Anything to do with motorcycles, scooter, etc...

[pietervn]

100K today on the R9T, 1 month short of it's 5th birthday. I still love this bike, heaps of fun to ride!!!

Might need a BY SAK for it...

Pete

[Farmer X]

I know this is an old thread, but I'm gonna necro it anyway.

Please convince me that I should not buy a motorcycle.

I'll turn 46 next month, and I have never ridden a bike. The closest I've come is going to a couple of dealers and throwing a leg over a few bikes. I awlso live in Michigan, and we have horrible riding weather for much of the year. Never mind the discourteous and/or impatient smurfbirds that are all over the road. Oh, and many of the roads are in bad condition, too.

However, bike ownership may have some advantages. I could now store one in the living room. They are easy on fuel. And it's much easier to find a brand-new bike with a manual transmission than it is to find a car with that feature.

I trust the membership of this board to give objective advice. So, what do y'awl think?

[pietervn]

Go for it!!!
I would suggest a small cc bike, no bigger than 500cc. And training, lots of it. It cements good skills and let you relax on the bike.

Buy good riding gear, especially helmet and boots and  never ride without it, it is Your bumpers and airbags.

Cheers, Pete

[Chako]

The feeling going down the highway is hard to describe. It is like floating and flying all at the same time. Everyone should get to try that at least once in their life. I haven't been on my motorcycle in a few years due to being busy, health issues, and just plain life gettting in the way. The above advice is solid.

However, what type of motorbike are you looking for? I will list each one, and non are better than the other. It all depends on what you are aiming to do with it.

1. Cruiser. Big and plenty of torque. You tend to sit in the bike and your feet can comfortably lie flat on the ground at stops. The bigger the CC the heavier it is and the more practice it takes to control it. The big bikes are not good for beginners, but are perfect on the wide open stretch of the highway as heavier means the wind will have a smaller effect of blowing you around.

2. Sport Bike. These motorcycles tend to have high RPMs and the seating is not very comfortable for long rides. Too much power for most folks, but especially for beginers. Even the smaller CC motors produce a lot of power.

3. Standard motorcycles. A wide range of street motorcycles that do not fall into sport or cruiser. Tend to be taller meaning you might have to angle the bike to one side to get a foot flat on the pavement when at a stop. There is a sub-set called naked bikes that do not have any farings or body panels.

4. Adventure and Dirt Bikes. Some are street legal, others may not be. They tend to be taller motorbikes designed for off road with lots of clearance.

5. Touring bikes. These tend to be big heavy motorcycles that are perfect for long distance traveling. Lost of luggage space. Not suitable for the first time motorcycle owner. These are so large and heavy, they often feature a reverse gear.

6. Dual types. Can be a  hybrid of any two of the above.

First consider what you want to do with it, and then research what models are in your sights.

To answer your question...yes you should.

[gregozedobe]

I trust the membership of this board to give objective advice. So, what do y'awl think?

If you have any "nervous ninny" tendencies then don't start riding a bike, you need to be confident to be able to ride a bike semi-safely.  I suggest you attend a riding school, then hire a bike for a week or so.  After that re-evaluate if bikes are for you.  Always wear the right safety gear (not just helemet & gloves), and start with a medium sized bike, not a superfast "crotch rocket" (they can get you in serious trouble way too quickly).

I used to ride bikes for many years, both road and off-road (including trials competitions), but gave it up for good when I lost confidence from way too many idiot/inattentive car drivers nearly taking me out.

[WaynejG]

Absolutely go for it. Here is mine, Triumph Rocket 2300cc of muscle.  [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ]    [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ]  

[Farmer X]

Buy good riding gear, especially helmet and boots...

That's a given. If something is intended to help save my life, I won't cheap out on it. I would awlso take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course, which would give me a good idea if motorcycles are for me.

What type of motorbike are you looking for?

I'll elaborate on that below.

I used to ride bikes for many years, both road and off-road (including trials competitions), but gave it up for good when I lost confidence from way too many idiot/inattentive car drivers nearly taking me out.

That's a worry of mine, too...but I'm not lacking in confidence.

Triumph Rocket 2300cc of muscle.

Cool bike; just too much for me right now!

As for the sort of bike I'm after...

Cruiser: I like their natural riding position. I'd consider a "mini-cruiser" as a first bike.

Sport Bike: I've thrown a leg over a couple-few of them, and don’t care for the riding position. So they're a no-go.

Standard motorcycles: another category that rates high with me, particularly UJMs.

Adventure and Dirt Bikes: newer ones with their angular styling don't ring my bells. Older ones have my favorite look, provided they don't sit too high. Think scrambler rather than full-on motocrosser.

Touring bikes: no. In my eyes, they are a bad compromise that defeats the purpose of a motorcycle.

Dual types: depends on what the hybridization is.

