First Street Bike

Did It

2005-10-30T07:37:00.000-05:00

I finally did it passed my MSF course now all i gotta do is walk into the dmv to get my endorsement. I was so pump when i got the "you've passed" I can tell you how exciting it is to know that im one step closer to get on a bike and be able to drive around. After the MSF class no corner or curve is ever the same to me, i constantly keep on thinking what i would do if i was on a bike.

MSF Class finally

2005-10-26T07:16:00.000-04:00

been takin my msf class finally, i went to last thrusday class which was held in a class room. The course provided you with a work book and we pretty much went over the book. It was extremely helpful seeing that i never touch a bike before. This following sunday we had a course riding, I can honestly say that i love this stuff i couldnt get enough of it. We rode for 8 till 3 and i still wanted more even though it was raining and cold. This week we will have a one more thursday class and a another saturday riding session, hope i pass so i can get my linces. wish me luck

Back!!

2005-09-22T16:05:00.000-04:00

Aight everyone sorry for not posting as of lately, i have been pretty busy with work and school, i have manage to however save up enough for the MSF course. As a matter of fact im sending it in the mail today, hopefully i get place in a class and by the end of October i would have finish the course and with fingers cross get my motorcycle license. I'm so pump, thanx for everyone thats been leaving comments and encouraging me i really appericate it. Will definatly be posting more check back to see whats new

Anti Theft

2005-09-11T10:14:00.000-04:00

First:
Disc lock on the rear and be sure it is the flat key disc lock if you are using a Kryptonite lock. The round key locks are being recalled. Put it on the rear because these thugs are getting smart. If you use it on the front, two yard apes can wheelie the bike anywhere they want and defeat the disc lock later Especially if you are running around town.

Second:
Scorpio alarm system. This lil device is so comforting. I have tested it out in various situations, parking garages, underground lots, alleys, bikenights, etc. Works like a champ Do a google and you will find them. I installed my own on a Ducati 749, piece of cake. All the instructions are enclosed. Follow them to the letter and you shouldn't have a problem. Really great if you are running around town

Third:
Kryptonite chain or heavy duty cable with lock. Once agin the flat key type. I wrap this thing around the tow hooks of my Expedition, at night, set the alarm on the truck and the bike, install the disc lock, and go to bed. One last thing I do is park my truck inches away from my bike and use the factory steering lock, yeah I got one too Stubs

So, there you have it. Haven't had any problems with thieves. Seen a few lurkers but they just keep moving along. Matter of fact I am looking forward to someon trying to steal my bike so I can use my other means of reprecussion

Helmet Law

2005-09-06T22:02:00.000-04:00

by KYW’s Tony Romeo
PennDot says the number of motorcycle fatalities in 2004 -- the first full year after a change in state law allowed adults over age 21 to ride without a helmet –- decreased from the previous year.

Pennsylvania’s helmet law was repealed as of September 2003, and PennDot spokesman Steve Chizmar says the number of motorcycle fatalities actually dropped by 14 the following year:

“In 2004, there were 157 motorcyclist fatalities, and that compares to 2003, when 171 motorcyclists lost their lives.”

But Chizmar says the total number of Pennsylvania motorcycle fatalities in 2004 was still higher than the total of 140 in 2002 and 127 in 2001 -- the last two full years that the helmet law was in effect.

Of the 157 fatalities that occurred last year, there were 70 victims who wore no helmet, 73 who did wear a helmet, two who used an improper helmet, six who used a helmet improperly, and there were six cases in which the helmet usage is not known.

Running Red Light

2005-09-01T07:36:00.000-04:00

There was an email just sent out to all the sportbike riders on base here at Little Rock Air Force Base, that says an amendment was made to an Arkansas law, that allows motorcycle operators to run a red light, if they are sitting there, and the sensor will not trigger. There are certain conditions, you obviously can't just run every light, but it's nice to know I won't have to sit at that stubborn light at 3 in the morning, waiting for a car to pull up, so it will turn for me.

Practicing Good Visual Skill

2005-08-31T07:35:00.000-04:00

The biggest trap inexperienced motorcyclists fall into is not practicing good visual skills. This is probably the single largest cause of accidents for novice riders, yet it is also the most basic skill that forms the foundation for every control action you perform while riding. If you aren't looking where you want to go, how do you expect to get there? We see way too many riders caught up in two major traps involving visual skills: "riding the front wheel" (not looking far enough ahead of the motorcycle), and target fixation. These two traps are often interrelated; when the rider doesn't look far enough ahead and becomes surprised by an obstacle, he panics, which leads to target fixation.

We can't emphasize enough how important it is to look far ahead of your bike while riding. This applies not only to riding in the canyons or on the racetrack, but to city/urban riding as well. Scanning far ahead allows you ample time to formulate a plan for navigating that particular piece of road, whether it be carving the perfect line through a curve, or preparing for and avoiding a hazardous traffic situation. This is especially crucial for novice riders, who usually require a lot more concentration and time to devise riding strategies that experienced riders can perform with little or no effort. If your riding plan is rushed, the chances are good that it will have mistakes. We have also found that looking far ahead helps novice riders overcome their initial fear of using lots of lean angle.

