Motorcycles
04-21-2003, 01:43 AM
#61
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One thing that I forgot to put in before, my neighbor recently bought a new 750 Katana, hasn't had a lot of riding experience before buying it and has dropped it twice (that I know of) and hasn't even done the 500 mile service yet.
When he started to tell me how he fell I could finish the story for him, predictable newbie stuff, an expensive way to learn.....
Also as Brian said, the comeradery (sp?) among motorcyclists even surpasses Rennlist.
Cycle World, Motorcyclist and Sport Rider are also good mags. to pickup riding safety tips, I get all 3.
You'll also find out among nonmotorcycle people how many have an Uncle Bob crashed one of those and they're dangerous story and the medical crowd calls them donorcycles.
Enjoy and ride safe.
When he started to tell me how he fell I could finish the story for him, predictable newbie stuff, an expensive way to learn.....
Also as Brian said, the comeradery (sp?) among motorcyclists even surpasses Rennlist.
Cycle World, Motorcyclist and Sport Rider are also good mags. to pickup riding safety tips, I get all 3.
You'll also find out among nonmotorcycle people how many have an Uncle Bob crashed one of those and they're dangerous story and the medical crowd calls them donorcycles.
Enjoy and ride safe.
04-21-2003, 03:45 AM
#62
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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by triscadek:
<strong>You'll also find out among nonmotorcycle people how many have an Uncle Bob crashed one of those and they're dangerous story and the medical crowd calls them donorcycles.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Murdercycles too... Yup, everyone knows someone who's crashed a bike. I usually counter with "ever been in a car accident? I haven't met a person Yet who hasn't had a car accident." Sometimes that shuts people up. If they keep going on about how safe they are, protective cage and air bags, etc... I wip out the "Have an aquaintence who had his legs crushed by the dash" and "had a friend who burned alive" stories. Morbid, but I can usually get people to either shut up and remain closed minded - or open their minds a TINY little bit and realize that there's risk in everything we do in life. For the people I know well and care about, I usually toss in the quote "Every man dies, but not every man truly lives" (quote from Braveheart).
On a lighter note, I remember hearing the comment that "Every motorcyclist starts with a full bucket of luck, and an empty bucket of experience. The trick is to fill the experience without draining the luck." And that's the plain and simple truth.... me, I put a SERIOUS hole in the bottom of my 'luck' bucket (riding drunk, without proper gear, lane splitting at triple digit speeds, etc), but I also had a LARGE spiggot filling the experience bucket (2 roomates who rode, every MC mag known to man being delivered monthly and the usenet group rec.motorcycles... hey, this was '93~94!) I owned an Arai within 2 months, had good gloves and a jacket a month after that. I learned to use the brakes (front, not just rear) and slowed WAY down. I still didn't have a MC license, or any formal training.. the bike wasn't insured much less in my name/registered... it took a few more years to get that mess straightened out (and 4 days in jail.. oops
). I made a LOT of mistakes, only got injured once and I'm fully recovered from that... it was an injury that I should have, and could have avoided with better training (I was racing at that point and it was on the street, so it wasn't an issue of bike control... hit from behind at a stoplight - something you learn from day 1 to escape from with MSF). New riders are Going to make mistakes - but if you can minimize the number of mistakes by learning from someone like myself (who's done EVERYTHING wrong.. lol!) - then it's a good start. The only other thing you need is the ability to learn and apply information quickly. Make a mistake and figgure out what mistake that was.. then make adjustment to ensure it doesn't happen again!
I've heard that statement "every accident a rider has is their own fault" ~ which I'm not quite sure I fully back. I believe more along the lines of every accident/incident has something to teach you to make you a better rider (if you figgure out with the problem was and take action to ensure it doesn't happen again). People often use excuses like 'oil on the ground' - well, be more observant/go slower. There's oil on the ground at EVERY stoplight/sign, parkinglot, gas station, etc... do you crash at all of those places... no, because you're aware that it happens and take the appropriate pecautions. Yes, things like an airplane falling from the sky are unavoidable (which is why I don't fully back the original statement) - but those are Exceptions to the general rule.
