[eon]

I was about to say I had the same jacked before I realized I have the Teknic Freeway. I can’t say I have a problem with mine turning into a sail. I do have a problem in that with the liner removed it is a bit loose but if anything I could do with more air flowing through it. It’s the high 70’s here and I am getting kinda hot.

Sorry couldn’t be of any help.

[eon]

One thing I have learned from cops answering questions online is that malls and the like are private property and as such the parking restrictions are at the discretion of the owners. Some places will let you park on the sidewalk, other will not. Parking on public sidewalks is always illegal (I think). You may get away with it depending on your area. Personally I have never risked it. Too many meter maids here in Seattle and they are quite strict at enforcing policy. Most parking garages have bike specific sections and special rates.

[eon]

+1 on SantaCruzRider’s comments. I’ve used my horn several times to alert other drivers of my presence, specifically when they are about to move into my lane. It’s not intended as a blast of disapproval, just another means of getting myself noticed (the whole reason horns are fitted on vehicles in the first place). If you find yourself blasting other road users with it then you are letting yourself get angry and that can only have bad consequences.

WEbbikeworld has a section where it reviewed multiple aftermarket horns, they even included sound samples so you can hear what they sound like. Cannot remember the outcome of the tests but Stebel seems to be a popular brand. Have not done this myself. I’ll just stick the the default meep meep.

Not sure I’ve ever heard of anyone replacing the default headlights. I’ve heard of people adding extra lights to the front (PIAA I think is a popular brand). Replacing the stock headlights sounds a bit specialized to make/model of your bike. You might get more info at a Ninja forum.

[eon]

I’ve not been to a rally yet but have been on group rides. Each group has its own style and rules and this should be communicated to you by the ride leader. I’m not sure what type of rally this is but be wary of the inexperienced riders around you. If it is a cruiser group I would watch out for social riders who have poor control. Especially as these groups tend to ride in tight parade formation. If it is a sport bike group I would watch out for squids who ride too fast and take chances with everyone’s safety.

I have had a lot of fun with group rides but you do need to spend a lot of your limited attention span on those around you instead of the road. With a bit of common sense you can manage the risks, have a good time and get some great rides in.

[eon]

I posted those links back then. I watched most of them online then and I’ve been watching them again now on tv. It’s interesting to see how the program has been altered. They added a new narrator and interviews with motorcycling journalists. Less time spent on the 2 dudes riding the bikes which is a bit of a shame.

While I enjoy the show (especially the history of the companies) each episode is too similar to the others. Each episode can be summarized as follows:
– Company started making bikes after the war to provide cheap transport (seems being a defeated power gave access to an impoverished population who could not afford cars)
– Company started racing in order to prove their bikes worth. Everyone was successful.
– If Japanese, each bike is made in about an hour by robots (both human and mechanical)
– If Italian, each bike is made in however long it takes by wizened craftsmen who sculpt the bike out of junks of Dolomite
– Journalists was lyrical about how this bike changed the world
– Two dudes ride a super fast sport bike and a super fast naked bike round a private track

While each show is not bad I would have liked to see a bit more variation to the format. Still, beats seeing the Harley adverts that are the only other type of bike show I’ve seen.

[eon]

Welcome. Ducati’s are very pretty but I’m not sure they are the cheapest bikes to maintain. There are some owners on here so maybe they can give real world experience.

If I were you I would look at and sit on other bikes as well. Plenty of threads on here about suitable beginner bikes (I know you have some experience but it was a long time ago). While image is a large part of why we buy things I would not let it box you into a corner. There are no shortage of sexy looking bikes around.

You should sign up for some MSF training and get yourself some gear. In the meantime you can be browsing the dealers picking out the bike for you. Also start reading on how to be safe on the road. It sounds like you have a head start on the basic controls of a bike but taking responsibility for your safety (even when the other driver is at fault) is a whole new game and all part of the fun.

Have fun shopping!

