My Take on the First Bike question...

[RhadamYgg]

I do have to say that I do speed in my car... And 30 over does happen - I have done 85 on the parkway and turnpike in NJ in my car.

I'm not sure if I consider that excessive speed *depending on the circumstances*.

My understanding though, from a legal standpoint is that if a cop pulls you over in NJ in recent times - and you are doing over 20 over - they can give you a careless driving ticket and a speeding ticket.

But these roads have a boatload of lanes and the turns are never very significant. When traffic is very light - well I don't consider it to be safe, but I don't consider it dangerous, either.

The smaller the road - though, the more turns and the more signifcant the turns curvature... I don't consider these places to speed 30 over.

I'm not really sure what I'll do on a motorcycle. I figure I don't really want the higher insurance rates - and that while cars might have a tougher time seeing me, cops will probably be looking out for motorcycles driving at excessive speed.

I was warned at one dealer... He said that you have to watch exiting the parkway and turnpike - if you do 100+ on them and then slow down to exit, you may feel you have slowed down, but in fact you may still be going 70 when you hit the offramp.

RhadamYgg[/b]

[jstark47]

I was warned at one dealer... He said that you have to watch exiting the parkway and turnpike - if you do 100+ on them and then slow down to exit, you may feel you have slowed down, but in fact you may still be going 70 when you hit the offramp.

hmmm..... buy the Rebel. There will be no question of going 100+ on the Jersey pike..... Rebels don't go that fast!!

[RhadamYgg]

I was warned at one dealer... He said that you have to watch exiting the parkway and turnpike - if you do 100+ on them and then slow down to exit, you may feel you have slowed down, but in fact you may still be going 70 when you hit the offramp.

hmmm..... buy the Rebel. There will be no question of going 100+ on the Jersey pike..... Rebels don't go that fast!!

Ahhh, man, when I was a kid I'd drive 100 on the turnpike and the parkway in a car... Now, My car has hit 90... But I just don't have it in me to do it for long. I get paranoid about the cops and the economic harm that would be done to me if I got a ticket for speeding over 30 over and careless driving and lost my license (they can, I believe take your license if you are being too much of an a$$).

Not to mention the whole death thing.

RhadamYgg

[shane-o]

So, Ive been riding for about 6 weeks now--loving every moment of it. But my story began well over a year ago when i decided that I'd learn to ride. I began to save my money for a bike, gear--anything that might pop up. Once I'd saved up about half of what I expected to pay for a bike, I went to sign up for the MSF course at the local community college. They were booked for the entire fall semester and I was forced to take the course in late January. I actually went on the internet in search of graphic images of motorcycle fatalities and pics of disfigured victims of motorcycle collisions. No, I'm no freak...I was simply trying to see if my passion for motoring exceeded the FEAR that seemed to be building in me as the date of the coarse drew near. Nothing worked--I was not discouraged--I was going to get my license and a motorcycle, period. Anyway, I checked around on sites like this trying to figure out what to buy. I had pretty much decided on picking something up on EBAY seeing as how the prices seemed much better than retail (who needs a warrantee anyway). Most sites pointed to a 250cc bike, much like the ones they use in the motorcycle course. I decided to wait until after the course to see how well I handled the little bike. The course was 2 weekends longs (a thursday and saturday followed by the same next week) and on the last day taking the test, I realized that while I felt somewhat comfortable with the bike in the course, I had NO street experience ...I felt...unprepared... It wasnt so much a matter of what kind of bike anymore, it was...."do i trust myself with the public..am I a danger to myself and others?" I consulted my instructor who in my opinion was extremely skilled and who had earned my respect. He said something different.
"You'll do fine. As far as what bike to get, get what you like. Dont pick a 250cc because you think you can manage it any better than a 600+. If you fixate on the 18 wheeler next to you, you'll get wrapped up in the tires and die..if you split lanes and ping pong between 2 cars, you'll probably die...if you dont look through your turns...well you get what im saying. All these things can happen on a 250 or a 1300."

It really got me thinking. I went away from that class with a license (or paperwork to secure one) and a fairly good understanding of throttle control. According to my instructor..thats all i really needed. Time to buy a bike...

(2 weeks later)
So, this fat guy delivers my 2000 Ducati 748. Its a beautiful yellow with chrome D&D slip ons, a chip in it, some thing or other to keep it extra cool in the summer months, an exposed clutch with an adonized redish clutch plate. I call her Sherene.

Anyway, I waited till the guy left to even sit on her...I had no idea what I was doing. I was scared out of my bloody socks. It was soo clean and shiny and HEAVY. OMG i thought..what have I done...all this money and this thing is going to end up in a tree.... I couldnt even fire it up..was it broken?
(20 MIN LATER)
The internet says I have to lift the kickstand or it wont start....(started it up) WOW , its loud...and sounds broken (like all ducatis do). But WOW..it sounds sick...clutch..first gear..balance off....little gas...omg im moving!
(TODAY)
Took Sherene up to the Blue Ridge Parkway for the first time (bout 45 mins from where i live). Its a beautiful piece of road that runs between North Carolina and Virginia. The scenery is breathtaking! The speed limit is 35 and the road is just under 500 miles long. In my book, it cant be appreciated fully at anything under 65 mph. I stopped many times to take pics with my phone and take in the scenery. If you havent been there you should go right now! (or sometime soon). The bike communicates every input from your throttle hand to you in such a way that it WARNS you when its not being handled properly. I've only figured this out of late as my skill is slowly improving and I can push the bike a little harder. Mind you, the bike can do quite a bit more than I am capable of right now, so it's all about listening to her...feeling when my braking isnt smooth, when she needs to lean over more..when she's on the edge of adhesion, etc...

