Why Beginners should buy a cheaper used bike - Page 2 - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

Cody · 01-13-2005, 11:10 AM

I laughed through the whole story. Why not just take the class. It so much easier that way instead of taking lessons from people who aren't looking at it from a beginners point of view.

Dwayne Hicks · 05-13-2005, 03:54 PM

In the New South Africa, all you need to do is pass a test - the "learners test", multiple choide questions like "how near can you park to a fire hydrant, how high can you pile things on the roof of a car, what does this road sign mean etc". Technically the licence theory test. Once complete, you can ride up to a 125cc, which while it is not that quick, its quick enough to have an accident with.

I feel I'm lucky in some cases. Aside from my father in law giving me a ten minute lesson in the street outside his house, and riding round the block several times, I built up the necessary confidence to take the plunge and ride the 20 kilometres to work in heavy morning traffic. That was nearly two years ago, and as luck would have it... no, I'm not even going to go there, what with today being Friday the 13th.

Zoe Dotes · 05-14-2005, 12:34 PM

"I also have a commercial drivers license, and drive a 8-ton firetruck about once a month. I have driven over half a million miles ... at speeds up to 140mph ... "

Inspiron, you're my hero. I've never driven a firetruck that fast!

The MSF course is the best $300 I've ever spent. It should be mandatory for everyone in order to ride on the public roads.

**inspiron** · 05-15-2005, 06:07 AM

Oh, I hate to disappoint you, but our truck weighs in a 7.9 tons (including 1.4 tons of water), and has 140 hp. Top speed downhill with a tailwind is about 55mph.

axel_2078 · 05-15-2005, 08:59 AM

It still gives me a kick when I hear someone say, "I had to lay the bike down" or when they think it's necessary to teach someone "how to properly lay the bike down." Come on, dude.

Zoe Dotes · 05-15-2005, 09:13 PM

Inspiron ,
My last one had a governor, and I was being passed by many a vehicle while driving to one of my last blazes. Very embarrassing!

We didn't have that problem in the old days!

wgd9891 · 05-27-2005, 05:15 PM

It's so hilarious when new bikers drop their bike on the very first day they ride it. I definitely feel sorry for them though.

JRW_Assassin · 05-27-2005, 08:06 PM

a lot of newer riders dont realise that at slower speeds, especially when cornering, it can make life a lot easier if you just ride your back brake a little... particularly those bikes with tricky throttles.

Scott58 · 06-22-2005, 01:26 AM

That's a good read. Thanks

stp1971 · 06-23-2005, 12:39 PM

Practice good stops,, not good drops!!!!! If you practice stopping well,,then hopefully you will be able to overcome most accidents,,not always,,but at least you have a fighting chance. I learned how to stop good before I learned to ride good. Good Brakes,,,, A MUST!!!!!

tlwisner · 06-23-2005, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevie c

Don't you have to take any sort of test to ride a bike over there?

Our test has one question: Can you pay for or even get a loan for the bike?

Answer: Yes = OK, Here's your new Gixxer. Good Luck!
No = No bike for you.

Getting a license in the US is exceptionally easy. My girlfriend took the MSF BRC, passed and got her M license. She doesn't ride because she tends to run into stationary objects, but she enjoys riding passenger with me.

Please note: Proper use of brakes will stop your bike much more quickly than laying it down and sliding. Laying it down is very rarely a good option.

stp1971 · 06-23-2005, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlwisner

Please note: Proper use of brakes will stop your bike much more quickly than laying it down and sliding. Laying it down is very rarely a good option.

SEE!!!!! We can agree on things!!!!!

Dwayne Hicks · 07-03-2005, 01:33 PM

Which is what I thought was really stupid at the beginning of Terminator 3 where the deer is standing in the road - ooh, panic! Drop the bike, quick!

Ranger_b0b · 08-29-2005, 12:54 PM

I have to agree with the title of the thread...I'm 28 and my first bike is an 82 GS650. It was free! I was actually a little worried that it might be too much engine, but after riding it for around a week now, and being VERY concious that it is way faster than the bike I used for MSF, I think its gonna be ok.

I think the best argument for an older bike is the knowledge you gain from working on it. Where I live, most of the shops won't even touch a bike that old, cuz they end up getting married to them. So I do all the work myself. So Far, I have been able to work my way through everything, with few questions here and there on this board, and the Suzuki Service Guide.

