Motorcycles and motorcyclists

[Virago]

Originally Posted by Boots13

My neighbor started me on a "tote-goat" in an apple orchard, 6th grade.
I hit a tree.

I used to ride my neighbors Suzuki 250, until I ran through a fence post and broke my leg in the 9th grade.

Totaled my first Work Issued Motorcycle when I got hit by an 80 year old.. bruised legs from handle bars and a sprained wrist ! I shoulda gotten the hint somewhere in there but ... I keep riding

I've owned so many motorcycles, from trail to racing to sport to sport touring to touring, but I currently ride a
BMW F650 Dakar. I take it up to Canada, Alaska, NW Territories and the Yukon for my dual sport adventures. Currently planning on riding the Backroads discovery route >> here<< this summer.
I have a Road King, that I ride daily at work.
I am looking to buy a Harley Davidson Ultra Touring motorcycle to replace the one I sold last year

I dont belong to any clubs or organizations and I normally dont ride with groups, I'm the one escorting them !
I'll post pictures in the Gallery of some of work, my trips and bikes.

Great thread ! Thanks for starting it !

Boots, I made it 40 miles before the NW territory! I have to get back up there. I made it to Eagles Landing (I think that's the name) up by the Arctic Circle

[laruss]

I started riding only a couple of years ago after my partner died, I decided that life was too short. Plus I hadn't been allowed to ride before that. hahaha

I bought myself a 2003 Honda Shadow American Classic Edition. Similar to the one in the picture except mine was all red and chrome. I loved that bike.

Unfortunately last summer I slid it off the highway. I hadn't eaten all day and we had been riding for hours. I zoned out and was onto the shoulder before it registered that it was a corner. I was very lucky as it was a soft shoulder and I was wearing all my gear. A couple of broken ribs a small bit of road rash on the hip and the expensive repairs (I didn't want to go through insurance as a new rider, it would have cost me more in the long run).

When I first started riding I took a course that the guys recommended. They had a lot of women there and they were excellent. It helped a lot.

I sold my bike before my move and was gong to replace it when I got out here but now I am moving back and most likely won't have time to ride for a while with all that is going on there. I will ride again though.

I would like something a bit smaller, I have weak hands and I struggled under the weight of that bike.

[firegal]

I got a bonanza mini bike when I was 10' then I got a Honda 90 2 years later.....fast forward many bikes later...Honda cmt ,sportsters,kit bikes....

And now my 2006 dynamic wide glide with Vance Hines drag pipes...

I,m good to go....appx 9 trips to sturgis and I am a 11 years patched member of the iron pigs.

Gonna get a fat boy to go along with my wide glide.


I also have a Honda riding lawn mower lol.... It's a cruiser!


Gotta love 2 wheels

[Parker]

Originally Posted by durrrrrrrr

when i first started riding, i did take a riding course for three reasons . i figured that could teach me something that i would help me out and the company i worked for paid for the riding course and it also gave me a discount on my insurance for the bike. ( which that doesnt go in effect anymore ) the one thing that the course did teach me was how to prepare myself for trailing a passenger. they told me to put a big ole bad of dog food on the back, strap it down and that will help me get the feel of turning, riding the curves , it will help me feel the weight in the back. well, i did that once. i put the bag of dog food on the back, tied it down. and i was going through a neighborhood, riding slow speed and all of a sudden every freakin dog in the neighborhood was chasing me...i was like WTF? i am use to a dog or two, but this many??? i didnt know until i got home that they bag of dog food had gotten a hole in it and trails of dog food was dropping onto the street..LMAO. which is why i had sooo many dogs chasing me for food. LMAO.

This was funny - and it reminded me that while I taught myself how to ride, I also took a motorcycle safety course. I was in the Navy and at the time, the only way you could ride a motorcycle on base was (s) if you wore long pants, hard soled shoes, a helmet, long sleeves, a reflective vest, and goggles; and (b) if you took a motorcycle safety course provided on base.

So I took the day-long course and got to learn quite a few things that helped me to be safer out there while riding - I still remember most of it.

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Also - for those who want to post pics in threads but dont know how, I made --->this post<--- in the "Members Helping Members" thread with step-by-step instructions -- I included pics because I am a visual person.

