Just Bought my First Motorcycle!

I always use my blinker and hand signals for my turns. I usually take a quick peek aft before I engage in a turn as well in case someone is not appearing to slow down or trying pass or something. The hand signals at least offer a bit larger visual expression of intention.
 
Will-C":bvogl4nx said:
They used to say ten dollar head ten dollar helmet. Some have said full face helmets contributed to broken necks. But those folks probably would have died anyway. As for the human sized hamster ball comments and the common digs about the baby boomers sometimes made on this site, it's kind of funny when I see you looking for advice.
D.D.
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I was wondering who would take it too seriously. :) I seek advice from any and everyone I believe knows something I don't. I also find this extremely uncommon in todays world where everyone knows everything, never asks questions, doesn't really listen, just waiting to start talking (typing) again. I guess I find it more troubling how LITTLE people seek advice, here and elsewhere.

That said: you're right Will-C, I've made undue jabs at boomers which I always intend as friendly joking directed at an obviously exceptional generation...sort of like ribbing tall people, or people with nice hair, in an envious sort of way. I'll be more aware of this in the future. Thanks for pointing it out.

Safety: Yes I believe "safety" is over-emphasized in the modern world--from driving/riding to pretext toward complete global military domination via "terrorist" concern. It's a powerful conceptual tool that's hard to counter because how can one argue against being "safe"? Sort of like talking about "freedom".

I wear a full-face helmet with full side up front. As often as possible I ride with the front in the UP position. I like feeling the wind in my face.
 
DaveS":1xltymfy said:
...Ride As If No One Sees You....because most everyone else doesn't see you!
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Back in the 70's our ambulance service would sometimes transport critical patients from Trenton hospitals to the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center in Philadelphia. Most of the time these pts went by helicopter, but if the weather was bad we did it. So, one day I'm on the on ramp to I-95 South with lights and siren. I try to work my way over to the fast lane when I keep hearing a beep beep outside my window. I look out and I check the mirror--nothing. The beeps keep coming. Before I switch lanes I open the window, lean out, and look down, and there's a guy on a motorcycle.

Then there was the time we were called to a motorcycle accident where the bike was off the road and down an embankment. We load up the disoriented guy. Half way to the hospital he asks "where's my rider?"
 
Miles and Miles,
Don't get me wrong, I never said I knew everything. I have seen numerous references about babyboomers in your posts. Wasn't there something about your employment status that was a result of a boomer not retiring so you could have his job? Now I know you are just kidding. No need to feel sorry for me. It's not a problem really. I don't want switch places, just kidding, now I get it. :lol:
D.D.
 
Marty,
Now that you mention "lights and sirens"....How many times while driving lights and sirens did other motorists fail to even observe your presence and yield for you? It happens EVERY DAY to all of us attempting to drive an emergency vehicle through traffic. The absolutely worst example of that was when I was driving lights and sirens down I-5 behind a car and while every other motorist was moving their vehicles over to the right, this one motorist continued blissfully unaware of my presence behind him. On a similar note, on one occasion, I recruited a police officer to drive our medic unit lights and sirens to the hospital so my partner and I could both attend to the patient. After we arrived at the hospital, he was so upset that motorists didn't yield to him on a two lane major highway, that he then began paying close attention to motorists (and ticketing them) that didn't yield to us as we came through his town on future runs. That being said, How In The Heck, can we as motorcycle riders expect a motorist to see us? Even when driving an emergency vehicle lights and siren, I drive as if no one sees me.
 
DaveS":1wp8ix1j said:
Marty,
Now that you mention "lights and sirens"....How many times while driving lights and sirens did other motorists fail to even observe your presence and yield for you?
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Well, in N.J, back in the day when people had jobs, it depended on the time of day. It was worse during the afternoon rushhour. We called it the "hotmeal/cold beer syndrome" :disgust

I never was on a motorcycle ( I did have a PUCH which I rode to work). My son had a BMW R-75 which he, like Miles, rode all over the Canadian Maritimes. We were secretly relieved when he sold it. But then he bought a Grumman American AA-l which needed a 3000 foot runway to get off the ground. But, that's another thread......
 
seabeagle":qdy3e0sv said:
Questions.

