Judge the quality of advice - Riders' Resumes

[bc1200rs]

Handle:bc1200rs

Age: 47

Year bought first street bike: 1974

Type of bikes owned: '71 Honda CB175, '75 Honda CT75, '78 Kawasaki KZ400, '78 Honda CB750A, '86 Yamaha Radian, '93 H-D XLH883, '96 H-D FLSTC, ‘97 H-D XLH 883, ’98 Honda ST1100, ’98 Suzuki GSF600S Bandit, ’00 BMW R1100RT, ’03 Suzuki SV650, ’04 Suzuki DL650 V-Strom, ’04 BMW K1200RS, ’05 Yamaha FZ6, ’06 Yamaha FJR1300, '06 Kawasaki Ninja 650R, ’07 Triumph Tiger 1050(current), ’07 Yamaha FZ6(cuurent)

Certifications/Classes Etc: MSF BRC/ERC Certified Rider Coach for 8 years. Motorcycle examiner for the state of Indiana for 4 years. No track days or race schools.

General Experience: I've been a street rider for 34 years. Various dirt bike experience prior to street riding. I perform nearly all of the maintenance on my motorcycles.

[dbK]

I'll stick this up and update as relevant-

Handle: dbK

Age: Look to the left, as of this writing 23.

Year bought first street bike: 2008

Type of bikes owned: '88 EX-500

Certifications/Classes Etc: MSF BRC, NJ Motorcycle endorsement

General Experience: Local riding, no racing, nothing absurd. I guess I could be considered a pleasure rider, but I'm generally lacking interest in going on multiple hundred mile rides. I ride around town, occasionally to the office, and on small errands. Went down once - in a parking lot, no less. Situation: Had been raining all day, cleared up early-mid afternoon and the roads were dry when I got out on the bike early evening. Was leaving my location because it had started to rain, failed to account for a recently seal coated parking lot. Rear wheel came out to the right side, low speed. Broken thumb, bruised ego. Without gear, though, I expect my injuries to have included potentially a concussion and a sprained or broken ankle, of course with some more bruising and maybe some rash.

Future plans (I know it's not part of the normal resume, but it will help show my plans and accordingly, my point of view): Take MSF Advanced Rider Course sometime next year (2010), upgrade to a newer/slightly bigger standard (currently loving the looks of the '09 ER-6n, also considering an SV-650). In the future, on a different bike (than my EX-500), maybe a track day or two. No plans to get involved in racing.

[under2x]

As of writing I am 29 years old, and I've been riding for 9 years. 6' 4" 260 lbs (I've gained weight in the last couple years, working on that though).

I've owned 5 motorcycles so far, starting in 2000. I've owned a 1985 honda nighthawk 700s, 1999 Triumph Adventurer, 2001 Yamaha R1 (totaled in a lowside), 2002 Kawasaki 9R, 2005 Triumph Sprint ST (current bike).

Certifications: MSF rider safety course and motorcycle license for 9 years.

As of this writing I've logged around 60,000 miles on my motorcycles, including several trips ~900 miles, and a few track days on the 9R. I do most maintenance myself, partially because it seems that dealers never do anything but a $300 oil change unless you have a visible problem.

[Foo_909]

Handle:Foo_909

Age: 22

Years riding: 3 to 4

First street bike: 2000 Kawasaki Ninja 250

Type of bikes owned: '00 Kawasaki Ninja 250, ' 05 Suzuki GSX-R600, '08 Yamaha R6

Certifications/Classes Etc: Kentucky endorsement, MSF ERC graduate.

General Experience: My first time on a bike was going down a friends drive way on a ZZR600, I've been hooked ever since. Rode on my permit for three years until I finally decided to go take my MSF experienced riders course and get my state endorsement as well. Mechanic by trade and absolutely accident free so far. No "stunting"...