[CherylNYC]

Originally Posted by Parker

This was funny - and it reminded me that while I taught myself how to ride, I also took a motorcycle safety course. I was in the Navy and at the time, the only way you could ride a motorcycle on base was (s) if you wore long pants, hard soled shoes, a helmet, long sleeves, a reflective vest, and goggles; and (b) if you took a motorcycle safety course provided on base.

So I took the day-long course and got to learn quite a few things that helped me to be safer out there while riding - I still remember most of it.

-----

I had been riding for quite awhile before I finally took a course. When we started the Sirens we made a rule that everyone had to have taken a Motorcycle Safety Foundation course at least once in order to join. Those of us who were already members took it as a group at a school where one of our founding members was an MSF instructor. I had no idea how many things I had been doing wrong! I've been eager to take classes and hone my skills ever since.

[Boots13]

I wonder if we can expand this thread into safety and personal experiences? There is so much valuable experience here! I had no idea !

I'd love to also hear from passengers and their experiences ..what makes them feel comfortable? Why they enjoy riding?

LOL, I love Motorcycles, scooters, trail bikes, lawn mowers (firegal, you cracked me up with that one) wheels and a motor counts !

[-Red-Flag-]

I'll ride anything with a motor !!

[durrrrrrrr]

Originally Posted by Boots13

I wonder if we can expand this thread into safety and personal experiences? There is so much valuable experience here! I had no idea !

I'd love to also hear from passengers and their experiences ..what makes them feel comfortable? Why they enjoy riding?

LOL, I love Motorcycles, scooters, trail bikes, lawn mowers (firegal, you cracked me up with that one) wheels and a motor counts !

I have several times had to slam on my brakes...and thinking to myself..oh shit, hear i go! and I have seen so many motorcycle wrecks that I will not have a passenger on my bike. If something was to happen, and I came out of the wreck ok, but yet the passenger didnt make it. I would never be able to live with myself because of that. because of the "what if's"

I know i have had a few friends get bummed about me not taking them for a ride..but, i just cant do it. Not when i have no control of some asshat pulling out in front of me.

my bro-in-law and sister was on their bike, he was taking a curve when a car driving opposite direction crossed the yellow line and my bro-in-law went off the road ( on purpose ) to avoid a head on with the car. they came out of this ok, after several stitches, staples, broken bones.

So, your question makes me wonder as well. do y'all take ppl for a ride?

[JAGG]

Originally Posted by Boots13

I wonder if we can expand this thread into safety and personal experiences? There is so much valuable experience here! I had no idea !

I'd love to also hear from passengers and their experiences ..what makes them feel comfortable? Why they enjoy riding?

LOL, I love Motorcycles, scooters, trail bikes, lawn mowers (firegal, you cracked me up with that one) wheels and a motor counts !

As far as safety goes , I drive for a living so I have a little more safe driver training than most people do. And a little more driving experience than most as well. But when I am on my bike, I am constantly antisipating the worst possible scenerio and adjusting myself accordingly. I always assume no one sees me and try to stay prepared to make quick adjustments and quick moves and I always look for an out , like a shoulder or grass, should the worse possible scenerio unfold . So far it has worked well for me.
When I was hit by the drunk driver back in 1983 I was a very new cyclist and unexperienced driver. I was actually sitting at a red light when it all happened, but still I look back and I made alot of mistakes and I am sure I could have avoided it , knowing what I know today. Being a good defensive driver, I like to think is the key to being a safe driver. To me it doesn't matter who is at fault , a broken bone hurts the same way if it was your fault or someone elses. So I want to avoid the accident all together, for example I never tell myself , he has the yield sign not me. Now when I am in my tractor trailer I might say that from time to time. But not out loud. lol

[CherylNYC]

Originally Posted by Boots13

I wonder if we can expand this thread into safety and personal experiences? There is so much valuable experience here! I had no idea !

I'd love to also hear from passengers and their experiences ..what makes them feel comfortable? Why they enjoy riding?

LOL, I love Motorcycles, scooters, trail bikes, lawn mowers (firegal, you cracked me up with that one) wheels and a motor counts !

Great idea! I have very little experience as a passenger, so I would be quite interested in hearing about riding from the pillion perspective.