Buying a motorcycle/learning to ride

[Hatorade]

Eomer what are you 400 lbs? R6 and wheelies will happen with just a bit of power and slip the clutch. Hell I could wheelie my 250 doing that but would need to do it at like 8000 RPM and fuck up my chain etc.

[Uriel]

I'm a big fan of the ninja 250 for a starter bike. You can resell it for nearly what you bought it for, and usually pretty quickly (there's always people looking to buy these). The MPG you get out of it is amazing, 60-80 or so. The biggest plus in my opinion, is you'll learn how to handle traffic safely without learning how to handle a really powerful bike at the same time.

When I was learning to ride on my 250, there were times I wished I had a bigger bike (don't expect to cruise at 80 regularly, you feel like you're stressing the engine). But you can still have a lot of fun with it, especially in the turns. And yeah, it's possible to wheelie a 250, but it's gonna take a lot of throttle and slipping the clutch as Hatorade said.

The safest (and still fun) way to learn to ride is on a smaller bike. Get a 250, ride it for 3-6 months daily, then sell it for what you paid or close to it. Then you'll be in a much better position to learn how to ride a big powerful bike.

[Cad]

Originally Posted by Hatorade

Eomer what are you 400 lbs? R6 and wheelies will happen with just a bit of power and slip the clutch. Hell I could wheelie my 250 doing that but would need to do it at like 8000 RPM and fuck up my chain etc.

You can wheelie a goldwing with clutch action, but 600's aren't fast enough to wheelie with just power - just like Eomer said.

[Hatorade]

Originally Posted by Cad

You can wheelie a goldwing with clutch action, but 600's aren't fast enough to wheelie with just power - just like Eomer said.

Same page different book, what I was getting is noobs do not mean to slip the clutch and if you do your front wheel will come off the ground very easily on a R6, far less likely with a 250.

[EmpireF4i]

I could wheelie my CBR600 F4i with no clutch, but using the "bounce" method.

[Hatorade]

This reminded me of what my brother did one time on a 500CC honda dirtbike of some kind. Dumb ass didn't let it warm up properly before opening it up and anyone that rides knows that if your engine isn't warm and you twist hard it may just stall or sputter. He comes to a stop outfront down the driveway and does a full twist leans forward and almost nothing happens, he barely moves out of the oh fuck hold on position and starts to put his feet back down when the bike blasts out form under him and the bike tire almost came all the way back around and smashed him in the head. He was just standing there like OH SHIT because it wasn't his haha.

Do that on a motorcycle that is yours and you cry.

[Eomer]

Originally Posted by Hatorade

Same page different book, what I was getting is noobs do not mean to slip the clutch and if you do your front wheel will come off the ground very easily on a R6, far less likely with a 250.

I don't really know nor have I tried any particular technique for getting the front wheel up, other than sheer power. If I'm in a normal riding position, the wheel won't come off unless I am really hauling fucking ass, in which case I'll be going 90mph fairly quickly and the wheel might have come off a few inches.

I'm sure it's fairly easy once you've got the technique etc, but as I said I don't have much interest in trying, I'm happy keeping both wheels down.

175lbs buck nekkid.

[EmpireF4i]

Originally Posted by Eomer

175lbs buck nekkid.

Prove it!

[Seventh]

Originally Posted by EmpireF4i

I could wheelie my CBR600 F4i with no clutch, but using the "bounce" method.

Same here with my old (07) R6. Wouldn't wind up on it's own, but would definitely pop right up if I bounced it. I've never really been a big wheelie guy, and the few I did on the R6 I'd end up putting the front end down going like 70 in first gear doing it that way, heh.

[Seventh]

Originally Posted by Hatorade

This reminded me of what my brother did one time on a 500CC honda dirtbike of some kind. Dumb ass didn't let it warm up properly before opening it up and anyone that rides knows that if your engine isn't warm and you twist hard it may just stall or sputter. He comes to a stop outfront down the driveway and does a full twist leans forward and almost nothing happens, he barely moves out of the oh fuck hold on position and starts to put his feet back down when the bike blasts out form under him and the bike tire almost came all the way back around and smashed him in the head. He was just standing there like OH SHIT because it wasn't his haha.

Do that on a motorcycle that is yours and you cry.

I live near a pretty busy beach, and the squids are out in full force in the summertime. I've seen a good deal of guys hop on completely cold bikes with cold tires and try to stack one up for the crowds, only to have the back end break right out from under them. Only seen one guy actually dump it, but I've definitely seen quite a few come really close.

There's something extremely funny about watching a douchebag in flip flops, swimsuit, no shirt on and no helmet (New Hampshire doesn't have a helmet law) come inches from shitting themselves to impress their homies.

[EmpireF4i]

Haha. Yeah I hate that. Gives the rest of us a bad name when they ride like that. I always wore my gear when I went out. Even when it was 100+ degrees, I had all my leather on.

The day I was in my first accident, I almost didnt put my jacket and gloves on because it was hot, but they were by the door and I grabbed em. Good thing I did, I would have lost a lot of skin in a high side crash.

[Pontiusont]

I used to work next door to a motorcycle shop. The parking was so bad there, it was just this paved area beside the store that was on a nice little incline. So many dudes would park their bikes, hop off, and 3 seconds later down she goes. It was hilarious. I'd feel bad if it happened to some regular guy, but mostly it was some goof wearing just a beater and shorts. When I got my bike, the first thing my brother told me was to PUT IT IN GEAR WHEN PARKING.

I've had my bike for about 6 months now. Haven't dropped it yet but had a close call once when pushing it into the garage. I suck at doing wheelies too. I drive an sv650, but I'm about 220 so maybe that has something to do with it. I clutch it up and might get a foot or 2 off the ground, but that's it. Last time I tried it was cold out and the rear tire washed out, that was fun. Close calls like that make ya realize looking cool isn't worth god knows what it would cost if I dropped it.

[Hatorade]

Wheelies are only cool to people that don't ride and sluts, while the latter has upsides everyone that does ride will be shaking thier head or thinking what a douche bag. Keep stunts in the arenas/events and keep speed on the tracks.

[Seventh]

Originally Posted by Hatorade

Wheelies are only cool to people that don't ride and sluts, while the latter has upsides everyone that does ride will be shaking thier head or thinking what a douche bag. Keep stunts in the arenas/events and keep speed on the tracks.

This.

[tjac]

Originally Posted by Hatorade

Wheelies are only cool to people that don't ride and sluts, while the latter has upsides everyone that does ride will be shaking thier head or thinking what a douche bag. Keep stunts in the arenas/events and keep speed on the tracks.

I have about 10,000 miles of riding under my belt, so I appreciate what riders endure. Always thought the subtle left hand wave was a nice sign of solidarity.

But I'm gonna add reckless highway riders to the douche bag group. Gawddam fools playing frogger at 90mph pisses me off. If they go splat, it's not my fault.