Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: titanic3 on June 01, 2013, 06:17:22 PM
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I'm a complete and total noob to bikes but I do plan on learning how to ride one. What are the first steps and what should I do to get started? Google offered plenty of general info but I figured getting it first hand wouldn't be a bad idea either. I live in NYC so big cruisers are out of the question for me. I also have a very slim tall body so I'm not quite sure what type of bike would fit me best (5'11, 115lb). Any help/tips is appreciated. :cheers:
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Sign your donour card and write a will...... :devil
:salute
PS: Get a good starters bike,take a riders course and get the best helmet,gloves,boots and jacket you can afford.
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Sign your donour card and write a will...... :devil
:salute
PS: Get a good starters bike,take a riders course and get the best helmet,gloves,boots and jacket you can afford.
:lol
Dang, looking at some of these apparel, boots alone are $300-450! :eek: How are the cheaper ones? Or are these things something I shouldn't be cheap on?
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Start small, don't get something bigger than you can handle. I started on a 250cc which I rode for about 6-9 months. Afterwards, I went to a 650cc and now (after a couple years of riding) I'm ready for something a lot bigger.
Don't be in a hurry to die, ignore the fools that tell you to buy a super bike because you'll either drop the bike (at the very least) or even kill yourself.
edit: speaking of boots, don't be in a hurry to buy the best gear. As long as you have a durable jacket and a GOOD helmet, the rest can wait until you know what you want. I wore Mechanix gloves when I initially learned and I still wear them when it is hot outside. I would wear long pants (jeans or better) until you get a lot of experience and always wear closed toe shoes (no flip flops).
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2793/4062997438_70a80d1c28_o.jpg)
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You need to understand good gear is worth the investment having raced 600s in a semi pro setting when i was younger and 6 years on the street before i stopped, gear is important. The biggest advise i can pass is take a course, ride within your limits and work on SA its the thing you don't see that can get you hurt. Riding is a very enjoyable pastime as long as your safe educated and prepared to learn.
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I'm a complete and total noob to bikes but I do plan on learning how to ride one. What are the first steps and what should I do to get started? Google offered plenty of general info but I figured getting it first hand wouldn't be a bad idea either. I live in NYC so big cruisers are out of the question for me. I also have a very slim tall body so I'm not quite sure what type of bike would fit me best (5'11, 115lb). Any help/tips is appreciated. :cheers:
Don't. Almost died three times on them. :salute
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Thanks for replies, I'll look into good gears, any name brands I should be aware of? And is it advisable to get experience in a car first or jump straight to a bike first?
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Thanks for replies, I'll look into good gears, any name brands I should be aware of? And is it advisable to get experience in a car first or jump straight to a bike first?
You are learning to drive too? If you have no experience on the road, wait a few years before you get on a motorcycle.
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You are learning to drive too? If you have no experience on the road, wait a few years before you get on a motorcycle.
Point taken. Although I wonder, does anyone actually only ride bikes?
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Point taken. Although I wonder, does anyone actually only ride bikes?
I did from age 17 to 20. KZ400 and Honda 750 Four w/extended fork :)
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To only ride bikes is difficult in north america. Very few places allow year round riding. Weather affects a bike more then a car. The contact patch for your bike tires is about the size of a silver dollar. Just keep in mind a bike and a car are two very different things.
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I did from age 17 to 20. KZ400 and Honda 750 Four w/extended fork :)
Hmm, I'm in the same spot..and I live in the suburbs side of NYC, so that's not such a far fetched idea.
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To only ride bikes is difficult in north america. Very few places allow year round riding. Weather affects a bike more then a car. The contact patch for your bike tires is about the size of a silver dollar. Just keep in mind a bike and a car are two very different things.
I live in Ga and I ride year round. Only time I am on 4 wheels is in the rain.
titanic3, if you are still in the process of learning to drive a car, hold off on the bike for at least a couple years. Get to know the roads first, it is an entirely different world on 2 wheels. When your driving, pay attention to motorcycles, and watch how most(99%) people dont notice them.
As far as gear goes, you really cant put a price on it, helmet, leathers, boots, gloves.. they are all priceless on a bike, especially in the learning stages. :cheers: :salute
NOT
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Hmm, I'm in the same spot..and I live in the suburbs side of NYC, so that's not such a far fetched idea.
