Safe, thanks to TBN

[Jeff396]

Unfortunately, my dad falls into that catagory. He learned to drive in NYC and can be a bit impatient at times. He's 83 and can't seem to see that his reflexes can't keep up with the tailgating anymore. He isn't someone that weaves in and out of traffic and he doesn't cut people off....he just tailgates. Whenever they're around, I do all the driving. These are the main reasons I never had much interest in riding my motorcycles when I live in AZ or when I visited the folks in FL....Truly taking your life in your hands!


Jeff

 

[Bird]

Jeff, I dropped the motorcycle endorsement on my drivers license the last time I renewed it; probably never ride one again, but sure did enjoy traveling on one several years ago. I not only made a few trips down to the Texas coast from Dallas, but also rode the bike (pulling a trailer) when I went to Quanitco for 10 weeks, toured around DC, over into NJ and PA. And I also visited friends in Colorado once and rode up Pikes Peak on a bike. Great way to see the country if you don't get run over./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Jeff396]

When we had our first kid I decided it was an unnecessary risk and hopefully they will want me around for a while. We only had our touring bike for five years and never got off the East coast. We would rack up 10K miles a year and it was used strictly for pleasure. I kept the endorsement as I still have the old Triumph but that's only good for one and going more than a few miles is just too uncomfortable. I'll probably keep the endorsement as I let my Class 1 (semi's) lapse when I left New York and have regretted it. It's easier to keep it active than to re-apply. I'm thinking I'm pretty much done with the bike touring....convertables are just too comfortable and you can always put the top up if you get tired of it.

Jeff

 

[MikePA]

<font color=blue>When we had our first kid I decided it was an unnecessary risk</font color=blue>

I also have the MC endorsement on my license. When I took the MC Riders Safety course many years ago, one of the instructors always drove his car to the class, while the other one rode his bike. I asked the guy that drove his car what kind of MC he had. He said he didn't have one for this same reason. He had riden a MC for years, but when he got married and had kids, he sold his bike. He said no matter how careful you are, e.g., always assume people will pull out in front of you, if you're on a MC, nine times out of ten, you lose.

BTW, for you lurking MC rider wannabees /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I highly recommend the Motorcycle Riders safety course. There's classroom instruction as well as seat time on a motorcycle. In my class of 10 people, the only people that failed the final test (written and riding) were the people that already had their licenses! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif It was a little sad, and a little funny, to see a guy that arrived at class on his Honda GoldWing fail his test.

 

[looch]

No choice up here - you must take the course, and it is quite a hassle.

1) Enroll in a provincially recognized safety course, 450$
2) Bring proof of enrollment to the license bureau in order to take the theory exam to get your class 6R learner's permit, 30$. This permit allows you to ride a motorcycle while attending the safety course.
3) Take your course.
4) Schedule your closed cirucuit exam with the license bureau. Two months must elapse.
5) After two months, take your closed circuit exam, 30$. Keep the bike between the lines and complete 8 different, timed maneuvers. Pass and get your class 6A learner's permit, 30$. This permit allows you to ride in the company of another veteran rider (has had license at least 2 years). No passengers allowed, zero tolerance for alcohol (this is a good thing)
6) 1 year must elapse. Schedule your road exam.
7) After 1 year, take your road exam, 100$. You wear an FRS radio with an earpiece (no microphone) while the exameners follow you in a car, telling you where to go. This lasts an hour. Pass and get your class 6A license, 30$.
8) Dance well into the night knowing that you will never have to go through that again!

 

[Jeff396]

Wow, I think that would put off a lot of people here in the states. All I had to do was figure out how to get the bike to take my test on to the Motor Vehicles Division. They frown on you riding it there as someone who arrived at the same time I did found out....go figure./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Jeff

 

[Jeff396]

My wife took one of those rider safety courses through our local community college. Though she never really got any seat time it was valuable none the less. Funny thing was, there was this guy and his son there. Their plan was that the son (I'd say between 18 and 20 years old) would take his old 1200 Honda touring bike after he bought a new 1500 sized bike and tour together. Well, in their course the bikes were supplied. I believe they were little 125 enduro type bikes which are not too much more difficult to ride than a bicycle IMHO. Sad part was that this kid couldn't even keep these bikes upright. I often wondered if their plans ever became a reality.

Jeff

 

[Wal]

Got my first motorcycle as soon as I made a little money when I got out of college. A 1973 Yamaha RD-350 two stroke twin street bike. That bike was a true giant killer. Really awesome power once you hit the power band, which started at about 6000 rpm's and ended at about 10,000. Anyway, I survived that bike for a few years, then sold it and got a nice used Yamaha TX-500 four stroke twin street bike. A little more sedate than the RD, but a lot more sensible. Had the TX for a few years, then got married. Wife and I had some nice rides on the old TX for a year or so. Had kids. Sold bike. Then, after a complete absence from motorcycles of about 20 years, I got the bug again two years ago. Wonder of wonders, wife didn't shoot me down. Actually, she thought it might be fun again /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif. Wooo Hooo. Now mind you, I had not looked at a motorcycle mag or even paid any attention to them in almost 20 years. Starting looking at bikes and was in shock. I just wanted a "regular" street bike!!! All the dealers had were either Harley cruiser clones, thinly disguised race bikes, or full blown touring bikes. But wait!/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif Honda still made a version of its old CB-750, now called the Nighthawk 750. It was everything we were looking for. Its not a perfect bike, but its an all-round bike. Just what we were looking for /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif. This June we are going to ride it to annual "Honda Hoot" in Knoxville. I would agree with the idea of always keeping your MC endorsement on your license. I really don't think the vast majority of MC riders ever get it out of their blood, even after not riding for many years. Its just about impossible to describe the feeling of riding to someone who never has. They look at you like you're just a little bit wacko. Kinda funny, I get the same look when I tell people what fun it is drive my tractor /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Jeff396]

My buddy got the Nighthawk 650 way back when. I didn't realize this came from the old CB bikes. He unfortunately hit a deer with it some 3 months after buying it. The collision insurance would have been $500 per year on a $2000 bike so he passed. I was able to fix it for him but from then on we changed our opinion that the back roads were safer than the highways. My first new bike was a Yamaha 700 Maxim X. It had some ridiculous 5 valve per cylinder motor in it with a just a bit more of a swept back look than the Nighthawks. It was a nice bike but I finally made the jump to a Harley. Far less temtation to use the wild off the line power. It was the top of the line and went for $15k. I think today the same bike tops $20k. Best thing about it was that we rode it for 5 years, put over 50k miles on it and I was still able to sell it for $14k. You just can't beat that!

Jeff

 

[Jeff396]

500 posts....Yippeeee!! tell him what he's won Don Pardoe/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Jeff