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souzafone · 02-21-2008, 03:16 AM

I've had my bike license for over 30 years, got it when I was 16, so I've gotta try. Most any bike over 250cc's will get close to 100. The problem is, if it takes 9,000 rpms to reach 100 do you want to cruise on the hiway at 80mph taching 7 grand? But that's for later. First thing is safety. No it's not like a big, heavy, fast bicycle. People who learn how to drive before they learn how to ride have the worst habits to break. Imagine what happens, riding slowly even, going around an easy turn on a nice day when you hit a patch of leaves. Leaves are always wet. In a car you feel nothing, one or two tires roll over it, but the loss of traction isn't felt because of the wheels still making contact, the weight of the car, and the center of gravity. On a bike you lose traction on the leaves, then gain it back suddenly. The higher the speed, the less the handlebars are relied on to turn. You don't turn, you lean. Picture what happens when you're leaned over, lose traction for a sec, then regain it while rounding a corner on a vehicle with a high center of gravity. This is called high siding. Until you have enough expertise to negotiate something like that without thinking twice, you're a hazard to yourself. There's at least a thousand other examples, wet RR crossings not at 90 degrees, left over winter road sand, spilled fuel, coolant or oil. To be safe I would recommend learning to ride in the dirt first. Learning to ride slow is more beneficial than learning how to go fast. Learn how to ride up hills, down hills, and across hills, on wet clay, over rocks and downed limbs and you'll go a long way to becoming part of bike as you ride. Never go alone. What's your mechanical aptitude like? At your price range you're talking about carburetors instead of injection, and chain drive instead of belt, more than likely. Nothing worse than seeing a weekend warrior type on the side of the road waiting for AAA that hasn't the ability to even check a fuel filter. In my opinion, bike licenses are way too easy to get, because the consequences of learning the basics after you get licensed are to steep. Good luck.

02-21-2008, 03:16 AM	#7 (permalink)
souzafone Insane	I've had my bike license for over 30 years, got it when I was 16, so I've gotta try. Most any bike over 250cc's will get close to 100. The problem is, if it takes 9,000 rpms to reach 100 do you want to cruise on the hiway at 80mph taching 7 grand? But that's for later. First thing is safety. No it's not like a big, heavy, fast bicycle. People who learn how to drive before they learn how to ride have the worst habits to break. Imagine what happens, riding slowly even, going around an easy turn on a nice day when you hit a patch of leaves. Leaves are always wet. In a car you feel nothing, one or two tires roll over it, but the loss of traction isn't felt because of the wheels still making contact, the weight of the car, and the center of gravity. On a bike you lose traction on the leaves, then gain it back suddenly. The higher the speed, the less the handlebars are relied on to turn. You don't turn, you lean. Picture what happens when you're leaned over, lose traction for a sec, then regain it while rounding a corner on a vehicle with a high center of gravity. This is called high siding. Until you have enough expertise to negotiate something like that without thinking twice, you're a hazard to yourself. There's at least a thousand other examples, wet RR crossings not at 90 degrees, left over winter road sand, spilled fuel, coolant or oil. To be safe I would recommend learning to ride in the dirt first. Learning to ride slow is more beneficial than learning how to go fast. Learn how to ride up hills, down hills, and across hills, on wet clay, over rocks and downed limbs and you'll go a long way to becoming part of bike as you ride. Never go alone. What's your mechanical aptitude like? At your price range you're talking about carburetors instead of injection, and chain drive instead of belt, more than likely. Nothing worse than seeing a weekend warrior type on the side of the road waiting for AAA that hasn't the ability to even check a fuel filter. In my opinion, bike licenses are way too easy to get, because the consequences of learning the basics after you get licensed are to steep. Good luck.