Foo - Thinking about getting a motorcycle...

Does anyone here use a motorcycle for their sole means of motorized transportation?

I'm getting sick of dumping money down the car-payment hole so I'm going to sell my car. One option is to buy a cheaper used car and dump my money down a shallower car-payment hole.

Or...

My brother has an old Honda trail bike. It needs a rebuild on the carburetor, the exhaust remounted, and some road slicks. Other than that it seems to be in good shape. Nothing fancy... or even fast for that matter.

The only problems I can see would be going out of town for family stuff or work.

Just looking for opinions. Especially with the $3.50/gal forecast for gas this summer. My brother will probably talk me out of it, though.

I used a motorcycle exclusively for 6-years in school. Dirt cheap, got 50mpg, could park anywhere on campus, maintenance was easy.

I used a motorcycle exclusively for 6-years in school. Dirt cheap, got 50mpg, could park anywhere on campus, maintenance was easy.
What made you decide to get a car?

Actually I shouldn't have said "exclusively" in that way, I did have a car for road-trips. But I never drove it to school since parking-fees were outrageous and motorcycles gets to park for free (downtown too). They always sold more parking-passes than there were parking spots, so you'd spend 15-20 minutes following people around trying to find a parking spot! :eek:

And riding in the rain sucked!!! Following cars on the freeway would end up soaking you all the way through due to the spray. Even when I was completely covered from head to toe in dry-suits with elastic sleeves & ankles, I'd still get wet because enough water would leak through the visor edges and collar that I'd look like the Michelin man filled with water. So, I would actually ride my MTB to class to keep the spray managable and campus was only 1-mile away anyway. I knew wannabe crunchy-granola tree-hugger tie-dye wearing debutantes who would actually drive out of IV, go around to campus, waste 30-minutes driving 4-5 miles to find parking and walking to class when it only takes 5-minutes by bike! :eek:

Considering that I only paid $500 for that motorcycle and it lasted as long as it did and got me around so well, it was probably one of the best investments I ever made! :)

One suggestion I should make is that if you are going to get a motorcycle, get good insurance. A relative of mine was paralised in a bike accident, and All State has been very cooperative about paying millions of dollars in medical bills.

One suggestion I should make is that if you are going to get a motorcycle, get good insurance. A relative of mine was paralised in a bike accident, and All State has been very cooperative about paying millions of dollars in medical bills.
Dunno if the danger of being on a motorcycle is the point you're making (still, thanks for the suggestion, yeah I'd be insured to the hilt).

I've always wondered about the danger of motorcycling and whether or not it's inflated or not. Most (not all) of the stories I hear second hand or in the press are a result of the bike driver being wreckless and making a stupid decision well in advance of the accident (driving drunk, for example). Yeah, there's a big risk of getting killed or paralyzed. But the same can be said about commuting by cycling or even a car for that matter.

Nevertheless, the idea is losing steam after I couldn't answer the question about what I'd do when the roads here get covered in ice.

In the case I brought up, solo cross country run+drunk driver= bad accident. I recall being told in drivers training that 98% of motorcycle accidents are the fault of someone in a car.

I'm not the sort who would say that motorcycles should be avoided. I ride bicycles, and as Sydney's death reminds us, bicycling is a deadly serious hobby. I also plan to get a motorcycle once I'm out of college and can afford it. With any 2 wheeled transportation device, my only advise is to wear a helmet, have good insurance, and drive carefully.

On the subject of what to do when theres ice, thats what you keep a car around for.

The problem is, there are certain things completely beyond your control, such as being slammed by a drunk driver. Since you're harder to notice on a bike, the matter is worse.
So assuming you're doing everything right and you get slammed, in a car, at least you get a protective frame around you. On a bike, you're basically protecting the bike.

^ So true. Someone very close to me was in a motorcycle accident just days ago :( Some guy didn't see her in the left lane and just pushed her with his car :mad:

Anyway from what she's told me wet pavement is very treacherous too. It seems it's so much easier to lose control of a motorcycle.