Looking far enough ahead of your motorcycle also helps your ability to scan your peripheral vision for visual clues, whether they are hazards or turn reference points. You don't have to stare at something in order to "see" it; honing this visual skill will allow you to "hit" your turn apexes while already focusing on the next one up ahead. We see a lot of novice riders concentrating so much on trying to hit their apexes "just right," that they end up staring at them nearly to the point where they are upon them; by then, it's too late. If you're still staring at the apex 20 feet before you reach it, by the time you start looking for your next apex, you'll be upon it, and your riding plan will be rushed. Learn to hit your points without actually looking at them.

A rushed riding plan can result in a common problem for novice (and expert) riders: target fixation. When riders go into panic mode, they often end up staring at the most threatening object or area up ahead. This is often either a wayward car entering your path, or the outside of a turn when you enter it a little too hot. The oft-used phrase "you go where you look" is never truer in this situation. We can practically guarantee that if you continue to stare at something you are trying to avoid, you will hit it. Although easier said than done, this is why you need to build your visual scanning techniques so that you will instinctively look beyond an approaching hazard. If a car turns into your path, immediately look for an escape route while getting on the brakes; if you exceed your comfort speed entering a corner, look at where you want to go. Staring at a hazard won't help you avoid it-look where you want to go, and you'll get there.

This article was originally published in the April 2003 issue of Sport Rider.

Best Insurance

2005-08-29T06:40:00.000-04:00

Different insurance companies use different criteria to establish their rates. The fact that State Farm may be low for some riders doesn't mean that it will be for all riders. I'd suggest checking other insurance companies. You might also want to consider an independent agent.

I have read that some insurance companies will provide lower rates if you take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Course. Even if they don't, I highly recommend taking the course anyway. I complete mine tomorrow and so far, I have been very favorably impressed with it. If you haven't already taken it, or a similar course, it will make you a better and safer rider.

The cheapest insurance company is not always the best. Although it is not always true that you get what you pay for, some insurance companies are very tight-fisted when you try to get them to live up to what their policies promise.

Washing you bike

2005-08-27T15:04:00.000-04:00

Big sponge
Lil sponge
Toothbrush x 2 (stiff as you can find)
Chamois (shammy)
Spot free dish soap (soap is soap, I find the specific ones that cost 12.00 work just as well as dishsoap, so feel free to buy it)
Liquid glass wax

Bug & Tar remover. This stuff is magic. It does precisely what it says and doesnt strip clear/paint.
WD40. This is ALSO an amazing bug and tar remover. It is a crazy solvent.
Castrol purple super clean cleaner/degreaser *This will remove the grease from your chain, whether or not this is desired. Make sure you lube your chain afterwords. Dont get this on your fairings.

Wheels
First thing you do is spray the castrol on the dry rims/rear suspension. This crap is aggressive as hell but removes all of the pain in the ass of cleaning wheels and the stuff you cant reach. On the rims you will want to do them one at a time and do them fast. It WILL eat your paint if left on too long.

Spray what you can reach, move the bike forward, spray the rest of the rim.
Move the bike back, run a damp sponge around it, move the bike forward, do the same then rinse. I know it sounds conveluted but I promise you, it removes all of the work, and they gleam. If you stay on top of them you dont even need to rub them with the sponge. I can't say enough about this stuff. It cleans all the lettering on the rims, everything. Don't leave it on longer than 30 seconds. Make sure you rinse the sponge thourougly.

Rear suspension
Spray on the castrol, let it sit for 30 seconds. Hit with a toothbrush in disgusting areas that do not immediately dissappear. Again this will clean like magic and make that rear spring stand out. Rinse the toothbrush.

The rest
Wet it. Use the bug/tar remover (or WD40) in spots as necessary, including undertail. Wash tha bike. Use one toothbrush on hard to reach dirty stuff.
Use a chamois

Wax
Remove the seats. Damned wax discolors it. Wax the bike. Remove the wax when its dry (I know... hard to believe but true). Use the remaining tootbrush to get it out of all the screws/crevaces.

Tires
Leave them the **** alone. It isn't a car, you armorall your tires you are going to fall down and hurt.

Chain
Nobody is going to agree with me on this, which is fine, I use WD40 and run the chain through a rag I am holding to remove what would fly off. WD40 is a great lubricant and has the added bonus of both cleaning and sealing the crevaces from dirt. Chain always looks new, never rusts, doesn't get gunky.

Handling Characteristic

2005-08-27T12:03:00.000-04:00

To stabalize a motorcycle, you need to achieve the proper weight distribution, which is around 60% on the rear, and 40% on the front. Obviously, the only way to achieve this is by accelerating. Therefore through the transitive property, acclerating will stabalize the bike. Proof of this would be like riding a dirt bike, or going over a set of crappy tarmac at the track. If you go over it while you're off the gas, it's going to shake you up, you'll lose time, and end up changing your line to go around it. Where if you accelerate over it, you and your bike could care less about it. This goes for any bike.

