Most people do NOT understand what motorcyclists are up against in traffic and on the road. I wish someone would make a short film that explains it and that it be made mandatory in (passenger vehicle) driver's ed.
Riders need cagers to understand us better. Except those crotch rocket guyz...they're crazy...
I’d like to see a VR experience for everyone getting a car license. Put them virtually on a bike and expose them to what we deal with.
And yeah, I occasionally think I’m really getting crazy on the bike, riding fast and loose for the rush; then I watch videos of real fearless and skilled rocketeers and realize just how old I am 🤣
I'm not sure if this belongs under motorcycles, but I went a bit crazy and imported a Yamaha Vino from Japan since they're unavailable in Belgium. I got the idea of wanting one after watching the Yuru Camp anime, and so here we are. This is my second 2-wheeled vehicle, and I'm looking forward to riding her soon.
I rode full time for 5+ years in Los Angeles. 45min commute 5 days a week. I loved it, except for rain days.
All the gear, all the time.
Assume everyone is out to kill you.
If you have young kids, find a different hobby.
If you have dependents, look into life insurance.
Motorcycles are more dangerous. It’s just a fact. But also, every step you take in life is a risk assessment. Mitigate your risks and decide if the risk/reward trade off is acceptable to you.
If you do decide to ride, take a training course first.
This is the main reason why this is an extremely dangerous hobby. All the close calls - at least most of them - would be related to someone else is out there to kill you.
However it's also fun on that same level. No thrills without spills.
You want a "chill cruiser", is that 750 CCs? 2000 CCs?
Where will you ride? A lot of my riding is on "slow" parkways by lakes, but riding on the highway is VERY different.
What safety equipment will you buy? Full face helmet? Airbags? Riding jeans, riding boots, leather gloves, chaps, etc.?
Will you always wear ALL of your safety gear?
How careful are you to begin with? Do you obey most traffic laws in your car or do you have a stack of tickets and never obey laws?
Leadfoot? Like speed? Like taking your life in your hands?
Planning to take a motorcycle safety course? How will you learn and how much will you learn?
Are you a hothead? Get angry easily? Get in a lot of fights?
There's probably more that's not immediately coming to mind, but I think you get the idea. It can be very dangerous or much less dangerous. Never totally safe and always more dangerous than a glass and steel cage. But it is a LOT of fun and I love it.
I noticed as well early on in the ride that it wasn’t as smooth on tiny throttle openings, prettty sure it’s related, so some fresh fuel tomorrow and oh no, I’ll have to go for another test ride. :D
Fuel loves to gum up on bikes, partly because of heat, partly because they sit (carbs).
General rule with a bike - use things like gas stabilizers, or drain the carb when parking and add some fresh gas.
A carb guru I know swears by 1/2 ounce of 2 cycle oil in the gas tank, and a short ride, just before parking. This helps prevent fuel gumming up in the carb.
motorcycles
Hot
This magazine is from a federated server and may be incomplete. Browse more on the original instance.