Motorcycle Advice
- Thread starter EddieWalker
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EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
In 1991 I was arrested and charged with drunk driving. I had been pushing it for some time and when I was caught, I was way overdue. I never had an accdent or hurt anybody, but it was probably going to happen in due time. I've beena arrested and spent many nights in the drunk tank from my Marine Corps days into my early 20's.
That was my wakeup call and where my life changed directions. I went years without a drink at all, and now I have one or two beers at the most, or a glass of wine. I drink at home and a case of beer can last me months. So far this year, I've had one beer and a couple glasses of wine.
I never drink and drive and never will. I lost al linterest in bars and being and the nightlife. I don't mind being around others who are drinking, and in some cases, find it down right entertaining. I just don't feel the need to join in or be part of the entertainment.
Eddie
That was my wakeup call and where my life changed directions. I went years without a drink at all, and now I have one or two beers at the most, or a glass of wine. I drink at home and a case of beer can last me months. So far this year, I've had one beer and a couple glasses of wine.
I never drink and drive and never will. I lost al linterest in bars and being and the nightlife. I don't mind being around others who are drinking, and in some cases, find it down right entertaining. I just don't feel the need to join in or be part of the entertainment.
Eddie
Gem99ultra
Elite Member
I understand where you're coming from Eddie. Bought my first bike at age 57, right after my divorce. Never rode before, but always wanted a bike. I'm >200#, 5'11" and needed something with enough torque to get me out of the way of the 'road warrior's'.
I did start out with a full size bike (Road King). Loved that bike. Since then I've had a couple of GoldWings and even a smaller SilverWing, all the while owning a Harley. I got rid of the the Honda's, but then, that was my choice, not a blanket recommendation. Now have been riding my H-D Ultra Classic for 10 years. Love that bike. I was fortunate in finding a lady that owned her own Harley; we've been on many road trips, and those have been the best memories of my life.
But - my recommendation, after you take the MSF Class, buy a cheap smaller bike. Something that won't matter if (when) you drop it. And that will happen. While you're getting used to the freedom of a motorcycle, you'll decide for yourself which bike fits your style and personality.
Don't expect a bike to be cheaper to operate than an economy car - it isn't. But there is nothing in the world like being on a motorcycle, even just puttin' around the country roads. At least for me...
I did start out with a full size bike (Road King). Loved that bike. Since then I've had a couple of GoldWings and even a smaller SilverWing, all the while owning a Harley. I got rid of the the Honda's, but then, that was my choice, not a blanket recommendation. Now have been riding my H-D Ultra Classic for 10 years. Love that bike. I was fortunate in finding a lady that owned her own Harley; we've been on many road trips, and those have been the best memories of my life.
But - my recommendation, after you take the MSF Class, buy a cheap smaller bike. Something that won't matter if (when) you drop it. And that will happen. While you're getting used to the freedom of a motorcycle, you'll decide for yourself which bike fits your style and personality.
Don't expect a bike to be cheaper to operate than an economy car - it isn't. But there is nothing in the world like being on a motorcycle, even just puttin' around the country roads. At least for me...
dmccarty
Super Star Member
I work with a group of motorcycle NUTs. 
One of whom is a safety instructor. He is a bad guy since he tries to entice people into the bike world. :laughing: Thankfully I don't directly work with him anymore. So his enticement powers are much reduced.
I am dittoing previous advice on the thread but it is good advice. Which is to buy a cheap, used bike and see if you like or want to keep riding. The safety instructor is working with a company that supplies bikes for the class. I seriously thought about taking the class because I would like to ride a bike. The class sounded fun, challenging and I like those type of classes. But I will never ride a bike. The bikes don't scare me but these people in cars scare the scat out of me. I have too many near misses every week if not every day with these idiots.
A 7,500 pound truck is not safe enough from these people.
I just read a week or so ago that one is three times more likely to get killed on a bike than a car.
One guy I work with went through a divorce and bought a starter bike. He has a bunch of kids. He laid the bike down one day and that was that. He has too much to loose and too many responsibilities so he sold the bike.
Another couple of guys bought used starter bikes a couple of years ago. One has just quit riding and is going to sell the bike. He got the bug out of his system :laughing: I don't know if they other guy still rides or not.
