Motorcycle Questions

[JaBlue]

I want to get a motorcycle. I would buy it used and don't need it to go much faster than 80.

How much will it cost me and what other than the bike do I need? Is there any special maintenance involved? Do I need a special license or anything?

Any info would be nice, so if you know something about bikes that a guy like me who doesn't know anything about them doesn't know, please share.

[Brainwalter]

Where do you live?

PS I want one too.

[JaBlue]

I live in the bay area and I'd really like to ride around Woodside, which is a nice mountain town with bending roads and beautiful scenery. There is one really nice road that goes to the beach and along the coastline too.

[mostsmooth]

cost depends on what you buy
you will almost certainly need to get a motorcycle endorsement on your license.
you might need a helmet, and you should wear one regardless.
start small
push right bar to turn right, pus hthe left bar to turn left

[oddjob]

[ QUOTE ]
push right bar to turn right, pus hthe left bar to turn left

[/ QUOTE ]

what kind of motorcycle turns right when you push the right bar?

[Edge34]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
push right bar to turn right, pus hthe left bar to turn left

[/ QUOTE ]

what kind of motorcycle turns right when you push the right bar?

[/ QUOTE ]

All of them. Ever ridden?

The thing is, while you CAN turn the "normal" way, if you push down on the right handlebar, you turn right, and vice versa.

[willie]

yeah they all do, it's called countersteering

it's more prominent at average speeds- in a parking lot it's more like a bicycle though.


take the course, get the gear- and freakin wear it. regardless of how hot is it out- it's waaaay more comfortable than roadrash.

new enough.com

this place carries overstocked stuff and some used stuff as well

they got me covered early relatively cheap, got a jacket for 150, gloves for 75ishhh, boots for around 100. saved me a lot of money and kept me protected at the same time.

happy motoring

[rusty JEDI]

Almost any bike is going to get you over 80
You will need a special license
If you want to stay alive then lessons are a must

Maintenance
Bikes are expensive. Buy a manual and do the work yourself. The chain will need to be cleaned and lubed regularly.

Minimum gear
Helmet - minimum $200, but it is your head we're talking about so spend more
Leather gloves
sturdy jacket (jean at the bare minimum, but i wont ride in anything without armour)
Boots - anything that gets above your ankle will do

Have fun...They're a blast

rJ

I'm sort of a n00b to motorcycling too. A few years ago, I took a motorcycle safety course(highly suggested if you have no riding experience), bought a good helmet, jackets, gloves and boots. I ended up purchasing a Honda 750 Nighthawk with about 8500 miles on it for about $3500. Maybe a little big for a beginner my size(I weigh a little under 150) but I love it. I have liability insurance for about $100 a year. And that's with a wreck on my record. I can do most of the maintenance myself, but I let a mechanic work on the brakes.

Oh yeah, and I had a good wreck once where I went flying off my bike like superman and kind of blacked out for a second I guess because I came to sliding across the pavement with the chin of my helmet scraping. I lifted my chin up as I finished the slide to keep from scratching up my wxpensive helmet too much. My jacket, gloves and boots did their job but I was wearing bluejeans and my knees suffered horribly for it. Now I wear pants with padded knees.

[rusty JEDI]

That reminds me. Do yourself a favour and start on a 500 or less. Also odds are you're going to crash your first bike so dont be afraid to buy something not so pretty. Save the shiny one for when you're more competent.

rJ