The Motorcycle Thread

[acdcrock]

My Dad's had them since I was about 7 or 8. He started off with a Yamaha R6, then he got an R1 and since about 2007/8 he's had a Harley Davidson Softail. I loved them all, got my own gear.

Just a question to people here, would you recommend learning to ride a motorbike before learning to drive a car or do you think it matters? My dad told me I should try it and I think it would be a lot easier than a car (in general, not driving alone)

Saw the OP is getting a Ninja, those things are awesome, my Dad's friend had a green one and was really good at wheelies on them

[whofan]

My Dad's had them since I was about 7 or 8. He started off with a Yamaha R6, then he got an R1 and since about 2007/8 he's had a Harley Davidson Softail. I loved them all, got my own gear.

Just a question to people here, would you recommend learning to ride a motorbike before learning to drive a car or do you think it matters? My dad told me I should try it and I think it would be a lot easier than a car (in general, not driving alone)

Saw the OP is getting a Ninja, those things are awesome, my Dad's friend had a green one and was really good at wheelies on them

There are a lot of differences between cars and motorcycles in the way they drive. Since I learned on a car first, I can't say which way is better. However, I would imagine that it would be easier/less stressful to learn in a car first, because then you have less worry about mistakes. Once you get down the basics of driving, then you can switch over to learning on a bike.

However, that's just my opinion, take it with an extreme grain of salt.

Maybe someone who learned on a bike in the first place can tell us of the experience of doing it that way first.

[Sayburr]

Just a question to people here, would you recommend learning to ride a motorbike before learning to drive a car or do you think it matters? My dad told me I should try it and I think it would be a lot easier than a car (in general, not driving alone)

You make a mistake in a car, you dent a fender... You make a mistake on a bike, you break bones.

Best advice, go to a motorcycle riding course. I took one after riding for 20 years and learned some stuff that really was helpful. They teach you what your limits are in a controlled environment.

[whofan]

You make a mistake in a car, you dent a fender... You make a mistake on a bike, you break bones.

Best advice, go to a motorcycle riding course. I took one after riding for 20 years and learned some stuff that really was helpful. They teach you what your limits are in a controlled environment.

It's a required part of the graduated licencing in Quebec (You get your 6R after writing a written test, and this allows you to ride ONLY for the purposes of taking a course and doing the closed circuit test at the SAAQ). Personally I think it's a great idea, but it's damned expensive in Quebec.

[acdcrock]

It's a required part of the graduated licencing in Quebec (You get your 6R after writing a written test, and this allows you to ride ONLY for the purposes of taking a course and doing the closed circuit test at the SAAQ). Personally I think it's a great idea, but it's damned expensive in Quebec.

You must be from the UK, with a Blackadder quote like that but yet you say you're in Canada...

*confused*

[animemetalhead]

As for the motorbike/car first question, I'd say start on a small dirtbike, like a YZ80 or 125, something in that range. Generally you won't be going fast enough to really hurt yourself should you make a mistake (Hell, I even jumped the thing my first time on it, after only riding 50cc minibikes before that).

Of course, automatics kinda defy the point, they make damn near everything easier. But what kind of wuss drives an automatic?

[Banky71]

You must be from the UK, with a Blackadder quote like that but yet you say you're in Canada...

*confused*

I live in NY and have Blackadder, Black Books and Father Ted on DVD.

[Dante1847]

My dad's talking about getting a Yamaha R6, he mentioned an R1 but decided he didn't want to die on the way home from the dealership

Yamaha makes the best 600ccs in the world, so he might want to reconsider that.

[animemetalhead]

Yamaha makes the best 600ccs in the world, so he might want to reconsider that.

Apparently he's been practicing on his friends Honda CBR600, but said friend also rides that bike at the track (the twisty kind, not drag racing), so... I dunno. It's his decision, I just want an enduro at some point, it's cheaper here in Washington than owning a car: no insurance required.

[whofan]

You must be from the UK, with a Blackadder quote like that but yet you say you're in Canada...

*confused*

I'm a Canuck (Born in Alberta, raised partially in Ontario, and now live in Quebec), but I'm a HUGE Blackadder fan.

I've been told by my family that my sense of humour is very British.