Eeesh, what Else can I ramble on about!!?!? lol... Oh yea, back to the luck bucket ~ you can pad that bucket a little bit by investing in the BEST protective gear available. Usually the new riders have cheap gear, and the experienced riders have the high quality gear. I understand that this comes from experience - but the people relying on luck NEED the better gear more than those who are experienced. My GF had a hard time dealing with this (I told her what was acceptable.. thankfully I was working somewhere that enabled me to get dealer cost on everything), but she not has the BEST helmet available, the BEST gloves available and a Very good jacket (that doesn't fit right.. so someone of medium build PLEASE buy it so we can get a better one for her). While she still wears jeans, I think that'll change as soon as she starts putting miles on a bike. Impact armor for the ankles, knees, hips, elbows, shoulders, and back are important - not only to ward off broken body-parts, but to make the 'learning' accidents a LOT less painfull the following few days. To do everything 'right' (by my ideas), you'd need to spend ~$700 on gear (if you have good boots already, otherwise ~$800) before even getting on a motorcycle. And this is the reason new riders don't have the best in gear (usually)..... but we can cut that price by a third, easily, by picking up quality used gear. Places like <a href="http://www.motorcycleleatherexchange.com/index.htm" target="_blank">Motorcycle Leather Exchange</a> (started by a friend, owned by a well-known aquaintence), and <a href="http://www.newenough.com/" target="_blank">New Enough</a> have a nice revolving used gear selection for good prices. And I know Jay at the Leather Exhange will point Anyone in the right direction if asked. Helmets absolutly, positivly MUST be bought brand new. And you HAVE to try on several brands and several models within each brand to find the one that fits right and is comfortable (if it fits wrong or isn't comfortable for other reasons, you'll dread wearing it... to me, wearing my helmet is comfortable, cozy and I never consider leaving it behind).
Ok, enough for me for now...
Time to go take a nap or something (working on hour 12 or 16 here at work).
<strong>You'll also find out among nonmotorcycle people how many have an Uncle Bob crashed one of those and they're dangerous story and the medical crowd calls them donorcycles.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Murdercycles too... Yup, everyone knows someone who's crashed a bike. I usually counter with "ever been in a car accident? I haven't met a person Yet who hasn't had a car accident." Sometimes that shuts people up. If they keep going on about how safe they are, protective cage and air bags, etc... I wip out the "Have an aquaintence who had his legs crushed by the dash" and "had a friend who burned alive" stories. Morbid, but I can usually get people to either shut up and remain closed minded - or open their minds a TINY little bit and realize that there's risk in everything we do in life. For the people I know well and care about, I usually toss in the quote "Every man dies, but not every man truly lives" (quote from Braveheart).
On a lighter note, I remember hearing the comment that "Every motorcyclist starts with a full bucket of luck, and an empty bucket of experience. The trick is to fill the experience without draining the luck." And that's the plain and simple truth.... me, I put a SERIOUS hole in the bottom of my 'luck' bucket (riding drunk, without proper gear, lane splitting at triple digit speeds, etc), but I also had a LARGE spiggot filling the experience bucket (2 roomates who rode, every MC mag known to man being delivered monthly and the usenet group rec.motorcycles... hey, this was '93~94!) I owned an Arai within 2 months, had good gloves and a jacket a month after that. I learned to use the brakes (front, not just rear) and slowed WAY down. I still didn't have a MC license, or any formal training.. the bike wasn't insured much less in my name/registered... it took a few more years to get that mess straightened out (and 4 days in jail.. oops
). I made a LOT of mistakes, only got injured once and I'm fully recovered from that... it was an injury that I should have, and could have avoided with better training (I was racing at that point and it was on the street, so it wasn't an issue of bike control... hit from behind at a stoplight - something you learn from day 1 to escape from with MSF). New riders are Going to make mistakes - but if you can minimize the number of mistakes by learning from someone like myself (who's done EVERYTHING wrong.. lol!) - then it's a good start. The only other thing you need is the ability to learn and apply information quickly. Make a mistake and figgure out what mistake that was.. then make adjustment to ensure it doesn't happen again!I've heard that statement "every accident a rider has is their own fault" ~ which I'm not quite sure I fully back. I believe more along the lines of every accident/incident has something to teach you to make you a better rider (if you figgure out with the problem was and take action to ensure it doesn't happen again). People often use excuses like 'oil on the ground' - well, be more observant/go slower. There's oil on the ground at EVERY stoplight/sign, parkinglot, gas station, etc... do you crash at all of those places... no, because you're aware that it happens and take the appropriate pecautions. Yes, things like an airplane falling from the sky are unavoidable (which is why I don't fully back the original statement) - but those are Exceptions to the general rule.
