dhk@hp-pcd.UUCP (Dustin Kassman) (01/18/84)
#R:proper:-85900:hp-pcd:65000001:000:1865 hp-pcd!dhk Jan 17 14:03:00 1984 Having joined the ranks of the two-wheelers recently myself (<3 years ago), I will pass on to you my thoughts concerning your first bike, for what they are worth. I started out with a 440 and I think that this would be a good choice for you considering the type of riding you plan on doing. Bikes in the 400-500cc range are relatively easy to find at a good price, mechanically simple, get decent mileage (50-60 mpg), and really aren't that big. My 440 was small and light enough to be easy to handle in traffic but large enough to hold its own on the freeways. The one thing I do regret about my 440 is that I bought it new. Inevitability you will end up tipping it over a few times (practicing in a parking lot, on a wet road, in a little patch of gravel on a corner...) and the little scrapes and scuffs (as harm- less as they may be) will be easier to take if it wasn't your nice new bike. There are alot of used bikes in the 400-500cc class and if you are a carefull (sp) shopper you can get a good deal on a good bike, ride it for a couple of years and then trade it in on a new one. I know that you probably have heard the following before but I believe that it is so important that I will repeat it again at the risk of insulting your intelligence. Always! Always wear a helmet and gloves! A full-face helmet is worth the extra cost. I was involved in an accident and a 3/4-face helmet would have saved my head but I would have lost half of my chin so I am glad that I had a full-face helmet. And make sure to wear a good pair of shoes. A nurse in an emergency room once told me that people wearing thongs or riding barefoot a guaranteed to loose at least 2-3 toes in an accident. I hope that this has been of some use to you. Good luck on your search for a bike and may your motorcycling career be a long and safe one. hplabs!hp-pcd!dhk
rsp@opus.UUCP (01/18/84)
motorcycle. They are weight and seat height. A neophyte rider should be able to put *BOTH* feet completely and comfortably on the ground when stopped and sitting normally in the seat. This makes it easier to balance the bike when slowing down. Less weight and a low center of mass also make balancing easier. I would suggest something like Yamaha's 400 Special. I say this because of the bikes relative simplicity and low seat height. If you want something sportier, look at the Kawasaki GPz305. I think Suzuki still makes a GS250 that is okay, but on the small side. One other suggestion - have an engine guard or "case savers" installed on whatever bike is chosen. I think they're ugly but not nearly as ugly as dinged and scratched engines. All beginners drop their bikes a few times. So do some experienced riders...! I also *STRONGLY* recommend a *GOOD* helmet whether your state requires one or not. And leather gloves and jacket. You can get by without a leather jacket but if you don't wear gloves you'll want to kick yourself as you pull dirt and gravel out of your palms after you fall off! Actually, not everybody drops a bike while they're learning.... One last suggestion. Most metropolitan areas offer some sort of rider education program. These are a great idea if you can find one. They teach the proper techniques for starting and stopping (*USE* that front brake!) as well as any local laws one must know. I consider it socially irresponsible to ride around before you can control your bike (motor or bicycle...). My first bike was a Honda CB400F. That bike was fine for about seven years. Then I switched to a Suzuki GS1100E. I still miss the (relatively) light weight of the Honda. Good Luck! Russ Panneton NBI Inc. Boulder CO ..!opus!rsp
emrath@uiuccsb.UUCP (01/21/84)
#R:proper:-85900:uiuccsb:7100001:000:1687
uiuccsb!emrath Jan 20 23:45:00 1984
This may seem ridiculous in light of all the advice to wear helmet
and gloves (also considering the temperature out here in the stalks :-),
but I recommend long pants too. I was hit by a car as it pulled out
of a parking lot. It stopped as I hit the front bumper and I wasn't
even knocked over. The police officer that showed up pointed out that
my leg was bleeding and he called an ambulance for me. I never felt it,
but I had 21 stitches put in my leg. I'm pretty certain that if I had
been wearing long pants, I would have wound up with torn pants, and maybe
a minor cut. In summer, I'm amazed at how many guys buzz around in shorts
and no shirt. Maybe out on the freeway it doesn't matter, but not around town.
