36 replies to this topic

[shuddleston]

She should have known better than to leave me and my sidekick alone for more than a few hours. Been wanting one for a while and found this beauty. It's a new 2008 honda shadow aero - 0 miles. it's my first bike so i'll have to learn the basics. really looking forward to it.

any other riders on here?

[bigred90gt]

You look a little young to be buying and riding a bike in that pic.

[shuddleston]

Yea, they said I would grow into it.....

[KaTooM]

Oh boy! I hope you have a VERY understanding wife!

You my friend have some cahones!!!

[shuddleston]

Easier to get forgiveness opposed to permission!

[highergr0und]

not usually with motorcycles and kids in the house......  good luck!!!

Take it nice and easy.

Edited by highergr0und, 16 May 2012 - 07:14 AM.

[FATC1TY]

Blame it on the kid.. She'll forgive you.

Actually... maybe not. My wife is SUPER SUPER easy going. We all joke about how SWMBO, and all that crap, but mine just wants me to have fun, but be respectful of her. I play 90-100 rounds a golf a year. I do as I want, buy what I want, I drink beer, fart everywhere.. brew my own beer, all that crap. I go on golf trips, and act like a child. She still loves me!


A motorcycle, she will not tolerate. Me+Motorcycle=divorce. She's a RN in the ICU, and the sheer amount of destruction, has her completely against them.


Be safe out there.

[Admhowarth]

Just sold my Shadow ACE. Loved riding, but don't have the time.

[heggy]

Congrats on your extension!

[Jim Clark]

You're gonna be in deep kimchee when the wife gets home.

[jtoker1369]

I used to ride a lot and absolutely loved it.  I owned a sport bike and did a lot of stupid stupid stuff on it.  My now fiance is against them,  so it looks like I will never get another.  

Enjoy riding,  it is very relaxing and fun.  Couple of things I learned when I was riding.  speed is your friend (that dont mean be dumb a**)  but taking curves slow is harder than with a reasonable amount of speed.  also,  Take the MSF course.  it is very good and will teach you everything you need to know.

[Chi_Ray]

shuddleston, on 15 May 2012 - 09:50 PM, said:

Easier to get forgiveness opposed to permission!

Haha, haven't heard that one before.

Nice ride, got my license but haven't had the funds to get one....yet

[shuddleston]

Wife and I had the discussion a long time ago. She is fine with the bike, looking forward to learning.

[XFelon]

I ride too.. Not the same style.. But, none the less.. I ride -








Before stickers -

Edited by XFelon, 16 May 2012 - 01:46 PM.

[KaTooM]

To the OP...

As a new rider, learn what "target fixation" is and learn to use it to your advantage.

Since I've had my license long before there ever was an MSF course, I'm not sure if the course covers target fixation of not...hopefully they do since it's a CRITICAL part riding motorcycles whether on the street or on the dirt.

My 2 cents!

[heggy]

[poops]

You mentioned you're a beginner...? Definitely, take a course (MSF) before you ride that thing on the street. It's fun but, make sure you know what you're doing and what to look out for while riding on the street.

I got to a point where riding on the track was much more preferred than on the street with 50% of drivers texting talking on phones...

[ssp]

KaTooM, on 16 May 2012 - 03:22 PM, said:

To the OP...

As a new rider, learn what "target fixation" is and learn to use it to your advantage.

Since I've had my license long before there ever was an MSF course, I'm not sure if the course covers target fixation of not...hopefully they do since it's a CRITICAL part riding motorcycles whether on the street or on the dirt.

My 2 cents!

LOL ... too much off-road experience talking there..... although good advice for the road also.  

also ...if you have a friend that rides off-road - have him take you.  Great way to learn how a motorcyle behaves.

[SheriffBooth]

MSF course is great for learning low speed maneuvering and basic riding skills.  Highly recommend.  Going fast in a straight line is easy - it's all the other stuff that takes practice.  I've spent a lot of time in parking lots working on turns, swerves and fast stops.  You don't want to be learning things like that when your life is on the line.

I'm also an "All The Gear, All The Time" guy.  Boots, pants, jacket, gloves and helmet every time I go out.  As they say, it's not 'if' you're going to crash, but 'when'.

Edited by SheriffBooth, 17 May 2012 - 11:16 AM.

[dhillis]

+1

I've been riding since I was 16 and dirt bikes before that.  Last year (29 years old) I was sideswiped in a curve by a minivan cutting the corner.  I was wearing all my gear and it saved my life.  I was thrown over the handlebars and landed on my head and shoulders and slid approximately 150'. My dad was riding behind me and ran over my exhaust pipe, luckily he didn't crash also.  He said I looked like superman in the air and heard the thud of my body hitting the ground.  Fortunately for me and the driver of the minivan, I had no injuries because of my safety gear.  I was also wearing a full face helmet and without the full face my face would have been spaghetti.  

