Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Hi TMW people:
Im a soon-to-be rider in mexico city, I´ll be buying a bike sometime next month, so Im faced with the usual questions squids should be worried about...
Safety, safety, safety and safety...
My parents are not to happy about me buying a bike but since Im 21 I decided since ive made my choice, I wont care that much... However, in order to ride i must be convinced im safe while doing that, and ive read that you should take an msf course and practice a lot before you go out in the open, so the question here is, do anyone of you know a company that teaches courses such as this in mexico, or even nearby? And, besides having all the right gear and riding as safe as you can, what can you do to be sure youll be safe? Maybe some convenient characteristics about the bike? Im thinking buell blast, if i can find one down here, or honda twister... Any other advice is apreciated...

Cool-headed riding to all of you...
Joe...
ROW HARD

Lots of info on the forum about good first bikes. The best advice I got was to spend less than $1000 on my first bike and ride it more than 1000 mi before getting another. I bought a mid-80's GS500E for a bit more than $1000, but rode it for about 3000 mi and sold it for what I bought it for. Since the odds are you will drop your first bike, it makes sense to get one that is less likely to sustain significant damage (i.e. no plastic fairings). Low - moderate displacement and standard ergos are also a good way to start.

I don't have any info on MSF-like courses in Mexico, but I'm sure your local dealer could fill you in, even if it's a private instructor teaching by the hour.

Good luck!

Joey Hellfish wrote:Hi TMW people:
Im a soon-to-be rider in mexico city, I´ll be buying a bike sometime next month, so Im faced with the usual questions squids should be worried about...
Safety, safety, safety and safety...
My parents are not to happy about me buying a bike but since Im 21 I decided since ive made my choice, I wont care that much... However, in order to ride i must be convinced im safe while doing that, and ive read that you should take an msf course and practice a lot before you go out in the open, so the question here is, do anyone of you know a company that teaches courses such as this in mexico, or even nearby? And, besides having all the right gear and riding as safe as you can, what can you do to be sure youll be safe? Maybe some convenient characteristics about the bike? Im thinking buell blast, if i can find one down here, or honda twister... Any other advice is apreciated...

Cool-headed riding to all of you...
Joe...
ROW HARD

"what can you do to be sure youll be safe? "
Firsdt of all, the above quote from your question really has no answer. Since riding is inherantly a dangerous sport, the best we can work towards is to make ourselves as safe as possible.
That said, why don't you Google MSF and see what courses are available near you? Id suggest that you investigate whatever dealers are in your location and what bikes they carry. Visit their locations if possible to see what their service areas look like and also their parts shop & availability of parts for the bike you are interested in. It sounds like you are leaning towards a sport bike rather than a cruiser so insurance rates based on your age and type of bike may be a consideration also.