Motorcycles worth the risk in today's world?
- Thread starter coupeman
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You are going about it the correct way; MSF course, not getting a 200hp bike, ATGATT, etc.
I started riding about 10 years ago, bought a CBR 250R. Intentionally got a bike that was not powerful...had a ton of fun riding it. Mostly a commuter bike, fun roads on the weekends. Stepped up to a Honda NC700X a few years later. Again, not a powerful bike...but twice the power of the CBR 250R.
The Res can be more dangerous than it seems...less traffic, but more impaired drivers. I used to ride across it also in my commute, and had my share of close calls...mainly drivers ignoring stop signs. Drivers simply do not see motorcycles. Act like you are invisible, and it will save you.
I started riding about 10 years ago, bought a CBR 250R. Intentionally got a bike that was not powerful...had a ton of fun riding it. Mostly a commuter bike, fun roads on the weekends. Stepped up to a Honda NC700X a few years later. Again, not a powerful bike...but twice the power of the CBR 250R.
The Res can be more dangerous than it seems...less traffic, but more impaired drivers. I used to ride across it also in my commute, and had my share of close calls...mainly drivers ignoring stop signs. Drivers simply do not see motorcycles. Act like you are invisible, and it will save you.
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The res may have less traffic but the roads are not maintained adequately. There are some hellacious ruts and potholes that will put you in a death wobble. It's happened to me a couple of times.
hairygreek
Member
I should've died enough times already, I know my guardian angels are working overtime. Luckily few of those while riding.
If you try to anticipate the other drivers that helps a lot. And knowing how the local traffic behaves.
I rode at Bike Week in Daytona and would much prefer driving around cars than all motorcycles.
If you try to anticipate the other drivers that helps a lot. And knowing how the local traffic behaves.
I rode at Bike Week in Daytona and would much prefer driving around cars than all motorcycles.
WRMorrison
Member
hairygreek said:
That's because half of those rubs only ride 2 weeks out of the year...lol.
-WRM
Stay on the dirt. Buy a dirt bike and stay off the asphalt.
xerts1191 said:When Jobamma gets done destroying the energy sector we all may be resorting to the two wheel mode of transportation, hang on to those helmets you have stuck in the back of the closet
I am way ahead of the curve then. Got this a bit over a year ago. The wife had talked about one forever and I blew it off and then a neighbor was moving out and offered this up for $100.
Of course .. it didnt run and hadnt been started in 3 years but .. about $30 in parts and fluids and half a brain and we have put some 500 miles on it since then. She only rides it in the community or the church parking lot but I have taken to using it for all local missions. Will go up to 50mph if your brave enough but 40-45mph without inducing any fear and it gets around 70 mpg.
Its actually a blast to ride, as easy as twisting the throttle and it fires up reliably each and every time. 150cc of fun. I get in more impromtu conversations about it with passerbys than my motorcycle.
The wife wants me to do a Flower power treatment to it .. I may have to ride it less after that. :snooty:
Oh the fringe has since been removed!
Boriqua said:
Absolutely.
I know some riders survived motorcycle crash with less injuries than they did with driving vehicle involving collisions.
You're the one.with the kayak on vstrom. We'll have to meet up and go for ride. You can also check our my new seat when it's done.
On side note. I have seen both vehicle and motorcycle crashes. Both are just as gruesome. Physic will physic, some win, most dont.
What said:
I would love to see that seat when its done!!
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In the bags is the pump, water shoes and a few other necessities!!
I have since bought larger cans and a rack that will support a ton more weight!! :dance:
xerts1191 said:
Well .. I didnt do 2x4s but I couldnt move 14 of them in my car either but I did do two sacks of cement and at other times several lengths of aluminum, and of course all the little things you need when you cant leave Sh*T alone and forgot you needed those 5 washers or those 15 screws to finish whatever project you probably didnt need to do. :mrgreen:
I make a few post office trips a week and I am there and back on the scooter in less time it would take me to get suited up and warm up my motorcycle and I dont like running my vehicles unless I am going to get them up to temp and the post office is only about 3 miles away. The scooter hits temp quick but the liquid cooled motorcycle is barely awake in 3 miles.
