Any Motorcyclists? I'm a noob...

scottspfd82

scottspfd82

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Dec 29, 2006
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Okay...

When I was younger I lived in the country, rode dirt bikes, etc...

And had my fair share of close calls, this was as a teenager though, never any serious injuries.

In adulthood I've always wanted a nice bike. The other day I buy a 600cc Ninja (crotch rocket) sort of on an impulse. I'm kind of an adrenaline junkie, and even though I'm taking it *very* slow and carefully I really get off on riding.

I was doing some research on statistics today, wrecks, deaths... It's pretty fucking scary.

It seems like basically everyone who rides a bike *will* wreck it at some point.

I've taken the training course and I'm licensed. I'm NOT experienced but I'm probably as cautious as they come. Right now I'm just driving it on back roads with no traffic, getting the "feel" for it, etc...

I wear all safety gear, I'm not out to bust wheelies in rush hour or hit 200mph on the highway.

I assume people don't see me. I slow down at intersections. If there's a hint of danger I react defensively to it.

In the first day just riding on back roads I had a dog run right out in front of me, had to swerve pretty wide but missed him, sort of lost control for a sec but ended up riding through it just fine.

I totally get that it's dangerous. I get that no matter how cautious I am, I have to worry about other idiots killing me too.

I'm not going to ride on busy streets or highways until controlling it is second nature to me.

Anyway, I was wondering if any of you guys ride?

I'm sure you're well aware of the risk. As well as the pure feeling of awesomeness that only riding can give you.

I'm almost considering selling the bike. Parents/friends/etc all think it's a suicide mission.

At the same time, I think I'm smart enough to handle *most* situations, and if someone else slams into me, I'll be as prepared as I can be.

I guess I'm just looking for some experiences and feedback here.

I don't want to die young. At the same time I want to live life, and (in my limited experience) riding makes me feel VERY alive.

Do you ride?

How long?

Any horror stories?

Any advice?

Much appreciated.

-Scott

P.S. I'm asking here because if any of you guys do ride we probably have a similar mindset. I respect its power and the dangers around me at all times. I'm fully aware of the dangers and how cautious I need to be. Would love some tips from like-minded marketers. Even if the tip is "sell it and move on before you kill yourself"...
 


A guy on another forum told me that going 600cc for my first bike is like a pilot trying to start learning on an F-15 instead of a Cessna...

But in all honesty I respect the power. I have a realistic sense of the danger. I don't go full throttle on it. Definitely way more than I need for a starter bike, but it was a good deal, it looks cool, it's fun to ride, I can keep it under control and as I gain experience I can start taking more advantage of what it can do...

Ugh. It's a weird spot. I want to go drive the fucking thing right now like a fat kid wants cake, but at the same time I am concerned about, ya know, not dying and stuff.
 
I HAD a 750R Kawasaki Ninja while in college. I was pretty dumb...wheelies, indo's, taking turns too fast. That much power, it was VERY easy to flick the wrist and take off.

One day I took a turn to fast, hit the center divider, flew between trees 120 feet onto on coming traffic. I ran track & field in college and it was a miracle that I only sat out for a month. I ended up with a concussion, hairline fractured fibula, and a cane for a while.

I just remember thinking as I approached the center divider (which was only a curb with a bunch of trees and flowers), "I'll get on my pegs and ride this puppy over." At 55 mph, the front tire hit, snapped the forks in half and shot me flying.

Since all i really remember is getting ready to hit the curb, I don't remember hitting the ground. It's been about 8 years and I want to get another bike, but i just don't trust myself on a crotch rocker yet...i'll have to get something that's more "conservative."
 
I bought a R6 last summer and I know what you mean. It was the first bike I'd ridden in probably 7 years. The first week it scared me to death and I was questioning whether I should of even bought it. I ended up putting ~7k miles on it over the summer and honestly now it's my favorite thing in the world to do. Just be careful and take your time, you'll get more comfortable and confident but try not to get too comfortable.

You sound really cautious which is great (that's how I was/am). I just watched A Twist of the Wrist II - [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Twist-Wrist-II-Keith-Code/dp/B002ZVAUW0"]A Twist of the Wrist II - Keith Code[/ame] and it's AWESOME. I learned so much it's amazing, I really suggest you buy it. You'll be a much better rider after you watch the DVD and make an attempt to practice some of the "techniques".