Get a car not a bike... live a good life. :)
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Get a car not a bike... live a good life. :)
For some of us, riding IS the good life.
For the OP.... Echoing what the others have said, get comfortable with driving a car first. After that, take a GOOD rider safety course. Alot of community colleges/HD dealerships offer them. Then choose a smaller, easy handling MC. I started on a Ninja 250, then moved up to the 600's after a couple of seasons. 750's and 1000's after a few more years. HD V-Rod now.
Always gear up, and keep the rubber side down.
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A guy we had in the ER last night could speak to the "gear" issue. He was wearing a helmet, shorts and t-shirt. Pretty much doesn't have any skin remaining on the left side of his body.
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My son was only working part time and doing college at the same time. He was thinking a bike would be a good deal money wise, parking wise and so on. I pointed out to him that for what he would pay for a bike, gear, insurance, and such he could buy a beater used car. Not have to worry about it being stolen (bikes are easy to throw on to the back of a truck), cost about the same as the bike and gear, and being in New England be able to use it far more often than a bike.
He paid $800 for a Cherokee and over the last two year put $1200 dollars into it and topped it out at 309K miles before the engine went. $3 a day isn't a bad deal. :D
Get a car, learn to drive it, learn to take care of it. Then when you have more experience, and out grow those tendency's that you WILL look back on and think "why the H@LL did I ever do that!!!" you can again look into buying a bike.
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Then plan on death. Sad thing is it wont be your fault.
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Wear your helmet around the house to get used to its weight. Strengthen your neck up for the eventual fall. Wind and bowshock waves from trucks are your enemy.
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Then plan on death. Sad thing is it wont be your fault.
Exactly right on. :aok
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A guy we had in the ER last night could speak to the "gear" issue. He was wearing a helmet, shorts and t-shirt. Pretty much doesn't have any skin remaining on the left side of his body.
This is exactly why I stressed that the OP get some good equipment. Sure you don't "need" a $300 pair of boots but wear a good quality boot.Those fancy $100 gloves aren't needed either,a good pair of rawhide work gloves will work almost as well. Never and I say never cheap out on a brain bucket and get a good leather jacket.
I have far too many friends who were to Macho to gear up,especially on hot days and they are mamed for life as a result. Sure it wasn't their fault,usually isn't but when a bike hits a car or get run of the road by 1 the bike never wins! I know tried it myself once.
If your new to driving,take a drivers ED course in a car,learn to drive the streets in a car first,if you can afford a small on/off road bike you can always learn to ride off road and atleast you don't have to deal with cars. Riding in the dirt will teach you bike control in slippery condition that will help when you finally venture on the road. Besides you might find you don't like riding and would rather have a car!
:salute
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My advice...
Titanic, get one of those Hayabusas and see how fast you can go with one.
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I was riding a streetbike before I had my first car.. But I grew up on Motorcycles..
Had a AMA racing license before I had a drivers license.. That kinda makes me an exception to the rule..
If you have no experience at all on a bike, on the street, you are a ready made statistic..
Even after a "Riding Course".. :lol
Be smart, BUY A CAR..
Better yet, buy a Pick up truck, and a small dirtbike, learn to ride that way.. Much safer!
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I was always told kind of a rule of thumb was that your feet should be able to be flat on the ground when seated, and not tip toeing the bike. start with something small like a 400 maybe a 600 before buying something more powerful and faster, the old jap bikes are usually good for learning and usually aren't too expensive. this was the wifes first bike, paid 400 for it and put almost 50k on it in the 5 years that we rode and never had any problems with it, of course exhaust was modified a bit :devil
(http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx199/homersipes/002-1.jpg)
Oh and leathers, buy a good riding jacket as stated before its very worth it :cheers: and watch out for the idiots on the road that want to pull out in front of you, or run into the side of you. loud pipes do save lives, they have saved mine before :lol
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In personal experience I can only speak on Sportbikes, as that is all I have ridden, but, like the others have said, start SMALL (ie a 250 Ninja, or CBR). I started out with a Ninja 250. I now ride a nkna ZX-7R (700 class) on the street, and a Ducati 1098 for the track. I cannot stress enough to GET GEAR! Our sportbike rider's club has a saying, AGATT (ALL GEAR ALL THE TIME). I actually own 2 sets of gear, one set is a nice textile jacket with armor padding, a back protector, Shoei helmet, armored textile overpants, and alpinestars boots+gloves. This is my street gear. Track gear is a full 1 piece leather suit, again with A* Boots/Gloves and an Arai helmet.
