A wise choice, you'll be glad you did. I forgot the exact number but roughly 80% - 90% of all riders involved in an accident were self taught.
I'm sorry, but I just can't let this one go without rebuttal. To imply that the vast majority of motorcycle accidents are due to lack of professional riding instruction smacks of self righteous bullshit. I will assume then that you're speaking off the cuff and have no specific personal knowledge one way or the other. I do have specific knowledge. The fact of the matter is most motorcycle accidents in the US happen because the motorcyclist is not seen. Cash, the single most important thing you can do when riding is be aware of what's around you. Constantly scan the horizon, your periphery, and your mirrors. Know what's going to happen before it does. TL I don't mean to malign your opinion, but your statement is just plain disingenuous. It implies that the rider is at fault. No amount of training is going to help you if you are not aware of your surroundings. Yes, they gloss over this in instruction, but they don't and can't really give you the perspective. It is either quickly learned through experience or blissfully ignored to your detriment. I've been riding since I was 7, I'm 45 now. I've raced motocross and superbike and everything in between. I've had more bikes than than most people have had orgasms. Not trying to brag here, just strongly contend the statement that instruction has much if anything to do with proficiency in riding. Experience will get you where you want to be. Peace.
(1)You assume wrong, the numbers came from my instructor who was supposedly quoting Motorcycle Safety Foundation numbers. (2)Not necessarily, but I do agree that many accidents are the car drivers fault and yes good situational awareness on the riders part is very important.
Inexperienced drivers are a problem for motorcycles. Being seen and heard is probably more important than being aware. I had a car that was a tan color at one point, people were constantly turning right in front of me, I thought it was a driving fad or something until I painted it a yellow that was so bright you could not look at it in the bright sun. After that almost nobody turned in front of me.... running lights might have the same effect.. Personally I've never ridden bikes much, I'm risk aversive. If I can get somebody to diagnose me with a terminal illness then the reward/risk ratio will favor a bike... I'll get a custom chopper and ride until I croak.
just found the thread... Been riding bikes for a few years now... Started with a 1995 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6, my favourite bike of the bunch. Got her up to 240km/h (150mph for you yankees) on the backroads and the highway a few times. So many good memories. Took it out to PEI with a friend who rode a ninja 500 a couple years ago... What a blast... Put over 30,000km on that bike and replaced it with a 2003 Suzuki SV650 when my insurance company wanted $4000 per year for insurance... The Suzuki's premiums were 1/4 of what they wanted for the ninja. Rode the SV for a couple years and then replaced it with a 2007 Yamaha C³ 49cc scooter... I found I was just using my bike to commute to work so I really didn't need all the HP... This baby is great on gas btw... over 100mpg on most tanks... I'm thinking 5-10 years down the road I'll have to pick up a sport bike again... It's simply too much fun having better acceleration than 98% of cars on the road... - mnx
No, I assume correctly since you're getting this information second hand. Go to MSF's site. MSF Again, to imply that instruction has anything to do with accident rate is disingenuous. That's like saying 80-90% of riders in an accident are right handed. Therefore if you want to ride you should become left handed. One has nothing to do with the other. The MSF is a self serving non-profit bully pulpit for the manufacturers. It makes them look good in front of the DOT. These same manufacturers that put out the Hayabusa and what not. Aside from elementary instruction (ie: control locations, rules of the road, insurance requirements), MSF is a joke. Yes, I have taken their classes. I'm sure more times than you have. I have witnessed not once, not twice, but multiple occasions where the instructor(s) insisted the front brakes not be used! Good God, man! What are they there for, show? TL, I'm trying to be patient here. Go with what you know. Superbike school would be a better venue for many riders, especially after the MSF hand holding session. MSF won't do anything for the average person that a good hour or so in a Walmart parking lot on a sunday morning couldn't do. Peace.
Respectfully disagree. You can't control whether you are seen or heard. You can control your awareness.
Orange riding suit without muffler. There you go.... Most costum Harleys can be heard half mile away...