Since Helsing did a thread on his prospective drivers license I thought maybe you could give me some advice as well. Will start my education towards a motorcycle license in early may and if you have any tips that would be great.
I've had a normal drivers license for over seven years now and my life atm is pretty much 90% made up of studying in school so I don't think traffic rules or studying for the theoretic tests will be an issue.
However I have literally never driven a motorcycle before, I have driven a moped but no more than about an hour in total. So I am pretty green at this but I've always wanted to get a motorcycle and now is a good time for me both financially and I have enough spare time to make it happen.
i've never understood ppl who own 200+km/h bikes and drive in the city with a speed limit, what's the point, yeah u can do like 110 on the freeway but that's about it, no rush no gain and when it's raining, i'm not even talking about snow, freezing your balls and shit
forget about it
owning a vehicle might as well get a car, music, ac/heater, your ass never covered in mud, chill out, can take at least 3 xtra passengers, shopping, transporting stuff, list goes on
bike is just uncomfy, unpractical NOT fast type of transportation [unless u enjoy to pay tickets till your license revoked]
I'm not even saying that this necessarily is for me, I might hate it, who knows.
But I always wanted to try and if I do end up hating it I guess it's not the end of the world. If I buy a used bike for the summer it wont cost more than 3000€ and if worse comes to worst I'll sell it for 2500€. With the education running 500-700€ I'm looking at "losing" 1000€~ in the worst case scenario where I finish the education and realize that I hate it after having bought a bike.
Mortibus, I have a car (a real crappy car) that I've had the last couple of years and yes it's nice to be able to do all the stuff you said but I don't wanna get a motorcycle to do any of those reasons. The reason I want a bike is to, like fisk said, feel alive and actually do get a little muddy
u might feel alot dead just after u will feel alive
You might also have some of the best memories of your life.
My dad vacationed together with his friends through Europe on a motor bike. He says that's one of the best memories of his life.
I recommend Long Way Down, and Long Way Around (w/ Ewan McGregor) for those at least slightly interested in motor bikes.
accidents happen, it's just easier to get killed on a bike
i'm pretty sure your dad has alot of expirence, but it won't help him if some drunk/sleepy semi driver will decide to take a nap behind the wheel
accidents happen, it's just easier to get killed on a bike
i'm pretty sure your dad has alot of expirence, but it won't help him if some drunk/sleepy semi driver will decide to take a nap behind the wheel
I don't have any tips for you, but i beleive i am a much better driver for being a rider also. i think all car drivers should take a licence on bikes just to make people more aware of bikers.
Being a rider will also teach you too read the road better and even more, be more aware of other car drivers, you wouldn't beleive what other drivers can do when your on a bike, and even if you have eye contact with a driver and you think they have seen you DON'T fookin risk it!
You will have some amazing times in the summer on a bike, i don't have one anymore as i have a little baby boy and i'm not ignorant, i do agree the risk of being in a serious accident is greater than being in a car but i'm 38 now and have to think of my family :¬)
There is no feeling like riding a performance bike and you WILL love it
I suppose you are right to be honest, there really isn't. I no longer participate in sports at a high level, I don't go out partying and clubbing as much as I once did, I play it way safer when I snowboard than I did only five years ago.
So yeah I do want some excitement but not necessarily in the going-250-on-the-highway-sort of way. But just doing something I've never tried before but always wanted to try. Motorcycles fill both that void as well as the excitement one.
dominae wrote:
I recommend Long Way Down, and Long Way Around (w/ Ewan McGregor) for those at least slightly interested in motor bikes.
Watched em both twice, man if I had the money and time for a trip like one of those. And a friend who motorbiked
Grale wrote:
You will have some amazing times in the summer on a bike, i don't have one anymore as i have a little baby boy and i'm not ignorant, i do agree the risk of being in a serious accident is greater than being in a car but i'm 38 now and have to think of my family :¬)
Yeah and that's another reason I sort of want to "get it out of my system" or whatever. I don't feel like building up towards a midlife crisis feeling that I've missed out on stuff, I wanna look back and feel that i tried at least most of the stuff I wanted to do when I was young. I'm 25 now and well, the years are going by faster there's no denying that.
And of course I am aware that the dangers on the road are vastly greater on a bike than in a car and no matter how safe you drive it can still come down to how unsafe someone else is driving.
