Motorcycle Club

[EyeSeeCold]

I passed the MSF course a couple weeks ago and will be heading to the DMV soon to get my M1. The course was only two days riding but I had a lot of fun. Even going like 20mph / 32kmh it just feels amazing riding with the wind and the bike roaring under you.

My dream bike is the 2017 duke 390 but realistically I'm looking at any modern cruiser with fuel injection or a modern sportbike in the 300-650cc range that I can afford. Likely a Ninja, CBR, or SV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLB5nbaNx6o&t=345s

I never thought I'd be riding a motorcycle. It's weird because I'd see them all the time in SoCal but just ignored them for whatever reason. It makes so much sense for my situation as well since California traffic is terrible and parking is either costly or scarce.


What about you, have you considered it? Why or why don't you ride? What bike do you have? Do your parents/siblings ride?

 

[The Gopher]

I ride, it makes the most practical sense in my specific situation and location. Also I hate driving cars because I don't feel I have enough control/visibility.

Suzuki GS500. Eventual dream bike would be some kind of 800cc adventure bike.

Spoiler

It might seem like a weird place to take a picture but I was in the middle of taking flood photos and was more interested in the water.

Oh I can't recommend earplugs enough. Something like this. https://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leigh...rd_wg=8Zne5&psc=1&refRID=6P601ZFEFQEGXXGJ1TGW

Over at and over 60mph you will damage your hearing from wind noise alone. It's more comfortable to ride with them in as well. You just need to make sure you insert them correctly.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

Nice man, looks clean

Do you feel like a windshield is necessary? I get that they're useful for rain but I don't see a lot of people complaining about the wind. Also I'm not too keen on the differences between adventure vs sport/dual sport.

 

[The Gopher]

Nice man, looks clean

Do you feel like a windshield is necessary? I get that they're useful for rain but I don't see a lot of people complaining about the wind. Also I'm not too keen on the differences between adventure vs sport/dual sport.

Hmm... Not really. I've ridden with a windshield and without and didn't notice the difference (wind wise) but if you're doing long highway trips probably. (Greater than an hour or two constantly) It's good to not have fairings on your first bike in case you drop it doing something silly though. As far as rain goes I am not sure what the difference is. I'm generally seated higher than the windshield would be since I haven't ridden many sport bikes.

*Edit I will point out the max speed around here is 110km/h in america you might have a higher speed so it might matter more.

That said... After riding the GS for a year I rode an SV650 with a windshield. Totally freaked me out. On the GS I would turn normally and out of the corner of my eye see the bars turn and that was the mental picture I had of turning. However with a windshield it stays straight and I was not prepared for the mental disconnect. I mean it only takes 10-20 minutes to get used to but the first few corners I took at 5km/hour just because the sensation was so weird.

Keen on differences? I'm not sure what you mean but dual sport is basically a road legal dirt bike. Adventure bike is basically a touring road bike that can go off road. The reason I would want one is mostly for the seating position and luggage capacity.

 

[crippli]

I ride a GS500 93. I swapped over from a moped as it was too slow. Been in storage the last 3 years since I don't have much use for it while farming. I used it for the same reasons mentioned. Easy transport in the city. My longest ride was probably almost 30minutts without a pause.

Obviously I am not a real biker. But I did buy it in parts, almost for free, made new parts what was broken and put it together. I have my own workshop with various lathes and mills. So fixing it was easy. If I remember correct it was some washers and nuts and bolts in the front dampers that was missing. The rest worked as it should. As was why it was dismantled and left in pieces.

Perfect bike in the city. Reliable and easy, not too heavy to drive. I've done no maintenance. Changed oil once.

Spoiler

 

[The Gopher]

Dude is it purple or is that just the camera? I would love a purple bike. I'm not sure what you mean by a real biker but you clearly know more than me when it comes to fixing them. If I ever break down I'll know who to call. :P

 

[crippli]

Looks like it does on the picture. I think it's purple.I have a lot of clothing in a similar color. So it's a proper fit for me. In fact, that was something I did a lot. Dressed up quite scandalously, and drove around the city with a darkened visor on the helmet. While hair and "clothes" where flying around, the little I had on at least . It's important for safety to be visible!

So it's more of a memory for fun times now. I might put plates on it this summer, but perhaps ride it more maturely, with descent safety gear, as speed will be higher in the country side. Will have to see how busy things get.

