height help

On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:22:15 GMT, hags2033 <none.DeleteThis@000.com> wrote:

>im new to bikes and I want to learn to ride so bad. But im 6’3" tall
>and i was wondering if i would fit on a sportbike correctly before i
>go and spend money on something im not gonna be able to do. i would
>appreciate any help you can give thanks.

<Am I missing something here?>
umm, how about going to a store and sitting on them to see which is
bearable?

--
Turby the Turbosurfer
 >> Stay informed about: height help 

On Apr 22, 1:52 pm, "David T. Ashley" <d... DeleteThis @e3ft.com> wrote:
> "Bob Myers" <nospample... DeleteThis @address.invalid> wrote

> > "David T. Ashley" <d... DeleteThis @e3ft.com> wrote in message
> >news:5PmdnTQqvNN2k5PVnZ2dnUVZ_qSonZ2d@giganews.com...
> >> If you're close (which would be quite a coincidence), we can go out to a
> >> big stretch of pavement and you can try both bikes out and get some
> >> impression.
>
> > Ummm...David?  Just to make sure I understand here, you
> > wanna go out and put a complete newbie on your bikes?
>
> > Better yours than mine, I guess.  I always figured that this
> > sort of thing was why the motorcycle gods invented the
> > MSF classes, and equipped them with Nighthawk 250s
> > that were specifically intended to get repeatedly dropped
> > onto the asphalt.  Note that they at least strip off such
> > likely casualties as the mirrors and turn signals before
> > doing THAT, even.
>
> > Or maybe you just want to practice your paint and
> > metalwork skills?
>
> I actually don't think a first-timer will typically drop a bike just tooling
> it around for the first time and stopping in a straight line.  I think the
> drops will come in skill stressful situations (such as the exercises in the
> MSF course, which are things a person wouldn't try naturally outside a
> course).

Such as picking the motorcycle up off of the side stand, mounting the
motorcycle, starting the motorcycle's engine, putting the motorcycle
into first gear, easing out the clutch in first gear, rolling on the
throttle in first gear, paddling along with feet on the ground, trying
to put feet on the pegs, trying to use the brakes to come to a stop,
coming to a stop, putting ones feet down at a stop, shifting into
neutral while stopped, or putting the sidestwnd down.

All things I saw MSF students doing over the years while they dropped
their bike. Luckily, those thinngs simply won't happen to your buyers!
 >> Stay informed about: height help 

"hags2033" <none DeleteThis @000.com> wrote in message
news:7783934_e039095d9b22f43865243abc9c78641f@0000.com...
> im new to bikes and I want to learn to ride so bad. But im 6'3" tall
> and i was wondering if i would fit on a sportbike correctly before i
> go and spend money on something im not gonna be able to do. i would
> appreciate any help you can give thanks.

The comfort equation is a bit larger than just your height.

I recently got a pseudo-sportbike (Suzuki Katana 600), and I strongly
dislike the darned thing because the leaned down posture hurts my neck (old
injury from falling out of a tree in my 20's).

Where do you live? I actually have two bikes I'm going to sell (going to
get a slightly larger cruiser). The other one is a Honda Shadow VT600.

If you're close (which would be quite a coincidence), we can go out to a big
stretch of pavement and you can try both bikes out and get some impression.

We'd first have to spend about ten minutes making sure you can find the
brakes, then tooling around in 1st and 2nd gear at <30 MPH should be safe
for you.
 >> Stay informed about: height help 

"David T. Ashley" <dta RemoveThis @e3ft.com> wrote in message
news:5PmdnTQqvNN2k5PVnZ2dnUVZ_qSonZ2d@giganews.com...
> If you're close (which would be quite a coincidence), we can go out to a
> big stretch of pavement and you can try both bikes out and get some
> impression.

Ummm...David? Just to make sure I understand here, you
wanna go out and put a complete newbie on your bikes?

Better yours than mine, I guess. I always figured that this
sort of thing was why the motorcycle gods invented the
MSF classes, and equipped them with Nighthawk 250s
that were specifically intended to get repeatedly dropped
onto the asphalt. Note that they at least strip off such
likely casualties as the mirrors and turn signals before
doing THAT, even.

Or maybe you just want to practice your paint and
metalwork skills?