Eeesh, what Else can I ramble on about!!?!? lol... Oh yea, back to the luck bucket ~ you can pad that bucket a little bit by investing in the BEST protective gear available. Usually the new riders have cheap gear, and the experienced riders have the high quality gear. I understand that this comes from experience - but the people relying on luck NEED the better gear more than those who are experienced. My GF had a hard time dealing with this (I told her what was acceptable.. thankfully I was working somewhere that enabled me to get dealer cost on everything), but she not has the BEST helmet available, the BEST gloves available and a Very good jacket (that doesn't fit right.. so someone of medium build PLEASE buy it so we can get a better one for her). While she still wears jeans, I think that'll change as soon as she starts putting miles on a bike. Impact armor for the ankles, knees, hips, elbows, shoulders, and back are important - not only to ward off broken body-parts, but to make the 'learning' accidents a LOT less painfull the following few days. To do everything 'right' (by my ideas), you'd need to spend ~$700 on gear (if you have good boots already, otherwise ~$800) before even getting on a motorcycle. And this is the reason new riders don't have the best in gear (usually)..... but we can cut that price by a third, easily, by picking up quality used gear. Places like <a href="http://www.motorcycleleatherexchange.com/index.htm" target="_blank">Motorcycle Leather Exchange</a> (started by a friend, owned by a well-known aquaintence), and <a href="http://www.newenough.com/" target="_blank">New Enough</a> have a nice revolving used gear selection for good prices. And I know Jay at the Leather Exhange will point Anyone in the right direction if asked. Helmets absolutly, positivly MUST be bought brand new. And you HAVE to try on several brands and several models within each brand to find the one that fits right and is comfortable (if it fits wrong or isn't comfortable for other reasons, you'll dread wearing it... to me, wearing my helmet is comfortable, cozy and I never consider leaving it behind).
Ok, enough for me for now...
Time to go take a nap or something (working on hour 12 or 16 here at work).
04-21-2003, 03:46 AM
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Ok, damn that was a long post... lmao <img border="0" alt="[hiha]" title="" src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" />
<img border="0" alt="[ouch]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[ouch]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[ouch]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[ouch]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" />
<img border="0" alt="[ouch]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[ouch]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[ouch]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[ouch]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" />
04-21-2003, 03:52 AM
#64
Race Car
Ninja 250 is a cheap and great handling bike with good availability for parts. I taught my roommate how to ride on one in 1991 and he loved it. He survived the first 6 months and sold it for a little more than what he bought it for. It is easy to handle and you won't have to wrestle with it trying to keep it from being laid down. It handled extremely well and its very peppy... enough to get you in trouble. A 600 is just too much for most beginners because after the first few weeks you begin to feel comfortable with the bike and start to experiment. That is when you get into trouble. Even a 1988 katana 600 with simple yosh pipe and dynojetted carbs got me 12.01 @126 mph in the 1/4 mile at Brotherhood Raceway on Terminal island, which is faster than any car on the road just about. The new bikes are too tempting for most riders to go fast, especially young ones. Anyone reading this thinking about getting a bike, really do yourself a favor and start small. You can always upgrade later.
