Bikes, Quads, or other NOT CARS

kingtut · Postby **kingtut** » Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:14

I know everyone's different and this by no means applies to anyone but me, specifically. But.... If I had gotten a bike before I was 25, I probably would have killed myself. Not that this won't still happen, but the chances of me doing something stupid on a bike are far less likely. With old age, I become more timid, conservative, and fearful of hurting myself. I believe it was 25 when I came to the realization that I wasn't bulletproof.

erod550 · Postby **erod550** » Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:14

kingtut wrote:I know everyone's different and this by no means applies to anyone but me, specifically. But.... If I had gotten a bike before I was 25, I probably would have killed myself. Not that this won't still happen, but the chances of me doing something stupid on a bike are far less likely. With old age, I become more timid, conservative, and fearful of hurting myself. I believe it was 25 when I came to the realization that I wasn't bulletproof.

Yep. Same reason I'm glad I didn't have a fast car when I was younger. I did some really dumb things in my dad's Oldsmobile Delta 88. If I had access to a fast car I would have wrapped it around a tree or telephone pole for sure.

I did make some cool memories in that car though, like getting it airborne at the intersection of Jet Wing and Astrozon, lol.

Not the actual car, but it looked just like that.

Justin · Postby **Justin** » Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:14

I'll second that. I rode a bike for a couple of years while I was in college. While I had a ton of fun on it, I very nearly killed myself more than once. While in grad school, I lost a 17 year old cousin to a motorcycle wreck. If you do opt for a bike, get something small (250-400cc) and easy to ride. Crotch rockets are not beginner bikes, and the consequences of screwing up are potentially lethal.

mOOsE · Postby **mOOsE** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 9:14

Learjet45 wrote:So since it seems like there's a decent amount of people here with bikes, I was wondering if you all might be able to offer some advice on looking for a beginner's bike.
My main use would be running simple errands (and also to have some fun) when in NY and mostly fun at home during the summers if I don't store it there.
Given a budget of say around $2k or $2500 (I'm hoping I can save up somewhere around that amount by the end of summer/beginning of school), what would you all recommend as a good beginner's bike? Clearly I'm not looking for anything crazy fast or powerful. What are some things to look out for when buying a used bike?

Given the budget, and that it's the first bike, I'd probably try to find a used Ninja 250. There are lots of them available, and they have enough pep to get around town no problem, while getting decent MPG 50+. They won't do well at highway speeds, as they lack the passing power you'd like for safety reasons. But the plus side is that insurance is very cheap, they can be ridden with more gusto without hitting warp speeds, and are cheap to find used as it's likely you will experience a drop. If you are in the cruiser market, smaller engine bikes are harder to find, but more importantly IMO, is that they are often heavier. But honestly, there's so many bikes to be had in that price range, that its really up to you. I'd recommend a MSF course first, then some test rides at a dealer, then start shopping once you narrow down what feels best. After that, GEAR. Don't skimp, it can save your life.

AuroraAxela · Postby **AuroraAxela** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 9:14

Just bought my first bike last night, and absolutely love it! 2003 Honda VFR800 Interceptor

I`m Batman · Postby **I`m Batman** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 9:14

^^^
Nice! Congrats! Ride safe!
I've always love those things because it's a V4.

mOOsE · Postby **mOOsE** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 9:14

nice! Congrats. Definitely ride safe, and gear up... and MSF if you haven't.

Postby **Huzer** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 9:14

Nice choice. I've always been a fan of the VFR. Of that iteration, I really like the color scheme of the 2007 anniversary edition. Solid silver, though, is more in line with the bike's purpose.

kingtut · Postby **kingtut** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 9:14

Nice Chris! Not a bad consolation prize for your recent loss...

~Barn~ · Postby **~Barn~** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 9:14

Sweet ride man! Enjoy it!

AuroraAxela · Postby **AuroraAxela** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 9:14

Thanks everyone. She's a blast to ride, comfortable as hell, and gets up and moves! And yes, VTEC kicks in, yo!

And yes, I'm MSF'd and licensed. That was first step before shopping for bikes, and I highly recommend taking a course, even for experienced riders.

Andyscums · Postby **Andyscums** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 9:14

I realize I am pretty much the only Harley/bobber guy on the forum (that I can see) but I sold my Vulcan bobber and picked up an 08 fat bob (not fat boy) about a month ago. Couldn't be happier. Just threw new bars and exhaust on it. But #### wiring. That's all I have to say about installing new bars on a Harley

Justin · Postby **Justin** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 9:14

I've always wondered about ape hangers. Are they comfortable to ride with? Seems like your hands could go numb on long rides.

iani1.1 · Postby **iani1.1** » Tue Aug 06, 2013 9:14

'11 GSX-R600 few mods and has been ridden on COTA

im looking into getting a motard. just cant decide between the wr250x and ktm 690 smcr

Andyscums · Postby **Andyscums** » Wed Aug 07, 2013 9:14

Justin wrote:I've always wondered about ape hangers. Are they comfortable to ride with? Seems like your hands could go numb on long rides.

I'm 6'4 so for me it straightens out my back and makes it more comfortable. It had drag bars on it when I first picked it up but I can't ride for too long with them. It's hard to ride anything if you're tall.

Bikes, Quads, or other NOT CARS

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