Motorcycle advice...

[Crashride]

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

I'm not real light, but I think I'm done growing.

I'm really not looking for a lot of power or speed. I've been toodling around town on a little 49cc scooter and really enjoy it. And my wife's car is toast, so I was thinking about giving her the Explorer and me getting a bike.

But I'm not looking to take this thing on the interstate - we're talking driving to and from work, the occasional 30-mile ride out of town or something. No touring since my wife has no desire whatsoever.

I just want to chime in real quick and tell you I think either bike you choose is a great choice for your first bike. I also want to thank you for being smart and deciding to make your first choice for a bike a good one. A lot of guys bite off more than they can chew and hurt themselves or others. Will you grow out of it? Sure. Get a new one after you have got all the noob out of your riding, and are a master of that bike. Which will take longer than you think.
As far as the bike, the goldwing is a little bit heavier. If your strong then you cant go wrong either choice. Personally I lean towards the vulcan. Ride safe sir.

[Dayze]

Originally Posted by Crashride

I just want to chime in real quick and tell you I think either bike you choose is a great choice for your first bike. I also want to thank you for being smart and deciding to make your first choice for a bike a good one. A lot of guys bite off more than they can chew and hurt themselves or others. Will you grow out of it? Sure. Get a new one after you have got all the noob out of your riding, and are a master of that bike. Which will take longer than you think.
As far as the bike, the goldwing is a little bit heavier. If your strong then you cant go wrong either choice. Personally I lean towards the vulcan. Ride safe sir.

This happened to me on Saturday night about 11pm on 435.
Dude just ‘came on over’ into my lane;
I usually ride with the bike in the power band for this reason; a simple twist of the throttle and I was by him in no time. He didn’t even see me until iwas past him.

This is also why I ride a bit more spirited in traffic – maybe 5-10 MPH faster than traffic (not rush hour mind you) so I don’t end up in some jacka** blindspot.

[pr_capone]

Originally Posted by wild1

there may have been situations in history where an engine's power saved someone and whacking the throttle was the best option to avoid that, but it's a one in a million situation. it's out of the same school where "i had to lay it down" comes from. it is something a person says to make them feel better about their performance in a situation but it's not true.

see below

Originally Posted by Dayze

This happened to me on Saturday night about 11pm on 435.
Dude just ‘came on over’ into my lane;
I usually ride with the bike in the power band for this reason; a simple twist of the throttle and I was by him in no time. He didn’t even see me until iwas past him.

I have more than a few stories that sound the exact same.

[wild1]

Originally Posted by pr_capone

see below



I have more than a few stories that sound the exact same.

common sense tells us that braking puts distance between you and a car going the same direction faster than accelerating does.

[pr_capone]

Originally Posted by wild1

common sense tells us that braking puts distance between you and a car going the same direction faster than accelerating does.

A car can break faster than a car can and be WAY more stable. They cannot, generally speaking, keep up with the acceleration of a bike.

When in trouble on the road, it is preferable to wick the throttle to get past any danger as opposed to stomp on the break in a panic and run the risk of braking too hard with your back break and having the rear tire come around on you or having the car break with you and still come in your lane.

[wild1]

Originally Posted by pr_capone

A car can break faster than a [bike] can and be WAY more stable.

[pr_capone]

Originally Posted by wild1

You see... a car is held off the ground by 4 wheels which makes braking a MUCH easier thing to do than it is on 2 wheels.

The 4 wheels won't come out from under you unlike 2 wheels tend to do when you jam on the brakes.

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by wild1

Yea, Mr. Pr_Capone did kind of butcher that one.
What he means is that the average car can brake, not break, down to a stop from any given speed in a shorter distance than the average motorcycle. And he is correct, because they have more contact patches, tires, to transmit the braking forces to the ground.

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by Dayze

This happened to me on Saturday night about 11pm on 435.
Dude just ‘came on over’ into my lane;
I usually ride with the bike in the power band for this reason; a simple twist of the throttle and I was by him in no time. He didn’t even see me until iwas past him.

This is also why I ride a bit more spirited in traffic – maybe 5-10 MPH faster than traffic (not rush hour mind you) so I don’t end up in some jacka** blindspot.

Agreed. On a motorcycle your advantage is you have speed and agility over everything else around you. The best way to make use of that is to get out in front of people and be seen. Dicking around in someone’s blind spot is a good way to wind up eating curb.