tip 1 - jeans and a t-shirt will do absolutely jack shit for you in a crash... buy some proper gear.

tip 2 - sneakers will do absolutely jack shit for you in a crash... buy some proper riding boots. hiking boots will do only slightly less than jack shit if you get a foot caught under the bike.

tip 3 - take the MSF course (MSF = motorcycle safety foundation).

will you be using the bike to commute to and from work? does your commute require freeway riding? will you be running errands on the bike? just a few things to keep in mind while shopping. i kind of neglected to even notice that my GSXR 600 has only enough storage space for a wallet and a pack of smokes.

 

i will be using it for my 12 mile stop and go traffic commute. it is all main 4 lane roads with lights and businesses. No Freeway. A few errands here and there hence the non sport bike but non cruiser concept.

i will absolutely wear a helmet becasue it is beyond stupid not to wear one. We have the MSF here but it has a huge waiting list is like $500 and only teaches you the basics that i already know. If i could find one cheaper i would do it but most people only take it for the test.

any recommendations on bikes?

 

Everyone knows that nothing protects better in a crash than skin.

 

You are, factually, correct.

Better be cow skin, though.

 

x2 on the msf course.

Seeing how you're in NH, wear a helmet. It's beyond stupid not to.

 

x2 we just had brains all over my road last week, keep that shit in a jar

 

You know what you call riders w/o helmets... Organ donors!

 

Also, buying a bike for under $1k will probably cost you a decent amount in repairs initially to get running 100%.

This is not always the case as there are some gems out there, but usually there is something wrong with them.

 

how bout a 250 cc ninja? (ex 250)? Im in the same situation here, as Im gonna take the MSF courses soon, and look to get a relatively inexpensive bike for riding to school and work mostly...

 

My first bike was actually a mid 80's Suzuki GS... a GS550EF, actually. Just fast enough to keep you out of trouble, but not too tire-bilisteringly fast that it would make you crap yourself every time you snapped the throttle. Thing had major cold start issues due to the prev. owner not taking care of the carbs.

Hondas of any vintage are damn near indestructible and parts are wicked, wicked cheap through any number of online vendors.

 

that is what i needed. so how difficult is it to clean the carbs? ihave found a few for under $800 that say that is all they need.

Found a perfect GS750 that i painted pearl black (only name i could think for it) with flat balck exhaust etc. the thing is gorgeous for $950. WOrth it?

 

i'm planning on making/riding a supermoto this summer.

MSF course, some states will cover the cost (i know PA does), just get signed up for it, and you're good to go

 

http://nh.craigslist.org/mcy/645520538.html

This one is better though:
http://nh.craigslist.org/mcy/647460512.html
Classic toaster tank.

Someday maybe!

 

This one is better though:
http://nh.craigslist.org/mcy/647460512.html
Classic toaster tank.

thats not a toaster. Its a /6. only /5 (trash 5)'s got true toasters. We have a 71 R60/5, silver, with rare enduro bags on it. We have only heard of 1 or 2 others with the bags.

definately start with a cheap japanese bike, much easier to fix/more reliable than british (thats not saying much)/easier to find parts
don't go buy a crotch rocket, because you'll only make insurance more expensive for the rest of us when you go out and wreck it.

oh ya, i looked up insurance for a dualsport/supermoto for myself.... $70.... twice a year...

crotch rocket? $180+ a month

 

These are sweet riding jeans.. I wanted to padlock them in the washer at the local laundromat for a month to break-in though.. That was years ago probably evolved a bit since then.

http://www.arborwear.com/outdoor-gear.cfm/catid/1

Gloves.. That way you can change the rest of the bandages by yourself..

 

very cool but good luck getting life insurance later on in life. it can be quite difficult for motorcycle owners. you might not care but it's something to keep in mind.

not to sound like your mom, i've just been reading a lot about insurance lately..

i also read somewhere that every bike manufactured will be in at least one accident.

 

Um, fail.

I've owned an R6 for a few years now and my insurance has continually gone down if anything.

If you're not a complete moron (like the squids we have around here) while riding, your insurance won't go up ( neither will owning a bike make it difficult to obtain insurance "later in life" ).