If you have ever watched MotoGP or the like (Motorcycle racing) then you have seen the guys who high-side at 100+mph, and they stand up and walk back to the bike... this is partially due to trak design (lots of runoff area) but the MAIN reason is due to GEAR. Include gear as part of the purchase of the bike. if you cannot afford gear and the bike, don't buy it. When (not IF) you go down, it will save your life, skin, etc. Also, if you ever plan to ride a backpack (passenger) get at LEAST a helmet, jacket, and gloves for your passenger. Personally I purchased a Medium helmet, and jacket, and medium gloves, as those tend to be the best "balance" for fitting people. Might be alittle large, or a little too tight, but either is usually tolerable.
After you have the bike and gear, get a riders course! Here in OH Motorcycle Ohio offers the Basic course for 50 bucks. Sign up early, as slots fill quickly. After that, ride, ride ride.. I also HIGHLY recommend participating in at least one track day at a road course near you. Even if you have no interest in going fast, or racing, the track day will do for your handling of the bike at higher speed, what the riders course does for basic awareness and low speed handling. You will learn more in one track day than in years of riding.
With that said, if you have any other questions, I will be glad to answer them for you!
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If you're a new driver you definitely should acclimate to driving the asphault jungle in something wrapped with metal.
You've been given great advice. Here's a few points to ponder based on my years of riding experience:
1) Drivers don't see motorcycles anywhere as easily as cars. I had 4 people pull out in front of me in the last 18 months. Three of them were on cell phones and not paying attention. One was looking straight at me and still pulled out. She acted like I was crazy when I layed on the horn. I was prepared and off the throttle when she pulled out. I had just enough room on the side of the road to get out of the way. Look at every driver as a threat, whether they're sitting at a stop sign, red light etc. I lost a friend last year. A driver pulled right out in front of him and he T-boned the car. The driver, a doctor, was devestated and said she never saw him.
2) Gear is an absolute necessity. I once got hit while sitting off the side of a road in a driveway. Car lost control and veered off the road. I went over the car and slammed back first on the ground cracking my helmet. Got up and was fine as I had just stopped to talk to a friend and still had the helmet and gear on. Luckily the car was only doing 30 and the bike took the impact.
3) Drivers don't see motorcycles.
4) Take a riders safety course.
5) Drivers don't see motorcycles.
6) Don't take everyones advice lightly. You will drop the bike. You will have close calls. :furious
7) Drivers don't see motorcyles.
P.S. A coworker purchased a bike last year. We offered to train him to ride properly. The next day he decided to teach himself. Started it up, twisted the throttle, and rode down the driveway, out of control into a deep ditch and tore his rotator cuff, requiring surgery. He sold the bike shortly after.
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:cheers: :salute Thanks guys, will take caution and take it slowly.
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First thing you should do before you even purchase a bike is take a Rider Education Course. There are a couple of type offered, and any dealership or Google can give you information on them. Here is the link to one for New York.
http://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/injury_prevention/children/toolkits/motorcycles/importance_of_rider_education.htm (http://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/injury_prevention/children/toolkits/motorcycles/importance_of_rider_education.htm)
Gear does not have to cost a fortune. There is some great gear out there at a reasonable price, just need to do some research. Find a local club, just Google motorcycle clubs for you area, not a biker gang, and they will be a wealth of information.
When you purchase a bike, start with a small cc light weight bike. Used is always better when learning.
Start slow and take your time. Just like anything else in life, it takes time to learn. If you ever find yourself scared when getting on the bike, sell it, because it is not for you.
Fred
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Get the fastest bike you can and ride like this guy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XihQeZpwqpE
Definitely a good idea
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Get the fastest bike you can and ride like this guy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XihQeZpwqpE
Definitely a good idea
That guy is an idiot......
I wouldn't go out and buy a brand new bike for your first bike.... simply because you will lay it down. It is not a matter of if, but when.