Street Gear: HJC AC-12 CF Elbowz Helmet, Aplinestars GP Plus jacket, Alipinestars SP-1 Gloves, Wolverine or Timberland Workboots.

[fadlan12]

Age: 34
Year bought first street bike: 2008
Miles: 7000
Previous bikes: 95 FZR600
Current bike: 2002 F4i
No Track days yet, scheduled for Nov.

Certifications/Classes Etc: Tx motorcycle endorsement, MSF: BRC, ERC, and Lee Parks ARC

General Experience: I Rode a dirt bike several times in High school and got hooked, but did not get a chance to get back on a bike till Summer 08 when gas prices persuaded me. I commute everyday to work and have ridden in rain, thick fog, temps from down in the low 30's to 105+ heat. I love to wrench on my own vehicles. I bought the FZR having been sitting for 3 years and had to rebuild the carbs to get it running.

[ts250girl]

Handle:ts250girl

Age: 30

Year bought first street bike: 1994

Type of bikes owned: too many to list, around 18 currently. Most of them are vintage dual purpose bikes (like Suzuki TS250), also a couple of 69 Husqvarna motocrossers, 2005 MZ 125SM and a few of scooters (2000 Italjet Dragster 180, 2 Yamaha Zuma 50s).

Certifications/Classes Etc: Current drivers license with unlimited motorcycle endorsement for WA state. Took the motorcycle safety course in 1996, and again in 2002 because the first one was so much fun I just had to do it again. The first class I took in December, in heavy rain which was a great way to practice skidding and other fun stuff.

General Experience: I've ridden on the street since 1996 (had a bike since 94 but I was a minor and my folks did not let me get my endorsement). I don't get to ride anywhere near as much as I'd like, so my actual riding experience is far from huge. Never crashed a bike (or car) on the street, only had a couple of minor falls in the dirt (once when landing from a jump with front wheel not pointing straight, oops)

[Tripped1]

Tripped1

Years riding: 22
Years on the street: 16
Age 30

Bikes. Various 2 smoke dirtbikes from 5occ to 500cc; Cruisers 1968 Bonneville, 1974 Ironhead Sportster 1976 Shovel; Street bikes 2004 SV650, 2009 Daytona 675, 1086 GPz 900, 2000 Speed Triple, 1996 ZX-9, 1999 GSXR750, 2001 GSXR 1000, 2002 GSXR1000

Certs/licences: MSF (1995) MSF Instructor (2002) AMA Super Sport (1997) CCS (LWT) (2002). I've also done California Superbike School as well as NESBA, AMHRA and one or two other alphabet soup riding club courses.

I was once a wannabe racer. Now I know I don't have the skills or the balls to peel my eyeballs out of the back of my visor at every brake marker. I ride pretty much year around, if I take my bike(s) down for the winter its because I'm doing some pretty heavy modding. I ride from 40*F period, if its not pouring....and sometimes then.

[fzr1rider]

Handle: fzr1rider

Age: 25

Year bought first street bike: 2000

Type of bikes owned: 1996 Yamaha FZR600, 1983 Yamaha Virago 500, 1981 Yamaha Virago 750, 2002 Suzuki Savage 650, 2008 Suzuki GSX-R 750, and there were several fast turnover projects- not really ridden much.

Certifications/Classes Etc: Current VA drivers licence with M class, Levels I-III California Superbike School @ VIR.

General Experience: Riding street since 16.5; licensed 9 months later at 17. I have ATLEAST 100k miles under my belt on 2 wheels. Raced CSS and a few track days. I've ridden long distance (850 miles in a single day), I've ridden to school (5 miles), my usual (near daily) ride is about 150 miles roundtrip for pleasure. I've ridden in dry weather, rain, and light snow! I like the sound of rain tapping on my helmet.

Mechanically: I always worked on my own cars; got screwed by female "mechanic/ ex-racer" that took my $ to buy crack (literally)... didn't trust anyone, so I bought MC specific tools and learned how to work on everything myself! I also do work for co-workers on the side, and at the end of the day, my bikes have held up on track days, so I must be ok!

