Looking to break out from car scene., gotta question. Options

[LimitedEdition6g]

Hey guys, upon recent events in my life, I'm thinking of exciting from cars, and going into...you guessed it..motorcycles (not ford trucks like some people I know). anyways I'm looking to possibly get rid of my car (which I still owe on) for a small truck, or car, and a starting street bike, 600-750 cc. What would possibly be the easiest way to go about this? buying, scouting, insurance? etc???

[IdiotStick]

IMO take a few hundred bucks and take a bike course in the spring. They supply you with a bike (Usually under 600cc's) for the course and you learn on their bike. This way you find out if its actually something you can/will be able to, do

[GriffGirl]

^ Great advice!

[SlickRick]

yep $230 and u get to crash a 250cc bike all u want! no u most likely will not go down durring the class. but depending oh how the weather is in your area u very well may not get in a car but 1-2 times a months. i just got into the bike scene in july and i have 8.5k miles on my 07 cbr 600rr, u will not reget it. but how old are you? and dont get anything bigger then a 600cc to start, and hey sit on all kinda bikes, u may very well like the way other "standard" bikes feel. and if u take an approved basic riders course it will wave the riding portion of your M-1 license requirement. good luck and go for it man!

[Harold_Fastwaker]

Words of advice.

Never ride beside a car for too long.
Never sit in a blind spot.
Always watch out for everyone else.
Don't be a dumbass rider.
Bikes are easy to wind out, its rather easy to find yourself going 20 or 30 over the speed limit without trying.



I suggest taking a class with the bike they give you. Then go to DMV for your license. I also suggest taking a more advanced course, be it on a track or parking lot. Class time helps out alot, and a beginner race class will help you understand far more about how your bike reacts to input.

This post has been edited by Harold_Fastwaker: Oct 30, 2007 - 3:56 PM

[jason]

great advice... also to have the most fun if you can afford it find a beater bike to "push" so if you dump it its not like losing your 8k superbike

and liek said... look out for everyone else because 90% of drivers arent looking out for you as they are swerving around

[SlickRick]

yeah all good points guys, soak up as much knowledge as u can and read some books, there are some great books about surviving street riding, bcuz thats exactly what it is, survival. And rememebr u have to ride like anything that happens is your responsibility, that everyone one is out to kill you, and everyone (other motorcycles included) is gonna do the dumbest thing they can, at the most inopportune time. I mean if a car changes lanes without signaling it may not be your fualt if you get hit, but its YOUR responsibility to know thats part of riding and be ready for it. If some car crashes into you it may not be your fualt, but it may very well be your life.

[97GTinKC]

MOST Definitely take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) course. Had a co-worker just this week bought a Suzuki Bandit 1200, he already hit a deer and is now in the hospital with 2 broken arms, a broken pelvis and various other cuts etc... No question it's dangerous, I still ride anyway,,,

This is also worth reading, Came from the VROC site archives:


Buying a first bike (by GRiZ)

* Subject: Buying a first bike (by GRiZ)
* From: "Toa" <hasl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
* Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 15:21:19 -0500

This really needs to be archived. Well said GRiZ.

--
X-Archive: yes

"GRiZ" <clm701@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote on 01/23/02

My friend, sit down and let ol GRiZ share with you some basic things
I've learned over the years. I am no ways telling you what to do, but
there are few things here that will help you out as you learn to ride.

None of what I am about to tell you is carved in stone, many will have their
own way of doing things, this is just what I have learned over the years,
and I share it with you openly. I also invite anybody to correct any advice
I give to you as well. The first mark of a good teacher is not being above
correction from somebody who might know of something even better. Having an
open mind, and accepting correction is a good thing.

First since this is your first new bike, please consider buying a used older
bike. I love Kawasaki, but this is a time to give you my best advice since
you are new, and that means perhaps other types of bikes till you got some
miles under your belt. One bike I highly, and I do mean HIGHLY recommend
for new riders to learn on is the Suzuki Savage 650, or if you are smaller,
the Honda Rebel. A Vulcan 500 is also a great first bike if you can find
one used. IF you can find a used 750, that is even better. Choose a bike
by how it feels, not by how it looks. Sit on it, lean it over, see how it
feels. Put it up on the center stand or ask the sales person to hold the
bike up so you can put your feet on the controls and see how it feels. They
are there to help you.

Remember in most places you will need a bike with a 550cc engine in order to
get your class M.

Speaking again on first bikes, the Savage 650 is an easy to handle bike, and
hell I still love to ride them. It is a light bike that won't overwhelm
you, and has enough power to handle highway speeds. Since its engine is
650cc, you can get your class M license on it, and with that later you can
ride bigger bikes. IF YOU FIND A USED SAVAGE BUY IT!!! That is one of the

very best bikes to learn on that I know.