I fixed it by finding the drawings. I'll help if I can. But it turned out to be a simple fix. As I had the other damper to compare with and copy. Since nothing else was needed I don't know it that much. I'll help if I can. I may pick it all apart and repaint at some point if it becomes rusty. The frame is steel, and there is a few spots. It works fine. I like it as it is. Need to fix the seat though, ripped it with a shoe last year on the interval startups that I do now and then.

A really nice beginner bike. Caused me no issues or dangerous situations while driving. But one should try to use some thinking. This is a dangerous activity. That others don't see you is a real problem. An exhaust pipe that makes a lot of noise can also help signal that there is a bike nearby.

 

[Reluctantly]

Not anymore.
I'm thinking about buying a KLR650. Really want one. They seem priced well for what you get and are decently reviewed for offroading. Just can't justify throwing money away on something that's more a toy; maybe I'll buy a used one.

 

[nanook]

I have slow reaction times and tend to overlook moving things - other road users. So i am waiting for affordable e-bikes / or me having money / and deal with being slow. Wouldn't mind having an airbag-helmet as well. I stunt drive a BMX downstairs any time, without helmet, but cars are trying to hit me, i swear. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-YyKy8WWmo

 

[Reluctantly]

I stunt drive a BMX downstairs any time, without helmet, but cars are trying to hit me, i swear. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-YyKy8WWmo

Yeah, people like to ignore motorcycles like they don't exist. Just have to have an exit strategy for all the cars on the road. Can get tiring in heavy traffic. An old lady ran me off the road once; I don't think she even realized that she merged me off the road.

Those e-bikes are pretty cool. I've seen motorized bicycles before, but electric would probably be a lot more responsive. But also more expensive; but also less maintenance. Maybe for a bicycle the extra expense isn't too bad, assuming you use it a lot, cause most people that get motorcycles don't ride them very often and really just waste money.

 

[The Gopher]

Those e-bikes are pretty cool. I've seen motorized bicycles before, but electric would probably be a lot more responsive. But also more expensive; but also less maintenance. Maybe for a bicycle the extra expense isn't too bad, assuming you use it a lot, cause most people that get motorcycles don't ride them very often and really just waste money.

Yeah the US and even in Australia they are kinda treated like a hobby still. I would never have gotten one if it wasn't going to be my primary/only vehicle. I have to admit my guilty pleasure is how much you can animate yourself compared to a car. Dancing and looking silently disproving when cars drive like idiots.

Recently I had an SUV run up the turn only lane then try to merge into me going straight. Somehow it wasn't intentional because as soon as they merged back in behind me their entire driving style dissolved into embarrassment. Hanging way back under the speed limit then at the next light they didn't pull up to the line beside me but left a full car length gap. Somehow I just found it funny.

 

[PmjPmj]

Not anymore, and to be fair I did only ever get my CBT / ride a 125cc - but like fuck I'm not getting a Ducati Monster before I'm ~ 35.

 

[QuickTwist]

But does it play Linkin Park?

 

[EyeSeeCold]

Hmm... Not really. I've ridden with a windshield and without and didn't notice the difference (wind wise) but if you're doing long highway trips probably. (Greater than an hour or two constantly) It's good to not have fairings on your first bike in case you drop it doing something silly though. As far as rain goes I am not sure what the difference is. I'm generally seated higher than the windshield would be since I haven't ridden many sport bikes.

*Edit I will point out the max speed around here is 110km/h in america you might have a higher speed so it might matter more.

That said... After riding the GS for a year I rode an SV650 with a windshield. Totally freaked me out. On the GS I would turn normally and out of the corner of my eye see the bars turn and that was the mental picture I had of turning. However with a windshield it stays straight and I was not prepared for the mental disconnect. I mean it only takes 10-20 minutes to get used to but the first few corners I took at 5km/hour just because the sensation was so weird.

Keen on differences? I'm not sure what you mean but dual sport is basically a road legal dirt bike. Adventure bike is basically a touring road bike that can go off road. The reason I would want one is mostly for the seating position and luggage capacity.

Yeah that's what I meant. When I saw the adventure category they either look similar to sport bikes or dual sport then I can't tell the difference.

Thanks for the headsup on turning though, I'll be looking out for that if I decide to get one with a winshield.

I ride a GS500 93. I swapped over from a moped as it was too slow. Been in storage the last 3 years since I don't have much use for it while farming. I used it for the same reasons mentioned. Easy transport in the city. My longest ride was probably almost 30minutts without a pause.

Obviously I am not a real biker. But I did buy it in parts, almost for free, made new parts what was broken and put it together. I have my own workshop with various lathes and mills. So fixing it was easy. If I remember correct it was some washers and nuts and bolts in the front dampers that was missing. The rest worked as it should. As was why it was dismantled and left in pieces.