The point of this long post is this... My instructor was soo right...its about YOU, the rider..not the bloody bike. You can have fun on a 250 or die on it. And the same applies to any bike you choose. Take the MSF course....be honest with your skill level. THROTTLE CONTROL will save your life. For the most part a bike will fight to stay upright...its up to YOU to keep within the limits of your skills, as a beginner you'll never test the limit of the bike unless your inputs are all fouled up. Start slow, and ride alot...and BUY WHATEVER YOU LIKE!

Ducky

cough cough unwitty cough wanker cough cough












dip me in honey and feed me to the lesbians.










.

[Skier]

If I had a large supply of lesbians do you think I would share? Pffft.

[Fast Eddy B]

So, Ducky, what else have you ridden?

Makes, models, etc...

[Grey Thumper]

Most sites pointed to a 250cc bike, much like the ones they use in the motorcycle course. I decided to wait until after the course to see how well I handled the little bike. The course was 2 weekends longs (a thursday and saturday followed by the same next week) and on the last day taking the test, I realized that while I felt somewhat comfortable with the bike in the course, I had NO street experience ...I felt...unprepared... It wasnt so much a matter of what kind of bike anymore, it was...."do i trust myself with the public..am I a danger to myself and others?" I consulted my instructor who in my opinion was extremely skilled and who had earned my respect. He said something different.
"You'll do fine. As far as what bike to get, get what you like. Dont pick a 250cc because you think you can manage it any better than a 600+. If you fixate on the 18 wheeler next to you, you'll get wrapped up in the tires and die..if you split lanes and ping pong between 2 cars, you'll probably die...if you dont look through your turns...well you get what im saying. All these things can happen on a 250 or a 1300."

It really got me thinking. I went away from that class with a license (or paperwork to secure one) and a fairly good understanding of throttle control. According to my instructor..thats all i really needed. Time to buy a bike...

(2 weeks later)
So, this fat guy delivers my 2000 Ducati 748.

I really don't get it. This guy (or girl) seemingly did everything right; did his research, found some decent advice, took a course, waited after the course to buy a bike, had a sensible and cautious attitude, took the safety of the public into account, etc. etc.

And it took just one chat with a dangerously misguided (or possibly misinterpreted) instructor to turn Ducky into someone who a.) Gets a 750cc supersport as a first bike. b.) Wants to get affirmation and support for his choice from a bunch of strangers on the internet. And c.) Thinks using one anecdotal (and extremely short term) example is enough to defend an inherently flawed argument.

[Ducky]

Im a bit surprised to see this post still going. I've long since conceded that my choice may not be right for anyone else in the entire world. The pros are right, get the tiniest bike you can get to start. Im thinking 50cc should be a great start for newbies. Afterall, safety is number one so I think a 250cc is probably too much power for starters.

I really don't get it. This guy (or girl) seemingly did everything right; did his research, found some decent advice, took a course, waited after the course to buy a bike, had a sensible and cautious attitude, took the safety of the public into account, etc. etc.

And it took just one chat with a dangerously misguided (or possibly misinterpreted) instructor to turn Ducky into someone who a.) Gets a 750cc supersport as a first bike. b.) Wants to get affirmation and support for his choice from a bunch of strangers on the internet. And c.) Thinks using one anecdotal (and extremely short term) example is enough to defend an inherently flawed argument.

Grey Thumper, I'd bet my bike that my instructor would ride circles around you. So to insult an accredited professional for giving advice you disagree with just makes you seem a bit silly. Ive insulted NOONE here on this site. As I said in my previous post, im not here for approval and hand shakes. I thought I'd share my experience with you guys because Ive thoroughly enjoyed motorcycling.

Like i said...i GET IT, you guys disagree. Are you all THAT hung up on your opinions that you cant accept anyone that doesnt share it? I'm not asking any of you to go out and buy a bike you cant handle, but I DO NOT regret making the purchase I did. If you all are just going to bash me from now until infinite, I'll just go somewhere else to share my thoughts and experiences.

[jonnythan]

Im a bit surprised to see this post still going. I've long since conceded that my choice may not be right for anyone else in the entire world. The pros are right, get the tiniest bike you can get to start. Im thinking 50cc should be a great start for newbies. Afterall, safety is number one so I think a 250cc is probably too much power for starters.

Wow.

You don't understand *at all*.

[jstark47]

Like i said...i GET IT, you guys disagree. Are you all THAT hung up on your opinions that you cant accept anyone that doesnt share it? I'm not asking any of you to go out and buy a bike you cant handle, but I DO NOT regret making the purchase I did. If you all are just going to bash me from now until infinite, I'll just go somewhere else to share my thoughts and experiences.

Ummm... I think my feedback was just that it's not practical to do it on the BRP. Not practical from either the perspective of avoiding tickets, or staying away from real hard objects. Yeah, I know it's hard to keep to 35mph up there, but it's just not a good place to stretch the bike's legs.