[thisisben]

Handle:thisisben

Age: 18

Year bought first street bike: 2008

Type of bikes owned: 2008 Ninja ZX10R (inherited from my dad, only had it a week), 1993 EX500, 2001 Yamaha R6
Certifications/Classes Etc: No driver's license, Motorcycle license KY, MSF Basic and Advanced rider courses
General Experience: Learned to ride from my dad in 2007, inherited his bike when he passed away, it was too much for me financially and power-wise. Sold it and bought a Ninja 500, got mad at the reliability, bought an R6, put 10k miles on it and been happy ever since.

Mechanically: I do 90% of my own work, I take it in to the mechanic every once in a while to make sure he doesn't notice anything. Dave of Dave's Cycle Werks in Lexington, KY : very knowledgeable mechanic and good guy.

[riverszzr]

Riverszzr

Age 46
Been riding since 12, since 15 on the street (31 years) raced from 82-92 (10 years)

been working on motorcycles since I bought my first one, and have been doing it for a living since I was 17 (bought an existing business)

Previous bikes;
xr80 atvs too 250R, 250X, 350X
yz60
xl125
xr250
I'll go by brands, not by order- unless I decide to come back and edit, and most likely I will forget a few.
Honda;
CB350 (4cyl)
CB450 (high pipe model)
CB750
cb650c
CB700SC (nighthawk s)
cb750c
cb900c
cx650turbo
gl650 silverwing
CBR600 hurricane (race/street bike)
CBR600 F-2 ( about a dozen of these, all were race bikes)
CBR900RR (race bike)

Kawasaki;
GPZ550 (atleast 2 of them, race/streetbikes)
Ninja 600 (about 5 or 6 of them, one was a street bike (1988)and I put over 250,000 miles on it before selling it in 2007- the others race)
Ninja 250 (3 of them, 2 for racing)
Ex500 ( 4 of them, all for racing)
ZX-7
ZX-9
ZX-10
ZX-11
ZX-6r
ZZR600

Suzuki;
Katana 750 ( forced ownership through sherriff sale)
Gsxr 600
Gsxr750 ( 88- race bike)
The old silver katana 1100, pre the gsxr's

Yamaha;
rz350
RD400 (owned for less than a month)
Seca 550/750/900
FZ600 (race bike)
FZR600 ( 2 of them for racing)
FZR1000 ( forced ownership through sheriff sale)
R1 ( another sheriff sale bike)
?? I am sure I forget a few of the "meant nothing to me" bikes

Riding miles;
pretty close to a million miles of street riding ( 3 bikes had over 150,000 miles on them when I sold them- and I have bought them newsince about 84 ! one of them was 256,xxx +, atleast 4 more were over 75,000)
My zx-11 has over 56,000 miles now
My 07 zzr600 is just under 26,000
my 250 ninja has 19,000+
The other bike is wifees - 97 zx-6R 8000+

Then I would guess that in the years that I actually raced every race I could get to, I was doing atleast 8000 miles a season racing

Schooling- have been through 3 "race schools" ( 1 in the 80's, 2 in the early 90's)but havent raced since 1992, and havent been on a racetrack since 2006 ( customer bike set-up etc, during practice time)
I am an advocate of riding "the pace" on the street,and have group/customer rides almost every weekend- May through November. ( These are usually about 4-500 mile days)

Accomplishments as a "tuner"- sent numerous riders all over the country, won the GTU national endurance series, and about 4 or 5 regional championships, #1 plate at BIR with 2 different riders, 1 of them 3 years in row- beat out facotry bikes at Daytona with F-2's--and in all those years, have only ever had one engine failure ( customers budget, and lack of maintainance- 6 weekends at Elkhart and Blackhawk farms, without any service. Finally #2 rod bearing spun--one of my class champions.) Have plenty of "average" riders circling around BIR, Elkhart, Grattan, Blackhawk today with fast reliable bikes because of my service.

