The Motorcycle Thread

[drummer7795]

Any Ebeans riders out there? For those of us in the freezing balls cold right now, spring is going to be much more awesomer after this deep freeze. For those of you already out riding, drymount yourselves. Kinda. Be safe though, and I'm jealous of your climate at the moment.

This will be my first season out on a bike, and I can't wait. Everyone who told me winter sucks more when you're a motorcycle owner, is right.

Got my permit, and soon buying a starter bike from a friend and experienced rider.

Yamaha Maxim 650



Taking a safety course in April for the insurance reduction/license waiver to get everything legal.

Post pics of your ride, your dream bike, your gear, talk shop, talk mods, talk fudge, whatever.

I'm definitely in to learning how to work on a bike, so the more suggestions and tips and how to's the better.

Choppers, crotch rockets, all bikes welcome.

[wneff]

Hey! Yamaha 650 Maxim was my first and only motorcycle, same color and everything. Fun bike.

I swore off motorcycles until the kids are all grown up, but I will ride again...

[jamesgunter]

i had an 81 Heritage Softail back in school but i sold it years ago.



now whenever i get the urge to ride, my buddy has a few motorcycles with side cars so this is my current ride

[fanboy]

My 2003 XR50. Fully tricked out for an adult rider.

[wneff]

My wife and I are thinking of getting his and hers dual sport bikes in a few years, so we can go on backcounty tours here in the Rockies. Any Ebeaners ride dual sport?

[rka00]

Yamaha Maxim 650



Taking a safety course in April for the insurance reduction/license waiver to get everything legal.

Post pics of your ride, your dream bike, your gear, talk shop, talk mods, talk fudge, whatever.

I'm definitely in to learning how to work on a bike, so the more suggestions and tips and how to's the better.

Choppers, crotch rockets, all bikes welcome.

You've got a great first/beginner's bike there and taking the safety course is the way to go. The beginner's course will teach you some great basic skills on a 250 (or at least that's what they gave us) and the classroom time was good to learn the techniques that you will use on your daily rides.
After you take the beginner's course, at a later time, I highly recommend the Intermediate course. We were able to bring our own bike and learn advanced techniques like panic stopping, swerving, riding very slow, etc. It's a must to know your bike and how it rides/reacts/it's personality. Take it out in an open parking lot and practice, practice, practice.

My wife and I are thinking of getting his and hers dual sport bikes in a few years, so we can go on backcounty tours here in the Rockies. Any Ebeaners ride dual sport?

I ride dual sports infrequently, but when I do I ride my friend's Honda 230L. Are you a beginner? It's an easy bike to learn on, stable, low seat height, and electric start. Plenty of power for me in the dirt and can go about 65/70 (max) on paved roads.

[yostarama]

Well this is my first street legal bike...I was informed last summer it's my sons not mine!!! It's a 1979 Harley Davidson FLH.

[wneff]

My wife and I are thinking of getting his and hers dual sport bikes in a few years, so we can go on backcounty tours here in the Rockies. Any Ebeaners ride dual sport?

I ride dual sports infrequently, but when I do I ride my friend's Honda 230L. Are you a beginner? It's an easy bike to learn on, stable, low seat height, and electric start. Plenty of power for me in the dirt and can go about 65/70 (max) on paved roads.

I was still a beginner when I sold my last bike a couple decades ago, so yeah...total noob. Last time, I learned enough to know I need to learn a lot more. We will def take classes when we start dual sporting. And thanks for the advice, any more you have is appreciated.

[rka00]

My wife and I are thinking of getting his and hers dual sport bikes in a few years, so we can go on backcounty tours here in the Rockies. Any Ebeaners ride dual sport?

I ride dual sports infrequently, but when I do I ride my friend's Honda 230L. Are you a beginner? It's an easy bike to learn on, stable, low seat height, and electric start. Plenty of power for me in the dirt and can go about 65/70 (max) on paved roads.

I was still a beginner when I sold my last bike a couple decades ago, so yeah...total noob. Last time, I learned enough to know I need to learn a lot more. We will def take classes when we start dual sporting. And thanks for the advice, any more you have is appreciated.

Being a beginner, the 225-230cc dual sport is a good choice for dirt and street to get used to being "back in the saddle again." It's just great versatility.
But, if you really want to learn how to dirt ride I'd go with a 150-175cc and trade-up to more cc's later, if needed. You may not find one plated so you can ride on the street, but you'll learn how to ride dirt probably better than being on a 225-230cc. Partially due to being more confident tossing a lighter bike around and feeling more in control.

One thing to consider is that if your freeways/streets are pretty chaotic, you may find that the 225-230cc dual sport may not be enough power (on demand) for you, especially to get out of sticky situations fast. And it'll be a lot of stress on the motor winding it out all the time on the freeway. Local roads should be fine though.

[wapalms]

Check out. http://www.advrider.com. Some terrific advice and stories on here

[mlinderer]

That Yamaha Maxim 650 is a great looking bike and I almost bought the same exact one as my first bike, but instead got a Suziki GZ250 from a friend. I'll mimic what someone else said and say that I would strongly recommend avoiding anything over 55 mph on a 250cc bike. I rode my starter bike one an Iowa interstate once for about 15 miles and it scared the fudge out of me and I never did it again. Now I'll ride my current bike, 2013 Yamaha Bolt R-spec 950 on the Chicago highways and not even flinch at the traffic.

[mlinderer]

This is why I started riding, my grandpas Harley jacket from the 1950's... probably the most sentimental item I own. I had to fight my aunts for this to make sure I wound up with it once my grandpa passed away a few years back. He had been a lifetime motorcycle enthusiast and I wish I had one of his bikes but the had all been sold years ago. I've got a Yamaha jacket of his too that is probably from the 80's that I'll post over the weekend.

[yostarama]

934820_4296877074782_1949412980_n.jpg (169.58 KiB) Viewed 2057 times

Not my bikes but every year the antique motorcycle club has a national swap meet in oley Pa and this is my favorite swap meet every year. if theres ever a national antique swap meet near you go!!!

[wapalms]

I've a few, been a bike nut for years.
Had this since new, 21 years

Done some long days on this one.

Just for fun

Learned to ride in the dirt which is a pretty good background, get the hang of sliding, and the falling off bit.

[fanboy]

Anybody here race moto? I raced for a few years when I was in my early 20s. Sold my YZ 125 to buy the XR50 I posted above. I really miss racing and hope to get back at it one of these days. I'll be able to enter the vet class pretty soon so I don't have to deal with the crazy fast, out of control kids in C class anymore.