[eon]

You might want to put this on sliding scale of some sort. Otherwise it looks like the Ducati 696 is as friendly as Honda Rebel (how did the Ducati get in there anywany? did we really recommend that as a beginner bike?)

[eon]

Well, it’s a 500cc scooter I have. Can’t say I was thinking about a scooter back when I was looking but living next door to a Vespa dealership certainly influenced my decision. I was looking for a 2008 Ninja 250 but they were impossible to come by last summer. Having the big scooter has been fun though. It is my only means of transport so having a large underseat storage plus a topbox gives me plenty of room to store stuff.

I have also lucked out in that it has allowed me to ride with a local scooter group who are the most fun group I have ridden with yet. They have spirited rides on the best routes around. They kick off folks who are not ATGATT or who have poor control. It is run by a local online bike magazine and they have contacts with all the local businesses and they helped promote Proficient Motorcycling back when it was launched. David Hough writes articles for the mag and I even got to meet him on a group ride. So having a scooter as my first ride has been a great introduction into the biking scene for me.

As far as licensing goes, I think it’s pretty common that anything above 50cc or 35mph is regarded as a motorcycle. Don’t think there is such a thing as a “scooter” as far as the DOL is concerned. It is either a motorcycle or a moped (motor powered bicycle).

And parking for a TMAX would be the same as for a bike. It is the same size as a regular bike. Law enforcement may look the other way for cute little Vespa’s but I would not expect that for a full size bike/scooter.

[eon]

Certainly looks nice, but that TMAX looks nice and goes pretty quick. It’s nice to have options

[eon]

Yeah, be careful with the ankle. There is a reason why ski boots lock your foot into position. I once saw a girl twist her foot 90′ by just turning and her foot did not (wearing cleats on a soccer pitch). Not a pretty sight.

I would think the correct thing to do would be to ride out the slide. Hopefully your tire would gain traction once its moved off the sand it’s sliding on. But, that’s just my beginners opinion. I could well be wrong.

[eon]

I would love to have leather but here in Seattle it’s not really that practical. It was in the high 70’s with blue sky here last Sunday so I stripped all the rain and wind protection off my textile gear (high 70s is tropical for me). But Tuesday night I got caught out in a thunderstorm with temps in the mid 40’s. And of course muggins here had forgot to zip all the weather protection back on. Not a happy camper that night.

[eon]

Ok, I give up. I just checked the website for the school I went to and they have now rebranded the ERC as the IRC and the BRC is now the NRC (Novice). They have no ERC listed. I know they were planning on adding more advanced training in the very near future, maybe this will be branded as ERC?

I need to go lie down now, feeling dizzy.

[eon]

The ERC is the IRC (at least here in WA).

[eon]

Be aware that the MSF test differs from the DOL test. I think the MSF test is standardized across the country whereas each state has its own test. The principles are the same though. But don’t focus on the test, just listen to what they say and practice each exercise and the test will come naturally.

And unless your class provider has beat up bikes, I think it is better to use theirs. You spend a lot of time sitting idling in the class, waiting in line to do your exercise. Better to put the wear and tear on their bike IMO. Plus you also get a chance to ride something different.

[eon]

Be careful of the naming of the course as there seems to be a whole range of names applied here. The ERC is generally regarded as course after the BRC. Where I took it they called it the Experienced Rider Course (which is the same as the IRC).

MSF has just developed a class after this with more advanced techniques. I think my local place is calling it the Advanced RC but I have seen someone calling it the Advanced Expert RC, which is a hell of a mouthful (not to mention making it sound like a class for the top 5% of riders).

For what its worth, I thought the intermediate class (whatever you want to call it) was only marginally worthwhile. It is essentially the same as the BRC with the really basic stuff taken out (walking the bike, friction zone, cheesy class room videos). Most of the exercises are the same with the exact same instructions. It is good to get feedback on how you are doing but it is really just reaffirming what you learned in the BRC.

If you have been doing PLP by yourself, can do the box, weaves, emergency stops with no problem then I would go skip the intermediate class and go straight to the advanced one.

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