I want to Learn Motorcycles like I did Computers

[speg]

Like many of us, I somehow over time became an expert computer user. Then one day when trying to build my first computer, I joined the AT forums and graduated with a degree in geekology.

Now I want to do the same with bikes. But the internet lends itself to computers and tech a lot more than it does mechanics and gears, so I'm wondering where would be some good places to start. I've found a few sites/forums but nothing really that great...

Is there an AT for bikes out there somewhere?

 

[Fenixgoon]

a clymer manual is your best friend.

edit: also, what kind of bike do you have? there WILL be a forum for it, more than likely.

there's a forum dedicated to suzuki GS bikes (70's-80's :heart and they're fantastic in getting info on my 1983 GS650G.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I'm a member of SVRider.com because I own a Suzuki SV650. Great bike, lots of fun, plenty of power and excellent in the twisties. Many people race this bike and a good rider on an SV can frequently beat guys on much bigger, more powerful bikes, especially on a twisty track. The SV is a great bike too because it is inexpensive and there is a ton of aftermarket support for it.

Edit-Before you do anything, I would recommend you take the MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) course at your local JR college and get your motorcycle endorsement. It is an excellent course that will give you the basics of motorcycle riding and control with an emphasis on safety. It also exempts you from having to take the DMV riding test.

 

[jagec]

www.advrider.com

But if you already know something about cars, bikes aren't so very different. Just get a manual and dive in.

 

[Kelvrick]

Getting with other riders is the best way to learn. Forums to meet those riders is obviously needed.

Otherwise, you can be like my friend and just keep crashing. He's rebuilt the bike I sold him like 3 times already down to the carbs, transmission, suspension bits.

 

[cheesehead]

You could do what my uncle did, and just go buy an old Honda - preferably one with a carburettor from the 80s like a CBR400. These motorcycles, though not particularly powerful or sporty, are regarded as very durable and very easy to fix, and a low-powered bike is generally considered easier to learn how to drive.

That, or you could do what I would do, and build a Locost - a Lotus Seven clone. All the speed of a motorcycle, but with a heavy-duty rollcage between you and the outside world. Also, the leather fetish outfit / body condom is optional.

 

[angry hampster]

Buy an old Honda/Suzuki, buy Clymer manual, rebuild carb(s), ride bike.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
You could do what my uncle did, and just go buy an old Honda - preferably one with a carburettor from the 80s like a CBR400. These motorcycles, though not particularly powerful or sporty, are regarded as very durable and very easy to fix, and a low-powered bike is generally considered easier to learn how to drive.

That, or you could do what I would do, and build a Locost - a Lotus Seven clone. All the speed of a motorcycle, but with a heavy-duty rollcage between you and the outside world. Also, the leather fetish outfit / body condom is optional.

You think people wear leather because they have a leather fetish? :roll:

You've clearly never ridden a motorcycle before because if you had you wouldn't be saying something so ridiculously fucking stupid.

Ever see what happens when a guy riding a motorcycle goes down at 40mph and he's not wearing a leather jacket or at the very least some sort of nylon protective gear? It isn't pretty I can tell you that. And the trip to the hospital to scrape out the wounds is even less pretty and hurts like hell (or so I'm told).

Tell you what, get on your skateboard and have someone tow you behind a car at 40mph and then jump off wearing just a t-shirt and jeans and let the car drag your ignorant carcass down the road for another 50 or so yards then get back to me about having a leather fetish. Oh, and that's not even including the 400lbs+ of metal, plastic and rubber you were previously sitting on top of that's sliding along with you with the possibility of crashing into you and/or for you to crash into.

 

[EightySix Four]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
You could do what my uncle did, and just go buy an old Honda - preferably one with a carburettor from the 80s like a CBR400. These motorcycles, though not particularly powerful or sporty, are regarded as very durable and very easy to fix, and a low-powered bike is generally considered easier to learn how to drive.

That, or you could do what I would do, and build a Locost - a Lotus Seven clone. All the speed of a motorcycle, but with a heavy-duty rollcage between you and the outside world. Also, the leather fetish outfit / body condom is optional.

You think people wear leather because they have a leather fetish? :roll:

You've clearly never ridden a motorcycle before because if you had you wouldn't be saying something so ridiculously fucking stupid.

Ever see what happens when a guy riding a motorcycle goes down at 40mph and he's not wearing a leather jacket or at the very least some sort of nylon protective gear? It isn't pretty I can tell you that. And the trip to the hospital to scrape out the wounds is even less pretty and hurts like hell (or so I'm told).

