Can you drive a motorcycle?

[MN-Investor]

Iced Swamp's thread about manual transmissions got me thinking.

How many of you can drive a motorcycle? Do you own, or have you owned, a motorcycle? How about a motor scooter?

As for me, my DH has a motorcycle and I have a motor scooter, but neither have been driven in years. My DH would LOVE to get a new motorcycle. I could see getting a new motor scooter.

Last year, while on business in Phoenix, my DH and some co-workers rented Harleys and took a three day trip in the mountains outside Phoenix. Except for the high wind, rain, and almost running out of gas, he loved it.

I took motorcycle lessons, so I can drive a regular motorcycle, but I haven't passed the motorcycle driving part of the driver's license test, so I need to get a new permit if I want to drive a motorcycle or scooter.

And yes, I'm scared to death of the idiots who could hit into my DH while he's driving a motorcycle, but my DH is convinced that he's careful enough to be safe. As for me with a motor scooter, I'm fine to just scoot around town. I have no desire to go at high speeds.

[Wisconsin Beth]

Nope.  I have no interest in learning either.  Not my thing. 

[midjd]

I wish I was able to link to a Facebook post without outing my true identity... there is an awesome video of me riding DH's motorcycle verrrry slowly up a hill, coming to a stop, and flopping over like a dead fish. There is also one of me almost plowing through the (closed) garage door. After that, it seemed like DH always had some reason I shouldn't drive it...

I could probably manage to get somewhere in an emergency, but that's about it.

[Deleted]

I used to own and ride a motorcycle. I didn't like riding after the helmet law went into effect, so I sold it. DH still rides his Harley, but not as much. He's thinking about selling it.

[milee]

Yes. And I miss riding, but it's really unsafe here in the land of the tourist and 90 year old driver.   Plus, I really don't want either of my sons riding, so I'm OK with not setting it out as a temptation.  But I still have my motorcycle license, so maybe on vacation some time. 

[justme]

Does a water motorcycle count?

*cough*jetski*cough*

[Deleted]

No.

[souldoubt]

Used to ride dirt bikes, 3 wheelers and 4 wheelers so if I really needed to yes I could.  That said I don't ride them after knowing too many people that got reamed by cars riding motorcycles.  I've also seen a few accidents involving motorcycles and when it's car vs. motorcycle the motorcycle loses.    

[billisonboard]

I haven't ridden for a few years but still have the endorsement.  Don't have a bike now.  Drive my wife crazy with occasionally talking about getting\looking at them. Can't justify the expense right now. In the future, ? 

[MN-Investor]

Jun 10, 2014 13:57:48 GMT -5 midjd said:

... there is an awesome video of me riding DH's motorcycle verrrry slowly up a hill, coming to a stop, and flopping over like a dead fish.

My goodness. You paint such a vivid picture - I laughed out loud!

[Regis]

I used to ride mini bikes on dirt as a kid.

When I was 14, I had a friend who was a passenger on a motorcycle driven by his sister.  A tractor pulling a fertilizer tank pulled out in front of them.  His sister was killed instantly and he was in a coma for nearly a month.  Also had another friend (just a couple of years later) nearly killed when a car pulled out in front of him while he was doing about 50 on a motorcycle.  Since that time, I've never had the desire to ride one.

[Regis]

Jun 10, 2014 13:57:48 GMT -5 midjd said:

I wish I was able to link to a Facebook post without outing my true identity... there is an awesome video of me riding DH's motorcycle verrrry slowly up a hill, coming to a stop, and flopping over like a dead fish. There is also one of me almost plowing through the (closed) garage door. After that, it seemed like DH always had some reason I shouldn't drive it...

I could probably manage to get somewhere in an emergency, but that's about it.

Just made a mental note to friend request you when I get off work!

[Baby Fawkes]

Yes and I still ride everyday for my commute. I wouldn't dream of driving with the traffic around the Bay Area and having to sit there. 

I grew up racing motorcycles so it's really second nature to me these days. I hope that there is never a day when I can't ride a motorbike, but in reality I'll eventually get old enough that my reaction times are probably not quick enough and I'll have to give up riding.

[Peace Of Mind]

Jun 10, 2014 13:57:48 GMT -5 midjd said:

I wish I was able to link to a Facebook post without outing my true identity... there is an awesome video of me riding DH's motorcycle verrrry slowly up a hill, coming to a stop, and flopping over like a dead fish. There is also one of me almost plowing through the (closed) garage door. After that, it seemed like DH always had some reason I shouldn't drive it...

I could probably manage to get somewhere in an emergency, but that's about it.

LMAO!!!  That almost makes me want to reactivate my account to see that.   You crack me up!!  Can you PM it to me? 

