quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
Practice the "SMIDSY" (Sorry, Mate, I Didn't See You) swerve. When approaching a side street with someone waiting to pull out, swerve back-and-forth in your lane. The thinking is that the extra motion will catch their eye since the human eye is optimized for detecting motion.

I do this and was suggested to do by the NC Highway Patrol Motorcycle officers who do it.

Not only do I do a gentle weave side to side - displacing the bike from near centerline to near the side of the road/lane and back and repeat if time/distance allows (e.g. it's swerve or weave, not wiggle), I also turn on my high beams if not already on and blow the horn a few times as I approach. Even with all that, as I get close I stop all maneuvering and prepare to take evasive action or stop.

Yes, I get some dirty looks and even a 1 finger salute on occasion, but I've achieved my goal - they saw me.

Check out the Yamaha XSR lineup. They are naked bikes but with a little better ergo's and retro looks. Still all the performance of a naked though.
I have the 700 parallel twin and it'll wheelie in third if you really want to but can also be very tame and controllable.

I wanted a XSR900 in 2022 but there were only a few available in the US at the time so I bought a MT-09 instead.

You're not crazy at all. It is a fantastic and relatively inexpensive way to have a lot of fun.

My advice is to think very hard about how you see yourself riding and get a bike tailored for that.....and it is difficult, but try to avoid buying a motorcycle just because you have fallen in love with the way it looks.

I just recently traded in a Ducati Diavel for a Royal Enfield Scram 411. They are two extremely different bikes. At the end of the day I came to the conclusion that a lower cost, lower horsepower bike that could allow me to travel on dirt roads, two tracks, and any other road I could see myself wanting to ride on, beat having a really fast bike that I wasn't able to legally enjoy. I like the simplicity and low cost of maintenance of the Royal Enfield. Even at 411 cc's I find that it puts a smile on my face every bit as much as the Ducati.

It took a lot of riding and three different bikes to figure out what I wanted out of motorcycle. Don't assume bigger and faster is better.

Another word on the bike to get. I second (or third or whatever) the advice to get a bike that fits you. If it doesn't fit you and feel comfortable you won't ride it. If you don't ride it your skills won't improve. You'll be your own worst enemy on the road without sufficient skills.

But also know that odds are the first bike you get won't be the last one. I recommend a solid, inexpensive "starter" bike. Yes, I know that's not popular with some who advise getting your "dream bike" first.

Let me ask this - do you want to learn to ride and progress in skill development quickly, or are you more concerned about looking good and having a cool/popular bike?

Hopefully the former but I can't tell you how many students I've coached who show up for the Basic Rider Course with zero experience on a motorcycle who just bought a $30k+ motorcycle that's sitting at home waiting for them. No pressure to learn it all in the 2 days of class huh?

Do yourself a favor. Get a reliable used bike that fits you and that you can be comfortable on. Ride it and build your skills for 6-12 months. THEN upgrade to something you really want.

That's my suggestion. But as they say, ride your own ride.

I started riding at age 55 myself and wish I had started sooner. My first bike was a 2013 Honda Shadow RS 750, a good starter bike, and after 8,000 miles in a year and a half traded for a 2007 Road King Classic and put 14,000 miles on it in two and a half years, before trading for my current bike, a 2022 Road King now with 5,000 miles and counting. So now I’ve been riding for 5 years. It’s a great escape, whether solo or with groups. I know all the good roads in the area and took a 5-day trip to the mountains last year that was a blast. I highly recommend it. Just be patient and don’t ride above your capabilities. Get out there and enjoy!

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
Rider since 1968(?) here.

Lots of good advice here, but I'd add one thing: Find a bike that FITS you physically. Cruisers may look sexy (if that's your thing) but the ergonomics suck. I can't ride one, too hard on my back and hips. Same goes for crotch rockets (full-on sport bikes) the crouched riding position turns into torture PDQ.

Consider seat height and center of gravity. I LOVE my Yamaha FJ09, but if I was an inch shorter it'd be a no-go.

Finally, be aware of weight. A big, heavy Road Sofa like a Goldwing can be a real bear to handle at low speeds for the inexperienced.

I hear you.. I'm not a fan of cruisers. I do like sport bikes but probably7 not a good ergo fit for me. I'm 6'2 280 so need somnething bigger I imagine. wouldnt I look wierd rding a 300?

I am primary looking at naked sport and adventure. I dont know how a shorter person can even ride a Africa Twin?

Looks is not the main factor for me but no one wants to ride a really ugly bike

I'd strongly recommend against getting a "starter" bike. You will quickly outgrow it and loose money trading up to the bike you should have bought in the first place. It's a very common story for newer riders.
If you are concerned about having a bike that is too powerful to handle safely then I'd try to find a bike that has selectable rider modes (very common with new ride by wire systems) and put it on the lowest power mode until you are comfortable.

