Judge the quality of advice - Riders' Resumes

[XRedJar]

Handle: xredjar

Age: 36

Year bought first street bike: 1996

Type of bikes owned: 91 GSXR 400, 99 Katana 600, 02 GSXR 600, 03 Kawi Ninja 250, 04 Honda VFR, 01 Yamaha R6

Certifications/Classes Etc: Current drivers licenses with unlimited motorcycle endorsement for VA state and MSF taken in Japan.

General Experience: I've been a street rider for around 10 years, have had a 2 year lay off during that time. I have ridden and driven in several different countries. I have been down once when a driver in Okinawa pulled a left in front of me.

I've had enough close calls to know you never know it all. Train to ride & ride like you've trained. Gear up, minimize risk, and enjoy the ride.

[RipCurl808]

Handle: RipCurl808

Age: 31

Year bought first street bike: 1996

Type of bikes owned: 89 YSR 50, 87 YSR 50, 88 YSR 80, 1992 CBR F2, 1996 Ninja 250, 1987 YSR 50, 1993 CBR F2, 1995 Ninja ZX-6R, 1999 Yamaha R6, 2005 Yamaha R6

Certifications/Classes Etc: General DL with motorcycle endorsement. Completed Advanced Riders course for MSF

General Experience: Been riding off an on for the last 10 years. Started on the smallest motorcycle possible, learning basically all the skills needed to ride. Took MSF and passed. However, crashed my CBR in a lowside that broke my leg in two places (and it was my fault). Came back to riding and to relearn the basics with a Ninja 250. Took it to the drag strip and loved it. So decided to try road racing. One I got the hang of it, I bought a CBR again and then a ZX-6R. Drag raced the ZX-6 till I destroyed the engine, and then purchased an R6. I loved it that I continued to drag race and road race, till I sold it, and picked up a 2k5 R6.

I come from the belief of starting small and working your way up. So, im a good example of why its best to start small and working up the experience and courage to try bigger bikes when I was ready. I kept my Ninja 250 for nearly a year before I upgraded.

[bumblebee]

First Street Bike: 1974 CB 750K4 I bought new off the showroom floor.

Have owned several from all big 4 Japanese bikes, 8 British bikes, 2 Italian bikes and a bunch of American steel

Have been riding/dropping motorcycles for 44 years

Have done 95% of my own wrenching

Have accumulated nearly 400,000 miles of seat time

[Road Dog]

Handle: Road Dog

Age: 41 (that hurt to admit)

year you bought first street bike: 1981

Types of bikes owned: 80 Honda 750, 84 Honda 750, 90 Suzuki GSX-R 1100, 95 Katana 750, 96 ZX9, 98 TL-S (I loved that bike), 2004 Kawi Z1000

Certifications: Motorcycle endorsement since 1981, Beginners MSF, Advanced MSF, Keith Code CSS

Experience: Been riding almost exclusively street since 1981. Got into track days in 1999 and have at least a couple of hundred hours of track time. No street accidents, and one track accident.

[acalliste]

Name: Tammy

Age: see profile

First Street Bike: 1989

Bikes: Honda CT70, Kaw EN450, '82 Suz GS1100E, '05 GSXR600, '07 GSXR750

Certs: M/C endorsement for the State of Florida since '89, also for State of MS briefly from '93 - '96 , MSF graduate (FL).

General: I grew up in Buchanan, MI near a motocross track called Redbud, so I spent a lot of time there watching races, though I never got into it myself (unfortunately I was more into horses at that age). However I did ride the CT70 all over creation, as well as the occasional snowmobile & three-wheeler.

I got my first street bike, learned to ride and got my endorsement in Fla in 1989. In 1990, I moved to MS and began working in motorcycle parts for a Honda dealer. I stayed in MC parts until early 1997 when I became fed up with making no money.

While in MS, I bought my GS1100E in a box and with the help of my then BF, rebuilt it from the frame up. We also rebuilt his Kaw H2 750 triple which I rode a few times, and his CR250.