I have two other requirements in a bike. I have to be able to flat-foot it. The one bike I couldn't flat-foot was a big ol' honkin' Husqvarna. Luckily, I'm pretty tall, so that's not a huge issue. And it must be street-legal.

Since I like a vintage vibe with suggestions of off-road capability and will likely be doing a lot of city riding, I am drawn to the Honda Monkey and maybe the Suzuki Van Van 200. Of course, I'm open to other suggestions for good first bikes.

[Chako]

Here are a few weird ones for you to look at. I looked long and hard at these 2 but went a different direction with a cruiser. The first is Royal Infield.

The second is Ural simply because I think side cars are cool looking. Just be aware that the riding dynamics on a side car is something different to get used to.

I ended up with a Trimph America as my first bike until some idiot decided he wanted my lane and trashed my bike and gave me 4 broken ribs. After that, I went with a Yamaha 1100 Clasic cruiser.

Whatever you decide on, best of luck. 

[Farmer X]

I threw a leg over a Royal Enfield over 10 years ago. It was a neat bike, and I'd consider a Bullet 350. The Ural, on the other hand, is not for me. Maybe if they offered one without a sidecar...

[pfrsantos]

I know this is an old thread, but I'm gonna necro it anyway.

Please convince me that I should not buy a motorcycle.

I'll turn 46 next month, and I have never ridden a bike. The closest I've come is going to a couple of dealers and throwing a leg over a few bikes. I awlso live in Michigan, and we have horrible riding weather for much of the year. Never mind the discourteous and/or impatient smurfbirds that are all over the road. Oh, and many of the roads are in bad condition, too.

However, bike ownership may have some advantages. I could now store one in the living room. They are easy on fuel. And it's much easier to find a brand-new bike with a manual transmission than it is to find a car with that feature.

I trust the membership of this board to give objective advice. So, what do y'awl think?

Ok, first things first: do you have a motorcycle driver's licence? After you answer yes, I'd say to first read/watch some reviews on the different types of bikes. When you find the one you like, look for a place where you can rent one. This may not be very easy to find, but you should first try it for a few weeks before commiting to buy one of your own.

If you don't find a place to rent a bike, you could buy some lessons on a driver's school. That would be close to renting one. Ask them for a full day rate, maybe you can get a good deal on it.

 

[Farmer X]

Ok, first things first: do you have a motorcycle driver's licence?

Not yet. I'm not even sure what is needed to get the endorsement in Michigan. Will research that.

If you don't find a place to rent a bike, you could buy some lessons on a driver's school.

I plan on taking the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course when I have the funds available. That'll give me a little taste of two-wheeled motoring.

[pfrsantos]

Not yet. I'm not even sure what is needed to get the endorsement in Michigan. Will research that.
I plan on taking the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course when I have the funds available. That'll give me a little taste of two-wheeled motoring.

Maybe you can find some organization that offers free courses on safe driving. From time to time, our police forces have those initiatives, to reduce accidents and educate drivers.

If you get the chance to try different models of bikes, that'll be ideal. You can decide which ones you like best and make you feel more secure.

Keep us posted!

 

[Farmer X]

Will do! I have plans to visit a motorcycle dealer...maybe that'll happen this weekend.

[Sea Monster]

That's a given. If something is intended to help save my life, I won't cheap out on it. I would awlso take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course, which would give me a good idea if motorcycles are for me.
I'll elaborate on that below.
That's a worry of mine, too...but I'm not lacking in confidence.
Cool bike; just too much for me right now!

As for the sort of bike I'm after...

Cruiser: I like their natural riding position. I'd consider a "mini-cruiser" as a first bike.

Sport Bike: I've thrown a leg over a couple-few of them, and don’t care for the riding position. So they're a no-go.

Standard motorcycles: another category that rates high with me, particularly UJMs.

Adventure and Dirt Bikes: newer ones with their angular styling don't ring my bells. Older ones have my favorite look, provided they don't sit too high. Think scrambler rather than full-on motocrosser.

Touring bikes: no. In my eyes, they are a bad compromise that defeats the purpose of a motorcycle.

Dual types: depends on what the hybridization is.

I have two other requirements in a bike. I have to be able to flat-foot it. The one bike I couldn't flat-foot was a big ol' honkin' Husqvarna. Luckily, I'm pretty tall, so that's not a huge issue. And it must be street-legal.

Since I like a vintage vibe with suggestions of off-road capability and will likely be doing a lot of city riding, I am drawn to the Honda Monkey and maybe the Suzuki Van Van 200. Of course, I'm open to other suggestions for good first bikes.

The monkey is a novelty bike, not really suitable as a regular form of transport (The sort of thing you might put in a caravan to use for around-town trips when travelling or something)

I've never seen a Suzuki Van Van, must not be imported here, but the Suzuki TU250 is a pretty idiot proof, low-threat daily rider with a classic UJM look.