But I really cater to the street bike guys and performing the very best service for a "resonable" price.

I have what many will see as controversial ideas/knowledge on tuning, break-in and riding in general. But, they are all tried and proven- and I give no advice that I don't use myself.

Now can someone change my little heading under my screen!!!

[thisisben]

Originally Posted by riverszzr

Riverszzr

Age 46
Been riding since 12, since 15 on the street (31 years) raced from 82-92 (10 years)

been working on motorcycles since I bought my first one, and have been doing it for a living since I was 17 (bought an existing business)

Previous bikes;
xr80 atvs too 250R, 250X, 350X
yz60
xl125
xr250
I'll go by brands, not by order- unless I decide to come back and edit, and most likely I will forget a few.
Honda;
CB350 (4cyl)
CB450 (high pipe model)
CB750
cb650c
CB700SC (nighthawk s)
cb750c
cb900c
cx650turbo
gl650 silverwing
CBR600 hurricane (race/street bike)
CBR600 F-2 ( about a dozen of these, all were race bikes)
CBR900RR (race bike)

Kawasaki;
GPZ550 (atleast 2 of them, race/streetbikes)
Ninja 600 (about 5 or 6 of them, one was a street bike (1988)and I put over 250,000 miles on it before selling it in 2007- the others race)
Ninja 250 (3 of them, 2 for racing)
Ex500 ( 4 of them, all for racing)
ZX-7
ZX-9
ZX-10
ZX-11
ZX-6r
ZZR600

Suzuki;
Katana 750 ( forced ownership through sherriff sale)
Gsxr 600
Gsxr750 ( 88- race bike)
The old silver katana 1100, pre the gsxr's

Yamaha;
rz350
RD400 (owned for less than a month)
Seca 550/750/900
FZ600 (race bike)
FZR600 ( 2 of them for racing)
FZR1000 ( forced ownership through sheriff sale)
R1 ( another sheriff sale bike)
?? I am sure I forget a few of the "meant nothing to me" bikes

Riding miles;
pretty close to a million miles of street riding ( 3 bikes had over 150,000 miles on them when I sold them- and I have bought them newsince about 84 ! one of them was 256,xxx +, atleast 4 more were over 75,000)
My zx-11 has over 56,000 miles now
My 07 zzr600 is just under 26,000
my 250 ninja has 19,000+
The other bike is wifees - 97 zx-6R 8000+

Then I would guess that in the years that I actually raced every race I could get to, I was doing atleast 8000 miles a season racing

Schooling- have been through 3 "race schools" ( 1 in the 80's, 2 in the early 90's)but havent raced since 1992, and havent been on a racetrack since 2006 ( customer bike set-up etc, during practice time)
I am an advocate of riding "the pace" on the street,and have group/customer rides almost every weekend- May through November. ( These are usually about 4-500 mile days)

Accomplishments as a "tuner"- sent numerous riders all over the country, won the GTU national endurance series, and about 4 or 5 regional championships, #1 plate at BIR with 2 different riders, 1 of them 3 years in row- beat out facotry bikes at Daytona with F-2's--and in all those years, have only ever had one engine failure ( customers budget, and lack of maintainance- 6 weekends at Elkhart and Blackhawk farms, without any service. Finally #2 rod bearing spun--one of my class champions.) Have plenty of "average" riders circling around BIR, Elkhart, Grattan, Blackhawk today with fast reliable bikes because of my service.

But I really cater to the street bike guys and performing the very best service for a "resonable" price.

I have what many will see as controversial ideas/knowledge on tuning, break-in and riding in general. But, they are all tried and proven- and I give no advice that I don't use myself.

Now can someone change my little heading under my screen!!!

[zmeiaspas]

holy crap.

[Tripped1]

Originally Posted by thisisben

werd!

I thought I had a lot of bikes