I was bikeless for a few years, but had the use of a CBR600 for a while when my friend's house burnt down and he had nowhere to keep his bike. (Storage fee = I get to ride the bike). And of course, I get to ride any bike my SO might have.

In Nov 2004 I bought the '05 GSXR600 and as of the date of this post put about 18k miles on it. I did my first track day on a friend's '04 gsxr750 in March of '06. I am now a Certified Track Junkie.

edit - traded the gsxr600 for the new toy: 07 gsxr750.

[Rod_M]

Age: 38

Have had/road motorcycles since I was 5, started on a Honda Mini trail 50.

Started riding on the road 3 days after my 14th birthday. This was the earliest date available for me to take my drivers license exam in both the car and motorcycle. I took both auto and motorcycle exams and driving tests and passed them all on the same day. The following day, early in November (birthday is November 6th), I road my Honda XL75 to school. Back in my day, there were only about 8 kids that got to drive to school in Jr. High (7,8,and 9th grades). I was the only 8th grader to do so.

I sold the XL75 and bought a Honda 125 street bike, then a 450, then a 650. While in Highschool, I would sometimes ride my mom's 1976 Goldwing to school, what a hoot.

I was out of Motorcycles completely from 91 to 94, stricking out on my own/just getting married. Got back in to the scene with an 84 Honda V65 Magna, I've had two of those.

Currently I have a pair of 03 XR50R bikes, to start the boys out on, one of which is for me until the youngest is ready. A pair of 05 Honda Rancher 4x4 ATV's and now the 06 CBR600F4i.

[umairhashmi]

Age:23
Got interested in motorcycles at around 2003 and kept looking around on message boards and whatnot till 2005.In december of 05 did my msf and got the motorcycle license.First bike is a brand new 2006 hayabusa.Despite many people telling me id kill myself im still alive after 2000 miles.But i guess the real,honest reason for that is that i ride the bike in the same way many people would ride a cruiser.I have no intentions of kneedragging, popping wheelies or impressing the girls anytime soon.Everyday after work in the evening i love to ride around the city.Best stress reliever for me.Its a fun hobby but im certain i will get rid of it completely after i get married or have anyone who depends on me financially.If i were to die on my bike today at least i wont leave anyone behind who depends on my paycheck.But when i become a family man motorcycling would have to go.

[Manifest]

Age: 30

Year bought first street bike: 1990

Type of bikes owned: 1989 Kawasaki ZX600R, 1991 Kawasaki KLR650, 1981 Yamaha Virago, 1988 Honda CBR600, 1999 Triumph Speed Triple, 2000 Suzuki GSXR600, 2000 Triumph Speed Triple

Certifications/Classes Etc: Current drivers licenses with unlimited motorcycle endorsement for PA, and of course I am an MSF grad.

General Experience: I've been a street rider for around 15 years, have had a bike pretty much the entire time. I have also ridden off road motorcycles since I was big enough to get on one.

I hate to say it, but I didn't see it addressed here, but I have seen some people get some horrible advice from some very experienced riders, so, to me, an internet resume only means so much. I think it's more important that the advice makes good sense, and is backed up by several people in the thread.

[Lewd Ferrigno]

Age: 36-ish
First Street Bike: 1987

Certs: MSF BRC, IL DL, CCS Racing license, WERA racing license

Classes: California Superbike School Level 4, Team Suzuki Endurance

Bikes Owned: VTR250, FZR400, Katana 600, GSXR600, GSXR750, ZX-7, 906 Paso, RC30, RC51, CBR929, FZR1000, TL1000R, CBR600RR, CB77, Ninja 500, XR50, Daytona 675 (current)

General Experience: I have been riding motorcycles on the street since 1987. I come from a family of motorcycle enthusiasts. I've been involved with learning and writing about safety from the MSF and worldwide organizations.

I've worked as a salesman in the Motorcycle industry since 1988 and just recently moved out of it.

