[SantaCruzRider]

My Kawi has 4 carbs and I’ve had no issue – hives or otherwise.

My bike does take a couple of minutes to warm up on a cold morning (choke out), but I’m in the habit of starting it, then putting on my helmet and gloves, then she’s ready to ride.

I’ve heard elevation can also be an issue for some bikes. My daily commute starts at sea level and goes over an 1,800-foot pass, then back to sea level. It’s not enough change to have any effect. Not sure if you would be dealing with even that much.

I’ve never had an FI bike, so maybe I don’t know what I’m missing. That Ninja 250 is a very popular bike with a strong following. I wouldn’t be dissuaded by the fuel system — it’s works.

[SantaCruzRider]

Hopefully, you’ll be riding it, not carrying it — so strength has very little to do with it.

Your light weight gives you additional incentive to start with a smaller, lighter bike, since being strong can sometimes help save you from mistakes and poor technique that we all have to get over as we learn. Plus, your being light doesn’t necessarily mean you’re weak.

If I were you, I would not be discouraged from riding. Start small/light, develop good habits and learn how to use balance and technique, develop strength where needed and have fun with it.

[SantaCruzRider]

Hey Gary,
In answer to your questions:
1. Last time I had a bike off its wheels was in ’94 when I dropped by new Sportster while coming to a stop. It was lame and was really just a drop, while this last weekend’s episode was more of a low-speed crash. The first incident left little impression, though I’ve had a number of close calls over the years that have certainly added to my caution. Saturday’s crash will likely make me very cautious the next time I see mud beginning to stretch across substantial parts of the road.
2. It was on Highland Way (which is the 1-lane goat path that Summit Road becomes south of Old San Jose Road) as it descents into Corralitos. I’d never been on Highland (though I ride Summit, Old SJ and 17 everyday on my commute). But it wasn’t being unfamiliar with the route, it was the unexpected mudslide that has covered the road (and this is supposedly not the normal state – according to one of my fellow riders).
3. My Concours weighs 600lbs+, is top heavy (especially with it’s 7.5 gal tank full) and has road tires. It just doesn’t belong on mud. If I’d been going slower, I might have been able to stop safely. But it would only have been to turn the bike around and get back to pavement. I don’t think I could have safely gone far at any speed. Even 1 mile back up the road, I was still having the rear tire break loose in corners as it would hit a spot of mud still sticking to the sides of the tires. Now if I’d been on my friends KLR or DRZ400, the conditions would have been just fine and I would have been able to play on through.

[SantaCruzRider]

I can’t say with any certainty that putting my hands out would have resulted in injury, but it is easy to have shoulder or elbow injuries result from catching yourself and having your arm wrenched into an unnatural position. I’m not an expert in crashing (and REALLY hope never to become one), but in this specific instance, I took the fall on the side of my body, which absorbed the impact without yanking my arm as I fell.
It’s completely possible that I could have put a hand down and come through unscathed.
There was nothing intentional about my hand position, it was all instinct. At the time, I think my body was still trying to ride it out and not give up on the bike. Luckily, this also turned out to be advantageous to my old bones.

[SantaCruzRider]

It’s good advice to avoid taking passengers until you have many months and several thousands miles under your belt.
Adding weight to the rear tire completely changes the riding dynamic, and if she’s cute, it can serious fog your judgement.
It’s sounding more like Ninja 500 to me.

[SantaCruzRider]

These are 3 totally different bikes with different ergos and somewhat different purposes. I’d advise seriously thinking about how you will actually ride (not just the fantasy ride, but where you’ll actually spend time).
If it doesn’t involve dirt, the DRZ starts fading. If you like the ergo of standard, the Vulcan fades. If you think you’ll spend time ripping fire roads, the DRZ is the only choice of the 3.

Have fun.

[SantaCruzRider]

If you can get a license and your parents are cool with it (yeah, I’m a parent, so I have to throw that in), I think it’s perfectly sensible to want to ride. Wow, and what a concept that you might find that kind of advice on a motorcycle-related forum!
Now I don’t necessarily think it’s going to save you much money over driving your Escape, but so what. I’d still commute on my bike every day even if it got the same mileage as my car.
As for bikes, +1 on the Vulcan 500. It should have no problem with your weight (and personally, neither the Vulcan or I care whether it’s muscle or fat).
A bit of advice: If you haven’t already done so, go to a lot of shops and sit on as many bikes as possible — including ones that might not initially call to you. It will help you start to hone in on what’s right for you.

