Any motorcyclists here?

[Chrysippus]

Love my 2005 Harley FLSTCI Heritage Softail; I ride almost every weekend. One of the guys I ride with
is 73, so you're never too old.

 

[rbkwp]

Sunny mid winter Sunday today here
the usual day when a Motorcycle club travels out to this beachside resort

roar of many bikes going past my place usually from 11am, returning to the city before 3pm,, maybe 30 plus bikes on average, stop for an ice cream in the local shop 2 minutes away, then go further along into the township proper/no shops, dont think many ride along the sandy beach tho

sort of sndy stretch i am talking about

 

[Dave NoCal]

Love my 2005 Harley FLSTCI Heritage Softail; I ride almost every weekend. One of the guys I ride with
is 73, so you're never too old.

One of my neighbors is 77 and rides a Harley. However, I suspect he has been riding for over fifty years. My plan is to attend the school and then ask for honest feedback on my skills. I have always driven cars with manual transmissions and currently zip around town in a manual BMW 128i. We also have a large shopping center a block away so I could probably practice there in early morning.

 

[Chrysippus]

One of my neighbors is 77 and rides a Harley. However, I suspect he has been riding for over fifty years. My plan is to attend the school and then ask for honest feedback on my skills. I have always driven cars with manual transmissions and currently zip around town in a manual BMW 128i. We also have a large shopping center a block away so I could probably practice there in early morning.

True story: two guys I knew in Tucson back in the day 'decided' they were going to ride, so they went to the Harley dealership, bought the bikes, and asked that they be delivered--they didn't know how to ride.
The dealer just smiled and had two employees ride the bikes back to their home, with the two guys following in their Beemer. Ah, the draw of the hog!

 

[mako shark]

Yes, the 900lbs gorilla is a Vision

And what type of "gorilla" is it? Harley, Victory, perhaps one of the incarnations of Indian?

 

[DaisyDoesIt]

Yes, the 900lbs gorilla is a Vision

Vulcan, copy (kinda) of a chief. gas and go.

 

[rbkwp]

yep
ideal practice aera, get owners authorization tho ha, people so picky re noise/property use etc,these days
know your sensible enough

thinking you may be better off on rural roads initially
as city riding/traffic and vehicle drivers do think they own the entire highway/road system,at least hee anyway,and thats utter BS huh
happy safe riding

We also have a large shopping center a block away so I could probably practice there in early morning.

speaking of INDIAN M/Cycles
a best movie from a NZ icon
you may have seen ha

The World's Fastest Indian - Trailer

perhaps one of the incarnations of Indian?

 

[thick_]

Love to ride anything with two wheels since I was a kid, bikes, dirt bikes, mountain bikes, and currently a Royal Star Cruser

I ride it to work on the weekdays and on weekends day trips in the Utah mountains as well as some long trips to the west coast. I ride with friends and by myself as well. Riding is just in my blood even when my butt is numb from riding 850 miles in a day.

 

[Dave NoCal]

Yes, the 900lbs gorilla is a Vision

Nice. It is too bad that Polaris pulled the plug on Victory after the purchase of Indian.

 

[Dave NoCal]

Vulcan, copy (kinda) of a chief. gas and go.

Is it a Drifter?

 

[biia]

yep
ideal practice aera, get owners authorization tho ha, people so picky re noise/property use etc,these days
know your sensible enough

thinking you may be better off on rural roads initially
as city riding/traffic and vehicle drivers do think they own the entire highway/road system,at least hee anyway,and thats utter BS huh
happy safe riding

We also have a large shopping center a block away so I could probably practice there in early morning.

speaking of INDIAN M/Cycles
a best movie from a NZ icon
you may have seen ha

The World's Fastest Indian - Trailer

perhaps one of the incarnations of Indian?

An ACE film.

 

[evolution]

started riding in college - saw a small dusty Honda 125cc in the back of the shop my friend was dropping his car off at for repairs. it worked, it was cheap, it got around 80mpg IIRC. That's why I started riding. Even got my motorcycle endorsement - eventually. Kept riding because it turns out the freedom is exhilarating. Had a couple of little Twin Stars, then sick of them always breaking tried one of those new fangled sport bikes (NINJA!). Got a used 500cc & the thing just always worked & I find sport bikes to be really comfortable. The power of the 500 over a 125 was intoxicating as well. Right now I consider myself between bikes (20 years now - LOL), but still have the endorsement on my license. Every time I hear a flock of sport bikes something primal yearns inside. Been having a strong hankering for a BMW 650 GS.

