Anyone into motorcycles?

[DocFocker]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I think I'm going to buy one even though it might kill me! 🙂

 

[DocFocker]

I'm thinking a cruiser. Relatively safe if you don't drive like an @#$ and don full PPE, of course.

 

[Noegrus]

I wanna buy a Yamaha R6.

Sadly, I am both poor and a scaredy cat. Maybe I'll just ride it around the block and annoy the f**k out of my neighbours. 😛

 

[p30doc]

Had a CBR600RR it got stolen from my apartment parking lot during my first year of med school. I miss it but other people's stupidity can easily kill/maim you.

 

[lobelsteve]

2011 BMW S1000RR
1985 Honda Nighthawk S

Honda just busted starter chain. Going to trade it for cbr500r or Yamaha FZ8.

 

[Impromptu]

I ride a Honda Shadow Sabre 1100. Mostly out on the county highways through the foothills and vineyards where there are no stoplights/stopsigns for 30 miles a stretch and hardly any traffic. If you get a motorcycle you are going to have to devote time to the hobby (like golf). I got married and found I had less time for riding than before. As much as I love it I am considering selling.

 

[jetproppilot]

I think I'm going to buy one even though it might kill me! 🙂

I had a Suzuki GSX-R Hayabusa for a few years circa 1999-2002.

I had alotta fun on that bike.

Thankfully I sold it before my inevitable

DIRT PILLOW

materialized.

 

[DocFocker]

I ride a Honda Shadow Sabre 1100. Mostly out on the county highways through the foothills and vineyards where there are no stoplights/stopsigns for 30 miles a stretch and hardly any traffic. If you get a motorcycle you are going to have to devote time to the hobby (like golf). I got married and found I had less time for riding than before. As much as I love it I am considering selling.

I have a little time in my current position to ride before I start residency. I plan on using it for day trips around the rural area where I live. Hopefully I can convince my wife to come along! Only problem is you can't bring the golf clubs lol.

 

[imfrankie]

Had a '72 Triumph Bonneville. Started to wonder whether "today was the day" so had to sell.

 

[ranvier]

1975 bmw r90/6

 

[Random Anesthesiologist]

I have a '96 Harley Sportster 883, DH has a '73 Shovelhead and a 2004 Night Train.

I really don't ride much anymore and will likely sell my bike when we move after graduation. DH is considering selling the Shovelhead. Even though he loves it, it's going to cost some money to get it to what he wants it to be.

Likely when I'm an attending he can get back into that.

 

[Impromptu]

I do look good in my full helmet, leather jacket, gloves, and chaps. And even though I may break all my bones, at least there will be no road rash. I will be a beautiful corpse.

 

[lobelsteve]

2011 BMW S1000RR
1985 Honda Nighthawk S

Honda just busted starter chain. Going to trade it for cbr500r or Yamaha FZ8.

Bye bye old Honda.

Now I got a cute little starter track bike:

 

[sevoflurane]

I wanna buy a Yamaha R6.

Sadly, I am both poor and a scaredy cat. Maybe I'll just ride it around the block and annoy the f**k out of my neighbours. 😛

That's a good looking bike. 👍 I'd call 'er "Vader".


I was doing some basic maintenance on the dirt bike today and got to thinking of this thread...

Bikes are hella fun. They are a phenomenal way to experience the world around you. Great memories peeling around with the old moto with good friends during the years in the Caribbean. Nothing like cruising around with 6-8 buddies during those beautiful sunsets. Dirt trails up in the mountains give you the same, but different feeling. Tearing up the winding highways with the 750 gixer during a good summer day never gets old.

There is a line in Jet's post above that is a little pearl I'd like to expand on... and sorry in advance if this gets a little cheeeeze.

It's not a matter of "if", but "when" you are going to wreck. It happens. It's happened to me on more than one occasion.

Pre-med (circa 1994)... a good friend and study partner who was the genius type with straight A's all the way through... killed instantly on his Ninja. Crusing to fast and hit a poll. Read about it in the paper the next day when he didn't show up to class during molecular biology.

Sucks.

I've had a handful of good friends get severely injured.

Soon, a lot of you graduating residents are going to get some new toys. Hell yeah! Do it... You won't regret it.

If you get a bike...

Be smart, wear good protective gear and just know it's gonna happen if you ride long enough. Plan accordingly (disability, life insurance, etc).

K... 'nough of that...

Most of all...

Have a good time.

 

[Per4mer8]

Knowing this forum I can't believe the following reply hasn't been made yet:

Anyone into motorcycles?...... "Only if I can shoot a gun from it" 🙂 I kid I kid

Seriously though, I'm not really into street bikes although one of the biggest things I miss is my dirt bike/quads of my earlier years. Will def be one of the first toys I buy when I turn out.

 

[gongmonkey]

I have a 2012 Triumph Thruxton. Best decision I ever made. There is nothing comparable to being on the road on a motorcycle. I am scared that I'm going to eat it someday, but everyone will eventually I suppose.