I road through Bismarck last summer, one thing you have going for you is you're in a nice area to ride! I'll just offer this: it's nice getting off the main roads to ride more interesting, less traveled ones. But the pavement on these roads is often not kept up, or they may just be nice gravel in places. Something else to keep in mind when exploring back roads is gas stations can be far apart so I like having at least a 200 mile range to empty. You'll inevitably be riding on faster open roads as well so I'd want the bike that's comfortable running 75 mph, say down Rt 49 to Elgin, which the 250-300cc bikes will struggle with. A mid size adventure bike would be ideal IMO and you're fortunate to be tall enough that they will fit you.
Unless you stumble on a used one already set up, allow some extra $ for accessories which might include some kind of racks or panniers to carry stuff, a more comfortable seat, wind screen, heavier springs, etc.

Ian at Big Rock Moto does a nice job reviewing many different kinds motorcycles, going into more depth than most, that you might find useful. https://www.youtube.com/@BigRockMoto

quote:

Originally posted by Ryanp225:
I'd strongly recommend against getting a "starter" bike. You will quickly outgrow it and loose money trading up to the bike you should have bought in the first place. It's a very common story for newer riders.

I couldn't disagree more. "Starter" bike doesn't mean a bike that doesn't fit you. It doesn't mean a low CC or small bike. It means a bike that you can be comfortable on, that is forgiving of mistakes, and one that allows you to build your skills without fear of the bike.

Most "starter" bikes can be sold at/near what you paid for them if you take care of it. Why? Because there are a lot of people looking for a good, reliable, well taken care of, and inexpensive first bike. Yes, if you trade it in at a dealership you're likely to lose your ass on it, but that's on almost anything you trade in at a dealership.

My personal example: I bought a "starter" bike (1994 Honda Pacific Coast) for $1,000. Rode it for 12 months and put 12,000 miles on it. Sold it after 12 months for $1,700. Now, the fact that I made money on it IS unusual, but you can see that
1) I didn't invest a ton of money into a first bike
2) the bike fit me, wasn't too powerful, etc. which allowed me to be comfortable with it, not worry about dropping it, etc.
3) it was functional. I wasn't concerned with "looks"
4) it was mechanically sound and safe. (if you're not sure take a buddy who knows motorcycles to look it over with you before you buy it).
5) I didn't "outgrow" it as it was the proper size, power, etc. for me to learn on. I moved to something else because I wanted to, not because the bike wasn't capable or I outgrew it.

A good "starter" bike can be had. It takes some homework and shopping to get the one that's right for you. But if you do it right you'll have a bike you like, can learn on, ride for years if you want,

Not sure how common the "loose money trading up to the bike you should have bought in the first place" story is for new rider. I have feedback from literally hundreds of new riders who are glad they didn't get their dream bike first and that they started with something that allowed them to learn and build skills vs. jump right into something that was too much for them. Are there exceptions? Sure - just like in everything in life. Yes, you need to do your homework and not just get the first bike you like. But it can be done and done well.

Good luck.

I think something in the 500-750cc range & a disciplined right hand makes for a decent starter for a responsible adult.

For a new rider in the teens-20s, a 300-400cc starter makes more sense.

My first ride on the road was a KLR250, kick start only. Lots of fun stalling that at a light & fumbling with the kick starter.
After that I went to an S&S 88 Indian Scout & a Kawi Vulcan S.

Several have power mode settings so you can "turn" it down while you are getting familiar, learning/relearning to ride, or when road conditions are degraded.

Antilock brakes, cornering antilock brakes, skid control, lift control...

quote:

Originally posted by SW_Sig:
Several have power mode settings so you can "turn" it down while you are getting familiar, learning/relearning to ride, or when road conditions are degraded.

Antilock brakes, cornering antilock brakes, skid control, lift control...

This is the way.
That way you can get the bike you really want without having to go through the PITA of realizing you outgrew your "starter" in a couple of weeks of riding.
A bike with selectable power modes will be the most economical and fun way to get into something you'll enjoy for a long time.

Or just go turbo Busa & YOLO!
Kidding [mostly], of course.

Here is my experience over the last year. I am 53 and recently single. I am vertically challenged with a 29 inch inseam. I rode motorcycles from age 9 to age 28. Then I got married. No longer married as of Feb 2023.

I sold my last bike, 1996 Kasasaki Ninja ZX-7R in 1998. In March 2023 I bought a brand spankin new Ducati Panigale V2. I LOVE the Ducati. It is the most amazing machine. In August, I was out shopping with a friend and could not pass up an incredible deal on a 2023 Indian Scout Bobber. So in 6 months I went from no motorcycles to two.

The Indian is much better in traffic. But traffic sucks royally. Find some country roads with some curves and any bike you choose will be amazing.

I took the Ducati to the track in late September, I do not advise doing that. Track hobby money makes gun hobby money look like chump change. Oh yes, I have track vacations planned in 2024...

Find a bike you love. Sit on as many as possible to figure out what you are comfortable on. Take a safety class. Buy and Arai or Shoei top end helmet. Buy a jacket with armor. Have a great time!

Thanks for all the great advice and feedback. Lots of info to digest. the Africa twin seems pretty cool but a a cb650r seems like a better choice for riding in town.

I'm going to save some money and put off the motorcycle for the time being. 2 of my friends have sold all their motorcycles because of the close calls they have had.