Judge the quality of advice - Riders' Resumes

[RayOSV]

Handle: RayOSV (Ray)

Age: 55 (with kids older than a lot of you, son with an Honda XR400 in CO)

Bikes owned: early 80's moped during gas crisis , '00 sv650, '05 sv1000s

Squidly stuff: learned on a Honda 55 using my older cousin's permit at age 14, HS friend's Honda 250 Scrambler mainly used to "tow" a skateboard on the street (record was 42 mph with no helmet, no shoes, and shorts/t-shirts, no accidents), some track use of a Yamaha 350 2 stroke, some use of a late 60's BSA 650 (college roommate's). All of this was before M licensing and helmet laws.

Licensing/training/experience: private msf-like instruction, current DL with M1 endorsement. 2 track days, over 51k street miles since '00, 2 0-mph drops, one low-speed high-side with minimal damage.

I don't leave the driveway without proper riding gear.

[seattlesucks]

Handle:Seattlesucks
Age: 25

Year bought first street bike: 2006

Type of bikes owned: 2002 VTR1000f Superhawk, 1990-something Yamaha Blaster Quad.

Certifications/Classes Etc: Current drivers licenses with unlimited motorcycle endorsement for Wa state, MSF Motorcycle Rider Course completiong card, 03/2006.

General Experience: I spent a lot of time on the back of my mom's boyfriend's bike riding around with him until I was 11 or 12. I got into riding quads for a few years in there somewhere and tried dirtbikes a couple of times... also raced BMX. I just started riding on the street in mid-march after a LOT of studying and research about motorcycle operation and safety.

[Grashopr]

Handle: Grashopr

Age: 29

Year bought first street bike: 1993

Type of bikes owned: 1989 EX500, 1992 Suzuki RM125, 1991 DR650, 1997 CBR900RR, 2001 Triumph Sprint ST, 2001 CBR600F4i, 2000 RVT1000SP1 RC51, 1997 Triumph T595 Daytona, 1998 Triumph T595 Daytona, 2001 Yamaha YZ426F, 1999 Triumph 955i Daytona, 1992 Kawasaki EX500. *8/06*added* 2006 Triumph Daytona 675, 1994? Honda CBR600F2 'racebike'.*

Certifications/Classes Etc: Out of Date 'International" (Military) Cycle Endorsement, Current Kansas State M Endorsement, Current (I think) ABATE card, Current SAFE certificate, MSF Graduate and I was one of those lame 'assistant' guys, I have painted over 300 bikes in my short (10 year) career repairing motorcycle paint and bodywork, 3 local Motocross Points Series Championship Podiums (two firsts, one second), and 42 Verified Speeding citations showing I'm dumber than the average bear.

General Experience: I got my first solid-suspensioned mini-bike the day I turned 4. I've had a bike of some sort ever since barring the summer of 1999. I put an average of 35k miles on at least one bike per year over the last 6 years. I'm not the fastest, smartest or best looking, but I'm interested in helping out someone if it's appreciate and if my assistance isn't taken for granted. I appreciate help from those I respect (most of the other guys on SBN). I've had one 'Major' crash (lost a TON of skin), and a couple of minor ones. I dont look down on anyone as long as they're riding. It dont bother me if you're a 'Squid' or a 'Cruiser' or a 'Chopper Guy' as long as you ride. My only goal is to make sure everyone gets as much enjoyment out of their bikes as I get out of myne.

[Fast Glass]

Handle: Fast Glass

Age: 34

Year bought first street bike: 1995

Bikes owned: 1993 Katana 750, 2005 GSX-R 750

Classes: MSF grad, and still deciding what track school to attend.

Started riding around '90- '91 when my buddy bought a Nighthawk. Couple years later he upgraded to a GSX-R 750, and I bought the used Kat. Rode that for the next 10 years until I bought my current 750 last spring. I do all my own maintenance also.