I forgot to mention that my aunt works for the Swedish DMV or what you want to call it (Vägverket). She's a, not sure if this is the right term, trafficinspector, you know the one who you do your driving test with. She's actually the only female in Sweden that does the motorcycle tests. Of course I won't be able to take the test with her but I'll hope she will be able to help me with pointers etc. She was actually quite mad at me when I told her that I wanted to take a motorcycle license just because there are so many accidents
accidents happen, it's just easier to get killed on a bike
i'm pretty sure your dad has alot of expirence, but it won't help him if some drunk/sleepy semi driver will decide to take a nap behind the wheel
You must be all fun and games IRL.
nope, my life is boring as hell, but i have way too many responsibilities [i'm sure u know what that means ] to just go out and accidently kill myself
accidents happen, it's just easier to get killed on a bike
i'm pretty sure your dad has alot of expirence, but it won't help him if some drunk/sleepy semi driver will decide to take a nap behind the wheel
You must be all fun and games IRL.
nope, my life is boring as hell, but i have way too many responsibilities [i'm sure u know what that means ] to just go out and accidently kill myself
I don't get Mortibus's attitude tho, do you have something personal against motorbikes? I mean sure it's your right of course, but you seem a bit hostile.
You know not everyone buys those japanese crotch rockets, IMO the best motorbikes are custom bikes, the smooth ride you can get on a sunny day is just priceless. And it's not like you have to ALWAYS ride it - most riders also have a car for crappy weather.
And I disagree about bike being uncomfy and unpractical - it's quite the opposite if you live alone (cheaper gas costs, too).
Regarding the risks, yeah it's true that you're more vulnerable when on a bike for many reasons, but I can also 100% agree with what Grale said about being a better driver overall because of my motorbike experience. The increased alertness in traffic comes pretty naturally since you know it's your ass on the line - you can't rely on the car drivers to always notice you.
And about the license, theory-wise you won't have any problems since the road rules for bikes are pretty much the same, and handling the bike is pretty easy in the end. Just go easy on the throttle at first
Oh one peculiarity about the handling - I'm sure the driving school will cover this too - is countersteering. Wikipedia explains it better: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter_steering
It sounds very strange and counterintuitive at first, but it's one of those things that when you get to try it, it soon becomes second nature.
nope, my life is boring as hell, but i have way too many responsibilities [i'm sure u know what that means ] to just go out and accidently kill myself
and i rarely play atm, getting old i guess
I guess everyone has to decide their own priorities but you don't look at other people doing stuff and think, 'hey that looks like fun'? I mean if our forefathers had thought of risks and stuff then we would still be wearing skins and bashing each other on the head with blunt objects.
I say go for it man. Things to bear in mind; a) try to anticipate traffic not just one car ahead but two or three vehicles ahead and more importantly b) braking distance. Always realise that bikes can accelerate much faster than they can brake.
Always leave your bike in gear at a light, holding in the clutch. In case anything happens around you, you can make a quick escape. A rear end collision doesn't need to be that big to really hurt you.
When stopping at a light, left foot down only, right stays on brake.
Never ride in the center of the lane. This can be very slippery from oil leaks etc. Always ride left of center, and in a group stagger your riding. Left of center put you directly behind and in front of other drivers in your lane.
Paint markings and man holes are fucking very slippery in the rain.
And as inz said, learn to counter steer. You be surprised at how many people that think they know how to ride, think that you steer by leaning. Counter steering is the quickest way to get your bike over into a turn, or to avoid an object (Rock, tire, Bed LMAO) in traffic.
And when stopping at a light, you are an OWL. Always look behind you to make sure the guy behind you stopped. This is where always leaving your bike in first at a light has save my ass.
I honestly recommend a good riding school, either before your test, or a race type school after your test. I did both.
Ride with your high beams on during the day.
Dont buy a cheap as shit helmet. Its saving your head, so splurge a little. I spent over a grand on mine. And always where gloves, jacket, etc.
Stunting is easy as shit, remember that. Guys that stunt think there cool, but real riders are only concerned with how well they corner, and how safe they ride.
And IMHO sport bikes are safer more stable bikes. The technology alone makes them safer. A T frame (Cruiser) is less stable than an inverted D Frame (sport bike). This in my opinion and not meant to start any arguments.
And fuck all the naysayers, they just dont have the balls to ride.
Last in my rant.
ALWAYS RIDE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IN A CAR IS OUT TO KILL YOU!!
I know so many people who have died from motorcycle accidents. It isnt worth it man.
One of the most important people in my life died because of a bike accident. He was family. It was on a bike cycle. He wanted to get healthy so he was biking from home and work.
javlar
(talking motorcycle here)
As a means of locomotion to and from I think not. Too many variables, like bad days at work, getting tired, anger, to name a few.
But to enjoy something like that on your good days when you have the time, I think that would be really cool. Do it for your own person pleasure.
Got my first meeting at the drivers school this thursday and my first real meeting with a motorbike the following day so I'm pretty psyched.
Told my parents about it last weekend and their reactions were sort of the opposite of what I thought they would be. My mom who is usually the overcautious type more or less thought it was great if I found some activity that I wanted to pursue and that I should go for it. My dad on the other hand was more like "Oh why would you wanna go and do that for, just a good way to get you into debt and probably killed" and this is coming from a man who rode bikes during all of his twenties. Although he has been in a few close calls when he rode his bike and one situation which more or less is a miracle he walked away from.
