Motorcycles

[tisl]

Does anybody here ride? I feel like a bit of a traitor but I can't really afford the cars that I want, and if I could there's nowhere fun to drive them. So I've taken up motorcycles. I have my permit and I've been taking a course for the past few weeks. I'm pretty much done, since I've managed to ride a BMW G 650 several times without getting myself killed. I'll probably try to get my license in the next week.

It's the most awesome fucking thing ever. I love how involved it is compared to a car. Everything is so sensitive, feathering the clutch at low speed is actually feathering, not gently mashing. You ease into a turn by barely turning the handlebars, and the bike leans so progressively. It's another matter entirely to ride in traffic, but on empty roads it feels like I'm in a motorcycle commercial. I can almost hear the upbeat pop music.

Share your motorcycle things.

[halomizer]

I don't ride, but i want to learn. I've been drooling over the thought of owning a cbr600 for a while now.

[Striker]

I used to ride dirtbikes somewhat frequently with my dad. I've always enjoyed it, and wouldn't mind getting my license to ride a street bike, myself. Maybe it's sometihng I'll look into eventually.

[MrBored]

I rode your mom.


Anyone...? No... ok.

[Dark_Swordmaster]

I rode one in GTA IV. It taught me that if I ride a motorcycle and get rear-ended by a coffee cup I'm fucked, and so is half the population on the sidewalk nearby.


No thank you.

[Lehesu]

I value my well-being too much to own a motorcycle.

[Fortune Hunter]

I value my well-being too much to own a motorcycle.

I don't.... so I'm pretty interested in getting my license... I heart the Ducati Monster

[cavalier]

I don't.... so I'm pretty interested in getting my license... I heart the Ducati Monster

Woah, I didn't know you were a chick.

[Fortune Hunter]

Woah, I didn't know you were a chick.

Wha?

[tisl]

Yeah, maybe motorcycles are not the most intelligent way to travel. But getting on one doesn't mean you're guaranteed to get killed. There's safety gear to protect you from your own stupid mistakes (like jackets that protect your skin so you don't end up skinless when you slide off) and there are skills to be gained that minimize the risk of getting sideswiped by a grandma in an old boat. But come on, they're bicycles with engines. How can that possibly suck? I'm surprised so few people actually give a shit about them.

Ducatis seem to be all marketing. I know the Monster is a competent bike but it's hard to justify the price, considering you can get similar bikes from Japanese manufacturers for quite a bit less. And they're not Italian. I'd consider a Ducati if there were a price cut for it being Italian, not a price gouge. When I dropped by the Ducati dealer he wouldn't stop rambling about the 696's slipper clutch. I started to wonder whether it was really necessary, considering it's the first bike geared towards beginners with such a feature.

I lust after these. BMW's G 650 series.

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/9069/picture4bc1.png

Particularly the Xmoto. Although I'll probably end up getting the Xcountry because it's quite a bit cheaper around here. Also, the scariest moment I've had on a motorcycle so far has been the rear losing traction (it probably didn't, it just felt like it did) on a bit of sand, so maybe a motorcycle designed for sliding around and is not such a good idea.

So do you procrastinators have a good excuse for not getting on a bike yet?

[Fortune Hunter]

Money... Time... the two most important things EVAR...

so why am I a girl?

[cavalier]

Out of all the bikes you could have mentioned, you picked the Miata of roadbikes.

[Silence]

ya know what they say about bikers? they are the best organ donors...

[tisl]

...I like the MX-5/Miata. A lot.

[Fortune Hunter]

...I like the MX-5/Miata. A lot.

Me too... GIRLY MEN UNITE!

The MX5 is affordable, and the Monster doesn't have a stupid plastic cowl. I don't know why but I really like the big headlight look.

[Striker]

So do you procrastinators have a good excuse for not getting on a bike yet?

I'm poor.