Seriously, what are you even talking about? lol.

+99999 on the MSF. It definitely helped with my confidence while riding (take the advanced course after the beginner course as well).

As far as gear goes; Wear jeans if anything (GM, sandals?? lol) and invest in a reinforced jacket of some kind (or two, one for night/cold and a breathable type for warmer weather etc.) It's not "if" you go down it's "when" so be smart and wear some sort of protection.

Also, you're not required to wear a brain bucket in NH but, obviously it's the smart thing to do.

 

Old Beemers are cool and all, but they are fussy bastards (Ask me how I know...my landlord has three of them...I'm constantly trying to keep those damn Bing carbs in tune.) and massively overpriced to buy and fix.

First bike, get a cheap Japanese bike. Honda and Suzuki are excellent. You will drop it, so the cheaper the better.

I paid $150 for my '72 Honda CL 350 (Dual sport bike, but it was basically a street bike with upswept pipes and a slightly knobbier rear tire), and spent $100 fixing it.

You can find great deals on Japanese bikes all over the place.

Once you become proficient (2-3 season under your belt), maybe then consider getting something more valuable.

x2 on most suggestions here. Good gear and learning the correct way to ride are paramount to safety.

 

I am invovled in drug testing on humans and have done studies on head trauma patients. We always go to states without helmet llaws to find patients...

the North East states are best, lots of traffic no helmets in PA DE...

 

I just like the airheads, price aside!

I'd go for any bike if it were cheap enough. I'm not a snob, I just think the old beamers are wickeD!



wow. TMI?
Seriously why I stopped riding the motorcycle. I had a near death experience and needed the $, but that will only hold for so long.

 

Ryan -- talk to my pal Ken at SiS tomorrow (the only 8V 900T that will show up, guaranteed)... he has a bit of an affinity for the vintage Japanese bikes and might be able to help you find a nice one.

 

Yea, at least they are Tiva sandals.... they actually get better grip on hot oil soaked pavement then any pair of shoes that I have worn.


Never heard of issues with life insurance. My dad is 68 now & started riding on the street when he was I think 14 or something like that. Never had a problem with life insurance.

 

so yeah still looking for the bike. Life insurance is no biggie as i already have over a million of coverage from two sources that can never be denied (on VA, the next add on at VA) and then the usual coverage from my work with the add ons. being 26 bike ownership doesn't even come up.

on the finding of a bike that seems to be that hard part.

The MSF course here in NH costs like $250 plus requires me to take time out of work as well as be on a waiting list.

As far as safety equipment i was fully planning on the full reinforced suit of some sort and proper footwear (not sandals or even Tevas) and especially a brain bucket. i plan on going all black.

the bike i buy will be repainted to a pearl black with the pipes etc being flat black.

On insurance i checked into it and with the age/speed of the bikes i am choosing it will be dirt cheap (ie $10-$20 a month).

for the bike i want something that looks like this:

I will then paint it all black. i feel it will look sick be fun be useful and with some minor tinkering (i can do some basic stuff and learn) i can keep it going for a while. I figure if i do everything myself it will be a learning experience. i can do most things on my car myself the hard thing is getting under inside etc. a bike should be easy. especially one that is carborated.

any other ideas? suggestions.?

 

for the bike i want something that looks like this:

I will then paint it all black. i feel it will look sick be fun be useful and with some minor tinkering (i can do some basic stuff and learn) i can keep it going for a while. I figure if i do everything myself it will be a learning experience. i can do most things on my car myself the hard thing is getting under inside etc. a bike should be easy. especially one that is carborated.

any other ideas? suggestions.?

i like that your interested in the '80s "sport" or "cafe racer" bikes like that Suzuki back there. This is what is in my garage: (1982 yamaha xj650 seca)

(this is when it still had the faring on)

 

the GSX is definitely a good bet for your first bike.

i would not recommend anything with an 'R' on it though. for example -

a couple of gear pics to go along with -

Alpinestars SMX-Plus vented offer shin protection, ankle, heel, calf and replacable toe sliders... but nearly $300. you want to be sure that your ankles are protected. it is really really difficult to walk on shaved ankles.