"...drop their bike a few times. Even experienced riders! "
I'll say. On a road trip, I pulled into a gravel parking lot, stopped,
and dropped my 750. The left side cover got punctured and oil started
running out. Well, this was in some farm town in the middle of Kansas
around noon. My partner had the solution, but all the stores were closed
up for lunch! So, we had lunch.
After lunch, off to the hardware store where we pick up a tube of silicone
bathtub caulk. Jamb the tube up against the puncture and squeeze away.
Let it set a while and we were back on the road in half an hour.
The warmth of the engine helped it cure. That miraculous stuff has been part
of my tool kit ever since. That patched side cover lasted more than a year
before it started leaking and I replaced it.
Anybody else got any interesting stories?
It's been kinda dull around here lately.
Perry Emrath, U. of IL
...{decvax|inuxc}!pur-ee!uiucdcs!emrath
emrath.uiuc@rand-relaygam@proper.UUCP (Gordon Moffett) (01/22/84)
I am in the market for a motorcycle. I have never riden one before, other than as a passenger, but they seem like a lot of fun. I will be using both for commuting to work (via freeways or main roads), and recreational (but not off-road) riding. I have heard conflicting views on what choice I should make. One view is that I should start small (250's or so) because I am a novice and a smaller bike is easier to learn on. The other is that I should get a more substantial bike (450-500 or so) because of the demands I am placing on its operation (freeway/medium-range riding). The latter view holds that I would learn how to handle such a bike, perhaps not as easily as a smaller one, but there is no need to start small. If you have views on this please place them here, as I am sure they will be of general interest to others who're interested in motorcycles but not sure where to start. [I will have more questions later ...] -- Gordon A. Moffett decvax!decwrl!amd70!proper!gam hplabs!intelca!proper!gam
wjr@rayssd.UUCP (01/23/84)
First of all, some colleges offer motorcycle courses where they supply the cycle and you supply the body and a helmut. Take this first. It gives you the opportunity to find out what size bike you require. I think this would help you out the most. Also it might be a good idea for you to borrow or go out some weekend with a friend on a dirtbike. This is excellent on-the-job-training for *dumping* a bike. Please where a helmut when doing this. Besides its fun. The first bike I owned was a 360 Bultaco...taught me the ins and outs of using a bike...and when on the street...subconciously looking out for anything to happen. Have fun and good luck, Bill Ramey
rkd@ccieng6.UUCP (01/23/84)
On buying a used bike as a first bike, try locating some
current owners of the same make/model. If the seller per-
mits, have them ride it. They should be able to spot any ab-
normalities.
10 months ago I bought my first bike - a used BMW R75-5
(750cc). I found two BMW owners (who belonged to a BMW
club). They test rode the bike, spotted some problems (non-
costly). I would not have known what to look out for.
One of the owners is a MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation)
instructor - he convinced me to take the course. I strongly
suggest taking this course if available. Be wary of peer
teaching - some riders (unconsciously) have suicidal riding
styles/habits. Passing the course will also (state depen-
dent) provide a insurance break, and make you more comfort-
able during the road test. The course provides the bikes and
off-road riding facilities.
January 23, 1984dollas@uiuccsb.UUCP (01/24/84)
#R:proper:-85900:uiuccsb:7100002:000:1166
uiuccsb!dollas Jan 23 23:42:00 1984
In response to the previous comment "...maybe in the freeway it
doesn't matter,...", referring to short pants, don't you dear even thinking
of doing so!!! I did that mistake (I do admit) on a very hot Summer day;
before long my legs felt numb from the wind, and I even felt cold.
The upper half of my body was all right because I was wearing a windproof
jacket. To conclude, after I covered the distance of about fifteen
or twenty miles I realized it was a very happy coincidence that nothing
worse happened, since my reflexes were degraded due to the cold and the
numbness I felt (something everyone who has ridden in a really cold day has
probably experienced).