04-21-2003, 04:15 AM
#65
Race Car
Brian I agree with you for the most part. But with car accidents, you don't suffer like on a bike and being a rider yourself know that a fender bender in a car could easily be a broken leg on a bike. A small oil slick will not cause 4 wheels to slide in a car but it will cause a bike to slide and cut off a person's leg from the knee down with a few tendons holding it on (seen in the ER when my brother was a resident doc). I had a woman turn left in front of me while I was going thru an intersection at 45mph because the sun was in her eye and she didn't see me. I had bruises from the seatbelt and my ribs crack when I pull my shoulder back every once in a while even now. I would have died if I were on a bike. I have jumped off 30 foot cliffs at Colorado on a pair of skis and landed on my face but still couldn't have imagined the force of the impact in that accident which made me feel like all my organs were smashed. I believe I am open minded and that there is risk in everything including walking down the street or visiting the World Trade Center. But just like starting with a small bike like a 250 instead of a 1300, the risk is reduced.
I couldn't agree more with your statement about safety gear. Excellent advice to all riders. I spent $500 on an Arai F1 helmet and even though it won't keep me from breaking my neck, it will at least hold my brain together so I have a better chance of survival. Metal studed leather gloves and leather jacket is a must.
Lastly, I envy you Brian. I wish I had as much in my luck bucket as you.....
I couldn't agree more with your statement about safety gear. Excellent advice to all riders. I spent $500 on an Arai F1 helmet and even though it won't keep me from breaking my neck, it will at least hold my brain together so I have a better chance of survival. Metal studed leather gloves and leather jacket is a must.
Lastly, I envy you Brian. I wish I had as much in my luck bucket as you.....
04-21-2003, 05:18 AM
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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Legoland951:
<strong>I have jumped off 30 foot cliffs at Colorado on a pair of skis and landed on my face but still couldn't have imagined the force of the impact in that accident which made me feel like all my organs were smashed.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Bah, if you haven't jumped (fallen?) off Corbit's Callor @ Jackson Hole then you don't know what skiing's all about.
(kidding.. lol, though it is a hard landing at the bottom if you manage to hit the boulder). After blowing out my left leg at Steamboat Springs on a family vacation - I swore off CO skiing. I've gotten hurt worse (WAY worse) skateboarding, skiing (leg popped IN my boot, just above the ankle) and missing the last step on a flight of stairs (I spent 2 years of high-school in a leg cast). I *KNOW* that you can get seriously hurt on a motorcycle at the mistake/hands of someone else and sometimes there's just nothing you can do about it. I also know that cars will inherently provide more physical protection in an accident with some solid. My ramblings about cars being dangerous are strictly for those who talk to me about their friend 'John Doe' who had a motorcycle accident.
No doubt, my being young(ish), in very good shape and on a daily dose of acetaminophen/ibuprofen had a LOT to do with not getting hurt on the multiple accidents that I endured a few years back (most were track/racing induced...)
Woot.. I'm sometimes a little to enthusiastic when it comes to riding. It's worse right now because I'm selling several old bikes that I'm acustom to and buying something new.
<strong>I have jumped off 30 foot cliffs at Colorado on a pair of skis and landed on my face but still couldn't have imagined the force of the impact in that accident which made me feel like all my organs were smashed.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Bah, if you haven't jumped (fallen?) off Corbit's Callor @ Jackson Hole then you don't know what skiing's all about.
(kidding.. lol, though it is a hard landing at the bottom if you manage to hit the boulder). After blowing out my left leg at Steamboat Springs on a family vacation - I swore off CO skiing. I've gotten hurt worse (WAY worse) skateboarding, skiing (leg popped IN my boot, just above the ankle) and missing the last step on a flight of stairs (I spent 2 years of high-school in a leg cast). I *KNOW* that you can get seriously hurt on a motorcycle at the mistake/hands of someone else and sometimes there's just nothing you can do about it. I also know that cars will inherently provide more physical protection in an accident with some solid. My ramblings about cars being dangerous are strictly for those who talk to me about their friend 'John Doe' who had a motorcycle accident.No doubt, my being young(ish), in very good shape and on a daily dose of acetaminophen/ibuprofen had a LOT to do with not getting hurt on the multiple accidents that I endured a few years back (most were track/racing induced...)