Bob M.
 >> Stay informed about: height help 

"Bob Myers" <nospamplease.TakeThisOut@address.invalid> wrote in message
news:ful76j$p22$1@usenet01.boi.hp.com...
>
> "David T. Ashley" <dta.TakeThisOut@e3ft.com> wrote in message
> news:5PmdnTQqvNN2k5PVnZ2dnUVZ_qSonZ2d@giganews.com...
>> If you're close (which would be quite a coincidence), we can go out to a
>> big stretch of pavement and you can try both bikes out and get some
>> impression.
>
> Ummm...David? Just to make sure I understand here, you
> wanna go out and put a complete newbie on your bikes?
>
> Better yours than mine, I guess. I always figured that this
> sort of thing was why the motorcycle gods invented the
> MSF classes, and equipped them with Nighthawk 250s
> that were specifically intended to get repeatedly dropped
> onto the asphalt. Note that they at least strip off such
> likely casualties as the mirrors and turn signals before
> doing THAT, even.
>
> Or maybe you just want to practice your paint and
> metalwork skills?

I actually don't think a first-timer will typically drop a bike just tooling
it around for the first time and stopping in a straight line. I think the
drops will come in skill stressful situations (such as the exercises in the
MSF course, which are things a person wouldn't try naturally outside a
course).

Now, if a first timer tried to do the MSF course with either of my two
bikes, would they probably drop them? Absolutely! The reason is that they
both weigh nearly 500 lbs and doing low speed manuevering and stuff the foot
might not come down fast enough. Which is why the MSF course uses 250's.

I'd be surprised to see a person drop either one tooling around on a large
concrete surface ...

But maybe I'm wrong there ...

The Shadow has been spilled at least 3 times by me ... I even have a few
spare parts in a box at home. With that one, spills are cheap. I think the
Shadow is an excellent first bike in that respect. It survived me learning
to ride.

Dropping or spilling the Katana scares me financially. Some of those
fairing pieces are nearly $500.
 >> Stay informed about: height help 

"David T. Ashley" <dta.RemoveThis@e3ft.com> wrote in message
news:38OdnVvlvJFTuJPVnZ2dnUVZ_ruqnZ2d@giganews.com...
>> Ummm...David? Just to make sure I understand here, you
>> wanna go out and put a complete newbie on your bikes?

> I actually don't think a first-timer will typically drop a bike just
> tooling it around for the first time and stopping in a straight line. I
> think the drops will come in skill stressful situations (such as the
> exercises in the MSF course, which are things a person wouldn't try
> naturally outside a course).

A first-timer isn't FOR SURE going to drop the bike, and
I wouldn't even say that he's necessary "likely" to. But there's
certainly a way higher-than-normal risk that it's going to
happen, and remember, it IS your bike (and a possibly
disappointing discussion with your insurance agent) that
we're talking about here. Not to mention the possible
liability issues, esp. if said newbie is not currently in
possession of a valid motorcycle endorsement. I'm not
generally a person to concern myself too much with such
lawyerly things, either, but there is such a thing as a risk
that's just too silly and avoidable to consider.

And while the drops might be more likely to happen in
those "skill stressful situations," I seem to recall seeing a
250 on its side during a BRC, immediately following the
instruction "now, twist the throttle just a little bit..."
Do you think that is more or less likely to happen on,
say, your Katana?

Bob M.
 >> Stay informed about: height help 

"hags2033" <none.DeleteThis@000.com> wrote in message
news:7783934_e039095d9b22f43865243abc9c78641f@0000.com...
> im new to bikes and I want to learn to ride so bad. But im 6'3" tall
> and i was wondering if i would fit on a sportbike correctly before i
> go and spend money on something im not gonna be able to do. i would
> appreciate any help you can give thanks.

Look at BMWs. Krauts are taller than Ricers.
 >> Stay informed about: height help 

David T. Ashley wrote:

> I actually don't think a first-timer will typically drop a bike just tooling
> it around for the first time and stopping in a straight line. I think the
> drops will come in skill stressful situations (such as the exercises in the
> MSF course, which are things a person wouldn't try naturally outside a
> course).

They usually happen in your driveway or garage.
 >> Stay informed about: height help 

On 2008-04-22 12:45:25 -0400, Turby <turbosurfer RemoveThis @beach.comber> said:

> On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:22:15 GMT, hags2033 <none RemoveThis @000.com> wrote:
>
>> im new to bikes and I want to learn to ride so bad. But im 6’3" tall
>> and i was wondering if i would fit on a sportbike correctly before i
>> go and spend money on something im not gonna be able to do. i would
>> appreciate any help you can give thanks.
>
> <Am I missing something here?>
> umm, how about going to a store and sitting on them to see which is
> bearable?

