[ranette]

Can’t vouch for the accuracy, but according to this, http://www.justanswer.com/questions/1wof3-2006-honda-rebel-vin-location it’s located on the steering neck tube.

[ranette]

Glad you’re ok and will live to ride again. Man, that’s not a minor fall, any broken bone is a big thing, but sounds like it could have been much worse, so I guess you ended up pretty lucky. Can’t believe how well you’re taking it, if it were me I’d be cursing “I can’t believe I broke my !@#$% leg.”

[ranette]

I had the same feeling as Jtown. First I saw the title of the thread, when I saw who started it I was stunned. Hoped that it was a sarcastic title, first time you tripped and fell on your new carpet or something. Oh well, glad you’re ok, hope that the mp3 ends up fairing as well, and yup, it’s a lesson for us all, no matter how much practice, no matter how much we ride in a way that safety truly does come first, in the blink of an eye we can go down. Again, glad that you’re fine.

[ranette]

I’ve watched every episode so far, definitely a unique event. One thing to ride at those speeds on a track another thing altogether when a little misjudgment puts you over a cobblestone curb, yikes!

One question for Eon, as I believe you’re originally from Scotland. Can you understand a freaking word these guys are saying? Especially Guy Martin; certainly seems like an interesting guy-at least from what I can make out from every 10th word that I can pick up.

[ranette]

Now there’s a keeper!

[ranette]

Like I said don’t own a cruiser, probably never will. However, you state with authority that cruisers are inferior beginner bikes. I’ve been riding since July of last year with about 8000 miles total between my scooter and motorcycle; I consider myself a newbie, I still listen more than I speak as I realize, despite a year of incident free riding-“not if but when” is absolute bullshit-that my knowledge and skill set barely scratch the level of competence. However, I believe that I have a good deal more experience than you and I’m simply calling you on your original statement that cruisers are inferior due to their seating position. Bullshit. How much experience do you have on them? Are you telling me that riders who started on Vulcans, V Stars, Boulevards and of course even the big man’s Sporty, end up being less skilled than those who start on standards or detuned sport bikes? Maybe if your ultimate goal is to pass Rossi on The Corkscrew, but all we’re trying to do is become good safe street riders. I don’t mean to be rude but don’t make blanket statements on subjects on which you have no experience-and no two days of MSF does not qualify as experience, and even if it did it is your personal experience, not fact, yet you stated it as a fact “That’s not a defensive riding position! Save the lazy-boy posture for watching TV.” I repeat, for the third time, Bullshit!

Personally I have nothing against the Ninja 250 and don’t dispute any of the facts that you give, and yes they are facts. My initially snarky comment about the Ninja is simply a reaction to an opinion that it is the only bike to start riding on. Judging from everything I have read I have no doubt that it is an excellent bike to start with, however, it is not the only one. Obviously “god’s gift” was said in jest as everyone knows that all two wheeled vehicles sent directly from heaven have “Ducati” emblazoned on the tank.

[ranette]

I assumed that one of the cruiser riders would have chimed in by now. I ride a standard, love having my feet under me, have no idea why anybody would want theirs in front or in back of them. However, for you to come out with a blanket statement maligning cruisers-“Save the lazy-boy posture for watching TV.”- is absolutely ridiculous. You’ve been riding for how long??? I also rode a GZ250 in the BRC and hated it as well, however, to each his or her own. If you’re going to throw out all cruisers as appropriate beginner bikes you’ll pretty much be left with…oh yeah a Ninja 250, god’s gift to the beginner.

[ranette]

I don’t think I am a great authority on this, having ridden an ATV only once, but in my opinion the experience doesn’t transfer over at all, in fact for me my motorcycle experience was counterproductive.

I was on vacation in South America this spring, we left before I could get my bike out of the garage from the winter, and I was absolutely jonesing to ride. We found ourselves at a resort that offered ATV tours and I jumped at the chance. They said the terrain was moderate, I’d disagree, but that’s neither here nor there. I flipped it once but decided to continue on, then got caught up on some rocks and jumped off with the ATV teetering, that was enough for me. The reason I think my motorcycle experience was counterproductive was that as I look back at what I was doing wrong on the ATV I’m pretty sure I was trying to countersteer and if I had never ridden a motorcycle I don’t think that I would have done that. The bottom line is that a street bike is controlled by very precise, subtle inputs; from what I could tell properly riding an ATV is more like wrestling an alligator, not much subtlety involved at all. Again, don’t necessarily take this as the gospel, as it is coming from someone who spent about an hour on an ATV. On the other hand any experience on a non enclosed vehicle has to be of use, just remember that the skill set is vastly different.