Woot.. I'm sometimes a little to enthusiastic when it comes to riding. It's worse right now because I'm selling several old bikes that I'm acustom to and buying something new.
04-21-2003, 08:32 AM
#67
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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Brian McCoy:
<strong>Tucker, but I work in Smyrna/Marietta (Powers Ferry Road on the inside of 285). Drop me an email/pm and I can give you a phone # or 2 if you wanna chat on the phone - or just shoot me emails whenever.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">I work over on Powers ferry also, at Microcenter. I'll give you an email when about I could do anything.
<strong>Tucker, but I work in Smyrna/Marietta (Powers Ferry Road on the inside of 285). Drop me an email/pm and I can give you a phone # or 2 if you wanna chat on the phone - or just shoot me emails whenever.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">I work over on Powers ferry also, at Microcenter. I'll give you an email when about I could do anything.
04-21-2003, 08:48 AM
#68
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Conor:
<strong>Does anyone know any good motorcycle forums, for mostly sportbikes? I would really like to get one for the summer, but I don't think that would go over too well with my parents!! </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica"><a href="http://www.katanaplanet.com" target="_blank">www.katanaplanet.com</a>
These guys are really down to earth guys and they don't care what kind of bike you have.
<strong>Does anyone know any good motorcycle forums, for mostly sportbikes? I would really like to get one for the summer, but I don't think that would go over too well with my parents!!
</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica"><a href="http://www.katanaplanet.com" target="_blank">www.katanaplanet.com</a>These guys are really down to earth guys and they don't care what kind of bike you have.
04-21-2003, 09:26 AM
#69
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<a href="http://www.cycleforums.com/" target="_blank">http://www.cycleforums.com/</a> is also a chock full of posts type bike forum..all makes and models. Even a place for new riders to ask things.
My bosses son is wanting a bike. He's taking the MSF course in a few weeks. As a matter of fact, I got 5 people were I work in Midtown planning on taking the course and getting bikes this summer. Since I've been riding over 20 years, they all came to me at some point asking the "first bike" question.
A sportbike has a lot of plastic. EXPENSIVE plastic...and frame sliders can only do so much. They have an ultra sensative throttle response combined with incredible brakes. This is way to much ground to cover for a new rider.
How many times do we see rich parents buying thier new driver children a Mustang GT only to see it ran into a tree? New riders of bikes do not need to start out that high of the performance food chain just like that car driver.
Yes, any new rider can be taught how to go from point A to point B on even a Haybusa as a first bike but when the time comes to REACT to some emergency (as an Atlanta commuter, this happens DAILY) that new rider will then really know how over thier head they are.
Great first bike? The Suzuki GS500 or even an old Yamaha 650 twin. A dual purpose dirt bike is also a great idea if you don't spend alot of time on big roads. My wife took the MSF course on a Buell Blast. She got the Kawasaki W650 for her first bike. The point I tried to drill into all of my coworkers heads about getting these smaller bikes is that first off, these bikes are cheap....and when you are done learning on them, you can sell them for what you paid for them practically! You lose nothing and only gain in experience.
Reading bikes mags are a great idea, but they really have two different jobs. Sell the sexy new sportbikes and try to keep thier readership alive. Yes, doing wheelies down I85 is really idiotic and you make my rates go up and drivers hate you..but the bike mags tend to show alot of wheelie pix. It's in the editorial columns that the writers tell people that you don't need the meanest sportbike to have fun.
On the matter of gear, the most expensive does not mean always the most safest. That $500 Arai is also paying for the name, the racing program, the advertising, the lightwieght, the lower interior noise and the removable/ washable liner.