1 What color is the bike?

2 Have you ever rode before?

3 As a passenger?

Lots to say on the subjects here. First up, hats off to a new adventure in life. I've been riding since about age 11 and don't regret ever learning to ride. I've loosely known a few people who were taken out on bikes and many more that have a lot of bumps and scrapes, myself included. I've met people who have fallen and gave up riding but more who said they learned how not to do that again. Odds are that if you've never rode before, you'll be kicking yourself for not starting sooner. When I met my wife, I took her for a short ride in January in Michigan. She was hooked as a passenger and now I don't dare take the bike out without her.

As far as helmets go, my wife and I prefer full face. I've had 3/4 face with shields most of my years and rode in Ohio with no helmet as well. I currently use a motocross helmet with amber goggles. I personally feel safer with it. I believe a comfortable rider is a more confident rider and is a little less tense on the road. We choose clothes that are primarily best fit for the weather. We have boots and balistic jackets for longer rides and freeway trips. But, I wear flip flops, shorts, and a t-shirt much of the time around town. Wear what you and your wife feel safe in because sadly bikes will always loose regardless of helmet or lack there of. Defensive driving is a must. Assume every vehicle on the road can't see you.

One of my first mods to my bike was a set of lowering links. I'm about 5'10" 140 lbs and had fallen over from a dead stop because the bike stood too tall and is a little top heavy. After the lowering (approx 2 "), the handling characteristics improved greatly. Then came the K&N stage 2 jet kt with a Supertrapp exhaust, crash bars, bags, improved lighting and horn, passenger backrest, and much more.

Unfortunately, since I got the Sea Beagle II, I only ride about 150 miles a year. Maybe I need a bike rack on my boat. Anyway, there's so much more to say than I can type. PM me if you want my number and I'll tell you more.

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SeaBeagle: This is good spot for me to say, it appears to me you know the secrets of a good life. Your youtube videos and occasional posts here always paint a picture of a contented man that loves his wife, and loves his life. That aint easy to find! Good job. Inspiring to me. Hopefully we'll meet on the shores of Lake Superior someday.
 
Thanks MilesandMiles. Now if I only knew who that guy was your were talking about. :wink If I do make it as far as your neighborhood, I'll let you know. And yes, I do love my wife.

From our wedding in our backyard. 2003
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starcrafttom":308bn4u7 said:
bc; cool video.
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That was good. And, along these lines, I just had a chat with a gal who had a real life experience that was also quite inspirational.

There's a guy we've become friends with up here in Port Angeles, who worked for the contractor that built our place. I've met his wife a couple times, but haven't talked to her much - until a few days ago. Reason being - she's got her own motorcycle, and there's a chance Dana might be interested in some back woods riding up here in the Olympics. We met up with her a few days back to take her smaller bike for a spin on some local logging roads, and gauge Dana's interest after talking with her for a bit.

I knew this gal had done a cross country ride a while back, but I didn't really know the details. Turns out - she and another gal bought a couple KLX250's, shipped them to VA, then road coast to coast along the TAT. That's the Trans-America Trail, for those of you who haven't heard of it...an awesome cross country ride that avoids the pavement. It's a ride I'm planning on doing some day.

The story of their adventure is pretty entertaining...a blog was kept that makes for a great read, which they also had published as a book. If you've got an evening and enjoy such adventures, here's a link to the first blog post - just keep hitting the "newer post" link at the bottom of each page, and it reads very similar to the book. Great writing, lot's of good pics and neat stories, and a few simple videos to boot.
 
seabeagle":1ctb8owt said:
Oh, check out this guys KLR. He knows how to travel.
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As a fellow KLR rider, I know that picture actually pains you to look at...every bit as much as my "back of motorhome" image posted earlier does me. Let's try and stick to the "up to axles in mud" theme around here, OK?

A KLR should never be transported except under it's own power. I think that's a law or something. :mrgreen:
 
...famous Hurt Report which looked at over 900 motorcycle accidents.
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Just the name of the famous report ought to tell you something!

