What is the best forum for general discussion of motorcycles? I couldn't find much on forum search but I assume many texaggies have them. I'm middle aged and looking to get into it as a hobby / fun toy.

MaxPower said:

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What is the best forum for general discussion of motorcycles? I couldn't find much on forum search but I assume many texaggies have them. I'm middle aged and looking to get into it as a hobby / fun toy.

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Probably depends on what type of motorcycles, but Facebook groups are probably more active than traditional forums. Harley groups are much different than BMW or Dual sport or sport bikes.

MaxPower said:

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What is the best forum for general discussion of motorcycles? I couldn't find much on forum search but I assume many texaggies have them. I'm middle aged and looking to get into it as a hobby / fun toy.

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Just depends on what you want to do with the motorcycle. If you're just planning on riding around town or doing more touring. I've been riding since I was 17 and am now 71. I've road all types and brands but have found that for all around fun and comfort you can't beat a BMW. I'm now on a 22 R1250 GS Adventure and it's by far the best I've ever ridden. There are several Facebook pages on it. Check them out.

These are the two I check frequently:
https://www.twtex.com/forums/
https://www.harley-davidsonforums.com/

But as already stated, it really depends on your intentions.

If you like maintenance, get a Ducati.

They definitely aren't Japanese bikes, and that's a good thing overall.

I've been riding for 5 years.

I started on a Ninja 650 which I think is the best beginner motorcycle. It's very tame and should not be confused with the Ninja 600rr which is the 600cc super sport model. I didn't like the idea of buying a 300cc motor and getting bored in a month, but the Ninja 650 only kept me entertained for 4-6 months.

I upgraded to a XSR900 which was not tame and had way too much torque with little to no weight upfront. You could do a wheelie in 3rd gear if you wanted. I road that for a year or so and then bought a Honda CBR600rr and began my track career. After about a year after that I bought a CBR1000RR.

After about 25 track days and motorcycle racing instructions, I am expert level for track organizations and have my 1000RR dedicated to track only. I spent about as much money as the bike is worth on suspension, race brakes, quick shifter, race fairings, paint, etc.

I'm not sure what you're looking for but riding a motorcycle on the track is a very rewarding hobby. It takes a lot of patience and instruction to become "fast".

I do not ride on the road anymore. There are too many variables and dumb people texting while driving. If you decide to ride on the road, please buy and wear full face SNELL rated helmet, high boots, thick riding pants, gauntlet gloves with armored protection, a leather jacket, and a back protector. These items combined can cost over $1,000 but they will protect your life.

If you need any jackets, boots, gloves, or helmets I have plenty spares and would be happy to give them to you if they fit, but FYI helmets only have a shelf life of 5 years.

Thanks. I'm looking at new and will probably go with a Japanese brand for reliability purposes. I've had old muscle cars in the past and I can imagine spending more time wrenching than riding is a quick way to lose interest. I'm mainly interested in cruising around. Something I can relax in to clear my mind or goose it a little to have fun. Not going 100 on the freeway or popping wheelies but stoplight to stoplight.

I'm thinking of going with one of the DCT Honda's. Seems the simplest route to mastering turning / handling without further complicating mastering a sequential shift transmission. Dunno how useful y'all think the rider modes are. As a beginner it seems helpful in taming throttle control.

Also, anyone tried an airbag jacket? Coming from a car it seems like a no brainer but I don't see anyone on the road wearing one. Not sure if it's because they're "uncool" (which I couldn't care less about) or if there's some practical reason they're unpopular.

Shifting is not hard as long as you have experience in manual transmissions and a bike with a slipper clutch or an auto blipper. Many super sport motorcycles have quick shifters which allows you to switch gears without messing with the clutch.

The honda you reference is a glorified scooter and hey scooters are like big chicks. They are a lot of fun until your friends see you on one.

If I was going to buy a commuter or road cruiser I'd probably get an Indian Dark Horse, Kawasaki Vaquero, Honda Goldwing, Honda African Twin, or maybe Honda CB1000R

Airbag jackets are used in MotoGP. They'll keep you from breaking certain bones in the event of an accident. The most common break is your clavicle. Your helmet will make impact and the bottom of the helmet will go straight to your clavicle at full force. They also protect your neck, back, and ribs. I do not own one yet but suspect I'll get one. Problem for me is I have to get a compatible racing suit and those are several thousand.

Also def attend a licensing and safety course! It'll take a whole weekend and you'll want to do it before it gets hot as balls

I haven't ridden the DCT Hondas, but the only one that interests me is the Africa Twin. I'd love to have one of those. That being said, if you know how to drive a manual transmission car, then a manual transmission motorcycle is even easier.

Especially now with slipper clutches, you don't have to worry as much about locking up the rear wheel in a corner. If it's an older bike or lacks a slipper clutch, the only time a manual really creates a risk is when you're going around a corner and your throttle doesn't match your cornering speed. You should do your downshifting and be off the clutch before you begin to turn. If you're in the right gear, you should be able to match your drivetrain speed to the corner speed and prevent dragging rear wheel or stalling the motor. This is particularly important on slick surfaces (ie. rain, dirt, snow, etc).