My HJC is SNELL/ DOT approved but lacks the removable liner, is not all that quiet (I wear earplugs like any rider should anyways) and is not feather light. My brain is just as safe as the Shoei or Arai shielded brain. The new Timax titainium gloves are expensive and look hella cool but at least in one crash I saw them go through, they fell apart. If you insist on wearing jeans...check out kevlar lined Draggin' Jeans. Armored leather or textiles are still best. THe leather in a $200 Fieldsheer or Joe Rocket jacket comes from the same cow as a $700 Sidi. You gotta reasearch it.
Wow...long first post...sorry.
My bosses son is wanting a bike. He's taking the MSF course in a few weeks. As a matter of fact, I got 5 people were I work in Midtown planning on taking the course and getting bikes this summer. Since I've been riding over 20 years, they all came to me at some point asking the "first bike" question.
A sportbike has a lot of plastic. EXPENSIVE plastic...and frame sliders can only do so much. They have an ultra sensative throttle response combined with incredible brakes. This is way to much ground to cover for a new rider.
How many times do we see rich parents buying thier new driver children a Mustang GT only to see it ran into a tree? New riders of bikes do not need to start out that high of the performance food chain just like that car driver.
Yes, any new rider can be taught how to go from point A to point B on even a Haybusa as a first bike but when the time comes to REACT to some emergency (as an Atlanta commuter, this happens DAILY) that new rider will then really know how over thier head they are.
Great first bike? The Suzuki GS500 or even an old Yamaha 650 twin. A dual purpose dirt bike is also a great idea if you don't spend alot of time on big roads. My wife took the MSF course on a Buell Blast. She got the Kawasaki W650 for her first bike. The point I tried to drill into all of my coworkers heads about getting these smaller bikes is that first off, these bikes are cheap....and when you are done learning on them, you can sell them for what you paid for them practically! You lose nothing and only gain in experience.
Reading bikes mags are a great idea, but they really have two different jobs. Sell the sexy new sportbikes and try to keep thier readership alive. Yes, doing wheelies down I85 is really idiotic and you make my rates go up and drivers hate you..but the bike mags tend to show alot of wheelie pix. It's in the editorial columns that the writers tell people that you don't need the meanest sportbike to have fun.
On the matter of gear, the most expensive does not mean always the most safest. That $500 Arai is also paying for the name, the racing program, the advertising, the lightwieght, the lower interior noise and the removable/ washable liner.
My HJC is SNELL/ DOT approved but lacks the removable liner, is not all that quiet (I wear earplugs like any rider should anyways) and is not feather light. My brain is just as safe as the Shoei or Arai shielded brain. The new Timax titainium gloves are expensive and look hella cool but at least in one crash I saw them go through, they fell apart. If you insist on wearing jeans...check out kevlar lined Draggin' Jeans. Armored leather or textiles are still best. THe leather in a $200 Fieldsheer or Joe Rocket jacket comes from the same cow as a $700 Sidi. You gotta reasearch it.
Wow...long first post...sorry.
04-21-2003, 01:01 PM
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Wow... miss a week, miss a lot.
Personally, I would get a 600cc bike as your 1st. Enough power and weight to keep you safe, but not overly powerful to hurt you. Some of them can be cheap too.
I have my MINT '96 FZR 600 for sale if someone is intrested. I am not giving it away, so no low ballers! Here is the info. <a href="http://home.fuse.net/porsche951/picmain.htm" target="_blank">http://home.fuse.net/porsche951/picmain.htm</a>
You can kill yourself on a big wheel if you are stupid enough. The rule with a motorcycle is not to be an *** clown, ride it within YOUR limits, not the bikes.
Personally, I would get a 600cc bike as your 1st. Enough power and weight to keep you safe, but not overly powerful to hurt you. Some of them can be cheap too.
