BF2S Forums Motorcycle license?

G@lt is right, but forgot to factor in rain gear.  I reccomend froggtogs.

JohnG@lt wrote:

Mitch wrote:

JohnG@lt wrote:

If you can't afford the gas to fill a car, you can't afford to own a bike. Just sayin'.

Did i say i cant afford to fill my car? I'de just like to do it less

You're ignoring the fact that you have to buy a helmet and leathers which will probably cost more than you'd save on gas for your car. My helmet alone I got on sale for $450. Boots were $90. Jacket was $200. Gloves $40. It all adds up.

Depends on where you live... Personally I have a Shoei X-Eleven, it cost a lot, but inside that helmet is where I spend a LOT of my time so I was down to put some more cash on it, and your definitely not going to be bitching about how much money you wasted on that helmet if/when you crash and can never use the helmet again. Money wont matter once your dead, and I'd rather be out of $500 and alive than have saved $200 and be dead. However you can find a DOT approved helmet for <$200    but Shoei's I believe to be are the best

Most of the time I don't even wear my jacket (not cold often in AZ), I LOVE that breeze! But my jacket came with insulation for the cold weather, and a waterproof rain liner all for like $140? Also I wear my regular shoes, with the laces tucked inside, and yes gloves are nice for the cold weather and they cost me about $50 at the Harley Davidson store, but again, you can find cheaper.

As far as the money saver thing? I fill up with premium anyway, or race fuel if I can find it (Smoother ride on sport bikes that way) so the gas costs like $9.50 average on fillup, and a full tank of gas will get me like, 130 miles average before the light turns on? And that's riding somewhat hard, I'm pretty sure I could squeeze out more if I babied it. My old 2002 Honda Shadow 750cc could haul some ass and still pull like 45mpg though...

DBBrinson1 wrote:

GodFather wrote:

Stuff

X-eleven is the same helmet I use.  Honestly though, a helment really doesn't make too much of a difference.  Riders that die usually have three other injuries besides the head trauma, that would have been life ending on thier own.

Shoei passes ALL SNELL & DOT testing... other helmets only pass the minimal DOT standards

Id have to look it up to be 100% sure though

burnzz wrote:

GodFather wrote:

Shoei passes ALL SNELL & DOT testing... h

Shoei are good. i met a guy that rode for yamaha, back in the day. he gave me a Shoei helmet. it had inserts that i could move around, and it was the first helmet that had adjustable air flow.

Yeah mine has so many different vent holes... It really helps keep you cool in the Arizona summers sitting in traffic in 110F

JohnG@lt wrote:

GodFather wrote:

JohnG@lt wrote:

You're ignoring the fact that you have to buy a helmet and leathers which will probably cost more than you'd save on gas for your car. My helmet alone I got on sale for $450. Boots were $90. Jacket was $200. Gloves $40. It all adds up.

Depends on where you live... Personally I have a Shoei X-Eleven, it cost a lot, but inside that helmet is where I spend a LOT of my time so I was down to put some more cash on it, and your definitely not going to be bitching about how much money you wasted on that helmet if/when you crash and can never use the helmet again. Money wont matter once your dead, and I'd rather be out of $500 and alive than have saved $200 and be dead. However you can find a DOT approved helmet for <$200    but Shoei's I believe to be are the best

Most of the time I don't even wear my jacket (not cold often in AZ), I LOVE that breeze! But my jacket came with insulation for the cold weather, and a waterproof rain liner all for like $140? Also I wear my regular shoes, with the laces tucked inside, and yes gloves are nice for the cold weather and they cost me about $50 at the Harley Davidson store, but again, you can find cheaper.

As far as the money saver thing? I fill up with premium anyway, or race fuel if I can find it (Smoother ride on sport bikes that way) so the gas costs like $9.50 average on fillup, and a full tank of gas will get me like, 130 miles average before the light turns on? And that's riding somewhat hard, I'm pretty sure I could squeeze out more if I babied it. My old 2002 Honda Shadow 750cc could haul some ass and still pull like 45mpg though...

My point was, after factoring in the cost of the bike and all the gear required to ride one, you wouldn't be saving a penny for something as silly as 'saving on gas for my car'. Saving $20 a week in gas vs spending $5000 between a used bike and gear? It'd take you 5 years to make your money back and that's assuming you would never drive the car ever.

