About Cars,Trucks and Motorcyles

[Rascal]

I haven't read all the replies but I'm sure someone has already said it - a bike as a first vehicle is a bad idea.

As you drive around with friends or family, look around and pay attention to all of the people that change lanes without signaling, swerve in and out of lanes, drive aggressively and generally don't pay attention.

Combine that with a new driver who more then often doesn't have much excess mental capacity beyond not trying to do the things mentioned above and it can be a recipe for disaster.

Adding a motorcycle to the mix only compounds this massively as riding requires an entirely different mindset and riding style then driving requires - just to stay alive out there. Beyond not getting hit, you have to have a natural awareness of your surroundings and the terrain - water, oil, sand/dirt on the road, just a whole bunch of stuff that new drivers generally don't think of.

Don't take this as a knock on you personally.

If you do decide to get a bike, Please, please please don't get a sportbike. I know they're cool, but they are a bad first bike and not just because they are fast. Modern sportbikes place the rider in a more forward position then regular runabout bikes do, so when (not if) you hit some loose debris on the road, having all that forward weight on the arms/wrists typically causes riders to hit the gas and lose control. Being more upright allows for a more safe newbie ride. Think of it like a road against mountain bike - if you loose the front of a MB, you can shift your weight and often safe yourself from a spill. Now imagine loosing the front of a roadbike while your hands are in the drops.

There are many other reasons too...

If you must, I say get a scooter for around town running around (there was a thread on here a month or so ago) and learn slowly.

Oh yeah, do take the MSF course even if you don't get a bike yet. They are great!

Originally Posted by 2wheel_lee

Off subject, but it does pertain to the RC51. We just had an employee charity sale at my work, and lost of brand new RC51 and CGR600RR stuff went for fractions of a penny on the dollar. It was sickening. An example, complete wheels were $5 each. Plastic was equally cheap.

Can I be your friend? I have an RC that needs a new fender due to stress cracks. I'm always on the lookout for spare bits...

[spookydave]

get a beater truck like the Ranger of a Toyota. No need for fancy because if you are anything like me your first ride will have a hard life.

[ubermensch]

Don't listen to these people. What you need is an 99 Accord, and I just happen to have one for sale to help fund my first MTB.

If you are anything like me, then all the well-intentioned advice in the world won't persuade you once you've got that itch. In that's the case and you end up with a bike, my only advice is to listen to your gut feeling. If you ever think that you might be riding over your head, you probably are, and if you hesitate and think that it's a bad idea to wear less gear because it's too hot outside, you're probably right, etc...

For me, learning how to ride a motorcycle has been the most rewarding thing I've done. It's just about the most fun you can have with your clothes on. YMMV.

[92se-r]

Two words for a 16 year old and a crotch rocket. ORGAN DONOR. I know how I was when I was 16 and man, I sure didn't consider myself stupid then, but looking back, DAMN, I can't believe I'm still alive.

I still can't believe I've been driving over 10 years. I feel like I just graduated high school.

[Mudman]

Don't ride a bike. Even though I've had my M1 for a few years now I still don't have a bike. For the simple fact that I've seen some pretty horrific things. It's bad enough driving on a street filled with putholes, bumps and being side by side with semi trucks driving like idiots. Me on a bike would almost be a death wish for a commuter.

A bike isn't the best idea considering people are so reckless while driving. Lets be honest- MOST people are not looking for a motorcyclist when they are changing lanes in a car. You have little to no protection in an accident whether it be by yourself or with a vehicle.

Getting a moto license is super easy though! I took a class at Cerritos college for 4 days then went to the DMV for the written test only and got my license.
To be honest- I don't think I even know how to ride a motorcycle anymore.

Even though gas prices are stupid high right now. You have much better chances in a car. That extra cost in gas for my safety is worth it.

[drclark]

Lots of good advice in this thread. I would agree that a bike as a first vehicle is probably not a good idea. Face it, as a new driver, you are likely to make a few mistakes and be less prepared to deal with the mistakes of others; a relatively minor accident in a car could be fatal on a motorcycle.

Knowing my personality type, I decided a long time ago that motorcycles would be a bad idea for me. I used to be a farily aggressive driver that like to go fast... it took me a long time to grow out of that phase and settle down (high gas prices helped this along, btw). I figured that if I had a motorcycle, I would end up dead eventually.

My first car was a '77 impala that I beat the crap out of. It was a great car that had a huge back seat.....

drc