Motorcycle owners/riders: noob rider joining the world of bikes... advice?

[Nik]

Howdy

I'm pretty interested in buying my first bike, used. I'm looking at a 83 Goldwing Honda GL1100, 36k miles, no title, needs clutch, carb needs attention, $425. From what I've seen, the clutch on a bike is relatively easy to replace and the carb can't be the hard to remove and rebuild and can't be that expensive to replace if need be.

The state offers a *free* class on Saturdays for motorcycle riding. It's almost an all-day class that you just sign up and show up for. They provide all the equipment including bikes and safety crap. They do it in a parkinglot, lay out cones for different exercises and teach you the basics. At the end of the course, they give you the motorcycle endorsement sticker on your license right there.

The car I drive expires this month, meaning I'll have to put it through DEQ again to get new tags. I'm not sure if it will go through, but even if it does, I want something that will get much better gas mileage and something fun to ride 6 months out of the year.

I can't imagine that the riding learning curve is very steep considering that I've ridden a bicycle. I can't imagine workign on them is as difficult or complicated as a car, either.

My commute to work is about 15 minutes in non-highway rush-hour traffic and I hardly go anywhere else (but I might if I get a bike and the mileage is good enough).

What should I know going into the purchase of a bike, 3rd party?

 

[imported_quasi]

The most important piece of advice: always wear your gear, you never know when shit will happen.

 

[GenHoth]

What state are you in and where are the classes? I'm in Illinois and our classes are booked full. I'm also interested in getting a Motorcycle license!

 

[Toastedlightly]

Goldwings are big... good luck w/ that as your first bike .

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

buy a helmet...a good one.

be VERY careful when turning left.

 

[Daishiki]

Kickstand up.

 

[Nik]

Originally posted by: GenHoth
What state are you in and where are the classes? I'm in Illinois and our classes are booked full. I'm also interested in getting a Motorcycle license!

I'm in Oregon and the classes are held in Beaverton.

Originally posted by: Toastedlightly
Goldwings are big... good luck w/ that as your first bike .

This would be the first time I've ever heard such a comment, even from experienced bikers (parents were part of an old "family" club). I've always been told that if you cannot pick the bike up from it laying flat on the ground then the bike is too big for you to ride. That won't be a problem for me so, according to that rule of thumb, the bike shouldn't be too big or too powerful, even as a first bike. What inspires this comment please?

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
buy a helmet...a good one.

be VERY careful when turning left.

I don't see why left would be a problem as opposed to right. Someone's pulling my leg. I'm not that stupid!

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: GuideBot

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
buy a helmet...a good one.

be VERY careful when turning left.

I don't see why left would be a problem as opposed to right. Someone's pulling my leg. I'm not that stupid!

when you turn left, you have to turn across oncoming traffic. this is the cause of MANY accidents where drivers say they never saw the motorcycle until too late.

 

[imported_LoKe]

Originally posted by: GuideBot
What inspires this comment please?

Probably nothing, except that they're big.

 

[Superwormy]

Here is a good guide to buying used bikes:
http://www.clarity.net/~adam/buying-bike.html

Also... a 1100 Goldwing is a pretty crazy bike for a first bike. a) It's gigantic. b) It's got a big engine. You might be better off with a 500cc standard or a 250cc standard. Honda Rebel, Ninja 250, Ninja 500, Suzuki GS500 or even an SV650. Goldwings aren't particularly fun motorcycles either

Also, don't skimp on gear. Expect to spend at least $200 on a helmet that meets at least DOT standards and isn't loud as heck.

And be paranoid. Think *everyone* is out to run you over. People *will not* see you and many times just don't respect motorcycles. *Especially* during rush-hour.

 

[Toastedlightly]

Originally posted by: GuideBot

Originally posted by: GenHoth
What state are you in and where are the classes? I'm in Illinois and our classes are booked full. I'm also interested in getting a Motorcycle license!

I'm in Oregon and the classes are held in Beaverton.

Originally posted by: Toastedlightly
Goldwings are big... good luck w/ that as your first bike .

This would be the first time I've ever heard such a comment, even from experienced bikers (parents were part of an old "family" club). I've always been told that if you cannot pick the bike up from it laying flat on the ground then the bike is too big for you to ride. That won't be a problem for me so, according to that rule of thumb, the bike shouldn't be too big or too powerful, even as a first bike. What inspires this comment please?

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
buy a helmet...a good one.

be VERY careful when turning left.

I don't see why left would be a problem as opposed to right. Someone's pulling my leg. I'm not that stupid!

Well, I learned on a 175 Enduro. My bike weighed 130 or 140 pounds. I could swing that bike around by picking it up. And being too powerful could be an issue. I know that I can pick up my friend's 450 enduro, but that thing is far, far too powerful for me to ever consider (at least in the next 2 years).