I usually use my clutch for casual riding, but when you're really banging gears, you don't have to use the clutch on upshifts and typically don't have time to. Some of the newer bikes have auto blip which allow you to shift clutchless up and down after you're up and moving.

If you do get to a point, where you want to do wheelies, it's really nice to have a clutch. Some powerful bikes can power wheelie in multiple gears, but it's actually more dangerous to power wheelie than clutching up because it's less controllable.

You might start off with a Motorcycle Safety Course, because they will teach you the basics to start out. I never took one because I got my license before they were required, but I hear good things about them.

Another thing I recommend, that other's might not agree with is to start off with some dirt bike time. Learning to ride single track through rough terrain, will teach you more about balance, traction, gear selection, throttle/clutch control and recovery than anything. Lessons that are much better learned off road and encountered with higher frequency offroad than on the street. It's also a lot of fun. You're more likely to get hurt on a dirt bike but less likely to get killed.

If you're going to start off with something sporty, I'd recommend a naked bike. They're more comfortable, easier to ride at lower speeds, and have gearing that is more street friendly than a crotch rocket. My GSX-R 750 would go 75mph in 1st and 105 in 2nd. So if you just want to go for a quick 1-2 acceleration run, you're already hitting county jail speeds in just a few seconds. I've had some pretty quick cars, but super sport motorcycles are on a whole other level of speed. They can get away from you quick and your brain doesn't have time to process how fast you're going before a corner or hazard comes up. Even a super sport 600 is a very fast motorcycle. Fun, but super dangerous! Be safe out there whatever you do.

The motorcycle safety course is required to get the M endorsement.
And then, after you complete it, there is not an additional road test to get the license.

I've already taken the MSF and gotten my license.

This would be either the Rebel 1100 DCT or the NC750X. The 750X is a bit dorky but I like that the Rebel is kind of a half cruiser / half sport bike. It also seems to have good bones with a tuned down Africa Twin and most of the issues people seem to have can be addressed easily in the aftermarket (mainly the seat).

I was also looking at the XSR700 or 900. The 700 is all the power I need but for only $1200 more you get the bigger engine plus rider modes, a quick shifter and advanced traction control (which are the things I'm mainly interested in). Seems odd all that is only an extra $1,200.

I took the course in 2015, I was over age 40 at the time.

I started with a Yamaha Bolt. It has a 950 engine and was cheap enough.

I have since graduated up to a much bigger bike. I mainly ride road trips. It feels like a lot of trouble to gear up for short trips in town, plus, I don't want to show up for work all hot and sweaty (not that I haven't).

MaxPower said:

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Also, anyone tried an airbag jacket? Coming from a car it seems like a no brainer but I don't see anyone on the road wearing one. Not sure if it's because they're "uncool" (which I couldn't care less about) or if there's some practical reason they're unpopular.

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On the air bag jacket, I don't have one,but just yesterday a guy on one of the BMW pages hit a deer on a GS. Totaled the bike but he walked away with minor cuts and says he believes his air bag jacket saved broken bones.

MaxPower said:

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I've already taken the MSF and gotten my license.

This would be either the Rebel 1100 DCT or the NC750X. The 750X is a bit dorky but I like that the Rebel is kind of a half cruiser / half sport bike. It also seems to have good bones with a tuned down Africa Twin and most of the issues people seem to have can be addressed easily in the aftermarket (mainly the seat).

I was also looking at the XSR700 or 900. The 700 is all the power I need but for only $1200 more you get the bigger engine plus rider modes, a quick shifter and advanced traction control (which are the things I'm mainly interested in). Seems odd all that is only an extra $1,200.

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man I ride a CBR1000RR and thought the XSR900 is too much, but there are alternative modes like "rain mode" to tame down the power output.

while its horsepower is not as much as my dedicated super sport track motorcycle, there is so much torque in that machine.

kawasaki has a copycat version of the xsr900 that is suppose to be a little tamer. its the Z900RS.

Keep in mind of resale value for your first bike. If you love riding, you're going to look for an alternative to meet what you really want. If you hate riding, you're going to want to sell it

Lots of good advice here. Don't tie yourself to a new bike for your first one. Used bikes are fine. Let someone else take the depreciation. I would buy from a dealership though for the peace of mind unless you know bikes or have someone you trust that does to look it over.

Don't get pigeon holed into a specific type of bike. I rode HDs for several years. Then one day I tried a Yamaha Super Tenere and it opened me up to a whole new world of riding.

If you already have your license and are in Central Texas, go out to MotoGP this weekend at COTA and hit up the dealer demos. It's a great way to try new bikes.

Yeah I think the XSR900 is too much bike. I just wish they would trickle down some of the features to the 700. Seems like you lose a lot more than just the engine and only save $1,200.

I was looking at used but it's like the car market right now. 3 or 4 year old models are only selling for 10-15% less than one that's brand new. I guess I could go 5+ years old with more mileage but I just don't trust what someone has been doing with that kind of bike over that timespan.

