Judge the quality of advice - Riders' Resumes

[Jehos]

Handle: Jehos

Age: 28 in Dec 2006

Year bought first street bike: 2006

Type of bikes owned: 2006 Ninja 500R

Certifications/Classes Etc: MSF Beginning Rider Course and licensed in TX

General Experience: I'm new to riding, bought my first bike at the end of 2006. Consider any advice I give to be from the perspective of a mature newbie with a healthy dose of common sense but not a lot of riding experience.

[Rekd]

Handle:Rekd

Age: 42

Year bought first street bike: 1982ish

Type of bikes owned: HD (AMF) 90, 3 Honda 350 twins, 2 Yamaha 650 twins, a yamaha seca 750 (shafty), 2 yamaha FZR600's (first sport bike), a suzuki GSXR750 (wifes now), suzuki TL1000 and suzuki DR350 (both current). I started riding at around 5 to 7 yrs on a nova mini-bike with a honda 50cc carb.

Certifications/Classes Etc: Current drivers licenses with unlimited motorcycle endorsement for CA.

General Experience: Been riding literally as long as I can remember. The last 15 years on sport bikes and some dirt bikes. I also spend a lot of time in the desert (dunes mostly) on in my 2276cc VW sand rail and on my DR. I did some m/c drag racing in a trophy class, (won most races I entered) and lastly, :brag: My son learned to ride a bicycle with no training wheels when he was 3-1/2 (and shot his first pellet gun @ 2yrs old ) and my other son (20 months) can already stand on a skate board and skoot himself along without falling most of the time, and has been climbing on (literally) everything in my yard with wheels since before he could walk. My wife (hubba hubba) of 12+ years has a good work ethic (see avatar) :/brag:

[UberGoober]

Once again. Please use this thread for Riders' Resumes only. All other bike related questions and comments may be posted in the general section of the New Riders' Forums - below.

All posts not relevant to this thread have been deleted.

[isaac]

Handle: Isaac

Age: 28

Year bought first street bike: 2004

Years riding on the street: 3

Miles ridden on the street: 14,000 and counting daily

Bikes owned: Suzuki GZ250, Suzuki GS850, Suzuki GSX750, Honda NT650

Training: None. Self-taught. I've read A Twist of the Wrist and The Complete Idiot's Guide to Motorcycles cover to cover. I hold a motorcycle endorsement (full license) in Florida.

General experience: Have been riding since the moment I rolled my first bike out of the van, hopped on it, and rode into the distance like it was an extra appendage. I've ridden bikes upward of a 99 GSXR750 and survived. Drag raced a few times at the track. I've taught four riders to ride, none of whom have yet hurt themselves.

[OreoGaborio]

Handle: OreoGaborio

Age: 29

Years riding on the street: since early 2001

Year bought first street bike: 2004

Miles ridden on the street: ~50k street & track.

Bikes owned: '00 Kawi ZX6R (street/track day toy), '89 Kawi EX500 (race), '02 Kawi KX250 (dirty monster)
Bikes currently own: 2003 Aprilia Tuono (street/track day), '06 SV650 (race/track day)


Training:
- MSF BRC in '01
- 2 track days in '04 and about 10 or more track days per year since then.
- Cornerspeed Level 1 Race School, Spring 2006
- Mentored by numerous Expert level club racers from the New England area.
- Licensed CCS and LRRS Road Racer, Spring '06
- Instructor, Control Rider and Cornerworker for Tony's Track Days since Summer '06.
- Expert LRRS/CCS road racer since the Spring of '09
- MSF BRC RiderCoach since the Spring of '09

General experience:
In 2001 I completed MSF BRC and began to dabble in street riding on other people's bikes.

In 2004 I finally purchased my own bike in May and began riding more seriously after attending my first track day at NHMS in Loudon NH.

In 2005 I began doing an average of 10 track day events per year at either NHMS or VIR.

In 2006 after completing the Cornerspeed Level 1 race school I got my CCS license and formed Cheap Bastid Racing with a few friends and we began racing in the Loudon Road Racing Series. I did very well and bumped from Novice to Amateur status after the minimum 10 races. Mid season I began volunteering as a Guest Instructor for Tony's Track Days.

