Starter bike?

Nice choice, Och. :up:

Easy to get talked into something too big for a starter bike, so good call. Always liking the sportbike style, I went with a used 1984 Honda VF500F Interceptor for my first bike (1991) and, while I replaced it with a 1987 CBR600F Hurricane within two years, it was a great first bike that fit my poor college kid budget. I think you'll be equally happy.
 
fO Che -USA- said:
Don't forget padded riding gear. I know that from first hand experience don't be a Squid.
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Absolutely, and not just a helmet. While a helmet is #1...gloves, boots, and jacket should be worn too at a bare minimum. I very rarely see anyone wearing anything more than a helmet around here. Even the helmeted riders are a minority.

I started riding wearing a helmet, jacket, gloves, and boots. Since that's the way I started, it's a lot like a seat belt. Don't feel comfortable on a bike at all unless I'm wearing that stuff, no exceptions. Covering up the legs has been taking a bit longer than I thought. I've been looking at just getting a nice pair of riding pants with the newer Covec material that has hip padding. I'll add knee protectors under the jeans. Will at least be covered in a slide that way and have somewhat decent protection for hips/knees.

Are you wearing any gear, Och?
 
About 10 years ago, my dad had a crash on his motorcycle. He wasn't wearing any protection but for his head. He ended up looking like a mummy for months. He now wears good protection all over even though he's been riding for 40+ years and only had the one serious accident.
 
OverclockN' said:
Absolutely, and not just a helmet. While a helmet is #1...gloves, boots, and jacket should be worn too at a bare minimum. I very rarely see anyone wearing anything more than a helmet around here. Even the helmeted riders are a minority.

I started riding wearing a helmet, jacket, gloves, and boots. Since that's the way I started, it's a lot like a seat belt. Don't feel comfortable on a bike at all unless I'm wearing that stuff, no exceptions. Covering up the legs has been taking a bit longer than I thought. I've been looking at just getting a nice pair of riding pants with the newer Covec material that has hip padding. I'll add knee protectors under the jeans. Will at least be covered in a slide that way and have somewhat decent protection for hips/knees.
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Same here. Bought helmet, jacket (leather) and gloves when I started riding. Usually wore boots, but didn't save up for riding boots or pants. Figured jeans would be satisfactory. Wrong.

High-sided my CBR in 1994, and the jeans vs pavement lasted about a second. Fortunately the damage was limited to soft-tissue, but still took over a month for my knee to heal. Sleeve on my jacket wore through, giving me a nice but small road rash on my forearm. No helmet would likely have meant no Lupine, as the bike ended following me and ending up resting partially on top of my head when all was said and done. And this was a ~25mph accident (hair pin negative camber road).

If / when I ride again, it will only be with full protective gear.
 
OverclockN' said:
Absolutely, and not just a helmet. While a helmet is #1...gloves, boots, and jacket should be worn too at a bare minimum. I very rarely see anyone wearing anything more than a helmet around here. Even the helmeted riders are a minority.

I started riding wearing a helmet, jacket, gloves, and boots. Since that's the way I started, it's a lot like a seat belt. Don't feel comfortable on a bike at all unless I'm wearing that stuff, no exceptions. Covering up the legs has been taking a bit longer than I thought. I've been looking at just getting a nice pair of riding pants with the newer Covec material that has hip padding. I'll add knee protectors under the jeans. Will at least be covered in a slide that way and have somewhat decent protection for hips/knees.

Are you wearing any gear, Och?
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Helmet, jacket and gloves at all time. Haven't got proper motorcycle boots yet, just getting by with my steel toe NBs.

Signed up for MSF School, which is 8/5, 8/6 and 8/7 and then I can get my motorcycle license.
 
Och said:
Helmet, jacket and gloves at all time. Haven't got proper motorcycle boots yet, just getting by with my steel toe NBs.

Signed up for MSF School, which is 8/5, 8/6 and 8/7 and then I can get my motorcycle license.
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:up: :up:

Traditional steel toe boots will definitely get you by. When you can get to it, motorcycle boots will be a step up. They are usually designed for better cooling, which is a nice bonus. Also, if you get taller shin-length boots (recommended), they'll protect from the common shin abrasion and twisting that breaks a lot of bones in the legs. I love mine, and it literally doesn't matter how hot it gets...they are the most comfortable gear I own and flow the most air. They're lighter than most regular sneakers and far, far lighter than any type of work boot. A lot of people use heat as an excuse to get away from wearing this stuff...but if you buy the right gear once...it's not bad at all! :drool:


Sleeve on my jacket wore through
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Accidents can be interesting, since there is usually something I (and certainly others) might be able to learn from it. What kind of jacket were you wearing? In my mind, the forearm is an odd place for road rash to show up since many jackets have an internal slider/protector for the forearm. Mine has a slider where it meets the wrist until just past the top of the elbow (race style jacket).