Be careful out there, keep your head on a swivel and watch your mirrors because people don't always stop behind you.  Take special care when you are riding away from the sun, because people can't see you easily when looking towards the sun.  Also put your "brights" on when riding in daylight, makes other people see the bright light much easier.  When you are about to slow down or stop, flash your brake lights beforehand so the drivers behind you have the visual cue to start thinking about braking before you have too.  

There is so much to say, but it's gotten worse on the roads since I was a kid.  Cell phones are making it really bad.  

Wear safety gear including heavy duty boots!  In my accident my boot tore through the van's sheet metal like a can opener!

[lowdrive]

Yep, I am a full face helmet guy, also.  I friend of mine decided on an open face model, to look more like the Harley guys, I guess.  He got to try the face vs asphalt.  Always put your money on the asphalt to win.

When you hit the ground wearing a helmet, you frequently get up all pi$$ed off about getting scratches on it.  You hit the ground without that helmet and you may not get up at all.

[cpeck12]

Here are my toys....

Edited by cpeck12, 18 May 2012 - 09:33 AM.

[cpeck12]

Here in IL they have various levels of motorcycle safety classes. People use the beginner classes as a way to get their license and the more advanced ones to brush up on their skills and learn new things... I highly recommend taking one if your state has them. Lowers your insurance rate too!

Edited by cpeck12, 18 May 2012 - 09:37 AM.

[SheriffBooth]

dhillis, on 17 May 2012 - 09:41 PM, said:

+1

I've been riding since I was 16 and dirt bikes before that.  Last year (29 years old) I was sideswiped in a curve by a minivan cutting the corner.  I was wearing all my gear and it saved my life.  I was thrown over the handlebars and landed on my head and shoulders and slid approximately 150'. My dad was riding behind me and ran over my exhaust pipe, luckily he didn't crash also.  He said I looked like superman in the air and heard the thud of my body hitting the ground.  Fortunately for me and the driver of the minivan, I had no injuries because of my safety gear.  I was also wearing a full face helmet and without the full face my face would have been spaghetti.  

Be careful out there, keep your head on a swivel and watch your mirrors because people don't always stop behind you.  Take special care when you are riding away from the sun, because people can't see you easily when looking towards the sun.  Also put your "brights" on when riding in daylight, makes other people see the bright light much easier.  When you are about to slow down or stop, flash your brake lights beforehand so the drivers behind you have the visual cue to start thinking about braking before you have too.  

There is so much to say, but it's gotten worse on the roads since I was a kid.  Cell phones are making it really bad.  

Wear safety gear including heavy duty boots!  In my accident my boot tore through the van's sheet metal like a can opener!

Good post.  Sounds like a bad wreck and I'm glad you made it through with just bruises.

The cell phone drivers are definitely the worst.  Spending time on two wheels definitely makes you appreciate how dangerous smart phones have made the roads.

Two books that I can recommend:  "Proficient Motorcycling" by David Hough and "Stayin' Safe:  The Art and Science of Riding Really Well" by Lawrence Grodsky.  Both great books for different reasons.

[Dr. Shankenstein]

cpeck12, on 18 May 2012 - 09:21 AM, said:

Here are my toys....

That Ducati is really... really... pretty. Nice ride there.

[bermuda]

Get your wife a helmet, jacket, boots and gloves so she can ride with you. That might help her like it better. Like that Viagra commercial. My gf and I took an 800-mi trip to the Virginia mountains a couple of weekends ago.

[shuddleston]

Thanks for all the advice guys. Planning on picking up the books this weekend and giving them a read before my msf course in a few weeks. I already picked up a full face helmet and am checking out boots, gloves, and a jacket.

[KaTooM]

Dr. Shankenstein, on 18 May 2012 - 11:07 AM, said:

cpeck12, on 18 May 2012 - 09:21 AM, said:

Here are my toys....

That Ducati is really... really... pretty. Nice ride there.

PLUS ONE!!!!

Is that a one off, modified Monster? The dual exhausts are throwing me off.

[cpeck12]

KaTooM, on 19 May 2012 - 07:45 PM, said:

Dr. Shankenstein, on 18 May 2012 - 11:07 AM, said:

cpeck12, on 18 May 2012 - 09:21 AM, said:

Here are my toys....

That Ducati is really... really... pretty. Nice ride there.

PLUS ONE!!!!

Is that a one off, modified Monster? The dual exhausts are throwing me off.

It's a S2R 1000 Monster... they only made the S2R models for 3 years ('06-'08) so they're a little harder to come by. It has a full aftermarket exhaust system (not just slip ons), a "tail chop", and a few other modifications.... so it's not your everyday Monster.

[leadfoot_mf]

pick up keith codes twist of the wrist and twist of the wrist 2 also in dvd format.  it is sport bike oriented by very good info on the handling of bikes.

+1 on the safety course.

dirt riding will def. help with the way the bike will handle in loose traction conditions.  


ride like you are invisible because you are.  Never assume because you see other drivers eyes looking at you that they see you.   Be very cautious of how other traffic hides you.  Good luck with owning a bike and having a young one.