Take a motorcycle safety course.

The stats I've seen say that 50% of motorcycle-riders will be in a wreck at some point in their lives. And about 2/3rds of those crashes are due to the fault of others, cars pulling out of driveways and turning left in front of them are the most common. Riding with the assumption that you're invisible is the key to survival. I've been hit on my motorcycle once, on my bike 4 times and rear-ended in my car twice. Just that you don't have much protection on a motorcycle...:(

^^^ After more bikes than I can count, dirt, sportbikes, Harleys, even a scooter,
Ive fallen twice on the road and 1,000000000,00,00 times in the dirt since '75.
Common misconception.....you probably are going to fall but it is 99.9% YOUR
fault. Motorcyclists know where dangers lie and if you miscalculate any parts of the
zillions of information bits your brain should be processing while you ride you risk a
fall. If you fall on a motorcycle you have made an error in judgement. Its easy to
blame a car or say 'I had to lay it down :roflmao:' but except for a few extenuating
circumstances it is always rider error.
Crashing is a motorcycle conundrum....you probably are going to crash but you are
the one in control of when it will happen :eek:

I think the safest way to ride motorcycles is to join a gang or club, and only do long recreational rides with them. Most people driving cars will very much try to avoid hitting a biker with a bunch of friends, because not only is a group of riders easily seen unlike a solo rider, but if you wrecklessly hit one of them, the rest of the gang will kill you.

That's jsut going to encourage the driver to run them ALL over...


I think the safest way to ride motorcycles is to join a gang or club, and only do long recreational rides with them. Most people driving cars will very much try to avoid hitting a biker with a bunch of friends, because not only is a group of riders easily seen unlike a solo rider, but if you wrecklessly hit one of them, the rest of the gang will kill you.

On the motorcycle you have the advantage of small size, acceleration and maneuverability.

We all know the disadvantages.

I don't beleive that crashes on a motorcycle are inevitable.

The M/C safety course I took stressed situational awareness in addition to the basic safe riding techniques. Simply pay attention to what's going on around you, and ride so you have time to react.

I used my M/C to commute daily in the LA/Orange County area with not even a close call. That was for well over 100,000 miles.

Ride safely and have fun!

I loves me some bike!

I got a 250 ninja and I can't figure out how I lived without her before. I've been to Deal's Gap, made the killboy home page, done all my own maintenance (except changing tires), and used up some gear :). Cheap to insure ($175 a year) and the only expensive PM (if you can do your own valves) is new tires. There's not a whole lot of 16s to choose from, so a new set is anywhere from $150 to $250. I think my next set will be Avon touring tires (AM51/52). If I had enough money to get a car, I'd just get another bike instead :D. I like the look of the older sportbikes, but I'd want to have more than one for reliability purposes.

Get some overpants and a vented textile jacket with a removable liner. Great temperature range. I'm turning into a complete gear *****, think my next purchase will be a 2pc perf. suit. I'm gonna save the pics for the moto forum :p. Brocktoncycle.com and ironpony.com might as well just get my checks via direct deposit.

My helmet is yellow, my bike will soon be yellow, and I'm putting SOLAS tape on all my gear. Once the bike's completely repainted I'm getting some sweet reflective decals from streetglo.net (might even visit in person, they sound awesome and the prices are very reasonable) Can't be too visible.

Danno: I get mid-60s MPG with the scoot.

Forgot: the hardest part of the bicycle to moto transition is the different leaning techniques in the corners. A few more visits to the mountains and I should have that covered. Just gotta get my lazy butt out of the saddle.

You know, you could just buy a faster bike. :D

No! Don't you encourage me to get a CBR too! Mmmmm CBRRRRRRRRR

Hey pup...

Looks like you opened up a can of worms with a simple question...

