Considering a motorcycle...

[joegrizzy]

My dad used to ride a motorcycle on his daily commute (which went from Norman to MWC to downtown OKC to NW OKC and back), but he quit doing that back in the early '80s because it was getting too dangerous. I thought about getting a bike to ride to work many years ago, but I thought driving a car in a college town was dangerous enough.

Ain't a snowball's chance in hell that I'd ride one in Tulsa...

i used to ride an actual bicycle on the streets to commute at least once a week from NW okc to downtown for work.

that's what led me to get a motorcycle lol.
>ya know....if i were up a bit higher....and i had a loud noise that people would notice.....and lights....and i didn't have to pedal....

 

[amcardon]

See, even my terminology isn't right

I don't want a crotch rocket.

 

[joegrizzy]

See, even my terminology isn't right

I don't want a crotch rocket.

so you don't want to be "tucked" in your riding position i assume. most cafe racer style builds are going to have fully upright controls. not quite a cruiser laid back, arms up position like on a huge chopper, but still very comfortable. if you haven't ridden before, i think being up a bit is nice because there's a lot to look for and it's easier to see up high.

when i ride my ninja, i'm actually always surprised how high up i am. if i'm not tucked (which i don't do very much lol, it's a 250r and i don't get on the highway much), i can see over the roof of most cars, which allows me to see the road ahead over the top of them. you aren't as low as you might think on a "crotch rocket" compared to some choppers. some choppers are looooooow in regards to rider position. comfortable, but you can't see and turn lol.

probably why those guys complain about "bad drivers". when you ride; you accept YOUR responsibility and already know all drivers suck.

 

[Roy14]

The Honda NC700X is probably the most well thought out commuter bike ever made. Gets around 75 mpg and the gas tank is under the seat, which leaves room for a large lockable trunk where the gas tank usually is on a bike. It’s very low revving, and has a low center of gravity and great handling.

I commute 62 miles one way, too far to personally consider using a bike for the task, so I sold my NC700X because it didn’t fill the primary role of a bike for me: power wheelies and single track exploits.

There’s a good deal of info on both YouTube and forums about it, if you’re interested.

 

[Shadowrider]

I’d also stay away from a full size Harley or Indian. Look at the Japanese cruisers. My ‘94 Shadow has been perfectly reliable, is plenty fast, and handles much better. That said I don’t know that I’d recommend it for a first bike either. The absolute perfect “1st bike” would be a Buell Blast. I might actually ride again if I had one, at least to tool around town between rush hours.

 

[joegrizzy]

I’d also stay away from a full size Harley or Indian. Look at the Japanese cruisers. My ‘94 Shadow has been perfectly reliable, is plenty fast, and handles much better. That said I don’t know that I’d recommend it for a first bike either. The absolute perfect “1st bike” would be a Buell Blast. I might actually ride again if I had one, at least to tool around town between rush hours.

yeah i never bought into the "buy a big bike to start because you'll 'outgrow' that small bike" meme.

when i pull that throttle any bike goes. how fast do you need to go? i don't need to go 150 down the highway; that's not me. i ride in the city; making easy turns, having GREAT brakes (sport bike brakes are incredible) being lightweight, getting 60-70 mpg, those things matter more to me than doing insane speeds just to do them.

i understand there are plenty of squids out there, but i wear my gear and putt around at 40 mph and have lots of fun.

and yes spot on with the rush hour comments. doing any commute on a FAST bike seems fun until you realize if you don't lane split you'll never leave 2nd gear. and if do....well ya know you might die and stuff. rush hour commutes REQUIRE small bikes that are easy to handle and stop.

 

[swampratt]

I have had many motorcycles and ridden many that friends had and
my deal was all about saving on fuel and getting in on some quality MC riding on the cheap.

I still have love for my 1979 Kawaski LTD 400 at 67 MPG hot rodding and 76 MPG old man riding.

Many bikes today will trump the power and get that MPG.
Some big bikes do not get good MPG like 24 MPG.

I graduated to Honda Magna motorcycles but those would get 36 MPG for me.
V65 and some of the V45 ones.
Very comfy bike to sit on .
Do not discount some bikes that look like a crotch rocket as some of them let you sit up straight and the feel is quite nice.

Crash bars in the front and highway pegs along with an adjustable back rest and a full size windshield were on my bikes.
Made the riding that much more comfy.

MOST IMPORTANT : Ride like no one can see you. You are invisible to everyone on the road.

Learn how low you can go in a corner.
Practice evasive maneuvers like on the road to off in the grass/dirt.
Very important to know exactly what the bike can do.

I had many close calls and if not for the "extreme testing" I did on my bikes I may be dead now.

One story involves locking up the back tire at different speeds and slide the bike sideways and then recover from that and go straight down the road.

Got to where I could reliably slide the V65 sideways at highway speeds with locked up back tire.
Saved my butt and my childs on the back when a wheel barrow leaped out of a pickup and came right at me.

Power slide and bunny kicked it.
No crash. No damage.

Things happen so be prepared for all of it.

 

[joegrizzy]

all in all; if you have a buddy that has a bike ask him if he'll let you ride it. if you like it; then you'll know. it's a lot of fun, i'm glad i went for it a few years back.

watch hours and hours of crash compilations on youtube. easiest way to teach yourself safety matters most. get good safety gear. safety gear is expensive unless you get used (which is kinda iffy on some stuff). you might spend more on gear than your bike lol.

 

[okcBob]

Wear a helmet. The transplant team refers to helmetless bike riders as “donorcycles”, for good reason.

 

[cjjtulsa]

yeah i never bought into the "buy a big bike to start because you'll 'outgrow' that small bike" meme.

I've got two Harleys - a Sportster, and a Low Rider S. Guess which one is more fun to ride? I may look like a praying mantis screwing a pill bug when I'm on it, but the Sporty is a blast to ride. And the "HDs break down" thing is overblown. I've not had any problems out of mine, nor have my sons, and the three they've gone through.