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There’s something  about both knowing something is inherently less dangerous for you and still not being able to shake a mental hangup about it.
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Nov 5, 2020 03:10
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Martytoof posted:There’s something How do you handle highway driving in your car? Once I got over the sensation of speed compared to surface streets, riding on the highway was pretty unremarkable to me. But I'm also very comfortable driving on the highway, and I know some people get stressed out by highway driving.
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Nov 5, 2020 04:26
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The first time i rode on the freeway i was so freaked out i was going like fifty and deathgripping the bars and it was so loud. And some dude/chick on a sportbike blew past me doing like a million and i was like HOW? How does one even do that those people are literally insane. But now that dude/chick is me; i hope I've inspired you all.
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Nov 5, 2020 05:06
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FBS posted:How do you handle highway driving in your car? The two things that really drive me away from riding on big 4-lanes are: 1.) It’s boring 2.) It’s really intense on the senses because of the wind noise, engine noise, and road noise at 70+ mph and the surfaces of those roads are usually bumpier and heavily worn, moderately grooved, and I assume a harder-wearing compound than a state highway. This has always been on fairly light 90s bikes with only moderately improved suspension though. I used to do it daily in Little Rock and it wasn’t that big a deal but wasn’t fun either. Around Denver I’m really uncomfortable with it because of the aforementioned reasons and so much stop and go traffic, and big surges of “ok everyone go 80 mph right now really close together and now STOP” plus Colorado drivers being loving aggressive and inattentive (lots of high speed rear enders around here). All in all it is really stressful.
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Nov 5, 2020 05:07
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FBS posted:How do you handle highway driving in your car? Oh it's not even an issue in an enclosed four wheel space. Just the combination of high speed and vulnerability. But like I said, I'm 100% sure it's just a mental block that I can get past by just doing more of it, more often, and with rides where I don't need to be somewhere to give myself the extra stress of deadlines or timetables.
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Nov 5, 2020 13:54
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I distinctly remember having to force myself to go 65mph on the freeway the first time I went on, and it felt fast as hell. This was despite just doing 70 or 75mph on the 2 lane mountain road I had just been on. Living in LA and being able to split lanes, there's a huge incentive to take the bike everywhere, so I got comfortable pretty fast after that. The jump from "65mph is fast and scary on the freeway" to "feeling very comfortable doing 100mph on the toll road with rolling hills, lying down against the tank to give my abs a break" occurred much faster than you'd think. In some ways it would be nice to have 70mph feel that fast again, now if I want to feel some speed getting on the freeway I can accelerate fast but then before you know it you're only in the top of 2nd, already doing 90mph, and you have to stop accelerating if you want to keep your license.
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Nov 5, 2020 17:05
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MomJeans420 posted:I distinctly remember having to force myself to go 65mph on the freeway the first time I went on, and it felt fast as hell. This was despite just doing 70 or 75mph on the 2 lane mountain road I had just been on. Living in LA and being able to split lanes, there's a huge incentive to take the bike everywhere, so I got comfortable pretty fast after that. Congratulations, you have been selected for a clinical study about people who desperately need a 125 without knowing it!
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Nov 5, 2020 19:22
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On the topic of highway chat of course after all my talking about how safe it is, I had to emergency brake on the freeway this morning 
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Nov 5, 2020 20:47
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Slavvy posted:Congratulations, you have been selected for a clinical study about people who desperately need a 125 without knowing it! Oh I know I need one, plus a dirt bike, a more comfortable bike for longer rides, etc. I'd probably have to go bigger than a 125 though, I took my MSF class on some 125cc standard bike and the handlebars would hit my knees, I looked like a circus bear on a bike.
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Nov 5, 2020 22:16
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 Just rolled over 4000km on my first motorcycle. Been a weird year. I would have liked to get more riding in but there's always next year. With a string of good weather the next few days I'll see if I can up that number to 4500km.
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Nov 5, 2020 22:43
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Just got shipping notification for the service manual... the last few days have been great weather wise, feels bad not being able to get out there. 