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Get the fastest bike you can and ride like this guy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XihQeZpwqpE
Definitely a good idea
:huh :eek:
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Get the fastest bike you can and ride like this guy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XihQeZpwqpE
Definitely a good idea
Heh when he makes the headlines as yet another moto-tard that crashed and died I'm going to laugh.
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You are learning to drive too? If you have no experience on the road, wait a few years before you get on a motorcycle.
what he said. 90% of bike fatalities are people in the OP's demographic
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Heh when he makes the headlines as yet another moto-tard that crashed and died I'm going to laugh.
Yeah, I just hope he doesnt take out anyone's loved ones in the process
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Here you go:
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_G5FmdHluI8/TdG1L20ly7I/AAAAAAAAAK0/XWPkLT63kMs/s1600/motorcycle_training_wheels.jpg)
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:cheers: :salute Thanks guys, will take caution and take it slowly.
“Per vehicle mile traveled, motorcyclists are about 35 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in
a traffic crash.”
That means your risk of death is 3,400% greater than if you were an occupant in a car... and I think most of us know someone that died in a car crash, if not multiple people.
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/810990.PDF
Always remember you're only hearing from the bikers that are still around... the others... well they can't give you their thoughts any more. :salute
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3) Drivers don't see motorcycles.
^ this
I never really"got" it until I turned across a guy (car) coming out of a building which has been a non-functioning building site for several years. "Cars don't come out of that laneway, ergo there is not a car coming out of there now, ergo I am not going to hit him."
He braked, and I near shot myself when I got home as I had the family in the car and had really, genuinely ****ed up.
Drivers are looking for cars, in places where they always see cars, and so they just don't see bikes.
Also what others have said re: gear. You will put the bike down on the day you aren't wearing any. And if you want to go fast, take it to the track.
As the saying goes, you can be an old rider or a bold rider, not both. Life, as they say, is good.
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lots of good info here. I have been dreaming about owning a bike since I was a young kid. I wont ride it much but at least I know where to start now. my friends suggested I buy the top of the line harley with a big engine. I guess I'll get something else to get me feeling comfortable. after all I can always buy another bike later.
semp
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Riding a Bike and Flying are both great risks. I'd choose a larger and louder bike, let your presence be seen and heard. Any mistake made when riding is yours and yours alone, you need to anticipate and avoid all situations that might put you at risk. (It's a full time deal) Never ride aggressive and always, always, ride defensive.
Some of my favorite times in my life were logged on my Hog. "Live to Ride"...."Ride to Live". Brain bucket optional in most states.
Good Luck and don't let these guys talk you out of it.
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Drivers really don't see bikes. I'm an excellent driver, never been in any kind of an accident outside of a parking lot, but the only time in my life I've created a close call was one day I came off a freeway, shoulder checked to merge, and came over into what I thought was a clear lane. To this day I don't know where the bike came from, but he laid on the horn and was quite irate as he veered around me. I felt terrible, because something like that had never happened before. Or since, for that matter.
I'd put my SA in a car above 99% of what I see on the street, and I still missed seeing a bike.
Wiley.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qROwMqCLAw
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I posted this earlier ina ntoher thread, but thought you bikers and future bikers might enjoy it. Created from video I shot from my helmet cam last week.
Why Do I Ride?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_YE0JbPsdc (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_YE0JbPsdc)
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Point taken. Although I wonder, does anyone actually only ride bikes?
I ride one every day. Not a big bike, only a 125cc, but each and every day I take my life in my hands and head out to work on it. Rain or shine. Here we are only allowed one car due to the small size of the island, so my wife drives our car.
Bikes are dangerous, no joke. Be very careful out there.
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I posted this earlier ina ntoher thread, but thought you bikers and future bikers might enjoy it. Created from video I shot from my helmet cam last week.
Why Do I Ride?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_YE0JbPsdc (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_YE0JbPsdc)
Good Video
Here is 5 minutes of why I ride.
http://youtu.be/02QyA4kzDQw (http://youtu.be/02QyA4kzDQw)
Fred
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Damn that is gorgeous, we dont have any scenery like that here in Ohio unfortunately, maybe someday ill visit the west and get to ride some roads like that!
