[ARCHIVED THREAD] - I want a Motorcycle! (Page 4 of 4)
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Quoted: Although your maturity at 40 is, hopefully, better than at 20, your reflexes are not. Doesn't mean you can't, lots of people ride at your age and beyond. Choose your ride wisely. Hopefully, maturity will lead to having the right reactions and better decisions to avoid oh shit moments before they develop. Reactions might be a tad be slower but that trumps immaturity that reacts the wrong way fast as lightning. If the solution was always brakes as hard and as fast as you can I'd be agreeing. You've got to assess what the situation is, where is the road going, probable traction available (is the pavement rough, any crap like liquid or sand/gravel on the road), throttle opening, how hard to brake if that is in the solution, which brake and how hard for each, what is any needed lean angle going to do to the braking solution. You have to divine what the probable actions of other riders/drivers in the bad zone with you might do. A lot of factors need to be assessed RFN. And if your best efforts fail and you are going to crash because there is no solution that does not lead to a crash you have to decide if you can mitigate the crash somewhat and take those actions. Chose the ditch over a head-on with a dump truck type decision. And sometimes you are just screwed. Regardless of maturity, it's a really good idea to stay way far away from everybody while you learn the bike and the bike's dynamics. None of that is difficult and becomes reflexive. Paying attention to threats for me is below the surface until needed and doesn't spoil the ride for me. Shit happens and you deal with it and, hopefully, ride on. If something happens and it has you upset, park the bike until your head is right again. Anyone that is prone to panic, chronically oblivious to their surroundings, road rager, indecisive, plan on engaging in drugs or drinking before riding, or a klutz needs to admit that to themselves and either don't ride or be really careful what, how, when, and where they ride. |
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Quoted: Trip to the hospital if you do lay it down and all that “gear” shreds and leaves you looking like a pizza at best…priceless …good gear is always gonna be cheaper than a life flight or amber lamps ride Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: What is the price of Vanson leathers these days? What is the price of a good helmet these days? What is the price of good boots and good gloves these days? I don't know myself today. I just know the prices should be considered the prices of very good insurance. Pair of jeans-60 bucks. Timberlands-85 Jean jacket at Walmart-25 Gloves vary from 15-40 Helmet-120  2k in gear is no different than the ol ladys closet with once worn dresses, heels, and matching handbags.Trip to the hospital if you do lay it down and all that “gear” shreds and leaves you looking like a pizza at best…priceless …good gear is always gonna be cheaper than a life flight or amber lamps ride Yeah, jean jacket and pants are insufficient. Still better than nothing. Shoes should be leather and at least cover your ankle. I am in Missouri and have a pair of excellent condition AVGSport cargo pants with kevlar panels in the rear and knees which I'd sell (34W-30L). I also have a jacket I'd throw in for free. I might have some cycling gloves also. I sold my Kawasaki ZX10r last August. Been riding since the 90s and I guess I finally satiated my need for speed. PM me if size would fit you. |
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Quoted: I have a Streetglide too, but this is way more fun.https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/99195/FB2022EC-9EE1-4463-9B96-3E17C5CDF545_jpe-2278146.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/99195/F45B2A54-FBD0-4AF9-A248-597882028D1E_png-2278151.JPG Or this one https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/99195/1A722477-29DB-4962-9F75-D0B6614619F7_png-2278152.JPG That XRR looks like a lot of fun. |
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Quoted: People have started installing 'shifter kits' on ones similar to the one in the picture, getting the top speed up around 75mph. ...on bicycle tires and brakes. Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: If you're not sure of your cycle skills, buy an inexpensive mountain bike (bicycle) and ride it in the city like you're in a hurry. Once you get good at this, transitioning to a lightweight motorcycle shouldn't be a problem. A dual sport bike is always a good choice for a new rider. I've been riding for over 50 years and have a Suzuki DR650 in my bike fleet. The DR can run at freeway speed and is fun on city streets and back roads. New bike prices and availability are not good these days. