Testdrive the different styles first of all... They are very different. No reason not to get a cruiser as a starter bike.

I've owned a few bikes, and my most favorite bike ever is great for beginners. If you're able to find one, they're affordable too. IF...you're able to find one.

This bike was WAY ahead of it's time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_NT650

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/e...ahn/HOTM/1.jpg

old japanese bikes look just as cool for the most part, they just don't have all the hype behind them.

I took most of these guys advice this past winter and they were pretty bang on for what i needed to do including starting with a smaller ride. i did all the reading, went over hundreds of safety vids on my own, did the course (which is fun as hell anyway) and learned a lot. Unfortunately the course didn't cover much regarding defensive driving. Most problems on the road can be avoided by anticipating problems before they happen. Riding around town on a bicycle has taught me more than enough over the years so if you have any cycling background i find it can come in handy.

maybe someone knows the statistics better than i do, but are accident statistics skewed any by racing bikes opposed to cruisers?

for many years we used to joke about Harleys that spent more time standing in the emergency lane than driving...

but i am pretty sure that got better since the 90ties

You missed talking about the most important factor, what's your experience level? There are two types of riders, those that have wrecked and those that are going to wreck.

Learning the repercussions of going to fast and deep into a turn as an adult on a street bike are much different than doing the same as a 12 year old on a dirt bike. Driver error on the road, in traffic, can be a cruel way to learn. If you have zero experience you have zero positive habits and no natural reflexes based on experience.

If you've never ridden before get a good used on-off road/dirt bike and put the miles on it. Then branch out into the world of cars and drivers who don't see you.

Here's another tip: you will challenge your bikes capabilities and right now your skill level is pretty low. Don't over buy at this time or the bike can get you in over your head.

Sure they are. If I was riding a Ducati I would eventually want to see how fast the top end is (obviously higher than my Harley). I would want to see how fast I can take a turn (my Harley's pegs would touch so leaning hard into a turn is pointless). Doing something over my skill level is harder on a Harley than say a Suzuki Hayabusa.

Taking a vehicle to it's limits is natural and racing bikes encourage a rider to test these limits vs a bike like a Honda or Harley cruiser.


.

There is a safety class, most most of those companies offer a high speed class, which I'm going to take in a couple months when things quiet down for me. Riding a bicycle and yes is comes in handy a little, but more than that, it's learning how to ride a motorcycle at a slow speed, it's not as easy when the bike weighs 800lbs without you on it.

Cruisers I think would be safer because of the way they are ridden. At drivers in cars can hear you better with the louder pipes.

AMF bikes had problems, Mine is a 2000, first Harley with the 88 and fuel injection. It's a great bike, never a problem, easy to maintain. The new bikes coming out now are even better. Water cooled 110 ci motors, they are beasts!

yeah I guess i already knew the answer to that being the insurance prices are triple on avg, at least in these parts.

I love cruisers too much myself. older the better

this is actually spot on. i almost bought a ducati monster two weeks ago. (still might). but hopping on, it was like all i could see were possibilities that my honda shadow doesn't offer me, and makes me want to test them.

i started on a sportster, went to the shadow. i like both, prefer the honda actually (i'm not a harley hater, just preferred the shadow over it). i wanted the ducati for zipping around the city, quick stuff. but l-pink has a point...

sounds dumb, but until you wreck out or crash, which hopefully isn't serious, you won't respect the bike. luckily i learned my lesson on a honda cbr 250 enduro:2 cents:

That's a nice bike... :) :thumbsup

FIFTY Motor-Scooters!!!

I just started riding a few months ago and I bought a 2013 Honda CB500F. I thought I wanted a cruiser but after riding a 1000 miles I figured out that I would like a sport tourer.

My bike:
http://s1.cdn.autoevolution.com/imag...ed-53572_1.jpg

So post more - any accidents, how do cars notice you an other tips/experiences/advices as a newbie rider?

The Jap Bike might look old after 5 years, but you will look old from day one on a Harley


:1orglaugh:1orglaugh

RULE #1: WHEN YOU ARE ON A MOTORCYCLE YOU BECOME INVISIBLE TO DRIVERS OF CARS AND TRUCKS, ALWAYS KEEP THAT IN MIND AND RIDE DEFENSIVELY.

I've had several near misses and two nasty bike accidents in my life, without exception they were caused by drivers who didn't see me.

Head-on-a-swivel, expand your situational awareness to a full 360 degrees.

Don't put yourself in a position where an oblivious driver in a car can kill you.
Stay out of vehicle blind-spots, use the full width of your travel lane to increase your safety margin.

RULE #2: SEE THIS LIST http://www.nolo.com/legal-encycloped...ses-30330.html

That is why it is important to get LOUD ASS PIPES! Then people can hear you coming from a mile away.

If I see/hear another SOA-themed dyna blappin down PCH I'm going to throw a banana peel out in front of it. If I can stop lolling @ em.


FYI.

:thumbsup

According to information from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety?s Highway Loss Data, about 42% of fatal motorcycle accidents were caused by a vehicle that turned left while the motorcycle was traveling past it.

Not really true.

