only.

As far as braking is concerned, the front brake accounts for 70% of your stopping power regardless of what kind of brakes you are using. Thats just laws of physics. Its your front wheel. The weight of the bike will be on the front when braking, so the majority of stopping will be done with your front brake. They teach that on the MSF course. They also teach how to increase your visibilty.

[Maiden England]

68. No its not too big, but to start with, go to www.msf-usa.org

And take the beginners RiderCourse.

I was talking to someone yesterday, who brought 1440cc Harley Ultra, saddlebags, trunk, weights about 750lbs, with no experience and just an MSF course. So no it isn't too big for a beginner. You just have to take your time.

Take the safety course first. Most state courses will have you learning on a Honda 250cc Rebel. Harley Davidson sponsored courses will have you on a 499cc Buell blast. While a smaller bike will probably give you better gas mileage and seem easier to handle, most people end up trading up to a larger bike fairly quickly. If you think that may be the case, and you can't afford to risk the loss, then get the bike you want to end up with. However, resale of the smaller learner's bikes, is usually fairly easy, as you end up passing it on to someone else in the same position you started out in.

Taking the course is paramount, driving a 1000cc bike around a parking lot with no experience is NOT the same as learning properly. If you think you may want a bigger bike, look for independent instructors in your area. We have one nearby that will teach you on a bigger bike for the day, he uses a Honda 750cc Shadow and a Harley 1440cc Road King, and although not MSF certified, that would give you even more confidence in what you could handle.

I ride a Harley Sportster 883cc, (edited to add, I'm a 5'2" woman) I love it, I've toured on it, and I have made great friends via the Harley Owners Group, and of course its a Harley ;-) . But if you are interested in saving money, research not only fuel economy, but also the cost of maintenance, as that also plays an important role. You will need tires more often than a car - I ride fairly (ahem) conservatively. Well, some of the time, and I get about 15-17k from a set of tires. 20K from a set of brake pads. My Harley requires oil changes and service every 5000 miles. I get around 50mpg, and I do my own maintenance, but I think that there are other more maintenance friendly manufacturers out there.

A scooter (moped) may give you better gas mileage and less maintenance, but you sacrifice adaptability and luggage capacity. Usually a moped will give you storage under the seat, and maybe a top box (trunk), perhaps a glove compartment, but usually that is it. If your seat sucks, you may be stuck with it.
A motorcycle, will often be able to be adapted, more luggage options, different, more comfortable seats, changeable handlebars to make the bike fit you better.

Also be sure, if you think about a scooter that you get enough power. Most places car driver will overrun you, especially in the larger faster roads of a southern town, if you don't get enough power. A 50cc will top out at around 40mph. A 250cc will see you keeping up with interstate speeds. Scooters are usually automatic, but to be honest, it doesn't take long to get the hang of a manual clutch on a motorbike, and you'll learn on a manual for the MSF course anyway.

That Nighthawk would probably be a good bike to start with. Enough power to keep you safe and keep up with your needs for a little while. Honda has good aftermarket support if you need to change bars/seat or get saddlebags etc for your requirements. Honda's are usually very reliable, easy to maintain and have good gas mileage.

I see you are on the Gulf Coast, if you are near Central Louisiana, drop me a PM and I can give you some names of people to contact for courses and information.

To start with, go to www.msf-usa.org

[deaniac21]

69. This would be perfect for you...

[gulfcoastliberal]

73. WTF?

LOL

[doc03]

74. I was considering one myself and friend that is a life long

biker told me, you will put it down eventually everybody does. If you ride without a helmet, a deer jumps in front of you you're dead a car makes a left in front of you you're dead, if you hit lose gravel on a turn you're dead that's something you got to be willing to accept. I decided to stick with my truck.

[IDemo]

75. My first bike was a '77 Honda 750

I've had three other bikes since then, though nothing lately. The 750 Nighthawk is an excellent choice, as mechanically dependable as it is good looking (nice shot, by the way). I would love to have one myself, if there were room in the garage. You might see if there is a motorcycle safety course offered in your area; this is very much worth the time, and some states require it for a motorcycle license.

Enjoy!

[Retired AF Dem]

77. Just be sure to check the little box that says

"organ donor". I would never ride one. To many idiots driving vehicles with four wheels and 99% of the time they will win in a collision.

[WinkyDink]

81. Advice: Don't.

[Atman]

82. Two of my best friends died riding

One was killed by one of the proverbial "left turns" another poster spoke of. He wasn't doing anything wrong. Within speed limit, correct gear; his family grew up on bikes and even did some family vacations on their BMWs. I used to ride his small Beemer (btw, a bEEmer is a bike, a bIMMer is a car), in fact. He never saw it coming.

The other guy was a type-A personality. Bought an overpowered rice rocket and tested it's limits on one of his first trips out. He found its/his cornering ability, unfortunately.

Still, I've also wanted a small bike, something to cruise the backroads up to our weekend place. But it's a pretty tough sell on the wife, considering the deaths of two of our friends on 'em. For some reason, though, I'm not going to be one of the ones who says "don't." Sure, you probably shouldn't. But nor should you ski/snowboard, or scuba dive, or fly in small planes or eat raw oysters or...

Live life to it's fullest. You might lay that bike down, sure. Then again, you may not, and you'll just kick it some other way.





Did I help?

[noonwitch]

83. Get a japanese toy to begin with, if that's what you can afford

But save for a real bike. It's not really a motorcycle unless it's a Harley. At least, that's what the biker guys in my family always say.

[catnhatnh]

84. On Loving Motorcycles...

...which kinda' hasn't been touched on here....I've seen a ton of great argument here both pro and con. I don't ride anymore but wish I could and think I might try...because I (and many others here,I suspect) LOVE IT.If you haven't ridden (beyond the "hurricane thing") and don't know, motorcycling can be as all encompassing as any adolescent love,and scarier still-much more enduring...any ounce of gas I saved in a two wheel commute I've more than squandered wandering down the swooping lazy summertime blacktops of my adopted state (NH).For every trip I've made for economy I've probably made two-as the Pennsylvania Dutch say "for pretty"...theres a LOT of that throughout our country...See-motorcycles can't just be a cheap-out...go talk to any rider and they'll tell you it is a passion too.So my advice is get one...follow ALL advice here that doesn't (where have I heard this before?) just say "NO".Be careful,be safe,but be joyous...if it ain't fun, you aren't doing it right or you were not meant to ride.If you were not, a good older bike should well hold it's value, and if you are, you are on the verge of an epiphany....Good Luck,Cat.