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/64025/49cc-4-stroke-motorized-bicycle_jpeg-2278116.JPG No. You'll never learn how to ride fast on a moped. If you learn how to ride hard and fast in the city on a bicycle, the transition to a light motorcycle will be easy. I did that when I was fifteen, from my Schwinn to a Honda CB160. If you don't like "hard and fast" maybe rethink getting on a motorcycle, because things happen hard and fast on the street, whether you like it or not. Riding a street bike really IS a life or death thing. You have to know how to ride aggressively in order to ride defensively. Knowing how to ride a dirt bike, hard, helps too because you're always in attack mode while "defending" yourself against all the objects and obstacles around you. You develop good reflexes by riding hard. I'm almost seventy and riding at a sporting pace helps keep me stay alert and keep my reflexes sharp; it's good mental exercise. People have started installing 'shifter kits' on ones similar to the one in the picture, getting the top speed up around 75mph. ...on bicycle tires and brakes. That would be scary on an old fashioned cruiser bike with those side-pull brakes that will probably fade out at 20 - 25 mph. It's not hard to imagine a high speed "death wobble" on that thing. |
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Quoted: That would be scary on an old fashioned cruiser bike with those side-pull brakes that will probably fade out at 20 - 25 mph. It's not hard to imagine a high speed "death wobble" on that thing. Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: If you're not sure of your cycle skills, buy an inexpensive mountain bike (bicycle) and ride it in the city like you're in a hurry. Once you get good at this, transitioning to a lightweight motorcycle shouldn't be a problem. A dual sport bike is always a good choice for a new rider. I've been riding for over 50 years and have a Suzuki DR650 in my bike fleet. The DR can run at freeway speed and is fun on city streets and back roads. New bike prices and availability are not good these days. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/64025/49cc-4-stroke-motorized-bicycle_jpeg-2278116.JPG No. You'll never learn how to ride fast on a moped. If you learn how to ride hard and fast in the city on a bicycle, the transition to a light motorcycle will be easy. I did that when I was fifteen, from my Schwinn to a Honda CB160. If you don't like "hard and fast" maybe rethink getting on a motorcycle, because things happen hard and fast on the street, whether you like it or not. Riding a street bike really IS a life or death thing. You have to know how to ride aggressively in order to ride defensively. Knowing how to ride a dirt bike, hard, helps too because you're always in attack mode while "defending" yourself against all the objects and obstacles around you. You develop good reflexes by riding hard. I'm almost seventy and riding at a sporting pace helps keep me stay alert and keep my reflexes sharp; it's good mental exercise. People have started installing 'shifter kits' on ones similar to the one in the picture, getting the top speed up around 75mph. ...on bicycle tires and brakes. That would be scary on an old fashioned cruiser bike with those side-pull brakes that will probably fade out at 20 - 25 mph. It's not hard to imagine a high speed "death wobble" on that thing. A while back, I watched a video about modding cars, where the guy explained his choice of cars as "it's more fun to drive a slow car fast, than to drive a fast car slow". Seems some people apply that to two wheel modes of transportation. |
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Bought a Kawasaki Versys-x 300 for $5200 OTD, 2 years ago. Put knobbies on it. It is hilarious fun at slow, medium, and pretty fast speeds, asphalt and dirt. Had mine pushing 100mph, and will run at 70mph on the freeway all day, and not get pushed around. Ridden steep, gnarly, powerline "roads" with it. (I'm 65 years old) Attached File |
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Been riding dirtbikes since I was a kid, first streetbike was a ninja 650, recently upgraded to a new ZX10 and kept the 650 for doordash/grubhub work and as a spare. I cannot strongly recommend enough that you practice low speed maneuvering, like hours upon hours of it. Go to a parking lot with some cheap cones and do drills. It'll save your bacon on the road. Don't buy a super sport like a ZX6/ZX10, CBR, GSXR, etc for your first bike. They suck for tight maneuvers, and are not very forgiving of mistakes, especially the older models with no electronic aids. They are fun as hell though. Save them for your second or third bike down the line if thats the style of bike/riding you prefer. Ninja 650, FZ-07, SV650 and others like them are my recommendations. Avoid Harleys or cruisers for your first bike, they're also terrible at low speed/tight maneuvers and heavy, even the "lightweight" and "sporty" models. Spend as much as you can on gear, buy leather, get CE level 2 rated stuff. My streetbikes. '21 ZX10 and '19 Ninja 650. Would like to get an Electra Glide or Goldwing for touring at some point. Attached File Attached File |