I'm terrified of going down with no leg protection, but am stubborn about how much more difficult it is to carry around/shed the gear. I keep looking and not buying. :embarrassed:
 
OverclockN' said:
Accidents can be interesting, since there is usually something I (and certainly others) might be able to learn from it. What kind of jacket were you wearing? In my mind, the forearm is an odd place for road rash to show up since many jackets have an internal slider/protector for the forearm. Mine has a slider where it meets the wrist until just past the top of the elbow (race style jacket).
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It was a basic mid-range leather riding jacket w/ reinforced panels but no internal protection. Fortunately only a small patch wore through, about the size of a quarter or smaller, but that was enough to get a ~1" wide strip rash. Healed with no scarring.
 
Always full protection, which includes boots and proper leg protection. It only takes one accident to show you how important they really are.

Everytime i see people riding their bikes with shorts and flipflops it makes me cringe.
 
Boy do I wish they made the Doomguy motorcycle helmet.


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Went through my MSF basic course and passed the skill exam. Got my license at the DMV yesterday, so I'm a happy camper. Been riding the bike every day that its not raining - certainly an addictive hobby!
 
Och said:
Went through my MSF basic course and passed the skill exam. Got my license at the DMV yesterday, so I'm a happy camper. Been riding the bike every day that its not raining - certainly an addictive hobby!
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Awesome! I hate when a week goes by and can't ride. It's only on the weekends, so it's tough to get out there sometimes. A month goes by and it's brutal. :cry:
 
So, when I was getting the bike I thought it was mostly going to be a weekend toy during great weather but I've been basically riding it every day everywhere! So convenient - going right through traffic, not worrying about parking and just having fun. Had to drive a car during rush hour the other day and 20 minutes later I literally wanted to murder everyone.

Now gearing up for the colder months, because I pretty much plan on riding all year round.
 
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Motorcycles don't do well on cold pavement depending on the type of tyres. Yours may be more forgiving than mine were.
 
Awesome! Good to hear you're enjoying it. Totally jealous of riding it every day. I just can't get myself to ride it to the office every day in full gear and helmet hair. :lol:

ASCI Blue said:
Motorcycles don't do well on cold pavement depending on the type of tyres. Yours may be more forgiving than mine were.
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They're OK if you're very careful...but I'd certainly recommend NOT riding at all in very cold temps to be safe.

My bike basically has racing tires equipped on it from the factory. I crashed (not literally) at a buddys place once after a party when I rode the bike there in 60F+ weather. The next morning, getting up early to head to a Cars and Coffee meet, I found it was a brisk 27F outside. :lol:

Coldest ride in my entire life. The bike and tires were fine, never felt unsafe even once on Pirelli Diabla Supercorsa SP tires. But I had to stop several times to warm up on the 30min ride to the event. :down:
 
I had the OE Honda tyres on my bike I bought in 2003, 2005ish, I can remember one chilly night (50ishF) I was riding home and the parking lot from my employer opened onto the highway. Anyway it was quiet out but I loved revving the piss out of my ride so I did, broke the ass end loose completely due to the cold.

No the tires weren't overly worn, the tread still looked nearly new when I sold it (with the OE tires) a few years back with under 6k (possible under 4k) on the odometer.
 
ASCI Blue said:
I had the OE Honda tyres on my bike I bought in 2003, 2005ish, I can remember one chilly night (50ishF) I was riding home and the parking lot from my employer opened onto the highway. Anyway it was quiet out but I loved revving the piss out of my ride so I did, broke the ass end loose completely due to the cold.

No the tires weren't overly worn, the tread still looked nearly new when I sold it (with the OE tires) a few years back with under 6k (possible under 4k) on the odometer.
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Ah, yeah I could see that happening by opening the throttle quickly on a cold day. :lol: I was riding like I was on ice the whole time, terrified that it was going to slip out on me. It never did, but I was being VERY careful.
 
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