Motorcycles.....

[texasgal]

Take the class! There are motorcylce classes everywhere .. they usually teach you on 150's .. it's alot of fun and will help you know pretty quick if this is going to be something you like.

I started with a Kawasaki 800 Vulcan Classic .. it was a great first bike for me.

 

[Nupine]

WOW! Lots of good advice here!
I checked out the Harley Davidson's Rider's Edge courses, and there are courses every month, not too far from here.
I checked out the Honda Rebel too, I really like it! Seems pretty small too. I like the look of them, and the ones I saw seem pretty reasonable in price. Even a nice 2004 local one for $1000, not that I'm ready to get one now xD
Thanks for the statistics Angie Chick, I never realized how dangerous they were. But I'm sure at least a good fraction of the fatalities come from people who are drunk, on drugs, going WAY too fast, acting stupid, on a bike they can't handle, and of course, don't have safety gear on. Are leather jackets necessary? I have nice leather boots and a pair of Harley Davidson leather pants, but no jacket. I'm not sure why I suddenly have an interest in motorcycles. Perhaps its another tactic of mine to get away from the stereotype of being a homeschooled, Christian, farm girl. Also, I have another rather silly question. Although the main use of mine to have one would be for fun, just to cruise on the back roads, etc., I would probably also use it to go to 4-H meetings, to friends houses, trips to town just to pick up a thing or two, etc. So I would likely have to have a place to put paperwork, etc. etc. Can you put saddle bags on any motorcycle, including Honda Rebels?
I like how you removed the pedals Silly Chicken! I would probably want to do that as well, since I would be tempted to ride friends around, and that probably isn't a good idea!
I also like the dirt bike idea. So, I'll see if I can get my parents to allow me to get a dirt bike this year [a close friend's son of ours drives them, maybe I could pay him to teach me ], get some experience on the car, and maybe an actual motorcycle next year! Heck, I haven't even been on a standard bicycle in over 3 yrs, I have looooong way to go!

 

[Nupine]

Ok...I had one more totally CLUELESS question. So, with motorcycles, the brakes are on the handlebar/handlebars and the gas is with a foot pedal, right? What side is the foot pedal on? I really don't know how those things work!

 

[SillyChicken]

Good questions, Keep em comming! - you should really take a safety class... you'll get classroom instruction and hands on experience riding, both in general and emergency situations!

Left handle bar - Clutch (lever)
Right handle bar - front wheel break (lever) and Throttle (actual handle)

Left foot - gear shifter (above foot peg) - (generally the gear pattern is: 1N2345 - one down, neutral, 4 up) Some bikes have less gears.
Right foot - rear wheel break (above foot peg)

Yes, you can get saddle bags for most bikes. There are lots of after market goodies out there! We get alot of stuff from JP cycle.

Most accidents that I've heard of, including my husbands, are from drivers not paying attention to bike riders... in almost every instance, the driver will say... I didn't see them.... Thats why we're told we should wear bright colors .... unfortunatly, most riding jackets aren't that bright. I would recommend you get a good fitting leather jacket and wear it, especially as a new rider. I admit I don't wear it all the time (have the sun burn to show for it today, ouch!) but I always carry it with me.. it does get colder on a bike, even sand kicked up from vehicles sting like a bee and a jacket does offer you protection from bug guts, dirt etc. Plus if you do get into an accident, it will offer you protection.

In hot weather I wear a leather vest and tank or t-shirt... but I'm choosing to take that risk, but would never advise someone that it's not a good idea to wear a jacket.

Oh yeah, and some of the best advise ever............ keep your mouth shut! Bugs aren't tastey!

 

[Nupine]

Ok thanks! I didn't realize there were so many buttons! The only thing I drive is the family UTV, which is just gas and a break! So, with the gears, how would you change gears with your foot? Oh, and one more....if there is two brakes, is there a real ''art'' to knowing which one to use at certain times to avoid trouble?
Thanks for the advice on the jacket, I think I saw some on Ebay that had orange on them as well, for visibility.
I actually used to eat mosquitos, lots of them, as a child [they weren't too bad actually!], but I'll certainly remember to keep my mouth shut!

 

[SillyChicken]

lol, wait till you get a big ol fat june bug splatter against your teeth!

Thats how I learned!

It takes alot of cordination and practice. You have to do 20 things at once, ok thats exaggerating, but you have to be able to shift and break safely, pay attention to where you're going, how you're leaning the bike, where the cars are, don't forget turn signals...whats coming up behind you? if the lights turning green, making sure you're not in someone's blind spot, making sure you are in the right "section" of your lane for visibilty, makeing sure you didn't stop on an oil slick...watch for gravel (bad news sand & gravel on the road) "Tar snakes" also bad! (tar used for crack repairs are very slipery!).... just lots of things to be aware of.

Yes, there can be a trick to the breaks, and it depends on the circumstances. I generally use both in equal amounts to stop and keep my hand on the front break at a stop.... My DH likes to use the front more.. all the while using the breaks, you also have to operate the clutch and up or down shift with your foot and the throttle.

I would recommend you also check out a local comm college. My 2 day class was great, and cheap @ 25$ the instructors were great (lots of girls in my class, some with your experience level) they all passed! And the best part is, if you dump the bike, you're not dumping yours! LOL! They had us practice in steps, ie using the clutch just sitting on the bikes, and then in motion... using the break, throttle, turning it off n on, using turn signals, and hand signals, everything increased as the class progressed up to emergency stops and manuvers. Great class even for me after having ridden alot already.

I don't want to scare you off from riding, the more ladies out there the better! But, riding a bike is serious business... and a heck of alot of fun!

 

[jacobite]

i am an avid motorcycle rider and a person who believes in the use of helmets, first thing i would do if i were you would go to your local DMV and get a copy of the rules of the road for motorcylces then check with them to see if they put on any motorcycle safety course, if you still want to go that way and then check out a good dealer of motorcycles and test ride one to see what fits you and not a status symble like some people do these days, stay away from rice burners or also called crotch rockets because they are more designed for speed than the comfort of a regular bike, and remember the most important rule of motorcycle riding is never assume that they see you coming because they usual never do until its to late

 

[SillyChicken]

Whats wrong with a "status symbol" bike? I love Harley's cause they're an American bike, I love the look and sound of them. Loud pipes save lives!!

Maybe thats what she'd like to have some day too. I started out on a honda 250 street bike... and a CBR 250 dirt bike.... worked my way up to the kind of bike I like...
working hard to get what you want isn't always a bad thing and doesn't automatically make you a snob.

I agree totally about a good helmet - I hate riding without one and hate that my DH uses only a brain bucket.