Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Hey, my name's Tristan and I'm just looking to join an online community as I start seriously getting into motorcycling.

I work full-time, will go back to school this fall (I'm 21), I play guitar and do illustration, and am pretty much your average kid-with-dreams in the LA area.

I've wanted a bike since I was a tiny kid; one of my first memories was sitting on a police bike at a fair when I was a kid (I accidentally engaged the siren and scared the crap out of myself) and I guess it's just always stuck with me...

my parents never shared my enthusiasm and freaked out when i rode my cousin's dirtbike when I was a kid, and since i've left high school and started working I've gotten more and more into the idea of having a bike, to the point it's one of those things I "need to do."

So the plan is to take the MSF in August or September and go from there... just looking to meet some people and chat, since I don't know as much as I feel I should getting into this.

Anybody live in the LA area who wants to drop by sometime and show me the basics??

Take it easy,
Tristan

Hello Tristan and Welcome .
Taking the MSF is a sound idea . I had been riding for years and for most of those years there was no special class M1 , it was all on a class c .
I found that I had some bad habits and it was amazing how much I learned and how much I improved . And being the enthusiest that I am it was a gratifying feeling to watch folks both male and female that had never ridden before accomplish so much in two days on a motorsickle for their first time .
Keep coming back .
Kind regards, Wizzard

Hi Tristan,

Welcome to TMW.
Thats great that your taking the course, besides making me a better rider, it gave me the opportunity to ride a few different bikes, helped me decide what I wanted to buy.
What your currant favorites?
Jan

Hi & Welcome Tristan, I am in So. Cal as well.

Good thinking for taking MSF course before getting on a bike. Let me know if you need any help.

Anyway check out this group http://forum.mildones.org/. They are a bunch of nice guys and gals riding around So Cal area. They are also some around your ages and some more wisers (do not say older LOL). They might give you a good idea of the bike and also take you for a spin a little bit.

thanks for the responses everyone!

yeah, pretty much everone i've spoken to who has taken the MSF course had nothing but good to say about it. a former boss of mine who'd been riding for 30+ years said he took it to lower his insurance, and was surprised to learn new stuff in the process. i won't lie, the insurance thing is a big factor in going to it (being 21 and living in socal, insurance will not be "cheap" for me), but, it seems like a good place to start.

i'm looking mostly at a Suzuki GS500 right now; they seem like good starter bikes, since they have some usable power (13 second 1/4mi is plenty fast enough for me to learn on), and from what i gather they were extremely popular in the area for the last 13 or so years, so you can find them used for really cheap. i want to get something that i won't outgrow in a month or two. i've also thought about an old Vespa or something but i'll probably get a bike first. i am totally open to suggestions though.

Hi Tristan. I'm new to the forum myself. I started riding this spring and have loved every blessed minute of it. The MSF coarse was well worth the money IMHO.

Ride safe.

tristan_s wrote: i've also thought about an old Vespa or something but i'll probably get a bike first. i am totally open to suggestions though.

Welcome to the forums!!

I would recommend the gs500 as a first bike - can't go wrong with that, especially if there are plenty used in your area. I wouldn't recommend a vespa because they have a really funky shift/clutch thing going on, and it's probably better for you to learn pure motorcycling first. (Sorta like learning to drive stick before an automatic) ... which brings me to another point - most modern scooters are automatic now - so once again, go with the pure bike to learn the ropes.

Scooters are great ... second bikes

Welcome Tristan!

I second Tech's recommendation for the Suzuki GS 500. It is a fantastic do-it-all bike that's light enough for a beginner, but also has enough power for the freeways when you're ready to ride them.

Welcome Tristan

I'm glad your taking the MSF course. That will get you off to a good start.

The Suzuki GS500 sounds like a perfect size bike to start off with.
Good luck with your course and good riding.