Tell you what, get on your skateboard and have someone tow you behind a car at 40mph and then jump off wearing just a t-shirt and jeans and let the car drag your ignorant carcass down the road for another 50 or so yards then get back to me about having a leather fetish. Oh, and that's not even including the 400lbs+ of metal, plastic and rubber you were previously sitting on top of that's sliding along with you with the possibility of crashing into you and/or for you to crash into.

I do believe he understands the necessity of the leather, which is why he said it's optional when you have a full rollcage around you, and the purpose of his statement was to joke, not attack the usefulness.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: crazySOB297

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
You could do what my uncle did, and just go buy an old Honda - preferably one with a carburettor from the 80s like a CBR400. These motorcycles, though not particularly powerful or sporty, are regarded as very durable and very easy to fix, and a low-powered bike is generally considered easier to learn how to drive.

That, or you could do what I would do, and build a Locost - a Lotus Seven clone. All the speed of a motorcycle, but with a heavy-duty rollcage between you and the outside world. Also, the leather fetish outfit / body condom is optional.

You think people wear leather because they have a leather fetish? :roll:

You've clearly never ridden a motorcycle before because if you had you wouldn't be saying something so ridiculously fucking stupid.

Ever see what happens when a guy riding a motorcycle goes down at 40mph and he's not wearing a leather jacket or at the very least some sort of nylon protective gear? It isn't pretty I can tell you that. And the trip to the hospital to scrape out the wounds is even less pretty and hurts like hell (or so I'm told).

Tell you what, get on your skateboard and have someone tow you behind a car at 40mph and then jump off wearing just a t-shirt and jeans and let the car drag your ignorant carcass down the road for another 50 or so yards then get back to me about having a leather fetish. Oh, and that's not even including the 400lbs+ of metal, plastic and rubber you were previously sitting on top of that's sliding along with you with the possibility of crashing into you and/or for you to crash into.

I do believe he understands the necessity of the leather, which is why he said it's optional when you have a full rollcage around you, and the purpose of his statement was to joke, not attack the usefulness.

Perhaps. It didn't go over that way with me though.

 

[Black88GTA]

Originally posted by: jagec
www.advrider.com

But if you already know something about cars, bikes aren't so very different. Just get a manual and dive in.

One big difference...you can easily remove and transport large parts (engines, transmissions) or even the whole bike inside the nice warm house in the dead of winter to work on them I've never owned a "real" bike (would like to, at some point), but I did have a pair of mopeds in college. On a couple cold winter occasions, I put down some flattened boxes, wheeled them through the sliding door, and worked on them in the living room of my apartment.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

If you're anything like me, that's a bad idea. Because I crashed a lot of PCs.

 

[Turin39789]

http://forums.sohc4.net/

 

[imported_Imp]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
If you're anything like me, that's a bad idea. Because I crashed a lot of PCs.

:laugh:

I recommend learning to dirt bike first. It's all the fun minus the cars, concrete and poles, but replaces by trees, shrubs and rocks. The bikes and gear should also be mildly cheaper. It should make you a better rider if you decide to hit the road.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Imp

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
If you're anything like me, that's a bad idea. Because I crashed a lot of PCs.

:laugh:

I recommend learning to dirt bike first. It's all the fun minus the cars, concrete and poles, but replaces by trees, shrubs and rocks. The bikes and gear should also be mildly cheaper. It should make you a better rider if you decide to hit the road.

Dirt can teach you some habits that do not translate well to street riding. Dirt bike riders don't use the front brakes as much or as hard but on a street bike the front brake provides most of the stopping power. Also, if you slide the rear wheel on a street bike and release it while it is sliding you are going to get thrown off the high side of the bike.

 

[speg]

I'll be taking the course soon, and am seriously considering the Suzuki V-Strom 650, just gotta find a good price...

 

[cheesehead]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Ever see what happens when a guy riding a motorcycle goes down at 40mph and he's not wearing a leather jacket or at the very least some sort of nylon protective gear? It isn't pretty I can tell you that. And the trip to the hospital to scrape out the wounds is even less pretty and hurts like hell (or so I'm told).

My point on the Lotus is that this is a complete impossibility because the Lotus Seven is not a bike - it's a car. It just happens to be one which is about as mechanically simple, fast, and cheap as a motorcycle. Especially if you build one with a full rollcage, as I would.

IMO, leathers or nylon are unpleasant but necessary part of keeping yourself from being dead - sort of like polio shots. I know a fellow who rides without leathers - and he's a hemophiliac, no less. I think he's a nutjob.

And I would like to make something quite clear:

Yes, I am a wuss.

Originally posted by: speg
I'll be taking the course soon, and am seriously considering the Suzuki V-Strom 650, just gotta find a good price...