Congratulations, Nick. I hope.

Great video, B~C.
 
As to What to wear:

The worst motorcycle accident I ever saw was a young couple, summer time in central Oregon, daytime temps in the 80-90 bracket. Straight 2 lane hiway, early afternoon. He was driving, wearing shorts, tanktop and tennis shoes, no socks. She was the passenger wearing a bikini and flipflops. No gloves, helmets or pads. The stated speed was "about 80". Accident investigators said more like 90. The witness they passed moments before was doing 65, said he hardly had time to see them. No other vehicle involved.

Front tire blew out, bike wobbled a couple of times and they went down onto the pavement, sliding and rolling over a 100 feet. When they finished that slide, she was bare naked, and looked worse than if she had done a whole body makeover with a belt sander, with burn and abrasions into the muscle layers all around. He didn't fare much better, even to their faces. No sudden stop, and both managed to stay clear of the bike so no internal injuries. I belive he had a broken wrist; maybe the first point of ground contact for him. Both remaind conscious through the whole ordeal.

I can't even imagine the agony of those dressing changes, plastic surgery,(skin grafts), and extent of the scaring, from the bottom of her feet, to the back of her head.

For me it was boots, gloves, and leather every day, every ride, with a full face helmet, and a neck kerchief.

It's a free country and you can ride like you want, (mostly), but remember, you don't have everything under your control.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Agreed, Harvey - I fear road rash more than anything else while riding.

That's one of many reasons I went with the Motoport Kevlar gear mentioned earlier - it's far superior to leather in this regard. Not only does it withstand abrasion better, but it tends to slide better than leather. The theory being, that the added friction of leather on pavement can increase impact forces over the slippier textile fabric.

Here's a link over at ADVRider.com that documents a high speed crash down in Mexico, of a guy wearing his Motoport gear. It's one of many reports that sold me on the stuff...
 
The world famous Aerostitch is right in my back yard (I could walk there in 10 minutes) again...if there's anything I can do help with a better deal, I'm here.

I've been VERY lucky in my 20+years of riding. The one drop I made on my XRL to Newfoundland was riding through a just harvested hay field, the front tire went into one grove, the back into another...the bike started to fall, I "stepped" off forward into a run, the bike nose dived into the mud. I was using recycled ammo boxes for luggage at the time, one was bent up, could have easily been my leg tore up instead. I was digging mud out of places on that bike for a week.

If there's anything I could add here (or perhaps second) it's the slow down part when ever in urban or congested situations. I had a young guy and his girlfriend pull right in front of my last season, I slid sideways, and my soft bag brushed their taillight. Again, could have been my leg. I chased them down, shaking with fear and anger, pulled up to his window at the light, "do you realize you almost killed me back there?" It was met with the dumb look like I was part of a video game. "I didn't see you"

I'll repeat his response to drive it home, "I didn't see you"

When drivers are pulling onto the roadway from the right, or turning across your lane from the left, never assume they actually SEE you...even if looking right at you. I always slow down and make sure they've stopped.

Lube that chain often. Carry a container of gear oil (a fraction of the chain lube price, and exactly what the chain wants and needs) over at advrider someone came up with a genius one pole stand to prop the bike up while you lube and turn the wheel (you'll see, this isn't easy to do with one person) I usually just go through the trouble of lubing a section, then rolling the bike forward, lube again, until completed. Check the tension while you're at it. KLR's have a system for that.

The last thing I'll suggest is do some research on corbin seats. No matter how you go about it, a stock dual sport seat will feel like you're sitting on a vibrating 2x4 after awhile. You can stand on the pegs, "wiggle your bum" (as a English rider I met called it) adjust your butt placement, etc. but a Corbin will make a load of difference. I finally found a used one for my XRL...then sold it. They currently don't make one for the DR200 :(

My ball-park guess on KLR650 MPG's is 50'ish or a little better at cruising speeds. It might drop to 40 on trails and dual-sporting it.

I hope this helps. Riding a motorcycle is one of the last modest man's freedoms. A dual sport is double that.

Brenton
 
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