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Don't take this the wrong way as I'm not downplaying the importance of riding gear but absolutely NOTHING can help protect you more than having good Situational Awareness. Personally I think the guy wearing only shorts and a t-shirt with good SA is in a much safer place than the guy wearing the best safety gear in the world who is oblivious to what's going on around him.
You HAVE to teach yourself to have a kind of "Radar Sense" in that you always know what's going on around you. As others have already stated it is extremely important that you understand that people won't see you and you have to be prepared to react in these cases by predicting the other drivers' actions. If you can't do this then your chances of getting hurt or killed goes up dramatically.
When I was young and almost old enough to drive my dad would constantly bombard me with questions in the car... stuff like.. what kind of car is that? What are they going to do next? Simply put he taught me to be observant of other drivers' behaviors before I was even behind the wheel myself! I don't know if it's some kind of sixth sense or just keen observational skills but I've always been able to tell when a car is about to change lanes.. or do something stupid.. or what not.
But definitely... learn to drive a car first. You need to learn to obey traffic laws and to drive safely without having to think about it BEFORE you even start to think about riding a bike. Decisions on a motorcycle HAVE to be made instantly. Even a split second delay can mean the difference between life and death. You also need to learn to maintain control of a car under adverse conditions. Take the car out on a wide open area on a real wet or even snowy lot. Don't be afraid to get a little aggressive... you want to lose control and more importantly learn how to get control back. If you find yourself panicking every time the car does something you don't like then you're definitely not ready to be on a bike.
Also all of the safety equipment in the world isn't going to help you at highway speeds. If you wreck your bike at 70mph.. you're dead.. plain and simple. The good news is that at highway speed (on the highway) traffic is much more predictable. You typically don't get intersections or traffic lights at those speeds.. or oncoming traffic. Traffic with slower speeds however is much less predictable. This is where cars will come out of no where and this is where you're much more likely to get in a wreck. At 30mph if you get in a wreck there's a good chance you'll escape life-altering injury (and death) by having the appropriate safety equipment, HOWEVER learning how to avoid these situations is much, MUCH more important IMO.
And a few things to remember on a bike:
1> You NEVER have the right of way. Even if you have a green light and cross traffic is completely stopped you still have to be on high alert. NEVER ASSUME ANYTHING!
2> Car VS Bike the car will win EVERY TIME. Don't even try to get into this battle. Even if they are being a complete jerk you have to give in to them. Put your pride aside and put your safety first.
3> Learn where the horn button is and DON'T BE AFRAID TO USE IT. Since people have trouble seeing bikes it's important that you make them aware of your presence, however DON'T RELY ON THE HORN to save your butt. You still have to take evasive action. Never assume they are going to hear you either.
4> Don't ride if you're tired, buzzed, stoned, ill, or even if you're just not quite "with it". It's imperative that you be alert and on the ball when you're on a bike. If you're not feeling your best your chances of getting hurt or killed goes up dramatically.
5> Don't be stupid. Wheelies, burn outs, balls-to-the-wall speeds and showoffing is for the track and has no business on public roads. Yes we all know it's fun to get a little aggressive on a bike from time to time but please use common sense and good judgement here. Yeah I hit 90 on the intestate on the way home today. I "floored it" from a red light on the on-ramp just because I was in the mood for a little thrill. BUT at least there was very light traffic and no one in front of me. If there was any congestion at all or I didn't feel like the environment in front of me wasn't safe I would have ridden extremely conservatively.
Riding can be a very rewarding and fun experience but it's almost NEVER more cost effective than driving a car, and if you're in an extremely urban environment you may be better off with an electric bicycle or a scooter if you're looking at this from a convenience standpoint.
Get fluent with driving a car first. THEN take a course. THEN start small with a "disposable" used bike and once you outgrow that you'll have the experience behind your belt to handle something bigger.. and nicer. Also make sure you have insurance - not just for the bike but for yourself too. Many states require insurance companies to offer medical coverage with even basic motorcycle policies so make sure you take advantage of that as it's not that expensive.
Also it's inevitable. Even the best driver in the world can sometimes find himself (or herself I suppose) in an unavoidable situation. If (probably more like when) this happens you're probably not going to simply walk away from the scene. Be ready for that. The same is true with driving a car but the risk of severe injury and death is much much less.
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another moto-tard
Ha.... thats what I want now ...I need to get out of the couch postion and sit more straight up. Kills my back.
