In Need of Some Guidance

[Phoenyx]

I know seeing a 18 year-old kid who drives a M3 ready to spend 50 or so grand on a motorcycle is not very often, but I love speed basically. I love performance, I love testing my limits.

Okay I want you to listen to me.

We had the Isle of Man TT last week - quite possibly the best bike race in the world.

One of the riders - a semi-professional with a long career - lost control.

He died on impact, leaving a wife and children.

To make it worse a spectator was pronounced dead at the scene and then another died from their injuries in hospital. In addition two marshalls were also injured, one critically.

But thats what happens when you push limits, sometimes they push back and it isnt just you they kill.

There are some beautiful pictures somewhere on here from Swedish Police. A Honda supersport hit - I think you'd call it a VW Rabbit - at 120mph. The rider didnt even have time to brake. The Bike ended up entirely inside the Rabbit - which flipped and landed 10 feet away on its roof. Rider, Car driver and Car passenger killed on impact.


I understand the need to push yourself, to live on the edge, hang your balls out and subject yourself to risk - I was 18 not all that long ago but

and this is a biggest but there is


it is unacceptable to put others at risk for your thrill. Risk your life all you want, just don't risk other peoples.

There is a time and place to push the limits, and that is on the track. Get a trackday bike and really push the limits.

I understand fully. My only cousin died in a car accident while illegally street racing one of his friends and he lost control or something, and hit the back end of a 18 wheeler truck going like 120 miles per hour. I know some risks, and I know some of my limits and I don't push them unless I know I can. For example, the German Autobahns here, are very strict with allowing parts being no limit and that car drivers and motorcyclist can get tickets for going to slow. Only if there is good weather, good conditions, and not much traffic will I start going "fast." I have the urge to go fast, but the urge can wait, as you said, on the track. As a teenager, I know I might sometimes go a bit to far, so i try to set a reasonable goal and I have learned how to stop myself.

I've seen a lot of motorcycle crashes, just looking at YouTube and so on. Not being a daily rider or someone experienced, it can sometimes be a bit stomache crunching to watch and no matter how good a motorcyclist may be, sometimes its the drivers around you who put you at risk everyday (I saw one video of a guy in this really nice motorcycle and while he was turning, a car hit him; don't know if he died, but looked pretty bad). I'm also trying to take more of those MSF courses and the US Military's own training system. Also, is there any other courses you suggest I take for getting ready for a motorcycle like a Ducati or something?

J.
J.

[Lion_Lady]

Kal - Thanks for your reply

Well, what bike do you suggest? What bike do you think is the best, but should be getting after I learn the tricks and trades of a motorcycle?

J.

Your question is kind of like asking, "Which shoes are best?"

So much depends on YOUR dimensions, and your style, in addition to what you'll be doing/how you'll be riding.

With your lack of first hand knowledge, just expect to have to feel your way for what works for you. In addition, what works right now or in 6 months may be totally WRONG in two years. There is simply no way to skip to the end in this regard.

P

[Nalian]

If I had money just laying around waiting to be spent like that...I'd probably get a couple of bikes with different riding positions to check out and figure out what I wanted out of a bike.

[Fast Eddy B]

Hey, once again, thanks for replying.

I know seeing a 18 year-old kid who drives a M3 ready to spend 50 or so grand on a motorcycle is not very often, but I love speed basically.

J.

For everybody's sake go get a racing license, find out you're not as skilled as you think, and put some god-damn WORK into something.

Don't do this "poo poo" around innocent people. You aren't special, only spoiled with speed gear, and not enough wisdom to use it wisely. I see these local guys with fast cars who think they are 'professional' and not enough balls to train with (and get beaten by) the real pros.

[Phoenyx]

Well, here in Germany, I can't just "go on a track." Maybe when I move to the states, I probably will.

