An admitted total Noob - or currently wannabe biker

[RhadamYgg]

Hey Everyone,
I've wanted to ride for years, but for whatever reasons it just never happened. My first attempt - NJ has a requirement with Permits to ride with other motorcyclists and I didn't know anyone who rode at that time - and well I never knew about the MSF in previous attempts so there was no way for me to get a license.
Now with the internet overflowing with information I researched getting a license and immediately ran in to the MSF. So, I went and tested for my written and vision tests at the DMV about two weeks ago and I'm scheduled to take the MSF course the last weekend of April.
I'm a fan of Skel3tor1 on youtube (hopefully that doesn't embarrass him too much). He helped me decide between a Honda Shadow VLX and Honda Rebel. But I haven't purchased my motorcycle yet. I'm definitely up for tips on equipment/riding clothing and transporting my motorcycle.
I live in Northern NJ and I'm a little leary of purchasing the bike and riding it home. I was even thinking of renting a truck over at Home Depot for a few hours to transport it home. Am I being overly cautious or is this a good idea?
All I can think of is the video on YouTube of a guy that just bought a new looking sport bike and riding 25 feet and laying it down. So, while I don't think poorly of that guy (some comments on the video talked about coatings on new motorcycle tires reducing traction when you first get a motorcycle) - I don't want to be that guy.
I am definitely interested in Video blogging my experiences as a new rider - so anyone with tips on that - those would be much appreciated as well.
Not to be a total dork on the roads - but even though the bike I'm going to purchase is a cruiser (ok - mini-cruiser) - the Honda Rebel - I want to wear clothing that is as screaming - see me - as I can possibly get. I'm not even rejecting hi-res yellow riding suits... But I'm not sure what my sons will think of their daddy looking like a giant banana.

RhadamYgg

[NWTrtle]

First off, WELCOME!

Sounds like you have a good plan going and are making some pretty good choices. Dealers will generally deliver a bike to you. There will most likely be a small charge, but they are set up to deliver your bike to you. Probably a lot less headache then it would be trying to find a way to transport the bike yourself.

Now, with saying all that, it really depends on the area between the dealer and your home, how you feel once you complete the MSF and if you want to try ride your new bike home. I rode my father-in-law's bike around the farm land near his home. I then bought my bike and rode it home. I knew some lesser traveled roads that would get me home, and I did fine. But, you do have very valid concerns (new tires, etc.). So do what you think would be best and the most safe.

Enjoy the forums as they are full of great information and advice.

[ShawnKing]

Now with the internet overflowing with information I researched getting a license and immediately ran in to the MSF. So, I went and tested for my written and vision tests at the DMV about two weeks ago and I'm scheduled to take the MSF course the last weekend of April.

Good for you! It's a great class (should be mandatory) and really teaches you a lot - but *not* everything.

I live in Northern NJ and I'm a little leary of purchasing the bike and riding it home. I was even thinking of renting a truck over at Home Depot for a few hours to transport it home. Am I being overly cautious or is this a good idea?

Not overly cautious (no such thing on a motorcycle!). Do you still not have any "riding buddies"? Maybe one of them could come with you to get the bike and ride it home for you. If not, renting a truck to get it home is a perfectly good idea. Many riders have done the same.

That having been said, wait until after your MSF course - you may have the confidence to ride it home (I did for my first bike). But, as another poster said, map your route out so you're only taking back roads. Much less stress/pressure that way.

(some comments on the video talked about coatings on new motorcycle tires reducing traction when you first get a motorcycle)

*Very* true. New tires have to be "scrubbed in" or scuffed up before they provide all the traction the bike needs.

I am definitely interested in Video blogging my experiences as a new rider - so anyone with tips on that - those would be much appreciated as well.

Viddler.com or Stickam.com.

I want to wear clothing that is as screaming - see me - as I can possibly get. I'm not even rejecting hi-res yellow riding suits...

Hey, nothing wrong with that! Being visible is half the battle.

But I'm not sure what my sons will think of their daddy looking like a giant banana.

You're sons will think you're being a safety dork. But they'll learn the lesson that dad is having fun *and* being safe.

[dr_bar]

Welcome to TMW...