When its warmer I use my bicycle and I used to ride my bicycle 14 miles one way to work everyday from Queens to Manhattan and do battle with the yellow cabs so .... I spend and have spent more time on 2 wheels over the course of my life than 4.
Im still here and breathing.
Keep it going guys!!! Didn't think this topic would move this much.
Might have to do an AZ Shooting Motorcycle meet and greet!
A few mentioned the roads on the res. I take Indian school frequently to this day and it's pretty clean. I have already kinda pondered my higher risk areas. 1. Is turning onto the B-Line from Gilbert. Lots of debris, big trucks, trucks with trailers. The ones that dont wanna slow down haha!! and 2. Indian School/Hayden intersection. It's an effing clusterfuc* at most times.
Might have to do an AZ Shooting Motorcycle meet and greet!
A few mentioned the roads on the res. I take Indian school frequently to this day and it's pretty clean. I have already kinda pondered my higher risk areas. 1. Is turning onto the B-Line from Gilbert. Lots of debris, big trucks, trucks with trailers. The ones that dont wanna slow down haha!! and 2. Indian School/Hayden intersection. It's an effing clusterfuc* at most times.
coupeman said:
I was still recovering from Covid and its related issues in july and needed out of the house. The wife and I decided to go for a short ride. So with not much in the way of provisions we thought we would ride to pebble beach and back.
We wound up at Tanto Natural Bridge!! DOH! My 20 mile ride turned into almost 200.
Came out here on this .. durable as all hell but .. not very comfortable on long rides.
and if you want to laugh your a$$ off at the old guy .. this was the first bike I bought after getting out of the Army but not my first bike. I think it kind of looks gay porn but hey ...LOL
and a DR 650 was the first bike I bought after I decided I wasnt going to ride anymore because .. children. Well not only did I get another bike but there is my daughter helping me wash it .. she is 30 now!
Were I to offer any advice meant to be taken as a complete grain of salt and worth what anyone would pay for it .. I would not go for a 250cc. Stick to around 450 -550.
In NYC driving was very aggresive and it was not unusal for someone to nudge or try and nudge you to make a point but with all the traffic and all the lights and stop signs .. traffic didnt move very fast. In contrast .. even the side roads out here are fast. I have been out here 16 years. I leave my community and its right into 55 mile an hour traffic and lights are a good mile apart. To small an engine and you risk annoying the other drivers because you cant keep up with traffic. There are sick people out there who will try and spook or hurt you because they are angry.
Its also hard as hell to go anywhere in AZ without getting on a highway at some point. Were I still in a big over populated city I wold say 250 is fine but with wide open room to run out here .. you have to have something that can very comfortably do say .... 70. Doesnt have to be a rocket but enough engine to do it without making you miserable. You can always change out sprockets to get you comfortable highway speeds on a smaller displacement but you give up some of the low end blast. A twist of the throttle has gotten me out of as much trouble as brakes.
I cruised around here on a 650 Triumph Bonneville for a couple of years. NOT a HP giant but it was enough without being not enough.
Oh and the last time I went down that was not of my own doing ... I think it was 1991 and my first bike had drum brakes!
You just have to think more when riding. If that guy in your right or left lane is crawling up the butt of the guy in front of him ..know he is going to change lanes and probably doesnt see you. back off.
make sure the guy making the left turn in front of you sees you even if it means tooting the horn. If your approaching an intersection use the car to your left as a pick but dont lag behind because the left turn maker wont see you and will turn immediately after the car passes.
The phone thing does make it a bit spookier out there but when I was young it was the inebriated. There wasnt the big dont drink and drive push back then and getting caught drunk behind the wheel might or might not get you in trouble. Its not more dangerous now .. you just have to keep your wits about you.
