Motorcycles......Who got on!?!

[ReptiMoto]

That's great!

No matter your background in bikes I would suggest taking a riding course. The open road is a dangerous place for a bike. If you grew up riding off road or even a bit on road a riding course will still help you and teach you things that will save your life. A lot of guys really like the classes these guys put on. They have different levels of classes as well. So as you get more saddle time and want harder challenges they will have it for you.
http://msf-usa.org/

Yes I am aware of the MSF course. I can't take it at the moment due to school and the course being all day. So I have already signed up for Jun 7 to take it (the earliest I am able to). If I could I would of already taken the course. Though illegal, I do ride around the neighborhood a lot and sometimes the back roads a little. My dad used to ride motorcycles 20 years ago and I convinced him to get one for us. I recently was practicing my u-turns within 2 parking spaces when I dropped the bike on the curb and it cracked the clutch case . I'm getting the bike back from the shop today and it cost me 500$. Luckily I have a job and am able to pay for it.

[KMG]

Yes I am aware of the MSF course. I can't take it at the moment due to school and the course being all day. So I have already signed up for Jun 7 to take it (the earliest I am able to). If I could I would of already taken the course. Though illegal, I do ride around the neighborhood a lot and sometimes the back roads a little. My dad used to ride motorcycles 20 years ago and I convinced him to get one for us. I recently was practicing my u-turns within 2 parking spaces when I dropped the bike on the curb and it cracked the clutch case . I'm getting the bike back from the shop today and it cost me 500$. Luckily I have a job and am able to pay for it.

Forget U Turns. Practice full tight circles. They are the first thing I learned in my police motor course. Everything you do on a motorcycle at slow speed is connected to being able to do so. If you can do a tight circle a U Turn is nothing. Cut you some tennis calls in half and use them as cones. If you hit them they wont make you fall and are easy to carry on a bike. Work the circles in both directions. You will find one way easier than the other. Work the most on the hard one. Don't do it too long as keeping your bike in the friction zone can glaze the brakes and clutch. Just take breaks after several minutes to let things cool down and then hit it again.

The trick to a tight circle or U Turn is to look where you want the bike to go. Sit up in the seat and close to the tank, turn your head and neck to look behind you. Lock on to a spot and the bike will go there.

[JodanOrNoDan]

Last word of advice for newbie rider.....

Do not ride in traffic if you still have to think about the bike. When you are ready the bike becomes an extension of you. You shouldo not have to think about shifting, turning or braking, they just "happen". All your attention needs to be focused on the road and what is going on around you. Bikes are awesome and they only rank behind sex and jumping out of airplanes for thrill factor but always remember you can go from zero to dead in less than a second. Mistakes are punished harshly.

[Austin.172]

[Austin.172]

07 gsxr 600

[stickyalvinroll]

I'd rather drive my s5

[PitOnTheProwl]

I miss this one....

[KMG]

I'd rather drive my s5

I hope it is at least a convertible.

[KMG]

I miss this one....

You're showing your age with a pic of a pic. Some of these youngsters here have only seen real printed pictures in a museum.

I love your kids helmet. Reminds of Evel Knievel, now Im showing me age.

[KMG]

Well I was right that many of our newer members ride. I should have done a poll to see the most common style of bike around here but it looks like the sport bikes would win.