[clevis pin]

I see no point in revealing my age - I'm a touchy ol' b!tch.
So I'll be a little vague.

Things with motorcycles that I have done:
Trail and moto competed before I had a driver's license.
I was paid by US Suzuki to demonstrate motorcycles.
I did a little flat track and more dirt stuff.
I worked in a dealership.
I did limited R.R. on small displacement bikes. I wasn't that fast.
I rode every day in rush hour to downtown L.A.
I rode a bike while living in S.F. - Wow!
A few street bikes, a couple crashes and a bunch of miles since then.

And I firmly believe in starting in the dirt. The "golden-age" of americans in MotoGP was from all the guys that started dirty. It's good for your skills and safer.

[Rascus]

Handle:Rascus
Age: 29

Year bought first street bike: 2002

Type of bikes owned: 2002 Honda CBR F4i

Certifications/Classes Etc: Current drivers licenses with unlimited motorcycle endorsement MSF Motorcycle Rider Course

General Experience: I would by no means say I have alot of experience riding compared to others here on the site. I have ridden alot on commuting and twisties. I would consider myself an sub-average rider. I am deeply fascniated with the whole motorcycle culture and always trying to learn something new.

[Hondamatic]

Hondamatic

31

2003

03 triumph 600
06 honda 600rr

Yeah uh no classes

Experience: I listen closely. I did have planty of support and info coming in. I ensured that I learned the "proper" way to ride intead of learning bad habits. And the legitamacy of advice is fairly subjective. Some advice is just plain wrong, some is just plain experience, what you choose to do with it is your business.

[Mr Baconia]

Handle:Mr Baconia
Age: 20

Year bought first street bike: 2005

Type of bikes owned: 1992 Suzuki Katana600f, 1997 Kawasaki ZX6-e

Certifications/Classes Etc: Current drivers licenses with motorcycle endorsement for California. MSF Graduate

General Experience: I've only been riding a little over a year, so I hardly consider myself educated. I found this site and trolled around when I was starting and thankfully, it started me off on the right track. I did NOT start small (though people say the katana is weak enough ) and I wish I had.

I've never been in a motorcycle accident, but I did have an incident when a truck passed me and clipped my tire. I made it through because of the MSF and the things taught here. I am in no way and authoritative source for info but I am more than happy to teach what I've gained from the course, books and what I've accumulated here on SBN.

[Choco]

Handle:Choco
Age: 27

Year bought first street bike: 2005

Type of bikes owned: '96 ZX6R, '03 R6

Certifications/Classes Etc: MSF BRC Graduate

General Experience: At age 6, I started riding anything i could get my hands on that had a motor.....from 2 to 4 wheels, snowmobiles, jet skis and boats. Growing up in BFE Pennsyltucky affords considerable arenas for trail riding, so my love for bikes started there since I couldn't afford 4 wheels. Since, I have been commuting/pleasure riding every chance I get, mostly working on controlling the bike rather than speed riding. My comprehension of most concepts are sound, but I can have a difficult time getting the right words out. I normally wont post if I am not 100% sure of something, but if i do, i'll let ya know im not sure.

Ride Safe!

[051000RR]

Originally Posted by tmkreutzer

21, no sportbikes listed and 5 whole posts...

I think maybe you ought to make "Squiddy" here a part of yours.

That is some funny S**T!!!! Age 34 and holding, Raced Motorcross from Age 6 until 16. Swapped to ATVs, Raced those PRO AM until age 30. Purchased first street bike in 1994 GS 500. Owned 3 differnet ZX6r's. A ZX7, ZX-9, CBR 900RR, Then finally purchased a liter bike. Dang thing scared the crap out of me at first! See the progression here!!! To all nubies I would recommend to ride for a long time before you take on a liter bike.. Your friends may try to get you to progress faster but in my humble opinion that is suicide. Great idea on this one TM!!! This has been needed around here for a long time.