In 2007 I became a fully certified Track Day Instructor for Tony's Track Days. I also had a very solid chance at winning the LRRS Production Twins Amateur Championship but a broken wrist at the beginning of the year prevented that from happening, however I returned to the track mid-year and finished the season strongly.

In 2008 I did 1/2 a season on my EX500 then switched bikes to an SV650 and earned enough points to bump up to the Expert ranks.

In 2009 I became an Expert road racer and MSF RiderCoach and I signed on as the newest rider for ECK Racing sponsored by Pine Motorparts/PBE Specialists | Phoenix Graphics | Woodcraft | Moon Performance | RJ's Motorsport | Motorcycles of Manchester | BostonMoto-Pirelli

Plans for 2009:
No out of the ordinary plans for the rest of this year.... I'll be teaching the Massachusetts MSF BRC through Ironstone Ventures, I'll continue instructing for Tony's Track Days and I'll be racing in Loudon NH with my new teammates from ECK Racing

2009 end of year update:
I had a great LRRS season and got multiple top 5 expert finishes and finished 7th in Lightweight GP, 6th in Lightweight Supersport and 5th in the Lightweight Superbike points Championships.

[RCKT GRL]

Handle: RCKT GRL

Year bought first street bike: 1989

Type of bikes owned: 1987 Kawasaki Ninja 250, 1986 Honda VFR 700F, 2002 Honda CBR600F4i

Certifications/Classes Etc: Current drivers licenses with motorcycle endorsement

General Experience: I've been a street rider for 18 years and have had a bike pretty much the entire time. I have ridden dirt bikes, 3 wheelers, 4 wheelers and even raced MX for a season or two on my then boyfriends KX250. He was also a motorcycle mechanic, thus I do have “some” expertise when it comes to wrenching on my own bike. (installed my own frame sliders and slip on, polished the rims and adjusted the stock CCT)

I have never had a serious accident in a car or on a bike. (knocking on wood) although I have had my fair share of “moments”, I think that my experience racing MotoX has made me a better street rider. Looking thru a turn towards your exit point on a berm is a lot like looking thru a turn on the street or the track. Many people make the mistake of fixating on where they don’t want to go (ie: the ditch) however ultimately end up there. The trick is to get past that point and be confident enough in your riding ability and that just takes seat time and practice. Another thing to consider is to surround yourself with other riders who are better as they can teach you a lot. Taking an advanced riding course is also a great opportunity! I’m looking to do some track days this season as well as long as God gives me the opportunity!

I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13

[Psycho-82]

Handle: Psycho-82

Age: 24

Year bought first street bike: 2004

Type of bikes owned: 1980 KX80, 1987 KTM80, 1994 YZ80, 1995 YZ 125, 1992 KX 250, 2003 H.D. sportster 883, 1998 H.D. ultraglide, 2004 Yamaha R6 (most were family bikes as we all rode "7 of us").

Certifications/Classes Etc...: MSF Basic/Advanced rders course, endorsed for 8 years, dirt bike racing classes

General Experience: Been riding/racing dirtbikes since i was 9 years old until 16 when i could get my street license, then switched to street where i rode various street bikes of my families ever since, from big cruisers to sport bikes from friends. Crashed and hospitalized to many times to count on the dirt but none as of yet on the street "knock on wood". Bought my first street bike in 2004 which was teh R6 because i was stationed in Germany for 4 years and didnt want to get one over there due to to much rain. Done a few track days since and loved them, 30k miles on my R6 to date with more on various other rides. Total of about 15 years riding experience with 8 years street and even more dirt.

[Uraijit]

Another young buck here!

Age: 22
Bought First bike: 2004
Years riding: 8 dirt, 8 street

Type of bike owned: Still got my YZF600R

Certification: Utah State Endrosement

I started riding at age 15. Unbeknownst to my parrents, I started riding my friends dirtbike, and his older brother's Katana 600. Didn't have a license, and no way to get one, without the parents finding out, so I just rode without one. (I know, I know...)