I have a Bike, 04 FatBoy Harley. I also have a Big Arse SUV, full size Bronco. I can't remember starting the Bronco. The Harley has sat for more then 10 months now, I am close to my personnal Goal of Commuting for 1 full year!

Been telling the guys at work, I will sell the Bronco and ride the Harley from time to time, but most times I will ride my Commuter Bicycle. I am already looking into buying a 3rd Bicycle for commuting.

The bicycle I use now for commuting is a Trek MTB. The next bicycle will have Skinny Tires for these old bones!

Ride the Motorcycle for nice days, and when the weather gets BAD, Ride your Bicycle!

I am close to my personnal Goal of Commuting for 1 full year!
Good job, Walkafire (especially considering Colorado winters). I'm actually going to start commuting via bicycle soon. The only thing I'll lack after some parts come in the mail this week will be something to carry all my crap in.

That's partially the reason (aside from finances) why I'm considering getting a motorcycle as my only other means of transportation. If I can do it by bike then I can do it by motorcycle, too. Especially considering that sometimes I'm just not going to want to bike some places, my brother's house for example. It's about an hour and a half one way by bike and that's just not feasible for my schedule.

Only real problem is that I've never driven a motorcycle. That and resistance from the family are the main things that are holding me back. Weather, not so much. I'm still young and can handle it for a year or two until my money situation smooths out.

Good job, Walkafire (especially considering Colorado winters). I'm actually going to start commuting via bicycle soon. The only thing I'll lack after some parts come in the mail this week will be something to carry all my crap in.

That's partially the reason (aside from finances) why I'm considering getting a motorcycle as my only other means of transportation. If I can do it by bike then I can do it by motorcycle, too. Especially considering that sometimes I'm just not going to want to bike some places, my brother's house for example. It's about an hour and a half one way by bike and that's just not feasible for my schedule.

Only real problem is that I've never driven a motorcycle. That and resistance from the family are the main things that are holding me back. Weather, not so much. I'm still young and can handle it for a year or two until my money situation smooths out.


Before you drop the coin on a bike and gear 'pup, why not take a Motorcycle Safety Foundation (http://www.msf-usa.org/) Basic Rider Course? This will give you the information you NEED to effectively and safely ride a motorcycle in just about any situation. In most cases, you can use their bike and gear. Should you then decide to get a bike and ride it for a couple of years you can look in to taking a C.L.A.S.S (http://www.classrides.com/) run by Reg Pridmore. This is just too much fun on two wheels! I've don it once at the Pocono PA track and twice at the old Loudon, NH before it went under the N.H.I.S. plow. In any case, I'd reccommend you get Keith Code's ~ A Twist of The Wrist video. It's a bit dated (and corn-ballish)... 1980's era, but still lots of good relevant information.

+1 for MSF. I think I'm going to take the advanced course next November (only offered 2x a year) and then do track school in a few years.

You'll be a natural if you have lots of bicycle experience and a good head. I was very concerned because I'd never owned a car (asked the instructors to be painfully honest if they thought I shouldn't be on the street), but I ended up being the second best on the range test and the instructors at one point asked me if I was sure I'd never ridden a motorcycle. When I went to deal's gap I was able to keep up well enough to not embarass myself and even made the killboy homepage.

Hey Pup,

Your situation is excactly why i got a bike. I used to ride years ago until a high speed lowside had me stopping for awhile. Now that im older and wiser, i figure i can handle it. I got a Ninja 250 used off ebay, rode it for awhile out grew it and bought a Ducati Monster 620 and sold the Ninja. The downside is around the same time i bought the Ducati, I had to buy a new car too. A Jetta TDI. Guess which get the better gas mileage? The car does. Oy!