Understeer usually comes from the front being unable to properly handle the load that is being applied to it. For example, when you go into a turn too hot, you get off the gas, and run wider. Where if you get on the gas, you'll tighten your line right up. Works every time. Now all of that can be fixed and applied by adjusting the suspension to your weight. Preload and spring rates are the biggest factors here because we're dealing with slow speed suspension travels. Not high speed damping that you fix with shims.

Now when you're racing, it a little different. There's the right line, the wrong line, and the race line. While you're racing, you don't always want the safest mostest bestest bike happiest version around. You want the fastest. Done. And sometimes you achieve that by staying on the brakes through most of the turn as opposed to accelerating through the entire corner like the bike would want you to do. That's why the lines are so different for a 125 and an M1. Just fastest ways around the track. Its kind of like..... in Gran Turismo...Apricot Hill. The chicane. Who in the heck acually makes both turns for that fricken thing when you're going for the win? Nobody. You just fly over it taking sand and rocks with you. Your car doesn't like it, and you do to a degree chance majorly screwing up. But its faster. But racing aside, I say just learn to accelrate through the turns man. Jeremy McWilliams once said "Just stay on the gas. As long as you're on the gas even a little bit, you won't crash." Get all your braking done before the turn, turn in, and as soon as your at your happy lean angle, accelerate slowly through the turn, or at least keep a constant throttle. Those are way better than staying off the gas and engine braking through the turn. You'll run wide, unsettling your suspension, and all around risking crashing.

What do steering dampers do?

2005-08-23T23:00:00.000-04:00

Under some operating conditions, motorcycles suffer from oscillation problems. This has been established through usage and through measurement programmes. Corresponding theory is well established. The main lateral oscillations are weave and wobble. In straight running, the weave mode is well damped at moderate
speeds, but becomes less so as the speed increases. Motorcycle natural frequency rises from zero at very low speed to somewhere in the range 2−4Hz, depending on the mass and size of the bike, the lowest frequencies corresponding
to the heaviest motorcycles. The only properly documented wobble oscillations involve moderate speeds, although there are many anecdotal accounts of wobble at high speeds. Theoretical results indicate that the torsional stiffness of the
motorcycle frame at the steering head determines whether a machine will be prone to wobbling at medium speeds (compliant frame), or at high speeds (stiff frame). The frequency of the mode does not vary much with speed, being governed primarily by the mechanical trail, the front tyre cornering stiffness and the front frame steer inertia.It is normally in the range 6 − 9Hz. Stiff framed machines, being prone to wobbling at high speed, often depend on
a steering damper for satisfactory wobble mode damping.
Normally, however, a steering damper will destabilise the
high speed weave. In cornering, the above lateral modes

Tips on how to be safe and stay alive

2005-08-23T07:20:00.000-04:00

a) Ride with your brains, not with your balls

b) If something doesnt feel "right", back off, probably something is wrong

c) No points give to the fastest one on its way to the grave

d) Its easier to avoid getting into trouble than getting out of a bad situation.

e) Know your bike, work on it if it is possible, learn about it.

f) Hear your bike! She is the one on top of the pavement, she knows!

g) Cages are out there to kill you, they won't use turn signals, all of them have blown stoplights and all of them leak some slippery fluid. Never trust a cage, don't let your guard down!

d) After a blind turn, there is always somethign waiting for you to crash. Never outride your sight!

Last one, and most important:

ENJOY THE RIDE! If you are not enjoying it, it is time to stop and take a break.

MSF Information

2005-08-22T06:17:00.000-04:00

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader for the following documents (Available here: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html):

So you've decided to get a motorcycle or perhaps you are a veteran rider wanting to touch up your skills. The following are documents curtousy of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF):

Safety Tips:
"You and Your Motorcycle: Riding Tips" booklet
"Motorcycle Operator Manual" booklet
"Sharing The Roadway" booklet for non-motorcyclists

Quick Tips
"If You Ride A Motorcycle" Quick Tips
"Ten Things All Car & Truck Drivers Should Know About Motorcycles" Quick Tips
"Carrying A Passenger" Quick Tips
"Preventing Motorcycle Theft" Quick Tips

Cycle Safety Information:
How Helmets Work
2004 Equipment Requirements
2002 Licensing Information
2001 Crash Statistics

MSF Curriculum Materials:
Basic RiderCourse Handbook (Non-printable)

This should be all the information you need to get you going and riding safe. Thanks again to the MSF for providing this great information. You can locate your nearest MSF location here at: http://www.msf-usa.org/ or call (800) 446-9227 for the RiderCourse nearest you. For any questions you have feel free to post up on the forum. There are many riders more than willing to address your questions and concerns.