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Quoted: A while back, I watched a video about modding cars, where the guy explained his choice of cars as "it's more fun to drive a slow car fast, than to drive a fast car slow". Seems some people apply that to two wheel modes of transportation. I'm way too big and old for that bike. It was a killer on my knees after 20 minutes or so. I'd love to try the replacement for the 250 - a Ninja 400. Lighter, more power, better suspension. If I lived someplace like the Deals Gap area I'd buy one, look like a circus bear on a clown cycle, suck up the pain, and run the piss out of it. Bars are a little higher and pegs are a little lower than a full-on sportbike. They start at $5199 MSRP. Attached File |
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Quoted: Bought a Kawasaki Versys-x 300 for $5200 OTD, 2 years ago. Put knobbies on it. It is hilarious fun at slow, medium, and pretty fast speeds, asphalt and dirt. Had mine pushing 100mph, and will run at 70mph on the freeway all day, and not get pushed around. Ridden steep, gnarly, powerline "roads" with it. (I'm 65 years old) https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/369185/16187615588571155016576_jpg-2278943.JPG |
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Quoted: Been riding dirtbikes since I was a kid, first streetbike was a ninja 650, recently upgraded to a new ZX10 and kept the 650 for doordash/grubhub work and as a spare. I cannot strongly recommend enough that you practice low speed maneuvering, like hours upon hours of it. Go to a parking lot with some cheap cones and do drills. It'll save your bacon on the road. Don't buy a super sport like a ZX6/ZX10, CBR, GSXR, etc for your first bike. They suck for tight maneuvers, and are not very forgiving of mistakes, especially the older models with no electronic aids. They are fun as hell though. Save them for your second or third bike down the line if thats the style of bike/riding you prefer. Ninja 650, FZ-07, SV650 and others like them are my recommendations. Avoid Harleys or cruisers for your first bike, they're also terrible at low speed/tight maneuvers and heavy, even the "lightweight" and "sporty" models. Spend as much as you can on gear, buy leather, get CE level 2 rated stuff. My streetbikes. '21 ZX10 and '19 Ninja 650. Would like to get an Electra Glide or Goldwing for touring at some point. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/359227/2D996B8F-002F-41B6-BCAC-50572E2BC94D_jpe-2278957.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/359227/5852A756-8647-4BF3-83E6-94842685FCB3_jpe-2278959.JPG I keep telling myself that "This ride I'll take it easy and relax." That's never lasted more than about 10 minutes. 14 days of bugs from 11 states. Attached File Crappy camera, crappy little video my Grandson took on our. We were westbound climbing up from the Missouri River on Rt44 in SD. The ride just goes on and on hour after hour and day after day.  South Dakota Rt44 |
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Quoted: Pair of jeans-60 bucks. Timberlands-85 Jean jacket at Walmart-25 Gloves vary from 15-40 Helmet-120 2k in gear is no different than the ol ladys closet with once worn dresses, heels, and matching handbags.You are going to die! Seriously why would you even consider wearing that garbage? That might make it on the dirt, but you will suffer jon the road. |
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I was 40 and my wife 38 when we decided to start riding. Wish I would have 10 years earlier though. A little life experience has helped with risk assessment, I've realized I'm not invincible but still make my fsir share of bad choices! Have you sat on a bunch of styles of bikes? If the aesthetic is what you're after that's fine, just make sure you're comfortable. I wanted a supersport and my wife wanted a cruiser when we started riding. I didn't fit comfortably on the sport bikes I sat on and didn't feel in control on a cruiser reaching out for controls and pegs. I settled on a naked style bike and when we upgraded thats the direction the wife went too. I would be sure to take a look at some lightweight naked/standard bikes. Starters: Attached File Upgrades: Attached File |