Scott58 · 08-29-2005, 04:38 PM

i don't think this is a first bike being new issue as it is a first bike being a Katana 600. When ever you bite off more then you can chew you have to expect to choke every once in a while.

**intimid8er** · 08-30-2005, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by axel_2078

It still gives me a kick when I hear someone say, "I had to lay the bike down" or when they think it's necessary to teach someone "how to properly lay the bike down." Come on, dude.

Too funny!

If you had to "lay 'er down to avoid crashing"............Didn't you just crash?

1stZuke · 09-02-2005, 12:42 PM

My first bike was a 1987 Kaw 454 LTD, brand new, I was 18, in the Navy, living in San Diego, never really rode a motorcycle before, and of course I layed it down on the first ride. I was coming to a stop light, the light turns yellow, and I couldn't control the bike well enough, and it went down

. It scratched the bike up a little and I broke of a foot peg. For a 454 cc cruiser that was a fast little bike. I'm lucky I lived through that part of my life

nhoel · 09-02-2005, 01:25 PM

Well, Basic MSF tells you... cover your clutch... Not the brakes. Cutting the torque from the rear wheel is much safer than grabbing your brakes. Covering your brakes only makes it easier for you to do a stoppie... and most of the time... if you're inexperienced, you tend to roll the throttle even while applying on the brakes and the bike just keeps on moving... But for me, I bought a c50T for my first bike. Had I bought something smaller, I would have been unhappy now. Most riders get 90% of their good driving skills within the first 6 months. Getting something really small than your intended purpose (I like to cruise on interstates), will just get you feel robbed. And just citing my purpose for a motorcycle... a smaller bike would have been more dangerous specially on wind blasts coming from a truck. My suggestion is, if you haven't ridden on a motorcycle before... take a course on off roading. That will give you the harsh realities of crashing and you'll ask yourself, "Am I prepared for this??? Am I willing to take the risk???" My first motorcycle ride was a 4 hour ride on an off road bike... dropped it at least 5 times. But did I hurt... yeah, a little. Did I have to pay a lot for the repairs??? No... you're expected to drop and scratch it... Although you're not expected to break it.

Bad Boy · 09-02-2005, 01:39 PM

if you would have pulled the clutch in it wouldn't have made a difference what you did with the gas.

cabldawg · 09-17-2005, 07:08 PM

C'mon now guys. I bought my first street bike at 19. A 97 Katana 600. I still have this same bike today. I was looking at the GSXR, but I thought that it may be too responsive. After a few months in the saddle a friend let me take out his GSXR750. It was alot more responsive, but with using some common sense and just sitting there for a minute to get used to the controls I thought to myself maybe I should have opted for the gixxer. When I rode it, it was awesome. Very responsive, and smooth. If you wouldn't consider yourself one of those people that can naturally drive anything, then I wouldn't consider it. For those that can hop into any type of machine and operate it using common sense, then I would go ahead and get the better more reponsive bike. I'm not saying to go and get something crazy like a busa, but a gixxer 600 or 750 would be inline just so long as you have a deep respect for the machine.

05-13-2005, 03:54 PM	#22 (permalink)
Dwayne Hicks Sprocket Pilot Joined: Sep 2003 Bike: 2003 Honda CGL 125 Location: South Africa Posts: 857	In the New South Africa, all you need to do is pass a test - the "learners test", multiple choide questions like "how near can you park to a fire hydrant, how high can you pile things on the roof of a car, what does this road sign mean etc". Technically the licence theory test. Once complete, you can ride up to a 125cc, which while it is not that quick, its quick enough to have an accident with. I feel I'm lucky in some cases. Aside from my father in law giving me a ten minute lesson in the street outside his house, and riding round the block several times, I built up the necessary confidence to take the plunge and ride the 20 kilometres to work in heavy morning traffic. That was nearly two years ago, and as luck would have it... no, I'm not even going to go there, what with today being Friday the 13th. __________________ I live in my own little world. But it's OK. They know me here. Its 106 miles to Chicago. We have a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, its dark and we're wearing sunglasses. Hey, psycho, we're not getting back together. Now get out of my Van Halen t-shirt before you jinx the band and they break up.

