Best motorcycle forum?

[kongjie]

Well, everyone knows B&B is probably the best shaving forum. It's all about the people.

I am thinking of getting my motorcycle license and wonder if anyone has a favorite forum for motorcycling. I'm looking for something general, but if they're primarily brand-specific, I'm looking at a small starter bike, probably the Honda Rebel.

 

[Kentos]

Well, everyone knows B&B is probably the best shaving forum. It's all about the people.I am thinking of getting my motorcycle license and wonder if anyone has a favorite forum for motorcycling. I'm looking for something general, but if they're primarily brand-specific, I'm looking at a small starter bike, probably the Honda Rebel.

I am basically a barnacle tenaciously attached to B&B, but in my old life SBN was an old haunt.(sport bike network). Haven't been there in ages tho so it might be different now.

 

[Snappy Lunch]

Well, everyone knows B&B is probably the best shaving forum. It's all about the people.

I am thinking of getting my motorcycle license and wonder if anyone has a favorite forum for motorcycling. I'm looking for something general, but if they're primarily brand-specific, I'm looking at a small starter bike, probably the Honda Rebel.

A Buell Blast would be a good starter bike, unless you want a new bike. Harley shut down Buell, but you can still pick up a used blast cheap, until you see if you like riding. I haven't looked but I'm sure there is a Buell forum.
Try cyclechaos.com

 

[dklaiman]

You'll probably get a lot of similar advice, but take a motorcyce safety class before you start to ride. I took one when I lived in Michigan. I learned a ton (I had never ridden a motorcycle before), got my license at the end of the class, and got a pretty decent discount on my insurance.

That was in 1997, but I assume the process is still pretty similar.

Oh, the class was through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation

 

[kongjie]

Thanks for the responses and tips. I'm probably sticking to 250cc to start with. I have an 8-mile commute that I can do on my bicycle, but now that my wife's company has moved a couple towns over, it's no longer easy for her to take me in on the days I don't want to pedal or don't have time. We're a one-car family so the work commute is my primary interest in the motorcycle. In my youth I rode a sub-100cc Honda dirt bike but it's been a looong time. So I am definitely signing up for an MSF-approved safety class in the Bay Area/Peninsula.

 

[Neognosis]

Please consider something larger than 500 CCs, so that you don't get run down and killed if you ever have to go onto the highway.

 

[Katia]

I like Total Motorcycle. http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/BBS/index.php

They're nice folks. I technically have a membership there, just haven't been in a while since there's no way a bike's going to be in the budget any time soon ever.

I have heard good things about the Rebel for sure. Although I admit to being a Honda geek (I'd go with a 70s-era XL, or CL/CB in the 250-350 range if I got one!).

For sport bikes, I've seen the 250 Kawasaki Ninjas recommended highly as well.

 

[kongjie]

Please consider something larger than 500 CCs, so that you don't get run down and killed if you ever have to go onto the highway.

While I understand where you're coming from, I think as someone who has not ridden for 35 years the biggest danger to me is too much power. And I'll try to stay away from the highway.

 

[Gwhunter]

Adventure Rider

Be careful posting (or looking) in Jo mamma.

 

[StillShaving]

The benefit of a 500/750cc is that you will be able to resale it a lot easier later on. Most US motorcyclists equate 250cc as a toy and not serious. You may have already made your purchase but I would recommend you do some comparisons first, as a light weight big displacement bike will be no more dangerous than a small displacement one.

 

[Dusty1]

The benefit of a 500/750cc is that you will be able to resale it a lot easier later on. Most US motorcyclists equate 250cc as a toy and not serious. You may have already made your purchase but I would recommend you do some comparisons first, as a light weight big displacement bike will be no more dangerous than a small displacement one.

+1 I have ridden a Rebel 250 and it seriously feels like a kids bike, you would be bored of it in no time flat. As for forums, I'm on ohioriders.net but not sure if that would apply to you. My buddy likes asphalt junkies but they are geared toward racing. Good luck on your search.

 

[BigNickel]

If the guy has done his research and wants a smaller displacement bike, then I applaud him. Cheaper to buy, insure, and run, and because the bike is not intimidating, you can progress faster as a rider. It's more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow.

I don't know how to embed on B&B but check out this video, it's a rider on a Ninja 250 completely embarrassing a bunch of riders on larger (read: 600cc - 1000cc) bikes.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz03sQeX02c


As for forums, I have used SBN among others, but like any forum there are good posters and bad. The stickies will be a wealth of information for a novice/returning rider.

 

[David in Boston]

If the guy has done his research and wants a smaller displacement bike, then I applaud him. Cheaper to buy, insure, and run, and because the bike is not intimidating, you can progress faster as a rider. It's more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow.

I don't know how to embed on B&B but check out this video, it's a rider on a Ninja 250 completely embarrassing a bunch of riders on larger (read: 600cc - 1000cc) bikes.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz03sQeX02c


As for forums, I have used SBN among others, but like any forum there are good posters and bad. The stickies will be a wealth of information for a novice/returning rider.