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OP being 6-1, any used Dual Sport bike would be a great starter. Helmet- never a used one. Helmets fit different head shapes so you really need to try a few on to get a comfy one. Note, there is a lot of difference between a $50 chicom helmet and a $200-400 one. Way less difference between a $400 and a $900 Arai/Shoei. Jackets- a nice armored mesh jacket is great in the summer. Install the liner when it gets wet or cold. Pants- I use Carhatt Fire Hose pants. Thick denim and a pocket for some harbor freight knee protectors. Note, get them a size longer so they cover the lower legs when sitting. Gloves- Thick leather Shoes- Boots, over the ankle. Lots of gear on craigslist or eBay.  TYCOM |
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My youngest son (who will turn 30 in a week) bought his first bike last year, a Honda CB500X. It was used (200 miles) by the company I work for, so I was able to get a substantial employee discount. It included the touring windshield, which we manufacture. Attached File He took the MSF course when he was in college, but he had college loans to pay off, so it wasn't until recently that he was able to plunk down cash for a bike. He's being careful and cautious and not pushing the envelope. But he's already talking about buying a second bike. I've ridden his bike. I think it's perfect for a beginner, yet has more than enough power that you won't outgrow it too soon (like new riders often do with 200-300cc bikes). Don't be a fool and let others talk you into getting a bigger, faster bike. You WILL hurt yourself. . . As of this year, I have been riding for 50 years. With only five crashes, and only three that broke bones or drew blood. . . ETA: His passion was genetic. He has spent over a thousand miles on the back of various bikes I've owned, being ridden to grade school each morning. Here we are stopped at a small military museum on a trip from Chicago to Milwaukee. His XS Shoei helmet no longer fits. Attached File |
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Quoted: Huffy Cranbrook? I was looking at those, but then I started trying to sort out what it would take to upgrade the brakes and realized it would make more sense (moneywise) to get a hybrid/commuter bike with the brakes already on it. Yep. The brakes can be upgraded but I didn't bother. Rode it for maybe 2 miles and put it away. The coaster does work but is a typical coaster brake that loses effectiveness as speed increases. That little 80cc engine could probably push that bike close to 40mph, but I'm not going to be the guy to find out about it. LOL |
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Quoted: Trip to the hospital if you do lay it down and all that “gear” shreds and leaves you looking like a pizza at best…priceless …good gear is always gonna be cheaper than a life flight or amber lamps ride I choked at the price tag when I bought my jacket ($450). It was insane. The chaps were reasonable$120. Gloves $35 and a carbon fiber helmet. $400. I hated wearing the chaps. Then as fate had it for me. I found myself on the side of the road. Bleeding pretty good. With a dislocated shoulder and a separated and twisted knee cap and three broken ribs. My views on life and gear changed that day. I realized the chaps were worth wearing since it was hot that day and I didn’t wear them. The jacket looked like I had beat the shit out of it with a gas string trimmer. My gloves looked the same. My helmet. A beautiful and feather weight carbon fiber was covered in blackberry goo and leaves / vine chunks. The bike was a mess. Breathing hurt in a way I have never felt pain. I couldn’t walk. A passerby stopped and helped me. A second one helped get my bike off the side of the road and upright. The forks were twisted. Headlight was somewhere off in the distance. My pride. Fuck. What pride. I was surprised the bike started. The most painful ride home. 1 mile. At a crawl. The passerbys followed me home and helped me park it. The call to my elderly father…. “Pops- I need help getting to the hospital.” My old man. The one who told me the bike would be fun and good for me arrived a few minutes later. The bike was built in to a show piece. It rides great. Handles amazingly. Especially when you consider the rear tire is a 260. I don’t ride as much. But the chaps are always worn now. The pants I wore that day are hanging next to my jacket and chaps in the closet. Also my Vrod will do a wheelie. Done it two times. Once to see if it could and a second time to prove the first wasn’t a fluke. And will never happen again. I’m not that daring anymore. I have a lot more photos of the bike days following the accident and it ending up as the burgundy beast. Will post if anyone wants to see them. |