If you drive a car for years, before you ride a bike, you have to change your thinking.

In a car, you get lazy because the frame around you is steal.

On a bike, the frame around you is your legs.

You have to focus on the road all the time when you are on a bike. 100% different thinking than cruising in a car. Never drift away from being focused.

advantage to the cruisers. rice rockets don't usually have throaty loud pipes

It's a huge assumption to assume a loud exhaust is a safety measure such that it alerts drivers to where you are and altering their path/speed, Etc. Typically loud pipes just startle other drivers and or piss them off. Neither of those makes things safer.

lets people know you're around

It totally helps. When you are splitting lanes people hear you coming and move over a bit to give you more room. Freeway or at speeds over 45 MPH not so much. But I live and do most my riding on San Fran so it is a big help. I got a termignoni exhaust system and it lets people know im coming.

I agree. I drive bicycle alot, for many years, so I know the feeling when I must control situation 360 degrees around me and always anticipate what drivers may do and be prepared for every possible act.

The only accident I had was turning left on my first ride and I went down at very slow speed. I am very lucky that I live on the central coast in California and there are 1000's of miles of roads here with very little traffic and amazing scenery so I can't really comment on cars noticing me. My scariest experience was rounding a corner and seeing a family of deer crossing the road.

My advice would be to practice around your neighbourhood and in parking lots doing low speed maneuvers and then some nice twisty back roads to really get used to shifting and leaning into turns.

So what. It doesn't pinpoint a location and it certainly does not create a driver that gives more of a shit about you. A startled driver isn't a better more aware driver.

Again my point is assuming things like this is a major mistake in thinking your creating a safe riding environment.

Blappin the throttle on any bike splitting lanes will get attention. So will flashing the headlamp. You don't need loud pipes for that. I had a full termi systems on all my ducs and would never consider them a Safety feature.

look its not a 100% fix and you're not gonna get in a wreck type of thing. it just doesn't hurt. when riding, i'll take any advantage i can get

There are few things I know more than motorcycles, been a motorcycle mechanic since 1975 and have owned many, currently have a Heritage Classic that needed new head gaskets at 30K miles, if you cant do it yourself you better have deep pockets.

I know you are partial and yes they are fun and they have the name but a Suzuki Volusia or similar bike is many times more reliable...like it or not...

I did not realize that everyone in San Francisco was driving with their windows down and car stereos off.

People are seeing your headlights unless you are at their door. :2 cents:

If your bike needed head gaskets at 30K it was really abused. I had a 1949 H-D that was better than that. My 86 has +150k and NEVER blew a head gasket.

I am trying to recall ANY of my H-Ds that ever went down due to a head gasket; I can't.

Yeaaa its a safety feature for other drivers. Cuz if they dont get the fuck out of my way Ill punch them in the face at the next red light or kick their side mirror off.




:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh

Danger
 

Recently there have been 2 deaths of cyclists here. One a woman made a left turn right into the riders. No way he had time to avoid from watching the video. The other a biker was at a stoplight and a SUV came over a small rise just before the light and rear-ended him. There are some accidents that no matter what, you won't see in time to do anything about.
Happens in cars too. On a busy state highway following two cars. The 1st car didn't see me. He made a quick right turn then a U Turn. Without looking or stopping made a left back the way he came. Somehow we avoided hitting, but I was forced into the other lane of on-coming 65 MPH traffic. Some how missed them too.

Ride safe on your cycle

nothing is 100%. Every little bit helps - loud pipes, safety course, the right riding gear, being alert and even then you can still get in an accident. I like to improve my odds, but its just that....improving odds.

I'm not trying to talk you into anything. If you want to think it's an advantage that's cool but if your looking for any Safety Advantage then look to a neon safety vest, which is proven. Drivers use vision when driving, not sounds.

I've yet to see any research that supports the idea that loud pipes contribute to a safe riding experience.

Got it!:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh

Depends on the Harley, every time I go out, I get complements on mine.

You just think that all Harley's are cruiser's, some are pretty damn fast

Riding a gold wing would make you look old, but at least you would be comfortable

My favorite rides are getting out of LA and heading towards where you live. Santa Maria is the farthest I have traveled on the bike north from LA so far, it's a real treat to do a run up that way. There is a jeweler in Los Olivos I always stop to talk to and a winery we belong to up that way as well. We're about due for another trip, just been too busy with the new project.

I know.....I love Harley as well. Im just messing wit ya. I would like to add a Harley to my collection some day.

[QUOTE=baddog;20184188

I am trying to recall ANY of my H-Ds that ever went down due to a head gasket; I can't.[/QUOTE]

My days of riding like that are long gone truth is head gasket leaks are common on many harleys that are ridden a lot, most people don't even notice them, except that it will backfire a bit.

It happens because of the air cooling mostly, the rapid expansion and compression of the metal.

Bikes are my primary means of transpo I actually have a Suzuki Burgman 650 that has almost 100 K miles all I have ever done to it are brakes tires and fluid changes....chicks like riding the Harley the first time, after that they always wanna go on the Burgman more comfy and quieter and burn guards on the pipes so no heat there...