Motorcycles are teh sux0r. Takes sooooooo much longer to recover from a motorcycle crash then a bicycle crash. I got a wild hare up my ass and was pondering about it this morning but thinking about wet roads and people not seeing me and taking a corner too fast sent shudders and visions of immense pain to every part of my body that has taken pain from my cycling accidents.

the best way to learn is:

MSF course
Keith Code books
Track Days

motorcycle skills when done with learning in mind
will make you a faster and better cyclist. your cornering
speed will go up. that is, IF you have a decent street
motorcycle, read and learn the Keith Code books, and
apply what you learn to everyday motorcycling.

it takes work, but it will -always- enhance your bicycle
ability road or dirt. your reaction time to any 2-wheeled
dynamic will increase and that makes your biking ability better

Sissy :lol:

who?

who?
you

Sissy :lol:
+1

If you wear the gear and follow the speed limits it's better than a bicycle. You can usually see it coming and have time to slow down before you get off. Left turning cars are the biggest concern.

Mountain biking is the worst I have ever hurt myself.

Sissy :lol:


No, you mean Pansy.

Get a good SNELL APPROVED helmet (not just a DOT cert one) and a modest amount of protection. Find a good used UJM like a mid-generation Honda Nighthawk -- they are an excellent size: not too large for starting out but large enough to use on the highway. Plus, they have a good seating position: slight lean without the crrotch-rocket crouch. Then, as other people have said, take a course. Good luck!

Those Nighthawks look pretty damn nice.

Quick and dumb question: Do any of these organizations offer courses where I can borrow/rent a motorcycle so I can learn how to ride one before I lay down my hard earned cash and buy one?

Also, for you apartment dwellers, how do you park/store your bike? I don't have any place that's covered to put one. I do have a gate around my apartment building I can probably keep it in, after getting permission from my landlord.

Thanks.

I have never heard of a "loaner bike" for a MSF Course....
Ask around for a friend?
You will find that a motorcycle is quite easy, after you have been on a bicycle... you will be in the "lap of luxury" (you can go further LOL)

AS far as an apartment dweller... been about 30 years or so since I had an apartment, Chain it up and get a Cover... will work fine.

When I took the basic M/C safety course, they provided the motorcycles. They are around 250-350 in size.

For the advanced class, ya run what ya brung.

They provide a bike for the basic MSF course.

I got a 125 eliminator. That thing made my butt SO much sorer than the ninja ever has.

I'm scared to buy a motorcycle, because I might like it too much and stop riding my bike.

The bicycle is still better for short (<16 mile RT) trips for me. Putting the gear on is enough of a hassle to keep me bicycling around town, and the longer fitness rides are relaxing in a different sort of way than the scoot.

I'm scared to buy a motorcycle, because I might like it too much and stop riding my bike.

I have more bike miles than moto miles so far this year. Once I got past the obsession to ride every waking minute of the day, life returned to normal.

The bicycle is still better for short (<16 mile RT) trips for me. Putting the gear on is enough of a hassle to keep me bicycling around town, and the longer fitness rides are relaxing in a different sort of way than the scoot.
Do you put on your leathers every time you get on the motorcycle?

Yup, I always wear full gear. Having overpants makes it easier than you would think, but still takes enough time that the bicycle is best for short trips, and the parking is better too.

Yup, I always wear full gear. Having overpants makes it easier than you would think, but still takes enough time that the bicycle is best for short trips, and the parking is better too.
I'm assuming overpants are protective clothing you can wear "over" your "pants" (hey, I'm slow)?

They zip up the side like chaps, only they protect your butt from road burn too. When I fell off my butt would have been toast in chaps and jeans. The stitching for the rear pocket cover got worn off and there were a few tiny holes in the ballistic fabric.

Yup, I always wear full gear. Having overpants makes it easier than you would think, but still takes enough time that the bicycle is best for short trips, and the parking is better too.

+1.

Where i live there is no such thing as a short trip. The bicycle is training and racing only. I always gear up for the moto. I like my textiles for commuting and long trips. The leathers I like for tearing up the local twistys. I like the textiles for commuting because i can wear my office clothes under the gear.