I'm getting a motorcycle.

[Scout101]

That's why you get a cheap, 'well worn' bike to start out on. Not nearly as fashionable as a shiny new one, or giant chromed beast, but safer, easier to control, and better to ride until you're comfortable being on a bike and able to handle the challenges that presents.

Exactly what old, cheap bikes are FOR. already depreciated, got a few scratches and plenty of miles. Ride it for a year, learn, make your mistakes on it, and THEN get a 'real' bike. Not doing it that way is BEGGING to be hurt, or at least lose a ton of cash on a (formerly) shiny late-model bike.

 

[Pingfah]

Yah, this thing cost £400. Just as well really

 

[Tiberius Jim]

In CA, you take the MSF course and they give you a completion certificate. If you're over 21, you take that to the DMV, they waive your skills test and you only take a written. Pass that and you've got yourself an M1 license. Alternatively, you can go in to DMV, take the written and get a permit. Then go to the MSF course, come back to DMV with our cert and get your license.

 

[Scout101]

A decent enough way to do it. Nice that the MSF basic rider (or whatever they call it now, think it changed) course substitutes for the fairly worthless DMV road test. especially since to TAKE that test, you'd already have to be on public roads and own a bike to get there.

Don't love the 'just get a permit and ride' portion, but at least looks like MSF is still in the loop before the license.

Kinda dumb to have to take a written test at the DMV, though. You already did that at the MSF course to pass that...

 

[secretreeve]

Kinda dumb to have to take a written test at the DMV, though. You already did that at the MSF course to pass that...

things are totally different here in the uk, but some things are the same where ever you go.

and im guessing the "written" part at the DMV is to "justify" their jobs/wages being paid.

 

[Avon]

its a convoluted arseache of a system in the uk.

 

[Captain Ice]

Kinda dumb to have to take a written test at the DMV, though. You already did that at the MSF course to pass that...

It's the DMV. What, did you expect a government agency to do something that made sense?

 

[Scout101]

Eh, just saying that Rhode Island figured it out, and they're corrupt as hell, so can't be TOO hard to determine.

Just got my bike out of storage this morning. LOOKS nice out, but still cold as hell. Not quite ready to ride yet, but the guy I keep mine with needed to put his snowmobiles away for the spring, so time to do the swap...

 

[Tiberius Jim]

Well, I passed my MSF course! That was without a doubt one of the more challenging things I've done in a long, long time. I did well at things like wide turns and quick stops (I stopped 4 feet shorter than was necessary during the exam) but had trouble with some of the lower speed stuff like the figure 8 u-turns and tighter turns...all stuff I know I can practice once I get my own bike. It was really rewarding to be told I had passed (the best score is 0, failing is 21, I got an 11) after the 3-day experience. I know I'm not 100% ready for the road but that definitely laid a great foundation for learning. I'll probably get my license and just sit on it for a bit A. while I save/look for a bike and B. to get a better rate on insurance when I eventually get one.

 

[doubleohfive]

Well, I passed my MSF course! That was without a doubt one of the more challenging things I've done in a long, long time. I did well at things like wide turns and quick stops (I stopped 4 feet shorter than was necessary during the exam) but had trouble with some of the lower speed stuff like the figure 8 u-turns and tighter turns...all stuff I know I can practice once I get my own bike. It was really rewarding to be told I had passed (the best score is 0, failing is 21, I got an 11) after the 3-day experience. I know I'm not 100% ready for the road but that definitely laid a great foundation for learning. I'll probably get my license and just sit on it for a bit A. while I save/look for a bike and B. to get a better rate on insurance when I eventually get one.

"Swell."

 

[Tiberius Jim]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that your reply was supposed to be read as sarcastic. I could be wrong, seeing as that would be absolutely uncalled for...

 

[Scout101]

If you sit on the license, your skills are going to degrade. If you only got 11 on a 0-21 scale, there's definitely still some room for major improvement. Don't bother with the figure 8 in a box, though. That's worthless unless you're taking the MSF advanced rider course afterwards. Think about it: why would you ever do that in real life? You exit the same direction you came in, just drive through. Failing that, you'd put your feet down and back up, not drive in a compliated figure eight...

Get a cheap bike, don't save up for something 'nicer'. Espeically if it means waiting and unlearning everything you just picked up. It's riding season, go find a starter bike. Then you only have to carry cheap insurance (liability) and no reason to carry comprehensive (and put high collision deductible) if the deductible is higher than you paid for the bike. Solves all your problems right there.

 

[doubleohfive]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that your reply was supposed to be read as sarcastic. I could be wrong, seeing as that would be absolutely uncalled for...

"The only valid censorship of ideas is the right of people not to listen."
-Tommy Smothers

 

[Pingfah]

Get a cheap bike, don't save up for something 'nicer'. Espeically if it means waiting and unlearning everything you just picked up. It's riding season, go find a starter bike. Then you only have to carry cheap insurance (liability) and no reason to carry comprehensive (and put high collision deductible) if the deductible is higher than you paid for the bike. Solves all your problems right there.

Totally agreed, just get out there and ride. It's not about looking flash, you can have fun on pretty much anything that starts up.

 

[Tiberius Jim]

Get a cheap bike, don't save up for something 'nicer'. Espeically if it means waiting and unlearning everything you just picked up. It's riding season, go find a starter bike. Then you only have to carry cheap insurance (liability) and no reason to carry comprehensive (and put high collision deductible) if the deductible is higher than you paid for the bike. Solves all your problems right there.

