1st Gen. Lunch Table - General Discussion

I'll be counterpoint here. I'm not a massive risk taker. I'm not even sure I qualify as much of a risk taker at all. I've had accidents as a kid which were my fault (illegal left turn across 3 lanes in heavy traffic and got nailed, fell asleep and bounced off a guard rail) but I've been reasonably fortunate in my adult life.

I took the MSF class as recommended, intended to reduce my insurance (which wasn't expensive at the time but I was young so I felt an obligation). This was in NY (long island) and circa 1997. I hated it. Hated it. Absolutely f'ing hated it.

My bike was nothing special at the time, a CL 360, air cooled. I blew up the battery with all the starts and stops for 5 seconds of bs. It had a high center of gravity which made the skills challenging, more so than others on more expensive/bigger bikes with low COG.

I wound up driving off after the 3rd push start and saying "f this". I was respectful about it but it was a complete waste of my f'ing time.

I do have 25 years of cycling experience though, with lots of that road commuting, plenty at night. I know how to handle myself in traffic when I'm defenseless and I know the value of proper safety gear.

I learned zero from 2/3 - 3/4 of that class. Maybe it just wasn't a great class. But I was completely unimpressed with it. Felt like f'ing preschool.

 

Wouldn't call myself a "motorcycle guy" but have ridden. I feel like Sirfive, myself and one or two others may've had a Inbox conversation going about that at one point.

Like you, I started out on 3- and 4-wheel things, it wasn't a perfectly natural transition, but I'd equate it to the difference between skateboarding and surfing or surfing and snowboarding - generally similar concept.

I see a shitload of great advice above, so there's really no need for me to reply. I just want to reiterate two things.

Take the course, or any other, if for no other reason than to learn how to lay down a bike. I took a paid course, it was like $250 but they gave you a $300 helmet that was fitted to you, so I was already ahead $50.

I learned how to ride (edit: ride on road) on a cruiser that used a carbureted, belt-driven version of the same engine on the Ninja 250. It was more than plenty for me, and frankly IDGAF what happened to the bike, which is exactly what I'd recommend you to choose. You're going to lay down your bike at least once, buy something that's already been thru that. You'll also be potentially more comfortable learning to ropes on it for maintenance than something nicer, newer.

Be smart about what you wear when pavement is involved. Don't be one of those dudes who rides around in shorts, short sleeves and flip flops in the summer. Not saying you should buy full leathers, but ... your skin is an organ too, and debriding a road rash wound isn't fun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v3CzvQ9e_w

 

Serious question, what did you guys learn at the MSF class? How to lowside instead of highside? That would be useful. My class was like how to tie your shoes, only much slower.

I think 20 minutes on a closed racetrack would be far more valuable. Lock the front brake and recover. Lock the rear and recover. Swerve at 20mph. Then some hot laps with everyone else. That would teach proper awareness real fast.

 

This was 20-something years ago for me but IIRC, it took 4 Saturdays and class sizes were limited to 8 people. They gave me an MSF basic card and test waiver after, but more than half of the course was practical riding-related stuff. 1st day was basics, getting to know the bike, clothing, safety stuff, etc. Middle two days were course riding (plus learning how to dump) followed by street riding. Last day covered basic mechanics, Q&A, then a written and practical test.

Not sure if that's what you're looking for or not, but if it is, I have no doubt you can find something similar in your neck of the woods.

 

The MSF course is a scheme to make bank off of all the Marines from Pendleton with their newly financed crotch rockets.

Sure, I'll bite. I don't remember everything from it, but there was some stuff that seemed "basic" but could have been useful for newer riders which seemed to be the majority of people there. How to shift through different gears, how to ensure you're in neutral. Bracing for a speedbump though? C'mon...

They worked hard on ingraining the idea of keeping your speed constant through a corner, or accelerating out of a curve. On a dirt bike you're more on and off the throttle than a street bike so that was a new concept to me. Braking BEFORE you're in the curve rather than while you're in it. They ingrained the idea of your bike will go where you focus. When going through a curve you focus on the the exit of the curve as you go through it.

Even things as simple as where your eyes are fixed. The guys really got on me for only looking at the ground 10 feet ahead when I should be watching for (theoretical) traffic a mile ahead.

These are things that teach you to be safe as a rider. What you're describing sounds more like rider skill more than safety which would come from lessons.

Having to skip the riding test alone in exchange for taking the course is worth it too, DMV will disqualify you for something as simple as putting your foot down.

 

Yeah, about this. I was a dummy and went for a cruise in just a t-shirt and laid the bike down on some dirt. Cue the road rash. I unfortunately deal with psoriasis and the road rash spot turned into a psoriasis spot. The spot eventually healed, but the skin is still discolored there and I don't see it changing.

 

I agree. I don't want or need more than that. I'm not a daredevil and just want something to cruise around on.

So, it tilts so you can roll the bike up?

 

I didnt take the course, but ive been wanting to talk dad into taking it. He needs to learn proper following distance. Sometimes he’s uncomfortably close, and he puts his feet down in parking lots and that irks me for some reason.

when i let him ride the ulysses i was double worried, cause the only other motorcycles he’s ridden were dirtbikes, and theres a big difference. Dirtbikes feel like they’re made of wet noodles to me now.

 

Gotchya.

At the time I already had my license, passed the written and driving tests, felt confident, was riding NY to PA on the NJTP in heavy traffic with a bike that tops out at 75 with a tailwind. And since then I've gained all that and more riding road and trail bicycles along with some decent bicycle mechanic experience.

I can see how the "new rider" stuff could be good but even at the time I felt like it was significantly targeting the idiot/incompetent non-athlete.

