[ChiefGunner]

some ideas:

- you WILL drop and crash bike while learning. Perhaps multiple times. So add into budget $3000-4000 for repairs

- highways are much, much easier than riding on streets. It's stopping, starting and turning is where most beginners crash. Intersections on surface streets are where 75% of traffic fatalities occur. Abour 4% happen on highways.

This past year, I had 2 friends seriously injured by drivers. One was just going down city road home after work. Car coming from opposite direction turns in front of him to get to gas station. Luckily it he flew over bonnet and didn't have sudden impact. Just broken collarbone when landing on ground and abrasions from sliding and rolling on ground.

Another was waiting at right-turn lane when she got rear-ended by SUV going ~60 mph. Driver was occupied texting on phone. Luckily due to curve of road, she was thrown next to car ahead of her instead of getting crushed between them. SUV ended up totaling the 3 cars ahead of her!

Saw several reports per week of others I didn't know accidents. Most involving inattentive drivers. Only about 1 out of 100 in past year was on highway. Don't connect speed with safety, they are not related in any way.

- tyres? use whatever's on bike and get better tyres when they wear out. Traction is not problem on modern tyres. Loosing grip is only side-effecr or result of actual cause of crash. Such as too-sudden & abrupt control inputs (steering, braking). That's the mistake that overcomes tyre's traction and causes crashes.

Well said!

 

[ChiefGunner]

Thank you for the great information. I will be taking the class in Louisiana. I haven't been notified to take any online courses at this time. This is where everything gets so confusing. Large, respected YouTubers like FortNine seem to suggest that ECE is a better overall certification...if I interpreted that video correctly. You are saying to go with a Snell certified helmet for the increased impact resistant rating. This is great information to know. So, I should start with somewhat decent protective gear and then possibly get more expensive gear when I am sure that the hobby suits me? I really appreciate your time and input.

Also, I have taken some aforementioned advice to heart and have been searching cycletrader/FB marketplace/classified for possibly a more affordable/less powerful starter bike - around the $3,000-$4,500 range. It's hard right now to find bikes for less that aren't complete beaters.

I got this one for my daughter for $2,200.
It was in great shape but ran a little rough. Needed the carbs synched and now it runs like new! There’s deals out there!

 

[ChiefGunner]

Gear is more important to me than the bike. (Edit...Spend the $ for ABS brakes)
Start with the most important part and work toward the parts you can live without.

1) ECE 22.05 full face helmet with nice big eye ports so you can see stuff coming at you from the side.
Watch tinted visors or anything tinted because stuff just disappears sometimes. A 2" strip of black tape up high works better for me.
2) Helite airbag jacket. Stupid expensive but it's #2 because your vital organs are important.
Go for a white helmet and high visibility vest so fewer people turn left in front of you. You will look like a dork-nerd but so what.

View attachment 77976
3) All the other stuff as funds permit.

I would have to agree especially with the ABS in selecting a bike. Its a total game changer in an emergency braking situation or wet pavement.