Perfect bike in the city. Reliable and easy, not too heavy to drive. I've done no maintenance. Changed oil once.

Spoiler

That's pretty cool crippli. I'm still intimidated a bit by the maintenance of it all, I wouldn't think of buying salvage or one that wouldn't start even if it was much cheaper. Maybe if I had more personal time. And yeah the purple is awesome by the way.

Not a real biker? Sounds like you you were pretty wild back then, plus you know how to care for one.

I have slow reaction times and tend to overlook moving things - other road users. So i am waiting for affordable e-bikes / or me having money / and deal with being slow. Wouldn't mind having an airbag-helmet as well. I stunt drive a BMX downstairs any time, without helmet, but cars are trying to hit me, i swear. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-YyKy8WWmo

Yeah riding bicycles I learned a good deal about the importance of being visible and looking out for hazards. But the slowed reaction and target fixation would be a problem. It's possible you could be underestimating yourself though, I would try the safety course in your country to see where I stand if you're even a little bit interested.

Not anymore.
I'm thinking about buying a KLR650. Really want one. They seem priced well for what you get and are decently reviewed for offroading. Just can't justify throwing money away on something that's more a toy; maybe I'll buy a used one.

Not anymore, and to be fair I did only ever get my CBT / ride a 125cc - but like fuck I'm not getting a Ducati Monster before I'm ~ 35.

Why did you two stop?

 

[EditorOne]

I used to ride, had a Yamaha 650 Special Edition.

Note the wire spokes; tough to keep clean, yup. I believe the idea was to produce something like an old Indian motorcycle. It could really go. My most memorable ride was going home after a late night as the shut-down-the-paper copy desk person, found out it was snowing. Twenty miles in snow, including a half mile on an old toll bridge where the ancient railings were spaced just perfectly to go airborne if I laid the bike down and slid a couple of feet to the side. :-)

I gave it up after moving to South Carolina in 1992 and realizing an inordinate number of car drivers down there consider all bike riders to be the spawn of Satan and therefore worth ten points for a knockdown.

 

[QuickTwist]

I used to ride, had a Yamaha 650 Special Edition.

Note the wire spokes; tough to keep clean, yup. I believe the idea was to produce something like an old Indian motorcycle. It could really go. My most memorable ride was going home after a late night as the shut-down-the-paper copy desk person, found out it was snowing. Twenty miles in snow, including a half mile on an old toll bridge where the ancient railings were spaced just perfectly to go airborne if I laid the bike down and slid a couple of feet to the side. :-)

I gave it up after moving to South Carolina in 1992 and realizing an inordinate number of car drivers down there consider all bike riders to be the spawn of Satan and therefore worth ten points for a knockdown.

No way, you're being facetious, you have to be.

 

[Rixus]

I rode a bike to University​ since still lived at home. It might have only been a small 98cc two stroke, but I loved it anyway. Felt so much more free than driving. But long story short, a fresh with a learner driver that was foretold by a creepy clairvoyant damaged the oil pipe and the engine seized I've the early hours of the morning on a deserted road and I had to wheel it home. Couldn't afford to replace and it wasn't worth the value of repairs.

I wanted to get another in time, but as I'm a family guy now driving is much more practical at this time. Who knows, maybe I'll do it again someday.

 

[PmjPmj]

Why did you two stop?

Owning a car was more practical. Plus, I came off in a spectacular fashion and left a large chunk of my knee on the road.

It wasn't much fun.

 

[EditorOne]

No way, you're being facetious, you have to be.

No, not really. I sold the bike rather than run the risks of what seemed to me, a New Jersey traffic veteran, to be passive-aggressive behavior expressed vehicularly (is that a word?) through crowding and ugly looks. Plus a lot of the roads were bad, with no place to escape the folks who just don't see you, as noted above.
I could be wrong. It could be those crowding were simply bad drivers and they weren't glaring, they were simply ugly.

 

[Reluctantly]

Why did you two stop?

Moved + it wasn't practical for long trips in aggressive traffic or carrying things (biggest drawback - you can only buy so much at the supermarket or anywhere else). And most people won't ride passenger (they don't want to ride "bitch" as they say). I ended up using my car most of time and just thought it wasn't worth it.

 

[The Gopher]

Moved + it wasn't practical for long trips in aggressive traffic or carrying things (biggest drawback - you can only buy so much at the supermarket or anywhere else). And most people won't ride passenger (they don't want to ride "bitch" as they say). I ended up using my car most of time and just thought it wasn't worth it.