I've talked to a few cyclists, and they have all recommended starting with something much, much, much less powerful. A wheezy old CBR400 is on the high end of the range, and some countries require first obtaining a trainee liscense restricted to 250 or even 125 cc.

There's more advantages to buying an old bike as well. The simple and durable nature of old Honda bikes makes it a good "trainer" motorcycle - it should be much easier and cheaper to fix than a modern motorcycle, and even if you do royally screw something up, the massive number of bikes means that a replacement engine costs less than a single Hayabusa piston.

Furthermore, please consider that you're learning to ride, and as such, will likely end up trashing your bike. If your motorcycle's fairings are valuable only as scrap and can be replaced for a few bucks, learning to ride will be much less traumatic.

A guy on Craigslist had three CBR400s for $400. None of them worked, but all were complete and I bet you could assemble at least one complete motorcycle out of the parts.

 

[cheesehead]

I'd kill for a "post delete" button right now.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
I'd kill for a "post delete" button right now.

Sorry dude. Didn't mean to be so hard on you. :laugh:

 

[Kelvrick]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Imp

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
If you're anything like me, that's a bad idea. Because I crashed a lot of PCs.

:laugh:

I recommend learning to dirt bike first. It's all the fun minus the cars, concrete and poles, but replaces by trees, shrubs and rocks. The bikes and gear should also be mildly cheaper. It should make you a better rider if you decide to hit the road.

Dirt can teach you some habits that do not translate well to street riding. Dirt bike riders don't use the front brakes as much or as hard but on a street bike the front brake provides most of the stopping power. Also, if you slide the rear wheel on a street bike and release it while it is sliding you are going to get thrown off the high side of the bike.

Don't forget the habit to put your foot down. NOT a good idea on the street. Although sometimes it translates well, ie nicky hayden.

Edit: forgot the Y in hayden.

 

[Kabob]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I'm a member of SVRider.com because I own a Suzuki SV650.

I'm a member as well, although my first SV was stolen and I sold my 2nd SV two months ago.

Also, check the Total Motorcycle forums, or if you're a dirt guy check Thumper Talk for lots of good info. Total Motorcycle is the first MC forum I joined. Now I'm on 3 or 4 of 'em (well, I'm registered at probably 10 but most I never post at, as I'd join to find info on a bike and not buy the bike).

 

[cheesehead]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
I'd kill for a "post delete" button right now.

Sorry dude. Didn't mean to be so hard on you. :laugh:

Actually, I meant the double-posting.

Please consider that I only poke fun at motorcycle riders because I'm too much of a pussy to do it myself. If I'm in a vehicle that can do 0-60 in four seconds, I'd rather like to have a steel cage between me and the outside world.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Cheesehead

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
I'd kill for a "post delete" button right now.

Sorry dude. Didn't mean to be so hard on you. :laugh:

Actually, I meant the double-posting.

Please consider that I only poke fun at motorcycle riders because I'm too much of a pussy to do it myself. If I'm in a vehicle that can do 0-60 in four seconds, I'd rather like to have a steel cage between me and the outside world.

But you don't know what it feels like to lean into your turns, squeeze through small alleys and between trees where no car can go, head straight to the front of the line on ferries, take the carpool lane everywhere, fuel up and stay insured for pennies a day...

Originally posted by: speg
I'll be taking the course soon, and am seriously considering the Suzuki V-Strom 650, just gotta find a good price...

I own one. Great bike.

Not good for a first bike. While still a better idea than any sport bike, it's too tall, too top-heavy and too powerful for a novice to comfortably learn on. Get an light '80s Japanese bike without much power. Build confidence on that. You can learn to ride on a big bike, but you'll either crash it, be too afraid to lean it over or ever tap into its potential, or even both.

 

[CKent]

Originally posted by: Cheesehead

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
I'd kill for a "post delete" button right now.

Sorry dude. Didn't mean to be so hard on you. :laugh:

Actually, I meant the double-posting.

Please consider that I only poke fun at motorcycle riders because I'm too much of a pussy to do it myself. If I'm in a vehicle that can do 0-60 in four seconds, I'd rather like to have a steel cage between me and the outside world.

It's other drivers who scare me too much to ever ride a bike. Especially women, between sheer inability due to gender, and not paying attention due to cell phones / makeup / etc., they've nearly hit me at least 10 times.

 

[Greenman]

I don't get the "buy a grossly underpowered wobbly old shed of a bike" advice for beginners. When I took the safety course, they made us ride thees anemic little 250's that could barley pull themselves out of the gutter. It was so far removed from riding my own bike that I shouldn't have bothered riding it, I could have learned it all from a book.
I think a 650 is a fine starter bike, just don't twist the throttle all the way open. And if you start with a reasonable bike, you won't be looking for a new one in six months.