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  • rossdavey2rossdavey2 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 979
  • GadwinDuilGadwinDuil Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 474
  • TheedgeTheedge Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 316
    I got the bug a few years back. Having never ridden I took a safety course, and then purchased a new 1100 Shadow aero. Pretty big bike, but I didn't have any problems riding it. After about the 3rd close call with people not seeing me (the course paid off in spades) I had had enough. Dieing wasn't so much a concern, but the thought of being horibly mangled....just wasn't worth it in my book.
  • GadwinDuilGadwinDuil Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 474
    Theedge:
    I got the bug a few years back. Having never ridden I took a safety course, and then purchased a new 1100 Shadow aero. Pretty big bike, but I didn't have any problems riding it. After about the 3rd close call with people not seeing me (the course paid off in spades) I had had enough. Dieing wasn't so much a concern, but the thought of being horibly mangled....just wasn't worth it in my book.
    So... You're saying your bike is available now.... ? :-D
  • HaysHays Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 2,262
    GadwinDuil:
    Theedge:
    I got the bug a few years back. Having never ridden I took a safety course, and then purchased a new 1100 Shadow aero. Pretty big bike, but I didn't have any problems riding it. After about the 3rd close call with people not seeing me (the course paid off in spades) I had had enough. Dieing wasn't so much a concern, but the thought of being horibly mangled....just wasn't worth it in my book.
    So... You're saying your bike is available now.... ? :-D
    If so, I'll be HAPPY to take it off your hands!
  • GadwinDuilGadwinDuil Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 474
    Hays:
    GadwinDuil:
    Theedge:
    I got the bug a few years back. Having never ridden I took a safety course, and then purchased a new 1100 Shadow aero. Pretty big bike, but I didn't have any problems riding it. After about the 3rd close call with people not seeing me (the course paid off in spades) I had had enough. Dieing wasn't so much a concern, but the thought of being horibly mangled....just wasn't worth it in my book.
    So... You're saying your bike is available now.... ? :-D
    If so, I'll be HAPPY to take it off your hands!
    Ah, Hays, You're going to buy a bike for me? You're such a sweetheart <3 lol
  • TheedgeTheedge Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 316
    Hah, sorry, your a couple of years too late. Sold it on ebay.
  • nightmaremike31nightmaremike31 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 720
    I love motorcycles, but have only rode on dirtbikes. I prefer motorcycles like Old School Nortons and Triumphs, but I love bobbers and choppers. Not like the ones from Orange County Choppers or anything, not that they're bad just a little too "flashy" for my taste. I like them to have less flash and more function. I want to build my bike. Has any body ever built a motorcycle?
  • sightunseensightunseen Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 2,130
    I used to have a 2005 Yamaha R6, but alas it got stolen and I had no insurance. Quite the expensive lesson learned. I hope to eventually get another crotch rocket in a couple of years. The most useful advice I learned while riding is that you never brake while turning or you'll end up laying down your bike.
  • vegassparkyvegassparky Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 365
    you can brake in turns. just depends on your skill level, and commitment to learning. the front brake is a beautiful thing when applied properly. the best advise is there are two types of riders. those that have been down, and those that are gonna go down. if you rider over your head ," beyond your skill level ", you are gonna go down. but that is part of learning.
  • HaysHays Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 2,262
  • Joeyjoe21_8Joeyjoe21_8 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 2,048
    WTF ARE U SERIOUS HAYS! ...u can break in turn depending upon ur skill level...but NEVER EVER THE FRONT BREAK...using ur front will upright ur bike in the middle of a turn...i always used my rear break dragging the brake which helped control my turn......but its all about comfort of how good u are on the bike....took me 6 months before i touched my rear brake
  • vegassparkyvegassparky Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 365
    Joe im with Hays on this brother. sport bikes are built with using mostly front brake in mind. i have been racing off road for over twenty five years and have had my street lic. for almost twenty. i too road like an A hole. but i learned alot. and i have been down twice. i have rode with some of the best riders in the world. you wouldnt believe some of the amazing things i have seen guys do. but learning to use the front break in turns. makes guys ride alot faster and with more confidence.
