Motorcycles, a newbies guide.

[Tekki]

Thanks for this thread Tyche. I've been thinking about the same topic for the past couple of days. I'm moving soon, its getting nice out, and I want to try to save on gas without buying a new car. So I've been thinking about a bike. My only concern is perpetually driving on the highway. It just seems like a bad idea, and some of the responses seem to verify it. Maybe if I transfer so my drive goes from 2hrs total a day, to 30min, I'll consider a bike again.

[Gadritan]

Edit: found a nearby msf course. $100, 3 days. Shouldn't be a problem doing that.

Might be able to get the dealer to pay for it btw. Friend of mine owns a honda/suzuki shop and they have a lot of promos that include paying for the course. Suzuki in particular seems to always have that deal going on. And no, it's not added to the price. It's actually deducted from the price, plus your insurance will drop depending on the state as has been previously mentioned.

Skimmed through, so sorry if this was covered already.

Edit: Shameless plug http://www.hondasuzukiofsanford.com/ Speaking of promos, if you have halfway decent credit, Suzuki has 0% interest for 5 years on any model. My buddy said they've never had anything like that before.

[Acevalefor]

Not to start an argument here, but I don't understand the sentiment that 1000cc bikes are "too much". I have a honda shadow 1100cc ACE and it is in no way too much for me. When I am riding alone (I weigh 200lbs.) I can accelerate comfortably and cruise at around 3000rpm at 75 on the freeway. When I have a passenger or am hauling my trailer, I find that extra 150-200lbs adds a lot of drag and I have maxed out accelerating with that extra weight. I did not like the feeling of being at max power and having nothing left in case of emergency. I can't imagine trying to do that on a bike with a ~600cc engine.

As far as learning to ride and the MSF course. When I got my endorsement, the course took my insurance from $18/mo to a whopping $7/mo. $18/mo isn't much in the first place, but the course pays for itself in a year at that rate. Find someone that knows what they are doing to ride with you. You will develop bad habits if you don't have someone you trust pointing out what not to do and how to handle situations. The MSF course will only give you a very basic understanding of the capabilities of the bike and some limited circumstantial info.

Wear bright colors, get a headlight modulator and put loud mufflers on. Some people don't like this, but it will save your life if you ride in the city. Also don't ride in blind spots and don't ride anywhere that you don't have an immediate escape.

i.e. There is a Semi-truck in the center lane and a small car just barely going faster in the left lane to pass the semi. Don't follow the car through the blind spot. Wait for them to get far enough for the truck driver to see them then go on past.

For bikes, it's entirely up to you, but I recommend exactly what Ragnus said and go sit on several bikes to see what you feel comfortable on.

[Melena]

Make sure you wear leathers and if lane splitting is allowed in Florida, do it safely. In california we have a bunch of idiot riders who split lanes at 40-50mph when freeway traffic is doing 10-20. Got to see some gruesome pictures from a friend at the county morgue of a dumbass splitting doing 50 with a 25mph flow of traffic cause he was running late, clipped a delivery truck, hit two other cars and by the time he came to a rest, his body was about 100 feet away from his motorcycle, and his head and left arm were both about 90% detached from the body. Don't be that guy.

[Clash Perez]

Or just don't split lanes. I don't, and I don't know why anyone who has a concern for his safety would do so.

[Dantrag]

I never lane split. Fuck that shit. Too many stupid people out there. 1000cc bikes are fine for cruisers but pointless for super sports.

[Omniyoji]

+1 to the earlier 250r ninja recommendation or GPZ600R.

[Ragnus]

Make sure you wear leathers and if lane splitting is allowed in Florida, do it safely. In california we have a bunch of idiot riders who split lanes at 40-50mph when freeway traffic is doing 10-20. Got to see some gruesome pictures from a friend at the county morgue of a dumbass splitting doing 50 with a 25mph flow of traffic cause he was running late, clipped a delivery truck, hit two other cars and by the time he came to a rest, his body was about 100 feet away from his motorcycle, and his head and left arm were both about 90% detached from the body. Don't be that guy.

As said, legal move but you're a fucking asshole for doing it. It's super risky because if you scrape a car it's instantly your fault on top of Meleena's point of you're probably going to die also.

[Haruk]

http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/5...9893693674.gif

I'm actually really itching to get a bike too.. been spending way too much money on my car and figured I can just buy a bike and go faster instead while saving on gas

[Avanarius]

My town has dirt trails every 4 inches of driving so I honestly love my dual purpose bike. I want to get something like the BMW 650GS when I have enough money.

[Valisk]

If a man wanted a bike, yet has never driven a bike, what would one suggest as a starter bike? Since it'd be a man's first foray into biking, a man would like to buy used and spend little. What should a man look for?