I'm an aircraft mechanic by trade and am currently or have held engine run/taxi on Boeing 707, 727, 747, Douglas DC-8, DC-10, MD-10, MD-11, Airbus A300, A310, and Lockheed L-1011 aircraft.

[willvt13]

Handle; willvt13

Age; 45

First street bike; Honda CB350 (can't remember the year, 1973?) bought it in 1979

Certifications/memberships; Michigan cycle endorsement, MSF grad, AMA member

Streetbikes owned; 197? Honda CB350, 1977 Suzuki GS550, 1981 Yamaha Seca 750, 1984 Yamaha FJ1100, 1988 Honda CBR600 Hurricane, 1993 Honda CBR600F2, and presently 2003 Yamaha R1.

Experience; Started riding at about age 9 on a honda qa50 and Honda trail 70, did a lot of dirt riding on yamaha 125 and 250 enduro in my early teens. Been riding on the street since 1979. Total experience, about 36 years, street experience, about 27 years.

Don't think I can picture myself ever not riding.

[Justin726]

Handle: Justin726

Name: Justin

Age: 31

Bought my first bike: 2000

Bikes owned: 2003 Suzuki Hayabuas, 2003 Honda VTX 1300 (cruiser), 2000 Suzuki SV-650, 1997 Suzuki TL1000S, 1973(?) Yamaha RD350.

General Experience: I grew up on a farm, and around my early teens I started riding various dirtbikes and dual sprot bikes. I also had a Yamaha 3-Wheeler for a while which was a lot of fun. By highschool I got into cars more and didn't do much with bikes again until I was in my mid 20's. I worked with some guys that had bikes. I bought my first actual street bike then, and haven't looked back.

[gtibabe]

Age:26

Year bought first street bike:2002

Certifications: MSF, endorsement.

Bikes: 1984 CB700SC, 1996 GSX600F, 2004 SV 650S

General experience: I mostly commute ALOT of highway miles. I'm lacking most in twistie experience (stupid Texas!!!!!), so I would like to do some track days. But, what I lack in the way of twisties, I make up for in heavy traffic experience. I've got a pretty good sixth sense.

[MINI NSX]

Handle:MINI NSX

Age: 54

Year bought first street bike: 1977

Type of bikes owned: '71 Honda CB 350, '78 Suzuki GS550, '96 Honda CB750, 2-'99 Honda CB750, (currently own) '03 Honda RC51, '05 CBR1000RR

Certifications/Classes Etc: No classes, just lots of reading and riding experience.

General Experience: I rode from 1977 'til 1983, took a "break", then re-entered motorcycling in 1997. I do commuting, weekend trips, and mostly recreational twisty, two-lane riding.

[XB12R]

Handle: XB12R

Age: 25

Type of bikes owned: 2001 Yamaha YZF 600R (Purchased wrecked and put back together), 2004 Buell Firebolt XB12R, Many Dirtbikes over the years

Certs: Motorcycle endorsement since 1999

General Experience: I’ve been riding on the street since the spring of 2002, and I’ve logged well over 25,000 miles in the four years I’ve been riding on the street between two bikes. For you warm weather living people that might not seem like much, but I lived in Manhattan Kansas from the time I got my first street bike until the fall of 03, and I spent 04 and most of the 05 season in Chicago. I rode my YZF for 02, 03 and most of the season in 04, and I started riding my Buell at the very end of the 04 season. I’ve put down 10,000 miles on the Buell and probably all but 2,000 miles of that was in the 05 season. I also started riding dirtbikes very young because my parents were in to dirtbikes when we lived in Southern California. I got a Honda 50 for my fourth birthday and I had numerous dirtbikes while growing up. I raced a little as a kid in California, but when we moved to Kansas just after my 11th birthday my dirt riding was shortened to out at my Grandpa’s farm. I have no idea how many miles/hours I’ve sat on a dirtbike seat.

