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Honda Grom: Beginner Bike Profile + Owner Reviews
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AmorylParticipant
they might as well be out to kill you, i can’t tell how often one of them tries to crowd me out of a lane, cut me off, or almost ram me.
and I’m driving a white E250 cargo van with blue and red lettering all over it.
AmorylParticipantahh I see it was a double thread, and as it seems more have posted here, I’ll repeat what I said in the other, and let that die a natural death.
it’s been mentioned before on the various issues with jumping right onto a bike as a first vehicle. chances are nothing we say will make much of a difference as the insurance risk of person without even a driver’s license is so great that they will either A, not cover you or B charge so much that its essentially out of the question anyway.
most of us seemed to agree in another thread that you should start out in a car, develop your driving skills for at LEAST a year (after you get your license) before even thinking of taking a bike on the street, and then taking the MSF course (and passing) and then maybe think about getting a motorcycle.
honestly I can’t imagine anyone at 15 in today’s traffic being even remotely safe on the road. I realize that this is considered by many to be a dangerous passion, but we mitigate as many of the risks as we can. and thats not really something someone who isn’t even a legal car driver yet can really do, IMO. lord knows I’ve been wrong before but…in this case, I don’t think I am.
maybe pick up a dirt bike, get some offroad experience well away from the brainless soccer mom’s in their SUV’s who’re out to kill you. you’ll get driving exp in a car, and bike experience on the dirtbike, and in a year or two you’ll be better equiped to take that ninja 250 onto the mean streets.
AmorylParticipantit’s been mentioned before on the various issues with jumping right onto a bike as a first vehicle. chances are nothing we say will make much of a difference as the insurance risk of person without even a driver’s license is so great that they will either A, not cover you or B charge so much that its essentially out of the question anyway.
most of us seemed to agree in another thread that you should start out in a car, develop your driving skills for at LEAST a year (after you get your license) before even thinking of taking a bike on the street, and then taking the MSF course (and passing) and then maybe think about getting a motorcycle.
honestly I can’t imagine anyone at 15 in today’s traffic being even remotely safe on the road. I realize that this is considered by many to be a dangerous passion, but we mitigate as many of the risks as we can. and thats not really something someone who isn’t even a legal car driver yet can really do, IMO. lord knows I’ve been wrong before but…in this case, I don’t think I am.
maybe pick up a dirt bike, get some offroad experience well away from the brainless soccer mom’s in their SUV’s who’re out to kill you. you’ll get driving exp in a car, and bike experience on the dirtbike, and in a year or two you’ll be better equiped to take that ninja 250 onto the mean streets.
AmorylParticipantevery day I’m constantly amazed that no one barrels into the back of my work van at a light. unlike motorcycles I have a lot more inbetween my body and the front end of a car, but I also have much less chance to get out of the way.
on the other hand I was rearended a few weeks ago while stopped at train crossing about 5 minutes into a freight train passing by. fortunately she was only going 5 or so mph (turned her head to look for something, let off the brakes) didn’t put a scratch on my van (at least that I could see from all the other dings, scratches, and dents already there) and no obvious damage to her bumper, so I bid her a good afternoon, and went back to my van. on a motorcycle…well I hope I’d have noticed and moved to the side, otherwise, even a 5mph love tap coulda caused a decent amount of trouble for my day. some idiot screaming down the road paying no attention whatsoever to the road…not a whole lot you can do about it but hope you notice him fast enough and can get out of the way.
AmorylParticipantI was looking up the specs on the savage, and it’s really one of the prime examples of how you can’t just look at the cc’s to determain beginner friendlyness. yeah it’s a 650cc, but (i’m going from the 2003 model reviewed on totalmotorcycle.com) it’s a single cylinder air cooled engine putting out about 30hp
compared to the hyosung gv 250 which is a V-twin air/oil cooled engine with 26.82hp, so just a hair over 3hp more, despite the savage having triple the cc’s
for the record the V-Star 650 is about 40hp and is 471lbs dry
so, yeah I can understand there being a bit of vibration at highway speeds even though you’re on a “650” definately a beginner friendly sized bike. and not at all bad looking either. asthetically, I prefer the look of a Vtwin to most thumpers, but performance wise, I don’t know what difference a twin will have over a single. I’m sure someone can chime in and answer that
AmorylParticipantwow, so you got the V-Star 650 for less than a V-Star 250? thats sick. how’s the weight? I know that the 650 V-Stars aren’t runaways with the power, but it’s a bit bulkier than I think I’d feel comfortable tackling for my first bike. which is not any kind of criticism for you, mind you, I’m a bit overcautious…and short. but at $2300…I might overcome said squeamishness. that things beautiful especially for what you paid for it. man someone got suckered
AmorylParticipantwow, I can never understand people who pull stuff like that. if you fit that well on a rebel, and your other post says your just under 5’1, who in their right mind would recommend you start on a harley? heck Elwood started on the smallest harley they make and it’s heavy even to his 6’+ 200lb+ self! I’d figure the sportster would have to weigh something like 5x or more what you do!