Anything in the modern Honda 500 Twin range (same motor, different frames basically) is a pretty safe bet for findability (of the bike itself, and aftermarket accessories) and ridability, and reliability.

CMX500 (cruiser-like) CS500 (Scrambler-like) CB500X (Adventure-like) CB500F (Street-like), and CBR500R (sport-like)

They all work hard to maintain Honda's "Beige cardigan" image of "meh-ness" - but they're solid reliable bikes, and any of them make a decent commuter with a "splash" of design in their respective directions.


This clunky looking website is actually an amazing resource to see how you'd fit/sit on any given model, which can help shortlist options you'd actually want to try/sit on at dealerships and remove some of the legwork.

https://cycle-ergo.com/

Beginner riders tend to be more comfortable being able to "flat foot" when stopped - which unless you've got long legs, can limit your options for low seat heights.



It might vary for local custom, but I wouldn't dismiss "touring" bikes out of hand - yes the category includes wheeled armchairs (Goldwings) but it also includes a range of mid-range bikes with relaxed riding positions and plenty of storage options - They do tend to have larger motors, simply on the logic that a big motor cruising along for hours at a time is working less and is more comfortable to sit on than a small motor going full-knacker - for example a CBF1000 is fairly forgiving to ride...but is a lot of bike to start on)

[old Lefty]

Monkey a novelty bike? Isn't the current one just slightly bigger version of the '70s - '80s version? Scaled up so kids who rode one back in the day can ride it again? Yes, did really hanker after one in the early '80s and am mightly tempted with the new one too

Lähetetty minun SM-T515 laitteesta Tapatalkilla

[Farmer X]

Beginner riders tend to be more comfortable being able to "flat foot" when stopped - which unless you've got long legs, can limit your options for low seat heights.

Luckily I'm pretty long-legged (34" inseam). I'll have a look at the Cycle Ergo site.

The Van Van 200 didn't sell too well in the States. I seem to remember that the TU250 wasn't available in California (where I spent much of my life). I don't have designs on covering any sort of great distance on two wheels, so the Monkey would work for me insofar as that is concerned.

[Sea Monster]

The CT110/125 is a great bike for people who just want to get from A to B with astonishing reliability, and don't intend to ever hit a freeway.

(If you have your heart set on a Monkey Bike, have a look at a Grom - same thing, without the Nostalgia twanging looks and associated price tag)

in any case, the Monkey bike/Grom might throw your pelvis out if you've got long legs.

[Farmer X]

Googling "CT125" led me to Honda's page on the Trail 125. If that's the bike mentioned in the above post, the semi-auto transmission makes it a no-go for me. A Grom might work, but I do strongly prefer the Monkey's look.

Just don't get me started on how much I detest CVTs...

[Sea Monster]

Googling "CT125" led me to Honda's page on the Trail 125. If that's the bike mentioned in the above post, the semi-auto transmission makes it a no-go for me. A Grom might work, but I do strongly prefer the Monkey's look.

Just don't get me started on how much I detest CVTs...

The CT125 isn't a CVT or cone drive like a scooter, it just means you can skip the (hand) clutch when changing gears, you still have to kick the pedal, but you can do it one-handed (and wield a sword, trumpet, or whatever in your other hand)

Great for jousting!

[Farmer X]

Jousting on a bike?

I knew the semi-auto and CVTs are different animals. Though the former is far less objectionable, I still want a straight manual.

[microbe]

Figured I post here, as it's about bikes.
I'm older - fifty something older - and wiser now, so I moved to slower and more classic looking bikes. I currently ride a Yamaha XSR700 Legacy, A modern classic as it is called. Scrambler style.
Less top speed, but heaps of torque, and lots of fun.
Always parking, never in a queue, and with a flip up helmet you can choose fully closed or half open on sunny days.
This bike is a blast to ride,

James Dean wannabe 

[Farmer X]

Probably a little too much bike for me at present time, but...

[microbe]

Probably a little too much bike for me at present time, but...

My first bike after I got my license was my dream bike, a Ducati 900SS. But I was way younger then and unfortunately I wrecked it, My wrecking days are long gone now, and if I could get around my wife objecting, I would put one in my living room as an art piece.

[matzesu]

Jousting on a bike?

There was an OLD Bud Spencer and Terrence Hill Movie where they did this ^^ , i know the German Syncro made these Movies a bit different, but  i think it might also where known in other Countrys .. (this Movie also got an Remake which was not that good) ..  (it also contains an Buggy, ) ..
"What out whe Are Mad" (Zwei wie Pech und Schwefel) ..

Reminds me that i should try in my Vaccations to sell of my Motorcycle Stuff: have got me an Schubbert J1 Helmet a few years ago which is still fine (expecly for younger Drivers who only drive for 2 Years until the get there Car Licence), 2 Jackets and Gloves ..