Completely noob questions?..

[NJoseph]

Well, I looked at the DPS regulations, and you must take a MSF course as well as a drivers ed course to get your motorcycle license. But I would have to agree that people drive like dumbasses around here most of the time, but just when theyre rushing to get to work/get home. And I have driven in traffic, like downtown, and other places like 1960, some highways, so I think I have enough driving experience or at least close to enough. I do like the look of the Ninja 250's, it would be a good 6 months or so before I buy my first bike though, I'll need to do a bit of saving for a down payment and such. What type of mileage is good for a motorcycle though? I've seen anywhere from 3,500 to 20,000 on used ones and 20 seems like a whole lot..

[jonnythan]

And I have driven in traffic, like downtown, and other places like 1960, some highways, so I think I have enough driving experience or at least close to enough.

Trust me when I say this:

In three years, you'll look back on what you've learned in that time span and wonder how you even *survived* on the road without that knowledge.

At 16, with no license, you absolutely do not have enough driving experience. I can guarantee you that. All of us have been driving for years... we've been 16, we know what it was like.

[NJoseph]

So should I get a car first or just wait and use my moms or whatever until I have about a year of experience with a license and all and during that time just save up for my first bike?

[jonnythan]

So should I get a car first or just wait and use my moms or whatever until I have about a year of experience with a license and all and during that time just save up for my first bike?

I'd say at least a *couple* of years road experience, accident-free.

[Jadien]

So should I get a car first or just wait and use my moms or whatever until I have about a year of experience with a license and all and during that time just save up for my first bike?

To be honest, if I were you. I'd buy a clean 90's Honda or Toyota. Then learn with that for at the very least a year. I say at least a full year, so you can have some experience with traffic during different seasons (i.e. snowbird season, spring rush, summer vs. schooltime, etc.). Use that year to save up, learn how to properly maintain a car, and get a feel for the road.

Also, the reason I say to get your own, and not use Mom's is because there's just a different level of responsibility when you're driving your own car.

After that, you could look at getting a bike in the 250-500cc area. If you're lucky, Kawasaki might revamp their Ninja 500 too.

[MZ33]

Hi, I'm brand new to this post, and almost as new to motorcycling. I have a lot of car-driving experience, though, averaging around 18,000 per year, and some of that has been in Houston traffic. Both of my nieces took driving courses in Sugar Land before getting their licenses, and each one managed to total a vehicle. NOT within their first year of driving, but in their second or third. When it comes to heavy city traffic, your risks are high no matter how good you are. When you have only a few months of driving under your belt, these risks are astronomical. The whole thing about inexperience is that you don't know that you don't know stuff. Could you compromise, maybe, and invest the money in a decent car, and maybe get a small learner bike that you don't use as your primary vehicle? You might also consider dirt bike school--all kinds of skills practiced over time, and more freedom to test yourself and a bike under various conditions.

This may not apply to you, but for me, I knew I had to hold off on motorcycling until I was through with driving fast and testing turns. Good luck in whatever you choose!

[Bubba]

Before you do anything, TAKE A RIDING COURSE!
Once you've done that, get experience on the bike, at least a year, before attempting to take a passanger along. A passanger is a whole new ball game.
Practice at a safe place with the passanger before attempting the highway.

Above all, BE SAFE AND DON'T BE STUPID!!!