Bikers

[Cruis.In]

my first topic in a bit.

So I have been bitten by the riding bug. I've always thought riding a motor cycle would be cool and fun and always wanted to try, but was kind of scared of it because they look so big and heavy.

That changed recently since I met a new friend who has one and I've been riding it. No falls yet. Its a Kawasaki 250. Not heavy duty but still peppy!

So I am wondering, any cyclists in here?

I'd like to discuss my prospects for riding! And bikes!

[Wolferz]

It's not for me to put you off riding but,Have you ever heard the term "Donorcycle"?

Many people, who die or get seriously maimed while riding a motorcycle, can be summed up as loose nuts behind the handlebars.

However, most riders are killed and maimed by inattentive operators of all the other vehicles on the road. There are hazards Like loose gravel,chuckholes, dogs, bees, oil and other automotive fluids.

If you do decide to ride it's not a question of will you go down? Only when.

My lady's son has a Yamaha 650 Cali Cruiser.

He has almost been run over by, of all vehicles, an ambulance and he recently took a tumble after hitting some loose gravel left over from winter snow treatment. Thankfully he wasn't seriously injured but, he was injured none the less. I have always considered every driver on the road to be a loose nut behind the steering wheel. If you don't watch every stinking one of them, they will get you. Most of them are distracted from the task at hand. Jabbering away on their cell phones. Reading the newspaper. Putting on makeup. Etc Etc Ad nauseum.

I don't have a clue as to how the roads are in Barbados or the drivers that use them.

It is an island, right?

I wish you great luck and even greater devine guardianship.

[DennyMala]

I have a bike. I'm not one of the hardcore riders but still I enjoy it much and it is my main transport mean from spring to autumn.

I cannot disagree with Wolferz, unfortunately, but I can say that if you keep you eyes peeled you'll pretty much avoid most of the problems.

Frankly, I feel safer on my bike than on my car; dunno exaclty why but it is.

However, Aprilia (italian bike) ETV1000 Caponord .

It is a tourer with a 98hp, 1,000cm3 engine.

The one in the link is the new model that is only very slightly different from mine.

[Soback]

This is my baby http://www.buell.com/en_us/bikes_gear/fire.../xb9r/index.asp 385lbs dry weight, 120hp (on mine, it's far from stock), belt drive, 51.9 inches wheelbase for those wheelies and the lowest center of gravity of any other bikes on the market for cornering ability. The sound is a massive deep roar, like a Harley, it's one of the reasons I got it, hate the high pitched whine of a sports bike engine. With this one, it sounds like one pissed off dragon on a rampage when you shoot by, literally, you've never heard a bike sound like that, not even the ones with after market exhausts that just make noise.

It's my third bike that I've ever owned. TONS of fun, well, maybe not tons but a couple hundred pounds worth.

Seriously, the only advice I will give you, wear riding gear on your whole body. Not just a jacket, or not just the boots, EVERYTHING. Helmet, jacket, gloves, pants, boots. You can even throw in back protectors if you want to. If you have money to spend, Dainese http://www.dainese.com/pre.asp has the absolute top of the line stuff, prices too. I have their Speed Metal gloves http://www.dainese.com/img/1_Speed_metal_A77_021916_m.jpg See that shiny stuff, that's titanium, cool huh. If not, then Frank Thomas makes the best stuff for the price http://www.frank-thomas.co.uk/ukindex.html I have his jacket, pants and boots. Crashed twice, once on the freeway gonig 80+mph, the jacket performs phenominally. As far as the helmets go, I will trust nothing but Arai Signet GTR http://www.araiamericas.com/ , saved my life as far as I'm concerned, Signets GTR are up there on the price scale $400+, compared to $100 to $250 for the average, BUT this is one piece I would NOT save on. Save on the jacket, the pants, the boots, DO NOT save on the helmet.

Anyhow. That's about it. Get the gear and go nuts on the bike. Don't feel bad if you drop it, everyone does, just be ready for it. LOL, and get your own bike, no matter if you feel bad or not, your buddy will if you drop his.

[DennyMala]

Technical wear is a must if you want to stay relatively safe.

I have Dainese stuffs, turistic gloves by Alpinestar and Nolan N100 helmet.

Never be cheap on those things.

[Cruis.In]

thansk for the advice soback. I've been thinking alot about my dream bike. the one I want when I'm satisfied with my riding ability.

Im pleased to report that in only my third hour on a bike I am going through the figure 8 without problems... to my wife's displeasure it seems I am a natural.

Anyway I was thinking about getting a DT 175 Yamaha as my first bike or a Zongshen...

Then I think I want a Yamaha YZF-R6 That's the kind of look in a sport bike I like. I don't want anything super powerful. Nothing over 650.

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/products.../1/0/image.aspx

[DennyMala]

You picked a difficult bike for a newbie.

Yamahas are not so user friendly to drive.

Hondas are more easy and you should see the Suzuki too, they're the best sport ones from Japan IMHO.

