Whther to buy a bike or not

[stryped]

Really struggeling with this one. I have two small kids and the thought of having an accident scares me. But I like the idea of riding. I would probably ride alot and would have a long commute. (20 miles each way). I dont know why I am being such a wimp about this. I gues one reason is the amount of accidents I have heard about lately.

Just venting....

I found another Buell locally by the way. It is a 0 with less than 400 miles for 1500 dollars.

I have trouble with decisions.

[RockBottom]

Really struggeling with this one. I have two small kids and the thought of having an accident scares me. But I like the idea of riding. I would probably ride alot and would have a long commute. (20 miles each way). I dont know why I am being such a wimp about this. I gues one reason is the amount of accidents I have heard about lately.

Just venting....

I found another Buell locally by the way. It is a 0 with less than 400 miles for 1500 dollars.

I have trouble with decisions.

I bought mine the day my younger kid graduated from high school. I figured I was expendable at that point.

[stryped]

Only 15 years o go then!

Found another bike local. a 93 xj 600. This is what the guy said about it: When I got the bike it had been setting for a while. The carbs did need a rebuild and the chain was rusty. So to be safe I put wheel bearings went through the whole bike to make sure it was good to go. I rode it every chance I got and now I have another bike so this one has to go. As for the plastics, they are solid. It has a lower scoop that has a crack in it, so I never put it on. I could repair for you if you want.
As for the lean over, I am also 36 and I don't like the croch rocket lean. It is in the sport touring catagory of bikes and 20 miles + has not been a problem for me. As for being a first timer, this bike is perfect. It handles well and is very stable. Other than being cold blooded, it is very reliable. I have ridden it all summer and never got stranded.

Good deal?

[dean owens]

first, don't buy a bike until you've taken the basic riders course. the course will help with two things.
--- you will find out more about how a bike handles and rides so when you go sit on a bike you'll know if you will actually like it.
--- you'll find out if you should be on a bike or not.

i have two young kids and had to deal with this. for me, i have taken every safety step i can (including class and a jacket) and realize that i can never keep myself 100% safe. i can't really give you advice. but i can say that if you have kids you owe it to them to get proper training before you go any further in this.

[Brackstone]

My favorite quote that I seem to repeat often is that Fear is healthy as long as you don't let it paralyze you.

I've done some squiddy (squidly?) things on my bike that I shouldn't have. But if you keep your kids in your mind and in your heart you won't find yourself in that much trouble.

The way I look at is that you're going to go when you're going to go. You could be doing everything possible to stay alive and a bridge could collapse underneath you while you are driving from home one day. CNN had an article that talks about how many of our bridges probably NEED repair, and the number is startling.

I know you may feel more guilty because motorcycle riding isn't necessary like crossing a bridge when you're going to work. But you can't let things restrict you from having fun unless they are actively hurting your loved ones.

If you said "Well if I buy this bike Timmy won't have a college fund" I'd say you're an "O Ring". But that's not the case here.

Do what you want but the last thing I think anyone wants to do is die and say "I wish I...."

[the_sandman_454]

Get some life insurance (good idea to have it anyway since even without a motorcycle, there are no guarantees in life), take the MSF BRC or equivalent, get some quality gear, and get a motorcycle after all that.

During the BRC type course you take, you may find out that motorcycles truly aren't for you, or it may cement the fact that you're going to like riding. It wouldn't be much fun to have purchased a bike only to find out you really don't like it, with all the time spent to find the right bike, only to have to turn around and sell it.

[jrdudas]

I am not familiar with the xj600, but it sounds like it is a 600cc bike. If you have never ridden before you should consider a smaller displacement bike as your first ride. Also, there is no substitute for experience, and since today's roads offer all sorts of hazards to all riders it's not a good place to learn on your own. I learned many years ago in a warm climate (Florida) where other drivers were much more aware of two wheeled traffic; in today's world the motorcycle safety classes offerred everywhere are the best alternative available to new (and experienced) riders. It's real easy to "hotdog" on a bike and get away with it most of the time. It's the one time when you don't get away with it that really hurts.

JR

[captinamerica]

yes get a bike most bike wrecks are caused by irresponible riders. the other cause is people who drive around in their own little world so you have to watch for them to but its not that hard if you dont ride while you are asleep. how ever a buell or any other type of racing bike is probably not the right bike. if you are a beginner or moderately experianced. most people who get those things dont ride very responsibly. in fact i have never seen one of those bikes that have more thatn a few hundred miles on it that istnt scrached up on one side or the other. i would suggest a nice comfortable cuiser.

[Wrider]

yes get a bike most bike wrecks are caused by irresponible riders. the other cause is people who drive around in their own little world so you have to watch for them to but its not that hard if you dont ride while you are asleep. how ever a buell or any other type of racing bike is probably not the right bike. if you are a beginner or moderately experianced. most people who get those things dont ride very responsibly. in fact i have never seen one of those bikes that have more thatn a few hundred miles on it that istnt scrached up on one side or the other. i would suggest a nice comfortable cuiser.

Generalizations like that are definitely unfounded. I personally know a guy with a 1999 Hayabusa, 60K miles on it, never been down.
I also know a guy with a Shadow 1100 with 5K miles on it, been down three times. It all depends on the rider.

Pay attention, ride safe, ride defensively, and you'll be fine.
As for the XJ600, it's still a 600cc Inline 4, so not the best beginner bike, I'd recommend a parallel or V-Twin 250, 500, or 650 as a first bike, but nothing bigger.

Wrider

[motokid]

Really struggeling with this one. I have two small kids and the thought of having an accident scares me. But I like the idea of riding. I would probably ride alot and would have a long commute. (20 miles each way). I dont know why I am being such a wimp about this. I gues one reason is the amount of accidents I have heard about lately.

Just venting....

I found another Buell locally by the way. It is a 0 with less than 400 miles for 1500 dollars.

I have trouble with decisions.

This is quite easy - don't. Since you choose to have children, now you owe it to them to be there. No amount of life insurance is going to replace the benefit of growing up with healthy father. Simply, it's not about you any more - it's about them.

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