Helmet for new rider

2005-08-21T07:40:00.000-04:00

1) Make sure the helmet has the appropriate safety ratings. In the US that's
DOT and Snell.

2) Make sure it fits you well. Different brands and styles of helmets are
differently shaped, to fit all our differently shaped heads. Try several
helmets on, and make sure to keep them on your head for at least a few
minutes to see if you notice any pressure points developing. When I say "a
few" I mean at least 5. Ten or fifteen would be better.

My first helmet fit awful, but I didn't know any better. It was only truly
uncomfortable after about 20 minutes, with a tremendous pressure point at
the top of my forehead. If I'd spent more time with the helmet on at the
dealership, and if I'd known at the time that not all helmets are shaped the
same way, I probably wouldn't have suffered with that helmet for such a long
time.

A helmet should be a very snug fit when new. Not uncomfortably so, but
almost. The liner will pack down with time, and if the helmet's not tight to
begin with, you can be sure it'll be loose later, which is no good.

Other than those two major points, the rest is up to you. Do you want vents
and other gadgets? Do you want flashy colors or graphics? How much do
replacement shields cost? Are tinted shields available if you want them?
You'll probably go through a few shields over the lifetime of the helmet,
depending on how well you take care of them.

I'd say go to the local moto shop and try on as many different ones as
you're interested in. If nothing seems to fit, find out what other
manufacturers you haven't tried and then see where you can find them in your
area. Don't settle for an ill-fitting helmet. Trust me on that.

80% rule?

2005-08-20T00:19:00.000-04:00

I was reading in a current mag about something they called the 80% rule, that riders only ride to 80 percent of there true balls to the wall ability, and they thought that it was closer to 94%, pretty interesting.

Helmet or no helmet

2005-08-18T14:30:00.000-04:00

Motorcycle fatalities increase in Florida after helmet repeal

KEN THOMAS

Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Motorcycle fatalities have risen sharply in Florida since the state repealed its mandatory helmet law.

States that repeal such laws run the risk of increased deaths and mounting health care costs for injured bikers, according to two studies released Monday, one by the government, the other by the insurance industry.

The first, by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, found that in the three years following Florida's repeal of its mandatory helmet law in 2000, 933 motorcyclists were killed, an 81 percent increase from the 515 bikers killed from 1997 to 1999.

Even though the state requires helmet use by riders under age 21, fatalities among that group nearly tripled in the three years after the repeal; 45 percent of those killed were not wearing helmets. The cost of hospital care for motorcycle injuries grew from $21 million to $44 million in the 30 months after the law changed; the figures were adjusted for inflation.

The study, conducted by the Connecticut-based Preusser Research Group, mirrored the findings of a 2003 federal review that found that fatalities grew by more than 50 percent in Kentucky and 100 percent in Louisiana after those states struck down their mandatory helmet laws.

"The results are remarkably similar that when you repeal a helmet law, you can expect an increase in fatalities and you can expect an increase in medical costs," said NHTSA spokesman Rae Tyson.

The second study released Monday, by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, found that the death rate of motorcyclists from 2001-02 increased 25 percent compared with the two years before the repeal of the helmet law in Florida.

The debate has generated legislative struggles during the past decade, with motorcyclists rumbling through state capitals and unleashing torrents of phone calls and e-mails to lobby for repeals. Some motorcyclists complain that they should have the choice of wearing a helmet and urge states to focus more on rider education.

But safety groups contend that less restrictive laws lead to more fatalities and burden society through higher medical costs. They mostly have waged a losing battle since the mid-1990s, when Congress removed federal sanctions against states without helmet laws and a handful of states weakened their statutes.

Twenty states and the District of Columbia require all motorcycle riders to wear protective helmets, a decline from 47 states in 1975, according to the institute, which is funded by the insurance industry.

Nationally, fatalities increased nearly 8 percent to 4,008 in 2004, the first time they have surpassed 4,000 deaths since 1987. Motorcycle deaths have increased seven years in a row.

Florida requires helmet use by riders under the age of 21 or by older riders who do not carry a minimum of $10,000 medical insurance coverage. The state's climate allows for year-round riding, and Daytona Beach's Bike Week attracts hundreds of thousands of motorcyclists every March.

In the institute's report, the motorcycle-crash death rate increased 25 percent in the two years after Florida's law changed, growing from 30.8 deaths to 38.8 deaths per 1,000 crashes.

Tom Lindsay, a spokesman for the American Motorcyclist Association, noted that both studies failed to show the causes of crashes, such as the rider's behavior, road and weather conditions or the motorcycle itself.

The federal highway bill approved by Congress in late July included funding for the first major study of motorcycle crash data since the late 1970s.

"We're looking forward to real research that surveys many factors of motorcycling crashes and comes up with ways that we can reduce this number," Lindsay said.