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OP, here's something to consider when selecting a motorcycle, particularly that first one: Footpeg placement. I bring this up because part of controlling a motorcycle involves using the footpegs. That's right, footpegs are not simply a place to rest your feet; they play a role in control of the motorcycle in cornering and if you should happen to ride over a bump or pothole or debris. You need to be able to press down on one or both pegs, depending on what you are doing. This is taught (or used to be) in the MSF class. What this means is you want footpegs located somewhere under your seat area, like this:  This footpeg placement allows you to stand up on the pegs, like you would if you had to drive over a 2x4 in the road, etc. If the pegs are far forward like on a lot of cruiser style bikes ("forward controls"), or way up high and back ("rear-sets) like on some sport bikes, this can be difficult or impossible. For your first bike, get one with footpegs roughly located like in the image above. After you have spent some time riding and gained valuable experience, you can try a bike with footpegs in one of those alternate locations, but I think it best not to start off on one. |
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Probably been stated and restated but take an MSF or Harley rider course. You're going to learn skills that you don't even know you need. Ride like you're invisible or you have John Wick money on your head and everyone is trying to collect. Ride your ride. If you're with somebody and they run off and leave you, let them go. Nobody I know does that but I'm very selective about who I ride with. You should be constantly looking 300-400 yards ahead or as far as possible. Learn about target fixation and how to avoid it. Learn about counter steer. Good luck. |
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OP, I was in the same boat as you a few months ago. Just got the bug to get a motorcycle. I had a Kawasaki 440 for a few months back when I was in college 27 years ago but nothing since and no training or endorsement. But I just fell in love with BWM Adventure bikes. So I bought a BMW GSA 1250 without even a test ride and picked it up this January. I had to ride it home 80 miles, some through heavy traffic. One of the stupidest things I have done, and I've volunteered to jump out of planes and go to war...I would recommend getting training FIRST, and not starting with a 600lb bike (dont be like itchy). Also get the best gear you can afford. I'm totally in love with the bike and try to ride every day, even if it's just practicing u-turns in front of my house. I live in a quiet, rural area with lots of country roads, fields, and forests. I would NOT get a bike if I lived in a city again though. |
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Quoted: What you want is a Dual Sport. There's nothing more fun than a street legal dirt bike. Unless you want to ride long distance, then they kinda suck unless you buy one of the bigger less dirt bikey ones. Quoted: I rode my 2-fiddy dual sport on a 7200 mile trip. It didn’t suck. It was the complete opposite of sucking. Quoted: When you ride ….just pretend NOBODY can see you. Even if they are looking right at you. Started on a 250, ended up on this. Honda CBR1000RR, absolutely amazing machine. I ended up selling it after my second son was born. Attached File Recently decided it was time for another, and wanted something I could ride with my kids on their dirt bikes too. I ended up stumbling into a KLR250 that’s over 20 years old very cheap. It’s completely underwhelming in every category- power, speed, and especially suspension. For some reason, I have just as much fun. Do it. Attached File |
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Quoted: I was being charitable…been down 4 times myself and thankfully walked away from every fall…I always suit up…and yes I do have some high dollar gear… Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Trip to the hospital if you do lay it down and all that “gear” shreds and leaves you looking like a pizza at best…priceless …good gear is always gonna be cheaper than a life flight or amber lamps ride It is not a question of "if" but "when." Prepare! Avoid it today but prepare for "when" it happens tomorrow. I was being charitable…been down 4 times myself and thankfully walked away from every fall…I always suit up…and yes I do have some high dollar gear… I did not think there was disagreement. |
| I have decided I want a motorcycle too. Back in '06 I bought a chopped Honda Shadow after I finished collage. It was a ton of fun to ride and I still remember it feeling like the most freedom I'd ever had. I ended up selling it after moving to a different city. I haven't ridden for about 10 years, and I'm thinking it's time to get back on the horse. I think I want that BMW S1000R naked bike. The reviews for it have been pretty good, and it has a ton of power. Later, as my midlife crisis intensifies, I'll probably switch it out for a S1000RR or a Panigale V4S. We'll see. From the advances in electronic rider aids such as ABS, traction control, slip control, and anti-wheelie control, I think I'll be able to have a little fun at least before I hamburger myself. |