So are you going to tell us how you got Mrs. MaxPower on board with this new hobby??

Still working on that. I've heard leaving schematics for a DIY helicopter laying around the house tends to soften spouses up a bit.

My buddy has a Ducati Streetfighter and I got to ride it this past weekend. My wife was there. After my ride she asked how it was and I said awesome. She then asked if I was going to get one. As much as I want one, I just can't bring myself to ride on the street. Grew up riding dirt bikes and had a buddy that raced professionally on the AMA superbike circuit for years and I rode all of his race bikes and practice bikes. That was fun, but always on a closed and controlled track. Curbs and cars scare me a lot.

aggiedata said:

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So are you going to tell us how you got Mrs. MaxPower on board with this new hobby??

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Mrs. tx1c was actually more in favor of it than I was.
I thought it was just a passing notion, but then she endorsed and actually kind of pushed it.

MaxPower said:

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Yeah I think the XSR900 is too much bike. I just wish they would trickle down some of the features to the 700. Seems like you lose a lot more than just the engine and only save $1,200.

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If you're an adult and have some self discipline, you can get the bike you want. I could buy a 911 and trust myself to drive it like a Prius for 6 months but I know that many people can't do that.

"Look at me brag" .....here's my little concoction

My first bike (and only so far) was a Ninja 300. I thought for a beginner bike it had plenty of power and not enough to get you into too much trouble. I can definitely see the desire for more power...especially if there is an ability to cap the power via a mode switch or something. I would hesitate to recommend a new rider in something larger than a 600 although I'm sure there are plenty of people that do it. I ended up selling mine as it was a bad fit for me (carpal tunnel causing hands to get numb quickly). Thinking hard about getting into another bike with a more upright posture.

It's not so much a concern about being wreckless but moreso about the skill of throttle control. Even my piece of junk 250 V Star gave me trouble trying to find the space between so little it dies to so much I'm squeaking the rear tire on launch. That was a 15 year old bike with a carb so maybe any modern bike is easier to manage in that regard (never ridden one with an assist clutch, ride by wire or ride modes).

Back in the good 'ole carb days you could just move the throttle cable to the last hole on the throttle valve arm and adjust the carburetor throttle stop to neuter an unruly beast.

MaxPower said:

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What is the best forum for general discussion of motorcycles? I couldn't find much on forum search but I assume many texaggies have them. I'm middle aged and looking to get into it as a hobby / fun toy.

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If you have kids, forget about it.

I used to ride and loved it (tens of thousands of miles on a few touring bikes). I quit riding, it's just so so dangerous. Every year as cars got more screens between infotainment, iPhones, etc it got worse. I always did what I could to minimize risk (bikes had ABS, I wore full face helmet, always jacket and usually pants).

Not a question of if, but when you'll get into an accident. Sorry to be a killjoy.

You're not wrong, a strong desire not to orphan my daughter is the reason I sold my street bike and only ride a dirt bike now. I've seen a widow collapse as see was being told her husband had died on a motorcycle and that's not something I wish on any family. That being said, I think a lot of the risk can be mitigated by riding only in rural areas.

I started motorcycling after I turned 40 when I lived in Virginia. Great place for a road bike. I started on a 750 Honda Shadow. Awesome bike, easy to ride, low center of gravity.

When I got more experience I moved up to a 2009 Harley Road King Classic. It was a gorgeous bike and so much fun to ride in VA and surrounding areas.

Then I moved back to Texas where even two lane roads are 70 mph. That's not fun. I sold my Road King.

Original point was that I started on a 750 Honda Shadow. Lol.

I bought a little KE100 while I was in college to learn to ride. A buddy of mine borrowed it to get his license, then rode for more than 20 years, both touring across country and as a daily commute. He recently sold his last bike and said he was done. The drivers around him made him decide to give it up.

The bike was stolen after a couple of years, and I never replaced it. It was a fun little thing, but definitely not very practical.

It's not that bad. There are 3 things you can do that will mitigate about 75% of your opportunities for accidents.

1. Don't drink and ride. Most common cause of single rider accidents.
2. Ride within your limits…especially on unfamiliar roads. Excessive speed is the second most common cause of single rider accidents.
3. Take extra caution at intersections. It's the most likely place for a car/motorcycle accident.

A guy who worked for me and I've known for over 10 years died 4 days ago due to injuries from a motorcycle accident.

Be careful folks.

maverick2076 said:

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It's not that bad. There are 3 things you can do that will mitigate about 75% of your opportunities for accidents.

1. Don't drink and ride. Most common cause of single rider accidents.
2. Ride within your limits…especially on unfamiliar roads. Excessive speed is the second most common cause of single rider accidents.
3. Take extra caution at intersections. It's the most likely place for a car/motorcycle accident.

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I loved riding. Saw more states and put on way more miles than average rider. I just think it's important for people to think about that risk. We all know of someone who bought a bike without thinking about it who ended up in a bad spot.

If you ride the only thing I'd add is ABS I think saved my dad's life on his BMW. I sold my ST1300 I had at the time without it and my last two touring bikes both had it.