2005 GSx-R1000

2005-08-15T22:43:00.000-04:00

Suzuki has totally revamped its GSX-R1000 sportbike for 2005, reducing weight, increasing power, and adding features to make racers drool.Big power, seamless fuel injection, a slipper clutch for smooth downshifts all good stuff. But this "racebike" has lights and turn signals. Cool turn signals, even. With a claimed dry weight of 365 pounds, the new bike weighs 5 pounds less than the 2004. Suzuki also did a lot of wind-tunnel testing to reduce the frontal area by 4 percent and cut aerodynamic drag by 5 percent. In addition, the bike is a little shorter front-to-rear, shorter from the top of the windscreen to the pavement, and a little narrower from side to side.Available in the states with an MSRP of $10,849, the new GSXR1000 will be available in black/yellow, black/gray, and, of course, blue/white.

Term: Chicken Strip

2005-08-14T11:19:00.000-04:00

Chicken strips happen because the bike is not leaned over enough to use that portion of the tire. Normally people are afraid to lean the bike over that much. Hense the name.

Experience Rider Prespective

2005-08-13T15:40:00.000-04:00

Some say motorcycling is a sport...That is true but sport is only one element of motorcycling.

Some say motorcycling is transportation...That is true, until you ride the same road 20 times in a day because it's just soooo curvy.

Some say motorcycling is an art...Did mozart die if he missed a note? Did Rembrandt lose his leg because he smeared some paint?

Some say motorcycling is a way of life...This is maybe closest to a complete description. But for many, it's only a part of their life.

Whatever motorcycling is to you, never forget that it is always bigger than you are. You can't conquer it, beat it, control it, tame it, or win it. You can ride for 20,000 miles with no wrecks, then wreck twice in 1 week because something changed in your head. You can do everything right, and still find yourself nose to nose with a Freightliner. You can ride 100 stand up wheelies in front of Wal-Mart, and die 100 feet from your house because you blipped the throttle and missed a stop sign. When you start to feel comfortable, it's time to start over with the basics.

You can ride a 1000 every day, and yet not be able to squeeze half of the potential out of a Ninja 250. You can have all the self-control in the world, and not have 1 ounce of control over a 600+ cc bike.

Furthermore, you can master the twisties, drag your knee on every turn, and wheelie on demand, and still have no clue what to do when 90 year old Mrs. Rose pulls out of the church parking lot while you were glancing at the hottie in the car next to you.

Motorcycling may be all of the things above, but I like most to compare it to life itself. We begin as babies, occasionally pooping ourselves, we quickly become 2 year olds...able to get into lots of trouble (but on a small bike, we're able to recover after a few tears). We have parents (older riders) looking out for us, but sometimes they're as stumped by our stupidity as we are. We grow into teenagers, think we've got it all figured out, get a little crazy, and find that life (motorcycling) gives us a swift kick in the pants. We grow to maturity, and soon find ourselves coaching others, not pridefully as we did as teenagers, but because we've been in their shoes and care for them. It's at that point, however, that we enter the real world and realize that everything we've figured out just points to the exponentially greater amount that we have left to learn. Only with many years of experience to we begin to truly understand, and by that point the youngsters see us as old farts with no courage.

With motorcycling...this doesn't take a full 65 years or so...but you get the idea. Some things only come with experience. Safely locking up brakes without wrecking from 60 mph takes a few tries...doing it with a "wide load" sign growing larger in your visor AND in your mirrors...that takes experience.

Anyone can release a clutch and twist a throttle with practice. Anyone can make a liter bike go slow, for a few seconds. Making a GSXR-1000 go 2 mph takes skill though. "Big bikes are for people that can't make small bikes go fast" pretty much sums it up.

Many of you new riders are becoming cocky, questioning the suggestions of the seasoned riders, and even complaining that we're being presumptuous or biased in our advice. The truth is, we've been in your shoes. Many of us began our bike-life as squids. Many of us have the scars of road rash, the dead friends and relatives, and the busted bike parts to prove it.

Whether it's ugly, slow, uncomfortable, or doesn't match your furniture...starting on a 250 or 500 WILL make you safer, and help you learn faster. It will protect you and others from expenses, injury, or even death. You've heard much of this before, but apparently it's not getting through, as many of you are questioning it. Threads are being closed because of the flaming that results when people say stupid, squidly things. Rather than arguing...the new riders need to see that while we are all learning, there are lessons better learned by observation than experience.

Progressive motorcycle study - which more likely to be stolen/crashed?

2005-08-12T06:49:00.000-04:00

Copyright 2005 Business Wire, Inc. ,Business Wire

June 20, 2005 Monday 12:00 PM GMT

DISTRIBUTION: Business Editors; Automotive Writers

HEADLINE: Progressive Studies More Than 2 Million Motorcycles; Finds Which Bikes Are Most and Least Likely to Be Stolen, Crashed

DATELINE: MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio June 20, 2005

BODY:

A recent study of claims data on more than two million motorcycles insured over the past three years by The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies, the country's largest motorcycle insurer, uncovers the makes and models of bikes most and least likely to be stolen or crashed.

