Who here rides motorcycles?

[Demondosage]

So I’m sort of having a mid life crisis here. My friend and I want to do a tour from the east coast out to Vegas on bikes, and I’d like to pick up a sport touring bike anyways so I can hit the mountains in my free time. I’ve ridden dirtbikes for the past 10 years or so, but I’ve never owned a street bike. I keep fighting this battle in my head or wanting to do something different and enjoyable but not wanting to be a statistic.

I know my son will want to join me and I was thinking abt starting him off on a Yamaha R3. I was going to most likely sign him up for one of those riding schools where they teach track skills such as cornering and knowing a bikes limits as well as a riders safety. Then I was trying to make compromises with myself like the only way he or I would ride is to be geared up on destination trips, as in not riding around town through a bunch of intersections and shit. I feel like the highways are actually safer than in town.

So there’s this part of me that’s for it, then there is this other part of me that sees all the fuckwads not paying attention on phones and shit. If I get my bike then I’m just telling him it’s ok to get one, even if I didn’t get him one. Then there’s a part of me that says that it’s better he rides with me and takes a class or two rather than learning from some dumbass on a bike that’s too much for him. Anyone here ride? What are your thoughts?

 

[Mac11wildcat]

Is he going to ride regardless of your blessing or not? I know I did. My dad rode all his life until he couldn't due to injury, including cross country, and he was opposed but couldn't stop me.

I say if it's going to be a thing anyways. Get him a suitable bike, get him some training, ride with him on shorter rides to build confidence, and plan a trip for when he's a suitably skilled rider.

You do lose me on the R3 thing though, unless you're going to let him upgrade shortly when he's ready. 300s are horrendously underwhelming.

 

[Demondosage]

Is he going to ride regardless of your blessing or not? I know I did. My dad rode all his life until he couldn't due to injury, including cross country, and he was opposed but couldn't stop me.

I say if it's going to be a thing anyways. Get him a suitable bike, get him some training, ride with him on shorter rides to build confidence, and plan a trip for when he's a suitably skilled rider.

You do lose me on the R3 thing though, unless you're going to let him upgrade shortly when he's ready. 300s are horrendously underwhelming.

Well, we are talking about a 15 yr old kid here who is currently on a Honda 150R dirtbike. I feel like a 600 would just be too much for him to start with, even the R3 will go about 0-60 in something like 5 seconds

 

[Demondosage]

Well shit, I just looked up the 150r specs and that is 0-60 in 5.1 seconds, hahaha, maybe you’re right

 

[Mac11wildcat]

Well, we are talking about a 15 yr old kid here who is currently on a Honda 150R dirtbike. I feel like a 600 would just be too much for him to start with, even the R3 will go about 0-60 in something like 5 seconds

Didn't realize this was a 15yr old but if he's been riding dirt and does it well that 300 is gonna be boring as fuck lol

 

[Demondosage]

Didn't realize this was a 15yr old but if he's been riding dirt and does it well that 300 is gonna be boring as fuck lol

Ok, thanks for the info man. I may take him to one of the classes first, Yamaha puts on one where they have their own bikes, gear, pretty much everything for you to use. I may go that route first and see where he lands as far as bike control/selection

 

[ZDogg]

I’ll open with my opinions are pretty biased, but I’d be on a Harley. I grew up on dirt, and have ridden just about everything on 2 wheels, at some point or another. We usually do a 5,000 mile-ish trip around the US, every couple of summers, with a group of riders. As a 250lb dude, I sure as hell wouldn’t be riding a sport bike that far. If your 15 year old is decent on dirt, he’d be fine on a sportster or even a dyna to start, depending how big he is. I know chicks that are maybe 5’4” and under 120 riding Dynas. Sport bikes are fun on the track, or though the twisties, but all around, especially for long distance riding, they suck. Especially if you’re not 150lbs and bend like Gumby. Just my .02c, I’m sure there are people that will agree, and people that won’t.

 

[Demondosage]

I’ll open with my opinions are pretty biased, but I’d be on a Harley. I grew up on dirt, and have ridden just about everything on 2 wheels, at some point or another. We usually do a 5,000 mile-ish trip around the US, every couple of summers, with a group of riders. As a 250lb dude, I sure as hell wouldn’t be riding a sport bike that far. If your 15 year old is decent on dirt, he’d be fine on a sportster or even a dyna to start, depending how big he is. I know chicks that are maybe 5’4” and under 120 riding Dynas. Sport bikes are fun on the track, or though the twisties, but all around, especially for long distance riding, they suck. Especially if you’re not 150lbs and bend like Gumby. Just my .02c, I’m sure there are people that will agree, and people that won’t.