Mid-life crisis already?!

[Ragnus]

I'm actually really itching to get a bike too.. been spending way too much money on my car and figured I can just buy a bike and go faster instead while saving on gas

Well, as your article said, you don't really want to go faster since 50 on a bike feels waaaaay different than 50 in a car. But yeah. Fuck supersports. There was a guy at the motorcycle dealership I went to before who was trying to get me to try a Ninja 1200 Supersport saying it's not much different than the entry level 650cc. Guy was on crack and kinda left me along after I stared at him dumbfounded and said I was looking for my first bike as a permit rider.

[Acevalefor]

Well, as your article said, you don't really want to go faster since 50 on a bike feels waaaaay different than 50 in a car. But yeah. Fuck supersports. There was a guy at the motorcycle dealership I went to before who was trying to get me to try a Ninja 1200 Supersport saying it's not much different than the entry level 650cc. Guy was on crack and kinda left me along after I stared at him dumbfounded and said I was looking for my first bike as a permit rider.

He wanted the commission on the more expensive bike.

I know there are dealerships out there for a reason, but I don't like the idea of buying a bike that is only worth $2000 for over $5000 then trying to sell it a year later. I am currently shopping for a new bike and I have looked at dealerships. They don't just have a small mark-up for profit. Bikes on CL around 1100cc are going for $5000-$8000 with mostly stock set-ups. Those same bikes at dealers are listed for $12000+. It really turns me off from ever buying at a dealership.

CL comes with it's own risks with bad bikes, branded titles, laid down, etc., but I feel like I am handy enough that I can fix just about anything on a bike and even if I can't, there is no way my repair costs are going to exceed the exorbitant prices of buying retail.

Also, pushy salesmen can go fuck a donkey...I hate the way I am treated in any environment where their income is dependent on how much money they can squeeze out of me.

I would recommend buying something very cheap until you are comfortable riding. If you are going to lay your bike down, it will usually happen within your first year of riding. After that, the likelihood goes way down.

[Ragnus]

Yeah. I got mine off CL. I took my dad there with me to check it out since he's a mechanic with 35+ years of riding experience. It was in near perfect shape for having 8800 miles on it. The guy just put new tires on it, had handlebar heaters installed professionally, and threw in his helmet, jacket, gloves, and tail bag for $200 over Bluebook price. The dealership wanted $1600 more than Bluebook for the same bike alone and it was clearly dropped at some point since there was a giant scratch on the right side of the bike.

[Dantrag]

50 on a bike isn't bad at all. But once you break 70 it gets noisy.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...r/CIMG0027.jpg

I miss it sometimes, but again, regret buying it. Supersports ARE fun, but not worth it. That article is a bit biased but overall correct. My first bike was a 600cc SS and I can guarantee you that I can ride better than most of the people out there winding roads or not. If I could go back I wouldn't have gone with the R6. 90% of the time you're not going to use what they're built for. The value of the bike drops by 2-3k the MINUTE it's off the lot. Not even based off miles. THE SECOND it's off the lot it drops 25-30% value. Get a cruiser. It'll be more comfortable and you'll enjoy it for a longer time. I'd go with something like a V-Star 600cc mostly because it doesn't sound like a damn weed eater.

[Chun Liroy]

Also, anyone wanna give advice to a college student? I have friends with cars, but I thought maybe a bike would be cheaper overall to buy than a car. Is this a good idea/bad idea? Obviously I wouldn't be able to take anyone anywhere really, but a cheaper way to get around to places would be kinda nice... that and I can't really afford a car.

[Dantrag]

I'd lean towards no. Get a beater car instead of a bike. Especially if it's going to be your only mode of transportation.

[miokomioko]

Yer' gonna' be real sad when it rains or is cold as fuck outside. As well as on the day you need to move something that won't fit in a backpack. The only reason I can get away with it here is the availability of Zip Car or City Car Share when I'm really bummed about the weather.

[jmc]

Just go check out a dealership, and find which style of bike your comfortable sitting on. Don't worry too much about the cc's, but just don't go overboard and get a 1200+ CC bike as your first.

I learned how to ride on a Honda shadow 750, and the first bike I rode full time was a Harley road king. In the end, I settled for a bike that was in between both of them when it came to cc's.

If you do go with a 250, some dealerships offer select trade in for them. Like a dealership near me will give you 90% back what you paid for the 250, if you trade it in before your 1 year purchase mark.

So buy a 250, ride it for the summer and trade it in for money towards a different bike during the winter months.

[Chun Liroy]

Yeah... florida so it won't be cold but rain is 100% guaranteed.