[SantaCruzRider]

I have seen reviews of some flip up helmets that came open too easily and the testers questioned whether it was possible for them to open during a crash. But the helmets otherwise came through fine in whatever crash test they were able to provide — so it’s really a “what if.”
I’d probably be just as concerned about flipups having greater weight and more wind noise (depending on model).
Personally, I think simple is often best. It’s much easier to engineer strength into a FF helmet than a flip up. I don’t see a significant cooling benefit to a flip up vs ff. I also don’t think it’s particularly wise to think you’re getting the best of both worlds by using the flip up when you’re riding around town. You can destroy your face landing chin-first on a curb doing 30 on your way to the mall — so I still feel better protected with ff.
If I did a lot of 2-up riding, I could see the advantage of using the flip up to talk at gas/pit stops, but you might accomplish the same thing with a 2-way radio that works at speed.

[SantaCruzRider]

Ride everyday in Silicon Valley, sometimes San Francisco as well — which I guess qualifies as urban. Legal lane sharing makes all the difference for me. I can often ride a mile thru lanes of dead-stop traffic without ever having to put my foot down.

I agree about the clutch hand cramps. I’ve adjusted my commute to avoid freeway ramps that get super jammed up and/or are too narrow to allow me to slide past all the waiting cars.

[SantaCruzRider]

Awesome bike, but it’s massively heavy and not at all conducive to learning. It’s really a purpose-built bike, and that purpose is touring. If I was retired and planning to take some multi-week trips or weeklong trips with a passenger, the Goldwing would be on my short list. But if my goal was a 15 mile commute and a weekend trip here or there, it’s overkill and cumbersome (IMO).

I ride a Concours (1000cc sport tourer). It’s significantly smaller than the Goldwing, but still feels like overkill on my daily commute (90+ miles RT).

Assuming you like the standard ergo (Goldwing), I’d suggest looking at the Suzuki 500, maybe the SV650 or WeeStrom, the Ninja 500, maybe the Ninja 650 or sisterbike Versys. Many of these are typically better as 2nd bikes, but they are also considered to be manageable to more mature riders with off-road experience. All will also offer comfort for commutes and weekend rides, as well as the ability to carry the occasional passenger (although you really should put that out of your mind until you have many months of riding under your butt).

And FYI: height is no advantage on a Goldwing. The seat height is no challenge for most. Folks are not typically dropping their bikes because they are too short or too weak, it’s because they don’t know what the hell they are doing and/or are way over their heads in terms of ability.

[SantaCruzRider]

Even the Russian services do that. Can she cook?

[SantaCruzRider]

Jeez, I’m laughin’ just thinking about that. Did she help you get it restarted too?!?!

[SantaCruzRider]

I use one and figure it increases my visibility during those sunrise/sunset hours that accompany my commute.

I also had a bit of trouble keeping it on my helmet, especially when I switch from a larger bobblehead cap to a sleeker model. So I soaked the strap in water for an hour to revive and clean the neopreen, cleaned the helmet surface, then installed it with several small loops of tape (hidden inside, 1 in front, 1 in back, 1 on either side). It now stays on no problem, up to 90+ mph so far.

I would not recommend it for anyone who switches helmets though as it will eventually get stretched out.

[SantaCruzRider]

Kidding. I’ve never done anything like that on a bike, but I understand that “forgot to put the kickstand down” is one of the top answers on one of the “Connie (Concours) Droppers Anonymous Groups”.

If it makes you feel better, I’ve had my own moments – my favorite being the time my ex had a spill in the yard and I needed to rush her to the doctor. I put her in the backseat of my SUV, drove to the front on the house and then jumped out to roll the driveway fence open. As I jogged to the gate, I glanced over to see my car passing me. Luckily the gate was still closed and the car was moving slow enough for it to hold it while I jumping into the window and shut her off. I bet that look REAL COOL for the neighbors.

[SantaCruzRider]

My sport tourer comes standard with hard cases, but unless I need them for a trip or extra helmet, I prefer a tailbag that sits on the passenger seat. No windage, no increase in bike width, stays clean, easy on/off. Only downside is making sure my leg clears it on mount/dismount.

[Author]

Posts