[Soback]

They are all alright. Difficult is good, as long as he understands that this is the bike he will be scratching, dropping, crashing and smashing, and will probably be upgrading to a new one within 3 years. The bigger the bike (engine) the more power, more difficult, and the higher the price. If you can afford it, anything up to 750cc is great, people grow out of 600cc within the first year, when 750cc would still be good. AND you will still notice the power jump when upgrading to 1000 or 1250cc bike in the future.

My buddy has two older R6's. Great bikes, nice power to weight ratio, and you can get an R1 later on. R-1's are insane. The new one advertises 180hp stock, fricking rocket. The only reason I don't like the usual sport bikes is the engine sound. Engine sounds like nails on black board, and when you put an after market exhaust on, all you hear is the stupid loud exhaust. Another reason is their cornering. I've never felt comfortable racing through the corner on a Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki's, Ducatis are nice, and Buell is awesome.

Anyhow, R-6s are great first bike, especially if you can get a used one that someone grew out from, and hasn't crashed it. Pretty much any 600cc bike is a great starter. 750 is better if you want to keep it longer. If getting used, crashed is usually a no no, unless repaired at the dealer, see if there's any scratches on the frame (usually by the wheel bases, means it's been laid down, dropped, crashed), and mileage is below 10,000mi, no more than 15,000 for sure. Check the tires, if worn out, they are expensive to replace, and last only about 7 to 10 thousand miles. See if the front forks are straight, super straight. The key should be held tight in the ignition, if it's not, that means he was riding around with his whole key chain attacked to the bike key, not too bad by itself, but shows his general attitude about how he cares about the bike, which means use and abuse, engine reving, redlining, ect...

Most importantly, get what you like. The more you like it, the more you will ride it, and the more you will enjoy it. I am almost leaning to tell you to get all the gear first, and then get the bike, that way you won't compromise by spending more on the bike by telling yourself that you will save on the gear.

[Cruis.In]

I saw a black Kawasaki Nina 650 ZX RR in a shop. Looks brand new but isn't.. being sold for someone by the dealer.

So you aren't trying to sway me one way or the other, but you are saying if I want to get a 650 as my first bike that is fine. Also I applied to go on our police motor cycle course and they start on 650's.... with 100 percent success for all they train.

I do eventually want to get a sport bike, I was thinking get experience riding on the yamaha dt175 dual purpose, then graduate to the sport bike type of ride... so my main question is, is the switch from an upright riding scrambler type bike to a sport bike type a whole new learning process? I mean aside from the power of course, but in terms of balance and stuff doesn't the same principles apply?

[DennyMala]

Well, you have to take into account that there are very different responses from the kind of bike you mentioned; suspension, wheight balance and ride position.

In the end you will have to get acquainted to that but it's not like starting from the bottom again; that's for sure.

[Soback]

Right. For example, I was riding the BMW 1200 RT http://www.bmwmotorcyclesdallas.com/new_ve....asp?veh=24269& this weekend. As far from the sports bike as you can get. From the sitting position and feel to the controls. After riding for an hour I wasn't even slightly tired. It's like sitting on the living room couch, watching the scenery go by. No wind noise on the freeway, no buffeting. It's still the same premise for riding, lean right, push left, go right or lean left, push right, go left, but the ride is totally different, it's build for comfort and ease. Different bike, different purpose.

So, buy the bike based on what you want to use it for. If you want aggressive ride, race, manuevrability, wheelies, stoppies, lane splitting, weaving through the turns, but shorter distance rides, meaning in your locality, within 100 miles or so, buy a sports bike. If you want to take your bike off road, dirt, or where there's lots of potholes, and you want to do low speed tricks, explore off the beaten path, buy a dirt bike. If you want to cruise around, take lond distance trips, be able to pack for a camping trip on the bike, and be totally comfortable even after 3 hours of riding, buy a cruiser.

Buying a dirt bike to upgrade to a sports bike later is not the answer, as you will not be using a dirt bike like you would use a sports bike, just like you wouldn't take a jet ski on a fishing trip, nor would you race around the lake in a row boat.

The only suggestion, if you want something like a dirt/sports bike is get something like this:

1. http://www.buell.com/en_us/bikes_gear/ulysses/

2. http://www.buell.com/en_us/bikes_gear/ligh...xb12s/index.asp

3. http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/bikes/group.jsp?g=naked

They are a cross between and Enduro and a Sports bike. All companies have one or two versions of them, usually called naked. The only thing though, is you have to check and make sure it's not just a Sports bike with no fairings. How? Check the riding position. On the Sports bike you lean forward, on the Endure you seat straight. On the naked bike, you are supposed to be able to sit straight or at a very slight forward angle. If you are sitting leaning forward, then it's a Sports bike design with no fairings for looks.

Unlike the Enduro, naked bikes are mostly for city riding, but you can hit a dirt road or two. You wont be able to jump hills and be totally ruthless on dirt fields though.

[ 05-01-2006, 01:23 PM: Message edited by: Soback ]

[Cruis.In]

thanks for the advice soback. very good!

what do you say to everyone of the "experts" or riders on the various sport bike forums on the internet who say, it is death to start at a 600....