My take on ABS is that I didn’t want it on my first bike. I wanted to make sure I developed the skills necessary to brake in the traditional fashion. If I were to get another bike, especially if it were a sport tourer, it’s something I would certainly consider. I assume that the reason you don’t find ABS on smaller bikes is mostly cost, $1000 on a $9+K purchase doesn’t seem too bad, $1000 on a $5 – 6K purchase is about 20% of the cost of the bike on just one option.

[ranette]

I grew up in and around NYC, though I no longer live there I visit 3 or 4 times a year. Every time I think about how much fun it would be to zip around the city on a scooter and at the same time think what a pain, how frustrating, it would be to ride a motorcycle. I think the Mana would be an interesting, and viable, compromise. You’d still have the frustration of not really being able to take advantage of a beautiful V Twin but you wouldn’t have the frustration, and sore left hand, of dealing with a manual transmission in stop and go traffic. Incidentally I never minded driving a standard transmission car in the city, the bike is a different situation, guess my left foot is a lot stronger than my left hand.

Actually if it is at all feasible, I would think about something like an ER-6n and a Buddy 150(my scooter)http://www.genuinescooters.com/scooters/buddy/intl.html MSRP $9600 combined, over a Mana with an MSRP of $9899, best of both worlds.

[ranette]

Now the family wants her body exhumed as they refuse to accept that she was drunk.

[ranette]

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/08/04/2009-08-04_diane_schuler_mom_who_drove_van_wrong_way_on_the_taconic_killing_8_was_drunk_on_.html

[ranette]

I was about 6 weeks short of my 46th birthday, and it still scared the crap out of me to tell my mom. My family was in the insurance business and the idea of one of us riding a motorcycle was totally out of the question. However the conversation didn’t go too badly once she realized that it was in my possession. Still when I speak a little about riding to her she always tells me that she trusts me to ride safely, she just doesn’t trust all of the idiots out on the road. I let her know that’s a valid concern but that part of learning to ride safely is to realize that there are idiots on the road and to try to anticipate their idiocy.

[ranette]

A few years ago I remember reading about something similar happening near Orlando. Again a whole family wiped out. That time the explanation made sense, it was late at night and the family had just flown in from the UK. Driving on the opposite side of the road for the first time is a very difficult thing. Last time we were in the UK a friend insisted on picking us up at Heathrow rather than having us pick up a car and drive just after a long flight. In this case there wasn’t that circumstance. Honestly I can’t imagine getting on the Taconic going the wrong way. I assume more details of this will come out but I’m curious how far they got on the parkway before the accident. Not only did the woman make an inexcusable driving error but the man, who I assume was in the passenger seat, wasn’t alert enough to let her know the situation. I believe that it happened in the middle of the afternoon. They lived on Long Island maybe about 90 minutes from where the accident occurred. Relatives in the area? Heading home from a family gathering? Texting? We’ll see, this is a big story in NY so the details will probably come out. All in all very tragic, maybe even more so because it was so preventable.

[ranette]

Actually most bikes have a wikipedia entry which always seem to have torque and hp specs.

[ranette]

Big fan of Dexter and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Loved The Sopranos and Six Feet Under. Watched a few years of Big Love and Weeds but haven’t watched them in a while, they just kind of lost me. As for older shows I think All in the Family is a true American classic, as well written as many great films and novels, 30 years later it still rings too true. Back when Roseann was on the air I liked it, but wasn’t a huge fan, I guess I couldn’t get past the star constantly making an ass of herself at every single opportunity. However when I watch it on TV Land it really does stand out as extraordinarily well written and funny. There was an episode that I watched last week where her pretty teen aged daughter Becky is giving a presentation to the student council and after introducing herself she farts. Her other daughter Darlene in describing the situation to her parents, who knew something had happened but weren’t sure what, can’t help but gloat as she says “and then, Becky cut the cheese.” Absolutely hilarious.

A great show that only lasted one season, Freaks and Geeks. Judd Apatow wrote and produced it years before he hit big with the 40 Year Old Virgin. Better than anything I’ve ever seen on the big or small screen in accurately portraying a suburban high school in the late 70’s early 80’s.

[Author]

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