05-14-2005, 12:34 PM	#23 (permalink)
Zoe Dotes In Training Joined: Mar 2005 Bike: '05 C50 Limited - traded in for '07 C90T Location: Rome, NY Posts: 133	"I also have a commercial drivers license, and drive a 8-ton firetruck about once a month. I have driven over half a million miles ... at speeds up to 140mph ... " Inspiron, you're my hero. I've never driven a firetruck that fast! The MSF course is the best $300 I've ever spent. It should be mandatory for everyone in order to ride on the public roads. __________________ When all else fails, read the Manufacturer's Handbook!

05-15-2005, 06:07 AM	#24 (permalink)
inspiron Muscle Biker Joined: Jul 2004 Bike: Blue Suzuki GSX 1400 (2003) Location: Canton Basel-Land, Switzerland (47.4493, 7.76536) Posts: 12,060	Oh, I hate to disappoint you, but our truck weighs in a 7.9 tons (including 1.4 tons of water), and has 140 hp. Top speed downhill with a tailwind is about 55mph. __________________ There is nothing worse than aggressive stupidity. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe blog: gsx1400

05-15-2005, 08:59 AM	#25 (permalink)
axel_2078 Sit speling cheker Joined: May 2004 Bike: 2003 Marauder 800 Location: Fairview Heights, IL Posts: 1,668	It still gives me a kick when I hear someone say, "I had to lay the bike down" or when they think it's necessary to teach someone "how to properly lay the bike down." Come on, dude. __________________ "Rome didn't win wars by holding meetings. They did it by crushing those who opposed them." - unknown Everyone has a dark side. Mine's just a little closer to the surface.

05-15-2005, 09:13 PM	#26 (permalink)
Zoe Dotes In Training Joined: Mar 2005 Bike: '05 C50 Limited - traded in for '07 C90T Location: Rome, NY Posts: 133	Inspiron , My last one had a governor, and I was being passed by many a vehicle while driving to one of my last blazes. Very embarrassing! We didn't have that problem in the old days! __________________ When all else fails, read the Manufacturer's Handbook!

01-13-2005, 11:10 AM	#21 (permalink)
Cody Newbie Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 17	I laughed through the whole story. Why not just take the class. It so much easier that way instead of taking lessons from people who aren't looking at it from a beginners point of view.

05-27-2005, 05:15 PM	#27 (permalink)
wgd9891 Seat Tester Joined: Dec 2004 Bike: '01 GZ250 Location: Maryland Posts: 98	It's so hilarious when new bikers drop their bike on the very first day they ride it. I definitely feel sorry for them though.

05-27-2005, 08:06 PM	#28 (permalink)
JRW_Assassin Seat Tester Joined: May 2005 Bike: Yamaha FZX250 Zeal Location: Townsville, QLD, Aus Posts: 57	a lot of newer riders dont realise that at slower speeds, especially when cornering, it can make life a lot easier if you just ride your back brake a little... particularly those bikes with tricky throttles.

06-22-2005, 01:26 AM	#29 (permalink)
Scott58 Puddle Runner Joined: Jun 2005 Bike: 05 Honda Rebel and 05 Suzuki S50 Location: Northwest Indiana Posts: 394	That's a good read. Thanks

06-23-2005, 12:39 PM	#30 (permalink)
stp1971 May 2007 Member of the month Joined: Mar 2005 Bike: 2004 Suzuki Intruder 1500LC / 2005 Suzuki DL650 V-Strom Location: Douglasville, Georgia Posts: 7,833	Practice good stops,, not good drops!!!!! If you practice stopping well,,then hopefully you will be able to overcome most accidents,,not always,,but at least you have a fighting chance. I learned how to stop good before I learned to ride good. Good Brakes,,,, A MUST!!!!! __________________ Biketoberfest 2006 flashback courtesy of Intimid8er: "Like you knew damn well you shouldn't eat something like that, but all be damned to hell, you were gonna eat it!" __________________

07-03-2005, 01:33 PM	#33 (permalink)
Dwayne Hicks Sprocket Pilot Joined: Sep 2003 Bike: 2003 Honda CGL 125 Location: South Africa Posts: 857	Which is what I thought was really stupid at the beginning of Terminator 3 where the deer is standing in the road - ooh, panic! Drop the bike, quick! __________________ I live in my own little world. But it's OK. They know me here. Its 106 miles to Chicago. We have a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, its dark and we're wearing sunglasses. Hey, psycho, we're not getting back together. Now get out of my Van Halen t-shirt before you jinx the band and they break up.

