Forums | MacLife

No.

oatmeal wrote:

jeff-o wrote:

justine wrote:

It isn't just the racers. All riders are at risk, mainly because car/truck drivers just don't watch for them.

Hmmm, so does that mean that if you chop off your muffler, you're going to be heard by other drivers, and thus safer while on the road?

It's a theory I'm reading on motorcycle forums.  Some think it makes a lot of sense.  Others say it's bunk that only helps to give riders a bad name.

Well, it depends - if I'm on the highway, I usually don't hear the motorcycle untill he's right on top of me. I hear them a little better when they're in front of me, but as loud as they are, it only gives me a half second of extra warning, and a couple seconds later, they're gone.

And if they're doing the speed limit (rare) I see them and am in proximity for extended periods, in which case no muffler is really smurfing annoying.

my biggest problem with riding a motorcycle is the fact that cars tailgate and don't realize that if you slam on your brakes, the bike will stop way faster than the car.... but it's hard to get someone to stop tailgating.... just always make sure no one is on your ass if you need to brake hard (easier said than done, but that's my advice).

oh and if you're at a red light, DON'T drop your bike. people will laugh. and you will feel dumb. i know i did.

(i had an old honda shadow for a while- great little bike)

oatmeal wrote:

jeff-o wrote:

justine wrote:

It isn't just the racers. All riders are at risk, mainly because car/truck drivers just don't watch for them.

Hmmm, so does that mean that if you chop off your muffler, you're going to be heard by other drivers, and thus safer while on the road?

It's a theory I'm reading on motorcycle forums.  Some think it makes a lot of sense.  Others say it's bunk that only helps to give riders a bad name.

DO NOT drill out the baffles unless you know what you are doing. even if you know what you are doing, don't do it.

1. drilling out the baffles adds more wear and tear to your engine
2. loud motorcycles are cool if they are supposed to be loud (i.e. huge engine). people who take their little 650cc bikes and drill them out to sound like a fat hog are posers.

you're not a poser, are you?

Last edited by stoned (2005-09-16 2:37 pm)

Everybody I know who's had a motorcycle for any length of time has a crash story, usually involving rain.

I won't drive anything with less than four wheels, but to each their own. Get a helmet and jacket in the brightest, most visible colors you can find, and even then, accept that people in cars just won't see you.

stoned wrote:

oatmeal wrote:

jeff-o wrote:

Hmmm, so does that mean that if you chop off your muffler, you're going to be heard by other drivers, and thus safer while on the road?

It's a theory I'm reading on motorcycle forums.  Some think it makes a lot of sense.  Others say it's bunk that only helps to give riders a bad name.

DO NOT drill out the baffles unless you know what you are doing. even if you know what you are doing, don't do it.

1. drilling out the baffles adds more wear and tear to your engine
2. loud motorcycles are cool if they are supposed to be loud (i.e. huge engine). people who take their little 650cc bikes and drill them out to sound like a fat hog are posers.

you're not a poser, are you?

How would I respond to this if I had any intention of making the thing louder?  Hell, I have no intention of drilling it or messing with it to make it "cooler" - I was thinking about riding it.  I figured that was enough cool for me.  I don't want to overdo it.

Oatie:

As a fellow resident of Hampton Roads, I just want to commend you on your choice of bike and THANK you for not going with one of those obnoxiously loud Midlife Crisis Harleys or one of those annoying little "BikerBoyz" style crotch rockets that I see so many young punks weaving through traffic in packs on.

Of course, I still go by my father's take on motorcycles:

CKM's Dad wrote:

There are two types of motorcycle riders: those who have wrecked, and those who will wreck.

But hey, if you're gonna ride one, the one you bought is a perfectly reasonable (and considerate) choice. Good luck, and be safe!

Last edited by CaptKevMan (2005-09-16 8:27 pm)

Egress wrote:

I won't drive anything with less than four wheels, but to each their own.

What about three wheels?

Did anyone see that episode of Monster Garage where they made a trike using the engine from a transport truck?

FREAKIN AWESOME!!!

I would never ride a motorcycle at full speeds on the highway.
If I were ever to get some form of motorized transport it would be a Vespa scooter, I could afford the gas in those. However I live in Montreal and have not develloped any extreme suicidal tendencies as of yet, so I'll just continue to tempt fate on my bicycle and on foot.

C. Ives wrote:

You know, Harley's come with mufflers, too.

Everyone knows that mufflers are for kids!      I have this philosophy when it comes to my tractors:  The louder you are, the sooner they will notice you. (yeah, I know they are bigger than bikes, but people don't seem to know that they aren't doing 55 when they come up behind you)  I plan to put a straight pipe on my biggest tractor just to piss off the neighbor that keeps riding by on his ATV with a straight pipe.  He thinks he is cool, and he isn't supposed to be on the road, so I figure my big tractor with a 4 1/2"  stack sans muffler will blow him off the road. 

First, congratulations! You chose an excellent first bike.

oatmeal wrote:

Maybe there are some non-DMV approved ones.

There sure are, many Harley dealers will have MSF-approved classes. They typically cost more than the DMV ones, but are easier to get into. Just in case you don't get into that October class.

You mentioned a couple of other things...

On the subject of riding gear, you mentioned non-black leathers. I say skip leathers and get high-quality textile gear. Leather's great, but it's even nicer for the street rider/commuter to have something that's waterproof and reflective. I've bought so much stuff from NewEnough (www.newenough.com) -- I actually have two full sets of riding gear, one for hot/warm weather, and one for colder weather. Plus two pairs of riding boots and three pairs of gloves. It's hard to imagine that I used to get by with just a leather jacket, jeans, and hiking boots.

Also you mentioned that you like Harleys (I don't, myself), but that you would want one with a good muffler. I take that to mean a quiet muffler. Well if you ever have the money to drop on a Harley, you'll be glad to know that they come with fairly quiet exhaust systems. The loud pipes are aftermarket, and those riders paid extra to make their bikes louder. Sometimes they pay a LOT extra.

I've been riding motorcycles for 13 years now, and have owned eight bikes including the two I have now (a 2002 Suzuki SV650 and a 1975 Honda CB550F Supersport), so feel free to drop me an email if you have any questions. If I can eek out 50mpg on my bike, you can probably get close to 60mpg on the Savage.

Interesting...

I nearly bought a motorcycle last week.  When I saw the bike though, it wasn't what it was supposed to be.  It sucked, because I really wanted the deal to be worth going for.  I got a pre-approved loan, and everything.  And yet, I've never even ridden before!

I still plan to buy one.  I'm just waiting for the right deal to come along.  If I don't happen to run into that deal, I just may get a new Honda. 

Oh yeah, and I'll also be taking the instructional/safety course soon.

Congratulations oatmeal!  I hope to be a member of the club soon myself.