Motorcycles

[RearAdmiral]

Why do I still want one so bad after seeing how bad people can get hurt on them?

Motorcycles, why you be so awesome?


11-27-13 Update over a year later:

So I did buy that house as I mentioned in this thread. I also have a buddy with me who just put a deposit down on a Ducati Monster 796 with the corse paint job /drool.

Now I am tempted again. I'm looking at the older, uglier multistradas such as the 2007s. Anyone have experience with that generation?

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Motorcycling is awesome. Take the MSF, all you need is a helmet, thick pants/jacket, gloves and work boots.

A beginner bike is about $2k (GS500 is my favorite starter bike, ninja 500 is also good)

Full gear is about $1k (pants, jacket, gloves, helmet, boots)

 

[satyajitmenon]

Come over to the dark side.

 

[Baked]

I always dreamed about cruising around on a crouch rocket with my SO riding in my back... like the movies.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I always dreamed about cruising around on a crouch rocket with my SO riding in my back... like the movies.

It's a ton of fun. There's really something to having someone's life completely 100% in your hands and trust. It's dangerous, but such is life.

 

[superccs]

Bikes are pretty sweet, right up until someone texting pulls out in front of you. Trackdays are ridiculously fun too, its like running from the cops for 20 minutes at a time. Except if you crash, you don't die or go to prison.

 

[MiataNC]

No one gets out of this life alive.

The only question you need to ask yourself is how much risk are you willing to accept.

Riding motorcycles is risky, but you can mitigate the risk by riding smart and wearing proper gear. Situational awareness is your #1 tool when riding. You must be 100% focused and hyper aware of your surroundings. After a while you develop a "6th sense", and you can predict when some stupid cager is going to try to occupy your space or cut you off.

Statistically most motorcycle accidents involve excessive speed and/or drinking/drugs on the part of the rider. Safe and sane riders are much less likely to get taken out, but it can still happen. If you are a good driver that spots trouble early and avoids it, you are much more likely to be a safe rider.

 

[RearAdmiral]

No one gets out of this life alive.

The only question you need to ask yourself is how much risk are you willing to accept.

Riding motorcycles is risky, but you can mitigate the risk by riding smart and wearing proper gear. Situational awareness is your #1 tool when riding. You must be 100% focused and hyper aware of your surroundings. After a while you develop a "6th sense", and you can predict when some stupid cager is going to try to occupy your space or cut you off.

Statistically most motorcycle accidents involve excessive speed and/or drinking/drugs on the part of the rider. Safe and sane riders are much less likely to get taken out, but it can still happen. If you are a good driver that spots trouble early and avoids it, you are much more likely to be a safe rider.

I am usually pretty aware of what is going on around me in vehicles. I've avoided many many accidents. I live in mostly back woods roads, so there are issues of animals and random nature crap in the road as well.

It just bums me out that everyone I talk to says, "OMG you'll die!!! SOOO STUPID what r u thinking?!"

 

[RearAdmiral]

Motorcycling is awesome. Take the MSF, all you need is a helmet, thick pants/jacket, gloves and work boots.

A beginner bike is about $2k (GS500 is my favorite starter bike, ninja 500 is also good)

Full gear is about $1k (pants, jacket, gloves, helmet, boots)

I want a new multistrada

I want to be more of a sporty tourer than a crotch rocketer.

 

[halik]

turbo busa

 

[MiataNC]

It just bums me out that everyone I talk to says, "OMG you'll die!!! SOOO STUPID what r u thinking?!"

Do you make all of your decisions based on what other people thing?

Do what makes you happy. Life is too short to waste it doing things that make other people happy.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I want a new multistrada

I want to be more of a sporty tourer than a crotch rocketer.

Who doesn't? Those are freaking sweet bikes.

I ride a Ducati Monster 1100 myself. Rode it in to work today in fact. :wub:

I'd also like to mention that if this is your first bike a 150hp Ducati is not a good choice. Start out on something smaller and work your way up to the Ducati.

A Suzuki V-Strom 650 would be a good choice.

 

[RearAdmiral]

Do you make all of your decisions based on what other people thing?

Do what makes you happy. Life is too short to waste it doing things that make other people happy.

