Learning to Ride!

[Nitroboy91]

So today my mom signed me up for a Motorcycle Endorsement Training class for my 18th birthday. So on October 30, 31 and Nov. 1st I'll be taking my class. I'm pretty pumped for this because i love the feeling as you ride on a bike and will be great for my spur of the moment trips i like to take.

Now this is where i need some advice from some guys that ride motorbikes. What would you recommend a 18 year old kid to buy for his first bike? I do NOT want a crotch rocket, more of an easy laid back street bike. Something like a Harley. I by no means want the fastest, or the biggest, or the coolest bike, just something that would be good for a beginner and thats not going to kill me.

 

[beason]

I've always loved the vtx 1300 custom bikes. the 1300 is big. not way oversized, but big enough you wont grow out of it quickly.

and with a wide tire kit and some dress up.. they look wicked!

 

[alpinehyperlite]

I'm a big fan of the Suzuki Intruders/volusias....

 

[h8z2luze]

Laid back crusier... Ya I got nothing cause THEY SUCK! lol sorry I'm a crotch rocket guy. I have a zx6 ninja. There is a lot of 250 crusier bikes out there id say start with one of them or a 650 maybe.

I must say I dont mind the kawasaki vulcans when they look like this...

 

[alpinehyperlite]

Yea, i used to be as well. You change your mind real quick when u drop it at 180mph

 

[slowngreen]

 

[alpinehyperlite]

looks like youd burn the piss outa yourself the way that exhaust is running......

 

[slowngreen]

Thats a honda 90 for ya lol.

 

[h8z2luze]

Id say this is a laid back cruiser lol

 

[Rolex]

Here's one that's affordable, and parts are available at Home Depot or your local lumber yard.

 

[digger]

LMAO!!

I remember those. Automatic. Had a lever on the bottom of the tranny for hi or low range. Hadn't seen one for 20yrs or so. My neighbor came across one last year and bought it.


Seriously though. Whatever ya get be careful. Act like ya have some sense.
Watch all the vehicles around ya. Don't know what it is, but seems like the idiots driving cars can't see a bike.

 

[Nitroboy91]

Beason, I've heard a lot about the Honda VTX bikes and My uncle drives the VTX1800 and other one a VTX1300 and they are very nice bikes. But I've heard not to buy something that big or nice cause it's said that 9 times out of ten i'll dump my first bike.

 

[alpinehyperlite]

no its 10 times out of 10 you are gona dump your first bike. lol. I used to ride every day, and can't count how many times I've dumped mine in the past.

 

[beason]

then go with a cheeper one like a shadow or something. if you rjust learning get on craigslist or somewhere and just find a little 250 or so bike. it doesn't matter what it looks like as long as it is rideable and legal. learn, crash, learn some more, then buy a nice bike.

something like this

http://houston.craigslist.org/mcy/1347946678.html

 

[Runaway Jim]

I agree with beason's last comment. all expect the crash part! I' crashed, or I should say I got hit by an idiot who ran a stop sign and now I'm a below the knee amputee.

Whatever you get, and I know this will be controversial and is no guarantee of your safety, make the darn thing as loud as you can! I had a harley night train and you could have heard me coming from a mile away. Like I said, it's no guarantee that you're 100% safe from the idiots on the road but it does help. For me, the guy who hit me just wasn't paying attention at all. He would've driven into a flaming building and not known it, that's how much he was paying attention.

My loud pipes did save my life on a number of other occasions. Be safe with what ever you do get. Obey the rules of the road. Don't weave in and out of traffic and don't drive in anyone's blind spot. Be way way more aware of your surroundings and follow your instincts. If you think that some is going to take a left in front of you but aren't quite sure, trust me, they're taking the left! Be careful kid. Be careful!!!

 

[hamz9561]

If you weave in and out of traffic you might get an involuntary career of being a hood ornament on a big semi-truck. Just remember that everyone else is an idiot that can't see you. Ride defensively and you should be okay.

 

[Rolex]

The cops refer to reckless weaving cycle riders as 'Organ donors'.

 

[alpinehyperlite]

The cops refer to ANY cycle riders as 'Organ donors'.

fixed it

 

[Greyryder]

Watch all the vehicles around ya. Don't know what it is, but seems like the idiots driving cars can't see a bike.

That's exactly what it is. People get in their heads that they're on the road, so they should be looking for cars and trucks. If something doesn't fall into that category, it simply doesn't register in that moldering lump they call a brain.

It reminds me of a video clip I saw a few years back, where they told you to count how many times a ball changed hands, as it was passed around a group of children. When it was over, they asked you if you saw the guy in the bear suit walk through the middle of the group of kids. I was counting the ball passes, so I never saw the guy in the bear suit. I rewatched the video, and sure enough, there he was.

 

[Hunter]

Buy the cheapest bike you can find for your first year's riding, something small and light something you wont care about dropping while you learn.

Just don't skimp on the riding gear buy the best you can afford. Look for gear that has both impact and abrasion protection. And please dont ride wearing a brain bucket get a good full face helmet.