START SMALL, work you way up. Don't make the mistake of getting a full
powered cruiser at first. Try the Honda Rebel as well. It is even smaller
than the Savage, and it actually a kids bike, so if you are a bigger man, it
may not be an option for you. There is no shame in starting small, it is
smart, and learning the basics like how to stop, is the foundation of good
riding skills that will save your ass later.

As a new rider you will most likely lay your bike down a few times or just
lose your balance a few times just putting the kickstand down. This is a
fact of life, and it will happen. We all have been there. Laying a brand
new bike down is something I don't want you to have to suffer through. It
is one of the few things that will bring tears to the eyes of even the
biggest knuckle draggin VROCer.

I once watched a Captain from Minot AFB here buy his first bike, a full
dress Harley, a real "Purdy" bike. We were all there patting him on his
back as he fired it up for the first time, and rode it right smack dab into
a muddy ditch bending the front forks, and bending the handle bars, and
busting the left turn signal. NOT GOOD. Took 6 men and rope to pull that
brand new bike out of that swampy, nasty mud. The poor guy I think just
wanted to die.

Once again..Get yourself a used bike, and don't get into a rush, take your
time. Better yet if you can get a bike that has already been laid down and
has some bumps and scrapes all the better. There are many things that you
will have to learn by doing and feeling. We could all sit down and tell you
everything we know, but the fact is that some of it you will only be able to
learn by
doing.

Get a helmet, and some soft gloves. Road rash (Scraped) hands when you fall
over in your driveway, hurts. There is no shame in laying your bike down,
but not wearing gloves or bumping your head for lack of a helmet is
something you don't want to know about. Wear your helmet for now as you
learn, riding without one is a choice only you can make for yourself later.

Where do you live? I'm sure there are some rode bros who'll be more than
happy to meet with you, watch over your shoulder a bit, and help you out.

Ok, just a few basics to think about as you learn. (PRINT THESE OUT)

Learn to stop using both your front and rear brakes. Practice till it is
second nature to use them both. Many people only use the rear brake.
MOST of your stopping power comes from your front brake.

When coming to an intersection, ALWAYS Watch the tires not the eyes of the
driver. Tires will never lie to you, but people will look you in the eye,
smile, even wave and pull right out in front of you. If you are watching
the tires, and they start to move, you can try to stop or get out of the way
even if you do have the right of way. You and your bike won't win that
argument even if it is with a Yugo. Always yield to cars no matter what.
Best to yield to the cager (Term used for cars and all other vehicles) than
to spend six weeks in a itchy, hot, body cast.

FIND AND LEARN TO USE YOUR KILL SWITCH.
FACT..YOU WILL lay your bike down someday, and it
will still be running, and if it lays on its right side, it could be laying
on your throttle, and your rear wheel will be spinning under power, and your
leg, foot, hand, clothing could get caught, and that would be bad. If you
panic and don't know how to shut it down, you could be in hurting status.
IT happens, happened to me, and being able to find that kill switch, and
know where it is by instinct/second nature could be the key from keeping you from
being hurt, injured or maimed. EVERY OTHER TIME YOU PARK YOUR BIKE, STOP
THE ENGINE BY USE OF THE KILL SWITCH. Till you are sure you know where it is,
and can get to it in a emergency or panic situation.

SAME THING for your fuel cut off valve, usually located on the left hand
side of all bikes. Learn where that is as well just in case.

LEARN TO CORRECTLY GRAB YOUR CLUTCH LEVER AND BRAKE LEVER WHEN STOPPING.
One thing I have seen new riders get themselves into trouble with is trying
pull their brake lever to stop and accidentally rolling the throttle as
well, and having the bike get away from them cause they had a death grip on
the throttle while at the same time trying to stop. IF YOU LEARN to always
grab your clutch lever (THIS IS THE LEVER ON YOUR LEFT) which disconnects
the power to your rear wheel, even if you do grab the throttle wrong, and
REV the engine you will still be able to stop. PRACTICE THIS, till it is
second nature at each stop. This is the only way you can stop, but learn to
grab that clutch if you also accidentally grab your throttle and brake while
trying to stop. The engine will REV, but your bike won't get away from you,
and you'll learn after a few times to get it right. IF you panic, remember
to hit the kill switch. If you lost your nerve, just walk your bike over to
the curb, and relax a bit before you ride back out into traffic.

Wearing gloves that are too thick can cause you to do this, thin, soft deer
skin gloves are best to start with. Sure they may be thin, but something is
better than nothing. Once you got the feel on how to stop correctly without
doing this, you may look into thicker riding gloves.

