[pt17]

I almost feel sorry for these new riders who buy a powerful bike before they learn to ride. Back in the old days (I am dating myself here) we learned to ride two-wheeled things with motors at the same time we learned to ride bicycles. Putting a kit motor on your Schwinn or or getting a Whizzer was du rigeur as well as a worthy goal and important step toward manhood/womanhood. After some number of the inevitable low velocity, lower risk accidents, you either became a better rider or (on parents orders) you left the field to those who did. As a result, moving up through the displacements and out into the world provided you with a more gradual learning process - one that would give common sense a chance to overcome your stupid genes.

[2Trievers]

"one that would give common sense a chance to overcome your stupid genes."

I'm glad you survived your stupid genes ... but don't you wish your jeans fit as well as they did when you were 17? LOL &;-)

[FreedomPoster]

Raced dirt bikes (motocross, hare scrambles) in H.S., worked in the local motorcycle shop as the junior grease monkey. I was the guy who went out in the shop truck and, after the ambulance had left, picked up the bent, broken street bike and shoveled it into the back of the truck. 9/10 times, car had turned left in front of the the motorcycle, or something similar.

Other than test drives on bikes I was repairing (quiet roads, pretty much no traffic), I stuck with dirt bikes. The trees don't up and jump in front of you.

[Rockiesrider]

New rider and powerful bike? An 883 Sportster is a girl,s MC. No self respecting Harley rider would be caught dead on a Sportster. Although they do rank above any riceburner out there. And no jokes about "what's the difference between a Harley rider and a Hoover vaccuum cleaner?...The position of the dirt bag.

[tubebender]

There is a Harley Party in Richardsons Grove in southern Humboldt this week end. I forget how many attend but there are usually 2 or 3 deaths. One year there was a massave pileup and several died. A 61 year old lady died Thursday when she tried to follow her husband down a offramp at the last minute. My son restored a 48 Whizzer and I have a 48 Powell P51 scooter. I rode one in1950. It has a 250cc motor and tiny rams horns handle bars.

[SSN558]

"new riders who buy a powerful bike before they learn to ride."

just a point of view. I learned on an old full dress panhead and still ride heavy bikes. It's those light weight ones that scare me. They always feel so wobley, unstable, and have a seating position that turns your upper body into a sail. You have to look at the speedo to see how fast your going because you can't feel the engine thumping. The gear shifts and brakes are in the wrong place with your knees jacked up in the air. The lean forward seating position gives a backache and contributes to fatigue on the long rides.

[maxwell]

I almost feel sorry for these new riders who buy a powerful bike before they learn to ride.

Yeah well I probably went too far the other way, dude... Beginner rider here, took the riding training program last month and ran out and got some wheels the next day... You can call me a pussy but ever since I went and got my happy a$$ concussed on a BICYCLE with a helmet on, I had some of the almighty fear of Gawd put in me I reckon... Lil' girl here don't have much push but she's fine for town riding if I can quit popping the clutch in the middle of intersections, bwahaha...

[HardStarboard]

>>>or getting a Whizzer was du rigeur as well as a worthy goal and important step toward manhood.<<<

Wahhhh - this sixty something wants his Wizzer back!!! A great little machine - expecially with a "bellow pipe"!