you'll enjoy it more and not worry the BOSS if you sign up for a spring course. flat out.

this isn't a 'computer learning course' type of thing. practice under skilled supervision makes it fun, skillbuilding and confident.

never ride any bike without knowledge and confidence. period.

let's just say i earned my 85 police bike for skill.

and lost my left side and life (revived) due to a clueless old lady.

skills get rusty but that memory of loss NEVER goes away. do the riding lesson and STAY a tough guy!!!

Heidi hoping you have a blast!!! safely....

 

Ok,, since I have prettymuch decided on this, any input into brands/styles of helmets? otehr protective gear?
I will be riding alot at night....in teh country....dark roads...gravel .....

am I stupid or what?

 

[QUOTE=Chrisreyn;2004772]...gravel .....[QUOTE]Not a nice thing.
Chris, Make sure you do a rider safety course. I am sure that someone offers them around you. Around here they are offered through a deal with the University's. My son took one before he bought his first bike. The Yamaha is a great choice for a 1st bike. Stay away from the Baja. Make sure the Helmet is Snell approved. They have the toughest testing standard's. HJC is a good brand, there are lot's of good one's out there. Definetely get a pair of good riding gloves and a good riding jacket. If it is in your budget a pair of pants is good to. My son wished he had sprung for the pants when he laid his Ninja down. The Helmet saved his noggin, The Jacket his upper body except for a hairline fracture on his arm. The Gloves saved his hands from getting shredded. He lost a lot of skin on his leg when the pavement wore through his Jeans, but thankfully that has all healed. I too believe that dirt bikes are the best way to learn. I learned in the dirt and through many wipeouts I learned a lot of does and don'ts without the added pain of pavement. Don't let this all scare you though. Just be careful and always ride like every car on the road is going to try to kill you. If you see a car on the sideroad and you make eye contact. Yeah, they are going to pull out in front of you. Bikes are great but as stated before, be careful.
If the Virago is in good shape that sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

 

Chris,

There is definately a motorcycle safety course available on the base you are at .... somewhere. Best way to learn to ride is to partner up with a qualified, patient rider.

Gravel is bad enough on its own but adding darkness to it definately has danger written all over it. Smacking a deer or even a possum on a bike isn't a very appealing thought either. I work with a big ol' boy who hit a deer once ... said "it hurt, bad".

A small piece of advice ... when coming into a paved intersection with an arrow painted on the road, try not to ride directly over the arrow ... the oil drips from every other vehicle makes them things very slick and if you are turning at the time, it's gonna take you for a ride !!

Bell makes the best helmets IMO. Buy new ... not a used one that you don't know the history. Look for the DOT endorsement sticker on the back. That used to be a requirement to get a base sticker.

You also need to look into a good leather jacket & boots in addition to gloves. Always dress for the crash ... not the ride.

Cheers,
PISTOL

 

do you have to have a motorclcye endorsement in you state? here in oregon we do for anything over 50cc.

 

Friend at work just got one of these for commuting, part gravel, part paved. He loves it, with a 45 minute commute on country roads.
http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/Detail.aspx?id=221

I had a DR350, which might be about the right size if your commute isn't too far. If it hits $4 a gallon, I may lean towards another dual sport in 650 myself. 350 was kind of small for an hour or more of commuting.

 

Well, went over to test ride the bike last night.. its nice and was easy to figure out..
Don( the guy who is selling the bike) spent about an hour with me showing me how to work the clutch/brakes and all..
we went out around the block a few times, and as it was getting toward sunset, he suggested we ride over to a church a few blocks away that has a large parking lot.

First intersection we came to, we are sitting side by side, a minivan came up behind us and rear ended us both !!! He got stopped right as he tapped us, said he didn't notice us( Don was on a decked out Goldwing with more lights than a New Orleans brothel) I went over, Don didn't, no damage really, no injury other than a scraped knuckle or two.
I am taking that as a sign that maybe I shouldn't ride a bike??? The Boss was watching and is no dead set against the idea..

I think I'm just gonna put the money I'd have spent on the bike into the fuel tank and drive something that will hurt a minivan rather than the other way around!

 

You've just experience one of the risks. I've had my embarrassments on my crotchie before, But there is a whole different when you're on 2 wheels, its fun to ride and handle. You either take that experience and note it, or you take it as a sign. When I ride, I now refrain from areas I don't know and only ride the roads I've driven so much. I stay away from the big cities unless I'm riding with others. I keep my focus and don't let my mind start wandering.