Yeah the transport drawback is my biggest issue. I have a huge 70L or so bag that I use to carry almost all my fencing equipment and I currently sling the sword over my back.

If I could setup some sort of system where I have two hard cases that were sword sized on each side of the bike I could carry full tournament gear more comfortably.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

Owning a car was more practical. Plus, I came off in a spectacular fashion and left a large chunk of my knee on the road.

It wasn't much fun.

Ouch. I'm guessing you were wearing a helmet at least?
I saw a guy in a tshirt and flipflops while on the highway...I really don't get it. Not sure if it's worse than Harley riders wearing leather and boots but helmets with the chin exposed.

Yeah the transport drawback is my biggest issue. I have a huge 70L or so bag that I use to carry almost all my fencing equipment and I currently sling the sword over my back.

If I could setup some sort of system where I have two hard cases that were sword sized on each side of the bike I could carry full tournament gear more comfortably.

Was googling rifle carry a while back and came across this, I don't know if that would work on your GS.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

I used to ride, had a Yamaha 650 Special Edition.

Note the wire spokes; tough to keep clean, yup. I believe the idea was to produce something like an old Indian motorcycle. It could really go. My most memorable ride was going home after a late night as the shut-down-the-paper copy desk person, found out it was snowing. Twenty miles in snow, including a half mile on an old toll bridge where the ancient railings were spaced just perfectly to go airborne if I laid the bike down and slid a couple of feet to the side. :-)

I gave it up after moving to South Carolina in 1992 and realizing an inordinate number of car drivers down there consider all bike riders to be the spawn of Satan and therefore worth ten points for a knockdown.

Hmm that could have been exhilarating or frightening depending on circumstance. Sounds like you took it in stride.

I do love that classic look. It was actually an old Honda CB that convinced me to ride. I'd get one of the vintage models if I wasn't intimidated by the maintenance.

I rode a bike to University​ since still lived at home. It might have only been a small 98cc two stroke, but I loved it anyway. Felt so much more free than driving. But long story short, a fresh with a learner driver that was foretold by a creepy clairvoyant damaged the oil pipe and the engine seized I've the early hours of the morning on a deserted road and I had to wheel it home. Couldn't afford to replace and it wasn't worth the value of repairs.

I wanted to get another in time, but as I'm a family guy now driving is much more practical at this time. Who knows, maybe I'll do it again someday.

Yeah that sucks. Seems way too easy to be overburdened by mechanical issues to want to just give up and lock it away in the garage.

Moved + it wasn't practical for long trips in aggressive traffic or carrying things (biggest drawback - you can only buy so much at the supermarket or anywhere else). And most people won't ride passenger (they don't want to ride "bitch" as they say). I ended up using my car most of time and just thought it wasn't worth it.

Not worth it even just for weekend fun? Interesting, I'd figure having a car as well would only make it more enjoyable since you wouldn't have to worry about all the other stuff. I'm still fully determined since taking the msf to buy my own but that does leave me feeling uneasy about losing interest down the line. Especially if going what Rixus went through.

 

[The Gopher]

Was googling rifle carry a while back and came across this, I don't know if that would work on your GS.

Hmm well the issue is the blades are quite fragile and while I currently use a PVC case I made to keep it in the bag it wouldn't hold together in the wind. I would in a sense need to design it myself, but that's a good area to put it I was thinking only the back would work.

 

[EditorOne]

Hmm well the issue is the blades are quite fragile and while I currently use a PVC case I made to keep it in the bag it wouldn't hold together in the wind. I would in a sense need to design it myself, but that's a good area to put it I was thinking only the back would work.

PVC Pipe? Glue a cap on one end and a threaded plug receptacle on the other. Attach buckle straps with small bolts and glue. Insert the threaded plug. The straps would be designed and positioned to meet the challenges of your specific bike.
We use something like this, large 8" pipe, to transport Civil War muskets, which are long and unwieldy, in airplanes and elsewhere. It's sturdy enough to meet Homeland Security standards and airline handling standards.

 

[The Gopher]

PVC Pipe? Glue a cap on one end and a threaded plug receptacle on the other. Attach buckle straps with small bolts and glue. Insert the threaded plug. The straps would be designed and positioned to meet the challenges of your specific bike.
We use something like this, large 8" pipe, to transport Civil War muskets, which are long and unwieldy, in airplanes and elsewhere. It's sturdy enough to meet Homeland Security standards and airline handling standards.

