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Beginning Riders- Open Season!
So you have wanted to get a Bike 'Forever', and this is the year you are going to do it! Where to start? What size/type of Bike?
First:
Ask yourself why? Is it for Sport (week-end fun), or are you doing it to save on Fuel/Insurance Costs? If your answer is: "Cause Bikes are Frick'in Awesome, and I want to Haul @ss!", then you are already off to a Bad Start!
Be realistic about why you are doing this. Bikes are a lot of fun to ride, and nothing really compares with the feeling of flying over Open Pavement, but it helps to know where you are going with it. After all, it is not much fun to go out and buy the Fastest MPH Road Rocket, just to sit in Rush Hour Traffic on your way to the Office!
In Today's Economy, with the Fuel Prices as they are, it is getting harder to justify going out for the week-end just to burn some Gas! And, if it is your intention to go tear up some asphalt, push yourself and your machine to it's limits, and race your Buddies in the Sun Drenched Twisties (lets face it...every guys fantasy when first starting out!), then take it to the Track! Not only is it much Safer (No Autos/Road Debris), it is Legal to Flat Out Haul Balls! Nothing hurts your Pride worse (other than Wrecking your Bike!) than Pulling Off some Serious Corners, and then Spanking Out 180 MPH, only to have all the people you passed see you getting a $400+ Speeding Ticket on the side of the Road! In some States, it is now a Class Felony to do over 100MPH, and you can get Arrested on the spot, loose your License/Endorsement, in addition to paying very large Fines, with possible Time behind Bars!!!!
Find some Balance in your answer, and be Realistic about what you want to do, you will find your experiences much more rewarding.
Second:
Do yourself a HUGE Favor, and start with a Class Enrollment at your Local Motorcycle Safety Foundation! It doesn't cost much (when compared to Crash Repairs/Hospital Bills), and will (in most States) make the process towards getting your Motorcycle License/Endorsement much faster. In addition, some Insurance Companies will offer lower Rates to those who have taken the Course.
Being a Member of the 'Over the Handlebars Club' myself, I can tell you that its no fun stacking your Bike, and any Training you can get will prove to be invaluable when you find yourself in a Sudden Situation! Don't fool yourself into thinking that you don't need it, because you have years of experience riding Bicycles, or you have ridden your Buddy's Bike around the Neighborhood. Fully understanding how to Safely Operate your Bike can Save Your Life, and at the very least, your Bike!
If it is a Pride Issue, then imagine for a moment how you would feel with a Bad Case of Road Rash, a Trashed Bike, and only a Weekend of Riding under your Belt! That is not to say that every New Rider Dumps their Bike, but it does happen, and faster than you might think! Even Seasoned Riders go back for more Courses, to sharpen, and broaden their Riding Skills! Pride is a Road Block to Safety, and besides, there is a lot more Pride available to be gained if you can actually show you know how to Control Your Crazy Fast Steed!
Third:
Having truthfully answering the First Issue, and knowing what type of Bike you want, the next thing to consider how to get there Safely. It is a mistake to rush into any 'First Bike' Purchase, as there are many things to consider, and all too often it is Impulse that drives us. Jumping onto that Brand New 1000cc Bike as your First, just cause your Buddies ride them, can get you killed if you are not ready for it. In fact, it may not even be what you are really after to begin with!
Understanding 'Bike Classes’ (Size) is the place to start. Take some time to learn about the Bike you want. Bigger is not always Better. Larger Bikes are heavy, and can be difficult to handle, where smaller Bikes have the advantage of being light, and nimble. For the Beginning Rider, lighter is always better. In an event as simple as being off balance at a stop, it is much easier to regain control over the lighter Bike.
Forth:
Finding, and Buying your First Rocket! There is a large amount of discussion regarding what is a good Starter Bike, and whether to get a New, or Used Bike as a 'First Ride'. Here are some things to consider with regard to both;
Plan on dumping your First Bike (but try not to at all costs!). I know this is contrary to most people's line of reasoning (Who leaves early for Work, cause they are going to have an accident on the way?), but plan on this event all the same. This being the case, why go out and buy a New Bike, at Top Dollar, just to devalue it with some Rash on the Fenders, and a busted Mirror? I know......back to the Pride Issue. Don't worry about the fact that you are riding an older, used Bike this season. The Bike you really want to be seen on will still be there when you are ready for it, and with a few 'Drops' under your belt, you will take much better care of that Brand New Beauty when you get it!
Next, don't think for a moment that you are going to get onto a 600cc(or bigger) Bike, and be able to control it on your first time out!!! Riding your Buddy's 600R around the Neighborhood IS NOT even remotely close to Real Life Road Riding. Having the experience of operating a smaller Bike will lead to being able to handle a larger, and more powerful Bike. It REALLY is how you get there in one piece! You are bound to know someone who jumped on a Super Bike for their 'First', and they will urge you to do the same, but Pride will bar them from telling you about all the times they nearly wrecked it!
Riding a Motorcycle, although really a lot of fun, is extremely demanding, both Physically, and Mentally, and it can kill you if you are not properly prepared for it.
