Crash course in vintage classic motorcycle owning? - Page 3

Eric 951 · 11-14-2016, 08:59 AM

Has your friend ever ridden ANY type of street or dirt bike?

Step one would be to take the MSF course. This will get him acclimated to riding and who knows, he may decide it is not for him after all.

Only after taking the course should he start looking for a bike. I am going to parrot what the others said, if he doesn't wrench, he shouldn't go vintage. Every riding season my bikes need something done to them. If he goes vintage it will be the same, and since he won't be wrenching, he may have a hard time finding a shop even willing to work on older Non-Harley machines.

A newer vintage-style seems ideal for him--all of the look without the worries.

He should test different models before settling--every bike has a different feel, and getting one that "fits" with you is crucial.

At a minimum a quality helmet is a must.

Gogar · 11-14-2016, 10:20 AM

Seems to me everyone sure is excited to ascribe some negative character traits to this guy. Let him try it!

Modem bike, retro look, helmet, safety class. Have fun!

javadog · 11-14-2016, 10:26 AM

Having helped found the first MSF courses in Oklahoma, I've seen firsthand how well a middle-aged newbie gets along with a bike bought for his ego and not his skill level.

But hey, why not?

JR

fastfredracing · 11-14-2016, 10:43 AM

Just this morning, an older customer of mine told me that he was leaving in 3 days for a road trip , solo, on his airhead BMW , from here in Pittsburgh, to Maine. Solo. Says he has done it 3 times now, and not one breakdown yet.
From an era when the men were men.

sugarwood · sugarwood's Garage

Friend agrees that modern retro is the way to go.

I'm not sure of the hate for this guy. Everyone here also bought their first 911 and their first motorcycle without having much of a clue.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by sugarwood

Everyone here also bought their first 911 and their first motorcycle without having much of a clue.

I never came close to getting hurt in my pcars, not in DEs, not in minor wrecks, not on the street. When I got my first real bike, I bought it in northwestern NJ, rode it down to the Jersey Shore and then back to VA. That was one week after getting my license. I was by far the best in the MSF class, got 100% on everything and I was absolutely not prepared for that trip back home from NJ. It's a miracle I survived it.

Chocaholic · 11-14-2016, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sugarwood

Friend agrees that modern retro is the way to go.

I'm not sure of the hate for this guy. Everyone here also bought their first 911 and their first motorcycle without having much of a clue.

No hate at all. Just hear horror stories so often of guys who get the itch, buy way more bike than they're equipped for and get hurt badly. I'm sure he'll be fine with some coaching from you. Keep us posted.

javadog · 11-14-2016, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sugarwood

I'm not sure of the hate for this guy. Everyone here also bought their first 911 and their first motorcycle without having much of a clue.

Not true. Forget the 911, by the time I bought my first motorcycle, I had more than 15 years of riding exerience. I was fortunate enough to start on someone else's bike and I'd had about 10 years of serious two-wheeled experience before throwing a leg over something with a motor. And, I started out on a small-ish dirt bike. When I made the transition to pavement, I started on smaller bikes and worked my way up the food chain.

The point is, some people take to it fairly well, some people can take an MSF basic course 3 or 4 times before they pass it. When you get done, your ability on a bike is about equivalent to a 16-year-old that just passed driver's ed. Yeah, you can get from A to B but you know maybe 1% of what you ought to.

Not hating on the guy, just pointing out that I've seen hundreds of people that have taken to motorcycling for all the wrong reasons (usually, it was an impulsive purchase of a Harley) and they are very different from the motorcyclists I know.

JR

KFC911 · 11-14-2016, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

..... I was by far the best in the MSF class, got 100% on everything and I was absolutely not prepared for that trip back home from NJ. It's a miracle I survived it.

One of my longtime ex girlfriends wanted to learn how to ride, so I took the MSF with her. She did just fine on those little 250s in a parking lot and the written test in the class, but she certainly wasn't a natural by any means. Immediately after the class she went to take the written test at the DMV and absolutely choked and never went back. Whew

....she had no business on the road with cagers trying to kill you...and it's rarely the fault of the MCist

. Known a couple who have lost their lives and another acquantance had his leg amputated a month ago after decades of riding. It's not a game and has risks....

But that's life

Make sure your friend takes the course and sharpens his skills....before even thinking about riding on publc roads....JMHO.

Ride safe everyone....

Evans, Marv · 11-14-2016, 02:43 PM

I didn't interpret responses as hate comments. How many times have people on here posted Utube videos of guys wrecking their new bikers exiting the dealership onto the road?

KFC911 · 11-14-2016, 02:48 PM

Lots of Armour All will get those tires jet fokkin' black and helps ya drift around corners too

wayner · 11-14-2016, 03:22 PM

Every guy that I know of my generation who started on bikes as a teenager tells of their first ride.