That means he'd have to get off his couch and actually venture out into
the cold, cruel world.
 >> Stay informed about: height help 

David T. Ashley wrote:
>I actually don't think a first-timer will typically drop a bike just tooling
>it around for the first time and stopping in a straight line. I think the
>drops will come in skill stressful situations (such as the exercises in the
>MSF course, which are things a person wouldn't try naturally outside a
>course).
>
>Now, if a first timer tried to do the MSF course with either of my two
>bikes, would they probably drop them? Absolutely! The reason is that they
>both weigh nearly 500 lbs and doing low speed manuevering and stuff the foot
>might not come down fast enough. Which is why the MSF course uses 250's.
>
>I'd be surprised to see a person drop either one tooling around on a large
>concrete surface ...
>
>But maybe I'm wrong there ...
>
>The Shadow has been spilled at least 3 times by me ... I even have a few
>spare parts in a box at home. With that one, spills are cheap. I think the
>Shadow is an excellent first bike in that respect. It survived me learning
>to ride.
>
>Dropping or spilling the Katana scares me financially. Some of those
>fairing pieces are nearly $500.

--
Message posted via MotorcycleKB.com
http://www.motorcyclekb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/bike/200804/1
 >> Stay informed about: height help 

David T. Ashley wrote:
>
>I actually don't think a first-timer will typically drop a bike just tooling
>it around for the first time and stopping in a straight line. I think the
>drops will come in skill stressful situations (such as the exercises in the
>MSF course, which are things a person wouldn't try naturally outside a
>course).
>

So, do you have a lot of experience with this? You've obviously never seen
a first timer get confused on the throttle, or have trouble remembering where
the brakes are. Remember this is someone with no familiarity with motorcycle
controls.

Last year, a newbie friend decided to try out her Rebel 250 in a parking
lot before taking the MFS course (against my recommendation). She got a
little confused and the bike got away from her. Ended up hitting a parking
block at an angle and dumping the bike. The result was bent forks, bent
wheel, broken pegs, mirrors and turn signals.

Good Luck,

John

--
Message posted via MotorcycleKB.com
http://www.motorcyclekb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/bike/200804/1
 >> Stay informed about: height help 

"flynrider via MotorcycleKB.com" <u32749@uwe> wrote in message
news:8313970d8d6c3@uwe...
> David T. Ashley wrote:
>>
>>I actually don't think a first-timer will typically drop a bike just
>>tooling
>>it around for the first time and stopping in a straight line. I think the
>>drops will come in skill stressful situations (such as the exercises in
>>the
>>MSF course, which are things a person wouldn't try naturally outside a
>>course).
>>
>
> So, do you have a lot of experience with this? You've obviously never
> seen
> a first timer get confused on the throttle, or have trouble remembering
> where
> the brakes are. Remember this is someone with no familiarity with
> motorcycle
> controls.

I actually helped one person (a flight instructor) mess around with my
motorcycle. She was very cautious and didn't hit anything.

Most people aren't idiots. They are fairly careful.

Additionally, if one can drive a manual transmission and ride a bicycle, it
isn't that hard.
 >> Stay informed about: height help 

"David T. Ashley" <dta.TakeThisOut@e3ft.com> wrote in message
news:CuSdnRzn6bXMBJPVnZ2dnUVZ_vyinZ2d@giganews.com...
>
> I actually helped one person (a flight instructor) mess around with my
> motorcycle. She was very cautious and didn't hit anything.
>
> Most people aren't idiots. They are fairly careful.

I would suggest to you, though, that the class of people
we call "flight instructors" are generally, through training
and experience, pretty darn cautious about the first-time
operation of a vehicle. The same cannot be said for "most
people." But again - hey, it's your bikes. And your
insurance. Etc., etc., etc..

> Additionally, if one can drive a manual transmission and ride a bicycle,
> it isn't that hard.

No, it isn't, really. And yet every year, thousands of newbies
manage to screw it up to the extent of requiring $eriou$ amount$
of repair on their bikes, if not on themselves. Go figure.

And for that matter, flying a plane is just a matter of
pushing in the throttle, keeping the nose reasonably
straight, and giving a yank backwards at the appropriate
time. Based on the fact that this also "isn't that hard,"
would you put a complete newbie into your plane, point
them to the runway, and say "Go on, take it around the
patch once or twice. I'll wait here."?

Bob M.
 >> Stay informed about: height help