Fifth:
Used? Old? How old? So many things to consider! First, if you really want a decent, small, used Sport Bike, look for a Ninja 250. There are enough people that ignore the 'New vs. Old' consideration, and buy a Brand New ZX250 for $5000, only to find it to be too small for them a year later, and sell it off for half of that! Every Season! I don't like to recommend a Bike for anyone, but this is one example of a Trend Bike, and this happens over, and over. Make a wiser choice, and pick one that has not been dropped too many times, and still has low miles on it. Take good care of it, and it will have some resale value to put towards your next, bigger Bike.
As for 'Older' Bikes (more than 5 years), be prepared to do some repairs, and spend some money on it to make sure it is Safe to Ride! That 1982 XX may prove to need a Complete Overhaul, so although inexpensive to buy, it may prove to cost you more in the long run, than had you spent a bit more on a Newer Bike!
Making a good 'Older Bike' purchase will also come with Experience. Some just get the New Bikes to avoid having to work on their Rides altogether, and have the latest/fastest Models. However, keep in mind that Motorcycles require more frequent attention than Automobiles, with regular Inspection/Service to insure Safe Riding. If you treat it like a Car, it will disappoint you, and if neglected, it can become very dangerous! If unsure of your Mechanical Skills, be sure to have an 'Older/Used Bike' inspected at a Qualified Shop before you log any miles on it!
Lastly:
Safety. Your ability to enjoy, and survive, each and every Ride is based entirely on your actions (and reactions) in any given situation, and your ability to maintain Safe Riding Practices. Riding a Motorcycle on the Street/Highway includes a constantly changing, hazardous environment, which should be treated as such. Wear Gear! Helmet, Jacket, Pants, Gloves, and Boots can save your @ss in a hard landing!! Would you Ski down a Mountain without a Jacket/Gloves/Goggles? Play Full Contact Football without Padding/Shoulder Guards/Cup? Perhaps go diving with Sharks without a Mesh Suit? This is a Sport, and like any other, enjoyed better when played Safely! Granted Riding a Bike is, to some degree, like playing Golf during a Lightning Storm, but it can be done with a certain amount of Safety....Wear Gear!
Also, although you got the New Model of Super Bike, so that everyone sees you on it, the reality is that most people don't pay attention. Sure there is the group of Young Boys on the corner that watch you go by with envy, and the occasional Chick that looks, but in all actuality, you are largely 'Invisible', and aren't seen even by the Motorist you share the Road with! Stay always on Alert that you are in danger at all times, and keep Safe Riding Practices, to ensure your continued enjoyment of this Fantastic Sport!
So....why bother listening to this 'Ol Fart'? Here is a page torn out of my Journals, and consider it titled: "What Not To Do"
I learned how to Ride on my own, back in the Day, before Helmets were Mandatory. No one taught me how to ride, or even rode with me. I bought an old Bike, enrolled in the 'School of Hard Knocks', and hit the Road. I didn't even have a License/Endorsement, let alone Insurance! It was the early '80's, and things were different back then, and I was really lucky to have survived that decade at all to tell the truth!
When my first Daughter came, I gave up Riding, as it is a Dangerous Sport, and didn't touch a Bike for 20 years! Not that I didn't want to!
Feeling that my Kids had now grown-up, I decided that I wanted back onto a Bike, and when I came across an old Yamaha 400 Seca, I grabbed it up, knowing that I wanted to restart my adventure on a small Bike. $2000 Dollars later (Old Bike Syndrome), I was riding once again, with a Permit, heading towards my Endorsement. I didn't enroll in any Course, and felt confident that I wouldn't have to. Well, after 2 months on the 400, I passed my Riding Test, and promptly ran out and bought the Biggest Badest Bike I had wanted on back in 1986: FJ1200. Huge mistake. It was fun at first, until I realized that I really didn't have control over it, nearly wrecking several times. On one run, it almost pulled out from under me, while doing 100 in 2nd and still accelerating, as I tried desperately to hang on to the Grips, which only made it continue faster!! The fact was obvious that I was in over my head. Again, I was really lucky to have survived that Bike, and upon my realization of this, I sold it. Unwilling to go down from a Litre Class Bike, I settled on an '86 Kawasaki 1000R, which I continue to ride, with Respect for the Power this Bike has, Safe Riding Practices, Full Gear, and Constant Vigilance on Traffic!
I am not a Pro Circuit Racer, nor would I claim to be a Qualified Instructor, or even an expert on any aspect of Sport Bikes. I am just a Survivor of my own Stupidity!
Remember!
Start Small, and work your way up towards that Super Sport Bike that you really want, and first saw yourself riding. Expect to have a few scares along the way, and sometimes everyday! And most importantly, understand that nothing about riding a Bike (any Bike) is 'forgiving'. It is entirely up to you, your ability, and constant focus, to keep yourself alive, and enjoying the ride! It really is an extremely demanding Sport, both Physically, and Mentally, but it is Equally Rewarding, and there is nothing else like it! It’s Open Season, but don't be Target!!! Ride Safe, Be Smart, Stay Focused, Wear Gear, and Always Expect The Unexpected!
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