Enough already

"ImmoralMinority" (araimondo) 04/09/2019 at 22:31 • Filed to: None

4

25

Wind blew a palm tree over, where it hit a water spigot and broke the pipe. Plumber on the way.

I had a bad vehicle shopping experience. I went to look at motorcycles, and was overwhelmed by the choices, and could not even remotely get a handle on what kind of bike I might like to own. It was discouraging.

I also realized that after exclusively riding twist and go scooters for the last 3 or 4 years, I have no confidence in my skills on a full size, manual transmission motorcycle. I am not sure I even trust myself for a test ride. This is a problem. A part of me says it would all come back to me, but the other part points put that I have never bee more than a novice on a bike.

My wife s uggested that I  take the CHP class again with her, because she wants to take it. I feel a little bummed out about the whole thing. Weird malaise today. Tomorrow will be better. Leg day at the trainer, so I get to suffer, so that will distract me tomorrow morning.

bob and john > ImmoralMinority 04/09/2019 at 22:38

3

you are starting as a new rider, but you have some road experience . dont worry too much about it.

my advice? its your first bike. its like buying your first car. at the end of the day, you do not know enough to tell the difference between a civic and a corolla. set some base standa rds (it has to be under 5k, it has to have ABS, it has to be a naked/sport/cruiser. stuff like that ) and stay under 500 CC if not a cruiser, under 800 if a cruiser. and under 10 years old.

from there, its pretty much whats the best deal you can find, best color, and whats actually available.

If you want more advice or to send me some link/questions, you have my facebook :) You aren bugging me, Bman sent me links for MONTHS before he bought his XSR (which I still think is a LOT of bike to start with, but his ass not mine)

Jayvincent > ImmoralMinority 04/09/2019 at 22:39

13

Stupid Palm tree... that’s what happens when you skip root day.

Nibby > ImmoralMinority 04/09/2019 at 22:42

2

HoustonRunner > ImmoralMinority 04/09/2019 at 22:46

1

Drive the GTI, it will help.

glemon > ImmoralMinority 04/09/2019 at 22:47

1

I got back on a bike briefly a couple years ago after, I don’t know maybe 20-25 years. I kind of wondered how it would go, but it all comes back to you, just like...you know. It wasn’t a big monster bike, just an old Kaw asaki, but muscle memory, throttle, clutch, shift, steer, all kicked right back in immediately.

gettingoldercarguy > ImmoralMinority 04/09/2019 at 22:47

2

That blows! Pun intended. For the motorcycle stuff, buy used, keep it simple.  What type of hole are you looking for?  I rode crotch rockets during undergrad.  I wanted a triumph 675r for a while, but since having kids and realizing both how slow my reaction times are along with how inattentive drivers are, I don't dare ride. Plus there's always that hidden patch of gravel, oil, etc.  

gettingoldercarguy > bob and john 04/09/2019 at 22:47

0

Naked is best

shop-teacher > ImmoralMinority 04/09/2019 at 22:47

0

That’s some crappy luck with the water spigot.

Taking the CHP class with your wife is a good idea.

Merfthemadmauler > ImmoralMinority 04/09/2019 at 22:48

0

On the upside it didn’t fall on your pool infrastructure.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > ImmoralMinority 04/09/2019 at 22:48

2

I always imagined the inside of a palm tree to be like the inside of a pineapple.

bob and john > gettingoldercarguy 04/09/2019 at 22:48

1

meh, did the naked thing, not that great on freeways. Selling the naked now :)

CRider > ImmoralMinority 04/09/2019 at 22:49

1

Take the course, it can’t hurt. As for motorcycles, that’s largely personal preference although you can’t go wrong with a 250cc dual sport in my heavily biased opinion- no other bike will be as friendly toward a beginner rider, as easy to ride, or as resistant to abuse. The Yamaha WR250R is a great choice. 

TheRevanchist > ImmoralMinority 04/09/2019 at 22:49

1

I’m at work still.  My office has a gutter that is loose and keeps flapping the breeze, sounding like a damn helicopter.  And my eyes are burning.  Extra allergy meds tonight!

gettingoldercarguy > bob and john 04/09/2019 at 22:54

0

Oh yeah, that part sucks.  Most people I know went to adventure or sport tourers.

nermal > ImmoralMinority 04/09/2019 at 22:56

6

You already know how to ride a scooter, a real bike isn’t much different. You seem to enjoy both your Vespa and your GTI. Vespa is owned by Piaggio, who also own Aprilia. The new RSV4 1100 costs about as much as a GTI and has about the same amount of horsepower. Plus it has winglet s! You should totally get one:

My reasoning is flawless and inarguable here.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ImmoralMinority 04/09/2019 at 22:58

3

My [unsolicited] advice: drive the Sunchaser and put the roof down and leave the motorcycles to the twenty-somethings.

TheRealBicycleBuck > ImmoralMinority 04/09/2019 at 23:06

2

If you are feeling iffy about going to a full manual transmission, Honda has several options with their dual-clutch automatic transmission.

If you want a funky cruiser/tourer, look at the CTX700

If you want a more adventure-oriented bike, look at one of the Africa Twins .

If you’re more of a cruiser, this might fit the bill:

bob and john > gettingoldercarguy 04/09/2019 at 23:09

1

I actually went ST - Naked - supersports

gettingoldercarguy > bob and john 04/09/2019 at 23:13

1

A few older riders stuck on liter bikes, every racer in my ride group rode adv or sport tourer and were consistently faster, looking slower than any of us race rep riders.  Nothing like watching somebody on a vstrom with bags drag a knee.

DipodomysDeserti > ImmoralMinority 04/10/2019 at 03:40

0

Too much water on that palm. Had 75 mph winds at my house last summer and had several mesquites and a saguaro take a spill on my street . My yard was untouched and I’m the only one without a drip system. Desert plants take longer to grow but they’ll outlive you if you water them properly (meaning never).

DipodomysDeserti > ImmoralMinority 04/10/2019 at 03:47

1

Good luck on the bike. I’d sugeest something old, slow and Japanese.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > ImmoralMinority 04/10/2019 at 03:58

0

Ever consider an electric bike?

It's currently 1:50 am. I've been up six times. My 2.5 year old got sick and puked in her bed, then came into our bed and puked in it. My 4 year old just woke up, and was wanting to come into our bed, but I had to explain the situation. Try reasoning with a tired four year old when you are also exhausted.

bhtooefr > BaconSandwich is tasty. 04/10/2019 at 05:16

0

Yeah, I was thinking maybe an electric would be a good idea. Motorcycle instead of scooter riding positions, better performance, but still twist-and-go.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > gettingoldercarguy 04/10/2019 at 07:50

0

At least you won't get that special road-induced wedgie if you're naked.

Kiltedpadre > ImmoralMinority 04/10/2019 at 08:34

0

The answer to which bike is an easy one, Ural. That way you already have a sidecar for Toby.

If you don’t want to do the full CHP course check with American Motorcycle Association representatives in your area. They sometimes offer refresher courses to help folks get back into riding that haven’t done it in awhile.