Got my first motorcycle!

mordantmonkey

Diamond Member
Dec 23, 2004
3,075
5
0
Went and picked it up yesterday ('79 gs550), going to ride as soon as i get the registration and insurance done. this waiting is going to kill me.
no pics done myself but here's the craigslist link. and no that's not what i paid :).
 

KK

Lifer
Jan 2, 2001
15,903
4
81
Originally posted by: mordantmonkey
Went and picked it up yesterday ('79 gs550), going to ride as soon as i get the registration and insurance done. this waiting is going to kill me.
no pics done myself but here's the craigslist link. and no that's not what i paid :).

If your linking skills is as bad as your driving skills, you'll be dead soon.
 

mordantmonkey

Diamond Member
Dec 23, 2004
3,075
5
0
Originally posted by: KK
Originally posted by: mordantmonkey
Went and picked it up yesterday ('79 gs550), going to ride as soon as i get the registration and insurance done. this waiting is going to kill me.
no pics done myself but here's the craigslist link. and no that's not what i paid :).

If your linking skills is as bad as your driving skills, you'll be dead soon.

awesome! fixed.

but i hope my linking skills aren't as bad as your grammar skills.:p
 

HN

Diamond Member
Jan 19, 2001
8,186
4
0
Originally posted by: mordantmonkey
Originally posted by: KK
Originally posted by: mordantmonkey
Went and picked it up yesterday ('79 gs550), going to ride as soon as i get the registration and insurance done. this waiting is going to kill me.
no pics done myself but here's the craigslist link. and no that's not what i paid :).

If your linking skills is as bad as your driving skills, you'll be dead soon.

awesome! fixed.

but i hope my linking skills aren't as bad as your grammar skills.:p
:thumbsup:

In any case, carry a spatula with you at all times; makes it more convenient for whoever has to do the cleanup.
 

j511180

Senior member
Mar 22, 2005
335
0
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Strap a shovel to the side of that thing so someone can scrape you off the road...but enjoy it 'til then :)
 

Dirigible

Diamond Member
Apr 26, 2006
5,961
32
91
If you're like me, it'll be a few months before you first hit the pavement. At least you are sensible and did not get a crotch rocket as a first bike.
 

Triumph

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
15,031
14
81
Very good choice for a first bike! :thumbsup: That bike will teach you how to ride and ride well, so that when you get something more modern, you will be that much better of a rider.

I, stupidy, wrecked within a week of buying my first bike. Looking back now, I think of how stupid it was...I was trying to beat a yellow light. Halfway through the turn, I lowsided, because I didn't know what I was doing. All because of 1 minute of impatience.

The thing about wrecking is that it can be a bad wreck...or it can be an OK wreck. It all depends on the gear you are wearing. Hand and foot injuries, along with road rash, are going to make up the majority of incidents. If you wear gloves, boots, and some motorcycle clothing (leather or high strength textile), you can get up from a wreck, brush yourself off, and maybe even ride or limp the bike home. If you wear a t-shirt and sneakers, you're going to have a nurse scraping the pavement out of your skin with a wire brush, while a doctor rebuilds your hands and feet with metal rods. I've seen it happen countless times. And this is what skews the severity of motorcycle wrecks.
 

Kelvrick

Lifer
Feb 14, 2001
18,422
5
81
Originally posted by: Triumph
And note that a helmet is implied in my above post.

Jeans do not work. On a scale of 0-10, 0 being your skin on the ground and 10 being race leathers, jeans are like 1 or 2 at most.

Get gloves, boots, pants, jacket, helmet.
 

Dirigible

Diamond Member
Apr 26, 2006
5,961
32
91
Originally posted by: Triumph
Very good choice for a first bike! :thumbsup: That bike will teach you how to ride and ride well, so that when you get something more modern, you will be that much better of a rider.

I, stupidy, wrecked within a week of buying my first bike. Looking back now, I think of how stupid it was...I was trying to beat a yellow light. Halfway through the turn, I lowsided, because I didn't know what I was doing. All because of 1 minute of impatience.

The thing about wrecking is that it can be a bad wreck...or it can be an OK wreck. It all depends on the gear you are wearing. Hand and foot injuries, along with road rash, are going to make up the majority of incidents. If you wear gloves, boots, and some motorcycle clothing (leather or high strength textile), you can get up from a wreck, brush yourself off, and maybe even ride or limp the bike home. If you wear a t-shirt and sneakers, you're going to have a nurse scraping the pavement out of your skin with a wire brush, while a doctor rebuilds your hands and feet with metal rods. I've seen it happen countless times. And this is what skews the severity of motorcycle wrecks.