I may be "spoiled," I may "not do work," and I may not be "good," but I do know one thing, we gotta start somewhere. Maybe I started differently than many, but I'm willing to try new things and gain as much knowledge as possible. In the end, those guys with the fast cars have those cars, and they probably show off with them too, and get the attention. I'm not really trying to do that, although it's a good add-on with the whole thing, I want to learn. Professionals are not born, and I know for a fact they have made a few mistakes getting to where they are now.

J.

[ofblong]

I dont see why you guys are ripping on him so much about his age/type etc etc. He obviously is wanting to somewhat learn.

With that said you can die walking across the street (as I and my son nearly did) because some moron is to stupid to look at the crosswalk before turning left. I have seen people in wheel chairs get nailed at crosswalk in my downtown and not survive. the only reason I didnt get hit is because the guy freaked out when he saw me and slammed on the brakes to only get plowed into by oncoming traffic. That oncoming traffic wouldnt have nailed him id be dead or seriously injured along with my at that time 15 month old son (who is now 5 and a half).

as for speeding fast dont do it in america you will die/get hurt/get pulled over (yes in at least 1 state the state police have hayabusa's that arent stock) and overall its not a good thing to be going extremely fast here. I do 10 over and thats about my limit of feeling like I can react. any faster and I dont feel I would be able to react in time to most things. There are plenty of tracks around but not sure if all hold track days (I have yet to see any tracks around me besides the motorcross track hold track days).

[Fast Eddy B]

Well, here in Germany, I can't just "go on a track." .

J.

No? Nurburgring laps cost the equivalent of £13. But learning to ride, safely, and learning to ride safely, and getting licences, and getting there, and sticking your neck out takes work. The easy way is to spend dad's money on a Ducati, twist the throttle, and blame the rest on anyone but yo-bad self.

You want speed to feel satisfied? Earn it.

[Kal]

Trust me every racing circuit in the western world has a Bike schol based at it. You may need a translator but there will be a race school based at your nearest circuit - I'll bet my breakfast on it.

The Chief instructor at Nurburgring is a woman, we had some wonderful footage on Top Gear of her taking a Transit round and thrashing a lot of sportscars/bikes in the process.

You are totally right about professionals being made. Rossi started off his career about half your age on mini-motos. I can remember watching him the the 125 and 250cc classes because he either rode like a god and won convincingly or stuffed it in a spectacular crash. Back then he had no middle ground. when he broke through into the senior classes though he was a seasoned professional, had stopped making silly mistakes and has been the man to beat.

The opportunities for you to get the race training, the advanced MSF course and probaly half a dozen other schemes - You've just got to be willing to go to them and learn everything you can.

[Shorts]

I dont see why you guys are ripping on him so much about his age/type etc etc. He obviously is wanting to somewhat learn.

Right, he is wanting to learn and that's important in this stage of the game. He's already said he's got no first hand knowledge or experience in riding daily. So, first order of business (I think I saw the OP posted that he would) is to take MSF and get a rider's course done. That's where to start. From there, ride bikes that will enable you to learn how ride fast. And to ride fast, you need skill. Without skill, you're the limit, not the bike you're on.

BTW, what "military's own training system" are you referring to?

[Phoenyx]

Yeah, I've been to Nurburgring many times to watch the cars go by and stuff. But, with that said, I don't think I'm that 'skilled' enough to race a motorcycle with other cars going faster, or slower on a Track along with me (I have put my M3 in there though, that was an experience).

Probably when I get to the states, the first thing I will do is the MSF courses and get my motorcycle license. The USO here in Germany, offers a course for motorcycles and cars around the thrill of being on the No-Limit parts of the Autobahn. When I took it with my car, they taught the safest way to go fast (like keeping 300 meters between you and the other car at a minimum), gave maps of the no-limit autobahns, and who to call in you are in or see an accident; things like that.

The whole reason I came to forums boards and stuff is that many of you have already pasted this 'stage' and know bikes pretty well. To my surprise, it's harder to find the right bike than the right car. I want to learn to ride fast, safely, and work up to get the best bike possible for speed and performance in the future.

J.