It is always the same story no matter who tells it. The ride is short and ends with a ditch, a tree or a barn

We then go on to become accomplished riders.

( although one of my friends says that riding motorcycles is like smoking. If you haven't started by now it's probably not a good idea at this point )

Bill Douglas · 11-14-2016, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayner

It is always the same story no matter who tells it. The ride is short and ends with a ditch, a tree or a barn

LOL. My first ride aged about 11 on a farm. The farmer gave me instructions and told me to ride around in circles. I already knew how to do gears and clutch having sat and dreamed for hours on a motorbike stored in our shed, and reading motorbike magazines.

I took off full speed across the field. I can still remember the feeling. I came to a row of pine trees so I aimed for a gap in the trees and shot through. On the other side was a steep bank/almost cliff and the bike and I sailed through the air; me still loving it, then we hit the ground and bounced/rolled along until we stopped. The forks were bent back against the engine and the wheel buckled, and at that point I knew I was going to be a motorcyclist for life

wayner · 11-14-2016, 04:36 PM

See what I mean

stevej37 · 11-14-2016, 05:03 PM

SpyderMike · 11-14-2016, 05:55 PM

When friends of mine were interested in learning to ride, I suggested they buy some used dirt bikes and learn to ride those first. They didn't listen to my advise, bought a Harley and dumped it on the first day. Since then yet another spill with a resulting broken leg. Now they are reluctant to ride. They took the MSF and did well too. The little 175cc bikes they had in the MSF were quite a bit different than the Harley they bought.

Chocaholic · 11-14-2016, 06:10 PM

That's a very common scenario.

Charles Freeborn · Charles Freeborn's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

I'm going to say the usual practical thing in this situation. The guy has never been on a bike. So you need to convince him to get introduced in a relatively safe way. That means buying a small bike of maybe 250cc max to learn to ride on as a first step. Also I agree about taking the MSF course, although it's really basic but better than nothing. He can also find introductory motorcycle riding classes. Get him to commit to at least six to nine months. It'll serve a few things. He will learn to ride and be able to transition to a larger bike more safely. He might get the bug out of his system and discover he isn't interested after all. He will learn easier on a smaller bike, and there are lots of little skills he needs to pick up that he doesn't know about. He could try out other bikes during that time, which might give him some chances to decide on one. I'd be recommending a bike he could ride off road, but you live in Westchester County without opportunities for that. I lived in Dobbs Ferry decades ago and went all around that area. So unless there are some dirt courses, I wouldn't think there would be any opportunity for that.

This.

Even better is to start on a dirt bike in the dirt. Open space - no trees to hit.

rfuerst911sc · 11-15-2016, 01:01 AM

Not everyone is capable of riding a motorcycle. I started riding dirt bikes in my early teens then progressed to street bikes. Started a family and exited the street bike scene. Thirty years later I decided to get back in. Because I had been away so long decided to take a motorcycle safety course. There was a guy in our class mid fifties never been on a bike before . We were riding Buell 250 cc bikes so very easy to ride. This guy just did NOT have the hand/foot coordination to ride a bike. He must have dumped the bike 6 times by lunch time. His jeans were torn up and he had abrasions on his hands and elbows. He quit and left the facility . We felt sorry for him but were glad he found out the hard way in a parking lot under controlled conditions vs. the cruel world of the highway .
As for me I got my license again but quickly learned I had lost my nerve to be riding on the street so I have exited the street bike scene . It is not for everyone.......stay safe out there guys !

Hard-Deck · 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

Not everyone is capable of riding a motorcycle. I started riding dirt bikes in my early teens then progressed to street bikes. Started a family and exited the street bike scene. Thirty years later I decided to get back in. Because I had been away so long decided to take a motorcycle safety course. There was a guy in our class mid fifties never been on a bike before . We were riding Buell 250 cc bikes so very easy to ride. This guy just did NOT have the hand/foot coordination to ride a bike. He must have dumped the bike 6 times by lunch time. His jeans were torn up and he had abrasions on his hands and elbows. He quit and left the facility . We felt sorry for him but were glad he found out the hard way in a parking lot under controlled conditions vs. the cruel world of the highway .
As for me I got my license again but quickly learned I had lost my nerve to be riding on the street so I have exited the street bike scene . It is not for everyone.......stay safe out there guys !

That almost parallels my riding life; only took 20 year hiatus though during my military flying career. Back on bikes now, older and wiser, ATGATT. One major change in those 20 years...cell phones...LOOK OUT! I've learned to expect, and it comes true EVERY ride that someone pulls out in front of me.
My three rules to safety:
1) Nobody sees me
2) Everyone is trying to kill me
3) Everyone is trying to kill me