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Author Topic: Bike crash in Northern MN Josh Jones Redhat Posts: 1207 From: Plano, TX Registered: Apr 2000 posted 10-10-2006 09:48 PM                        Sounds like its time for me to buy a PS2 or something eh? JJ  |  IP: Logged Jennifer Pan THE JEN! Posts: 1219 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: Nov 2003 posted 10-10-2006 10:46 PM                        You are so old school... Xbox360 baby  |  IP: Logged Josh Jones Redhat Posts: 1207 From: Plano, TX Registered: Apr 2000 posted 10-11-2006 02:24 PM                        LOL, shows you what I know about gaming. There has to be an emulator for everything by now though. JJ  |  IP: Logged System Notices Forum Watchdog / Soup Nazi Posts: 215 Registered: Apr 2004 posted 07-20-2012 12:16 PM                 It has been 2108 days since the last post.  |  IP: Logged Manny Knowles "What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???" Posts: 4247 From: Bloomington, IN, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 07-20-2012 12:16 PM                     What a difference six years makes -- I got my motorcycle endorsement earlier this week.  |  IP: Logged Tony Bandiera Jr Film God Posts: 3067 From: Moreland Idaho Registered: Apr 2004 posted 07-20-2012 02:41 PM                     quote: Manny Knowles Whatever. Get well...you jerk... Be careful Manny, words can come back to bite you in the ass. I miss my 86 FZ750, it was a fun bike that I rebuilt...it was an abandoned service bike (kid who owned it couldn't pay for the estimate or the repair.) I tore it down to the bare frame, rebuilt the engine, and put it all back together, intending to get a custom pain job done on the plastics. But once I got it running, I was riding it so much I never got around to restoring the plastics. I put over 45,000 very hard miles on that bike, including riding in the snow, ice, severe thunderstorms, a tornado(!) and a lap on the motocross track at Hollister Hills. (The bike hated me for a week after that one.) The only trouble it ever gave me was the annual killing of the battery. I was forced to sell it in a situation that estranged me from one of my sisters for several years. Here's a pic, taken after a flag football game in West Hollywood. Manny, be safe and if you possibly can, get some time on a dirt bike first as it will teach you a LOT about bike handling, including proper use of the brakes and abrupt cornering, both of which saved my bacon several times on the street. BTW, where the heck is Josh? Haven't seen him post much here lately.  |  IP: Logged Manny Knowles "What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???" Posts: 4247 From: Bloomington, IN, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 07-20-2012 06:15 PM                     Oh, Tony! If I had a nickel for every time my ass almost got bitten -- oh well. We'll save those tales for another time! BTW, you are/were quite the head-turner on that bike! Phil isn't here, so I'll say it: "Hubba Hubba!" Wow! Safety first -- I totally get it! I started out by studying the MSF manual back in October and then went in to take the written exam, and got my learner permit sometime before Christmas. After that I just kept reading/researching while waiting for summer, when they'd be offering the safety course -- and I also had to wait for summer in order to have the time to go up to Indy for that, since it's not offered here in Bloomington. I finally attended (and passed) the basic MSF course last weekend. I'm watching a series of "beginner/safety" DVD's that our library has, and I bought a normal bicycle to practice cornering (in the big empty parking lot by Macy's). Cornering was my weak spot in the training. Countersteering and leaning took some getting used to. I'd ridden bicycles ever since childhood, but never put any intentional thought into how turning works. Something about "knowing" makes it a little scary, coz it's counter-intuitive. And, all the while, I've also been window-shopping the various bikes. I'm sure the dealers are well-primed to sell me a bike after seeing me in their showrooms so many times over the past (almost) year. Maybe that will work to my advantage. We'll see. I'm in no hurry to buy, so they're gonna have to earn it. To my surprise, the Harley-Davidson sales people have been way more friendly to a new rider than I initially expected -- two stores in two states -- and they know I'm not buying a brand-new Harley. I guess I assumed they'd be grumpy old men who don't have time for novices. So far, that's been 100% wrong. I've kind-of settled on the Honda Rebel as my preferred "first bike." Now I'm debating new vs used. New You know what you're getting It comes with a warranty Low APR financing (1.9%) Used Save about $1000 Most seem to have low mileage (but they tend to be somebody else's starter bike, and probably been dropped) Sigh. Any thoughts?  |  IP: Logged Tony Bandiera Jr Film God Posts: 3067 From: Moreland Idaho Registered: Apr 2004 posted 07-20-2012 07:06 PM                     We'll have to chat privately about your ass and biting. LOL that pic is older than I want to admit to, I wish I still looked that good. I think I sent that pic to Phil once...not sure anymore though. The MSF courses are a good idea but there is no substitute for actual saddle time, and like I said dirt bikes make the best trainers, even if you don't ride motocross like I do. I have a book by Keith Code ("A Twist of the Wrist") which is an excellent book on sportbike racing, but reading about it is nothing compared to actually doing it on the bike. (Kinda like sex really.) So if you have access to a dirtbike get out and practice, especially your cornering. Speaking of which, using a bicycle to practice your cornering is, IMHO a very bad idea as cornering on a motorcycle is very dependent on throttle control as well as balance. You may be inadvertently training your body to respond in the wrong way. As for the new vs. used debate: For a first bike, especially smaller displacement bikes (500-750cc) you are right, they do get a lot of abuse, but generally speaking a test ride and listen by a mechanic can help rule out any major issues. If the bike cold-starts easily, as a general rule it is in good shape. If it is hard to start (especially when hot) there are probably issues with the fuel delivery or ignition or engine wear. I suggest a good used bike for any first time rider for a few reasons: You WILL lay the bike down at least a few times while getting used to it; You WILL damage the fairings/plastic/handlebars/clip-ons when you drop the bike; You WILL severely diminish the resale value of a new bike by dropping it; Insurance on a new bike will be much more expensive (and you'll probably have to carry full coverage since a new bike is liable to be financed.) As an example, FULL coverage on my FZ750 in 1993 was only $650 a year. (30k/30k liability, 50k property damage/medical, and replacement of the bike at a value of $3,500 which was about $1,500 more than it was worth.) The SAME coverages for a 1993 Suzuki GSXR750 was over $2,800 per year. AFTER you have ridden for a year or two and got some experience under your belt that is the time to think of getting a new bike. And if you ever get to So Cal you can take a ride on my 2000 YZ 250, aka "Double Nuts": That's us at my fav track in Hesperia.  |  IP: Logged Manny Knowles "What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???" Posts: 4247 From: Bloomington, IN, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 07-20-2012 08:12 PM                     Thanks for the tips -- I've put a "hold" request for the Code book at the local library. Bicycle -- just really a low risk way to convince my brain that counter steering works they way "they" say it does -- and it does! (It also revealed how out-of-shape I've become.) I will most likely go with used -- but i'm gonna wait for a steal of a deal -- within reason -- there are only so many weeks left in the season here and i don't wanna miss out completely by being a cheapskate I just watched Street Smarts Volume 2 - Lessons from the Track and they're also recommending getting some time on a dirt bike. Personally, I have a thing for dirt biker helmets. That's another chat we can have. LOL I'll take you up on that riding offer if I'm ever out that way again.  |  IP: Logged Tony Bandiera Jr Film God Posts: 3067 From: Moreland Idaho Registered: Apr 2004 posted 07-21-2012 01:34 PM                     Excellent man. Now where's Josh to add to this? With his racing experience I'd like to hear his view.  |  IP: Logged Manny Knowles "What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???" Posts: 4247 From: Bloomington, IN, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 07-21-2012 09:16 PM                     Found a 2002 Honda Rebel in decent shape -- clean, around 4000mi -- a few issues: 1. Needs throttle immediately after ignition. 2. Choke kills the engine. 3. Hand brake does not illuminate tail light. Are any of these red flags, especially with regard to getting them fixed. I'm guessing #3 is a simple fix..? Some perspective: Brand new, around $4200 2007-09, with similar mileage -- around $2400 This bike -- $1600  |  IP: Logged Tony Bandiera Jr Film God Posts: 3067 From: Moreland Idaho Registered: Apr 2004 posted 07-21-2012 09:37 PM                     Manny my little stud muffin: 1 and 2 give me cause for concern. It could be as simple as the carb needing adjustment, but it can also mean the top end (valves) need replaced/adjusted. That can be pricey, around $400-800 depending on parts and labor needed. Kelley Blue Book RETAIL for an EXCELLENT bike is only $1,650.00 KBB And odds are with the issues you describe I would not call it excellent. If this is private party I would go no more than $1,000.00 If it is from a dealer make them check out the issues and give an estimate for the repairs needed and make them fix it, then I would say go no more than $1,300.00 At 1k private party you are taking a small risk if the repairs hit the high end of my estimate but you won't be getting completely screwed on the deal. Item # 3 can be either a broken wire or a $30-50 switch.  |  IP: Logged Manny Knowles "What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???" Posts: 4247 From: Bloomington, IN, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 07-21-2012 09:49 PM                     Thanks for the advice -- also, as I review my photographs, I noticed that the rebel logo is missing from the gas tank. This makes me suspect there may have been bodywork. Between this observation and your comments, I'm starting to have questions about this one. I'll see if the guy is willing to negotiate down further. And I think I'll take it to one of the Honda dealerships and have them look it over, and get an estimate for all of the necessary repairs.  |  IP: Logged Manny Knowles "What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???" Posts: 4247 From: Bloomington, IN, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 07-21-2012 11:09 PM                     Now that I'm home and could see the pictures all zoomed up to full-res, here's what I can see: Scuff/scrape marks on both sides of the engine -- so it appears to have been down at least twice -- once on each side. Bike is black, but the 2002 model only came in red, so this has at least been painted, perhaps as part of crash-related bodywork.  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 07-21-2012 11:49 PM                     Rebels: A teenage version of the little 185 Twinstar, and a little brother to the 1978-82 CB 400T/450E Twin cylinder series. All had the same motor/3 valve head design with the 360 degree crank (both pistons travel in the same direction), cam setup and SS waste spark ignition system (both plugs fired at the same time, but one fired pos to neg and the other fired neg to pos - both in series with the coil output). My first new bike was the 1979, CB-400T 5sp. Rode that thing everywhere until I had to let it go to move.  |  IP: Logged

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