Huh, I use something... similar to this.

https://www.fencing.net/14536/make-hard-blade-cover/

The issue is I don't have the top part covered and I would need to make it larger with foam so the vibrations don't ruin the electrics. I guess this way I could swap out the top part to fit an Epee or Saber as well.

Okay so my issue now is I'm lazy.

 

[PmjPmj]

Yeah the transport drawback is my biggest issue. I have a huge 70L or so bag that I use to carry almost all my fencing equipment and I currently sling the sword over my back.

If I could setup some sort of system where I have two hard cases that were sword sized on each side of the bike I could carry full tournament gear more comfortably.

That must look badass

Fencing is something I'd love to try. I should look in to it.

Ouch. I'm guessing you were wearing a helmet at least?

Yeah - I had all the correct gear aside from trousers (I was wearing jeans).

 

[The Gopher]

That must look badass

To be fair it looks more like a rifle bag than a sword. Although... I have a Bluetooth headset to listen to music with and while driving at 100km/h Highway to Hell popped on just as thunder and lightning struck ahead with the sword on my back and for a moment I felt like god.... But then I arrived at the club and was slaughtered by a 14 year old girl so you win some and lose some.

Yeah you should look into it! It's fun and generally the first session is free anyway so you have no excuse if a club is near you. If you can manage to conscript a friend as well you'll have someone on your level to fence in case it's a more competitive night.

 

[crippli]

That's pretty cool crippli. I'm still intimidated a bit by the maintenance of it all, I wouldn't think of buying salvage or one that wouldn't start even if it was much cheaper. Maybe if I had more personal time. And yeah the purple is awesome by the way.

Not a real biker? Sounds like you you were pretty wild back then, plus you know how to care for one.

I'm colourblind(according to some tests), but notice differences. Otherwise it seems I view the world more through form then colour.

I don't think I know how to care for it. I consider it more being able to solve a problem if I have to. This is Japanese made, so one can be fairly certain the structure follows a rigid logical design. And therefor there shouldn't be anything particularly complicated with it. But it may take time to problem solve. That's the hurdle.

With that in mind it's a way to get toys for next to nothing moneywise. I find it interesting to do a repair, as long as it doesn't take a long time, and doing it once is enough.

Buying new, use a garage and warranty for service and maintenance is a safe path if reliability and time is important, and money not an issue.

Here is how I've set up a room in the workshop for metal. And built the room, as it was unisolated for firewood with no windows or electricity, or door to the large room. The lathe on the far end is a Schaublin 102, The larger lathe a Colchester student, Then a Chester 45lux mill, and a German mill. On the left is the corner of a combined mill/lathe. Think it's named Smithy, or a look alike.

Spoiler

I don't use them much, but I do live on a farm, and when something get broken as it does regularly, these come in handy. .

Like that gs500. 1-2 hour work and it's worth rose 3times from what I paid. I like that, especially on something that's normally expenses. So I can use it much more, and still end up getting paid for each trip I've ridden it.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

I do admire your self sufficiency there.

For how many generations has your family been farmers? It'd be a shame not to pass down all that mechanical talent.

 

[crippli]

Thanks. I'm quite pleased with it. It's mainly a hobby of mine, but useful on the farm. A way to keep my education alive, as is engineering, while farming. The next step is to numerically control some of these through the computer. I'm not a good machinist. It requires a lot of attention to details. A computer works more accurately then me.

No idea how long the family have been farmers, I think my great grandfather was a cityman. My mother have run the farm, and that's me that does now. We are 4 siblings, And already seven more have been produced in the next batch. Of those 5 are girls. To go earlier, each one tended to come from flocks of 10.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

I finally got a chance to go solo riding and it was amazing. I rode through some wide and wavy highways topping at about 65mph (105kph), and noticed my mirrors were practically useless at those speeds with all the vibration. After cutting through several curved hills, I came over the horizon and saw a breathtaking canvas of the Pacific Ocean from Palos Verdes. I wasn't used to the area and got lost on the way back home but I didn't really care and circled the city a couple more times.

Two things I took away from my excursion:
1) I was approached more often for having a bike, it felt bizarre
2) I hate stopping on steep hills, damn that was scary

Definitely can't wait to go back out again and get my own bike.

 

[crippli]

I may pick it all apart and repaint at some point if it becomes rusty.

Cleaned, painted. And did a few mods this summer. R6 damper Got rid of the plastics, and a wider bandit rear rim. The R6 damper is real nice.