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Quoted: You are going to die! Seriously why would you even consider wearing that garbage? That might make it on the dirt, but you will suffer jon the road. You are going to die too. It's what we do, everybody gotta die some day Red. You'll shit. Here in the summer? No helmet. No snowbirds = open roads with less congestion from the retirees that can't find the long skinny pedal on the right, or are perpetually lost. |
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Quoted: Yep. The brakes can be upgraded but I didn't bother. Rode it for maybe 2 miles and put it away. The coaster does work but is a typical coaster brake that loses effectiveness as speed increases. That little 80cc engine could probably push that bike close to 40mph, but I'm not going to be the guy to find out about it. LOL Quoted: Quoted: Huffy Cranbrook? I was looking at those, but then I started trying to sort out what it would take to upgrade the brakes and realized it would make more sense (moneywise) to get a hybrid/commuter bike with the brakes already on it. Yep. The brakes can be upgraded but I didn't bother. Rode it for maybe 2 miles and put it away. The coaster does work but is a typical coaster brake that loses effectiveness as speed increases. That little 80cc engine could probably push that bike close to 40mph, but I'm not going to be the guy to find out about it. LOL Just going from one end of my place to the opposite end, is a change in elevation of over 300 feet. Too many hills around me to trust anything with a motor to just a coaster brake, even if I tried to keep it slow. I bought a 49cc 4 stroke kit, since TN requires staying below 50cc to be road legal. I've been looking at various bikes and had almost decided on a Kent Bayside (wasn't thrilled about the side pull brakes and the frame being a tight fit for a 4 stroke, though), but then I noticed that the Huffy Lockland is priced lower, has better brakes, and the frame looks like it would be an easier fit for a 4 stroke. Currently waiting to see how long it will take for the Huffy to be shipped. I've lost track of how many times I've thought "should have done this last year, when the bikes were cheaper", since I started seriously looking. 
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Yours? One day when I have 100k for a bike... 
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Quoted: Just going from one end of my place to the opposite end, is a change in elevation of over 300 feet. Too many hills around me to trust anything with a motor to just a coaster brake, even if I tried to keep it slow. I bought a 49cc 4 stroke kit, since TN requires staying below 50cc to be road legal. I've been looking at various bikes and had almost decided on a Kent Bayside (wasn't thrilled about the side pull brakes and the frame being a tight fit for a 4 stroke, though), but then I noticed that the Huffy Lockland is priced lower, has better brakes, and the frame looks like it would be an easier fit for a 4 stroke. Currently waiting to see how long it will take for the Huffy to be shipped. I've lost track of how many times I've thought "should have done this last year, when the bikes were cheaper", since I started seriously looking. Same laws here in FL, anything above 50cc requires a MC license (but I think that is mostly ignored). You'll have fun putting it together and you'll have to modify a few things and get a little creative. If you got a kit, scrap the rag joint and get a CNC hub adapter. It will save a boatload of time and frustration setting it up. Huffy frames also have some compound curves in them and the front motor mount may leave you scratching your head. I solved mine with a hockey puck. LOL Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Quoted: Have always wanted to ride, bought a Suzuki 500 in college, and immediately wrecked it. That pretty much killed any further desire.... For a while..Now 20 years later and I've got the itch. I'd like to go about it the best way possible. Looking into Harley beginner rider courses to learn all the basics. Two works of advice. One....buy the best gear you can afford. Helmet, gloves, jacket, pants, and boots. Two....buy something used and cheap, put 10,000 miles on it learning to ride (and possible dump it), and then if you really enjoy riding....buy something nicer. Oh....and a third bonus bit of advice, ride like you are invisible. Never assume that cars can see you.....more than half of the idiots out there behind the wheel are texting, jacking with the radio, or turned around and yelling at their kids. I gave up riding after almost getting squashed by multiple texting drivers on the highways. Be safe. 
