for those of you who own bikes...

[Freelance Superhero]

just outta curiosity, what do yall own??

i had a friend who recently purchased his first one, and so i started browsing them online for the fun of it. they're pretty nice! :D

[ArkiStan]

Yeah I know some people who bought bikes recently and I also started browsing online for more info. I'm even thinking of buying one some day. Yo Freelance, did you find any site where I can see descriptions and comparisons of major brands/models with nice pics? I'm not interested in too much power. Maybe a used 400cc bike, 1996 or 1997... I've been looking at some CBRs and YZFs. Any info is appreciated.

[Freelance Superhero]

hmmm... sorry, didn't come across any websites that compared them. i just did some very superficial browsing, like checking out the yamaha, honda, kawasaki, etc. websites...

cpu, are you talking about a motorcycle?

[Freelance Superhero]

well FINE then, keep your bikes to yourself! i didn't want to know ANYWAY! :mad:

[hoey222]

honda CB-1

small 400cc pseudo sprt bike.

http://www.infernosoft.com/timberwoof/motorcycle/hondaCB1/

it's not my site - but it's a good pic of the bike.

i'll break out the digicam this week and get a pic of my bike.

[Freelance Superhero]

why thank you hoey... you just made my day. :)

[Nanotech9]

this:

http://www.nanotech9.com:1088/images/cbr-bmw.jpg

http://www.nanotech9.com:1088/images/nano-stoppie.jpg

[dave]

Does anyone know how to get started with motorcycles? I am looking for a decent motorcycle school in San Diego.:confused:

[FZR22]

Call 1(800)CCRIDER to take a course. They have them all over the place...took mine up in LA (which btw, is not the safest place to ride). Two consecutive weekends...two days of in-class instruction, and two days on riding, like 4 or 5 hours each. It's a good course...if you pass, you are exempt from the riding portion of the DMW test. The DMV riding test is rather hard from what I hear, but the class exam is a cake walk. Plus, most insurance companies give some sort of price break on your rates if you tell them you took the class.
Of course, I took my course about over five years ago, so the specifics may have changed. I believe it was about $150 then.
Oh yeah, I had a '94 Yamaha FZR600 until someone decided to make a left turn just in front of me. But I loved that thing, it was light, extremely nimble, and not top heavy (I also had a Suzuki Katana which was real top-heavy. that thing felt like it was going to tip over all the time when goin slow).
If you're just starting out, the FZR models are good to learn on. Also a good idea to get a used bike. Won't hurt your wallet as much if you drop it(altho you might break your azz. But that risk comes with the joy of riding...) I'm pretty sure the FZR is a discontinued model, so you're gonna have to find one on ebay or cycletrader or something. One last thing, I would suggest getting a 600CC bike. Trust me, you will get super tired of a smaller engine bike super fast...

[epoxi]

Originally posted by FZR22
Call 1(800)CCRIDER to take a course. They have them all over the place...took mine up in LA I believe it was about $150 then.


if your 21+ it's $200....$75 if your not. I just completed it last month. If anyone is thinkin about riding, it's smart to learn right. anyone can learn how to ride a motorcycle...but its all about technique.

[EvilHorace]

Does anyone know how to get started with motorcycles?

One buys one. IMHO, they're too unsafe for city traffic and if that's where one lives, you're better off w/o one. Many young people are seriously hurt and/or killed every year on them. It often doesn't matter how good of a driver you are, it's often the fault of others as they either don't see you or misjudge your speed, distance.
My first bike was a used '72 KZ 350 tripple that I got for $50. My second is a '76 Honda CB 550 for $100 that's still in my garage but I havent driven for 1 yr now (it's for sale). I concluded last year that riding one in my area really isn't THAT much fun compared to the confort of my cars where I have tunes, AC, heat, glass (no bugs or rain effecting me) and 4 wheels on the ground....far safer in the long run.

[InfiniteNothing]

And, for my favorite mode of transportation, my bike
http://www.dorrsbike.com/images/raleigh/cross/c40.jpg
I can get 912miles per gallon.

[Nanotech9]

Originally posted by EvilHorace


One buys one. IMHO, they're too unsafe for city traffic and if that's where one lives, you're better off w/o one. Many young people are seriously hurt and/or killed every year on them. It often doesn't matter how good of a driver you are, it's often the fault of others as they either don't see you or misjudge your speed, distance.
My first bike was a used '72 KZ 350 tripple that I got for $50. My second is a '76 Honda CB 550 for $100 that's still in my garage but I havent driven for 1 yr now (it's for sale). I concluded last year that riding one in my area really isn't THAT much fun compared to the confort of my cars where I have tunes, AC, heat, glass (no bugs or rain effecting me) and 4 wheels on the ground....far safer in the long run.

see, what i've found so far, of all the wrecks this summer, 80% were rider error, or plain stupidity. 10% was other drivers causing the accident, and 10% was just plain bad luck, which happens in any vehicle.

get this... we're all out practicing our "stunts"... for me its stoppies... About the worst i could do is low-side the bike, or tip it over on myself, and usually you can jump outta the way (my stoppies are slow).... well, this kid is practicing his "Christ Air's"... standing up in the seat with arms out. Well, he's been doing great all night, but something happens, he falls off, and there goes the bike by itself for 200' hits a curb, flips end over and lands perfectly upsidedown in some rocks.

Yeah, so the stunt isnt very safe, but it could've been better. Instead of pointing the bike at the impending curb, he could have changed his angle a little bit and it would've run off into a grassy field.

The kid was ok. He knows how to ride really well, but he just didnt think over what would happen if he fell off teh bike.

other examples... Several have looped their bikes wheeling down teh highway...

last saturday a VERY proficient rider, who can wheelie for miles and ride 50' long stoppies, one handed, wrecked... you know how? he was looking over his left shoulder while merging into the left lane instead of watching where he was going.... Ran the bike right into the rear end / right side of a car and totaled it.

[shoeish]

I've noticed (forums/the track/on the street) that the best of riders usually don't do stunts...

Just because you can do a wheelie for miles and a stoppie for 50' doesn't mean that you are the best in traffic, the fastest on a road course or through the canyons (or even fast at all), or can bring your bike to a halt in a minimal distance.

I am still pretty reluctant to do a big wheelie or any stoppie... I have concentrated my efforts and learning the limits of the bike with both tires on the ground... How to turn, how to avoid obstacles, how to out brake people into a corner, and how to stop FAST.

But, Nanotech, you are right in the respect that almost all accidents are a result of rider error... meaning a good rider CAN avoid almost all accidents. Training classes can teach you technique, but its seat time and knowing exactly what your bike is capable of is what matters.

Another random fact: the local suzuki dealer claims that they see 3 out of 5 GSX-R's come back in a ball of steel. Which means most their their income is from the insurance company. Bleh, fricking squids running up my insurance. =)

[Nanotech9]

the right set of tires helps a LOT too...

i've always run Dunlop 207's on my bike untill a month ago when i switched to a set of 207GP Race take-offs (about 75% tread left)...

took a little getting used to (rear was a 170 instead of a 160) but GAWD these things stick when they're warmed up (which does take a few miles)...

before, i was always very unsure of my tires in a corner - always felt like they were going to break loose any second, and now, i know these things will stick, and i can fell it too... they dont walk on me, or wiggle, and i've actually been able to start to creep up on people in turns.... Heck, i even passed my buddy in a 270 degree downhill turn (on the outside) and we both had passengers, adn i hadn't ridden with a passenger in about a year or more.

Tires definitely make a difference.