I totally agree with loki. If you don't feel it in your heart. Don't buy a bike. You'll end up an organ donor. You'll go out there unaware and unprepared for the whole motorcycle riding experience and inevetably be disappointed. If in fact you really feel your a biker deap down, buy a used bike similar to what you would like and take all the driving schools. They're not a complete replacement for years of street time, but they will prepare you well for the danger that lurks out there. Finally, if you choose to buy one, don't ride out the driveway without a full face helmet. I've hit the pavement many times and have excellent visual memories of pavement scraping by my visor.
I sincerely believe I was born to ride. I grew up on dirt bikes, moved up to crotch rockets and now I've settled on my Gold Wing. If I had unlimited cash, there would be a Honda CR, Honda RC51, Honda Valkerie, 2001 Honda Gold Wing SE and last but not least a Harley Fat Boy in my garage. Since I haven't got the cash; the Gold Wing was my choice. I can ride it all day without pain. I can drive it damn near as good as many crotch rocket pilots because I know it's and my limits. It actually handles quites well and it's pretty quick for a heavyweight. Thanks Loki for the words of wisdom.

 

Oh yeah back in the day I used to race Motocross and short track, but never on a Pro level. Musta been fun Mindcore! LOL I remember practicing at the old Loudon NH TT track and going around the track backwards, launching off a jump wayyyy to high when tired, landing on the front wheel from 16 feet of altitude and dislocating both shoulders... Man that s*cked, couldn't race for 8 weeks...

 

Wirejock, you buy the new model wing? thinking about selling the ZX, just to hard on my knees. Do you like it??

 

Nah, I'm keeping my '93 Gold Wing. She's been good to me and still looks new. I wish I could afford the Stook and a new Wing. They're both available in yellow for 2001. I'll settle (ha,ha) for my Roxanne when she arrives in Feb. or Mar.

 

Well your right. Racing was the most fun I think I have ever had. Lucky for me I was a factory rider for Honda. Free bikes, lots of cash and chicks galore. All that thrust upon a 17 year old kid. I raced for 3 1/2 years until I tabletopped to the left on the last jump ( I was leading ) and nailed a guy mid air ( back marker ) fell from about 22 feet and shattered my knee cap. I tried my best to get back into shape but it was just too painfull. I couldn't even make the top 15 on the last races of the season. So alas my sponsorships, the cash,..and the chicks left me by the wayside. As a result I'm 27, 2 bad knees, bad back, I groan when I sit down, and feel my multiple fractured wrists ache when its cold. But I wouldn't trade it for anything. First thing I will buy my kids when they can walk is a dirt bike

 

Ok, my son is 12.

Two rules...

1) NO FOOTBALL (did my knees in)

2) Learn to Ride gave him a Honda fourtrax 90, and he is ready for a 300. Might do a MX bike, not sure...

I miss flying through the air... Landings would not be pretty with my load (300 lbs) on it now....

 

For those interested:

The new F4i: looks really nice up close at the moto show and having a few F2's before, I can attest they are excellent street bikes.


http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mchonda/01f4i.html

the new 2001 R6:


http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mcyam/01r6.html

and the successor to the Uber-bike of touring:



Keep the shiny side up!
-loki

p.s. can't wait till I can clock 1500mi/mo riding again... thank goodness it only rains here so I can still ride during the winter otherwise the 2-wheel itch would be REALLY bad.

p.p.s. At least with the Stook, women can talk to you more openly when they come up next to you. I get the seductive looks on the bike as well but I think most think motorcyclists are unapproachable.

 

Man that is one wild yellow ride...

 

I got a YZF600R in July after taking the MSF course. I grew up around car racing and have always been into speed and adrenaline, but I wasn't really into bikes until I became friends with this gorgeous woman who had a thing for sportbikes... Silly me. Anyway, this summer things finally worked out so I could get a bike. Really, it's not nearly as fun for me as the S2000. I think there's a couple reasons - first, I'm still new to bikes so I'm nervous and trying to take things easy. Second, it's extremely difficult to really use a bike's full potential on city streets. With the S2000 I can usually run it up through third gear on the onramps without much problem, push it a bit on a cloverleaf, or step the rear out on a low speed 90degree turn, plus I have plenty of autocross and DE opportunities. With the bike, if I flog it on the street, I'm looking at jail time or death in just a few seconds if something goes wrong. I usually find myself just tooling along at 4-5000rpm. I plan to stick with it though - eventually I'd like to get out on the track, at least for DE type events. And I should join a riding club of some sort - I don't know too many good roads around Dallas. A few visits to the 1/4mi would be nice, too.

I'd say get the S2000 first.

 

Loki,

Best advice so far, I agree with everything you have said. Nice choice of rides BTW. I have a silverstone S2000 and a Red VFR myself.

Anyone who has never ridden before should not start with a machine that does 0-60 in 3 seconds. It just does not leave you enough TIME for recovering from a mistake. Get something more forgiving to start. The new Triumph Bonniville looks REAL sweet and has a powerband more suitable for a new rider.

TAKE THE MSF COURSE!