Shoei X-11 helmet. super light, well vented, top of the line safety ratings. you want to be sure that your helmet fits you comfortably, has at least a DOT and a Snell rating and it is really nice to be able to swap face shields with some ease, and remove pads for cleaning.

Alpinestarts GP Moto Plus gloves - these are my 'dont fuck with me' gauntlets. i've got armor, i've got sliders, i've got spikes and hidden knives in these things. uhh, i wish. you definitely want full leather, some perforation is really really nice on warm days but you will freeze your hands off when it is cool out. double leather on the palm and outside of the hand is a big plus too.

Fieldsheer Attack leather jacket. CE (a european rating based upon shock transmitted, great write-up on wiki about it) approved armor in the forearms, elbows, shoulders and spine. i feel like i might as well be naked without it when i get on the bike now. basically, a t-shirt is only slightly better than bare skin, jeans will do slightly more than a t-shirt, textile (synthetic materials) will do a helluva lot more still to protect you in a crash and allow choices for waterproofing, reflectivity and breathability. i own a Fieldsheer Titanium mesh jacket that has a zip-out wind/water proof liner. i wear this with the liner when it is cold and without on days like today, when it is nearly 100 degrees out. the leather comes out when i know i will be travelling at freeway speeds, or taking a spirited canyon run.

 

the GSX is definitely a good bet for your first bike.

i would not recommend anything with an 'R' on it though. for example -

I have ridden the GSXRs they are silly fast.

a couple of gear pics to go along with -

That is what i want for the all black bike. i htink with the GSX painted all black and the all black attire it would look pretty cool.

 

yeah.. i think blix is talking about trying to get Life Insurance later on. not keeping insurance you already have.

 

clearly what i mentioned is of no relevance to anyone here b/c you're all too young to consider buying life insurance (not an insult, it's reality), so i'm officially dropping this out of the conversation. i think nowhereman - that bike looks awesome and it's really cool that you're able to be not just a saaber but a biker too.

and i think xassh has revealed himself as the stig.

 

clearly what i mentioned is of no relevance to anyone here b/c you're all too young to consider buying life insurance (not an insult, it's reality), so i'm officially dropping this out of the conversation. i think nowhereman - that bike looks awesome and it's really cool that you're able to be not just a saaber but a biker too.

and i think xassh has revealed himself as the stig.

I know what you are talking about, I pay more in life insurance cause I am a certified Scuba Diver but not was much as a novice since i have like 300 +dives and several certifications. But it is limited in coverage so If I die on a decompression dive I am SOL but for a casual dive I am OK. Maybe motorcycles have the same thing in riders and whatnot... SO maybe if you have been riding a long time it is ok ( but do you relaly know what these "oldtimers" pay for insurance and how much more they are out couse of it??)

Besides I don't think that so many riders die in as much that they just end up as veggies or gimps...

 

My friend just picked up a 91 or so Kawasaki 600 for $300. It was dropped, the tank was dented and the front plastics were cracked, so we managed to fix it, and he is repainting all the plastics blue (they were originally a nice red color, but had these terrible magenta colored accent markings on it) whenever I go down to the DMV to get my plates back for the 9000 I need to take my motorcycle permit. They closed the MSF here, it used to be if you took their course, they would issue a waiver for the road test, which on the state road test you have to provide a car and the person driving that car has to be at least 21 with a motorcycle license.

This is my other friends stuntbike

 

but... I have life insurance... so does my father (55 y/o now) I am sure he hasnt had the same policy since he was 16. I have mine from when I was like 2, so that one doesnt count as much...

I have heard that if your health/life insurance carrier finds out you have been sky diving, they become unhappy.

 

That said...

went to go start her, pissing oil into the air box.

Here we go... lets take the thing apart... thread and pics to come tonight...


Edit: met with my insurance man. I may be getting term life, and the moto is no problem. also picked up monthly health insurance until the job situation is figured out.

 

I can't ride mine for a few weeks, got my shoulder F'ed up playin lax