If this is of any worth I do not know, but since then I feel very happy in
my blue jeans and riding boots even at 90 degrees (usually I carry a pair of
short pants and gym shoes to change at my destination if it is that hot).
Apostolos Dollas
Dept. of Comp. Sci.
University of Illinois
...!pur-ee!uiucdcs!uiuccsb!dollaspsal@micomvax.UUCP (01/26/84)
======================================================================
I started last year, and I'm only sorry I didn't start a lot earlier.
I bought a Suzuki FA50 for my birthday, on my credit card, and it's the most
exhilerating experience I've ever known. A month later I used it for a 3500+
kilometer trip to the east coast, doing the Gaspe, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia,
and the Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island for < $18.00 in gas and oil. on some
hills it slowed down, but it never stalled out. The only bad experience was
being chased by a weasel for a quarter mile, with the same top speed as my
bike.
That's why I'm getting a 450 this spring. I wantto be able to get away
from irascible quadrupeds. I'll miss the little one, though! Although rated at
165 lbs., it carried me (230) and my backpack (85) without complaint. Also, in
>7500 Kilometers it's never given me any mechanical troubles other than a burnt
taillight bulb. I can do fast turns by putting my feet down, lifting the bike,
turning it, and landing running. It's the best $500 I've ever spent. And I've
NEVER dropped it. True, my 6'4" frame is a little undignified on it, but it's
VERY comfortable. My advice for first-timers is to forget about looks and
performance and to go for comfort. You don't want to be distracted when
learning to ride, and if you can afford a biggie anyway you can afford to dump
$200 on the resale. Also, the less it weighs, the more fun. I have now tried
bikes up to 1100 c.c., and I hate the two-wheeled cars. I like to be able to
throw the machine around.
Oh yes, my new bike will be a Suzuki too; I'm very impressed by their
reliability.
Good luck, and have fun!
C.Thomas Weinbaum von Waldenthal
Montreal, P.Q., Canadaroyw@hound.UUCP (#R.WALTERS) (01/27/84)
Anybody that rides a motorcycle wearing shorts should see a "shrink"! One fall at any speed will remove a lot of skin and leave lifetime scars. Road debris can also puncture the legs. Dogs also love to take a bite from any leg that it can get its teeth into. Experts recommend that riders should wear full leathers. Sometimes it's to hot but using very tough, light material can be substituted for leather. Foot protection falls into the same category as pants and jackets. Riding boots should be worn at all times. Novice motorcyclists should ride with a person that has been riding for more than three years and more than 5000 miles per year. That way they can learn the easy way about the dangers of motorcycling. BTM
rsp@opus.UUCP (01/31/84)
A while back I recommended a 250 - 500 cc bike for beginners. As I thought about it some more, I remembered that I really started with a 50cc Honda "step-through" trail bike. It was not only worthless on highways at speeds over 35 mph but was dangerous! But below 35 mph and especially riding through forests and fields it was a *BLAST*!!! It was so light that dumping it was almost fun. So what if the mirrors and brake levers kept breaking off... I'm wondering now how many of us "big" bikers started *REALLY* small. If you ever read about racer's backgrounds you will notice that many of them have a lot of dirt riding experience. That will certainly get you used to sliding a motorcycle around! Russ Panneton NBI Inc. Boulder CO ..!nbires!opus!rsp
emrath@uiuccsb.UUCP (02/05/84)
#R:proper:-85900:uiuccsb:7100003:000:654 uiuccsb!emrath Feb 4 02:47:00 1984 I used to work at a pretty loose place where one of the guys kept his Honda 90 street/trail bike. We used to go out and ride it in the parking lot and adjoining empty lots after a 2-6" snow fall. Talk about fun. I remember going around the back of the building once. I found myself immediately stalled and suspended in a 3 ft snow drift. It was hilarious. Another time I remembering coming out the front door, looking left, and seeing one of the other guys come shooting out from around the side of the building on the thing BACKWARDS! Granted, it was icy, but I couldn't imagine how he got turned around without spilling it. Perry Emrath, U of IL