I rode one the other day they are Bad Motard.
(http://www.rolandsands.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/Ducati-Hypermotard-2_Original.jpg)
:aok
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^^^^^ Thats ok..
but this gets the chicks....chk out the muffler....yeah Baby :rock :rock :rock
(http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff274/lowerbrook/1279854957_1981_honda_express_nc50_complete_3_zpsde5a464e.jpg) (http://s237.photobucket.com/user/lowerbrook/media/1279854957_1981_honda_express_nc50_complete_3_zpsde5a464e.jpg.html)
only messing about, seems like some real good advice coming from folks...take it slow Bro
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Ha.... thats what I want now ...I need to get out of the couch postion and sit more straight up. Kills my back.
I rode one the other day they are Bad Motard.
(http://www.rolandsands.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/Ducati-Hypermotard-2_Original.jpg)
:aok
that is nothing. check out the one in the beginning of the video. I am working double ot for the down payment :x.
semp
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I will personally say that you can survive a crash at 70mph with proper gear. I was in the right lane of a three lane highway going a few mph over the speed limit 75 as opposed to 70( keep the flow coming at you ) a Honda civic punk kid changed lanes from for left straight over to make a turn and smoke my bike i flew over the hood hit the highway slid into the ditch and cane to rest. I broke my collerbone on impact with the highway other then that no road rash and walked away. Moral of the story cars don't see you and in this case he did something i did not expect. So like stated previously pay attention and be safe gear saved my life it could save yours
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I know this is an old thread but felt like posting after losing another friend today due to a motorcycle accident. Car pulled in front of him, he tried to avoid and hit the right front quarter. Sadly, his son is seriously injured and was airlifted to the best trauma center in the area.
If you're a new rider, remember Situational Awareness is absolutely necessary when riding. Every thing that moves is a threat and should be treated as such. Safety gear saved me once and I won't board a motorcycle without a helmet and pants as a minimum.
P.S. Couple years ago I noticed a bike coming down the road in heavy traffic with his headlight flashing and it really got my attention. I decided to install one of these and found such an item on the internet named Biker Buddy. Not affiliated with them, but highly suggest installing one of these or something similar on your motorcycle to help get peoples attention.
Before this, I've had people pull out in front of me while speaking on their cell phones. Thing is, two of them were looking directly at me and still pulled out. I was off the throttle on both occasions and was able to avoid hitting them. If you're riding in an area with background clutter such as mailboxes, shade etc. you can blend into the background drivers are looking at. A flashing headlight will get their attention the vast majority of the time.
Be safe....
FGBullet
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Sorry to hear that Bullet.
P.S. Couple years ago I noticed a bike coming down the road in heavy traffic with his headlight flashing and it really got my attention. I decided to install one of these and found such an item on the internet named Biker Buddy. Not affiliated with them, but highly suggest installing one of these or something similar on your motorcycle to help get peoples attention.
Not sure how common it is, but my bike (2009 Suzuki GSXR) came with a sort of trigger on the left handle bar for this. So, rather than having to use your thumb to flick the normal light switch, you can pull the trigger to flash the light while still maintaining grip on the handlebars. It's not a constant flicker, like I think you're talking about, but still quite useful in getting peoples' attention when passing or in an emergency. Yes, similar to just flashing lights in a car... but it makes people think a little when they see only a single headlight flashing instead of two.
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I have known a lot of motorcycle riders in my life (and have done a very large amount of off-road motorcycling in my life, but not on-road). Only a couple of the on-road motorcyclists I've known haven't had some incident where they could have been killed or seriously injured. Most of those incidents weren't their fault -- but that doesn't matter.
You'd be especially foolish to get a motorcycle when you aren't even an experienced driver yet.
The term some emergency-room physicians use for motorcycles is "donorcycles".
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Not sure how common it is, but my bike (2009 Suzuki GSXR) came with a sort of trigger on the left handle bar for this.
Yeah they're standard equipment on most bikes. Cars have the same control but not on a trigger. My ZX-10R has twin, horizontally mounted headlights, one is the dip beam the other main beam.....the dip beam is hard wired and can't be turned off so when riding on a motor/freeway, if there's some lane hogger in the fast lane then as I approach (cos believe me, I'm going faster) I'll use the flasher as it sorta looks like I've got two headlights flashing alternately.....kinda like the Police vehicles do in this country. My bike is bright blue so the driver sees me coming and 3 words pop into his head "Blue flashing lights"....and he gets out of the way. It's amazing how often it works.