Experience is really the best teacher. I learned a lot from my first group ride where I panicked a little bit and locked the rear wheel in a bit of a pack on slick roads. I quickly recovered but that lesson taught me more than any classroom or basketball court cone drill ever could. You have to know where the edge is to avoid it.

I genuinely feel that riding a bicycle on city streets is more dangerous than a motorcycle. On a motorcycle I can get out of someone's way quick (eBike to some degree too) whereas a bicycle even at 400w panic effort is not going to be able to escape a 40mph vehicle. Add in the limited protection you have with a bicycle, lighter helmet, thinner clothing, less protective shoes, thinner profile, and the "car entitlement" mentality and I see motorcycle riding as significantly safer by comparison.

The beauty of two wheels is that it teaches you how vulnerable you are outside the cage. That gives you a greater appreciation for the dangers of driving a 4 wheel motor vehicle. My hauling time is a great teacher as well, the difficulty and stress of braking 40,000 pounds makes me far safer in a rig that can stop on a dime because I have more respect for those who cannot.

I think everyone should ride. I also think the best lessons are learned by experience. Out on the dirt, away from other traffic, is a great place to develop those skills. Proper protective gear is super important.

I've crashed on bicycles a lot. Dozens of times. Maybe that's part of it. At least I've never been run over by a car on a bicycle but I was bumped once and I have been taken to the curb and snapped a rim on the way to work as well.

 

no, the aluminum piece closer to the vehicle is the ramp.

 

I did run over my 6 year old on the bicycle recently as well. My wife felt I was following too close. I was just amazed that the kid self crashed 3 times in a row by going off the side intentionally and being unable to bring it back onto the path without catching his wheel. At probably 0.0001 mph. I was going as slow as I possibly could and he just crashed out right in front of me and I rolled over him. I guess that was a good teacher too, never underestimate the stupidity of your dna.

 

Smooth brain. Still doesn't compute.

 

https://youtu.be/4RY03GL06lA

 

Don't normally watch vlog style videos. Was not expecting all of the eye candy during install. 9 of 10, am not disappointed.

 

I'm trying to find a picture of my Joe Hauler in use, not sure if I have one. It comes with a detachable ramp. One reason I like the Joe Hauler brand is because it has a nut where you can "tighten" the metal inside the hitch receiver. This makes it where the hauler is taut and cannot wobble. I've seen anti-wobble devices that go around the hitch receiver and "clamp" the hauler down instead and I don't like those.

This video was shot with a literal potato but you can kind of get the gist of how it works.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZORG8aZzH_g

 

Also, one thing with dirt bikes whether it be with a hauler or truck bed, you can always park your truck in a way where you don't have to push it up a ramp. Doesn't work if your destination is flat though.

 

For me, it was where my hip bone juts out a few inches left of my belly button, and where that one bone juts out, on the inside of your arm at the elbow.

I basically hit the ground in superman position, arms forward, but favoring my right side, and it was old gravel, so loose stuff everywhere. I sat in the shower for about half an hour picking pieces of debris out of my road rash wth tweezers for what felt like 2 hours before taking a clean brush and peroxide and scrubbing the hell out of it. I really should've gone to the doc, but was young, couldn't afford medical insurance, was scared what it'd cost.

But yeah. short sleeves. Wouldn't have helped my hip bone much, the street pulled my pants down past my ass cheeks in the process.

Live and learn.

Actually had something super similar happen holding onto the back of my grandma's Trans Am riding a skateboard down the street to the local fishing hole, so conversation isn't necessarily limited to motorcycles.

 

That’s how my grandpa always loaded the Honda fat cat, back up to a little burm or hill and throw a 2x8 down and drive on into the bed

 

Yep exactly! My driveway dips in front of my garage so I just have to put the rear tires in the dip and then my receiver is about a foot above the ground.

 

Man I need to get to texas so I can bring that fat cat home and have another money pit in the garage! I grew up riding it, so we’ve got some history! Probably tare it down and possibly rebuild the motor, or maybe just tare it down and spruce everything up. Only made for 2 years in the 80s TR200 Fat Cat, I looked it up, the TR stands for Totally Radical

 

If i can make it to t2s want me to bring it? I head to houston once a month. And on my way, if i order an iron bull i’ll pick it up in casa grande.

 

Let me grease some wheels and I’ll let you know!

 

I'm pretty sure my neighbor has one of those that's a little torn up. He doesn't want to take it with him with he moves soon so I might try to work myself in ther.

When I helped my pops start his old YZ after it sat for twenty years, it started on the 8th kick and all it took was a fresh tank of gas. You never know!

 

I had a Honda 90 ATV growing up and that's what we did sometimes. Dad would backup to hill, lower the tailgate and I would drive right into the bed. If that wasn't available we had two long 2x6 boards we would use. One time my dad failed to shut the tailgate for some reason and took off down the driveway with the Honda in the back. It rolled right out of the bed. Back two tires hit first then the front. Didn't hurt it a bit but scared the shit out of him haha.

 

I’ve been waiting 2 months for new tires with no info on delivery time, so I think I’ll try to find a different size. Good thing I’m slapping in some 4.88’s.

 

My buddy was trying to convince me on 4.88 but I feel like that’s to much, what say you?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnAeohceFrM

 

I spent a year convinced 4.56’s were the right choice but everyone said 4.88’s due to the weight I always carry and towing. Very glad now that I’m gonna go 35’s instead of keeping the 34’s.

 

bonus Taco points. minus scooter points.
https://youtu.be/GrmvcE0dzww

 

If things align I’ll give you a 4.88 review before too long.