The Dl 650 V strom is a mild mannered bike and has traction control and ABS brakes. Will cruise along happily at 80+ and lug you in 3rd gear without much changing when riding out to canyon lake. It has an upright seating position which is great for safety but ... its tall, long legged and top heavy so it might not be best first bike. If you like dual sports the KLR is coming back and they are usually well represented on the used market. Its also tall but .. its not as top heavy and it and the DR650 can be muscled. Fun bikes!!
The SV650 is a close cousin of the DL 650 but a little more sporty.
https://suzukicycles.com/street/2020/sv650-abs
If I didnt ride with a passenger 50% of the time I might have gone that way. I have had large displacement crotch rockets, old standards and cruisers. I come to appreciate mid weight bikes in the 650-750cc range.
Go used so when you inevitably drop it you will cry less. I find the second hand market in AZ is pretty reasonably priced.
2000 H-d Nighttrain was my first "new car'. Rode it nearly everyday. Went to Sturgis with dad...
Sold it about 10 years ago because life was getting in the way of me being able to use enough.
Had few close calls, but none directly with vehicles. Flat tires at 80mph (with a passenger), dodging bouncing hub caps on the freeway, etc..
Sold it about 10 years ago because life was getting in the way of me being able to use enough.
Had few close calls, but none directly with vehicles. Flat tires at 80mph (with a passenger), dodging bouncing hub caps on the freeway, etc..
cool arrow
Member
I love bikes, but had to get away from them.
I have been riding for almost 40 years, but the idiot drivers here in Tucson finally caused me to get rid of my 2-wheelers. I had a Bandit 1200 and a GSX-R when I tapped out, but have had 20 or more bikes throughout the years.
They are fun and there are so many beautiful rides to be had in AZ, but after numerous close calls, and fatalities all over town day after day, I stepped away.
Do I regret it some days? You bet, but I still have both arms and both legs, and my brain isn't scrambled any more than before, so I am calling it a win.
Many have suggested a bike for off road, and I agree. I have also had 3-wheelers and quads for atleast 35 years, and still do. I prefer the quads to the street bikes anymore....phuck, am I getting old?!?
I have been riding for almost 40 years, but the idiot drivers here in Tucson finally caused me to get rid of my 2-wheelers. I had a Bandit 1200 and a GSX-R when I tapped out, but have had 20 or more bikes throughout the years.
They are fun and there are so many beautiful rides to be had in AZ, but after numerous close calls, and fatalities all over town day after day, I stepped away.
Do I regret it some days? You bet, but I still have both arms and both legs, and my brain isn't scrambled any more than before, so I am calling it a win.
Many have suggested a bike for off road, and I agree. I have also had 3-wheelers and quads for atleast 35 years, and still do. I prefer the quads to the street bikes anymore....phuck, am I getting old?!?
TriggerFish
Member
I rode for 35 years: 1972-2007. I had 9 bikes: (HONDA) '72 XL250, '73 CB360, '74 CB750, '77 CB750F, '78 Gold Wing, '79 CBX, '82 CB1100F, (YAMAHA) '84 FJ1100, & (HARLEY) '85 FXRS. The H-D I kept for 22 years. All bikes were bought in WA and the riding season there was fairly short but really great. My daughter loved to go for rides on the 750F and all the bikes after that one. The Harley had zero mufflers and she still managed to fall asleep on it! Took it to Sturgis in '98.
In '01 we moved to AZ and I thought it would be riding HEAVEN. Well AZ did NOT live up to what I was hoping due mostly to snowbirds & tourists in rental cars. I finally found a good home for the FXRS and quit completely 14 years ago. YMMV
In '01 we moved to AZ and I thought it would be riding HEAVEN. Well AZ did NOT live up to what I was hoping due mostly to snowbirds & tourists in rental cars. I finally found a good home for the FXRS and quit completely 14 years ago. YMMV
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