[Munch]

I would get the helmet and gloves first. The chances that they have one that fits is risky. Another thing to consider is if you get comfortable in your gear before arrival that’s that much more attention you can give to learning.

[Munch]

as far as locally here there is an unspoken rule that if a bike is parked to one side or another of a spot then it lets other riders know that it’s ok to share the spot. However if they are nearer to dead center… move on. Best thing to do is find some local riding club websites and forums to get a good idea of local attitudes. As far as highways or roadways… if I see a rider coming up I will slide to the left side of the lane to show it’s ok for him/her to piggy back. As far as tailgaters…. if the break flashes don’t work I just do a slalom run in my lane…usually grabs their attention and throws them off.

[Munch]

ROFL…would have loved to see the conclusion after that statement. All in all I rarely if ever get flack for being on a metric. Someone might hint at something then I mention I really want a HD Street Bob but at $8k for my 9 compared to $12-14k for the Bob…. I came out better in the end…not including the insurance. Usually gets them thinking long enough to avoid the moment.
Oh yea…. minus Elwoods Sportster… the 9 out run’s most of em off the line.
There’s still a lot of old schoolers that get wrapped up in the image of things. Don’t let it bother you… 1%’ers are fading daily and you are likely to find more agreeable RIDERS out there.

[Munch]

nah I see them pop in from time to time …. will keep an eye out though

[Munch]

For t hose that don’t play I see all the different opinions and attitudes towards it. It don’t bother me at all actually. I play but am far from a typical WoW lifer. I’d rather ride then play and some times I spend more here on BBM then in the game.
To be fair though …that game saves me money… I spend a total $15 a month to play it… I spend more then that on drinks a week at work. Not to mention it keeps me out of trouble. Actually helped me save my credit to. But yea… all things in moderation (except riding). I get on there maybe 3 hours a night… once it’s dark and I can’t really do anything else…. other then get into trouble.

[Munch]

LOL…there is a rider on a Kawasaki forum that has one…. gives them a nice grasshopper look. Especially in their profile pic where they opted to throw on a turtle neck under it.

[Munch]

LOL…sorry I should apologize I guess. A lot of times I have a sever overdose of sarcasm and raw humor, and forget it rarely translates well into text. Yesterday I was also in rare form. Anything you can find to give you some personal comfort in riding is a good thing. Just don’t allow it to give you a false sense of security.

[Munch]

HID’s for the most part can grab your attention better for the purposes you stated. The “flashing” look can grab your attention, mostly for the in attentive drivers due to the fact that for the most part “flashing” =LEO which is usually kicking in their paranoia. Usually it’s followed by a quick tap of the brakes and a check of their speed. For me personally I ride with my high beams on during day light hours. I have come acrossed alot of bikes at night with HID’s and on a country back road, if the rider has his light mis aimed it can be a blinding situation. Especially if you just got through going about 30 mins with no other lights around but your own.
I say go for it, it seems like it will add a touch more to your own comfort which is what it really is all about for safety sake. Be sure to make sure you get the beam professionally aimed.

[Munch]

I wonder where your justification for trying it is…. don’t get me wrong…if you need the stronger light…get it… if you want it for personal style…go for it…if you feel it will get you more notice by oncoming traffic…get it.
But:“they have HID’s, I notice them 100% better as compared to halogens. Especially when they have them aimed a little high, because as they travel down the road they bounce and it makes the light look like it’s flashing as your eyes go in and out of the top of the beam. With the halogen’s I am spent guessing whether it’s a bike, or if it’s a car with one headlight out”
Why worry about it being a car or a bike? Either way you are noticing them and need to give them equal berth to safely get past or to let them pass by.
Things you need to make sure of though is to make sure the system can handle the load changes and such. Most too often upgrades are purchased without regard to what it effects. Being that you are on forums like here at BBM it suggests you have the forethought of research.

[Munch]

Agree with all the above… my biggest problem is finding ( or remembering) the damn turn signal after completing the turn…lol. However as a perk…the cages back off as they are unsure where you intend on turning after riding a mile and a half with the blinker on ;^P

[Munch]

hmmmm ….my favorite thing to do…. the stats say ” 1 in 4 people can wiggle their ears without touching them”…. now…. go find 4 people and see how many actually can……..
Amazing the difference between real life and statistical mumbo jumbo….. if you like to ride and want to ride then do so. Do not be fooled into thinking it can or will go one way or another…. pay attention to what you do and the things others do around you to minimize the risks. Other then that enjoy your life, enjoy your ride and leave the numbers to the guys that are making this stuff up.

[Munch]

normally I wouldn’t say anything but today I have had my share of things.
I am just as much of an advocate of safety as anyone. Sometimes probably more so then others. However… I do ride with half helmet. To be sure I may not be AS protected as you hope to be in the event of a wreck. However most of my commute is 72 miles round trip mostly highway. If I go down… neither helmet is really going to do me a damn bit of good while my body gets ravaged doing a body surf maneuver for a couple hundred yards at best… .or the sudden stop at a much shorter pace. For anyone starting to ride and learning I definitely support using a full face. If I ride further then just to work and take a good couple hundred mile jaunt… I ride with my FF. Doesn’t make sense I know…my preference….. remember to try and leave room for an agreement to disagree…. but to make a bold gesture as to GTFO is to lean towards a direction in which will get on the fightin’ side of people.
It is your life and your choice. Don’t assume to make it for someone else.

[Munch]

Same same

[Munch]

Biased definitely……but if it’s your preference….keep searching.

[Munch]

LOL
I avoid the dragon for those reasons that you stated. When I get up that way it’s mostly just gonna be the Parkway. Bikes for the ride…. whatever he is comfortable with of course. We could recommend Sport tourings or cruisers all day long but if he aint comfortable… not going to do you any good. Check out the dealerships and have a sit down on a few.

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