The New pit for my money....

[VetteMuscle427]

Well guys... being BDCP I have had alot of money to blow on nothing... throughout the school year it was beer, girls and skydiving. I turned 21 and took up firearms.... which I thought would be my hobby. But... today... today I rode a motorcycle for the first time... WOW. I need one.... I must have one. I know some guys on here ride too... when did you guys start? Any advice for a new guy? I think I'm hooked, and I only have ridden a few hours...

 

[Brett327]

Cruiser or crotch-rocket?

Brett

 

[Clux4]

Start with something light, something with a small engine then graduate to the big bikes. Fine-tune your riding before you get the expensive bikes, get a used one to start. Wear a helmet! Remember that only riders like yourself care for other riders. In short most people do not like motorcycle riders or should I say are not too observant.

 

[jmac12]

Just started riding when I got to the rag. To and from work...gas prices are a lot better than the big truck. Start with something small. I bought mine used for 3,000, and it had a little over 10,000 miles on it. I would never own a crotch rocket, but if thats what your into, good luck, and be safe. It is a lot of fun.

 

[T-man]

a few points of advice:

1) Take a safety course and get certified before owning a bike. Most independant safety courses will provide you with a bike to ride for the course.

2) keep your head screwed on straight at all times while riding.

3) always always ALWAYS wear protection.

4) drive like no one sees you.

5) buy a used bike first, and lower end CC - I wouldn't go above 600cc. enough power to be fun, but not too overpowering as a starter.

6) as a general rule for your first bike, it's not a matter of if you wreck it so much as when... this is why I say buy used for your first, and possibly your second.

attached are before/after pictures of my bike - laid it down in a corner due to gravel from a driveway in the corner.

And here is what I wouldn't mind having eventually...
http://www.apriliausa.com/models03/road/eng/modello.phtml?id=55

 

[squeeze]

take an MSF course (www.msf-usa.org), start on something like an older 600 F3 or F4 (sportbike-wise), wear your frickin gear (helmet, gloves, jacket, boots)

don't follow that advice and throw your bike around a curve or flip it and hurt yourself, and yes, you will be laughed at for stupidity. bikes are great darwinizing vehicles, so don't be stupid.

 

[VetteMuscle427]

Cruiser or crotch-rocket?

Brett

'86 Honda 450. All of the MSF courses in my area are full up, they usually fill a year in advance. I was planning on getting my learners and taking the test with my friends bike.

 

[DanMa1156]

Besides all the safety you should already know about (helmet especially) don't get like a flamboyant looking bike and a matching leather suit with chaps and jacket. I've seen some guys that ride up and down my streets on these white and green crotch rockets and they have the matching clothes to go with it, and it just looks like some flametastic clan.

 

[RevnR6]

Besides all the safety you should already know about (helmet especially) don't get like a flamboyant looking bike and a matching leather suit with chaps and jacket.

While it is good not to look too Ghey, those people with the matching leather and all that are at least riding with gear. It is better to look Ghey with gear than look "cool" with road rash over every part of your body.

 

[Fly Navy]

SIn short most people do not like motorcycle riders or should I say are not too observant.

I always give motorcycle riders plenty of room and I take notice of them. A lot of my friends ride, so I understand it. But that being said, there are plenty of DOUCHEBAG riders, mostly on sport bikes. They sit in your blind spot, or follow you too closely, or weave in and out of traffic. They can screw themselves and deserve what they get when they put themselves in unsafe situations.

With that rant over, I'd love to try riding a motorcycle. Never done it.

 

[Sabre170]

I say stick with skydiving! I was able to jump for the first time today since last September. It was amazing. It was such a good feeling to have shaking legs again. I'm glad the Navy did away with the no dangerous stuff rule.

 

[ben]

Be freaking careful if you decide to start riding. The tip to "ride like no one sees you" could not be any more true. I had an unfortunate incident where someone really didn't see me... it almost cost me my SNA spot. I've given up road bikes for now - it's hard to win against 4,000 lbs of steel when your bike might weigh 15-20% of that. I'd say stick to dirt bikes, but that's just me.

 

[VetteMuscle427]

I say stick with skydiving! I was able to jump for the first time today since last September. It was amazing. It was such a good feeling to have shaking legs again. I'm glad the Navy did away with the no dangerous stuff rule.

Say what? We can jump after OCS???? Dude, I owe you a case if that is true. I just hung up the rig, I thought for good. I'd be very pleased if I can jump again....

BTW, got my C license. :icon_smil

 

[nugget81]

All the advice above is good stuff. Get the good gear (not just the cheap crap), take a MSF course, and most of all - don't be stupid. A guy just killed himself two nights ago in town here because he flew by a cop at 100 mph and thought he could out-run him. One mile later he didn't make the curve (the only one in this town) and he is no more. It really irks me when riders do something so stupid. I've been riding for 6 years now and finally bought my own bike last summer ('98 CBR F3). People love to tell you stories of motorcycle accidents when they see that you have one too...

Be Safe!

 

[Schnugg]

I rode a HD XLC 1200 for 2 years in San Diego on my way to work on the CVN at NAS North Island. It was 24 miles one way. Sure helped with traffic as lane splitting is legal in california. I did that very slowly and very carefully...usually only when traffic was stopped.
Drive VERY defensively and you may live. Lots of idiots out there who really hate bikers and will try to cut you off, slow down quickly in front of you, etc. I'd carry a pocket full of ball bearings for them..
Never laid it down, or scratched it. I sold it for a 66 Mustang Convertible so the whole family could enjoy a fun ride together.
Would I ride now 3 years later in Annapolis, MD? No way. Roads are a mess (it ain't SOCAL), leaves, potholes, sticks, road debris, cracks, etc...and the local paper recounts at least two motorcycle accidents locally every day.
r/
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