 

Whatever you decide, good luck. I ride almost every day (except when the temp is less than 40 deg F) in Houston. I ride a 1999 Honda Valkyrie (sporty Goldwing) with dual headlights, dual fog lights, and extra brake light LEDs that flash for about 7 seconds when I stop.
If you do ride, heed the advise offered earlier...
1. Dress for the crash, not the ride.
2. Wear a good helmet. Mine = Shoei
3. Treat all others like they are trying to kill you.
4. Ride in the part of the lane that makes you most visible to others, especially merging traffic.
5. Look farther ahead of you than you do when driving your CTD, you need the reaction time.
6. Travel roads that you know like the back of your hand. I stay off of the freeways as much as possible.
7. When stopping at an intersection, always stop in 1st gear and watch the others coming up behind you. Just in case you need to get out of the way.
8. Take the rider's safety course, they help show you what to look out for and teach you to ride safe.

That's enough to get you started. Lary or Shovel can add some other points I am sure.

Be safe,
Hay

 

Hayhauler has some of the best advice I've seen given to a new rider. I'll add only one which you should be doing driving any vehicle anyway- ALWAYS look for a way out when something goes wrong and preserve it. Don't let yourself get boxed in on the road,, make sure it the car next to you or in front of you swerves or something you have somewhere to go- the next lane to one side or the other, etc. Riding a motorcycle in today's world is the ultimate in defensive driving- see #3 above.
Check with your state DOT about the laws regarding lights- some prohibit flashing tail lights all together, some only prohibit flashing red, some flashing red to the read... if you can run the flashing tail light do it- and a modulating headlight (flashing) if it's legal for you will help too. Dress to be seen too- forget the black leather jacket- get a lighter color, preferably with reflective strips or seams.
Don't ever ride thinking it's too hot, and it's a short ride- I'll be fine- because that's when you'll get sent to the pavement. I've slid down the highway on my back- you don't want to do it, but more importantly, if it happens, you want the right gear on- I was lucky because while I was wearing a padded leather bike jacket it rode up and I was only wearing blue jeans, which provide no protection against pavement. (I was hurt pretty good, but no perm damage!)

Also, Snell helmets are nice, but over rated. Snell certs means the helmet has to be larger for the extra padding which creates more wind resistance among other things- if you're going fast enough to benifit from the Snell rating you should be on a track, not the street. If you hit a telephone pole or a tree with your head the Snell cert is not going to make any difference. Make sure you're helmet is DOT rated, and you probably want a fiberglass shell- the thicker shell means less internal padding so a smaller more compact helmet which makes it more comfortable. Get a catalog from a reputable accessory company like Dennis Kirk and pick a helmet from them- they don't sell junk or fake DOT stickered things.

Also, once you scar the helmet you should replace it- I cracked a fiberglass helmet in 2 places in the aforementioned accident. You want a full face or an open face full coverage- not a beanie, not a half helmet with curtains- not enough protection. In reality anything other than a full coverage is simply ineffective. I like open face helmets personally- better hearing and peripheral vision while still protecting the base of the head and skull.

Also, stay away from any bike less than 400CC, they don't have enough power for the average size adult to get out of trouble. There are a lot of issues with a 200-250 even 300Cc bike on the highway, but the biggest thing it a motorcycle has the advantage of being able to out accelerate almost everything else on the road and in many dangerous situations that is you only out- if the bike can't do it....

For many the allure of a 250 is the mileage- 50mpg+. That's not really such a big deal- my Sportster 1100 gets that with a light hand and my 79 Yamaha 650 got 50mpg all day long.

 

Thanks, Justme- !

P.S. The other one that I forgot, YOU have already experienced.....

9. When riding a motorcycle, there are NO MINOR ACCIDENTS!

Hay

 

Thanks Hay and Jme, but i have decided to forgo the bike for the time being..

 

Come on Chris, once you go two wheels you'll never be without! I pick up my 2008 ZX-14 in a week

 

Chrisreyn, I can understand your reservations, and as a fulltime firefighter I can personally testify to some bad things involving motorcycles, however, riding is what you make it. Others have given you some fantastic information to get you going.

I am not trying to sway your decision, and with respect for your decision, I would like to say that their is a great freedom found while riding, especially when your with a bunch of friends whom ride responsibly.

I'll dedicate my first ride this season to ya.




Tim

 

Don't just give up. Bikes are great but YOU have to watch for everything regardless of who has the right of way. When sitting at lights/stopsigns I watch my mirrors like a hawk for rear enders.

Helmets- Find something that fits well and is comfortable. Also make sure you can see with it on. A helmet that obstructs your vision is a bad thing.....

Always have a plan for a wayy out of any situation. Just like you're on duty.