Oops - I was laughing so hard at Mid that I forgot to answer.  Yes, I've ridden a motorcycle and dirt bike and owned a Jet Ski and boat and can tow, launch, etc. all of them.  But like Milee - I wouldn't ride one now.  Traffic is crazy around here now that we're so over populated but it's not just the old people that can't drive where I live. 

[midjd]

I think I figured it out! (My description was a bit more theatrical than the actual event).

Mid goes biking: s1258.photobucket.com/user/MidwesternJD/media/1330357_653860726583_26358_n1.mp4.html
s1258.photobucket.com/user/MidwesternJD/media/1330357_653860726583_26358_n1.mp4.html

[Peace Of Mind]

You did pretty good!  But LOL at "Give it gas!"   <<falls over>>  

At least you didn't hurt yourself, innocent bystanders - or the bike. 

[MN-Investor]

Jun 10, 2014 15:27:55 GMT -5 midjd said:

My description was a bit more theatrical than the actual event.

Having done a few dumb things in my life, I understand completely. Your description was exactly how it felt to you as it happened. When you're the person being embarrassed, your mind always magnifies the event.

[Mardi Gras Audrey]

Jun 10, 2014 15:05:03 GMT -5 Baby Fawkes said:

Yes and I still ride everyday for my commute. I wouldn't dream of driving with the traffic around the Bay Area and having to sit there. 

I grew up racing motorcycles so it's really second nature to me these days. I hope that there is never a day when I can't ride a motorbike, but in reality I'll eventually get old enough that my reaction times are probably not quick enough and I'll have to give up riding.

Please, please, please tell me you aren't one of the ones lane splitting down Hwy 85? 

A lot of the riders here do that (Surprisingly, it isn't illegal in CA.. just "not recommended").  I have no issue with them using the carpool lane but a lot of them unsafely go between the carpool lane and the regular lanes (They almost hit your car and you don't see them coming because there is a wall of traffic behind you and aren't expecting some random vehicle to come up on the side).  The really dumb ones will do it between 2 regular lanes of traffic (as opposed to between the carpool lane and a regular lane).

In response to the original question, I have a motorcycle license and used to ride.  I haven't in many years and wouldn't here in the Bay Area (I would over in the Central Valley or down/up the coast... just not in the BA).  I don't see getting a bike again though... DH is a big worrier and he won't even get near a bike (It was a fight to get him on a horse the first time... he was convinced he would die).  I can't see him agreeing to get one and wouldn't want to ride alone...

[Baby Fawkes]

Jun 10, 2014 15:41:14 GMT -5 Mardi Gras Audrey said:

Please, please, please tell me you aren't one of the ones lane splitting down Hwy 85?

Not on 85, no. I travel 880/17 on my commute.

I do split lanes when I ride, but only in the left most lane and I don't normally continuous split the lane. I'll get behind a car and ride in the view from their wing mirror for a few seconds before I do it to give them a chance to see my headlights first so they know I'm coming. Lane-splitting is probably my favourite part of riding here for a commute as I've always found that if you treat it with caution the drivers are more alert here than other states because they are looking out for it. I also stick to the 10mph / 30mph guideline as well and won't split between two cars at higher speeds.

[Iggy aka IG]

Yes, I can drive one.  I have my MC endorsement on my license.  I owned a 1200 CC Harley Sportster.  If one is starting out, I HIGHLY recommend less power.

[Chocolate Lover]

My license says I can, but I've never done so. It's automatically added for some reason.    I know 2 different people who have been pulled out in front of while riding. Neither died, but it was rather painful for both. 

[Mardi Gras Audrey]

Jun 10, 2014 16:08:43 GMT -5 Baby Fawkes said:

Jun 10, 2014 15:41:14 GMT -5 Mardi Gras Audrey said:

Please, please, please tell me you aren't one of the ones lane splitting down Hwy 85?

Not on 85, no. I travel 880/17 on my commute.

I do split lanes when I ride, but only in the left most lane and I don't normally continuous split the lane. I'll get behind a car and ride in the view from their wing mirror for a few seconds before I do it to give them a chance to see my headlights first so they know I'm coming. Lane-splitting is probably my favourite part of riding here for a commute as I've always found that if you treat it with caution the drivers are more alert here than other states because they are looking out for it. I also stick to the 10mph / 30mph guideline as well and won't split between two cars at higher speeds.

I'm glad to hear that you are cautious and obey the 10/30 rule.  I can't speak for 880 but on 85, there are a good number that don't.  There are sections of 85 where both the carpool lanes and regular lanes are crawling and the motorcyclists will do like 70 between them (when both of the lanes are doing 10). Worse are the ones that "lane split" when there is no one in the carpool lane (Instead of getting into the center of the lane like any other vehicle) or the ones that lane split because the next car in the carpool lane is only doing 65 (Where the people in the lane next to them are doing 15). 

