Motorcycle License?
Motorcycle License?
Well im looking at getting my motorcycle license sometime. Any recommendations on where to go and get it would be awesome. And I also cant decide what kind of bike to get a CBR or a GSXR or something of that sort. Does anyone know a good bike for a beginner?
Plans: Paint Calipers, Lightly tint headlights, get rid of side moldings, and do some other tinting.
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I`m Batman
- Senior Member
- Posts: 935
- Joined: Tue Feb 03, 2009 9:14
- Location: Castle Rock
I would recommend taking a Motorcycle Safety Course to get your license.
As for the bike... If you are a beginner or this is your first bike, I would recommend something not too powerful and with a smooth powerband like a Suzuki SV... or something even smaller like a 250/500 Ninja. Then once you are more comfortable, you can move up to bigger/more powerful bikes if you wish.
A lot of kids these days want to go out and buy the biggest baddest bikes out there because the Magazines say that it's the best/fastest one and they have no idea how much power they have or on how to ride it. They quickly end up in the hospital or worse. The 600cc sportbikes these days makes more power than what 1000cc used to make 10-15 years ago. So, starting on a 600 (Super Sport) these days is not a good idea.
I would recommend getting a used bike since you're a beginner or a first bike. Getting a smaller bike might not be as cool but you'll stay alive.
The most dangerous thing on the roads are the other drivers. So taking the safety course would help. I had my fair share of close calls because people in cars just don't pay attention. I stopped riding on the streets when my wife got pregnant. Your perspective changed when you have someone depending on you. I do occasional track day here and there. It's safer than the streets, at least.
Oh, and always wear your gear no matter what.
As for the bike... If you are a beginner or this is your first bike, I would recommend something not too powerful and with a smooth powerband like a Suzuki SV... or something even smaller like a 250/500 Ninja. Then once you are more comfortable, you can move up to bigger/more powerful bikes if you wish.
A lot of kids these days want to go out and buy the biggest baddest bikes out there because the Magazines say that it's the best/fastest one and they have no idea how much power they have or on how to ride it. They quickly end up in the hospital or worse. The 600cc sportbikes these days makes more power than what 1000cc used to make 10-15 years ago. So, starting on a 600 (Super Sport) these days is not a good idea.
I would recommend getting a used bike since you're a beginner or a first bike. Getting a smaller bike might not be as cool but you'll stay alive.
The most dangerous thing on the roads are the other drivers. So taking the safety course would help. I had my fair share of close calls because people in cars just don't pay attention. I stopped riding on the streets when my wife got pregnant. Your perspective changed when you have someone depending on you. I do occasional track day here and there. It's safer than the streets, at least.
Oh, and always wear your gear no matter what.
What Batman said. Be prepared to be utterly invisible to drivers. I rode a bike for several years in college and it was a ton of fun, but had things almost go really bad several times. I won't be taking it up again until my kids are a bunch older. Take the safety course. I didn't and would have been much safer if I'd had the knowledge they teach. I'll second the advice to get an older bike with less horsepower. I rode an old Yamaha Radian from the late 80's. Those 600cc's would do about 12.5 seconds in the 1/4 mile with a good rider, and I've never driven anything else that felt as fast (12.5 seconds feels really fast when you're looking at the pavement whizzing by you at 90mph). Modern 600s are way, way faster, and I could see a new rider getting into lost of trouble on one pretty easily. That said, riding is a ton of fun if you're using your head and aware of the safety issues.
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GTConversion
- Senior Member
- Posts: 176
- Joined: Wed Oct 15, 2008 9:14
- Location: Colorado Springs
http://www.abateofcolo.org/
ABATE is a great organization and does training all over, but the one in south springs is great. I took it a couple years back and they're very helpful. Puts you on a bunch of 250s and you practice everything you'd have to do if you took a test to get the license. After you're done with the training you'll have everything you need to get the motorcycle endorsement - no seperate test from DMV.