You might have noticed a small bike theme. I'm tall but not heavy, I like a bike I can control. I've had people pull out in front of me & ended up skidding sideways, but I kept the bike upright & managed to drive around the dummkopf. I think it's important to be able to physically overpower the machine. Truly a matter of life in death.

HOWEVER - just know you will be invisible & drivers are more distracted than ever. I sold my last bike after several near crashes with distracted / lost / confused drivers & that was 20 years ago. I do still think it's worth it, but riding safe is really very exhausting, far harder than any technical skills required to master a motorcycle. But so worth it. Start with a used bike so it doesn't hurt so much when you do something stupid & end up dropping it (like kickstand on hot pavement on a hot day - softer than you'd guess!)

Wear a great helmet. So much cheaper than rehab.

 

[Dave NoCal]

Hey Evolution,
Thanks for the great advice. Living in far northern California there are a lot of fairly empty roads. My work is two miles down the street and I guess I might commute for the parking convenience. I do have one friend who rides a mid-sized bike, a 650 I believe, Would you recommend starting as small as a 250? It would almost certainly be a cruiser.

 

[evolution]

I certainly would recc a 250. I think you've got enough to get used to without the machine adding to it all. Lot of cheap 250's for sale from people who have "outgrown it". Very common to start small until you are comfortable with it all, then move up to something larger. First time you accidentally turn the front wheel too far & the bike starts going down.... Nice if you can save it, or jump out of the way. Not likely to happen if it's a 900# beast. Not likely to make that mistake after your first year riding - well after the first time you do it really. Yes, I encourage you to start small & get used to riding in a helmet from day one.

 

[Dave NoCal]

Definitely a helmet and not 900 lb beast. I was thinking of a 550 lb Honda Shadow Aero. You can pick them up with literally hundreds of miles on them for about $2500. The 250s seem to be about the same, both Rebels and V Stars.

 

[hotman911]

Ex-rider
I did it for the feeling of independence. I enjoyed going for rides in excess of 100 miles at one time. I once rode form Georgia to Daytona, then on to Key West three days later. (my ass hurt for three days later) Those were the days, I would still be doing it, but having suffered a broken neck, i just can risk it again.

Last bike I owned was like this one. 2014 Kawasaki Ninja.

 

[mako shark]

True thing, sadly they make a ton of money selling snowmobiles and razors so their bikes were the odd man out....

Nice. It is too bad that Polaris pulled the plug on Victory after the purchase of Indian.

 

[mako shark]

I bought the bike from a fella that weighed a buck fifty wet at the most (maybe). He laid it over while parking the bike in his yard and couldn't pick it back up so he bought a Triumph instead. My bike has a anti-tip system but I'm not planning to test it! The big V-twin with loud pipes is awesome and I removed the trunk so it is truly baddd assss! I would not get a 250cc as you will be disappointed unless you weight 100lbs, then it might be ok

Definitely a helmet and not 900 lb beast. I was thinking of a 550 lb Honda Shadow Aero. You can pick them up with literally hundreds of miles on them for about $2500. The 250s seem to be about the same, both Rebels and V Stars.

 

[Dave NoCal]

I bought the bike from a fella that weighed a buck fifty wet at the most (maybe). He laid it over while parking the bike in his yard and couldn't pick it back up so he bought a Triumph instead. My bike has a anti-tip system but I'm not planning to test it! The big V-twin with loud pipes is awesome and I removed the trunk so it is truly baddd assss! I would not get a 250cc as you will be disappointed unless you weight 100lbs, then it might be ok

Thanks, I weigh 135. I think it will be a 750,or so, for me. I'm leaning toward a Honda Shadow Aero. They are nice reliable, mild-mannered Hondas, I like the look, especially with the passenger seat removed. Used one are plentiful around here, as guys move up and wives give up riding.

 

[mako shark]

Yeah that's plenty big, most bikes are way more powerful these days...

Thanks, I weigh 135. I think it will be a 750,or so, for me. I'm leaning toward a Honda Shadow Aero. They are nice reliable, mild-mannered Hondas, I like the look, especially with the passenger seat removed. Used one are plentiful around here, as guys move up and wives give up riding.