 

[Nik]

Originally posted by: LoKe

Originally posted by: GuideBot
What inspires this comment please?

Probably nothing, except that they're big.

Not really. Here are some pics of the bike I'm considering:

Text

Text

Text

 

[rpanic]

Just look at every car and truck around as wanting to hit you.

 

[Turin39789]

Originally posted by: LoKe

Originally posted by: GuideBot
What inspires this comment please?

Probably nothing, except that they're big.

The general advice is to start on something smaller, and then move up. You get a better feel for the control of the bike with a smaller bike. You can learn more finesse because they genearlly respond better than larger bikes.

That said, I'm still a noob, I'm on my first bike that I got 3 months ago, a 75 honda cb550, though I've put a few thousand miles on it already.

 

[Nik]

Originally posted by: Superwormy
Here is a good guide to buying used bikes:
http://www.clarity.net/~adam/buying-bike.html

Also... a 1100 Goldwing is a pretty crazy bike for a first bike. a) It's gigantic. b) It's got a big engine. You might be better off with a 500cc standard or a 250cc standard. Honda Rebel, Ninja 250, Ninja 500, Suzuki GS500 or even an SV650. Goldwings aren't particularly fun motorcycles either

Also, don't skimp on gear. Expect to spend at least $200 on a helmet that meets at least DOT standards and isn't loud as heck.

And be paranoid. Think *everyone* is out to run you over. People *will not* see you and many times just don't respect motorcycles. *Especially* during rush-hour.

Wow, that's an awesome read. Thanks!

 

[jagec]

By all means take the MSF class.

ATTGATT - All The Gear, All The Time. If it's too hot to wear your gear, it's too hot to ride! The includes boots that cover your ankle, reinforced pants or overpants, preferrably with armor, a jacket, preferrably with armor, gloves, and a good helmet. Replace your helmet every few years.

The Goldwing is a pretty big bike to start out...sure, you might be able to pick it up by yourself, but it's also more likely for you to lose your balance and lay it down at low speed, especially if you're commuting in rush hour traffic. There's nothing like a light bike in stop-and-go...much less nerve-wracking to keep that thing upright than a 600 lb monster. The one you're looking at isn't in full touring dress, so that might help, but I really recommend starting on a smaller bike.

Have fun, and keep the rubber side down.

 

[Nik]

The more I read the more I'm inclined to just start saving up and buy a lighter bike to learn balance. I really don't want to let this bike go though because they're hard to find, especially at that price if an inspection returns only those two problems. Maybe I'll buy this one and fix it up and resell it while saving up for my own bike to ride. That might give me some experience in basic concepts in maintenance and repair. I'll be sure to take the MSF, though, Jagec. It's either take a test at the DMV with no clue what I'm doing and pray I pass and then hop on a bike on the street with no street bike (some dirt bike) experience or take the MSF, get the endorsement without taking a test I know nothing about, and be given hands-on instruction in safety and operation by an expert. It's a no-brainer.

As far as all the gear, I have the boots and a leather jacket already, but I don't have armor or even leathers for my legs. I don't have gloves and I don't yet have a helmet. I assume fingers are going to get f'ed up any damn way if I lay it down, so the gloves are just to cut the cold, correct?

I'm completely open to suggestion about anything other than the helmet. I'm going to get a skull cap if my check of the law finds that they're legal in the state. I don't want anything in my face at all. No shield, no windscreen, no nothing other than maybe a pair of sunglasses. No, I don't mind swallowing a few bugs

Can anyone comment on their experience with skull caps versus another open-faced helmet versus a fully closed-face helmet?

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: GuideBot
The more I read the more I'm inclined to just start saving up and buy a lighter bike to learn balance. I really don't want to let this bike go though because they're hard to find, especially at that price if an inspection returns only those two problems. Maybe I'll buy this one and fix it up and resell it while saving up for my own bike to ride. That might give me some experience in basic concepts in maintenance and repair. I'll be sure to take the MSF, though, Jagec. It's either take a test at the DMV with no clue what I'm doing and pray I pass and then hop on a bike on the street with no street bike (some dirt bike) experience or take the MSF, get the endorsement without taking a test I know nothing about, and be given hands-on instruction in safety and operation by an expert. It's a no-brainer.

As far as all the gear, I have the boots and a leather jacket already, but I don't have armor or even leathers for my legs. I don't have gloves and I don't yet have a helmet. I assume fingers are going to get f'ed up any damn way if I lay it down, so the gloves are just to cut the cold, correct?