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Nov 5, 2020 23:46
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Slavvy posted:Congratulations, you have been selected for a clinical study about people who desperately need a 125 without knowing it! yea the fun thing about taking little bikes in the twisties is that you can increase the acceleration (the fun part) just by leaning harder instead of endlessly buying bigger and bigger engines. And if you've only just gotten bored with your engine's power, I guarantee you're using like 30% of your tire in the turns. There's tons more to go there. I honestly don't know what I'd do with any more power than my 650 has right now. Scare passengers a little more I guess? Shift less? Meh. 50hp is enough for anybody. Get better tires and suspension instead. basically don't upgrade until you can do this with your current bike https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9MVY8swO5M Sagebrush fucked around with this message at 02:24 on Nov 6, 2020 |
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Nov 6, 2020 02:21
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starting to think the best thing I can do to improve my riding right now is to drop my bike once e: In fact, thinking about it now, I've never dropped a street bike. On my GS500 I rode off a corner into the grass once and when it got wrecked I was on two wheels the whole time til the minivan hit me. Maybe I should buy a beater this winter and practice lowsiding
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Nov 6, 2020 02:46
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Sagebrush posted:yea the fun thing about taking little bikes in the twisties is that you can increase the acceleration (the fun part) just by leaning harder instead of endlessly buying bigger and bigger engines. And if you've only just gotten bored with your engine's power, I guarantee you're using like 30% of your tire in the turns. There's tons more to go there. This, a thousand times this. Mind-blowing fact: fat tyred sport bikes are miserably slow in corners, they are designed to maximize kinetic performance on the straights and are best combined with 'slow' v-shaped lines, which also happen to be the way crap riders with too much machine approach corners, which is why it's so easy to brake and gas super hard and tell yourself you're riding fast. Skinny tyres rule the corner, if it were possible to put 200hp and 300kmh braking forces through 2" wide rims they would all be running those because the advantage is colossal. On the street, corner speed uber alles and 50hp + good cycle parts are enough to humiliate basically anything if you know what you're doing and they don't.
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Nov 6, 2020 02:51
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Phone posted:Just got shipping notification for the service manual... the last few days have been great weather wise, feels bad not being able to get out there. You cant find a copy online? What bike do you have again? I've only seen ktm been real stingy about service manuals on some models, the rest I've found after some googling. ofc a paper copy is neat too.
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Nov 6, 2020 08:26
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The CBR300 forum seems to be pretty on the ball about knocking down any links to  , but it was $35 + shipping from Helm Inc. and the world's most 1998 website.
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Nov 6, 2020 18:57
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Kawasaki was out of stock on their own '17-19 Ninja 650 service manual for the longest time so I had to go to a third party site and bought an obvious bootleg, albeit well printed and nicely bound. I don't regret it, at 1/3 of the price of the official either. Ended up ripping it apart and scanning the whole thing into a giant PDF before putting it back together so now I have a hard and softcopy reference. And yes, I definitely checked beforehand.
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Nov 6, 2020 19:28
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I got my MV Agusta back on the road after getting the fuel system cleaned up and I was reminded of why I recommend smaller bikes to beginners when comparing it to my KTM RC390. It's not even the horsepower difference of 39 hp vs 126 hp. The KTM is so light and forgiving and really almost mountain bike like in its ease of use. The MV is like an animal even with "just" 126 hp. The reach to the clip ons is super long, the clip ons are super low, the footpegs are super high, and the clip ons pinch your thumbs at full lock. The MV drops into turns alarmingly well and the tall first gear combined with the fuel delivery make for challenging slow speed maneuvering. Without ABS, traction control, wheelie control etc., it'll do exactly what you say to it regardless of how dumb it is. It is awesome in corners and the suspension is so so much better than the KTM, but it's so much less forgiving. The fact that I'm running sticky but fast to warm up Michelin Power RS on the KTM versus more track day Diablo Rosso Corsa on the MV also doesn't help.
Yuns fucked around with this message at 22:27 on Nov 6, 2020 |
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Nov 6, 2020 22:23
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FBS posted:starting to think the best thing I can do to improve my riding right now is to drop my bike once Guess what happened today! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqOb3CPaHD8 Turns out you gotta use the kickstand, every single time! 
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Nov 10, 2020 04:54
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I wore leather pants for the first time yesterday and when I tried to get on my bike I kicked it over instead 
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Nov 10, 2020 05:15
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FBS posted:Guess what happened today! I knew that was coming and I was somehow still surprised, I take it the bike is fine? Toe Rag posted:I wore leather pants for the first time yesterday and when I tried to get on my bike I kicked it over instead This is not Cycle Asylum approved but I very rarely wear my A* leather pants, so when I do finally put them on for a more spirited ride I actually feel less comfortable as my movements feel off. There is a very easy fix for this.
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Nov 10, 2020 09:01
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FBS posted:Guess what happened today! No video but I did basically the same thing yesterday off the DR by putting the kickstand down on loose dirt that sloped away from the bike.