Back around 1993ish I started sorta seriously looking at bike to ride. It might have been something to do with a break up. :laughing: What the heck is it with break ups and motorcycles? I wanted something to drive on the real nice spring and fall days in my area as well as trips to the mountains or beach. And to save a bit of money since it would be cheaper than a Wrangler. After looking at the prices of bikes I stopped looking. :laughing:
I can buy a lot of fuel for the price of a bike.
But buying a bike for fun is a different matter. Buying one to save money I question. If one ONLY has a bike and does not have another vehicle then it is cheap transportation. I just did some quick math comparing the better mpg with my truck. A $10,000 bike would take over 7 years to payoff with the fuel savings. The bikes I looked at almost 20 years ago were more than 10K.
By the way guys. Stop these motorcycle threads. They make me think too much about motorcycles. These discussions pop up and I HAVE to read them. STOP IT.
Please? :laughing:
Or just talk about crutch rockets, dirt bikes, or most of the HDs. DO NOT talk about about BMWs, GoldWings and related bikes. :thumbsup:
Thanks,
Dan
One of whom is a safety instructor. He is a bad guy since he tries to entice people into the bike world. :laughing: Thankfully I don't directly work with him anymore. So his enticement powers are much reduced.
I am dittoing previous advice on the thread but it is good advice. Which is to buy a cheap, used bike and see if you like or want to keep riding. The safety instructor is working with a company that supplies bikes for the class. I seriously thought about taking the class because I would like to ride a bike. The class sounded fun, challenging and I like those type of classes. But I will never ride a bike. The bikes don't scare me but these people in cars scare the scat out of me. I have too many near misses every week if not every day with these idiots.
A 7,500 pound truck is not safe enough from these people.
I just read a week or so ago that one is three times more likely to get killed on a bike than a car.
One guy I work with went through a divorce and bought a starter bike. He has a bunch of kids. He laid the bike down one day and that was that. He has too much to loose and too many responsibilities so he sold the bike.
Another couple of guys bought used starter bikes a couple of years ago. One has just quit riding and is going to sell the bike. He got the bug out of his system :laughing: I don't know if they other guy still rides or not.
Back around 1993ish I started sorta seriously looking at bike to ride. It might have been something to do with a break up. :laughing: What the heck is it with break ups and motorcycles?
I wanted something to drive on the real nice spring and fall days in my area as well as trips to the mountains or beach. And to save a bit of money since it would be cheaper than a Wrangler. After looking at the prices of bikes I stopped looking. :laughing: I can buy a lot of fuel for the price of a bike.
But buying a bike for fun is a different matter.
Buying one to save money I question. If one ONLY has a bike and does not have another vehicle then it is cheap transportation. I just did some quick math comparing the better mpg with my truck. A $10,000 bike would take over 7 years to payoff with the fuel savings. The bikes I looked at almost 20 years ago were more than 10K. By the way guys. Stop these motorcycle threads. They make me think too much about motorcycles. These discussions pop up and I HAVE to read them. STOP IT.
Please? :laughing:
Or just talk about crutch rockets, dirt bikes, or most of the HDs. DO NOT talk about about BMWs, GoldWings and related bikes. :thumbsup:
Thanks,
Dan
Jim2
Bronze Member
Sorry if I was harsh. I'm coming from the POV where any bike over 1000cc is probably too big to be a practical "first bike". When I was starting out I had a few different bikes before I really caught on to riding. Maybe I'm a slow learner? Whatever. The bike that helped me turn a corner was the Suzuki 650 Savage! That's kind of a silly little Harley wannabe if you're familiar. I'm 6' 2" tall riding this little single cylinder bike. I did get laughed at some. . . . Anyway, it was so lightweight and low to the ground that it is the only bike that I had for any period of time that I never did one of those accidental parking lot drops.
Mine was a 1987 model with 4 speed shift. It was very torquey and really, really fun on gravel. It had a big fat tire out back. I would get it on gravel, lean forward, and get on the throttle and that back tire would just spit gravel. It was extremely stable. Of course it would top out at 80-85 mph downhill, too. And forget having a passenger unless they're kid-sized and only going a block or two. I had to trade eventually because I couldn't get a girlfriend small enough to ride two-up--though I did teach one girl to ride a motorcycle with it!