One day I took a turn to fast, hit the center divider, flew between trees 120 feet onto on coming traffic. I ran track & field in college and it was a miracle that I only sat out for a month. I ended up with a concussion, hairline fractured fibula, and a cane for a while.
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I've been there before, over the summer I went to ride some canyons with some friends who were more experiences than me. I was struggling to keep up and was going really fast through some canyons and had to brake to avoid running off the road. The DVD talks about this too, when you aren't keeping your line your instinct is to brake, which straightens the bike up and makes you turn even less. Glad you made it out alright, that's the worst feeling in the world when you realize you can't make a turn and start to panic.
 
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I always had dirt bikes, mini bikes, go-karts as a kid.

My first real bike a cbr600 f4i.

Now have a gsxr and a cbr 600rr(girl rides this as her first bike).

Really, a 600 is fine as your first. Don't be so paranoid.

Just ride the damn thing. Try to have fun. Don't do stupid shit like lane splitting and riding wheelies until you feel comfortable doing that, if ever at all.
 
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I bought a R6 last summer and I know what you mean. The first week it scared me to death and I was questioning whether I should of even bought it. I ended up putting ~7k miles on it over the summer and honestly now it's my favorite thing in the world to do. Just be careful and take your time, you'll get more comfortable and confident but try not to get too comfortable.

You sound really cautious which is great (that's how I was/am). I just watched A Twist of the Wrist II - A Twist of the Wrist II - Keith Code
Amazon
and it's AWESOME. I learned so much it's amazing, I really suggest you buy it. You'll be a much better rider after you watch the DVD and make an attempt to practice some of the "techniques".
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Yeah, I get the feeling that's how I'll be. I LOVE riding the thing, even though I'm scared to death of it right now.

I'll definitely check that out.

+Rep.
 
I've been riding around 12 years. I stopped riding a lot when my daughter was born and now the bike (sv1000s) is for sale..

A 250 is more than enough to learn on. I learnt on a 250 and crashed it twice (the first was my fault). The next few bikes were 600's, crashed those around 3 times in total (none my fault - every accident was where a car turned in front of me and didn't give way).

You will crash. Lucky for me all my accidents were relatively low speed (less than 40km/hr) and I never hit anything real hard. I always wore full leathers and a helmet so I was just a bit sore for a few days.
 
You will crash.
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Man that's encouraging :)

But you're probably the 50th person to say that to me... So after the crash(es) you decided the excitement wasn't worth the risk?
 
Took a trip from BC to Ontario with my Dad. Beautiful country...

We were literally 2 hours from home, after a 6 day trip.

It started to rain pretty hard.

I suggest we pull over and put on our rain jackets. (This was a softail Harley, not much protection from the elements.)

We pull into an (invisible) foot thick bed of gravel going about 40mph. (For some reason there were no paved shoulders.)

The 1,000 pound bike just starts flying through the air. Felt like we were riding a ski-doo over waves of gravel.

We ended up on our sides (heads missed the guard rail by about a foot) - Dad with a shattered shin. Myself with a bruised kidney and pissing blood for months.

He's got a few pins in his leg now and my kidney hurts after a big night of drinking.

Bike hardly had a scratch on it. Just a few minor ones on the handlebars.

He still rides most every day though. It's either in you or it isn't.

EDIT: He then hit a deer doing about 50MPH in his home town on father's day of all days a few years later... Blacked out instantly and woke up skidding along the ground. He only had a cracked rib or two this time. (And some severe 3rd degree burns from the pavement.) Thankfully it was a fairly busy road and somebody stopped to help right away (both times).

And don't go thinking "he probably rides like an idiot". My Dad has rode for 30+ years. Most every day. He's as cautious as they come. But there is little margin for error when you're on a bike.
 
And don't go thinking "he probably rides like an idiot". My Dad has rode for 30+ years. Most every day. He's as cautious as they come. But there is little margin for error when you're on a bike.
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I wouldn't think a rider of 30 years rides like an idiot.

Kind of goes to show... This is a hobby with serious risks involved. I'm still debating whether or not I want to ride the shit out of it this week or put it on Craigslist before I end up hurting/paralyzing/killing myself.

I like to think I'm pretty intelligent. I have my life pretty much figured out. I love the idea of riding, I love the thrill of it, but I'm still debating the risks.
 
I have a Yamaha R6 and also been racing with motorcycles for 2-3 years.
What I can say about racing is that it's damn fun but extremely addictive.
Obviously it's not good for your body to crash in 170 km/h, 1-2 a week. Therefore I have quit racing but it's very good too learn how to drive.
Take it easy while riding, it's really fun going fast but when you crash it will hurt...bad.
 