My first crash was almost the same. Lowsided at a light, taking a left that was not as sharp as 90 degrees, so I had some speed And like Triumph said, WEAR PROTECTIVE GEAR. I was fine because I wore good gear even though I slid for what seemed an eternity. Not a scratch. While good gear won't protect you in every situation, it'll help a lot with road rash, hands, feet, head, spine.
 
Aug 23, 2000
15,509
1
81
Well it's been 6 years, knock on wood and I haven't wrecked yet. Though I think my 1st bike absorbed all my bad luck because it sure was an unlucky bike. 1st week I had it some dip sh!t tried to steal it and jacked it up, $3K and damages when he dropped it. A year later some stupid girl backed into it at a gas station while I was inside paying.
 

SmoochyTX

Lifer
Apr 19, 2003
13,615
0
0
We need a poll for this one!

You will wreck your motorcycle the first time:
#1 - In less than a week
#2 - Between 2 weeks and a month
#3 - Between a month and 6 months
#4 - Between 6 months and a year
#5 - After a year
 
Oct 9, 1999
15,216
3
81
its a heavy bike.. but a good real bike.. take it slow you wont kill yourself.. its a good starter bike and its in good condition..

now get some real gear (helmet, jacket, gloves, boots, riding pants)
and remember health insurance.. and life insurance.
 

NissanGurl

Golden Member
Sep 4, 2003
1,111
0
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Congrats, but please be very, very careful.

Had a accident here in town yesterday on a main highway where a 4 guys were riding together (all crotch rockets). One guy lost control of his bike, crashed, and died. They didn't say why he lost control, just that he did. I had just gotten on the highway probably about 2 minutes after it happened (completely stand still traffic and still had 3 emergency vehicles come through). They closed the short stretch of highway I was on and were forcing traffic to take an alternate route it was that bad. They redirected the trapped traffic by having them drive down an embankment which led down to the next on-ramp, by-passing the accident. On my drive in this morning I saw the skid mark from the bike (think the top part of a question mark and you'll have it) followed shortly after by a stain. It sent shivers up my spine, so please please please be careful.
 

Toastedlightly

Diamond Member
Aug 7, 2004
7,213
6
81
Im in the same boat! I picked up a 175cc (tiny, I know) Dualsport Kawasaki (1979). Great little bike. Waiting to get my endorsement and for spring, then Ill be riding as well.
 
Oct 9, 1999
15,216
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Originally posted by: mordantmonkey
what qualifies as "high strength textile"? leather pants just don't appeal to me...

cordura or anything from the major manufacturers is high strength.. so is goretex stuff..

600 cordoura count is plenty for daily usage.. its better than not having anything on.
 

Mellman

Diamond Member
Jul 9, 2003
3,083
0
76
definitely buy gear :)

I wear a 1 piece when im out riding, if i am commuting I have a leather jacket, and textile pants w/ pads. Plus the boots/gloves/helmet that are standard equipment. I never ride w/o full gear - if i dont have time to put on the gear I don't ride. It simply is not worth it. Too many people I know are no longer with us - or riding - because they said "im just going to the store, i dont need gear"

wear your gear, don't be a squid...and I'll welcome you with open arms to the motorcycling community.
 

state 08

Platinum Member
Jun 6, 2005
2,009
0
0
I just got my first bike in August this year.

I'm kinda impatient, so I started with a Kawasaki Ninja 650R, although, it is a bit noob friendly.

Don't forget to take the MSF course. They teach ya some good tips, and depending on your state laws, if you complete the class, you automatically get your license.

 

uberman

Golden Member
Sep 15, 2006
1,942
1
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First thing I saw was that this bike needs a crash bar. It would look like an "O" turned on its side and mounted to the front of the bike. It will protect your bike and your legs if you lay the bike down in a turn. It will also save things if the bike falls over in a parking lot. Best of all it gives you another place to place your feet (my crash bar has foot pegs) on long rides.

Get good boots, gloves and a helmet. Full leathers could be a problem if they lull you into driving without fear. Good luck.
 

MrBond

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2000
9,911
0
76
Definitely take the MSF course. I lucked out, in Ohio it's state-subsidized, so it only cost $25 (although it would have been $300 if I took it through the H-D dealer) Looks like it will be more for you, but it's still worth it.

This is where I've bought some of my gear. Despite the name, the gear is all new.

http://www.newenough.com/index2.htm

They've got leather jackets for as cheap as $60 (most run $130+ though, the $60 is one model on closeout). There's some good deals to be had in their closeout department. In fact, if you go for textiles rather than leathers, you can get a jacket and pants pretty easily for under $200. I bought the Meteor 4.0 jacket on closeout, came out to about $100 shipped and it's a nice jacket.