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Quoted: Two works of advice. One....buy the best gear you can afford. Helmet, gloves, jacket, pants, and boots. Two....buy something used and cheap, put 10,000 miles on it learning to ride (and possible dump it), and then if you really enjoy riding....buy something nicer. Oh....and a third bonus bit of advice, ride like you are invisible. Never assume that cars can see you.....more than half of the idiots out there behind the wheel are texting, jacking with the radio, or turned around and yelling at their kids. I gave up riding after almost getting squashed by multiple texting drivers on the highways. Be safe. Very sound advice. I've heard that many times over the years, though the best way I have heard the third part is "you are invisible to 90% of the drivers on the road - the other 10% are actively trying to kill you". |
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Quoted: Same laws here in FL, anything above 50cc requires a MC license (but I think that is mostly ignored). You'll have fun putting it together and you'll have to modify a few things and get a little creative. If you got a kit, scrap the rag joint and get a CNC hub adapter. It will save a boatload of time and frustration setting it up. Huffy frames also have some compound curves in them and the front motor mount may leave you scratching your head. I solved mine with a hockey puck. LOL https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/279984/20210911_121419_jpg-2280240.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/279984/20210913_172014_jpg-2280241.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/279984/20210913_172037_jpg-2280242.JPG A hockey puck is something I wouldn't have thought of. After seriously considering the Kent Bayside, I accepted that I could end up having to spend a lot of time grinding on the front mount, since that is the only way to get a 4 stroke to fit in the Bayside frame. The rag joint is the one part of the kit that I have trouble wrapping my brain around how anybody in the design process thought this was a good idea. I might use it as a short test, to see if I want to try a different sprocket size when I order one that doesn't use the rag joint. ...or (if the frame has enough clearance for it) I might spend a couple hundred for a shifter kit and do away with the need to add another sprocket to the rear wheel, while adding some flexibility for dealing with the hills around here and maybe some improvement in fuel economy. ...though that could create an issue with TN's requirement to register it as a 'motor driven cycle' (50cc to 125cc and not a 'motorized bicycle'), pay the annual fee for a plate (around $80 to $90, in my county), and have an 'M' endorsement on my driver's license, if it has a 'design max speed on level ground of more than 30mph'. I guess I could just follow the 'act like you are pedaling it, every time you see a cop' philosophy. |
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If you want a motorcycle then get a motorcycle. I would advise against something too big to start on. A midrange 250 to 600 would be good. Don't buy new, you will drop your bike eventually. After you figure out what you like and don't like you can get fancier. Spend all you want on gear but remember there is such a thing as wasting money. Who here has a 5 point racing harness in their Prius? Safety ya know. MSF course is a damn good idea. Didn't have that when I started but the Army forced me into it later so I could ride on post. Start off easy and work your way up. Racing is a great way to learn so much and at a low risk place. Also racing on a track might keep you from trying it on the street. The street pales in comparison to racing on a track. Find a friend who rides or join a group to ride. Always more fun with friends. Anyway, enjoy your riding. Yes, every rider does stupid shit at times just try to keep it under control. I bought my first bike in 1983. Stopped around 1988 the started again around 2006. I now ride at least a few times a week on bikes ranging from a Kymco scooter to an FJR1300 and planning a 10,000+ mile ride around the country this summer (For the guys who are riding with me yes, once we include returning back home it will be around 10k miles). Anyway, have fun and enjoy. Only dogs and motorcyclists understand the feeling of the wind on their face. |
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Tis the season to share this piece of cold weather riding lore if you don't buy the right cold weather gear. The whole thing is a good read. "There is cold, and there is cold on a motorcycle. Cold on a motorcycle is like being beaten with cold hammers while being kicked with cold boots, a bone bruising cold. The wind's big hands squeeze the heat out of my body and whisk it away; caught in a cold October rain, the drops don't even feel like water. They feel like shards of bone fallen from the skies of Hell to pock my face. I expect to arrive with my cheeks and forehead streaked with blood, but that's just an illusion, just the misery of nerves not designed for highway speeds." Cold On A Motorcycle |
[ARCHIVED THREAD] - I want a Motorcycle! (Page 4 of 4)
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