You have valid concerns, most of which are easily handled as others have said. If riding the new bike home is the only option when the time comes, ask if one of the service people can scrub the tires in a bit for you. All that means is that they will ride it around the lot or neighbourhood, leaning they bike as far as they can side to side to rough up the surface of the tire, (this is slow speed stuff so don't worry about a wrecked bike.) It doesn't wear away all of the coating, but enough so that you won't have a problem going home. (Remember, the back roads...)

Good luck with the MSF and enjoy the bike...

[RhadamYgg]

Thanks for all the great information. Some things I didn't even think of - like the dealer delivering the bike to my house.

The roads here in NJ are terrible - so my first rides are going to be as controlled as I can make them. So the hitch and rented trailer sometimes will help me take the bike out to someplace with a little less volume in traffic.

I definitely agree that the MSF course should be mandatory. I've been doing a lot of reading on motorcycles and I'm shocked to hear that the percentage of people in motorcycle accidents have a high population of non-licensed riders. Then again, I do remember sneaking off to drive my car before I actually got my drivers license.

Of course having said that - I've been considering purchasing the bike before getting my license in order to be able to get familiar with the controls. I've driven stick in cars for 11 years, but now it has been 6 years in an automatic since then - and as many articles point out a car is not the same thing as a motorcycle. But maybe that temptation would be too much - even at the tender age of 36 - to not take it for a spin.


Oh, my friends wouldn't be surprised about the safety dork.

Thanks again guys for the welcome and advise.
RhadamYgg

[ShawnKing]

Oh, my friends wouldn't be surprised about the safety dork.

Hopefully, they'll be teasing about it and not pressuring you into doing unsafe things.

Few things in life are more fun than riding a motorcycle (I always say, except for kissing my wife, it's the most fun thing I do every day) but few things can go so wrong so fast as riding a bike. Safety should *always* be your primary concern when riding.

[RhadamYgg]

Oh, my friends wouldn't be surprised about the safety dork.

Hopefully, they'll be teasing about it and not pressuring you into doing unsafe things.

Few things in life are more fun than riding a motorcycle (I always say, except for kissing my wife, it's the most fun thing I do every day) but few things can go so wrong so fast as riding a bike. Safety should *always* be your primary concern when riding.

Oh, I shouldn't be pressured by my friends. Half of them think that I'm crazy just to get on a motorcycle. This is a case of peer pressure - to not buy a motorcycle.

RhadamYgg

[Amuli]

I have the same qualms about getting my bike to my house. The dealership is a good hour away from us, just on the outskirts of the city off of the major trans Canada highway. Entering 100 km/h speeds with lots of semi trucks and on and off ramps is a LOT different than practicing in a parking lot!

Also, it might (or might not) be cheaper to find a designated transporter to do it. The dealership here actually said they have a contact that they regularly use because it's cheaper for the customer to have this other guy ship it, than take one of their own technicians off the job to make deliveries.

Either way, it's good to be cautious! (I saw that video on YouTube as well!)

[MZ33]

Hi, RhadamYgg! And Welcome from one newbie to another!

I took the MSF in the fall, and before that thought I wanted a Honda Rebel. It is a great bike for the course, but after riding it for several hours, I realized it wasn't for me. I stumbled across a Yamaha V Star 650 that just seems to fit, bought it in February, and had it trucked to my local bike mechanic shop for storage. (I got them to include shipping for free, it was only a couple of miles.) It sits there until I re-take the MSF in a couple of weeks.

I want to be fresh off of the class before I tackle the whole clutch/throttle/braking thing. I plan to ride it home after the first riding class, and then ride at least a little bit every day. Even if it is just to review power walking and slow turns.

The more I check out this site, the more I am encouraged to think that the way-cool bikers that wear next to nothing are not the norm. No one in my area has mocked me out for dressing like a race rider, even when I'm just toodling around on my 125cc scooter. Thing is, no matter how good a rider you are, there are plenty of really, really, REALLY bad drivers out there. In the event one of them gets the better of me, I want to keep everything I have, so I dress to the nines. Except for armoured riding pants. Haven't gotten them yet.

Hope this helps. And, they do sell all kinds of gear in all kinds of colors. They also have these cool strobe lights that mount on the rear fender and are linked to your brakes, to catch the attention of the driver behind you.
I'm getting that, too.

MZ