Motorcycle license

I am REALLY getting it this time. I have mentioned a few times in the past my interest in getting one but never had a bike of my own. But the time has finally come. With my plans this fall I was planning on getting one next summer but my step mom has just bought a newer bike so I am getting her old one to use all summer and driving courses for my birthday! Now I will save even more money not having to drive my car with $3.75 a gallon...

now all I need is that american flag helmet with an eagle on it :angel:

ride safe... its a crazy world out there on two wheels. but fun as heck!!! what kinda bike did ya get?

Remember to take the stabilisers off :p

I am not sure on the exact model but it's an '81 Yamaha 750. She only bought the new bike because it was a REALLY good deal from some rich guy she remodeled a house for but she just bought some BMW bike.

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Originally Posted by WannaBe_80z

I am not sure on the exact model but it's an '81 Yamaha 750. She only bought the new bike because it was a REALLY good deal from some rich guy she modeled naked in a house for but she just recieved some BMW bike.

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*cough*

My first bike was a Yamaha 750 Special.
I don't remember the exact year but I'm sure it was close to your '81.
It was a fun and dependable ride... all the way up until I slid it into the side of a bridge.
I still have a metal rod from my knee to my hip as a reminder.
Good thing I was wearing a helmet or else I probably wouldn't be here now.

I see you said you're taking driving courses?
Is that the MSF course?
If it is, good for you!
Over 75% of motorcyclists involved in accidents never took the MSF course.
I took it after my accident and learned a lot of good info I wish I had known beforehand.
Just the emergency stopping techniques alone make the course worth taking.

Good luck, and have fun.

Yea the moms want me to complete the course before I get the keys. The driving license test is part of the class so when I am done with the classes I get my license so it is a pretty sweet deal. Pretty nervous about a 750 being my first bike i was looking at a 500 tops for my first bike but I won't say no to free :)

Licences come in two classes (atleast here in Canada anyway) Big bike and small bike. 550cc is the dividing line, so getting your licence with a 700 is a good plan. Course is pretty easy, especially if you've had practice before hand.

Down here there's only one "license" for motorcycles, and it's not actually a license.
It's a "Motorcycle endorsement" added to your regular driver's license and it covers any size motorcycle.

In the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course they provide a 250cc motorcycle to train and test you on.

In one respect it's good because even the best rider would have a hard time passing the turning, weaving, and navigating around their required cone placement on a larger bike.
On the otherhand it's bad because it tends to give you a false sense of security when you actually get on a bigger bike afterwards and expect it to respond the same as the one you used in the course.

This is pretty much what it looks like except the handle bars aren't as high/long.

http://w1.bikepics.com/pics/2005%5C1...75678-full.jpg

Here's my current license and... what!? Proof of residency? I'll be back!
http://msnbcmedia4.msn.com/j/msnbc/C...p.standard.jpg

just do it. it's alot of fun to ride. I don't know what the rules are in your country, but i got my license for the heavy motorcycles. for >23kw.

and when you do get your bike. Excercise some of the braking and swerving techniques. it'll be a life saver.

and... never ride without good gear. Don't ride with a t-shirt shorts and slippers, it might just be the last thing you'll do.

last note on this. don't look at the cc's nowadays, you can't tell anything about a bike based on the amount of cc's You have motogp bikes with 250cc or 600 cc which have more power then alot of the bmw or harley bikes which boasts a healthy 1000+cc

for example, the r6 is a 600 cc motor which can deliver up to 140 breakhorse power, a triumph rocket 3 with the largest production engine of 2300cc also gives you 140 breakhorsepower but weights a heck of a lot more. You can imagine that the latter will be alot slower then the first.

in the US.. you can just got take get your 'temps/permit' just by going to the DMV.... its good for (not sure) 6 months? but you can renew it several times.. :) (I have) ;)

then you need to go an actual 'ride' where some employee instructs you from a mic in helmet where to go what to do and they follow.

heres a pic of my bike.. (last pic I have) isnt currently runnign (needs some wire harness work done) :(.. and I have added a small thin 'speed' stripe down the center on my tank/fenders:

http://dmstudios.net/images/color_test/myBike.jpg

NICE bike. If I was just buying a bike on my own I would prob milk the permit thing a bit but I am not riding my own bike and I am not allowed to touch it till I go through the course. I think the course will definitely help me and I really don't see why it isn't required...

I definately think they are good for everyone...

IMHO.. one the biggest 'errors' of riders is using the front right brake lever are the REAR tire.. its the front.. your right foot pedal is the rear brake..

they should be applied equally..but many use the front more..which is dangerous... (I think maybe out of habit from riding a bike? or something)

I also think many new riders are 'scared' of the bike.. dont let it handle you.. YOU handle the bike.. turn and steer.. think of it as a bigger pedal bike.. ocne you learn yoru bikes clutch you'll be fine. :)

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Originally Posted by whispers

I definately think they are good for everyone...

IMHO.. one the biggest 'errors' of riders is using the front right brake lever are the REAR tire.. its the front.. your right foot pedal is the rear brake..

they should be applied equally..but many use the front more..which is dangerous... (I think maybe out of habit from riding a bike? or something)

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I really hope you don't ride like that. the rear brake should NOT be used equally as the front. 80% of your stopping power comes from your front brakes. your rear breaks are as good as useless when braking, and will block your rear tire when applied equally. Causing you to skid. Your rear tires really have the tendency to block really soon. That's the main reason that emergency breaking is done with the front brake only. Because your rear brakes are just too dangerous to use in such a critical moment.

rear brakes are more usefull for precision movement. Taking turns, making sure your motorcycle does what you want and/or mediating (low) speeds

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I also think many new riders are 'scared' of the bike.. dont let it handle you.. YOU handle the bike.. turn and steer.. think of it as a bigger pedal bike.. ocne you learn yoru bikes clutch you'll be fine. :)

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true true. Think of it like a horse, you control it, or it will ride it's own way.

I know the books tell you that.. and in order to pass a test you need to know..

however in my REAL world riding.. I have seen and also felt myself that when riding and using your front brake 'more' (however you wanna define it) the back end started to lift.. doing an "ENDO" on a bike..

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Originally Posted by whispers

I know the books tell you that.. and in order to pass a test you need to know..

however in my REAL world riding.. I have seen and also felt myself that when riding and using your front brake 'more' (however you wanna define it) the back end started to lift.. doing an "ENDO" on a bike..

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Braking with your rear brake won't help you with that. If your front brake is already applied with such force that your back end lifts, your rear brake won't do you any good.

Having said that, doing a "ENDO" gives you the shortest brake distance. And if you are braking that hard that you are doing a "ENDO" you are already braking much harder then you can do with the rear + front brake together

Obviously this needs to be settled with a race.

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Originally Posted by justice strike

Braking with your rear brake won't help you with that. If your front brake is already applied with such force that your back end lifts, your rear brake won't do you any good.

Having said that, doing a "ENDO" gives you the shortest brake distance. And if you are braking that hard that you are doing a "ENDO" you are already braking much harder then you can do with the rear + front brake together

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my point is NOT that using the back will help you out of n "ENDO" (never even remotely suggested that).. Im saying using BOTH front & rear will help this NOT to happen..instead of using the FRONT ONLY or MAJORITY

most of the stopping power may COME from the front brake.. however apply them equally wont give any kind of "ENDO" scenario..


and I can 'foot' race him if he wants.. :) I have no brake lights at the moment.. :)