 

[DocFocker]

Every one is trying to talk me out of it. I am glad there are those who still love it. I figure you have to drive defensively if you want to not find yourself a 'dirt pillow" =]

 

[88845]

I love motorcycles but contemporary traffic ruins the on-road experience. Maybe I'll hop on again one day when the bug hits again. I think an Ariel Atom or Lotus Elise delivers a close enough, yet safer, compromise.

 

[Bostonredsox]

Have a Suzuki Katana 600. Was my first bike. Smooth ride with a D and D aftermath exhaust, such a beautiful sound. Was really thinking about getting a Victory Hammer 8ball black on black after residency. But with 5 kids....I am leaning towards selling the suzuki and staying off the bike. Perhaps once my kids are through college and supporting themselves and I have enough in savings/assets to support the wife in the event I end up a bug splat on some out of control teenagers jeep windshield I will pick it back up...

 

[Dirtball]

Love riding. Started in the dirt age 10 , road some street , back to the dirt. Was about to start tracking an awesome Ducati 900 SS/SP worked by Ferracci , when I changed courses , sold the Duc and bought a car for the track. That Duc used to talk to me, something like "faster,faster" , the exhaust note was really unique for a bike and I just wanted to keep twisting the throttle to hear more bliss. Pretty much forgetting about the world around me. Used to commute at times during residency on a HD Softail custom, once I left work there was no getting beeped back. Once in practice though, I needed to hear the beeper and had to stop commuting on a bike- call was 1:2 to 1:3 for a few years.
Still love my 2 stroke Yam WR enduro for bombing around the backroads and trails. The smell of 110 octane fuel and synthetic race oil is like bacon to my nose... Get around the farm on the wife's 80cc beginner bike.
Now the lecture:::: 50% of street bike fatalities include one of the following three items 1. during a new riders 1st year of riding, 2. Night riding. 3. Etoh . Conclusion = there is a learning curve and the others are avoidable.
My wife wanted to ride street , i said when you wear out this new little dirt bike and have taken numerous spills-bent the levers and handlebar , we'll discuss it. She lost interest.
I think no one should ride the street without laying a bike down in the dirt a bunch and doing lots of panic stops locking up front , rear and both tires on dirt , gravel and pavement until you are good at it.
Oh, another pearl, Never expose your epidermis, use a cows skin or tough denim over yours. Lots of perforated leather coats (Vanson)/ballistic nylons out there that are cool in the heat.
The area I live has alot of fast,twisty, tight roads cut into banks with poor views around curves, lots of wildlife > roadkill, lots of debris like trees and now lots of inattentive texters. There are close to DOUBLE the amount of autos on our roads now then when I started riding. So I am now "Off the Road" . Some days I miss it, but I had alot of good miles. The risk/benefit ratio doesn't cut it anymore (for ME). Sold the heartstopping raceboat too. If I had some of these machines in my 20's I wouldn't be typing this.
I get my streetbike fix in a car now, though I avoid anything under 400 hp to keep it fun.

Dr Focker (the OP) , start small, used, cruiser and see how it goes. Be alert ! !

 

[RT2MD]

Love bikes! I bought a 400cc enduro when I was 15ish. Might have been a bit big for me (I was ~150lbs when I graduated high school). I grew up in the middle of nowhere and only used it for dirt - took the blinkers off, big ole knobby tires, etc. had my first real wreck when I was 16. Don't remember a couple of weeks of my life. Had a second wreck at 18, minor injuries to me - more to the bike.

Got a ninja when I was about 24. Did a 45 mile commute on it quite a bit... Always with a helmet, padded jacket, padded pants and full boots/gloves. Had a blast on that thing. Sold it the month before my daughter was born (when I was 27). Might get another bike eventually... Probably would stick to dirt, having 3 kids has changed my outlook on life a bit. If I got a road bike, I used to think about getting an SV650. I like the look of that bike, it's torquey but not TOO fast. I don't even think they make it anymore, though!

If you get one, I'll echo what others have said about riding on the street. It's a blast, but you have to be on constant alert for others. There was no casual sitting at a red light in town for me... I was always looking for the person who didn't see me and was getting ready to plow into me. I've had a few close calls on the street and I'm happy that's all they were - close calls. If you ride, be safe. Wear gear. Be alert. Have fun!