Totally agreed, just get out there and ride. It's not about looking flash, you can have fun on pretty much anything that starts up.

Oh, I absolutely plan to keep practicing. I have a couple friends who have volunteered to let me put around on their bikes to keep developing my skills. I just didn't want to get on their bike at all before I had at least taken this course. As for getting my own bike, even the "cheap" bikes are a little out of my price range right now in terms of paying cash so I'll need to save up for even a super-super-cheap bike at this point. It's not a matter of saving for something fancy, it's a matter of not having any extra income right now for anything over a couple hundred bucks.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that your reply was supposed to be read as sarcastic. I could be wrong, seeing as that would be absolutely uncalled for...

"The only valid censorship of ideas is the right of people not to listen."
-Tommy Smothers

While I am very impressed with your ability to quote other people, I have no idea what you're talking about. If you don't have anything constructive to provide you can always simply avoid this thread.

 

[doubleohfive]

Get a cheap bike, don't save up for something 'nicer'. Espeically if it means waiting and unlearning everything you just picked up. It's riding season, go find a starter bike. Then you only have to carry cheap insurance (liability) and no reason to carry comprehensive (and put high collision deductible) if the deductible is higher than you paid for the bike. Solves all your problems right there.

Totally agreed, just get out there and ride. It's not about looking flash, you can have fun on pretty much anything that starts up.

Oh, I absolutely plan to keep practicing. I have a couple friends who have volunteered to let me put around on their bikes to keep developing my skills. I just didn't want to get on their bike at all before I had at least taken this course. As for getting my own bike, even the "cheap" bikes are a little out of my price range right now in terms of paying cash so I'll need to save up for even a super-super-cheap bike at this point. It's not a matter of saving for something fancy, it's a matter of not having any extra income right now for anything over a couple hundred bucks.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that your reply was supposed to be read as sarcastic. I could be wrong, seeing as that would be absolutely uncalled for...

"The only valid censorship of ideas is the right of people not to listen."
-Tommy Smothers

While I am very impressed with your ability to quote other people, I have no idea what you're talking about. If you don't have anything constructive to provide you can always simply avoid this thread.

What's really impressive is how when I posted that quote, it was merely to (indirectly) respond with a "feel free not to read what I post" (e.g. "...the right of people not to listen.") ... only then to have you come back with a reply again that this time satisfies the entire point of the quote to begin with (vis-à-vis a crude attempt at censorship by telling me to "simply avoid this thread.")

Actually, I take it back. I don't know if I should be impressed or not.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvLtNBm1yyA[/yt]

 

[Avon]

doubleohfive, this is a thread about him getting a motorcycle so i'm not sure what your point is with all that.

i mean you can't listen to writing, you read it. so "don't read it if you don't want" is the same as "don't listen if you don't want".

your quote has the same meaning as what you were responding to. is that the point? if so... doesn't seem like something to be impressed by.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Well, I passed my MSF course! That was without a doubt one of the more challenging things I've done in a long, long time. I did well at things like wide turns and quick stops (I stopped 4 feet shorter than was necessary during the exam) but had trouble with some of the lower speed stuff like the figure 8 u-turns and tighter turns...all stuff I know I can practice once I get my own bike. It was really rewarding to be told I had passed (the best score is 0, failing is 21, I got an 11) after the 3-day experience. I know I'm not 100% ready for the road but that definitely laid a great foundation for learning. I'll probably get my license and just sit on it for a bit A. while I save/look for a bike and B. to get a better rate on insurance when I eventually get one.

"Swell."

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that your reply was supposed to be read as sarcastic. I could be wrong, seeing as that would be absolutely uncalled for...

"The only valid censorship of ideas is the right of people not to listen."
-Tommy Smothers

Totally agreed, just get out there and ride. It's not about looking flash, you can have fun on pretty much anything that starts up.

Oh, I absolutely plan to keep practicing. I have a couple friends who have volunteered to let me put around on their bikes to keep developing my skills. I just didn't want to get on their bike at all before I had at least taken this course. As for getting my own bike, even the "cheap" bikes are a little out of my price range right now in terms of paying cash so I'll need to save up for even a super-super-cheap bike at this point. It's not a matter of saving for something fancy, it's a matter of not having any extra income right now for anything over a couple hundred bucks.

"The only valid censorship of ideas is the right of people not to listen."
-Tommy Smothers

While I am very impressed with your ability to quote other people, I have no idea what you're talking about. If you don't have anything constructive to provide you can always simply avoid this thread.

What's really impressive is how when I posted that quote, it was merely to (indirectly) respond with a "feel free not to read what I post" (e.g. "...the right of people not to listen.") ... only then to have you come back with a reply again that this time satisfies the entire point of the quote to begin with (vis-à-vis a crude attempt at censorship by telling me to "simply avoid this thread.")

Actually, I take it back. I don't know if I should be impressed or not.

005, it's one thing to criticize someone if you actually disagree with an action they've taken, but it's hard to see this string of posts as anything more than you being needlessly antagonistic in an innocuous thread because of a personal grudge. There was nothing about that original post you quoted that deserved sarcasm or ridicule. Please stop replying to this thread unless you have something genuinely constructive to add.

 

[doubleohfive]

Roger that. Flux, my apologies for de-railing your thread as I have.