All bikes have good points and bad points. That Yamaha is probably easier to change the oil than it is on my Honda ST1100--even without the aftermarket oil relocater. I've got start removing plastic in order to even get at the oil filter. . . . But, I wouldn't recommend anything as heavy as an ST to a beginner either!
Jim
Bird
Rest in Peace
Jim, I'd have been inclined to think the same thing, and of course I started small and worked my way up. HOWEVER . . ., I still remember when I bought my Goldwing from the same dealer from whom I had bought the 650 Silver Wing, he told me that he sold more Goldwings to people over 50 who had never ridden a bike before. That kind of surprised me.
Another of those comments I never forgot . . . When I was a recruit in the police academy, the chaplain once asked the class (29 recruits) how many wanted to me motorcycle officers. A half dozen or so held up their hands. Then the chaplain said, "I always get to know the motorcycle officers better than any of the others . . . . because I visit them in the hospital all the time.":laughing:
RobertN
Super Member
Either of you make it to Marcus Dairy?
I have only been there once, and not on a bike(was on a business trip that lasted in to the weekend). It was in April; there was not a whole lot going on, but stil 100 or bikes around. My friend back there, said in warmer weather it is a mass of all kinds of bikes, vendors ect.
I have only been there once, and not on a bike(was on a business trip that lasted in to the weekend). It was in April; there was not a whole lot going on, but stil 100 or bikes around. My friend back there, said in warmer weather it is a mass of all kinds of bikes, vendors ect.
charlz
Elite Member
According to that page "Effective September 1, 2009 Basic Rider Course is required to get a new Texas motorcycle license (class M endorsement) "
They provide the bike and helmet. So take the course and ride their bike. This will give you some real experience riding that particular size bike and then you can go from there to figure out what you want/like.
Looks like the basic course is full for a month out anyway, so sign up now for a course in May. Seems to work with your timetable.
According to their page taking/passing this course replaces the driving portion of the motorcycle exam which is how it works here as well.
IH3444
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2004
- Messages
- 2,466
If you are set in your mind for a motorcycle Eddie, I recommend a dual sport also. 500-650 range. Enought grunt for the highway, and you can ride it on your property. I have DOT approved full knobbies on my Suzuki DR650S. The rear tire is 6 ply. I also have the full engine/sump aluminum guard, and the factory rear luggage rack. And yes I have used it to just zip into town, for a hardware store run. It is a great ride, and does 70mph all day without huffing and puffing. After the smoothness of a streetbike, it does take some getting used to a big thumper. You can also have a great time in the dirt with it.
Dual Sport tires: C858 / C913 / C914 Dual Sport Tu
Dual Sport tires: C858 / C913 / C914 Dual Sport Tu
Eddie- notice the many recommendations for a "dual-sport"? Here's a recent pic of my ol', trusty, almost bullet-proof, XL250.
I hadn't ridden it much for the past 5 years or so, having been more interested in the 360 and then the 750.... but I'd forgotten how much fun it is. Handles very "lightly," has no trouble with my dirt road --even with the muddy spots-- and last fill-up was over 71 miles for .931 gallons. Worked out to 77+mpg.
No electric start, but she fires up after one or two kicks. Cheap. Fun. Only goes (comfortably) at 40mph or so, but she'll hit 60 if she has to. Great commuter.
Oh-- apologies for the ugly cosmetic box/trunk. It was handy, so I bolted it on...
I hadn't ridden it much for the past 5 years or so, having been more interested in the 360 and then the 750.... but I'd forgotten how much fun it is. Handles very "lightly," has no trouble with my dirt road --even with the muddy spots-- and last fill-up was over 71 miles for .931 gallons. Worked out to 77+mpg.
No electric start, but she fires up after one or two kicks. Cheap. Fun. Only goes (comfortably) at 40mph or so, but she'll hit 60 if she has to. Great commuter.
Oh-- apologies for the ugly cosmetic box/trunk. It was handy, so I bolted it on...