I’m glad you didn’t listen to him that bike looks great under you.
AmorylParticipantdoing the iron butt challenge? nice
if you don’t like suzuki, either of the ninja’s will do you fine. and there are several people who HAVE done the iron butt on a ninja 250
AmorylParticipantI know that people historically don’t notice motorcycles, but something tells me that idiot in the pickup wouldn’t have noticed a car either. look at how close he was to not just the rider, but to the intersection before he even began to brake (and brake suddenly, showing he finally realized something was in front of him) if the motorcycle wasn’t in the way, he’d have either stopped in the intersection itself, or he’d have blown through it. doesn’t help the bike any either way…
but as for blaming the cop…maybe he stopped the guy too close to the intersection, maybe thats just where the guy finally stopped (if there was no shoulder, a bridge, other hazard prior…this could have been the closest to a “safe” place to stop) plus if the light was red when he stopped, where else would he have stopped? run the red?
I’m not sure where the best position is, some say to the right so you can pull off the road faster if someone was doing crap like that…some say (though I’ve heard more against this than for it) the center so you can react in either direction…though from a psychological standpoint I think thats even more dangerous. the more choices you have in that sudden moment, the more likely you’ll freeze and choose neither. I’ve not heard much about the left, you could maybe pull into oncoming traffic….but you WOULD be right in front of the driver’s pov…
AmorylParticipantthe virago’s on my short list, and has likely the best mileage of the bunch, they’re all going to have pretty bullet proof engines, though a lot of people seem to think the rebel’s a bit too cramped and wimpy. though of course you’ll also get dozens of claims otherwise. I’d reccomend adding the Hyosung GV250 to your list, it’s a bit bigger looking, and so I’ve been led to believe a bit more power out of it’s 250cc than the others (still no speed demon, but then again, none of them will) and looks more like a “real motorcycle” if thats something that worries you at all.
I’ve heard decent enough things about the S40, as for being too much for a beginner…it’s up to you. with cruisers it’s more about weight than power than it is with a sportsbike, but the weight becomes a considerable factor. you’ll likely be doing a lot of slow speed turning and such, and that’s where the weight will kick you in the butt, a 250’ll turn without having to manhandle and muscle it near as much as a heavier bike (not that the S40 is a beast like a touring cruiser or anything) and will be easier to pick up if it drops. though from all I’ve read it’s not going to be a huge jump up.
in the end the best way to tell which bike to get is to sit on em, give em a test ride if you can, find what fits you the best, what looks the best to you, and what you feel is the best made. though they’re all built like tanks, with simple but reliable and time proven components. so best built will be largely subjective and/or how well the bike’s been maintained (if you’re buying used)
good luck, and have fun, and make sure you take the MSF and get quality protective gear. don’t risk that noggin, you’ve got a young’in to take care of
October 9, 2008 at 10:56 pm in reply to: Where’s Elwood????………I hope you alright out there buddy! #13636AmorylParticipantor on fire
October 9, 2008 at 10:56 pm in reply to: Where’s Elwood????………I hope you alright out there buddy! #13635AmorylParticipantLOL yeah…sounds about right…if yer feeling generous
October 9, 2008 at 4:55 pm in reply to: Where’s Elwood????………I hope you alright out there buddy! #13612AmorylParticipantare you using the Webster’s dictionary version of sage “1 a: wise through reflection and experience. b; archaic : grave , solemn2: proceeding from or characterized by wisdom, prudence, and good judgment
“ or the more modern definition “pompous windbagging internet troll spewing advice under the auspice of ‘quantity over quality’ under the safe anonymity of ‘teh interwebz'” ?
AmorylParticipantI truly believe that microfiber is cut from pure firmament. it just feels soooo good.
I wonder how it’ll feel riding during the winter…or perhaps more importantly, the summer, as Mark Twain once said “the coldest winter I ever spent was summer in San Fransisco”
my only other experience was riding a bike to work in central illinois during the winter. freezing cold, dressed in layers, sweating like a meatloaf by the time I got to work. riding a motorcycle will obviously involve more wind, and less exertion so certainly would be colder.
AmorylParticipantyeah I see him all the time over on…is it BBO? or Motorcycle journal? lemmie go check, hes got a whole section on advice and such. ah yes here it is, http://www.motorcycle-journal.com/forum/captain-crashs-pad/ over on motorcycle journal’s forum. I like how he’s informative, funny, and generally not full of crap.
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