So I think I want a bike. . . .

[slateman]

Hey guys (and girls and . . .undecideds )

I kow we have some guys who are into motorcycycles. Well my friend got one and I'm sort of likin the idea too. They're fun, they get great gas milage apparantly, and chicks dig them That and the fact that some guy gut a 205 MPH ticket riiding one Yea, I know, you'll poke your eye out kid

So here's what I know

They're not the safest things in the world.
I need a helmet
I want the crotch rocket I've actually ridden on a Harley and rode one a little (in a kind of controled, not able to destory anything except myself, environment ) It just seemed uncomfortable to me. My hands always seemed to high. Maybe its the way I ride my bicycle - always leaning forward to get more speed.

I'm gonna talk to my friend but I wanted to know any other info you can give me. Whats a good bike to start out with? Whats my insurance hike gonna be? What's maintance like

I have a car so I could ride just when I wanted to/ it won't rain.

Thanks for the info.

[slade]

hmm, i may be interested in info on this too... im interested in motorcycles, but my dad says i cant get a permit until im 18 and have my drivers liscence (currently 16). im also interested in the crotch rocket style .

[i_baked_cookies]

yea... considering crotch rockets are pretty cheap compared to cars, and they are like 40 times as fast... i was looking to get one maybe after college, or during if the big bucks roll in. if i get a car for a high school graduation present, then ill most probably save up some money to get a nice honda crotch rocket so i can kill myself before i finish college.

[CaptaiN_JacK]

Crotch rockets are cool, but just watch out, dangerous driving behaviour generally sets in after a couple of months. I saw a guy on a crotch rocket pass a van in a 55 mph zone doing a wheelie! What a moron....

A helmet is a great thing to have, but it gets annoying really fast. You have to carry it with you into stores, it's cumbersome to carry around, etc. Just check to see what your states hemlet laws are, some states require them, some don't.

[teufelhunden]

Starter bike: R6. Nothing really beats it, IMO. Quick, light, handles.. sexy!

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/products/unitinfo/2/mcy/5/8/yamaha_yzf-r6.aspx

[CasingBill]

Dude.....start small on a used bike. Nothing more than a 600. You would be better served just to get some old beater bike and ride it for a year and then move up. Even a 600 is wicked fast.

[BlackWeenie]

first and foremost, the reason for motorcycling is: chicks. secondly: to go fast. for a starters bike i would recommend any brand- 600cc. this way, you wont get nailed on insurance (here anyways, if you have anything larger than 750cc it costs more), and it'll still be hella fast.

dont listen to captain_jack... always wear a helmet. you WILL die in a crash without one, if you do wear a helmet and are involved in a collision, only the rest of your body will get mangled . you dont have to carry it into stores with you, all bikes have helmet locks on them. also- it would just look odd if you had no helmet and were riding a crotch rocket, not to mention the incredible pain of taking bugs in the face at 140mph. ouch.

[slade]

wait... wasnt captain jack in a fairly large car accident at one point?? youd think hed be more precautious after that... or am i thinking of someone else on ao?

[ASDadam]

Here's the reality, if you get a crotch rocket there is a GOOOD chance you'll drop it, set it down, or find a way to lay it on its side at one point or another. So get a USED bike. Get one in good running condition, bring a friend with you who knows bikes. Second, don't get anything above 750cc's. They are incredibly fast so no need to kill yourself off the bat. Third take your time, if you get the bike spend a full day or acouple of days in the driveway learning the clutch and doing simple circles. This way you can figure out how to accelerate from a stop then later on shift into 2nd or higher gears. This will save you alot of trouble.

Insurance if you have a clean record like me is dirt cheap, i've got a 750 and its only 140 a year with raised premiums. If you're getting a bike for speed and chicks make sure you have a good life insurance policy as i'm sure you'll do some stupid tricks and show offs and we'll see you six feet under. Just be careful and smart when getting a bike, remember its not a car this thing can kill you faster than you can blink.

[BlackWeenie]

Here's the reality, if you get a crotch rocket there is a GOOOD chance you'll drop it, set it down, or find a way to lay it on its side at one point or another. So get a USED bike. Get one in good running condition, bring a friend with you who knows bikes. Second, don't get anything above 750cc's. They are incredibly fast so no need to kill yourself off the bat. Third take your time, if you get the bike spend a full day or acouple of days in the driveway learning the clutch and doing simple circles. This way you can figure out how to accelerate from a stop then later on shift into 2nd or higher gears. This will save you alot of trouble.

Insurance if you have a clean record like me is dirt cheap, i've got a 750 and its only 140 a year with raised premiums. If you're getting a bike for speed and chicks make sure you have a good life insurance policy as i'm sure you'll do some stupid tricks and show offs and we'll see you six feet under. Just be careful and smart when getting a bike, remember its not a car this thing can kill you faster than you can blink.

agreed. except for the chicks and speed part

[slateman]

THanks for the info. Definitely gonna check with my friend. When you say practice, should I maybe find an empty parking lot instead? My driveway always has like 3 cars in it

Two things: I'm 21 and I don't have any tickets or accidents. And its gotta seat two people. My GF would kick my *** if I got a bike and she couldn't ride with me. Obviously I'd have to wait till I got used to it before I'd take her on but once I did . . . .

[gc82000]

Ok most bikes come with two seats, so that would not be an issue. As for a specific bike I would say a R6 by Yamaha, looks nice, easy ride, handles pretty smooth, fairly cheap, and its is a Yamaha a toyota on two wheels. As for a class try to stick lower then 600cc You will still go fast, I hit 132 in a mile stretch, dont reccomend you do that.

What else you need a helmet, dont listen to anyone else get one. You would not play PB with out a mask, so dont ride without a helmet. A closed face helmet is what you should get, make sure it goes below your chin.
Second a jacket. I dont know about you but I like the usse of both arms. What about you?

Also gloves, pants and boots in that order. They are not necesary to ride but they make crashing that much softer.

I myself do not have a bike but I have ridden many of my friends rides. I have rode a R6, R1, hondas CRX, and Suzukis GSR, and GXR (the king of all bikes). But I want a Ducatti 996 myself. I think there is a factory in Texas that sells them off the line.

[slateman]

OH yea, I'm DEFINETLY getting a helmet. ANy idea how much a decent used 600cc should run me? ANd what kind of maintance is there on a bike?

[steveo356]

I my self have 2 road legal motor cycles and a pair of dirtbikes and ill tell you right now a helmet is the most useful piece of equipment ever invented. im 16 an have riden since i was 11 and i can safly tell you i woul have mangled myself sevral tie is if werent for my helmet. one time including my dirtbike kicking otu from under me, fliping up n hiting me squarly on the top of the head i mean i was out cold for a couple hours but it could ahve been worse. my road bikes ia have a custom frame with a harly motor. and a old honda night hawk 750cc im thinking about getting rid of.

so things ull need
**HELMET** good one mine set me back 2or 300 dollars
cheapy bike to get you started my first was an 80 cc yamaha 2 stroke
other riding gear altho optional youl be realy glad youhad because road rash sux and gets infected realy easy

maintence kinda like a car gas oil TIREs(important one messes up when you got 2 ur gonna have problems) ive seen 600s and the liek for 650 750 on the side of the road

[luke]

Want the roar of a Harley but in a diffrent package, check this out >

http://www.customchrome.com/hr3v.html

I'm going to build the Hard Core 2 here pretty soon.