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Nov 10, 2020 13:36
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I dunked my N650 doing a tight u-turn in a cul-de-sac. Instead of looking out where I wanted to be, I looked down and grabbed too much brake and it turns out your bike needs to be moving to keep from falling down whoops. Luckily I managed to stick my foot out enough that I acted as a shock absorber and literally laid it down slowly because, I mean, 400lbs is still tough to keep from falling over when it's already near the ground. Only real damage was some super minor rash on the mirror and the fairing slider. In all actuality it might have been better if I had just outright dropped it and gotten the "well now it's scratched to hell, time to beat it up" over with.
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Nov 10, 2020 14:35
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MomJeans420 posted:I knew that was coming and I was somehow still surprised, I take it the bike is fine? Yep. The only part that broke was the peg feeler that snapped off. There are some minuscule scratches on the clutch lever and mirror. The frame slider kept the engine case off the ground which I was really happy to see.
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Nov 10, 2020 17:58
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FBS posted:Yep. The only part that broke was the peg feeler that snapped off. There are some minuscule scratches on the clutch lever and mirror. The frame slider kept the engine case off the ground which I was really happy to see. R&G Sliders and axle sliders front and rear, right? I have the same and was always suspect if it would beat the case to the ground or not
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Nov 10, 2020 18:09
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Carteret posted:R&G Sliders and axle sliders front and rear, right? I have the same and was always suspect if it would beat the case to the ground or not Yep those are the R&G sliders and I have spooled axle sliders. The only caveat is the saddlebags, they weren't scuffed up and the mounts weren't bent at all but it's possible they helped keep the case off the ground a little. So YMMV
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Nov 10, 2020 18:14
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Your tank also looks like it sticks out a little, like mine, and I'm always worried that the tank will be one of the casualties of a drop. Plastic I can replace or leave, but a scratched tank rusting is what actually keeps me up at night 
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Nov 10, 2020 18:30
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My tank cover is plastic!
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Nov 10, 2020 18:34
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MomJeans420 posted:This is not Cycle Asylum approved but I very rarely wear my A* leather pants, so when I do finally put them on for a more spirited ride I actually feel less comfortable as my movements feel off. There is a very easy fix for this. I was at babby’s first track day, so hence the full leather. I had meant to go for a ride in them before to see how they felt but didn’t get the chance Once I realized I needed to swing a little harder to get over the bike it was fine, but I don’t move around on the bike too much. Track day was fun. It kind of sucked at first because I was too nervous to pass people in the corners and with only 28hp I couldn’t pass much on the straights either, but by the 3rd time out I started to go for it. There is a surprising amount of traffic on a track which I guess I didn’t expect but now seems obvious.
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Nov 11, 2020 00:19
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I'm taking the California 3 day MSP course in three weeks. I am beyond excited and have a couple questions. I need a 3/4 helmet for the course and found this one on clearance: https://www.motorcyclegear.com/street/street_helmets_and_eyewear/open_face/afx/fx76_solid_helmet.html Assuming I want to go further after taking the course  , I'm interested in dad bike riding in the form of maybe a Honda Shadow or something like that. Right now I realize I have no idea. So, I'm looking for a decent helmet to get me through the course & figuring it out. I'm also really interested in learning the mechanical aspect inside and out. I picked up this read an am looking for any other recommendations: (really good so far) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XZT8FGM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_d_asin_title_o04?ie=UTF8&psc=1 For context, I drive a desk for work but can tell a wrench from a hammer. I can't tell a torque wrench from a not a torque wrench, so that's my mechanical acumen. Any suggestions on beginners guide to motorcycle maintenance and repair etc.?
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Nov 22, 2020 16:46
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They should provide you with a helmet, unless you confirmed 100% they don’t? It’s supposed to be the same provider/course statewide. https://cmsp.msi5.com/faq.php I would spend money on gloves instead. I don’t have any other advice!
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Nov 22, 2020 17:04
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With Covid many places are requiring you bring your own helmet. Also, Please invest in a full face helmet. The cheapest DOT full face is better than the best 3/4 helmet you'll find due to simple physics. I'm sure there are multiple effort posts in this very thread, but just googling the Hurt Report should tell you why.
