JustSteve
06-01-2008, 11:17 AM
Hey y'all. I've been hanging out on the forum for a couple of weeks now, watching, reading, learning. Thanks everyone for the feedback to all the newbie questions. I figure it's about time to pitch my repetitive question out there and just get a reality check to see if I am just off my rocker or if it's truly a bad idea.
I drive 120 miles round trip three to four days a week. The fun kicker of that deal is that I get up at 1 a.m., start driving by 1:30 or so. My route is 99% freeway through a place called the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon aka: I-84The wind can be howling at time. Typically in the morning there is no one on the road but tractor trailer rigs and not many of those. I come home at 3 or 3:30 in the afternoon. With the exception of the first 5 or 6 miles, traffic is hardly ever an issue.
My fantasy is about saving gas money and reducing my fuel consumption based on a smaller carbon foot print (I know, silly tree hugger stuff, but I do live in Oregon). I can't find work for the wages I make, closer to home.
So my dilemma...I have never ridden a motorcycle. I have particapated in many action orientated sports such as whitewater kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, skiing (I wasn't always as big as I am now). I am pretty confident that I'll catch on to the whole concept of how to ride pretty quick. I'm taking the Motorcycle Safety Course through Team Oregon in a couple of weeks.
In the world of bikes, I have sat on a few in the showroom. I really like how dual sports sit...Nice and tall, body weight just a touch forward, sorta like being on your toes/balls of your feet when playing court sports. It makes me feel like I am ready to responde quickly to changing situations. The downside is that I don't have a lot of time to be tweaking with chain tension and all that stuff so I lean towards a shaft drive for ease of maintentaince. Plus I am unsure of the seat comfort for 60 miles at a time. Is there a shaft drive dual sport?
I have sat on cruisers as well, I do enjoy the look of the Honda Aero 750. The cruiser posture though makes me feel like I'm in the "back seat"...just sorta hanging out, relaxing...like the concept of the bike..cruising along not really excited about much of anything except the fun of the ride. I have nothing against that but as a nervous first time rider, I am wondering if that's a genuine concern or if once I start riding, it'll all become intuitive pretty quick.
I really don't see the sport bike for me. The inner child, Gen X side of me says "mmmmmmmmm fun" but the 35 year old, father of three paramedic side of me says "not for a first bike".
So what say ye of all that is knowledgable in motorcycle land? Ideas for me to check out? Used is fine by me, assuming I can find one that I like. I'd love for my budget to stay < 5 grand for used, could go up 7 G's for new, but less expensive is always nice.
AND for the most important thing...how do you all hold your fishing pole on the bike? I stop and fish almost every day on the way home from work. Surely can't break that habit.
Thanks for reading, thanks even more for a reply
Steve
I drive 120 miles round trip three to four days a week. The fun kicker of that deal is that I get up at 1 a.m., start driving by 1:30 or so. My route is 99% freeway through a place called the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon aka: I-84The wind can be howling at time. Typically in the morning there is no one on the road but tractor trailer rigs and not many of those. I come home at 3 or 3:30 in the afternoon. With the exception of the first 5 or 6 miles, traffic is hardly ever an issue.
My fantasy is about saving gas money and reducing my fuel consumption based on a smaller carbon foot print (I know, silly tree hugger stuff, but I do live in Oregon). I can't find work for the wages I make, closer to home.
So my dilemma...I have never ridden a motorcycle. I have particapated in many action orientated sports such as whitewater kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, skiing (I wasn't always as big as I am now). I am pretty confident that I'll catch on to the whole concept of how to ride pretty quick. I'm taking the Motorcycle Safety Course through Team Oregon in a couple of weeks.
In the world of bikes, I have sat on a few in the showroom. I really like how dual sports sit...Nice and tall, body weight just a touch forward, sorta like being on your toes/balls of your feet when playing court sports. It makes me feel like I am ready to responde quickly to changing situations. The downside is that I don't have a lot of time to be tweaking with chain tension and all that stuff so I lean towards a shaft drive for ease of maintentaince. Plus I am unsure of the seat comfort for 60 miles at a time. Is there a shaft drive dual sport?
I have sat on cruisers as well, I do enjoy the look of the Honda Aero 750. The cruiser posture though makes me feel like I'm in the "back seat"...just sorta hanging out, relaxing...like the concept of the bike..cruising along not really excited about much of anything except the fun of the ride. I have nothing against that but as a nervous first time rider, I am wondering if that's a genuine concern or if once I start riding, it'll all become intuitive pretty quick.
I really don't see the sport bike for me. The inner child, Gen X side of me says "mmmmmmmmm fun" but the 35 year old, father of three paramedic side of me says "not for a first bike".
So what say ye of all that is knowledgable in motorcycle land? Ideas for me to check out? Used is fine by me, assuming I can find one that I like. I'd love for my budget to stay < 5 grand for used, could go up 7 G's for new, but less expensive is always nice.
AND for the most important thing...how do you all hold your fishing pole on the bike? I stop and fish almost every day on the way home from work. Surely can't break that habit.
Thanks for reading, thanks even more for a reply
Steve