[Cruis.In]

here is what I am looking at...

got one ready to go in my local shop.

http://www.bikepics.com/pictures/425078/

[Soback]

You tell them that I have started on 600.

Didn't even know how to drive a stick shift, didn't know how to switch gears, how to lean/turn properly, ect...

What they want you to do is learn the concept on a dirt bike or an enduro, and then transfer those skills over to a sport bike. It's ok, but it's a waste of your time and money. Not only will you be getting used to a different handling bike down the line, but you will be wasting money selling the dirt bike and buying a sports bike. Get what you want, and understand that if you do get a pretty, shiney new sports bike, it will be droped, scratched, and repaired within 6 months, or a year. I know of only 2 people who haven't dropped their first bike within a year, I know of none who have never dropped any of their bikes. Hence spend good money on riding gear, and get an average priced motorcycle that you like. Most important, get the kind of bike that you want, if you are not enjoying it, then there's no point in getting it. So, don't let anyone talk you into something you don't feel like doing.

When I was upgrading from 600cc's to a 1000cc's, people told me I should upgrade to 750cc first, that I will kill myself on 1000 because it's a big power jump. Did I listen, sure. Did I consider their advice, of course. I however took their advice, prepared myself for the big power jump, and got 1000cc's. Did I crash, it. Of course. LOL, crashed the very first day, doing wheelies. Repaired the bike within two weeks, and was right back on it.

Less power and less torque means the bike is easier to handle. That's about it. More power doesn't automatically mean that you will crash it. It just means that there's a higher learning curve. You can get hurt just as much on 150cc bike as you would on 600cc's.

So, not to mention that 600 is pretty much the smallest engine you can get on a sport bike. Anything under 600 is either a dirt bike, an enduro. You want a sports bike, get a sports bike. If you would be getting a 1200cc's sports, it would be another story. I still wouldn't tell you not to get it, the only thing I would say is "Good job" if you survive the first month, . 600 however, it's the perfect first bike, 750 is a little on a strong side, a little more torque, and your skills will outgrow anything under 600 within 2 months.

Anyhow. Listen to people, listen to their advice, learn. None of that means that you should shed your opinion, dissregard what you know you want, and do what someone else says. If someone with experience tells you that 600 is too much power for the first bike, then agree that it is, take it into consideration, and when you get that 600 that you want, treat it accordingly.

That's all.

[ 05-05-2006, 12:37 AM: Message edited by: Soback ]

[DennyMala]

Very true.

I think that the idea to start on a dirt bike is meant for youg people; it is the way I learnt to ride when I was 14 and it will get you used to keep the feeling of your bike even when it's not glued to the ground. It will happen that you'll loose some grip and you'll be near to drop off but if you're not freezing from fear pulling your brakes senslessly, there will be a good chance that you'll be able to regain control.

To do this you have to be acquainted with the behaviour of a bike in a poor grip enviroment as your reactions should be reflexes...not thinking.

This is the only reason I see for stating with a dirt bike; it is more easy to drive, will allow you more errors and will teach you how to stay cool even if the wheels are going around as they please.

If you're not a youngster and don't want to put money in that it is fine, just keep your head cool and don't do anything you're not sure of.

I personally switched to a sport bike 125cc 2strokes at 17, and then to enduro 650cc mono-cylinder to the actual 1.000cc tourer. Now I'm happy with it and I can ride almost anything without fearing for my life.

[Cruis.In]

thanks alot for the advice guys. I don't know if I mentioned up above and don't want to check, but our most police, and I vouch for ours train on 650's. They are not sport bikes, but they are just as heavy and are obviously still more powerful than a 250cc.

People who are speaking of the stay away from 600cc sport bike, are hinting to the fact you won't have the self control not to push the bike once you see the speed it is capable of.

But when I saw denymala refer to youngsters, I said, you know what, this is the kind of people they are speaking to, young reckless ones. I am young, but in terms of maturity way past the "need for speed" I own a nice fast car, but I never go over 100km with it, road clear or not...

I think in the end it will come down to your responsibility which is what you guys are saying.

Thanks for the input.

I will let you know how it goes, I am looking for a nice sport bike now...

[Cruis.In]

hey guys, my insurance would only insure me on a 175 to start with. Plus it was cheaper for now until I sell my car. If I do I plan to keep both types of bikes.

I bought a Yamaha DT 175 Super Trail... know anything about them so I can look out for anything?

Also I'm looking at a CBR 600 RR, or Yamaha YZF R6 in the near future after I secure the license. Ive sat on the RR and love the position, I know most street bikes of that vain have the same lean foward position because of the low handles, but sitting on the Kawasaki Ninja ZX 6R it felt just slightly different, as though I were more hunched over. And I want to be able to ride just slightly slanted as well. WHich is the position I get with the CBR.

[Soback]

Wow, that's weird, and sucks. Gotta love U.S., if you want insurance, you got insurance. You will obviously pay more for a bigger bike, or if your license is new, but at least there's not a dead wall like this.

R6 was the bike I learned on. My buddy had two of them. One old, one new, so he taught me on the older one. Nice bike.