Thinking of a Motorcycle...Stupid Decision?

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by Slava

Well I alluded to this in another thread, but I'm thinking of getting a motorcycle. I guess I'm partly thinking that its a bad decision, but I figure I would hear from the CP Oracle while I ponder this decision.

I would buy used, and wouldn't buy a crotch rocket, but instead something a little bigger. I don't have much in the way of experience so I would get licensed and go from there I suppose.

Advice? Critique? What say you?

I drive two motorcycles, but not at the same time. I recommend it. Let's talk about it.

[CaramonLS]

Just be sure to sign your organ donor card first please.

Maybe if you lived in a city more used to driving with Bikes, but it is really tough for drivers to see them/get used to them. I'd strongly recommend against getting one.

[iggypop]

Take a class. My dad just finished his last weekend because he hadn't ridden a bike since he was 18. I think it was 16 hours in class and 16 hours on a bike, over the course of two weeks. He loved it, says it's the only way he would even consider getting a bike and a license.

[schnee]

..

[KTown]

Lost a friend to a motorcycle accident.

I defiantely don't recommend them to anyone unless you live somewhere, where there is low traffic. Unfortunately Calgary is not low traffic.

[Jayems]

Haven't read the entire thread, but probably fata'd.

1) Fill out a donor card
2) Take lessons
3) Take some more lessons
4) Don't be a ######

[Kjesse]

Bikes are great fun. I wouldn't dare drive one on a road like Deerfoot though.

Everyone has a story of someone they know injured or killed from one.

My story is, my dad's colleage in the late 80's decided to take a friend's new bike for a spin on a Friday afternoon. They were all off work and had been in the back of a large shop having a few beers on a hot summer day.

He went way too fast around an on ramp, crashed, and is a quadriplegic to this day. He had 2 young daughters and a wife, and that families' lives were changed in an instant.

Depsite that, I like bikes, and drive one on occasion, but wouldn't buy one. If you get one, be damn careful. Even one beer is too much if you're going to drive one.

[browna]

Originally Posted by Azure

Well, you'd save a lot of money on gas, thats for sure.

For the 4 months of the year you can ride here.

The amount you save by not outlaying the upfront cash for a bike can more then offset the gas you're paying for in the summer, for the car you have to have already in the garage for the other 8 months of driving here.

[chid]

I'd suggest doing motorcycle school first, getting a feel for it and then deciding from there. If you buy the bike first and its not for you, it will be a lot of wasted time and money.

[dionfan]

Motorbiking is one of my favorite things to do. Trust me, if you are a safe driver, it will be a decision you won't regret. People can complain about motorcycles being unsafe and whatnot, but you could treat many things as unsafe. For instance, if you play hockey, you run the risk of getting concussions, broken bones, sticks in the eye, etc. i'm not saying it's completely harmless, but if you dont drive like a complete moron, you can decrease the chances of an accident by alot. My dad has been motorbiking for 40ish years and has been in zero accidents.

If you're not looking at a crotch rocket, its probably a good start because that would just tempt you to test its limits. With those things, it doesnt take much throttle at all and before you know it, youre goin 100. Cruisers aren't really the style of bike youre gonna wanna race people with lol. One thing you don't wanna do is get a 1800cc bike as your starter. For a starter cruiser, i would recommend a Yamaha Virago, 1100cc, V-twin so it still sounds cool, and a popular bike so its easy to get parts and info off the internet. Once you get more experienced, you can upgrade and you definitely wont have any problem reselling a Virago.

The biggest thing you have to remember with a bike is that you have to be 10 times more aware of your surroundings then in a car, cause it doesnt matter whose fault it is in an accident, youre the one whos dead.

As others have said, do the drivers training and whatnot first. Good thing to keep in mind when taking your road test is to NOT take a loud bike, the testers usually look down on people with big thumpers. Once you have your license, dont think you can right away go and take a trip to California or anything. Start small, get used to your bike in the neighborhood and stuff. Then go bigger, take some more main roads, and just continue progressing like that.

One thing is for sure though, you have not truly experienced the beauty of Banff/Jasper or Logan's Pass, for example, if you havent been there on a motorcycle.

[Hack&Lube]

I kind of want a Motorcycle as well. Save gas, easy parking...

But I guess if I got one, I would never ride it at night if possible (most accidents happen then I think?). And I would always stay at the speed limit. I get scared when I go too fast on a normal bike enough.