Motorcycle Thefts:
------------------

Most Likely to be Stolen Least Likely to be Stolen
---- -----
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Suzuki GSX-R Series 1. Suzuki Savage
----------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Yamaha YZF Series 2. BMW R1200C
----------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Honda CBR Series 3. Honda Rebel Series
----------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Suzuki Hayabusa 4. Honda Shadow Series
----------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Kawasaki Ninja Series 5. Yamaha V-Star
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Motorcycle Crashes:
-------------------

Most Likely to be Crashed Least Likely to be Crashed
---- -----
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Suzuki GSX-R Series 1. Yamaha Virago Series
----------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Kawasaki Ninja Series 2. Honda Rebel Series
----------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Suzuki TLR 3. Suzuki Savage
----------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Yamaha YZF Series 4. Harley-Davidson FXR
----------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Honda CBR Series 5. BMW R1200C
----------------------------------------------------------------------

So what does this mean for bikers?

If you choose a motorcycle that's involved in more crashes or is stolen more often you'll most likely pay more for insurance.

"Insurance rates are based on a lot of information about you and your driving record as well as the make and model bike you ride," said Rick Stern, motorcycle product manager, Progressive. "If you buy a bike that's stolen often, you may pay more for comprehensive coverage, and if you buy a bike that is involved in more crashes then you may pay more for collision. We want bikers to be aware of what drives rates so they can make better, more informed insurance decisions."

The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies, in business since 1937, ranks third in the nation for auto insurance based on premiums written and provides drivers and riders with competitive rates and 24/7, in-person and online service. The products and services of the Progressive Direct Group of Insurance Companies are marketed directly to consumers by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE and online at progressivedirect.com through the Progressive Direct brand. The Drive Group of Progressive Insurance Companies offers insurance through more than 30,000 independent insurance agencies that market their products and services through the Drive Insurance from Progressive brand. To find an agent/broker, go to driveinsurance.com. The Common Shares of the Progressive Corporation, the Mayfield Village, Ohio-based holding company, are publicly traded at NYSEGR. More information can be found at progressive.com.

Job

2005-08-08T18:36:00.000-04:00

Did it, got myself a job starts on August 25th . . . another step closer

Gas

2005-08-07T20:42:00.000-04:00

Tired of these outrageous gas prices

so true, so true . . . .

Honda F4i: 1 - Deer: 0

2005-08-06T18:37:00.000-04:00

http://hornskeith.com/deerwreck.wmv

Gotta see this one is billion chance, a guy hits a deer with his bike.
Its a good thing the rider was wearing his gear otherwise it could have been a lot worst

Insurance

2005-08-06T09:52:00.000-04:00

you have three basic setups:
1.)liability
2.)comprehensive
3.)full

I'll do my best to break them down, but I don't know all the facts so take it and do a google search just to be sure, but Im PRETTY sure this is how it works.

liability-The most basic and cheap way for insurance. Basically it covers you if you have CAUSE an accident. It will not cover YOUR stuff, only the person you hit, and their med. bills. It may cover yours, but this is where I suggest googling, or contact an insurance agent.

for comprehensive/full I found this:
Collision Insurance
Collision insurance coverage pays for damage caused to your vehicle in an automobile accident, when you are "at fault". A standard collision automobile insurance policy will pay for any repairs up to the fair market value of your car.

Sidebar
It is important to remember that this value can be significantly lower than the cost of replacing your vehicle (or your loan balance.) If your car is financed or leased, you will need gap insurance to reimburse you for the difference between what you owe and what the car is worth.

Collision coverage usually also comes with an insurance deductible. It's the amount of money you pay toward repairs before your collision insurance kicks in. The higher the deductible you're willing to pay, the less the collision policy will cost.

Collision insurance coverage is not required by law in any state. However, if you're driving a car purchased from a dealership or financed through a lender, you may be required by the dealership or lender to carry collision insurance. (And just to be sure, you should get gap insurance.)

Comprehensive Automobile Insurance
Comprehensive is very similar to collision insurance, the main difference being that comprehensive covers damage caused to your vehicle caused by any unknown party or "act of God".

Vandalism, flood, hurricane, theft, and fire are all events usually covered by comprehensive automobile insurance. (But make sure to read your comprehensive insurance policy for exact coverage details.)

Like collision automobile insurance, comprehensive coverage will pay up to the fair market value of your car (less your insurance deductible.) And although it's not legally required by any state, you will probably need it if your car is financed.

Hot tip: Your collision and comprehensive automobile insurance policies are two places where it can be pretty easy to cut costs. Read our guide to choosing car insurance for money saving strategies!

pulled from http://www.autoinsuranceindepth.com/optional-coverages.html

Great comment from one of our readers

2005-08-05T15:13:00.000-04:00

Prior to purchasing his first motorcycle (both first and second were in the category of crotch rockets) my then nineteen year old son took the CHP riding and safety course. When he purchased his first motorcycle, he also researched and purchased top of the line safty equipment and riding wear (and added other items later for different kinds of weather as well as an even better helmet).

