Motorcycle Help

[Squarenot]

There is some excellent advice here. I had a MC when I was in my early 20's and my only vehicle for a few years. Never had an accident, but did put it down a few times and had a few very close calls. Everyone I've ever known who has owned a bike for any time can talk about close calls. We are the luck ones. The unlucky ones will never talk. Youth has a way of showing invincibility. The result is not always pretty.

[Alyssa Nicole]

Originally Posted by Nicole22atx

I wanta arrive in style!!!

and its hard to arrive "in style" on a bike...helmet head or a huge frizzy poof is typically how i end up LOL try a dirtbike out and see if you even like being on a bike first.

[Milehigh65]

Nicole, if you have not changed your mind by now after everyone sharing there unfortunate experiences. I am really not a fan of that especially when someone shows a interest in learning to ride. While it is extremely important to know that operating a MC without a doubt comes with inherit risk but if you respect that fact and train to recognize and avoid certain conditions you will increase your rate of success. This is why I sugested you go through a certfied trainig course as theses courses will give you the tools you need to ride using what is called the "SEE" technique (search,evaluate execute). MC riding is a trye pleasure and is one of the mosy exciting experiences one can have, but you most prepare properly. If you are interested in some statistics regarding MC incidents, I would be happy the share some with you through PM. Just a quick stat is that surprises people is that a very high % of incidents involving a MC and car are found to be avoidable once the incident is analyzed.

[johnthejohn]

Originally Posted by Nicole22atx

Im wanting to starting riding motorcycles, a friend is teaching me... Anybody have a Harley (1300 C.C) or bigger or 600 C.C. crotch rocket they can sell, trade, or let me take payments on? Ill cover full coverage insurance and write out contract!!! Or even a nice classic car? I wanta arrive in style!!!

I would *highly* recommend taking a Basic Riders Course from the MSF to supplement what your friend is teaching you.

Austin is a a GREAT town to ride around, I hope you enjoy yourself.

[Sidewinder]

A couple of suggestions.

1. There's a used bike place on North Lamar, near the Drivers License bureau, that I keep meaning to check out.

2. Take a look at the Honda CBR250R. Nice styling, magazine review says decent handling qualities, but it is a 250cc 4-stroke thumper (single) and shouldn't be too much of a handful for a beginner.

For reason I do not understand, the Big Four refuse to make anything remotely resembling entry-level (small displacement) street bikes for the American market. They make quite a few such for the overseas market.

[Milehigh65]

One more suggestion, in order to determine what type bike to purchase you must first determine what type of riding you want to do, in your inquirery you mention crotch rocket or a crusier, to opposite ends of the spectrum. How much riding you plan to do consider distance and frequecy etc. It is IMHO that this more important than worring about what size bike to purchase, size of the bike is not that critical. You should hit a few bike shops and sit on different bikes and look for comfort while sitting in the saddle. I ride with a national club I teach MC safety and I have seen many different scenerios e.g. I have 2 ladies in my club that completed Riders Edge course and following the course went out and purchased touring series HD 900lb 1584 cc machines and have no problem handling the bikes.