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Nov 22, 2020 17:16
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Get yourself a full-face helmet instead. If the course says you need a 3/4, that means "at least" a 3/4 -- so not a shorty half helmet that doesn't protect the back of your skull, or a fake brain bucket. But a full-face is still the best kind of helmet, because statistically nearly half of the head impacts in a motorcycle crash are to the face and jaw area. Only a full-face will save you from needing reconstructive surgery in that situation. They are also significantly quieter and more comfortable once you get above like 40mph. As for the specific model, that one you posted is ECE certified so it's fine (you want either ECE or Snell -- DOT alone is not enough in my opinion) but if you are "beyond excited" for the course it sounds like you'll probably continue on to getting a motorcycle, so it's worth buying a decent helmet up front. There's no point in buying something cheap (means heavy, loud, possibly uncomfortable) that makes the experience worse or tempts you to ride without it. A luxurious helmet would be something like the Shoei RF-1200, which costs about $500, but is really nice. If you're on a budget, something like the HJC CL-17 is perfectly good and costs $140 or so. Normally I would say that the most important thing is to go to a motorcycle store and try the helmets on, because every manufacturer uses a slightly different prototype head shape for their molds and some will just fit you better than others. I have a Shoei/HJC head and Arais are immediately uncomfortable, for instance. But I don't know if during COVID that's still a thing you can do. If you can, go and try on a few models and make sure that they fit snugly (but not like clamps on your head) and that there aren't any points with obvious extra pressure building up. If you can't, you may be able to abuse the Amazon or Revzilla return policy, though again idk if they do that with helmets in the COVID era. Look around and see. Sagebrush fucked around with this message at 17:21 on Nov 22, 2020 |
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Nov 22, 2020 17:18
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mincedgarlic posted:For context, I drive a desk for work but can tell a wrench from a hammer. I can't tell a torque wrench from a not a torque wrench, so that's my mechanical acumen. Any suggestions on beginners guide to motorcycle maintenance and repair etc.? For now, my suggestion is get a used 125 or 250cc Japanese (Honda/Kawasaki/Suzuki/Yamaha) motorcycle that's 1 to 5 years old and only worry about maintenance stuff if something goes wrong, learn to ride first and get proper experience on a small bike, and solve maintenance issues as they come up, don't try and front load all the maintenance knowledge before you even know how to ride properly. If/when something goes wrong, just search on youtube how to fix it. E.g. "change battery on Honda CB125F" and follow the instructions. Oh and get a full face helmet.
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Nov 22, 2020 17:41
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Appreciate the wisdom and glad I asked. This thread & the new bike thread have been my brain candy. Re: the helmet, the course does usually provide all gear however it's not clear with covid. I've read in a few places that they're asking people to bring their own gear. I'm anticipating riding beyond the course so I think it will be worth it to get my own gloves & helmet.
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Nov 22, 2020 21:35
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Just so there is another shovel on the pile: get a full-face helmet. Budget for a jacket, pants, and boots alongside your first bike. Including helmet and gloves, expect to spend $600-1000 on gear. This forum is good for recommendations and people love to try to sell you on their gear of choice. Current thought with regard to smaller cruisers is that the Honda Rebel 300 or 500 is well-built, has good ergonomics, handles well, and is forgiving for new riders. However, wait until you’ve passed the course and see what you think about the bikes you have an opportunity to ride there. If it’s a small dual sport (likely), you might find you love them.
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Nov 23, 2020 04:23
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mincedgarlic posted:Appreciate the wisdom and glad I asked. This thread & the new bike thread have been my brain candy. Re: the helmet, the course does usually provide all gear however it's not clear with covid. I've read in a few places that they're asking people to bring their own gear. I'm anticipating riding beyond the course so I think it will be worth it to get my own gloves & helmet. Call and make sure what they provide and they require. The thing is, you might hate it. And having sunk several hundred dollars on gear for something you're not going to do kind of sucks. The second part is that the MSF course, while excellent, is unlikely to have you go much faster than 30 mph or so. Yes, you could have a catastrophic accident and lose your hands without proper gloves, but I don't think it's likely. The fact that they let you wear jeans is kind of indicative of the danger level. Third, wearing comfortable, broken in gloves is going to give you a better experience. Ideally you have a friend who can let you borrow some decent equipment. But I hope you have fun and you love it.
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Nov 23, 2020 04:25
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HenryJLittlefinger posted:Just so there is another shovel on the pile: get a full-face helmet. This tale of woe I saw on Reddit today is an excellent example of why not to not get a modular / flip up helmet, let alone one of those stupid brainbuckets (warning, it's not a pleasant read) and to buy a good full face one: https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/comments/jz6yg5/spend_the_fucking_money/
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Nov 23, 2020 13:35
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Steakandchips posted:This tale of woe I saw on Reddit today is an excellent example of why not to not get a modular / flip up helmet, let alone one of those stupid brainbuckets (warning, it's not a pleasant read) and to buy a good full face one: Not a pleasant read but a pretty succinct summary of the point. I found the HJC helmet recommended below as a jumping off point and many others in the range that seem to meet the mark. I very much appreciate the frank advice.
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Nov 23, 2020 15:04
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I really like my HJC IS-17 (which is last years model, 2020's one is called the i70). It wasn't expensive (£150 or so) and is very comfortable in its XXL size for my enormous and round head.
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Nov 23, 2020 16:08
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