  • Duder2Duder2 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 926
    vegassparky:
    Joe im with Hays on this brother. sport bikes are built with using mostly front brake in mind. i have been racing off road for over twenty five years and have had my street lic. for almost twenty. i too road like an A hole. but i learned alot. and i have been down twice. i have rode with some of the best riders in the world. you wouldnt believe some of the amazing things i have seen guys do. but learning to use the front break in turns. makes guys ride alot faster and with more confidence.
    I agree. I have been riding on the street for 14 years and have found it's all about finesse, learning gradually, and knowing the limits of your bike and yourself. I have just recently started riding sportier bikes and am slowly learning to go faster in turns which includes braking while turning. Some bikes also respond better to braking in turns than others as well. Not all bikes will just upright themselves using the front brakes, but finesse is still key.
  • GadwinDuilGadwinDuil Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 474
  • One2gofstOne2gofst Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 583
    That was a Buell Blast you rode for the class. I have no problem with an MSF graduate going bigger off the bat. Just understand that displacement doesn't equate directly with power. What I mean is that that Blast had around 35 HP. if you jump on a sportbike with "just 100 more cc" it will have well over 100 HP. Best of luck with whatever you go for.
  • Amos UmwhatAmos Umwhat Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 2,523
    Welcome to motorcycles! Looks like you're going about things in a good practical way, I'd recommend taking the advanced course as soon as you've been up and going for a few months. Give serious consideration to what you want from your motorcycle. My current ride is an HD Electra-Glide, I'm into comfort and touring, torque is more important than HP to me. I've ridden through most of the US and a fair part of Europe, Army made me take the schools everywhere I was stationed, learned something every time. Honda has recently started selling a 700cc bike that is a great general all-around commuter, it's been selling them in Europe for years as the "Deauville". Two publications you need to consider subscribing to are Rider Magazine, and Motorcycle Consumer News. Adult content, honest reviews, and expert safety advice in every issue of both. Probably the two most important pieces of advice: Ride your own ride, meaning don't try to keep up with people who are out-riding you either due to experience or insanity, and safety gear can mean the difference between getting up and brushing yourself off, and spending weeks having someone scrub your scabs off daily, while your broken bones mend. 15 years experience as an RN in Emergency and Critical Care speaking, and somewhere near 300,000 miles on two wheels. Not to scare you out of anything, EVERYTHING in life is a calculated risk, just do your homework when calculating.
  • GadwinDuilGadwinDuil Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 474
  • Amos UmwhatAmos Umwhat Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 2,523
    One2gofst:
    I would recommend taking a look at used SV650s. They are a little more than you are looking for. That said, they are great bikes. They are easy enough for a beginner, but still entertaining once your skills improve. Kudos for taking the MSF course. I took it and can not say enough good things about it. There are some things I disagree with that they teach, but nothing they teach you will get you hurt, which is more than I can say sometimes from learning from a buddy. Keep the shiny side up and sticky side down ;)
    He Gadwin, I gotta agree with One2gofst, This is about the perfect all-around bike for the beginner, or even for the seasoned vet. I know a guy with a 20 year old Concours that he still tours on, but he got one of these just because...
  • Duder2Duder2 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 926
    GadwinDuil:
    One2gofst:
    Just understand that displacement doesn't equate directly with power. What I mean is that that Blast had around 35 HP. if you jump on a sportbike with "just 100 more cc" it will have well over 100 HP.
    Could you explain to me a bit more what you mean about Horse power? Like why would a sports bike with 100cc more have 3 times the HP? Is is just because it's a sports bike whereas a Buell is a standard bike? Do Sports bikes generally have significantly more horse power?
    This is a very complicated subject to say the least. To really explain it would be a rather large book worth of info, but in short yes. Modern sport bikes are cutting edge technology that make incredible power and are basically street legal race bikes. A modern 600 will rev to 16,000 RPM and makes 100+ horsepower. The Blast is relatively antiquated technology in comparison (not that it's bad, just different). If you're planning on spending $1500-ish, a 100 hp bike is out of the question anyway, so no worries.
  • One2gofstOne2gofst Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 583
    Lots of reasons why, more efficient design, 4 cylinder engine vs. a thumper, liquid cooled vs. air cooled, higher redline. The list goes on and on. It's apples and baseballs. Kind of like how a 2.4L F1 engine can produce so much more HP than the 2.3L Mazda 3 engine if it is only 100cc larger. ;)
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