The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Texas_Bryan on August 06, 2010, 08:06:06 PM
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Team,
I'm looking to start riding a bike. Need some advice though, last time I rode was when I was four.
Anyone ride in Texas? What should I expect as far a licensing and the like? And the question I'm sure all you have opinions on, what bike, new or used would your recommend for a new rider?
Thanks,
Bryan
Oh, and I want to buy an American bike...
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I'm a little confused by your question. If the last time you rode was when you were 4 yrs. old I assume that you're talking a 'push bike' right?
But your speaking of 'licensing' would suggest a 'motor bike'.
If indeed you are looking for a 'bicycle' then I'd seriously suggest a trip to a local bike shop and ask their advice re: frame size and such.
I know little of these things myself.......only that my wife's new 'Triathlon-Bike' cost me a little over 3K!!!!!!!!
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Motorcycle bud. I had a dirtbike when I was little, so technically I've not never ridden, which for some reason everyone ask. Sorry about the confusion, and your wife's 3k bicycle, that's alot of ammo. ;)
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Motorcycle bud. I had a dirtbike when I was little, so technically I've not never ridden, which for some reason everyone ask. Sorry about the confusion, and your wife's 3k bicycle, that's alot of ammo. ;)
Yep, sure is............but at least now I can get some range time as she's biking ;)
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As far as American made Motorcycles there are only 2. Harley and Victory. Both will cost about $10,000 Plus for a "touring" type bike.You can get a Sportster for less than that, but might not like the ride if going long distance . I would recommend taking a Motorcycle safety course first to learn the basics if you have little to no riding experience.That's the best advice I can give for now other than if you do buy a bike make sure you wear proper riding equipment which means heavy leather boots, long pants, leather gloves and jacket AND an approved helmet( do not go cheap, the old saying "if you have a $20 dollar head buy a $20 dollar helmet rings true)
Hope this helps
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buel blast
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Up until 2002, I had never owned a new motorcycle (all I could afford was used). I weighed all my financial options along with all that was offered in the bike category I was looking for. I wanted something in the low-slung, street-rod style, and in the physical size of a H-D Fatboy, but the price on used H-D's in my area were running around $12,000 and plain-Jane new ones started at $17,000.
Honda had an American-built V-twin (made in Marysville, OH) called the Shadow Sabre that was basically a Japanese copy of a Fatboy (albeit with a slightly smaller motor, but every thing else was a lot alike, i.e. height, weight, length) that cost $8,200 out the door. It also came with a candy/flame factory paint.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Shadow_Sabre
http://www.bikez.com/pictures/browse.php?bikeid=24173&pageno=2
Didn't have to hit me in the face with a wet mop to figure that one out.
Bottom line, go to dealers and sit on 'em, look at 'em decide what particular 'style' of bike you like the best, touring, sport, street-rod, etc. Many dealers offer rider safety courses (Honda does). As for licensing, go to your state's DMV or driver services website and you can probably read or download the proper info on licensing and testing.
I can tell you, there ain't nothing like the freedom of the open road.
Good Luck,
Peg
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Yes, you can get a deal on a Buell these days because Harley closed down the division in 2009. Buell motorcycles were made in Milwaukee and used Harley motors.
For you younger guys, these bikes are high performance, short wheelbase bikes. The Harley's and Victory lines are more for cruising and not so much for performance. The Sportster lines are short wheelbase Harleys but they are small in comparison to the Dyna and Soft-tail versions.
Harley can run from 10K for a Sportster to nearly 25K for some of their big cruising/touring bikes. Pricing is about the same for the Victorys.
Be safe, take some lessons. Most dealerships around the country have rider training courses that even guys like me who've ridden for thirty years can learn a few tricks.
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Go take the riding course!
In Minnesota you go take your written tests, get your permit, and then passing the riding course gets you your endorsement. Not sure if that is the same for Texas.
Regardless of the steps, the riding course is the best place to start. The instructors are a wealth of information and will get you started on the right foot.
Majer had some very good advice, and beyond that I would suggest you put all prejudices aside and start small! Work your way up in size, riding conditions and distance. Grow in bike size until you reach your ultimate.
It is a slow progression, but you will get there and eventually you will do things like ...
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e330/m58/IMG00021-1.jpg)
or this three days later ...
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e330/m58/FloridaFeb2010008.jpg)
And before you know it you will just go for this ...
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e330/m58/BigBadBiker.jpg)
Photo credit to our future VP, big Tommy T!