After I turned 18 I moved away from home, and met a guy from my work who had just purchased a new GSXR 600, and found it in his heart to let me basicly take home his CBR 600 F3. He introduced me to "Bike Night" at the Thunder Valley race track in Noble, Oklahoma. It was just a 1/4 mile straight track. I've never raced besides drag racing, but I took to dragging that CBR like a fish to water. Moved to UT, and took a year off riding long enough to get settled down, and get married, and bought the 600R about 1 month after getting married.

I'm always learning, and willing to share what limited knowlege I do have. Worked as an automotive technician (Read: Grease Monkey) for 5 years, before getting tired of always being dirty. I love working on my own vehicles, and do all of my own work on them. If you have a mechanical question, or one regarding body work, I'd be happy to help ;)

[MySick636]

Handle: Mysick636
Year purchased first streetbike: 1999
Bikes Owned: yamaha yzf 250, 1989 honda Hawk, 98 yamaha r6, 04 Kawasaki 636
Certs/classes: Licensed and endorsed in NV, previously in CA
General Exp: I started on dirt when I was younger and steadily progressed to street. I rebuilt my honda hawk from the ground up when I was 17. I have 8 years experience on the street, Like everone I have crashed on my own a couple of times with minimal injuries, and never been in an accident involving another rider or driver. I ride consistently through out the year and stunt on a semi regular basis.

PS: I think anyone who says they havent crashed at somepoint is either lying or dreaming. Just my $.02

[zx11_12]

Handle: ZX11_12
Year purchased first street bike: 1985
Bikes Owned: Kawasaki LTD 454, Honda V65 Magna, Kawasaki ZL1000 Eliminator, Honda Hurricane 1000, Kawasaki ZX-11, Honda Goldwing, Kawasaki ZX-12R, Honda Valkyrie, Honda CBX, Honda CBR1000RR, Honda Shadow Spirit 750

Cert/classes: CDL license with all available endorsments, including Motorcycles.

General experience: 2 years on dirt, 22 years on the street. I've had 3 crashes in 22 years. The last was in 2001 when I hit a car head on at 55mph.
I've been to Deals Gap more times than I can count, and ridden cross country alone.

[pointer]

Handle: Pointer

Age: Don't remind me

History: 1st bike 1974..Bridgestone Chibi 60, Honda SL 70, Honda XR 75,(great bike !!) Honda Elsinor 125, Kawasaki KD 125 enduro, Suzuki TM 125 and RM a bit later. Yamaha YZ 125 and DT 400 enduro. '78 Kawasaki ltd 1000 with bore kit, 4n 1 Kerker,(that was a fun ride) Honda CBX 1100, a jinxr mix from a few years ago and now a '05 Yamaha FZ6. I'll be gettin sumthin else this spring.....just not sure at the moment. A lot of Moto X here in district 16 as well as Texas.

[Hanya]

Handle: Hanya

Age: 22

Year bought first bike: 2005

Bikes owned: 1992 Honda Nighthawk 250, 2001 Suzuki SV650S

Certifications: MSF basic rider course with M endorsement in NC, taking ERC in April, possible track certification in fall if money exists to do so; I read a lot and have for years - it's the best way to prepare yourself before you get into motorcycling

Experience: First as a passenger in 1997 - this ranges from trips to the grocery or movie store down the street to all day rides into the mountains (600 miles max). I really enjoy riding 2 up and it has given me quite extensive insight on how cars react to motorcyclists and how to drive safely before I even began. In fact, I've never had any accidents in a car; my accidents on my bike include 2 cars (not my fault: one contact Nov 2006, one ran me off road when merging June 2005) and a patch of sand (my fault: in right hand turn April 2006) for a total count of 3. My parents neither pushed nor discouraged me from riding - they said if I earned the money and paid for everything myself, including the bike, registration, insurance, class, and gear, they would be fine with that. For this reason I consider myself to be a "responsible" rider - I work hard to pay for things but I also work hard on being educated about it all. This ties into how I would respond to anyone seeking advice as a new rider because it should take a lot of time and planning to mentally prepare yourself for what you are getting into. I listed my street riding experience in my signature a while ago so that people could automatically see where I am coming from on a quick glance. I rode 4k on the Nighthawk and I have put 6k on the SV - I do a lot of city riding and I also ride home to my parents' house 160 miles away (usually twice a month). Also, I am thinking about becoming an instructor for the MSF BRC next spring since they require 3 years riding experience and I currently have almost 2.