No but I do take the opinion of my ridiculously good motocrossing brother seriously. He rode on the street for a while and hated it.

 

[manimal]

I am having this conversation with my wife. I like a dum arse agreed to get rid of all my bikes when the kids were born.

She keeps repeating "I am not going to raise these kids alone if you become a vegetable."

I miss my bikes....


Looked at a cbr100RR 2008 a few days ago that had a fall off its stand. 3.2K with about a K in plastic.

OMG DO WANT ; ;

 

[RearAdmiral]

Who doesn't? Those are freaking sweet bikes.

I ride a Ducati Monster 1100 myself. Rode it in to work today in fact. :wub:

I'd also like to mention that if this is your first bike a 150hp Ducati is not a good choice. Start out on something smaller and work your way up to the Ducati.

/jelly

The Ducati might not be the best choice, but I still love it. There's also this silly house I should probably buy sometime...

 

[JulesMaximus]

No but I do take the opinion of my ridiculously good motocrossing brother seriously. He rode on the street for a while and hated it.

I love riding on the street. Honestly, I can't see myself ever not having a motorcycle in my garage.

 

[MiataNC]

No but I do take the opinion of my ridiculously good motocrossing brother seriously. He rode on the street for a while and hated it.

On and off-road riding are two different skill sets.

From my experience, when it comes to street riding, you are either a motorcyclist or you are not. You won't know which you are until you get out on the street and get some riding under your belt.

Riding takes commitment if you intend to rack up miles. There is a reason why so many new bikes (1-3 years old) are always for sale. People buy them thinking they are motorcyclists, and end up scaring themselves, or deciding the trade-offs (comfort and convenience) are not worth the effort.

 

[momeNt]

Morning commute, some motorcyclist is passing cars going probably 85 (2 left lanes were traveling 80) basically the only way you knew what lane he was "in" was whether he was about 6" left or right of the lane line. I was entering the 2nd most left lane as he was moving the 12" to pass somebody on the far left lane. Didn't hit him because he was only 6" in my lane, but he flapped his hands at me like it was my fault, maybe it was but I checked if that lane was clear, saw him basically riding exactly down the middle, so wtf i guess?

Is this an advisable way to drive and pass vehicles on a motorcycle?

 

[Safeway]

Morning commute, some motorcyclist is passing cars going probably 85 (2 left lanes were traveling 80) basically the only way you knew what lane he was "in" was whether he was about 6" left or right of the lane line. I was entering the 2nd most left lane as he was moving the 12" to pass somebody on the far left lane. Didn't hit him because he was only 6" in my lane, but he flapped his hands at me like it was my fault, maybe it was but I checked if that lane was clear, saw him basically riding exactly down the middle, so wtf i guess?

Is this an advisable way to drive and pass vehicles on a motorcycle?

Motorcyclist ride the sides because that's where car wheels travel; the center is oily and slick. It just looks funny when you see a motorcycling "ride the line."

 

[Safeway]

My dad is selling his Kawasaki ZX-10R. Interested?

 

[RearAdmiral]

My dad is selling his Kawasaki ZX-10R. Interested?

No idea what that is. How's 5 bucks?

 

[MiataNC]

No idea what that is. How's 5 bucks?

It's an "also-ran" in World Superbike.

In truth it is a 1000cc race bike with lights and a license plate. A "Widowmaker" for newbie riders.

 

[JulesMaximus]

It's an "also-ran" in World Superbike.

In truth it is a 1000cc race bike with lights and a license plate. A "Widowmaker" for newbie riders.

Also known as a literbike.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Motorcyclist ride the sides because that's where car wheels travel; the center is oily and slick. It just looks funny when you see a motorcycling "ride the line."

This is especially true at stop lights where cars and trucks just sit and idle, dripping oil and antifreeze all over the middle of the road. When coming up to a stop sign or a light I always stay to left of center or right of center and like to find a clean spot to put a foot down. These things become second nature after a while.

 

[MiataNC]

Also known as a literbike.

You ever hold a 1 liter bottle of water/soda in your hand, think about bikes, and say to yourself DAAAYYYYYUMMMM!!!!!





My 1050cc's of stupid fun.