General questions about motorcycles?

Question

I know this sounds pretty stupid, but I am just very curious. WIth gas prices going up I was thinking about getting a motor bike. Not a moped or anything like that, but a real motorcycle.

First of all, you must know that I have never learned how to ride a bicycle, so I have no experience with two wheeled vehicles. I drive a stick shift and consider myself a pretty good driver. So, How long do you guys think it would take for me to learn how to ride a motor bike?Where could I learn how to ride one? None of my friends have one. How safe is it? I would really like to stay alive for a few more decades. I'll mainly be driving around the city and on the freeway, no long trip or anything like that. Would I save that much more money on gas? How hard is it to get a license in the US? About how much should i expect to spend is a good used motorcycle? What type of motorcycle would be best for driving on the freeway and around the city?

I really appreciate your time, thanks

Answer 1

My daughter couldn't even drive a stick shift but she learned to operate a motorcycle at the Harley-Davidson dealers MSF approved  "Riders Edge" class.

(The regular Motorcycle Safety Foundation's " Basic Rider Course" is cheaper but we don't have an instructor in our town).

Motorcycling is a risky activity but you lesson the risk with the skills taught  in MSF class and from experienced riders. City riding poses more hazards than highway riding  but

I've been riding for several decades and haven't been killed, yet.

You can expect to get no less than 40 mpg.  

The Kawasaki Vulcan 500cc LTD is a good first bike that will get up on the highway.

http://www.msf-usa.org/

Answer 2

How long would it take to learn:

That depends on how long it takes you to learn how to (a) learn to ride a bicycle first.  My sister just could not pick it up for years.  I learned when I was pre-kindergarten.  And even after that you should really feel comfortable for a long time BEFORE getting on a bike.

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How safe it is:

http://home1.gte.net/res0ak9f/bike.htm

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Personally - I think all the people who are getting into riding just to save gas are fooling themselves.  It is really FUN but really dangerous.

Good Luck...

Answer 3

Honestly if you are just buying a bike for pure money savings on gas you are not really spending at all. $2000 to $4000 for a used bike, Registration fees $100-$200, New license at DMV $25, Riders Course couple $100 again, then Helmet $100 to $200, Jacket and other gear $300 or so. By that time you could of spent the money on gas. Its up to you, but get it because you want to learn have the money to invest and you will have fun.

Answer 4

A weekend if you take the MSF course.

Answer 5

You cannot take the MSF Basic Rider Course UNLESS you know how to balance and ride a bicycle.  Whomever told you to get a motorcycle and learn on it needs HIS head examined.  

You will hurt yourself, and/or someone.

Get a bicycle, learn how to balance and ride.  Don't even think of getting on a motorcycle until riding a bicycle is second nature to you.

Then, get a banged up, used, little 250 cc motorcycle.  Get what they use in the MSF BRC, a Honda Rebel or Nighthawk.  Light, easy to ride, and can stand a few drops.  YOU WILL DROP IT. Anyone who tells you you won't is lying.

And the sad statistic is this: 100% of self-taught, or other-taught motorcyclists, will have an accident in THE FIRST SIX MONTHS of riding.  Most of the lips here won't tell you that, because their macho gets in their way.  But I don't care.  I'm 63, and I don't have to flaunt my masculinity.  I want you to enjoy riding, and to do it safely.

Good luck.  The serious, grown-up riders here wish you the best.

Answer 6

Stay in a car you will live longer.

When you buy used, your buying someone elses headache

A starter 250 goes for $3500 or there abouts.

Answer 7

yeah you need to learn how to ride a bicycle first. motorcycle steering is different the bicycle steering though. on a bike you shortly crank the handle bars in the opposite way your going to turn to lean towards your turn then the handlebars point towards your turn. on a motorcycle at slow speeds its similar to this but at high speed you just turn the handle bars the opposite way you want to turn and the lean of the bike is enough to make a highway turn. sounds weird but its how it works.

Answer 8

The places that offer MSF courses by me won't take anyone that doesn't know how to ride a bicycle. You need to know how to balance on two wheels. Kinda like learning to walk before you run. :)

Bicycles are easy to come by, grab one and learn to ride it first.

Answer 9

Start by taking the motorcycle saftey class (probably offered by a local dealer or community college) - you can dump those bikes all u want n not have to worry about the damage. I never rode a motorcycle b4, and i learned in about 10 minutes...after 15 i was already jumping it...it probably will take you about 30 minutes or so to figure out the balancing/shifting weight on corners part, but you will probably be good with the clutch/gas ratios since u already drive a stick. But, overall, it will def take a little while to get comfortable with your bike and how it handles and your ability to controle it.

My motto is that the bike is only as safe as its rider - you have to be on the alert at ALL times. NEVER ASSUME ANYTHING...its a must when riding - people tend to look THROUGH you and to the car ahead, rather than at you..not such a good thing. My first day out i almost got mowed over by a friggen SCHOOL BUS b/c they looked through me and didnt even notice i was there (i had the right of way, but they wernt paying attention)

Yes, you will save a ton on gas. Im not sure what you drive now, but i gaurentee you'll save a great deal. (also, a note, whenever fillig up, get super/premium gas - its better for the engine, and with such a small tank, its totally worth it) My bike gets about 100 miles to the gallon, but most bikes get around 40-50+ depending on the size and how hard it is ridden.

Getting a motorcycle license is VERY hard, but with good reason..like i said, you have to be on the alert at all times..you never know whats gonna happen. Something could jump out or something could fall off/out of a car....hitting something hurts A LOT more on a bike than in a car lol. You have to be able to manuver your bike quickly and safely for obvious reasons, and thats exactally what they test for - they want to make sure youll be alive at the end of the day and not dump your bike and yourself b/c you couldnt do a serpentine swerve.

I would say start out with a small bike -  something like a 200-o350cc bike - if you get something too big, you may inadvertantly end up wheeling it or dropping it...smaller bikes are easier to handle. I started out on a 225 and am moving up to a 650 soon...ive been riding for about 3 months. So, that being said, start out small, but your gonna want something bigger quickly. Dont spend any more than 2000 to 2500 on your first bike, simply b/c you'll either get bored and wanna upgrade quickly, or youll dump it a lot (no point in dropping a nice bike lol), or if worst comes to worst, youll get plowed into, and its a lot better to total a 2k bike rather than a 10k one.

My sugesstion for bikes: if your lookig for an Enduro (street legal dirtbike) - Suzuki DR350 - its got just enough power to keep you going, but not too much, and will handle the highway fine.

Cruiser - A Kawasaki Vulcan - but one of the smaller models

Street Bike - Kawasaki Ninja 250 or 250R, or a 600 or 650 if you think you'll be a quick learner - either way, all of them will kick a** on the freeway and you'll look good doin it too.

Hope this helps

Answer 10

wow umm, I dont know how to past the first question, it probably will take you some what of a while to get used to a bike. usally i sugest a 600cc for beginners, but you dont even know how to ride a biccycle, I woulod suggest a 250-400cc because you prabably will drop the bike a few times( getting used to the weight differnce and how to slow down and that the slower you go the harder it is to keep the bike up). once you get your permit i would suggest you getting involved in some motorcycle saftey courses.(it will also lower you insurence.) It depends on how "used" the bike is. Because i got my bike(zx6r) for 8,400$(but that was new). Its safe to a point, every car that you see stoping at a stop sign, just think that they will pull out in front of you.even though that they might not, just suppose that they will. I wear bright color clothes( like bright green&orange)

Answer 11

learn to ride a bicycle first