- This topic has 5 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 16 years ago by swede.
New one in University at Colorado
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April 2, 2008 at 8:26 pm #1260Gabriel CUParticipant
Hey all,
Me and my roommate have been pondering motorbikes for a while, and now we have the motivation to get them as the weather is getting sunnier and we shift into summer. It was this year that my interest of motorcycles was sparked as i needed to get to University in a more cost efficient means. Then i started researching and now am hooked on taking mountain trails, windy roads, and the thrill of being less secure and more in touch with my future machine.I want to start and like everyone else, read all the guides. Great work and really informative. Answered SO many questions. I’m finding it difficult to find the bike thats right for me. I’m not too concerned with looks and know that i would be riding it everyday this summer, so i’d want a bike that wouldn’t be too much of a starter because i’m fearful of trading it in a month or two after i buy it.
Insurance. I’m getting quotes from 500 – 1200 for 12 months, i was wondering where others fell in this category. Keep in mind, i am a starving College student and anything helps to keep my pockets trim.
Gear, I dont mind wearing the jacket/helmet/gloves, but are pants really that necessary? i dont see myself going any faster than interstate speeds and know i wont want to be bothered putting on synthetic/leather pants to just ride my bike. If i were to go to a friends house i can take a jacket and helmet, but want to avoid taking an extra pair of pants to change out of just to look normal. Thoughts? solutions?
Well, with all that said i will check back later on today/week to see what you all have to say. Thanks for helping and suggestions/comments are much appreciated. I still havent bought one piece of equipment/gear nor a bike, so where should i start?
thanks
GabrielApril 2, 2008 at 9:50 pm #5426swedeParticipantI’m new to biking as well, but from what I’ve learned, offroad-bikes are usually quite low in insurance, might suite you nice since you were keen on mountain trails and such. And people riding them seem to be pleased with their touring/commuting abilities.
As for gear, I’d go with over-pants with zippers down the sides, you make it sound like interstate speeds are a walk in the park should it come to an abrupt landing, well it’s up to you wether how much you treasure the skin on your legs really. (Imho, if you plan on keep riding for life, it’s a question of when you crash rather than if, and you can do much to affect the outcome)
welcome to the forums btw!
smörgåsbord
JonathanApril 2, 2008 at 11:22 pm #5427Gabriel CUParticipantsorry, i meant to clarify since i live out here in colorado, i meant to say mountain roads. I found this other website that details are the other routes tucked in the mountain. but i plan on keeping on asphalt. No, i didnt mean to say they are a walk in the park, but i dont plan on going on it but 3 or 4 times a year. more mountain windy traffic-less roads, if i get off my bike, i’m worrying about much more than asphalt, and more about hitting the steep mountains side or careening into a gorge.
but thanks for the impute and i probably will look into it out of conscious of mind.
gApril 3, 2008 at 1:39 am #5428HolyBatFartParticipantAlthough I’m not even a newb yet, I have bought a helmet (Shoei RF1000) and received an A*s jacket for Christmas, I recommend you check on all the closeouts from the previous riding season. They have some killer deals out there.
On to the pants, I found some pretty “normal” looking ones: http://www.compacc.com/prod.cfm/cid/9001000/pid/16603
April 3, 2008 at 10:39 pm #5437BenParticipantPants are probably the biggest pain in the ass when it comes to motorcycles, mainly because they aren’t “cool” like motorcycle jackets and motorcycle gloves are. Lets face it, a lot of us (if not all of us) started to ride motorcycles at least a little bit because of the ego factor, and how it gives you at least +10 badass points. That being said, I always wear motorcycle overpants.
It only takes about 20-30 seconds to put on my overpants because they zip all the way up the side. One of the reasons I do this is because when I first started riding my motorcycle mentor Ray said, “When you crash, what do you think you will be sliding on?” most likely its going to be your ass.
The only motorcycle accident I have ever got in was where I flipped over the bars when my front end locked up and I was thrown forward to avoid smashing into another car. When I got up and brushed myself off (I was wearing full gear), the ONLY damage was to my gloves which I used to catch myself, and my first gear overpants which had a few holes in the knees (it just tore the waterproof coating, not the abrasion resistance material https://www.bestbeginnermotorcycles.com/first-gear-textile-overpants-crash-tested ). My jacket and helmet were completely untouched. I was on my way to work at the time and since I was wearing full gear I wasn’t hurt at all and went on to work a full 8 hour shift no problem. If I had been wearing jeans instead I have no doubt that I would have been picking gravel out of my knee, or had a nurse doing that in the ER. It would have turned a minor accident into a large medical bill and a missed day of work.
I really don’t think people realize 2 things:
1. How easily jeans rip
2. How much a skinned knee (or skinned ass) hurts.
I know how easily Jeans tear when exposed to pavement, in fact I demonstrate it in this youtube video I made a while back:
(note, I think some people have said that because I was wearing a knee pad which is a hard surface that the jeans ripped easier, I would have to disagree since your knee is made out of BONE, which is hard as hell. Go ahead, touch your knee, feel how hard it is? It’s probably harder than that kneepad I was wearing).
Now like most people I too have fogotten how bad a skinned knee hurts, but just last week I managed to skin my knee on a mat while sparring with some buddies and that son ofa bitch hurt! It’s just now almost healed, and it was barely a scrape at all!@ I highly recommend people go walk out like I did in the video in a pair of jeans and fall to your knees, it will hurt and you will be cut. Now imagine that at 10, 15, 25, 65 miles per hour!! Plus I don’t know about you but I rarely follow the speedlimit, I usually cruise at 75mph at least.
Some further reading:
https://www.bestbeginnermotorcycles.com/top-7-things-will-happen-motorcycle-crash-nsfw-pics-video
https://www.bestbeginnermotorcycles.com/motorcycle-crash-chris-young
Motorcycles are a blast and a great hobby, but I am too goddamn good looking to risk getting road rash to the point of looking like a burn victim. It’s your choice, and you have to decide what level of safety gear you are willing to put on. I ride with textile overpants and I know some people who say that is crazy and will ONLY wear leather pants. It’s all about your personal risk assesment.
~Best Beginner Motorcycles Admin
April 5, 2008 at 9:15 am #5462swedeParticipantLoved that last part where you pick up those bi..hrm..chicks and showed us all what happens when we dress like fools.
smörgåsbord
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