I think you misunderstood me, I said “sport touring.” I should have emphasized that the sport touring was for me and the sport bike for my son would be for shorter rides where he joins me but not the distance trips. Yes I agree, those things are tough to ride for more than a couple hours, I’m trying to get that through his head but you know how teenagers are….it has to look cool

 

[Mac11wildcat]

I think you misunderstood me, I said “sport touring.” I should have emphasized that the sport touring was for me and the sport bike for my son would be for shorter rides where he joins me but not the distance trips. Yes I agree, those things are tough to ride for more than a couple hours, I’m trying to get that through his head but you know how teenagers are….it has to look cool

I'm partial to sportbikes because its where I started and they're a fucking blast. If you buy a proper bike and have the appropriate core strength and riding skills they also aren't that bad long haul.

I took my first ride on a Dyna this summer and do agree they're more comfy, but a young athletic teenager should be ok on a sport bike. I always prefer maneuverability, but my ass is getting too big for sportbikes.

 

[Deskoze38192]

You mentioned track school. Well worth the time and money. I took Cornerspeed at Virginia International Raceway about 16 years ago and loved it. Highly recommend
I fell in love with the track after that.

That being said I would take some time before planning a long trip. Get very comfortable in all situations. Traffic, mountains, rain.
I’ve been riding for 28 years and I have raced and done many track days. As of last year I’m a Harley rider lol.
When your ready plan a trip to Deals Gap

 

[cdoubleu]

Anyone here ride? What are your thoughts?

I think you have good incite for never having had a street bike. You mention in town/city being more dangerous, you’re absolutely right.

I wasn’t much older than your son when I first got my motorcycle license. 17. I had never been on a street bike before. Previous experience had me on a Honda 250r Racing quad for a couple years. A good friend and I took a course that gave the opportunity at the end to use the bike you trained on all weekend for your license test. I took away a lot of good things from that course, stuff about a street bike that a guy just won’t know without riding experience or being told.

I believe that set me up for success. 20 years later and I still ride today. Best advice I can pass on to avoid being that statistic you mention; assume no one can see you, and never assume you have the right of way. When you’re riding a bike, especially if you’re gonna ride the way it’s meant to be ridden, you’re not thinking about anything else. You’re planning exit strategies as you approach intersections and imagining your manoeuvres around vehicles that might pull out in front you…because they will. Head on a swivel.

Happy riding man, it is an amazing thing.

 

[cdoubleu]

 

[Demondosage]

You mentioned track school. Well worth the time and money. I took Cornerspeed at Virginia International Raceway about 16 years ago and loved it. Highly recommend
I fell in love with the track after that.

That being said I would take some time before planning a long trip. Get very comfortable in all situations. Traffic, mountains, rain.
I’ve been riding for 28 years and I have raced and done many track days. As of last year I’m a Harley rider lol.
When your ready plan a trip to Deals Gap

I’m only a few hours from there, the parkway will be a staple I’m sure

 

[Deskoze38192]

I’m only a few hours from there, the parkway will be a staple I’m sure

That’s awesome!

Blue Ridge Parkway
Cherohala Skyway
Tail of the Dragon US129
The Snake US 421
Are all fun as hell roads

 

[Demondosage]

So I picked up this V strom 1000 the other day, hopefully I’ll get some good rides in this fall

 

[Deskoze38192]

So I picked up this V strom 1000 the other day, hopefully I’ll get some good rides in this fall

Great bike!
Have fun and be safe

 

[clearheaded]

yup very fun, but being in a couple fender benders in a truck that 100% were not my fault, only 1 of them I could of sneaked out of with a bike... otherwise woulda been something broken and some decent road rash as just use jeans. at any rate, if ride enough accident is going to happen.. on a bike its even more likely as folks dont see u and gravel or rock getting kicked up at u can really fuck up ur day.

safety gear is great and all but 1 expensive and 2 way less fun if have to get suited up to ride and be a million degrees and cant feel the wind.

 

[Demondosage]

That’s awesome!

Blue Ridge Parkway
Cherohala Skyway
Tail of the Dragon US129
The Snake US 421
Are all fun as hell roads

Did the rattler the other day, beautiful place to ride! But the highway construction going up there is really starting to piss me off

 

[Deskoze38192]

Did the rattler the other day, beautiful place to ride! But the highway construction going up there is really starting to piss me off

Very nice!!!
That must of been fun. Beautiful weather this time of year too

US 181 (I think…off the top of my head) The Cats Tail is another good one
Double lane through the mountains, so very wide. And big long ass sweeping curves.
Very enjoyable ride

 

[Demondosage]

Very nice!!!
That must of been fun. Beautiful weather this time of year too

US 181 (I think…off the top of my head) The Cats Tail is another good one
Double lane through the mountains, so very wide. And big long ass sweeping curves.
Very enjoyable ride

Appreciate the suggestion, definitely going to check it out!! Yea you can’t beat the weather up there rt now, it’s gorgeous!