[Ironhorse]

Considering how little respect I get on the road in my little car, I can only imagine how the average Calgary driver would treat a motorcycle on our roads...

My wife's uncle died on his bike last year. Very defensive rider, but he couldn't do a thing when a 5 ton panelvan decided to turn right in front of him. Unfortunately, there is very little margin for error on a bike, and there are no crash zones to deflect the energy of an impact.

[flamesfever]

I've never seen as many bikes around as I have this year. It's probably a fad thing, possibly due to the latest spike in the cost of gas.

I agree with most of the posters that bikes are a risky play thing. I would have loved to have driven one in the past. However, realizing that my leisure activities are usually what my kids will want to do in the future, I resisted buying one.

I'm not sorry for this decision, as none of my kids ended up owning one and consequently putting their lives and my sanity at risk.

[Ironhorse]

As far as a first bike is concerned, 600-700 CC should be plenty to learn on. Power to weight ratio on a bike is insane.

[Bobblehead]

On my way into work this morning I saw one of "those guys" - weaving in and out, jumping into spaces a car wouldn't dare go, when he did hit an open spot he would gun it and shoot down the lane at 30Km/h faster than anyone else - yeah, one of those guys that give riders a bad name.

I think motorcycles are fun as hell, but I see enough bad driving as it is. I don't think I could trust other drivers enough to get a cycle of my own.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by dionfan

Motorbiking is one of my favorite things to do. Trust me, if you are a safe driver, it will be a decision you won't regret. People can complain about motorcycles being unsafe and whatnot, but you could treat many things as unsafe. For instance, if you play hockey, you run the risk of getting concussions, broken bones, sticks in the eye, etc. i'm not saying it's completely harmless, but if you dont drive like a complete moron, you can decrease the chances of an accident by alot. My dad has been motorbiking for 40ish years and has been in zero accidents.

If you're not looking at a crotch rocket, its probably a good start because that would just tempt you to test its limits. With those things, it doesnt take much throttle at all and before you know it, youre goin 100. Cruisers aren't really the style of bike youre gonna wanna race people with lol. One thing you don't wanna do is get a 1800cc bike as your starter. For a starter cruiser, i would recommend a Yamaha Virago, 1100cc, V-twin so it still sounds cool, and a popular bike so its easy to get parts and info off the internet. Once you get more experienced, you can upgrade and you definitely wont have any problem reselling a Virago.

The biggest thing you have to remember with a bike is that you have to be 10 times more aware of your surroundings then in a car, cause it doesnt matter whose fault it is in an accident, youre the one whos dead.

As others have said, do the drivers training and whatnot first. Good thing to keep in mind when taking your road test is to NOT take a loud bike, the testers usually look down on people with big thumpers. Once you have your license, dont think you can right away go and take a trip to California or anything. Start small, get used to your bike in the neighborhood and stuff. Then go bigger, take some more main roads, and just continue progressing like that.

One thing is for sure though, you have not truly experienced the beauty of Banff/Jasper or Logan's Pass, for example, if you havent been there on a motorcycle.

This guy has got it. I've ridden for a few years quite safely. I knows who have ridden for 30-40 years without incident. When you hear of deaths, it's usually young guys on those crotch rockets or folks who do stupid things. If you get proper training (safety course is a must), ride safely and use common sense, there is no reason why you can't ride for many years without incident. Have fun.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

This guy has got it. I've ridden for a few years quite safely. I knows who have ridden for 30-40 years without incident. When you hear of deaths, it's usually young guys on those crotch rockets or folks who do stupid things. If you get proper training (safety course is a must), ride safely and use common sense, there is no reason why you can't ride for many years without incident. Have fun.

That is pretty much what I thought (that it is primarily younger guys taking larger risks who end up in trouble). I figure I would get a bunch of training and instruction, steer clear of Deerfoot and try my best to enjoy the bike safely!

[troutman]

Ask yourself this question - would you let your children ride a motorcycle (when they are old enough)?

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by troutman

Ask yourself this question - would you let your children ride a motorcycle (when they are old enough)?

Snowballs chance in hell atleast while they're living off my buck.

[4X4]

Motorcycles have many advantages. For instance, a friend of mine lives just off 17th in a lowrise apartment. His suite is a half floor below grade.
When his bike broke down, he just rolled it down the stairs and fixed it in his living room. He also stored it indoors over winter.