I love that video!

Just show that it's more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow.

It's almost embarrassing how that little Ninja passes those larger bikes in the turns.

They fly by him(or her) in the straights yet they get spanked in the turns.

 

[Cfrpratt]

While I understand where you're coming from, I think as someone who has not ridden for 35 years the biggest danger to me is too much power. And I'll try to stay away from the highway.

just remember a 250cc bike will get you hurt just as easily as a bigger one. Be safe, and be aware.
I was in a similar situation some years ago and a buddy of mine told me a couple things that may or may not be of any help to you. first was the bike to get. I wanted a rocket and was going to get a 600. he told me that when it can get dangerous is not so much on the 600 but if you get anything bigger. they all handle differently. so i went all out and got a suzuki tl100R which is heavier than most rockets because its a V-Twin. Never looked back. Second thing he told me was to ride offensively defensive if that makes any sense. basically assume that anyone in a car dose not or will not see you and ride accordingly. I cant tell you have many times i have saved myself an accident because i expected a car to not see me.
as far as the forums go, there are general ones out there but once you get a bike its probally best to get into one specific for that bike. those people can usually diagnose problems just from reading your posts and can offer money saving tips when appropriate. have fun and be safe.

 

[Village Idiot]

The benefit of a 500/750cc is that you will be able to resale it a lot easier later on. Most US motorcyclists equate 250cc as a toy and not serious. You may have already made your purchase but I would recommend you do some comparisons first, as a light weight big displacement bike will be no more dangerous than a small displacement one.

This isn't as true now that Kawasaki revamped their Ninja 250 and Honda has a CBR 250 that looks great.

While I understand where you're coming from, I think as someone who has not ridden for 35 years the biggest danger to me is too much power. And I'll try to stay away from the highway.

Engine displacement doesn't necessarily mean more power and different engine configurations will behave differently. Inline 4's like to rev vs. V-twins that have power down low so you don't have to stay in the higher RPMs for power. That's just a very general statement but a 600cc sport bike will walk all over most any 1500cc cruiser any day of the week. Look mostly at how a bike fits you and worry about the engine size second. It's no good purchasing a 250cc that's going to be uncomfortable. With this, don't over do it though, like sitting on a 1700cc Harley and thinking it's comfy so it'll be a beginner bike. And get this, a Ninja 650 is much slower than a Ninja 600.

I know a lot of that sounds like contradicting information, but it's more about finding the bike that suits you over all than picking purely based on one specification.

 

[thebikingengineer]

I would look at a regional forum when you're just getting started. You'll find like-minded people near you that can help you get acclimated, show you good roads, and give you an "in" to the culture. Once you get a little more established (and get a new bike, something that's not really optional with a Rebel) look to an activity and/or bike specific forum. You can get more tailored information that way.

I've been on www.ex-500.com (when I rode my Ninja a lot) and now frequent www.ADVrider.com/forum and www.CafeHusky.com as I'm transitioning into adventure riding on a Husqvarna. A model-specific forum has the added benefit of a membership that knows the subtleties and shortcomings of each model (and knows how to fix them), and they know what the best gear is (and will sometimes get a great group buy deal on it).

 

[u2u]

Adventure Rider

Be careful posting (or looking) in Jo mamma.

+1

 

[kongjie]

I would look at a regional forum when you're just getting started. You'll find like-minded people near you that can help you get acclimated, show you good roads, and give you an "in" to the culture.

This was good advice. I've found useful regional forums with BARF and South Bay Riders; there is a great forum specifically for my bike; and there is a less-active but still useful safety forum, too.

I'm two weeks in since I started commuting on my 2006 Suzuki GZ-250--I got one locally with only 700 miles on it. It is tons of fun! Yes, it is less power than I desire, and yes, it would be silly to take it on the highway. This bike literally sounds like a lawn mower I once had... I'm in the hills and it requires a lot of downshifting to get home.

But this was a deliberate choice: to force myself to take it easier and stick to local roads for at least six months. I'm over 50 and I take safety seriously, and I really don't want to land in the hospital, or the coroner's office for that matter. While riding a motorcycle certainly raises the chances of that happening, I'm trying to manage the risk as much as I can.

So that means I spent as much on helmet, gloves, boots, jacket, and pants as I did on the bike itself, and I wear it all whenever I ride. And my mindset is one where I spend my whole ride looking for people who are going to kill me, or thinking about how my next decision could kill myself. And it's still enormously fun! I can't wait to ride into work in the morning, and around 2pm I'm already itching to ride back home.

 

[parsifal54]

I daily peruse the ADV Rider forums as they cover a wide variety of topics related to motorcycling....I have been riding motorcycles for 40 years and really recommend any and all safety courses. It is really getting crazier out there on the road.