Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Hi everyone. I'm a new guy to your community and have been reading quite array of different topics & discussions at TMW. I'm very impressed! It's motorcycle nirvana.

So, to the point; or at least as brief as I can make it. I've been away from motorcycles for quite awhile (20 & change years). My first bike was a 125cc Suzuki Motocross bike. As a teenager I used to go ripping around the fields & woods of South Ontario Canada - on make shift motocross fields & hill climbing. The next bike was a 175cc Kawasaki "Enduro" for continuing to run around fields & basic transportation.

Then graduation day came when I traded in the Enduro for a 500 Kawasaki street bike - quick off the line but didn't handle worth caw-caw.

So, now more to the point. I've been off the two wheeler for far to long; I'm at the stage in my life where I would like to get back on. I'm considering the Ducati S2R800 Dark, however, it is a question of confidence. Can I still do it? Is it too much bike? Do I have any business getting back on a bike after such a long abscence?

Anyone care to share their similar stories or advice?

sure you should get on a bike again...but temper excitement with some caution. things have changed a bit and i think you would be well served to take some sort of Basic Rider course. A lot of it will come back quick to you but they will teach you some emergency maneuvers that you probably never had in your bag of tricks.

buy some good gear, take the course and then buy whatever bike you feel comfortable on

Agreed with Bok.

I hadn't ridden any type of bike for 20 years when this year, I busted out a 1500cc cruiser. I don't think I made the jump back foolishly although some here on the board thought I was asking for it.

My main weapon?

First - Gathering of a lot of knowledge and research through countless articles/posts and books on motorcycling.

Second - Took a motorcycle safety class to learn safe road techniques and also determine how well my bike skills or muscles would come back to me.

Third - read all kinds of reviews of various bikes I found attractive, reliable, affordable, and within practical limits of my assessed skills.

Regarding motorcycles of 20 years ago, there's no comparison. Technology and reliability of bikes have come a looooong way. Granted I only rode dirt bikes and dual sports as a kid, bikes now are so much better at every possible category. I rode a friend's 1984 Magna the other day. Had only 13k miles on it. The owner took care of it meticulously. I was unimpressed. It had decent power and all, but it wasn't balanced like any of the modern bikes I've ridden - regardless of class. It's not to say that you should get a large bike right away, but it's to say that today's bike is so much smoother and better much better in handling.

Is the Ducati S2R800 too much? It's really a matter of opinion. Only you, yourself will know this. I decided on the bike I wanted after assessing my performance on the MSF basic rider course. The S2R800 has what...77horses at 9500rpm? It's a little more than what a lot of people on this board reccomend. Myself, if I didn't like cruisers so dang much would definitely try for a S2R800. In fact, after owning my 1500 Meanie for only a couple of months - I'm doing upgrades to add another 20+ horses. My Meanie dynoed in at 68hp at the wheel before I did any upgrades to it.

Anyways, welcome aboard. Take the course, then decide on a bike. Don't get fixated on a bike quite yet. Get your knowledge in first, ride, evaluate, and assess your skills during the course. If you're carefully evaluating your performance after every exercise during the course, you'll know where you stand. Consistency and self honesty will give you a great gauge.

For a brand new rider, it's best to start smaller. Returning riders, I think are harder to advise. With a post on this forum, you're really off to a good start on researching for what's to come. Good luck out there.

Good advice! Thanks guys. The advice of taking a riding course was on my mind & you guys have tilted me in that direction. Riding safety courses are probably good for any level of experienced rider.

Thanks

Yeah definitley take a safety course just to acclimate yourself to motorcycling again. When I took the course a few months ago, there were a few guys that were also returning to motorcycles and they said they didn't think they'd get anything out of it at the beginning. At the end of the course, they were singing praises.

Well congrats on catching the bug again.

I work with a guy that has a similar story. Rode enduro's when he was young, took about 10 years off, and then his wife bought him the Ducati SS800. He did perfectly fine with it and now plans on teaching his wife on the 800 so he can move to a bigger bike.

He is very cautions and took it very slow when he first got it. I think a level head will go a long way to making that a reasonable course of action for you.

Wow! You guys are good!
Wish my wife would buy me a Duc. I'm convinced - I'll take a course. I'll let you know if its worth it.

As far as I'm concerned I think all bikers should ride 100% of the time as if everyone else on the road is completely and certifiably insane. I have laid down a bike & slid approx the lenghth of a football field, (dog ran out on the road & caught the front wheel of my bike), so I take biking very seriously.