Anyway, yes very sorry to hear that Bullet. One day I'll be joining your mate I'm sure but it'll be so much better arriving at the Pearly Gates in a cloud of tyre smoke and flames than aged 90 with a catheter and an oxygen tank.
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Don't ride with your mouth open.
I did that once and a bumblebee flew into my mouth. Suddenly I felt this furry thing on my tounge and as I spit it out it stung my bottom lip swelling it like a golf ball.
:bhead
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Don't ride with your mouth open.
I did that once and a bumblebee flew into my mouth. Suddenly I felt this furry thing on my tounge and as I spit it out it stung my bottom lip swelling it like a golf ball.
:bhead
Well, there's a scene right out of a Jim Carrey movie.
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I know this is an old thread but felt like posting after losing another friend today due to a motorcycle accident. Car pulled in front of him, he tried to avoid and hit the right front quarter. Sadly, his son is seriously injured and was airlifted to the best trauma center in the area.
If you're a new rider, remember Situational Awareness is absolutely necessary when riding. Every thing that moves is a threat and should be treated as such. Safety gear saved me once and I won't board a motorcycle without a helmet and pants as a minimum.
P.S. Couple years ago I noticed a bike coming down the road in heavy traffic with his headlight flashing and it really got my attention. I decided to install one of these and found such an item on the internet named Biker Buddy. Not affiliated with them, but highly suggest installing one of these or something similar on your motorcycle to help get peoples attention.
Before this, I've had people pull out in front of me while speaking on their cell phones. Thing is, two of them were looking directly at me and still pulled out. I was off the throttle on both occasions and was able to avoid hitting them. If you're riding in an area with background clutter such as mailboxes, shade etc. you can blend into the background drivers are looking at. A flashing headlight will get their attention the vast majority of the time.
Be safe....
FGBullet
Before installing one, check the local laws. Some communities have a law stating no flashing/oscillating of the headlights (think wig wags in emergency vehicles). Even on a single headlamp bike, a device that continually flashes high/low beams is could be deemed illegal in some places and PD will ticket for it, especially in this part of the state
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Don't ride with your mouth open.
I did that once and a bumblebee flew into my mouth. Suddenly I felt this furry thing on my tounge and as I spit it out it stung my bottom lip swelling it like a golf ball.
:bhead
My wifes father had this happen to him, he got so mad when the wasp stung him that he chewed it and ate it. :D
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I read this old thread with interest. I was especially surprised that the OP hadn't driven a car yet. I think a lot of inexperienced bikers don't realize how easily they can disappear into the background clutter or distraction. It doesn't take a drunk, a teenager, or angry dude to kill you. The most responsible people in the world will turn right in front of you because they don't see you. When you are on a bike you can see everything, you are out in the world so to speak, whereas in a car your a bit like watching tv from a couch. The world would probably be safer for bikers if everybody had to try riding a bike and every body was familiar with a near miss while driving a car. To the original poster I say learn to drive a car first and see what its like so you can realize its limitations and really not depend on it to behave rationally around you on a motorcycle.
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Too bad the original poster cant read this since he is banned
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I haven't ridden in the 6 months since I moved to Seattle....decided riding the concours in the city with crazy and impatient drivers (Where I don't even like driving my car) would not be a wise choice. I'm getting a place outside of town here before too long and I will resume riding.
ATGATT
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Before installing one, check the local laws. Some communities have a law stating no flashing/oscillating of the headlights (think wig wags in emergency vehicles). Even on a single headlamp bike, a device that continually flashes high/low beams is could be deemed illegal in some places and PD will ticket for it, especially in this part of the state
Good point; never crossed my mind.
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Once I was on the carpool lane going about 40 mph. it wasnt too bad then I noticed a light flickering on my left side mirror. I looked at it wondering what it was. a byke was flickering the high beams on and off when I looked at it it blinded me as it was a bit dark. I nearly lost control of my truck and took the guy in the byke with me.
semp
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Yeah, see riding in traffic in the dark with your main beam on is a bit daft.