I would like to get a motorcycle

[echnidna]

Just tell them you are getting a bike,

and if they keep whinging you're gunna grow a big bushy beard as well.

[Gra]

Just tell them you are getting a bike,

and if they keep whinging you're gunna grow a big bushy beard as well.

oy whats wrong with a big bushy beard.....

[echnidna]

A big bushy beard needs a shaved head.

[Ruddigar]

The best bit of advice I received when I first got a motorcycle was from a long time family friend that had been riding bikes all his life.

He told me to always pretend you are invisible. Assume that no-one can see you and ride accordingly.

As my mate Dazzler said:

Constant scanning and assessment.

[NCArcher]

He told me to always pretend you are invisible. Assume that no-one can see you and ride accordingly. (Note: this does not work with speed cameras. DAMHIKT)

I got similar advice. Assume everyone else on the road is a d**khead.

Go for it. I've been riding bikes for nearly 30 years and i've only ever come off once (entirely my fault).
Stay alert and ride definsively but have fun. That's what bikes are for.
The rest of the family will get used to the idea. They may even see how much fun you're having and want to learn. (That seems to happen a lot in my experience)

[Gra]

A big bushy beard needs a shaved head.

Nah, then it just looks like they are compensating

[jow104]

No that is just as much your fault as the car that you hit. As you approach that intersection you should have seen the vehicle, assessed whether the driver had seen you, has he made eye contact, is his vehicle slowing. If these things arent happening then you slow until he has or you brake and allow him through. Constant scanning and assessment.

This

Dazzler, that was some good advice, sending a greeny, (if I can find out how to).

[DavidG]

Not wishing to scare you but it IS the car drivers you really have to watch out for.
Case:
1. Big line of stop, start traffic. Car behind me pulled to right. Drew up level with me and proceeded to move to left.
Object, shove me off the road and get one vehicle ahead.

2. Merging lane. Well past the form one lane point. Car in left lane proceeds to pass me on the left attempting to force me off the road.

Many other similar episodes. It is not that they do not see you, they just do not care about you.

Ride like you had eyes in your ar*e and watch out for every thing as it may want to kill you.

I have had several small fall-over type situations and one severe where a wallaby took out the front wheel on a narrow road.

[astrid]

No one has asked why he wants one?
speed, thrill , open air or environmental?
my sister bought a vesper for her son at 18, the logic being, cant speed and cant be influenced by drunk mates to do stupid things and he's only responsible for himself.
came off on wet tram tracks not too much damage to him or the vesper.
of course he's vulnerable to cars, but then so is a cyclist
and most car drivers are a bit more sensitive to a vesper.
I'm thinking of getting one myself. and the're cool

astrid

[fxst]

Been riding bikes for over 40 years and still find it the best form of transport.
Had a couple or 3 step offs but nothing broken,,,,I have slowed down a bit though and enjoy touring on my Ultra. Now a been a Ulyses club member for 17 years and we have blokes and blokesses in their 70's still riding Like others say trat all other road users as idiots and that you are invisible and there is no problem. Go for it and enjoy life.
Pete

[Poppa]

I had a Harley for a few years and if I had the money I'd get another one tomorrow. Just the best fun you can have with your clothes on. But, I agree with all the other comments about riding sensibly and carefully. I never planned on being the fastest rider out there (not on a Harley anyway!), but I did have a plan to be the oldest. Assume everyone in a cage is trying to kill you, develop the 200 metre look ahead, and watch everything on the road all at once. And you'll still come off. Just try not to kill yourself while you're having fun.

[AlexS]

I rode for about 40 years, only had 2 offs, both in the first couple of years, both in the rain, both my fault, neither serious. Also had a serious wake up call when I went sideways through a pedestrian Xing, nearly taking out about 3 of them. As the others said, pretend you're invisible, and always have an escape route. There are lots of things you can do on a bike that a car can't, in the way of manoeuvring, but it's usually best not to, because cars don't expect you to. But sometimes it's very useful.

These days the compulsory training to get a licence is much better than it was in my day. Still, you'll learn much more once you have a licence and get out on the road. Just don't get over confident.

Since SWMBO & I both used to ride, it would have been hypocritical to ask the eldest unmarried not to get a bike, but to see her at Eastern Ck. on the (then) fastest production bike in the world puts your heart in your mouth.

[graemet]

Go for it!
My family thought I was crazy when I got my Ls (learner permit) at 65. The now compulsory rider training was definitely worthwhile, and I'm now having a ****load of fun on a 125 scooter. Had one prang while learning where a cager decided to change lanes on top of me, it hurt the bike more than me, but the insurance company was great. There are only two kinds of bikers - those who have had an accident and those who haven't had an accident yet. If I had done the final training lessons, the accident probably wouldn't have happened.
Get as much advice from other bikers as you can, ignore the nonriding fraternity, be conspicuous, ride defensively and have fun.
Cheers
Graeme

[jow104]

I have just worked it out.

Only the surviving riders have posted a reply.

None of the dead riders have come to give you their advice.

[pawnhead]

Well if you asked them before they died, then they'd most likely be enthusiastic about bike riding. And my opinion (for what it's worth) is that they don't exist anymore, therefore they can have no regrets.
Life would be pretty miserable if you went through it fearing death. No matter how many marshmallows you wrap yourself up in, the grim reaper will catch us all in the end anyway.

It's the quality of life at this very instant in time, that's always of paramount importance. Tomorrow does not exist until it is 'now', and life is an accumulation of yesterdays, and dreams of tomorrows in a cocktail of the 'now'. A more important question is 'How full is your cup?' and not 'How slowly and carefully do you sip from it?'.

You may well die before you wake, and that's nothing to be scared of.

IMO, it will be just like before you were born.