When he had an accident with his second motorcycle, everything performed above specs and he was spared many injuries. He wasn't wearing proper boots at the time (and was wearing heavy denim jeans), and so broke his leg and ankle (requiring surgery on the ankle) and earned a little road rash on one hip, but arms and elbows were padded from the impact, road rash was at minimum due to the well made, expensive gloves and jacket (and those heavy jeans worked, though not quite so well as a full leather suit). His helmet was top of the line specs, not just the standard D.O.T. acceptable ones and though he was a little dazed there were no head injuries- even though the helmet and face plate had scrape marks across one side, the top and the front where he slid and tumbled across the highway.

The month old second bike purchased new and not yet broken in - tumbled end over end in an opposite direction, hit the guard rails of the mountain road and was totaled- a complete write off by the insurance company as well as the bike shop who had wanted to try to salvage it.

My son spent four months mending.. but all in all the investment in the training course, good riding equipment- and the choice to wear it, no matter how warm the weather - was a blessing.

I cringe when I see folks riding in light summer wear, without jackets and boots or gloves and with the bare minimum helmets. Even the best of riders are likely to have an accident or two- they might be great riders, but one cannot always account for all factors including other drivers on the road. Accidents happen. Top safety equipment can mean the difference between living to ride another day or winding up too broken to mend.

Good blog, good information- Happy, thrilling, but safe riding to you.

Wow

2005-08-03T20:47:00.000-04:00

new R1 2006

Mtv

2005-08-03T20:29:00.000-04:00

there was a mtv show on once about street bike. I believe it was call True Life, I live to ride . . . thats how it all started for me. For those who havent seen the episode. It shows two groups of kids and their quest to be the best stunt teams. The tricks they were preforming were outrageous. I couldnt even believe that it was possible to do some of the things they were doing. I dont think i will be doing anything of that anytime soon but thats def why im attracted to this sport. Well that and the adrenaline you get when you hop on your bike

Helmet

2005-08-02T21:57:00.000-04:00

When it comes to helmets it is recommended that you get either Snell or DOT approved. After that it is pretty much up to you. There are wide ranges of price just have to find out that fits your budget and is the most comfortable. A rider told me however there is a difference you can notice with the weight and noise. He told me that typically the lighter it is the more noise and vise versa.

MSF course

2005-08-01T21:36:00.000-04:00

was lookin on the MSF website and this is what they had to say about the motorcycle safety foundation class.

The website says the the safety course itself is a minimum of 15hrs when is taken over a few days. After completing the course they give you a card. After the completion of the course you done have to take a on-bike riding test depending on the state that you live in. I believe in CT after the completion of the MSF course u dont need to take the on bike test. From what i have heard the MSF in CT also gives u the written test, it doesnt get any better than that. Here is the bad part the course cost $165 something i definatly dont have. So im goin to start saving up and hopefully i can catch a class in the fall. The lastest one is Oct 21-30, hopefully i can get the money by then. If u want more info here is the Link, but remember this is the MSF course that located in Manchester, Ct. You gotta check the MSF site to find out the nearest MSF course around you. . . Hope this helps the new rider get started

Sound Tip

2005-07-31T16:19:00.000-04:00

Was searching online and came across this website the info they give are pretty sound so i figured any new rider could use the info here the link

This looks painful

2005-07-29T06:27:00.000-04:00

Being the curious cat that i am i went online to check out some of crashes done on a street bike. I found some pic on this forum and let me tell you these do not look pretty. They are so painful it makes me think twice about bike safefy. The pictures just put a gut wreching feeling down ur stomach, makes me question how bad i really want this. But in the end it also taught me to respect safety. I feel that if these pictures where showed in MSF safety classes young kids like myself would be more considerate for safety. Thats why im going to post the link to help new riders like myself take a step back and look at the whole picture. Ill post the links to the pic but let me warn you these are not for the FAINT of here. Def still wanna get a bike but now im gonna pay extra attetion to safety

LINK -SAFETY FIRST

Sorry About The site

2005-07-28T20:15:00.000-04:00

Just doin some changes to this blog . . . sorry if all the info is not the way it was before, still under construction

Dont Mess With the Biker Grandma

2005-07-27T23:06:00.000-04:00

The Idea

2005-07-27T19:32:00.000-04:00

I dont know about everyone out there but the idea of getting a street bike would defintaly not go too well around my house. I dont think my dad would mine me having one, but i can see the terrified look in my mothers face if i every did get one. Thats why this is so great, currently living in a off campus apartment when if I get one I can keep it here and they would never know about it. Well. . . when they do figure it out i would have gotten plenty of driding exprience for them to say no. They definatly would never ever help me pay for my bike, and thats why im tryin to find any way of making an income to help me pay for this

SQUID

2005-07-27T16:48:00.000-04:00

A term used by street bikers. . .