While in college you could say I was as squidly as they come because I hardly ever wore gear at all. I learned my lessons through other people going down, and now I don’t feel comfortable on a bike without at least a helmet. I have yet to go down on a street bike, but when it happens I will be pretty well protected. I crashed all the time on the dirt and that experience has made me a much better street rider.

[Twinsen]

Man you guys are like totally old!!!

Handle: Twinsen

Age: 21 (Blackjack!)

Year Bought First Streetbike: 2003 (I think?)

Type of Bikes Owned: 1991 Honda CBR 600 F2 > 2004 Suzuki GSX-R 1000 > 1999 Kawasaki ZX-9R > 2005 Suzuki GSX-R 1000

Certs: TN Endorsement

General Experience: I've been riding on the street since I was 19. No prior bike experience at all. Signed up to Sportbikes.Net and educated myself through the New Riders section. Attempted to signup for the MSF, but there was a conflict in my work schedule and had no time off. "Studied" hard here, bought my first bike and took baby steps in the learning process. Went from Parking Lot > Night Neighborhood Rides > Day Neighborhood Rides > Night Street Riding > Busy Day Street Riding > Interstate.

Eventually got my endorsement shortly there-after, logged maybe 20,000 miles in the 2 1/2 years. I didn't do a whole lot of riding last season, and my '04 1000 was stolen a few weeks after I got it. But I've definitely experienced a bit too much in my short time. Like the first time me and my friend rode in a large group (30-40 bikes) we got to see what happens when you have a squid ruin things and ended up wrecking three bikes along with himself. And that was on my Honda F2! Still avoided a poopload of debris!

But yeah, I could go on and on...but I won't.

[mercutio80]

Handle: mercutio80

Age: 31

Year bought first street bike: 1998

Type of bikes owned: '99 Rebel, '98 Magna, '01 Sprint ST, '01 SV660, '05 Speed Triple. Still have the SV and Triple.

Certifications/Classes, etc.: M1 endorsement since '99, MSF BRC

General Experience: Been riding for eight years and have somewhere around 45,000 miles under my belt along with two crashes, both of which were my fault.

[kneedraggin650s]

Handle:kneedraggin650s

Age: 26

Year bought first street bike: 2005

Type of bikes owned: 2005 Sukuki SV650s

Certifications/Classes Etc: MD license with M endorsement, MSF BRC graduate, police pursuit high speed driving school.

General Experience: I am a squid, but don't do the squidly things. I wear my gear and I ride with in the limits of my bike and abilites.

I know nothing and give little to no advice when it comes to bikes. I read the threads in hopes to increase knowledge.

[QWIK1]

Name: Michael

year BOUGHT first street bike - 1996

Type of bikes owned: 197x Honda 750 (big windjammer windscreen and all, had this one when I was 16), 199x Ninja 250, 1996 GSXR 600, 2003 Honda RC51, 1995 CBR600f3

Certifications/classes etc: Ohio motorcycle endorsement, (though I did read Twist of the Wrist and Proficient Motorcycling)

General experience: I have been riding all sorts of recreation vehicles all my life... starting with little mini-bikes since I was about 6 or 7. Most of the miles I log on my bikes are in fairly heavy traffic and I know I haven't seen everything, there is little a cager could do that surprises me. Any advice that I may give, may not be what the textbooks or the law states that you should do but it may be just from experience or my dumb opinion.

[gambrjl]

Name: Jamie

Age: 28

First street bike: 1994

Bikes: 1974 Kawasaki Dual Sport 175, 1996 Kawasaki ZX6-E, 2000 HD Sportster 1200, 2003 Honda Superhawk

Certs: GADL with endorsement

General: Started on motorcycles when I was 5. dabbled in every form of riding i could until I was 17 and started in the street. I've lived in Rural south Alabama and now ride in the city of Atlanta. Probably got 20K miles or so under my belt in both. I just enjoy getting out there and not being cooped up in a car. I'll help out and advise where I can