I had a CBR 600RR and someone just backed there car into a busy three lane road and I had no where to go, I was doing around 70MPH at the time but probably hit the car doing 55-60mph after slamming on the brakes for around 20-30 feet.

Long story short, I flew like superman and landing on my face / chest and slid for around 40 feet.

Wearing full helmet and jacket, only injuries where being super sore for a few days and a scrape on my knee, I got ultra lucky -- the bike was totaled and this was a few years ago, I'm thinking of buying another bike soon.

BTW that bike was only 3 months old. with 5k miles on it.
 
Doesn't really matter what kind of bike you get, just take it slow and be prepared for the worst. Always wear good gear and concentrate on the road. The second that you start daydreaming or get too comfortable, you're asking for trouble.

I love riding, but it is inherently risky and when things happen, they happen really fast. When something goes wrong, it is really out of your control...
 
just remember when your getting started out there is a reason they call them "Murder Cycles"
 
posted by scotsspfd32:
Some faggot on another forum told me that going 600cc for my first bike is like a pilot trying to start learning on an F-15 instead of a Cessna...
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FTFY

Everybody on motorcycle forums says the same stupid shit about how what you really need is to start out on a Vespa or whatever. This is trickled down from conventional wisdom that Big Boy Bikes -- eg. GoldWings, Softails, Hayabusas, all the apex bikes in each class -- make terrible starter bikes because of weight, power etc.

You'll be fine on the 600, if you don't ride like a moron. All the crash prep and thought in the world will not stop you from getting blindsided by a FedEx truck, will not stop a deer running out in front of you, will not stop some idiot friend of yours from not leaning into a curve like she's supposed to etc. All it will prevent is you enjoying your ride, because every time you get on the bike you'll be more concerned about your safety than the ride.

Ride carefully and enjoy yourself. Learn how to maintain your own bike, because it's a very cool thing to sit out in your driveway fixing/tuning/tweaking and in a very difficult-to-elucidate way makes you closer to the machine. If you need riding tips get the Proficient Motorcycling books by David Hough (they are outstanding.) Stay off of forums asking for advice (a somewhat ironic piece of advice, I know) because the opinions on motorcycle forums are as varied and contradicting as they are at any other kind of specialist forum, and worth about the same.


Frank
 
And just to be clear, yes, one day you might well crash the bike. What the guys on the forums seem to forget is that the fact that death is literally at your heels when you're riding, is part of the allure of riding. I've had a couple of crashes myself, despite taking as much care as I consider reasonable. It could happen to you too -- big deal. Chicks dig scars.


F.
 
scottspfd82 said:
Man that's encouraging :)

But you're probably the 50th person to say that to me... So after the crash(es) you decided the excitement wasn't worth the risk?
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I just found that my interests and priorities changed, but that happens to me a lot. Less time and the fact that I'd prefer not to ride at all rather than only riding once or twice a month as you need to keep your skills sharp.

That, and the fact I live by myself and own/maintain 3 vehicles... one of them has to go.

I've spoken to many guys who have been riding a long time and not crashing is the exception rather than the rule. Having said that, it's still pretty damn fun and over here very convienent as you're allowed to park on the footpath and not pay for parking (and it's $4/hr in the city) so it's quite popular for commuting.
 
My doctor friends love them. They say if people stop riding motorbikes, it will cause a major drop in available organs for donation. They call 'em donor cycles.

I have a few friends who were mad into bikes.

One of them was a total lunatic, used to ride blind across junctions for a laugh, and did 120 mph in the city at night. He had several crashes, and eventually wrote his bike off when someone pulled out in front of him, but he was unharmed. I'm convinced he's like that guy from Unbreakable. He now gets his kicks paragliding instead.

Another one of them was't quite so crazy, but bought a beautiful Ducati bike. A week later, he was doing 20 miles an hour down a city street, when a car zooms past, doesn't see him, undertakes him and nearly kills him. He nearly lost his leg, and spent the next 2 years recovering. His wife made him sell it.

The problem with using bikes on a public road is that 70% of car drivers are total incompetents with very little awareness, who will just drive into you because they are busy chatting on their mobile phone, lighting a cigarette, putting their make-up on.

As Frank said, you'll probably crash, but the risk is part of the appeal. If you're cool with that, carry on, if you're not, sell it.


Oh - if you do decide to carry on, a paramedic who spends most of his life cleaning up after road traffic accidents told me the following: people who crash wearing leathers and body armour generally get a few broken bones, if they aren't going too fast, but make it in one piece. People who ride around in jeans and t-shirts lose most of their skin and organs on the road.
 
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