 

[WashMe]

Love riding. Started in the dirt age 10 , road some street , back to the dirt. Was about to start tracking an awesome Ducati 900 SS/SP worked by Ferracci , when I changed courses , sold the Duc and bought a car for the track. That Duc used to talk to me, something like "faster,faster" , the exhaust note was really unique for a bike and I just wanted to keep twisting the throttle to hear more bliss. Pretty much forgetting about the world around me. Used to commute at times during residency on a HD Softail custom, once I left work there was no getting beeped back. Once in practice though, I needed to hear the beeper and had to stop commuting on a bike- call was 1:2 to 1:3 for a few years.
Still love my 2 stroke Yam WR enduro for bombing around the backroads and trails. The smell of 110 octane fuel and synthetic race oil is like bacon to my nose... Get around the farm on the wife's 80cc beginner bike.
Now the lecture:::: 50% of street bike fatalities include one of the following three items 1. during a new riders 1st year of riding, 2. Night riding. 3. Etoh . Conclusion = there is a learning curve and the others are avoidable.
My wife wanted to ride street , i said when you wear out this new little dirt bike and have taken numerous spills-bent the levers and handlebar , we'll discuss it. She lost interest.
I think no one should ride the street without laying a bike down in the dirt a bunch and doing lots of panic stops locking up front , rear and both tires on dirt , gravel and pavement until you are good at it.
Oh, another pearl, Never expose your epidermis, use a cows skin or tough denim over yours. Lots of perforated leather coats (Vanson)/ballistic nylons out there that are cool in the heat.
The area I live has alot of fast,twisty, tight roads cut into banks with poor views around curves, lots of wildlife > roadkill, lots of debris like trees and now lots of inattentive texters. There are close to DOUBLE the amount of autos on our roads now then when I started riding. So I am now "Off the Road" . Some days I miss it, but I had alot of good miles. The risk/benefit ratio doesn't cut it anymore (for ME). Sold the heartstopping raceboat too. If I had some of these machines in my 20's I wouldn't be typing this.
I get my streetbike fix in a car now, though I avoid anything under 400 hp to keep it fun.

Dr Focker (the OP) , start small, used, cruiser and see how it goes. Be alert ! !

I'm not really sure how this is supposed to make anyone feel better... if you are correct about these statistics, then the flip side of this coin is that 50% of street bike fatalities involve ALL of the following: (1) a rider with more than 1 year of experience, (2) riding during the day, (3) with no involvement of alcohol.

Of course, the massive confounder is that there are probably many more riders with >1 year experience out there compared to riders with <1 year experience, but I would have to see some data on it to actually know.

 

[Dirtball]

Washme , what blew me away was the fatality rate for riders in their first year. I can't quote the article , something I read several years back in bike mag. My point is , make it through the first year, avoid etoh & riding, avoid the dark and your odds go way up.
There's also a terrible statistic regarding returning servicemen and women dying on sportbikes ...I can't quote it but is way out of proportion to the general riding population. A 600cc sportbike today would smoke alot of the racebikes I grew up around in the 70's. All you need is a few grand and you can be riding a bike that accelerates like a raped ape. It's hard not to get on the throttle. Like I said if I was 20yrs old and had some of the modern gear , I'd probably have been toast. Alot of us rode bikes back then cause they cost under a grand, insurance was $35/yr and they got 50 mpg. 500cc was a BIG bike. The current power/weight ratios are amazing.
My point to the new rider is to practice falling and stopping in the dirt, then transition to the street. Like doing a three year residency before being set free on your own.
Another example: When I used to run a race car at the track for "club days" we had to pay for an ambulance to sit there, if it ever left the track with a driver we had to stop running and await it's return- very rare- usually a couple smushed cars per day but no injuries. When the bike clubs were running the infield circuit, they always had two ambo's , cause one was usually running a rider for care and they'd never get any riding in waiting for it's return cause it made a couple trips per day.

 

[DocFocker]

For what it's worth, I have read the fatality rate is about 5 per 10,000 licensed motorcycle riders per year.

 

[Dirtball]

Focker , not trying to scare anyone from riding. as you've read above I love it. I was pretty fearless til I reached my forties and then I got "OLD" 🙂
Just trying to share some wisdom gained over the years, much like you are learning medicine from your elders.
The impressive stat was that first year rider vulnerability. It all makes sense. SO when people ask for an opinion on street riding, I try to share some wisdom. Just treat that internship year with respect.
I let a nurses college kid run the weedwacker at my farm one summer. He smiled at all my go fast toys and announces a month later he wanted to get a street bike. He got his dad's OK who had ridden in his youth. So I tell the kid he needs to practice in the dirt and coach him on the little 80cc Honda. He couldn't even use a clutch at first. A couple weeks later he tells me he's buying a street bike. I say let your Dad ride it home, please, you need more practice. So the next thing I hear is that he rode it home , misjudged braking and plowed into the car in front of him at a redlight. Fractured leg , no complications, cept a bruised ego. Nice kid. Goes to Law School, gets a brain tumor , doesn't make it to the third year of law school.

At least he got to own a bike and do some riding.

We can't live in a bubble......." Enjoy Every Sandwich " , said my Warren Zevon as he was dying at young age of prostate CA.

 

[thedeepend]

I've got a 2004 Yamaha r1. I ride track, when I can afford it. I ride mostly street, but in canyons where there is little traffic and distractions. It is a great way to relax and enjoy life. Assume everyone will hit you and don't take excessive risks. I'm glad to see so many riders on here. I start residency in 4 months and I hope I still get to ride.