New Guy Help

[Scab]

+1 on the course, then buy a used Honda CB750, ride one season, sell it (and actually get most or all of your money back!) and get the FJR.

 

[Groo]

I actually got more than what I paid for the Virago (by a significant amount). Course I had replaced some scratched/broken parts that were there when I got it, and cleaned it up significantly...

 

[JimLor]

I had like experience before I bought Maxine last May. Did the MSF course and then, 9 months later started riding Maxine. I'm a 53 year old fart and can't say that gaining experience on the FJR was anywhere near traumatic. Now, I've got a pilot's/sailing/scuba license, ride horses, spent 26 years as a Marine - I'm very comfortable with the man/machine interface. I had two concerns picking up the bike - 1/ that I'd immediately drop it and 2/ that I'd shoot out of the parking lot into Grandma Jones' house - neither happened! What took the most time for me to get used to was the weight of the bike at slow speeds. At first a full tank used to be a traumatic time, but now after 11 months I don't even notice it. Take the course, study some other books, and ride whenever you can on various types of roads and in varying weather. Experience - guided by education - is, I have found, the best teacher. Best of luck.

Jim

 

[gr8eyes]

THe FJR is definitely too HEAVY. Go get you an R1 its about 200 lbs lighter :yahoo:

Glenn

OK I'm just joking.

 

[chickey191]

speaking about the msf course.

Has anyone taken the new version?

SOAP BOX MODE [ON]

I used to take the MSF Advanced rider course about every two years - maybe three. I haven't taken it in about 5 years. I've been riding for around 33 years - but still found the course useful. I'm a year round rider, so picking up after a winter of no riding is not pertinent to me - but for those that winter "off a bike" - I would strongly suggest a spring tune up with the msf - or with some other riding class. I've heard good things about Oregon's rider training. And have heard a lot of negatives about the new MSF classes.

That said - even with the negatives - (and I'm assuming that they are accurate) - I would still suggest a refresher for most everyone. I don't think the ERC gives you a ton of additional skills (especially if you have taken it before, taken it to heart and actually practices) - I do think that for the most part the drills are too low speed to do a very experienced rider a lot of good - but I do think that a tune up in the parking lot is always a good idea and a refresher on accident avoidance skills, lane placement, defensive driving, etc. are ALWAYS a good idea.

sitting down and talking about techniques can come in handy. Talking about looking for power poles and their direction when approaching a blind hill - and how the poles could give you a clue that the road runs off to the right on the other side. Little things that become second nature and might be hard to explain or perhaps you don't even notice - are things that might save your life.

In another forum I offered up this defensive driving training technique:

I used this with my daughter when she was learning to drive -

Ride together in a car - or verbalize this to yourself on your bike and say out loud all the things, clues, looks, scans and alerts that come to mind while driving/riding on the way to somewhere. Your kid will be amazed (and a little bored, but never the less - you might see a light bulb go off) of the things you are looking for.

examples:

neighborhood - kids playing - look for the errant baseball between cars - it will be followed by kids

neighborhood - kids walking dog that is too large and a cat runs across the street - be prepared for lunging dog

Lady is driving down road with cell phone tucked between her chin and right shoulder - perhaps with left blinker on (but probably not) - what are the chances she is going to risk dropping that phone by looking over her left shoulder to cover her blind spot? ---- answer... ZERO

farm road during harvest season or ploughing season - many entrances from the fields will be covered with dirt... if not mud.

nice fall cruise through the mountains - where do the fallen leaves tend to settle?

Your riding a beautiful road on the california coast - near the ocean - with high tide, high winds. What are the chances this next curve is going to be very wet?

Exit for Seaworld is up ahead and car is coming on strong behind you on your left side - you notice Wisconsin plates.... what are the chances they are going to dive for the exit? What are the chances that the driver is being distracted by boistrous kids?

None of this stuff is really a skill - it is being alert. It is being cognizant of your surroundings. It is being responsible for yourself and others. It is being a courteous pilot and pretending that they are:

a. out to get you

b. you are invisible

c. fill in the blank ___________

the msf course doesn't cover all of the above - years of riding and picking up on clues from brain dead cage drivers does. talking amonst friends and fellow riders will attenuate you to your surroundings and help create that intuitive ability to avoid the oncoming accident.

SOAP BOX MODE [OFF]

 

[Jerome]

Shoot,

I came into this room sorta like you did- very noobish, naive and visions of mastering the FJR quickly. I was quickly and violently raked over the coals by these crude but very knowledgable animals. In the end I was very happy I took their advice. I bought a second hand FJR as a first bike and came looking here for advice. Most replies were like you're getting but they seem to like you more. Thats probably good.

I'll agree by and large with the advice. I bought a well broken in Magna 750 to gain some experience on. Put about 5-6K on it last summer- got very comfortable with it and some pavement at the supermarket where the sand wasn't well swept up. Nuff said. Glad I learned that lesson on the throw away bike, not my new FJR. I also recommend you take the MSF. Very helpful learning the basics. Relatively cheap and fun too.