I'm completely open to suggestion about anything other than the helmet. I'm going to get a skull cap if my check of the law finds that they're legal in the state. I don't want anything in my face at all. No shield, no windscreen, no nothing other than maybe a pair of sunglasses. No, I don't mind swallowing a few bugs

Can anyone comment on their experience with skull caps versus another open-faced helmet versus a fully closed-face helmet?

Gloves make a surprising difference. I wear them in all weather. They'll save you skin grafts. Unless your hands get trapped under you, there's not a lot of weight on them, so you only need a thin layer of leather to allow them to slide across the pavement without sustaining any injury. Since many people's instinct is to use their hands to catch their fall, having gloves can be the difference between having sore wrists and trashed gloves, and having sanded-down bones with bits of tendon still sticking to them.

But all that is moot if you're not going to wear a real helmet. Let me tell you a story I heard.

This guy was riding in Montana, I believe a Harley of some kind or another, so of course he had the beanie-helmet. Anyway, he's cruising down the superslab at 70+ when he meets a june bug coming the other way.
The thing hits him right in the nostril, and the force of the impact is so high that it pushes the whole bug up his nose and into his sinus cavity...WHILE IT'S STILL ALIVE. He has no choice but to ride the 30+ miles to the nearest hospital while the very sharp, panicked beetle tries to claw its way out of the inside of his head. He said it was almost the definition of insanity.

I've ridden helmetless, and it's true that there's nothing quite like the feel of the wind across your face...but you stand a very high chance of getting permanently deaded. Beanie helmets help a little, but if you hit anything...bugs, shrapnel, the pavement...you could at the least lose an eye, at the worst lose the entire front of your face.

 

[Nik]

...and I could get run over by a semi with my guts splattered all over the place which won't matter what kind of helmet I'm wearing. I understand this concept. How remote is that scenario though? I'm certainly not the type to wear a face mask while driving a car just in case something hits the windshield to avoid glass in my face, but I'm not stupid enough to mount a bike in shorts either. I want to be safe, but I've worn full-face helmets before and I absolutely hate having something over my face. I can't concentrate on anything other than how remarkably annoyed I am with something covering my face. I obsess about it, I guess? I want to be reasonably safe about it, but not at the expense of half concentrating on the road because I can't stop cursing that I'm wearing an enclosed helmet. Should I just stop now and hang up the idea of a motorcycle or is a "beanie helmet" even remotely reasonable?

 

[Steve]

Sorry I'm late to the party, my car broke down:

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...ab=arc&highlight_key=y

I swear I will start to learn riding one of these years...

 

[Steve]

Also:

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...did=1622552&arctab=arc

 

[Harabec]

I'll be blunt about everything:
1. Good gloves aren't for looks. They do help. From experience.
2. Full-face helmets - well, do you care about your face and jaw? how about not being able to eat or drink for 2 years? If you don't care about your face, by all means get a nothing-cap.
3. I recommend AGAINST getting a big, fat, crappy-handling, no-brakes 1.1L machine as your first bike.
Get something light and modern. Back then they knew how to build powerful engines, the rest was crap. Go up a few years - 87-89 and UP. Thats where you'll start finding better bikes.

Good luck. When you're on the road on a bike,lLeave your ego at home!

 

[GenHoth]

Sounds like some good advice, I'm taking a MSF course next weekend!

 

[Slappy00]

Originally posted by: Daishiki
Kickstand up.

:laugh: thats one of the first things I learned.

seriously though the bare mininum that I would invest in is a full face helmet and gloves. the helmet will keep you alive (most accidents happen at <30mph) and the gloves will keep your hand safe and reduce fatigue. Get the other equipment asap starting with a jacket and then some shoes and pants.

I started riding the bare mininum for a M licence (a honda elite 150) here in illinois and even though a 250 is in the works soon (a suzuki) the 150 gave me more confidence in turns and quick manuvers. Don't get this huge beast you can find plenty of lower cc bikes for cheap that you can learn on with confidence, and believe me it is absolutely essential you have confidence when you ride.

One more thing that was mentioned before is that get used to not being seen, it will piss you off at first but then you will just get used to people not noticing you riding by. Ever sit in your car and have a motorcycle "broom" by and wonder "where the helll did he come from?" Now you are that guy ...

Ride defensively, take it easy through turns initially (lean with your bike and never brake during a turn unless you have to) and watch out for wet leaves, debris, and oil puddles.

Don't take another passenger on your bake until you have mastered riding it yourself (passengers don't lean with you and scew up your balence, along with increased braking etc)

I can go on and on but nothing beats experience so take it easy and acclimate yourself slowly.

 

[Nik]

Wow, all good reads.

Now, as far as advice goes, anyone willing to give advice to someone who's not interested in any kind of sport bike at all? I want a cruiser. I won't buy a sport bike or scooter or that nonsense. I have plenty of experience on dirtbikes, not interested in a bike that weighs less than I do