Note full leathers, except gloves, helmet and bug eyes! I was fighting a 35 mph cross wind that day on the way to wedding rehearsal and didn't want to take any chances ... and I still took the time to visit a shrinking friend in that weird land to the south ;)
Note to M'ette - That bike now also has a trailer sized and picked because it will hold rifle cases. It has been to Kansas already, and those "buttless chaps" are coming to your neighborhood next year at Pro Am time ... again! ;D
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M58, I learned the value of proper riding gear after walking away from 3 different motorcycle accidents. I'm paying for them now with all the aches and pains in my body, But I'm still able to walk and shoot. I don't care how hot it is I would NEVER get on a bike without wearing leather.
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Why do you where full gear?
This was the other bike in the trailer when we went to Florida in February (note top two photos). Two weeks ago we took ours to Kansas, and he took that to Wisconsin. He walked away from that ... OK, he walked out of the ER.
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e330/m58/b.jpg)
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M58, I learned the value of proper riding gear after walking away from 3 different motorcycle accidents. I'm paying for them now with all the aches and pains in my body, But I'm still able to walk and shoot. I don't care how hot it is I would NEVER get on a bike without wearing leather.
I wore a full face helmet riding a Moped as a courier in DC. I looked silly, but gravity happens, and if you're riding rain or shine 12 houirs a day with cobblestones, steel plates to cover phone work, oil slicks and trolley car rails? I laid that bike down three times (once with an assist by Newton) ;D and walked away with nothing more than road rash. Without that helmet.....I would not be here to annoy you. Don't skimp on the saftey gear and no one looks cool in a nursing home. Its never too hot to keep breathing. No BS man, I almost died twice at that job. The second time I decided $300 a day wasn't enough money and quit. But even if I hadn't, I'd still have worn the brain bucket.
FQ13
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Lots of good info in here guys, thanks. Been talking to the guys at the office and decided that I'm mainly looking at cruisers, sorry Buell. The Honda looks like a solid rig for a new price. Keep those ideas flowing. Quaker, you never had a bike license when you lived here in Texas?
Oh and I've visited a couple folks in the hospital after bike accidents, you don't have to sell the safety factor to me.
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Honda and Kawi are built in the USA as well, Wisconsin and Tenn, although I forget which is where.
I would go with Honda as Kawi used to have an issue with the starter location.
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Lots of good info in here guys, thanks. Been talking to the guys at the office and decided that I'm mainly looking at cruisers, sorry Buell. The Honda looks like a solid rig for a new price. Keep those ideas flowing. Quaker, you never had a bike license when you lived here in Texas?
Oh and I've visited a couple folks in the hospital after bike accidents, you don't have to sell the safety factor to me.
TB,
Most of the bikes sold today, including Harley, have a bunch of parts made in Asia. More and more, Harley has sent work overseas to save dollars while their prices seem to stay the same.
Personally, though I prefer to buy American myself, I bought a Triumph a few years ago after I'd gone a few years without a bike. It was the America which is a low slung cruiser similar in chassis and wheelbase to the Harley Dyna Glides. Sure, it wasn't a V-twin but it had plenty of HP, torque and power to blast fat men on Harleys all day long for half the price.
It fit me fine and I'm 6'1" and 250 lbs.
As others have said, find something that fits you, you're comfy riding and don't worry if other riders snub you for not riding a "Hog"....you'll have more money for ammo and guns. I've owned them all over the years and if I had to pick a favorite, it'd have to be last one!
My bike used to draw a larger crowd at cruise nights because it WASN'T a Harley...
(http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/tsbevins/Bikes0008.jpg)
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Yes about the Asian parts, Lift the seat on a Harley and the wiring harness is covered in Japanese writing ;D
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Yes about the Asian parts, Lift the seat on a Harley and the wiring harness is covered in Japanese writing ;D
Wiring from Japan, cast wheels from China, misc. suspension parts from China, motor mounts, chrome thingy's....the list is getting bigger and bigger. Anyone that thinks Harley is more than 80% American parts is dreaming.
Check out their clothing line, accessories, etc.....50 bucks for a t-shirt made in China is about 49 bucks too much...
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The newer GoldWings (2001 and newer....1800 cc version.....the kind m58 rides) give you the best of the touring and crotch rocket worlds. That big honker (the GoldWing, not m58) handles like a sport bike, but is like driving a la-z-boy. Most nimble handling scooter I've ever thrown a leg over.
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The 1100 to 1300 size bikes are a good size/weight for folks that are new to bikes. I had enough equity in mine because of a big down payment that I was getting ready to trade up (without taking a big hit) to the next size myself when things went awry. I was looking at the Honda 1300/1800 VTX.