Edit - I have a Shoei as well.

*high five for shoei's*

But yeah I dig what your saying, I was just pointing out that you can go cheap.


But homie you gotta factor in maintenance also, a motorcycle is a lot cheaper to maintain than a car, you can do most of the work, especially the fluids pretty easy. If he drives the car less, that means less maintenance on the car. A LOT of stuff can break on a car and need repair or replacing, like windows, window mechanisms, windshields, transmissions, radiators, A/C etc. Also on a car your paying for 4 tires

I do agree that if your buying a motorcycle with the sole purpose of saving money your making a mistake. But it really isn't as bad as it sounds, after you get a helmet and a safety inspected motorcycle your already saving money.

I believe the OP's thoughts were get a motorcycle, have fun, and as a bonus save some gas here and there and save some money on car costs.


Also, you guys riding sport bikes, I just got my suspension tuned to my weight and all that goodness and MY GOD what a difference! A shop in Phoenix has a deal that on 1 day of every month you can get your suspension set up in like 15 minutes (you gotta sit on the bike with them) and it cost me $30! I dont even have to sit above the seat anymore to brace for bumps, the suspension just TAKES it!




edit: whoever left me a karma message to get on xfire... I'm on xfire right now?

Last edited by GodFather (2010-03-08 17:14:39)

VicktorVauhn wrote:

What does tuning your suspension to your weight involve? Just setting ride height and pre-load on the spring?

I wouldn't fuck around with that unless you are a pro knowing what the fuck is up.

Catbox wrote:

It isn't a very hard test in Va(and i imagine it's similar in NY)... just a written test about the traffic laws in Va and some situational questions... like, What should you do if someone is tailgating you?   

And a test where you ride around a parking lot and accelerate and then come to a stop in a certain area...

wait, wat...

you don't have to drive during normal traffic on the streets?

burnzz wrote:

you need a license to do that.

i don't know if this is a joke or not

cl4u53w1t2 wrote:

burnzz wrote:

you need a license to do that.

i don't know if this is a joke or not

no - in the three states i've lived and carried a motorcycle license in, you need to be a licensed operator to be in normal traffic flow. serious.

cl4u53w1t2 wrote:

but shouldn't you practice under normal/realistic circumstances...?!

you should, and in a car you do. i don't own a bike at the moment ( the wife wants a harley, i want two) but the current practice is you need to be expert in bike, nub in car in all fifty states. and they wonder why bikes get picked of daily . . .

GodFather wrote:

cl4u53w1t2 wrote:

burnzz wrote:

no - in the three states i've lived and carried a motorcycle license in, you need to be a licensed operator to be in normal traffic flow. serious.

but shouldn't you practice under normal/realistic circumstances...?!

If you pop the clutch on a motorcycle in traffic your just going to get flattened. If you can drive a car in traffic you can drive a motorcycle in traffic, granted that you can safely operate the motorcycle.

Honestly its easier to drive a motorcycle going 40 than in stop and go traffic, they want you to understand shifting and use of the clutch and braking before you get into traffic. Those skills can be learned going less than 15mph, after your going 15mph all you have to do is pull in the clutch, shift, and roll on the throttle again.

well, as i told you:

sounds quite dangerous to me...

but then, we have pretty strict, exact and thorough laws regarding driving (and getting driver's licenses) in germany (for cars as well as for bycicles)

JohnG@lt wrote:

GodFather wrote:

cl4u53w1t2 wrote:

but shouldn't you practice under normal/realistic circumstances...?!

If you pop the clutch on a motorcycle in traffic your just going to get flattened. If you can drive a car in traffic you can drive a motorcycle in traffic, granted that you can safely operate the motorcycle.

Honestly its easier to drive a motorcycle going 40 than in stop and go traffic, they want you to understand shifting and use of the clutch and braking before you get into traffic. Those skills can be learned going less than 15mph, after your going 15mph all you have to do is pull in the clutch, shift, and roll on the throttle again.

Riding a bike in traffic isn't a problem until you get some asshole who thinks it's funny to block you when you're cutting lanes. I almost killed a guy for doing that and he was laughing hysterically about it with his buddy.

Could you elaborate? Cutting lanes?