And yes, they teach you skills essential to keeping yourself alive; scanning, looking through corners, outside-inside-outside cornering, etc. Number one cause of death for motorcyclists is cars, typically turning left in front of you and didn't see you at all. Second is "failed to negotiate a corner" - people going too fast and not LOOKING where they want to go. Looking down, looking at oncoming traffic. Motorcycle is all about where you're looking.
I really can't recommend that class (or any class) enough - quick stops, riding over/around obstructions (in ours, they just threw a 2x4 down on the ground), quick lane changes, even looking while merging. I can count at least 3 times where I instinctually did what they taught me and it kept me from a crash. I wear the ABATE sticker on my helmet.
"Look Twice, Save a Life. Motorcycles are everywhere."
I'd also echo the idea of getting a 750cc or lower. I went with a 750 V4 (Honda Magna) but there are plenty in the 250, 500, 650, 750 ranges. Keep it under $3500 if at all possible, because you'll undoubtedly want to upgrade a year or two in. And check the tires, lights, everything before you ride off, even on the test ride.
ABATE is a great organization and does training all over, but the one in south springs is great. I took it a couple years back and they're very helpful. Puts you on a bunch of 250s and you practice everything you'd have to do if you took a test to get the license. After you're done with the training you'll have everything you need to get the motorcycle endorsement - no seperate test from DMV.
And yes, they teach you skills essential to keeping yourself alive; scanning, looking through corners, outside-inside-outside cornering, etc. Number one cause of death for motorcyclists is cars, typically turning left in front of you and didn't see you at all. Second is "failed to negotiate a corner" - people going too fast and not LOOKING where they want to go. Looking down, looking at oncoming traffic. Motorcycle is all about where you're looking.
I really can't recommend that class (or any class) enough - quick stops, riding over/around obstructions (in ours, they just threw a 2x4 down on the ground), quick lane changes, even looking while merging. I can count at least 3 times where I instinctually did what they taught me and it kept me from a crash. I wear the ABATE sticker on my helmet.
"Look Twice, Save a Life. Motorcycles are everywhere."
I'd also echo the idea of getting a 750cc or lower. I went with a 750 V4 (Honda Magna) but there are plenty in the 250, 500, 650, 750 ranges. Keep it under $3500 if at all possible, because you'll undoubtedly want to upgrade a year or two in. And check the tires, lights, everything before you ride off, even on the test ride.
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chickenwafer
- Posts: 2515
- Joined: Wed Mar 11, 2009 9:14
- Location: Greeley
Just to echo what others have said, DO NOT start riding on a super sport. A 600cc crotch rocket is fast than a ZR1 Corvette...with NO safety equipment. Just think about it. It's scary fast and on 2 wheels.
I started riding on a Suzuki SV650S...GREAT bike. Very smooth, predictable power from a 650cc v-twin. And it's no slouch either, bone stock I was easily walking on Evo's, STI's, 350Z's from a roll, a launch, etc. And I was averaging 45-50mpg easily.
But the SV can also be a pussycat when you want it to be thanks it the low-end torque of it's v-twin. 4-cylinder super sport bikes can't because you have to the piss out of them pretty much. After riding the SV for 2 years I traded it in and picked up a GSX-R750 and it was night and day difference. I couldn't believe starting out learning how to ride on a GSX-R...
You can find used Suzuki SV's for cheap since a lot of people do what I did with them...buy it and learn to ride then upgrade later. So they usually have low miles, aren't beat on, and are plentiful.
I started riding on a Suzuki SV650S...GREAT bike. Very smooth, predictable power from a 650cc v-twin. And it's no slouch either, bone stock I was easily walking on Evo's, STI's, 350Z's from a roll, a launch, etc. And I was averaging 45-50mpg easily.
But the SV can also be a pussycat when you want it to be thanks it the low-end torque of it's v-twin. 4-cylinder super sport bikes can't because you have to the piss out of them pretty much. After riding the SV for 2 years I traded it in and picked up a GSX-R750 and it was night and day difference. I couldn't believe starting out learning how to ride on a GSX-R...
You can find used Suzuki SV's for cheap since a lot of people do what I did with them...buy it and learn to ride then upgrade later. So they usually have low miles, aren't beat on, and are plentiful.
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