STOPPING at a light or stop sign.
As you approach the stop, shift down through your gears as your lower your
speed, and be in 1st when you reach the stop, and remain in gear, while
holding in your clutch lever. WATCH your rear mirrors and be ready to get
out of the way of the soccer mom coming up behind you in the minivan on her
cell phone who doesn't see you there, and will hit you if you don't move out
of the way. You can also just hold in your clutch and apply your brakes to
slow down while you toe down through the gears.

DON'T RIDE IN PEOPLES BLIND SPOTS
Ride behind or in front of other cars when possible. Avoid riding along
side of any vehicle. Try not to ride in the center where all the oil is,
ride on either the right or the left side of the lane depending on traffic.
There is a correct lane to ride in according to the books, but I ride in
what ever lane that allows me to be seen the best in.

KNOW YOUR BIKE, AND KNOW YOUR LIMITS.
Don't plan a 500 mile ride the day you buy your bike. Just take it easy.
Fart around on some back streets,and just get to learn the feel and balance
of your bike. Play, have fun, learn. If you are tired, or not fully alert,
ill or
anything else that may lesson your reflexes, and senses, don't ride.

* * * GO WATCH OTHER TAKING THEIR TESTS.* * *
Find your local DMV, and ask when they will be testing bikers. Drive up
there in your car, sit down, and watch. Listen to what is being said, see
what is required to pass that test. Later, you can ride up there and get in
some practice yourself. Learn to turn in that box from the left as well as
the right. Don't make it a habit to only turn in one direction, you have to
be able to turn both ways. Watch the other tests as well, and take your
time, walk through them, and practice.
KNOWING THE BASICS WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE!!!

RIDING A MOTORCYCLE IS A DEADLY, DANGEROUS, HAZARDOUS HOBBY.
Remember this. You have to ride like you life depends on it cause it does.
People in cars can't see you, and you have to ride with the mindset that you
are invisible. Get into this frame of mind, it will SAVE YOUR LIFE. WEAR A
HELMET, GLOVES, as a minimum. If you have an open face helmet, get yourself
some eye protection as well. Sand or a bug hitting your eyeball at 65 mph
hurts like mutha!!

TAKE A MOTORCYCLE SAFETY COURSE
There isn't anything more important that this. You will learn more here
than anyplace else. Even seasoned riders with many years and miles under
their belts come away from these courses learning many new things that WILL
SAVE YOUR LIFE!!

ASK QUESTIONS HERE... You are in the right place to learn and find out
things. There is a lot of wisdom here, and some good bull**** as well. I'm
always good for a little of that myself. But ask if you have a question,
and somebody will more than likely know the answer or correct a wrong
answer.

FINAL BITS OF WISDOM
Never tail gate a truck hauling bee hives.
Go easy on your front brake on dirt roads, fresh or hot tar/blacktop and
grass.
Wear a helmet, soft gloves, jacket, and leather chaps & boots.
Get to know your bike, your life will depend on it.

* * * WHEN parking your bike on hot days on pavement, put a coaster under
your kickstand so it won't sink into the asphalt, causing your bike to fall
over.

Sign your organ donor card.
Have a will made, and make sure loved ones and friends know where it is, and
what your last wishes would be if you were to be seriously injured, and
better yet have that in your will.
Have plenty of insurance.
Always carry a cell phone on any trip further than you can push your bike
back from, and find out who can tow a bike, and have that number on you, and
a charge card..

Riding over metal bridges that have grates in them will make your bike feel
like it is snaking under you. Relax, this is normal, but can be nerve
racking to the new rider. Ease off the throttle a bit, don't grab your
brakes hard if you need to slow down.

Extra credit...
Learn to come to a full stop without putting your feet down, and start
again. Don't have to do that in traffic, but it is a good drill to help
improve balance.

Good luck to ya, and always ride safe.

GRiZ
===================

"nomad2" <nomad2@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:a2lji1$dom$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I have been looking to buy a Vulcan 750. Since this is my first bike
purchase, I was wondering, just how much room should there be to negotiate
off sticker price? Is buying a motorcycle like buying a car? I've believe
retail list on the 2002 model is 6099.00. I have a deal with a local dealer
for 5800.00, then just add the local sales tax. This is a little more than
I had budgeted for my first bike, but I just can't get the image of this
thing out of my head. I was hoping one of you experienced buyers could pass
alone a little advice. Thanks, Rick

[xs94st]

whoa nice find GT, helps out a lot cuz i've been wanting to get a bike for a while now..hopefully an old school bike..maybe yamaha i jus wanna ride for fun