I have my MINT '96 FZR 600 for sale if someone is intrested. I am not giving it away, so no low ballers! Here is the info. <a href="http://home.fuse.net/porsche951/picmain.htm" target="_blank">http://home.fuse.net/porsche951/picmain.htm</a>
You can kill yourself on a big wheel if you are stupid enough. The rule with a motorcycle is not to be an *** clown, ride it within YOUR limits, not the bikes.
04-21-2003, 04:23 PM
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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by pensiveowner:
<strong>
On the matter of gear, the most expensive does not mean always the most safest. That $500 Arai is also paying for the name, the racing program, the advertising, the lightwieght, the lower interior noise and the removable/ washable liner.
My HJC is SNELL/ DOT approved but lacks the removable liner, is not all that quiet (I wear earplugs like any rider should anyways) and is not feather light. My brain is just as safe as the Shoei or Arai shielded brain.
The new Timax titainium gloves are expensive and look hella cool but at least in one crash I saw them go through, they fell apart.
If you insist on wearing jeans...check out kevlar lined Draggin' Jeans. Armored leather or textiles are still best.
THe leather in a $200 Fieldsheer or Joe Rocket jacket comes from the same cow as a $700 Sidi. You gotta reasearch it.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Woohoo.. another enthusiast here in Atlanta.. Some of us need to get together for a nice ride sometime.. Ok, responces to above - on expensive helmets, you forgot to mention the price pays for fancy (other signature) graphics and better venting. Personally, I wear an Arai because that's what fits me best and I don't mind the price. I think a new rider should try on LOTS of different helmets and buy what Fits best. If it's an Arai Quantum, but a red/white/black lid and you're only in for about $300 ($100 for better venting, removable liner, quick release shied and a 5-year service live vs. 3 years). If it's an AGV/Bell/HRC then find out what the cheapest colors of the modle that fits are and keep the prices down that way.
I thought the ti gloves looked like crap (not even cool enough to make it in a Mad Max film - which is pretty bad). And we know how I feel on jeans.
As for the Joe Rocket vs Vanson leathers - which the leather may come from the same cow (or type of cow), the thickness is different and the most important part - the stiching quality is Vastly different. The Joe Rocket I skid-tested fell appart and left me with roadrash (35mph accident) - the Vansons I've worn over the years/crashes took Several beatings on the pavement and never came appart. I've only gotten rid of a Vanson through theft or because I sold it. I threw what was left of the Joe Rocket (blood and all) in the trash because there wasn't anything else to do with it. I lump all the cheaper jackets together, and this Joe Rocket jacket was from their 2nd year of production.. so maybe things have gotten better - but I spend a lot of money now and buy things I know are quality and will last.
Funny though, my Spidi jacket was only ~ $300, than Vanson was $350... it's the Aerostich that was expensive at $950.
Can't hardly wait to get everything put together with selling my current bikes (both sold, just getting the money) and buying the new one (found, about to make a deposit so the seller will hold it).
<strong>
On the matter of gear, the most expensive does not mean always the most safest. That $500 Arai is also paying for the name, the racing program, the advertising, the lightwieght, the lower interior noise and the removable/ washable liner.
My HJC is SNELL/ DOT approved but lacks the removable liner, is not all that quiet (I wear earplugs like any rider should anyways) and is not feather light. My brain is just as safe as the Shoei or Arai shielded brain.
The new Timax titainium gloves are expensive and look hella cool but at least in one crash I saw them go through, they fell apart.
If you insist on wearing jeans...check out kevlar lined Draggin' Jeans. Armored leather or textiles are still best.
THe leather in a $200 Fieldsheer or Joe Rocket jacket comes from the same cow as a $700 Sidi. You gotta reasearch it.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Woohoo.. another enthusiast here in Atlanta..
Some of us need to get together for a nice ride sometime.. Ok, responces to above - on expensive helmets, you forgot to mention the price pays for fancy (other signature) graphics and better venting. Personally, I wear an Arai because that's what fits me best and I don't mind the price. I think a new rider should try on LOTS of different helmets and buy what Fits best. If it's an Arai Quantum, but a red/white/black lid and you're only in for about $300 ($100 for better venting, removable liner, quick release shied and a 5-year service live vs. 3 years). If it's an AGV/Bell/HRC then find out what the cheapest colors of the modle that fits are and keep the prices down that way.I thought the ti gloves looked like crap (not even cool enough to make it in a Mad Max film - which is pretty bad). And we know how I feel on jeans.
