> "Sheldon" > wrote:
>
>> OmManiPadmeOmelet wrote:
>> >
>> > I don't think I said anything about riding a Harley. ;-) There are far
>> > less expensive and more economical bikes...
>>
>> Actually not street safe for US roadways, the rice burners and euro
>> bikes one can safely use to commute are just as costly if not moreso.
>> You must be thinking the '50s Hondas... those and their scooter-like
>> ilk are not around because they are not safe on US roads. It's not
>> safe to go into US traffic on anyting less than a 500cc, actually a
>> 750cc is really the low limit... you gotta be able to out accelerate
>> every four wheeled vehicle out there.

Nonsense. My regular commuter bike is a Suzuki SV650
(oddly enough, just a bit under 650 cc); no problem
"out accelerating" anything I need to. There are a good number
of bikes around or even below 500 cc which would be
good choices as commuters for most riders. I wouldn't
take some of them onto highways or the superslabs,
but then my path to work doesn't involve any of that.


>> Harleys are the safest in US traffic because they're wide, long, and
>> grotesque, they don't blend in like say a cafe racer... they're the
>> easiest to see..

Well, they're definitely wide, long, and grotesque - and I
don't know of any good data that suggests that any of
that translates to improved safety. There's also no data
to suggest that Harleys are "more seen" by drivers.
On the negative side, as if we needed more, they tend
to be far less manueverable than the typical standard or
sport-tourer. This is especialy true of that insult to
motorcycle chassis design, the "chopper."

>>. they're also typically the loudest, you'll usually
>> hear them before you see them. You don't ever want to see a motorcycle
>> before you hear it, means it just came through your windshield.

Wrong again - a LOT of what we as motorcyclists
do in terms of clothing colors, lighting, etc., is intended
to make sure that we're seen long before we're heard.
You won't hear my Suzuki until you're right next to it -
I prefer being a responsible rider and not polluting a
square mile or more with the noise from my bike. But
I am also doing everything I can (reflective tape, brightly
colored jacket and helmet, headlight and taillight
modulator) to make myself seen. And even with that, I
still ride under the assumption that I am invisible to everyone
else on the road.


>> Like I said, you've never owned a motorcycle, now I know you've never
>> ridden one. If you're over 40 and have never ridden a motorcycle don't
>> even think about it.

If you're ANY age and you are considering getting into
motorcycling, welcome to the sport - and my first
recommendation to you will be to get yourself into an
MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) "Basic Rider"
course as your very first step. My second recommendation
will be to get good safety gear and wear it each and
every time you ride.

There are a lot of new motorcyclists out there who
came to it after age 40; and I'd rather ride with most
of them, esp. if they've had the right training, than the
majority of much younger squids riding repli-racers, or
a good deal of the older Hardley-Ableson crowd.

Bob M.