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

 

[EdKing]

Wow, this thread really took some twists and turns. Lets see, it started out with a member thanking TBN for the saftey tips that saved him from a possible overturn, then went to a disscussion of various lawn bowling games, followed by disscusions of rather unsafe childhood hobbies, then ended with motercycle riding. Talk about some wild tangents.

Ed King

 

[MossRoad]

77 RD400, bored, lightened pistons, milled head, bigger carbs and expansion chambers, lightened reed valves, dunlop R compound tires, took 2 teeth off the front sprocket, wheelie bars. Wouldn’t move under 6000 RPMS, but oh that power band from 6500 on up!

11.98 seconds @ 110MPH in the quarter mile in 6th gear somewhere over 11,000RPM. Not bad for a 25 cubic inch motor!

I'd take the wheelie bars off and put the shocks back on and ride it on the street. It would eat anything on the street except Kawasaki H2 500 triples.

I stopped riding after our first child was born. I took the bike apart so it wouldn't tempt me. It still sits in pieces in a storage shed. Every time I see it I can still hear that two stroke howl… I think it is possessed.

 

[Jeff396]

I went to a Suzuki dealership in 1983 to buy a dirt bike. Salesman kept pushing me towards the DR enduro bikes. I told him I wanted the RM125 motocross bike. They just shook their head. Problem was, there was just nothing like hitting the power band on one of those beasts and having all you know what break loose. That rush made it all worth the flailing you had to give it to keep it running while trail riding.

Jeff

 

[MikePA]

Wow, now that's a test! I borrowed my father-in-laws Yamaha 400 to take my test. I studied the book, practiced figure eights (can't put your foot down!) in my driveway so much that the tire rubber buildup could clearly be seen. Rode to the state police barracks and was extremely disappointed in the test. I don't think the trooper even watched me as I cruised through the course behind the building.

Jeff396 - The course I took also used the small motorcycles. Ours were the 100cc/125cc Harleys. Congrats on achieving Veteran status!

 

[RobS]

Started on a Kawasaki GPz550. Great bike! Had a bit of trouble keeping the speed down though. A friend and I put on 10,000 miles a year for several years straight. Lots of sport-touring weekends. Wrecked it, hit a pickup truck rounding a curve. Gravel=bad! Two screws in my wrist. I was lucky!

Recovered and got a Honda Sabre 700. Pretty dulll looks, and I never liked the shaft drive. Traded it on a Honda Interceptor 750. Another wonderful bike, but again too hard keeping the speed down. Went an entire summer without being passed. Accumulated lots of points on my license... those are not good /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

Finally got my senses about me and bailed on the motorcycles. Had lots of fun and was very lucky to have survived that period of my life.

Now perfectly content pedalling my a** off on a bicycle. Not as risky and better for my overall health /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Jeff396]

<font color=blue>Now perfectly content pedalling my a** off on a bicycle. Not as risky and better for my overall health</font color=blue>

As long as you are a bit more picky on where you ride than some of the coffins waiting to happen that I come across.

Jeff

 

[RobS]

Yeah, I keep a real sharp eye to my backside (and all around) when I'm riding. Fortunately, I've got plenty of nice, rural roads to ride on. No problems yet... knock on carbon fiber /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Wal]

<font color=red>I think it is possessed.</font color=red>

Hmmmm. I don't suppose it had a name like, say, Christine/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

 

[Wal]

David,

I never went to quite the extent you did with your RD400, but I did perform a few mods. J & R expansion chambers, K & N air filter, TC Red synthetic injection oil, aftermarket reed valves, platinum tipped spark plugs, and dunlop K81 tires. Looking back, you had to be pretty much out of your mind to have a bike like that as a daily driver. I am sure you can relate to the incredible satisfaction of having some "dude" in a "hot" camaro, firebird, mustang, etc pull up next to you at a stoplight /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif I can remember them creeping forward to get a good "holeshot" on the dork with the little Jap bike next to them /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif. As you know, the "race" was over almost before it began, with the "hot" car usually roaring past way after I decided to shut it down two or three seconds after the light changed. I'm sitting here chuckling about it now. Man, those were the days. Luckily, I survived that period and now just play with cool dudes in their tricked out "rice rockets" with the sound system that costs more than the car /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif The old Nighthawk ain't no slouch either. Course, it sure isn't an RD.

 

[MossRoad]

It was too evil to name. Had my wife on the back once out on the highway. Went to pass someone. Was going 55. Shifted from 6th to 3rd and lifted the front end off the ground pretty high. She starts punching me in the gut and screaming, but I couldn't understand her because of the noise. Took it up to about a hundred before I couldn't take any more hits. Boy was she mad. Ah, the good old carefree days....... Anyone know where I can get a bigger carb for my PT425?