As for the Joe Rocket vs Vanson leathers - which the leather may come from the same cow (or type of cow), the thickness is different and the most important part - the stiching quality is Vastly different. The Joe Rocket I skid-tested fell appart and left me with roadrash (35mph accident) - the Vansons I've worn over the years/crashes took Several beatings on the pavement and never came appart. I've only gotten rid of a Vanson through theft or because I sold it. I threw what was left of the Joe Rocket (blood and all) in the trash because there wasn't anything else to do with it. I lump all the cheaper jackets together, and this Joe Rocket jacket was from their 2nd year of production.. so maybe things have gotten better - but I spend a lot of money now and buy things I know are quality and will last.
Funny though, my Spidi jacket was only ~ $300, than Vanson was $350... it's the Aerostich that was expensive at $950.
Can't hardly wait to get everything put together with selling my current bikes (both sold, just getting the money) and buying the new one (found, about to make a deposit so the seller will hold it).
04-21-2003, 04:46 PM
#73
Drifting
I too have been thinking about buying a bike. Since I took my motorcycle training/safety course I've been itching. Right now I'm trying to brow beat this guy into selling me his 87 Yamaha TZR 250. I love that little bike and it's unique too which makes it even cooler!
Do any of you guys have experience with two stroke sport bikes?
Justin
Do any of you guys have experience with two stroke sport bikes?
Justin
04-21-2003, 05:13 PM
#74
2nd Gear
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Atlanta, GA
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When it comes to gear...thickness counts and does cost also. I know of a few guys that have gone down in a Joe Rocket Phoenix ( we know those things are almost nothing) in 35-45 mph crashes and the thing held up really well. On helmets...fit is another huge factor..agreed..I loved my old Shoei but newer models touch my nose. 
My prob is I have outgrown (married life is making me soft) my Hien Gericke full set. I am thinking of replacing it with some textiles instead of leather this summer...Atlanta gets alot hotter to me then Chicago ever did.
I am thinking of a run up to T.W.O. sometime soon...when this weather settles out..lets meet up.
As far as two stroke sport bikes? I am a huge fan of the TZ's but I am told they do blow up alot. Not much at all to rebuild though. Ahh..the smell of that blue smoke..
An FZR for a first bike? Now I admit that the throttle works boths ways...but I would be hesitant to put that much plastic under a n00b. Don't tell me no one here has never dropped thier first bike in the driveway. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />
My prob is I have outgrown (married life is making me soft) my Hien Gericke full set. I am thinking of replacing it with some textiles instead of leather this summer...Atlanta gets alot hotter to me then Chicago ever did.
I am thinking of a run up to T.W.O. sometime soon...when this weather settles out..lets meet up.
As far as two stroke sport bikes? I am a huge fan of the TZ's but I am told they do blow up alot. Not much at all to rebuild though. Ahh..the smell of that blue smoke..
An FZR for a first bike? Now I admit that the throttle works boths ways...but I would be hesitant to put that much plastic under a n00b. Don't tell me no one here has never dropped thier first bike in the driveway. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />
04-21-2003, 05:21 PM
#75
Three Wheelin'
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: San Jose, CA
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I don't personally have any experience with Joe Rocket gear, but I have seen two sets of gloves come apart on the race track now. Most recently last year, when a young kid bought the pretty graphic model of gloves with the cute littly shiny pieces all over it...well, he low sided after grabbing a handfull of front brake in a panic. I was pitted and saw the entire thing...it was the slowest corner at the top of Thunderhill raceway and he couldn't have been going more than 30mph tops. He slid palms first and the gloves opened up completely on both gloves....leaving some really nice rash on the guys hands.