Gonna Buy a Motorcycle

[Beestie]

You are not allowed to drive a Kawasaki with a Honda keyring. Ninjas will drop out of trees and well... you don't want to know.

Srsly tho - nice ride - wish I had one.

[Elspode]

I promise that a new keyfob will be the first item of customization.

[lumberjim]

Originally Posted by Elspode

I promise that a new keyfob will be the first item of customization.

ahem

[TheMercenary]

http://www.classiccruiser.com/products.asp?item=738236

http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/acc...son/index.html

http://www.bikerhiway.com/

http://www.streetglo.net/

[Clodfobble]

Don't forget that pedestrians may be blind to you too. I was almost hit by a motorcycle when I was a kid (it was completely and totally my fault, but still.)

[lumberjim]

the only time i ever dropped mine was in a parking lot.....i was a winter rider, and there was frost on top of my back tire. i gunned it out of the parking spot, and it high sided me. came down on my shin and gave me a 'massive hematoma'

one time, a bee flew up my shorts, and I NEARLY fell off when it stung me.

my advice, since that seems to be the theme here......watch the eyes of the cage drivers in the side mirrors, and expect that they will do the most fucked up thing at the exactly wrong time, and plan your escape route.....constantly.

otherwise....enjoy that ride, baby!

[TheMercenary]

Here is another tip from a pretty cool blog.

http://demenshea.com/blog/?p=1138

[Elspode]

Good stuff, all of that. Keep it comin'.

Gonna buy me one of those keychains!

[Trilby]

Els, has anyone mentioned that you'll shoot your eye out yet?

[ZenGum]

Tip from a biker: keep an eye on the head of the person in the car in front of you. You may notice them leaning down to tune the radio, texting, something stupid like that, and you know to steer well clear.

[TheMercenary]

Keep 3 to 4 seconds from the rear of any vehicle in front of you. More if you are traveling at higher speeds. I will watch a car pass a stationary object on the side of the road and count, One Thousand, Two Thousand, Three Thousand, Four Thousand and see how long it takes for me to pass it. If I am faster on it I try to slow.

I also shift from the right to the left depending on how traffic is in front of me. If there are few cars or cars moving slowly I tend to the right so that on coming cars can see me before they try to pass the cars in front of them, which would put them in your lane coming at you. If the on coming traffic is light, I tend to the left so the cars you are following can see you.

Every time you approach an intersection with cars waiting to enter, or an area with cars waiting to turn into the traffic, cover your front break and rear break with your hand and foot respectively in anticipation of the need for emergency breaking. Continually scan and always expect them to do the unnatural and unexpected. Assume they can't see you, always.

[Elspode]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

Keep 3 to 4 seconds from the rear of any vehicle in front of you. More if you are traveling at higher speeds. I will watch a car pass a stationary object on the side of the road and count, One Thousand, Two Thousand, Three Thousand, Four Thousand and see how long it takes for me to pass it. If I am faster on it I try to slow.

I also shift from the right to the left depending on how traffic is in front of me. If there are few cars or cars moving slowly I tend to the right so that on coming cars can see me before they try to pass the cars in front of them, which would put them in your lane coming at you. If the on coming traffic is light, I tend to the left so the cars you are following can see you.

Every time you approach an intersection with cars waiting to enter, or an area with cars waiting to turn into the traffic, cover your front break and rear break with your hand and foot respectively in anticipation of the need for emergency breaking. Continually scan and always expect them to do the unnatural and unexpected. Assume they can't see you, always.

Check. I have always been prepared on all controls when approaching intersections. Left foot on gearshift, left hand ready to clutch for the downshift, right hand on front brake, right foot on rear brake.

When riding, I always position myself in the lane so that the maximum number of other vehicles are constantly in view.

Just got back to TF's after picking up the bike from the shop. Brakelight fixed, rear brake pedal adjusted (brakes are great), passed inspection, oil changed, and had a plastic lever installed on the throttle which allows you to keep the throttle open with your palm while you stretch your fingers - I decided that a cruise control was just not a great idea. Also got it insured today ($14.50 per month). Tomorrow AM it will be registered and fully legal!

Bike service guys were amazed at the condition of it for a 27 year old bike. They said it was the cleanest of its age they'd seen for something in fully original condition.

[Undertoad]

What a pain in the ass. I'm not getting one of these things.

You can ride in the sidecar and man the machine gun.

[TheMercenary]

Great news splode! Weather is getting better. Time to ride. I wish we lived closer so we could do a ride.