08-29-2005, 12:54 PM	#34 (permalink)
Ranger_b0b Clunked into first gear Joined: Jul 2005 Bike: '82 Suzuki GS650L Location: Sparta, MI (-85.69978/43.16359) Posts: 221	I have to agree with the title of the thread...I'm 28 and my first bike is an 82 GS650. It was free! I was actually a little worried that it might be too much engine, but after riding it for around a week now, and being VERY concious that it is way faster than the bike I used for MSF, I think its gonna be ok. I think the best argument for an older bike is the knowledge you gain from working on it. Where I live, most of the shops won't even touch a bike that old, cuz they end up getting married to them. So I do all the work myself. So Far, I have been able to work my way through everything, with few questions here and there on this board, and the Suzuki Service Guide. __________________ Mike aka IronHorse of Hell's Beergut MC He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else. - Benjamin Franklin '82 GS650L - Rescued July 05 - Resuscitated Aug 05 www.myspace.com/mike_hiler

08-29-2005, 04:38 PM	#35 (permalink)
Scott58 Puddle Runner Joined: Jun 2005 Bike: 05 Honda Rebel and 05 Suzuki S50 Location: Northwest Indiana Posts: 394	i don't think this is a first bike being new issue as it is a first bike being a Katana 600. When ever you bite off more then you can chew you have to expect to choke every once in a while.

09-02-2005, 12:42 PM	#37 (permalink)
1stZuke Newbie Joined: Aug 2005 Bike: 2005 C50/ Black/Silver Location: Cheyenne, WY Posts: 16	My first bike was a 1987 Kaw 454 LTD, brand new, I was 18, in the Navy, living in San Diego, never really rode a motorcycle before, and of course I layed it down on the first ride. I was coming to a stop light, the light turns yellow, and I couldn't control the bike well enough, and it went down . It scratched the bike up a little and I broke of a foot peg. For a 454 cc cruiser that was a fast little bike. I'm lucky I lived through that part of my life Last edited by 1stZuke; 09-02-2005 at 12:45 PM.

09-02-2005, 01:25 PM	#38 (permalink)
nhoel Wants Better Weather Joined: Aug 2005 Bike: 2005 C50T Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 662	Well, Basic MSF tells you... cover your clutch... Not the brakes. Cutting the torque from the rear wheel is much safer than grabbing your brakes. Covering your brakes only makes it easier for you to do a stoppie... and most of the time... if you're inexperienced, you tend to roll the throttle even while applying on the brakes and the bike just keeps on moving... But for me, I bought a c50T for my first bike. Had I bought something smaller, I would have been unhappy now. Most riders get 90% of their good driving skills within the first 6 months. Getting something really small than your intended purpose (I like to cruise on interstates), will just get you feel robbed. And just citing my purpose for a motorcycle... a smaller bike would have been more dangerous specially on wind blasts coming from a truck. My suggestion is, if you haven't ridden on a motorcycle before... take a course on off roading. That will give you the harsh realities of crashing and you'll ask yourself, "Am I prepared for this??? Am I willing to take the risk???" My first motorcycle ride was a 4 hour ride on an off road bike... dropped it at least 5 times. But did I hurt... yeah, a little. Did I have to pay a lot for the repairs??? No... you're expected to drop and scratch it... Although you're not expected to break it. __________________ Cash Only!!!

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09-02-2005, 01:39 PM	#39 (permalink)
Bad Boy Wife's pet :) Joined: May 2005 Bike: 04 volusia 800 Location: camas wa Posts: 127	if you would have pulled the clutch in it wouldn't have made a difference what you did with the gas. __________________ sky

09-17-2005, 07:08 PM	#40 (permalink)
cabldawg Newbie Joined: Sep 2005 Bike: 97 GSX600F Posts: 9	C'mon now guys. I bought my first street bike at 19. A 97 Katana 600. I still have this same bike today. I was looking at the GSXR, but I thought that it may be too responsive. After a few months in the saddle a friend let me take out his GSXR750. It was alot more responsive, but with using some common sense and just sitting there for a minute to get used to the controls I thought to myself maybe I should have opted for the gixxer. When I rode it, it was awesome. Very responsive, and smooth. If you wouldn't consider yourself one of those people that can naturally drive anything, then I wouldn't consider it. For those that can hop into any type of machine and operate it using common sense, then I would go ahead and get the better more reponsive bike. I'm not saying to go and get something crazy like a busa, but a gixxer 600 or 750 would be inline just so long as you have a deep respect for the machine.