It's a fairly interesting story so I might as well retell it:
It's the summer of 1974 and the world cup of football is in full swing. My dad and his best friend is at home and have taken a few beers when they realize that Sweden is playing West Germany and the game has already started. My dad doesn't own a TV in his flat but his brother does (color-TV even!) and it's only about a 15km drive crossing Ölandsbron (a 6km long bridge connecting the island Öland with the mainland). So they both get on my dads old bike, in t-shirts and shorts, and gun the bike doing well over 180km/h on the bridge. Suddenly my dad feels a slight jolt in the bike and instinctively pulls the clutch, brakes and eventually stops in the middle of the bridge. When they get off and inspect the bike the engine has seized up and the pistons have shot through half of the engineblock. If my dad hadn't pulled the clutch they would have been in for one hell of an aerial adventure.
So yeah, he was a bit pessimistic to say the least
But I guess I can't convince everyone.
Bigperm wrote:
Heres some tips that have saved my ass.
Always leave your bike in gear at a light, holding in the clutch. In case anything happens around you, you can make a quick escape. A rear end collision doesn't need to be that big to really hurt you.
When stopping at a light, left foot down only, right stays on brake.
Never ride in the center of the lane. This can be very slippery from oil leaks etc. Always ride left of center, and in a group stagger your riding. Left of center put you directly behind and in front of other drivers in your lane.
Paint markings and man holes are fucking very slippery in the rain.
And as inz said, learn to counter steer. You be surprised at how many people that think they know how to ride, think that you steer by leaning. Counter steering is the quickest way to get your bike over into a turn, or to avoid an object (Rock, tire, Bed LMAO) in traffic.
And when stopping at a light, you are an OWL. Always look behind you to make sure the guy behind you stopped. This is where always leaving your bike in first at a light has save my ass.
I honestly recommend a good riding school, either before your test, or a race type school after your test. I did both.
Ride with your high beams on during the day.
Dont buy a cheap as shit helmet. Its saving your head, so splurge a little. I spent over a grand on mine. And always where gloves, jacket, etc.
Stunting is easy as shit, remember that. Guys that stunt think there cool, but real riders are only concerned with how well they corner, and how safe they ride.
And IMHO sport bikes are safer more stable bikes. The technology alone makes them safer. A T frame (Cruiser) is less stable than an inverted D Frame (sport bike). This in my opinion and not meant to start any arguments.
And fuck all the naysayers, they just dont have the balls to ride.
Last in my rant.
ALWAYS RIDE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IN A CAR IS OUT TO KILL YOU!!
Cheers man! Lots of good stuff here
I have my sights set on, probably not very surprising, a performance bike rather than a cruiser. At least to begin with.
pistolshrimp wrote:
One of the most important people in my life died because of a bike accident. He was family. It was on a bike cycle. He wanted to get healthy so he was biking from home and work.
javlar
(talking motorcycle here)
As a means of locomotion to and from I think not. Too many variables, like bad days at work, getting tired, anger, to name a few.
But to enjoy something like that on your good days when you have the time, I think that would be really cool. Do it for your own person pleasure.
Great hobby. Take care with it.
Well yeah I am hoping to use it as a means of transportation during the summers but I will be keeping my hunk of junk car until it dies on me or I decide to drive it of a cliff
So if it's a rainy day or if I don't trust myself on a bike that day (I hope) I won't ride.
Since Helsing did a thread on his prospective drivers license I thought maybe you could give me some advice as well. Will start my education towards a motorcycle license in early may and if you have any tips that would be great.
I've had a normal drivers license for over seven years now and my life atm is pretty much 90% made up of studying in school so I don't think traffic rules or studying for the theoretic tests will be an issue.
However I have literally never driven a motorcycle before, I have driven a moped but no more than about an hour in total. So I am pretty green at this but I've always wanted to get a motorcycle and now is a good time for me both financially and I have enough spare time to make it happen.
In Canada, if you have a full license (G its called) you auto get an M2 license which is like one away from having a full Bike license. Well, in Ontario anyway.
I have an M2. Had it since I was fuckin....christ, 17.
Since Helsing did a thread on his prospective drivers license I thought maybe you could give me some advice as well. Will start my education towards a motorcycle license in early may and if you have any tips that would be great.
I've had a normal drivers license for over seven years now and my life atm is pretty much 90% made up of studying in school so I don't think traffic rules or studying for the theoretic tests will be an issue.
However I have literally never driven a motorcycle before, I have driven a moped but no more than about an hour in total. So I am pretty green at this but I've always wanted to get a motorcycle and now is a good time for me both financially and I have enough spare time to make it happen.
In Canada, if you have a full license (G its called) you auto get an M2 license which is like one away from having a full Bike license. Well, in Ontario anyway.
I have an M2. Had it since I was fuckin....christ, 17.
This must just be in Ontario. We use numbers in Alberta. I hold a class 5 and 6. Class 5 is your drivers license and it also allows you to learn on Motorcycles. Class 6 is my motorcycle license.
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