[Maduro Mistress]

Handle: Maduro Mistress

Name: Miranda

Age: 28

Year bought first street bike: 2005

Current bikes owned: 2006 Kawasaki Ninja 636, (6000 & counting miles) Yamaha TT125 dirtbike

Former bikes: 04 Suzuki GS500F (0 to 10,000 miles in 109 days)

Certifications/Classes Etc: Motorcycle license 2005, MSF 2005, car license for forever!

General Experience: Rode 4-wheelers in the summers rounding up sheep!!! when I was 10-13... Loved it. Got on the back of my now b'fs 1990 CBR 1000 in 05 and I was HOOKED. Went around the parking lot and three days later I had a bike - put 10,000 miles on that baby in the 109 days I owned her (one season minus the days I didn't ride) sold her a year and a day after I bought her for my beloved 6R. I ride everywhere, read everything, listen (biking advice) only to people I respect and know can ride. Spend every waking moment thinking about bikes and obsessing over them. (We even collect them, we have 137+ miniature motorcycles). First track day coming up in July 07 - very excited. Hope to get a knee down for the first time.

Advice: Only ride with people you feel comfortable with. I ride with a bunch of guys who can drag their elbows, they never pressure me to copy them, they just teach me one new thing each time we ride. I wouldn't give that up for anything... Choose wisely whom you associate with - it'll make all the difference in the world.

[dolomoto]

OK, I'll play:

Handle:dolomoto Age: 39 Year bought first street bike: 1989

Type of bikes owned:
89-90 8000 miles on 1981 Honda CM400E (traded in on new Hawk GT)

90-93 18000 miles on 1989 Honda Hawk GT (crashed at NC Motor Speedway aka "The Rock" during a WERA club race-traded it for the Nighthawk)

93-94 9000 miles on 1983 Honda Nighthawk 650 (blew motor at Florence-Darlington Dragstrip (1/8th mile)

94-95 14000 miles on a 1991 Kaw Concours (hit by Bobcat outside Sumter, SC, I slid 160 ft face down, bike went 320 ft...total loss..bought another Connie <1 week later-cut cast off right arm to ride from Columbia, SC to PC, Florida for 6 month military duty--this only 2 weeks after the accident and 1 week after buying the Connie

1995 Won AMA Membership Renewal Sweepstakes..won 1995 BMW R1100RSL but sold it cause I had the Connie

95-2001 122000 miles on a 1994 Concours (sold outright; bought new Bandit)

01-05 59988 miles on a 01 Suz Bandit 1200s (sleeping bag came loose and wrapped around rear tire resulting in nasty highside. See the 101ft long skidmark at mm140 on the BRP (between Roanoke and Floyd, Va)

05-present 18000 miles on 89 KLR 650

Certifications/Classes Etc:
moto endorsement since 1989, completed MSF course in 1990
MSF-certified RiderCoach since 1997 (teach 20-30 BRC classes per year). WERA Novice # 869 (1993).
Iron Butt Association National Park Master Traveler (50 National Parks in 25 states < 1 yr; I did it in 10 months and 27,000 miles).
Hundreds of runs down the 1/8th mile (it's not really drag racing unless you're on the track!)

General Experience: I love riding. I love helping others to learn to ride. I'm still learning!
Ridden: Philippines, USA, Canada, Italy, Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland.

[MissHell]

Handle: MissHell
Age: 37

Year bought first street bike: 1999

Type of bikes owned: '00 Kawasaki EX250, '00 Yamaha R6, '01 Yamaha R6, '05 Yamaha V-Star 650

Certifications/Classes Etc: MSF, ERC, Track Days, Attended "How to Pick Up Your MC" workshop.

General Experience: Most of my riding experience is group riding on the street. I know I am a good/safe rider, however you can never know enough - there is always more to learn. Many people have told me they always feel comfortable riding near me, which I take as a huge compliment. My best qualities when it comes to riding --- I am a good ride leader and I am good at coaching newer riders (although I don't want to actually teach someone how to ride, that is what MSF is for ).