The FJR is a handful for sure. Even for seasoned riders. With great control and respect you may get along just fine on it as your first bike, but I agree with most others that it may be wiser to get experience elsewhere first.

Good luck.

jerome

 

[Groo]

...- be prepared for lunging dong

I ALWAYS want my daughters to be prepared for that.... ! :blink: :blink: :blink: :lmaosmiley:

Good comments though Chuck

 

[ionbeam]

Jerome, my Boston neighbor!!! Glad to hear from you. Thought of you during this thread. Glad to hear that you have graduated to The Real Deal. When you said you got a Magna I was afraid it was a V65 Not that the V45 is a slouch.

How ya enjoying your neighbor's FJR And, how are you enjoying the weather :angry2:

Most replies were like you're getting but they seem to like you more

It was the story of how you came by your FJR that caused someone to yell 'TROLL' and you got dogpiled. I was one of the ones that chose to accept your tale of good fortune and gave the first real reply. Glad to see you stuck with us after some boorish behavior.

 

[Scab]

I had like experience before I bought Maxine last May. Did the MSF course and then, 9 months later started riding Maxine. I'm a 53 year old fart and can't say that gaining experience on the FJR was anywhere near traumatic. Now, I've got a pilot's/sailing/scuba license, ride horses, spent 26 years as a Marine - I'm very comfortable with the man/machine interface. I had two concerns picking up the bike - 1/ that I'd immediately drop it and 2/ that I'd shoot out of the parking lot into Grandma Jones' house - neither happened! What took the most time for me to get used to was the weight of the bike at slow speeds. At first a full tank used to be a traumatic time, but now after 11 months I don't even notice it. Take the course, study some other books, and ride whenever you can on various types of roads and in varying weather. Experience - guided by education - is, I have found, the best teacher. Best of luck.Jim

Your common sense has no place here.

 

[chickey191]

...- be prepared for lunging dong

I ALWAYS want my daughters to be prepared for that.... ! :blink: :blink: :blink: :lmaosmiley:

Good comments though Chuck

Yikes

my daughters are 14 and 16 - must have been a freudian slip of the worst kind

 

[FJRJeff]

what are the chances she is going to risk dropping that phone by looking over her left shoulder to cover her blind spot? ---- answer... ZERO

FWIW, I hear they are no longer teaching new drivers to do a head check, only to use their mirrors. Officemate says that was the case with his g/f's kids, in Oregon.

Jeff

 

[galxy5]

Lunging Dong

is this some new Kung Fu style ???? h34r: :assassin: :yahoo:

 

[Woodstock]

what are the chances she is going to risk dropping that phone by looking over her left shoulder to cover her blind spot? ---- answer... ZERO

FWIW, I hear they are no longer teaching new drivers to do a head check, only to use their mirrors. Officemate says that was the case with his g/f's kids, in Oregon.

Jeff

My daughter just finished driver's ed, they definately taught "head check".

 

[Groo]

Lunging Dongis this some new Kung Fu style ???? h34r: :assassin: :yahoo:

LOL... I'd love to see the "pose" for it if it is....

Hey Chuck... no fair correcting something like that after the fact.... if it gets noticed, you gotta leave it alone.

 

[Shootist]

Thanks to ALL for the replies. I will take to heart the advice I got from the experience people on this forum. I have being wanting a motorcycle for over twenty years and one thing or another would get in the way. ie Career, Family, Money etc. I felt like being 44 years old was to old to start off with a smaller motorcyle only to work my up. I figured with common sense I could get by with one motorcycle and not have to buy a smaller one. However with the amount of replies I have gotten I realize I must change my way of thinking.

Thanks for the Eye Opener

Mike

 

[Groo]

I got my first one when I was 39. Nothing like maturity and a mid-sized bike to help you figure out what you really want quickly, once you know the drill.

 

[FJRski]

Buy an older starter bike, beat the crap outta it for 1 season, then you'll know what you really want, and feel confident on it, whatever it is.

 

[HaulinAshe]

One very down side to buying a smaller bike is the lack of ABS. Most smaller bikes don't have it. ABS is a great feature and can significantly improve a newbie's chances of staying vertical in a crisis.

If you can afford it, you might consider a very used BMW. It lacks the ponies and performance of an FJR, has good resale value when you buy it used (3-5 years old), and is definitely heavy enough to teach you how to respect a weighty machine.

But there is no substitute for training the governor between your ears. Only seat time will do that.

 

[Mike-H]

ABS just makes you lazy....& takes away from your riding skill sets :angry2:

 

[madmike2]

chickey191...and I thought I was the only one to verbalize to myself when I've been off the bike for a few weeks. I have found that talking myself through corners and situations has helped me be more aware. The "mental accident-recovery period" included many, er, uhm, interesting converstaions. I s'pose we never stop learning.