I've also been almost hit in my car by a cyclist who was "lane splitting" (Is it really lane splitting on a road that is 1 lane in each direction) on the shoulder, came across the lane, and proceeded to "lane split" between the lane and the double yellow.  He almost got hit by oncoming traffic (They weren't expecting a motorcycle next to the line of cars coming up the hill).  As a former cyclist, I wanted to smack the guy (Maybe even with my car.. )

[Deleted]

I've always wanted to learn to ride a motorcycle. When I was in my late 30's I said I was buying one when I turned 40. I didn't.

I've seen and heard of enough accidents to know how dangerous or deadly riding a motorcycle can be. I've hit a guy on a motorcycle myself. It was his stupid fault though. I was on my brakes, right turn signal on, getting ready to make a right turn into an apartment complex, and he tried to zoom past me on the right. He got to me just as I started turning my car. I didn't see him until I'd hit him or he hit me, whichever one it technically was. I wasn't moving fast, but he was, and he flew off the bike. Between my brake lights, turn signal light, and a driveway being RIGHT THERE, I don't know why he tried to pass me like that. Fortunately he didn't have any serious injuries.

I still want to learn to ride.

[milee]

Jun 10, 2014 15:05:03 GMT -5 Baby Fawkes said:

Yes and I still ride everyday for my commute. I wouldn't dream of driving with the traffic around the Bay Area and having to sit there. 

I grew up racing motorcycles so it's really second nature to me these days. I hope that there is never a day when I can't ride a motorbike, but in reality I'll eventually get old enough that my reaction times are probably not quick enough and I'll have to give up riding.

Bean, you're English, right?  So's my DH and he used to race at Brandt's Hatch (sp?).  Did you or your family race there?

[milee]

Jun 10, 2014 15:16:39 GMT -5 Peace Of Mind said:

Jun 10, 2014 13:57:48 GMT -5 midjd said:

  But like Milee - I wouldn't ride one now.  Traffic is crazy around here now that we're so over populated but it's not just the old people that can't drive where I live. 

No, it's not just the old people. Don't forget the tourists.

[Deleted]

Off topic.......

Last week a co-worker asked if I was interested in learning to drive a boat on one of my days off work. Is that the correct terminology, do you "drive" boats? He wanted to go water skiing and doesn't always have someone for the boat. I've never had a desire to be anywhere near a boat, but I'm trying to be more adventurous, so I agreed. It rained, so we didn't go.

Then a few days later, I get to work and I see his boat behind his SUV. He was planning to go straight to the water when he got off work. No water skiing, just hanging out. I'd never seen his boat and my silly self was thinking it was a little bitty boat when I'd agreed to learn to drive it. The boat wasn't humongous, but it sure wasn't little. It's big enough to have a small cabin. I wonder how I would've reacted if I'd showed up last week and saw THAT'S what I was suppose to be learning on. LOL!

Sorry, I know that has nothing to do with motorcycles!

[wyouser]

Once upon a time....in that century past...yes in that last millennium...I was addicted. February 1968 I took the cure. Took the bike out at -20 degrees F. And yes, you can get frostbite even when wearing a plastic face mask. Parked it in the garage, sold it a couple weeks before heading to college in 1969. I remain to this day a recovered motocycleaholic!

[NoNamePerson]

Jun 10, 2014 13:57:48 GMT -5 midjd said:

I wish I was able to link to a Facebook post without outing my true identity... there is an awesome video of me riding DH's motorcycle verrrry slowly up a hill, coming to a stop, and flopping over like a dead fish. There is also one of me almost plowing through the (closed) garage door. After that, it seemed like DH always had some reason I shouldn't drive it...

I could probably manage to get somewhere in an emergency, but that's about it.

 What a visual. As for emergency, I have a feeling you will wind up being the emergency. Best call a cab!!

[lynnerself]

It's been almost 40 years since I drove a dirt bike, but I bet I could still do it.

I've never driven a big road bike however.

[Baby Fawkes]

Jun 10, 2014 16:26:27 GMT -5 Mardi Gras Audrey said:

I've also been almost hit in my car by a cyclist who was "lane splitting" (Is it really lane splitting on a road that is 1 lane in each direction) on the shoulder, came across the lane, and proceeded to "lane split" between the lane and the double yellow.

No, that's just called being an idiot and bad representation for a lot bikers in general. When I was growing up there was a big issue with a lot of people going through mid-life stages and buying the fastest bike they could find. They'd not ridden for 20+ years and suddenly thought they were able to handle a bike that can accelerate 0-60 in <3 seconds. I don't like riding with those people and prefer to let them get on with their own stupid antics while I go about it a bit more cautiously.

I'm always going to ride and majority of the time I stick up for the bikers that I ride with. Unfortunately there are too many that give us a bad name. If I'm off-road or on a track I'm likely to be the first to fool around pulling wheelies and powerslides, but I keep it off the road and try to be as respectful of others while still making progress through the traffic.