S.Q.U.I.D. (Some Quick Unimportant Immature Dumbass)
Squid- A rider who acts in a way that brings a bad name to the sport. Anyone who has a blatent disregard for their safety, as well as the safety of others. Also, someone who thinks they know everything there is to know about the sport, and is too stuck up to take advice (when in reality they need a LOT of it)

Is it just me?

2005-07-26T21:09:00.000-04:00

I dont know what it is, maybe its my new found interest for a street bike but i could swear i have been seeing more and more street bike on the roads these days. I think street bikes are being to pick up more and more amoung people my age group (college students). Just think about it a full tank of gas on a street bike wont put a big hole in your wallet and gets you near 500miles. . . you cant beat that. I also notice theres more mention of street bike in the media. Just today when i was drive on the radio there was a ad for the new Kawasaki ZX-6 sports bike. The week before that I was watching the speed channel and all they had on was super bike racing. Most of the races where in europe. Maybe Im new to this but i dont seem to think there is much of that here in America

Pocket Bikes

2005-07-26T17:30:00.000-04:00

Pocket Bikes are designed in class and style to that of a mini-motorcycle. Its well-built aluminum frame gives it a sleek look of a racing style bike. Their top speeds range from between 34-45 mph, however thats all depended on the riders weight. Most pocket bikes are equipped with either a 49cc or a 47cc two stroke engine with a centrifugal clutch. Pocket Bikes comes with front and rear disc brakes. Pocket bikes have very good acceleration and therefore can hurt you like any street bike.

Application

2005-07-25T19:48:00.000-04:00

Applied for a work study job today they said they would get back to me in a week. Hopefully i get this job so i can start saving up for that bike. As u can assume work study doesn't pay much so im probably going to find another job while doing the work study . . . man, i cant wait till i hop on to that bike and take that first ride and getting that excitiment as the adrenaline circulates through ever blood vessel. . . in due time, just wish that time was now.

Donation

2005-07-25T16:12:00.000-04:00

I hate beggin and i sure all of u hate beggers, but im a college student and my funds are limited but if u can spare any to make my goal a reality, your help would be greatly appeciated please leave your name and email as a comment so i can start a post with people who have help. Once again i appeciate it

toss up Suzuki GSX-R600

2005-07-25T15:32:00.000-04:00

I still havent made my mind yet its a toss up between the Yamaha R6 or this ride the Suzuki GSX-R600. This is the ride that started it all for me, was workin over the summer and my boss had this ride, the picture does it no justice up close it's a piece of art

Blogging My Experience

2005-07-25T01:27:00.000-04:00

The reason why i thought this would be a great idea to make this street bike blog, is because there isnt much information on the internet about how you go about taking safety classes, to buying a motorcycle and i figured this would be a great way for people who have gone through this to post their comment. Also the blog was design to help those who are interesting in getting a motorcycle, or street bike.

Just the thought

2005-07-24T18:15:00.000-04:00

Just the thought of getting a street bike, makes me not able to keeps my eyes shut. Like the kid that eagerly awaits chrismas morning i find myself thinking about it day and night. Too bad my desire and ambition to get one is not back up by my bank account. This week im gonna try to go around town looking for whatever job i can find, i don't even mind working a minimum wage. Whatever pays the bills and brings me closer to that dream bike, Im eargerly willing to go through.

New Links

2005-07-24T18:01:00.000-04:00

I guess i was wrong. Check out the links there are some great Blogs out there about street bikes.

Yamaha YZF-R6

2005-07-24T04:25:00.000-04:00

there she is the Yamaha YZF-R6, figure i would get a 600cc seeing how i have no riding experience. Oh for those who dont know a 600cc referes to the engine size, therefore the bigger the engize size the more horsepower i.e the faster it goes. Do get me wrong 600cc is no small engine

The Plan

2005-07-23T15:11:00.000-04:00

like most college student i dont have any money to afford for my interest in getting a sport bike, have always wanted one, and this is the year that im gonna do it. Aight here's the plan, gonna get a part time job save whatever i can and try and get a used bike, while im doin that gotta take the MSF (motorcycle safety class) class. Will i be able to accomplish my goal only time will tell, ill keep u all posted with the progress.

And it just goes to show that if i can do this and anyone can do it if they want it bad enough

Street Bike Blog

2005-07-19T02:07:00.000-04:00

I guess you could say im new with this whole web bloggin thing, but thought i would give it a shot. Like the title implies this blog is gonna be dedicated to getting my first street bike.

Been lookin around the internet to find more about street bike. You could saying doin a little homework. There seems to be nothing about how you go about getting one. From picking out your ride, gettin your license, to buying insurance. So i figured i would start a blog as i go through the process of gettin my first street bike. In this blog i will be talking about street bike, sport bike pic, sport bike, sport bike stunts, Motorcycle blog, Motorcycle, Motorcycles, Bikes, Bikers, Blog, Weblog