Need some input from motorcycle riders

[Kipperfillets]

What a scary post!! I've been riding 30+ years (jeez i'm feeling old) My advice is assume everyone in a car wants to kill you! and if you're expecting to ride a HD expect every offering from the land of the rising sun to pass you at least twice as fast as you're travelling....Ignore the limpwrist signals from the dirtbike riders (we're more vocal ) Oh and dont take exception to being asked "Whats in the bag fag" in reference to the complimentary leather saddlebags/panniers This is of course a UK localised message referring to the guys over here who buy these monoliths for the lifestyle indication usually being accountants or strange types as opposed to buying a bike for a purpose :shrug: Myself i'd buy a pan european (Honda) if I wanted to cross America or for some speed maybe the latest R1 from Yamaha. As for protection even when it's hot here my bare minimum is body armour, helmet, trousers, (motocross) boots (motocross) gloves, knee pads (articulated are more comfortable) Anything less is risking being maimed or killled as car drivers and some sport bikers arent programmed to think...eg I was out at the weekend and one tried to overtake me while I was overtaking :shrug: He lost.... Either which way you go take training if returning to motorcycling as the whole world has changed matey... Just stay alive is the best advice and always remember you can argue about right of way from your wheelchair but it's futile.....Always give way to the car/truck :yup:

[yamawho]

Originally Posted by Kipperfillets

I was out at the weekend and one tried to overtake me while I was overtaking :shrug: He lost.... :

Hey no fair ... you cut me off

[Kipperfillets]

Originally Posted by yamawho

Hey no fair ... you cut me off

Damn you should have flashed

[Drufuss]

Originally Posted by Ford Freak

The base usually provides a safety course also. The problem is that you have to provide your own bike and it is only about a day long from what I have heard. I'd rather have the training course provide the bike even if I have to pay to take the course.

You may feel "safer" during the course, knowing that the bike you are eventually about to damage isn´t yours.
BUT, the main goal of such a course is to ride YOUR bike safely. The main rules of movement are the same for every bike, but also every bike is different. Which gear at what speed, how the brakes react, how the tires react, how the motor responds to the throttle, how the clutch reacts, how far you can lean to the side, etc. etc. Or, very important, how the bike reacts during an emergency brake. Imagine you are surprised by an obstacle on the street and all you can do for the first moment is trying to get to a halt as soon as possible. You´re already high on adrenalin, but thanks to your training you do the right things (pull clutch, release throttle, brake as hard as you can, but not to hard that your tires block) and suddenly your bike does something you didn´t expect cause your training bike hasn´t done it.
So i highly reccomend using your own bike for such a course. (at the OEAMTC-Training-Days, you can get fully comprehensive cover insurance for 10 Euros per day. )

Greetings

Dru

[Kipperfillets]

Originally Posted by Drufuss

You may feel "safer" during the course, knowing that the bike you are eventually about to damage isn´t yours.
BUT, the main goal of such a course is to ride YOUR bike safely. The main rules of movement are the same for every bike, but also every bike is different. Which gear at what speed, how the brakes react, how the tires react, how the motor responds to the throttle, how the clutch reacts, how far you can lean to the side, etc. etc. Or, very important, how the bike reacts during an emergency brake. Imagine you are surprised by an obstacle on the street and all you can do for the first moment is trying to get to a halt as soon as possible. You´re already high on adrenalin, but thanks to your training you do the right things (pull clutch, release throttle, brake as hard as you can, but not to hard that your tires block) and suddenly your bike does something you didn´t expect cause your training bike hasn´t done it.
So i highly reccomend using your own bike for such a course. (at the OEAMTC-Training-Days, you can get fully comprehensive cover insurance for 10 Euros per day. )

Greetings

Dru

In the UK you would fail your test for pulling the clutch :shrug: it appears it helps to have the drive engaged to stop the rear wheel locking up and the bike spitting you off. Is it different in Switzerland?

[Drufuss]

Originally Posted by Kipperfillets

In the UK you would fail your test for pulling the clutch :shrug: it appears it helps to have the drive engaged to stop the rear wheel locking up and the bike spitting you off. Is it different in Switzerland?

I can´t talk for switzerland, but here in austria, we learned that you should always pull the clutch when breaking. At least when you want to come to a halt or in an emergency brake. It has something to do with chain tension (but it´s the same for motorcycles with drive shaft).
Also your enginge may stop (because it is blocked by the rear wheel) and then the rear wheels is locked up too.

In normal traffic, when i want to slow down, i don´t even brake and only release the throttle, or let the enigne be engaged as long as possible (only changing to lower gears) to drive economically ("braking" with the engine needs less fuel than the engine idling).

Greetings

Dru

[sandman55]

Perhaps you might consider a bike that is more in tune with nature, more green and environentally friendly that will flex with the bumps on the road and finally as comfortable as and old rocking chair like the one in the pic. (Found this today and was dying to find somewhere to post it Just dont let any of KT's minions get to it)

[yamawho]

Let me guess ... the guy's handle is Splinterbutt

That is creative.

[RoadStar]

Originally Posted by Ford Freak

I am going to be looking into getting a motorcycle after I move out of here in a year. I would like any input from learning to drive one to experienced driver input. The bike I am looking at is the HD Road King Custom. I had a dirt bike before so feel free to use that as a comparison. I will not be doing any type of racing and I want something that is comfortable for long rides. I prefer to leave the racing stuff to 4 wheel vehicles and dirt bikes.

I noticed HD offers a course for beginners. I do plan on taking that.

In your case, a few things.

1.) Take a Motorcycle Saftey Foundation Course.

2.) Buy a smaller Bike to get your legs, 650 VStar, Sportster or even a Enduro.

3.) Ride said Bikes for a couple years, then take the Advance MSFC.

An other thing you can do, which I did was, Go to one of those Super Bike Schools and learn how to Race.
Last but not least, buy what you like and screw the rest.

[Drufuss]

One of my coworkers got such a Super Bike Course as birthday present from his wife.
It was Keith Code Superbike School.

Greetings

Dru

[Ford Freak]

It's time for this to come back from the dead.

I took the MSF beginners course a couple weeks ago. Now I need to get the motorcyle endorsement. I have a couple ideas in mind for a bike.

[Maico Shark]

Our sister site www.motorcycleforum.com might be a place you should visit. Very active & very friendly.

[DBoone]

I haven't taken the time to go back through all the posts. Since it's been so long things may have changed for you anyway.

My question is: What will you be using the motorcycle for?

I used to have a Honda Goldwing Aspencade touring bike. Loved it!! But that was a few years back when I did more day trips and a little traveling. I'd probably get something smaller if I were only using it to commute to work.

[Maico Shark]

I have a honda CM400A that's a 400cc with automatic transmission.

[Bofinn]

Here's my current ride. You can find me hangin' out at www.doofclenas.com\forums