Hello All,

I don't have a motorcycle but it's something I'm considering. I enjoy cars, and after going through a motorcycle safety/licensing course, and even more so after riding a friend's Ducati Monster 695, I'm thinking about getting into biking. Buell is my favorite at the moment (S1, XB9) but I like some Monsters and the older Speed Triples. Whether these are good beginner bikes is always a topic of discussion (which I welcome) but I also have a couple of other beginner questions:

1: Cost. A bike costs a few thousand quid. But how much in addition would the novice need to spend to be ready to ride? I don't have a feel for the costs of quality protective equipment. I've seen prices online but I'm not familiar enough with the stuff to differentiate between functional quality and luxury. I'd be interested in full coverage protection. Safety first! How much should I set aside for decent protective clothing?

I'd prefer to do any maintenance myself - are paddock stands necessary? Any other specialised tools I'd need to invest in?

2. Safety. Yes we should look ahead, be aware, and ride defensively, but bikes are simply not as safe. Blowouts, animals, drivers, ect. How do you justify the unnecessary risk? I ride my road bicycle in traffic and I drive a pre-BMW Mini, which is probably only a bit safer than a motorbike. Why, if I can be safer, would I choose the less safe alternative? A bit philosophical, I suppose, but what are your thoughts?

Thanks for your time!
Regards,
Henry

And here's a dancing banana:
that's quite a list of smilies!

welcome Henry
buy the best quality helmet you can afford BUT it must be comfortable on your head.
clothing fashionable name ?/water proof ?/ summer ? /winter ?/ leather or fabric, one piece or two...there are a lot of options .

paddock stands are handy, hand tools , i have built mine up over 30 years...

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Feros Ferio

Thanks Nutah.

I could have clarified a bit. This would be a recreational thing. I don't imagine riding in the rain or if it's bitterly cold and dry. One or two piece doesn't matter much to me but if I have the opportunity to spend a few hundred pounds more, is this money well spent or do prices spike for style/luxury, ect? From what I've heard/read, leather would be my preference for the durability but I imagine aramid fibers with sewn in armour are quite good as well. Actually, having not worn either (except for a jacket on a test ride), I don't think I have a preference! What would be the recommendation for someone just starting out? Cheers!

Regards,
Henry

Hey henry, Welcome!

Safety first ~ get a helmet that fits your head not your budget. Any decent motorcycle shop will fit one for you that will just "feel right". Dont go by name, brand, colours ... go with one that you feel that your head will will safe in. They will all have a safety rating that they will have to comply with.

Kit ~ Dry, warm and comfy is the key, again go with what YOU feel is comfy and feels right. Most textile jackets have armour in and are water proof, leather offers marginally better protection but isn't water proof (generally) textile jackets usually come with a warmer inner for the winter, leather doesn't usually so you will need to buy one that fits with wearing a layer or two under need in mind as well during the winter. (same applies to trousers)

Bike ~ if your into spannering, get a Tuber (S1, M2 X1 etc ...) they are much easier to spanner and maintain and (arguably) more reliable! As later S1 (1998?) as you can get is Ideal so is as as later X1 (2001) you can get is also a really nice bike. Plenty on here to advice on any recalls it should have, things to look for etc ....

Spannering ~ paddock stand is nice to have but not essential and halfords pro range is very nice, affordable and will last.

Have a good read about here, ask plenty of questions ... you never know, you might even get the odd sensible reply

Welcome chap

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"With square conduct, level steps, and upright intentions ..”

Hello Henry, welcome to the club.
The most important safety equipment for road riding would be a good sense of self preservation.
Buy a helmet that fits and that you like the look of, regardless of price. There are plenty of helmets out the which score top marks in the SHARP tests that cost less than £150.
Stay relaxed while riding, give people plenty of room and concentrate.
Don't try to pop wheelies with a shagged belt.

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I started out with nothing and still got most of it left.

You've had some good advice about helmet fitting here, it may well stop you dying. However, without a quality back/spine protector, and I don't mean those crappy bits of foam that you get in jackets either, you could (God forbid) be in for a life of suffering. These bits of kit are essential imnsho. I NEVER ride without one

As for riding a bike, always remember those classic lines from Burt Munro
There's probably over a thousand years of bike experience on this Forum, so don't be afraid to ask. The only stupid questions are the ones you don't ask. You'll get plenty of daft answers though

Welcome btw

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If your dreams don't scare you, they are not big enough.

Hello welcome
Helmet, as everyone else has said
Clothes, now is a good time to buy leathers as its the end of the summer season so lots of bargains, same with helmets leathers aren't great in the rain but that ain't gonna be too much of a problem for you. You do get what you pay for but again go with whats comfy. Worth getting a jacket with detachable thermal lining. What you where under them can make a big difference. I rate outdoor sports base / wicking layers like heli hansen or body skins type things coz they're warm light, not bulky and dry very quick. Sweat in summer is as much of a problem as rain. A fleece snood or buff is a good idea keeps your neck warm and insects out your helmet, you don't want a wasp in there!
Decent boots again go for comfy and try them on the bike, make sure you can feel the operate the controls well in them, same with gloves no good having toasty warm hands if they're like boxing gloves.
cost wise a rough guide
Helmet 150-450
leathers 200-850
boots 70-350
gloves 30
A ball park figure would be about a grand for the lot (mid range spec)

Bike Wise obviously we all love Buells coz they are the dogs nadgers but be under no illusion all of them are relatively high maintenance. I'm biased coz I have a 98 S1 white lightning but Ash's advise is right 'tubers' (s1 x1 m2) are much easier to work on than the XB and 1125 series. Decent , sorted S1's are rare and expensive white lightnings even more so. £3k would get a reasonable one if you were lucky but you would have to throw a grand at it and and a fair bit of time to sort out all the basic upgrades (that would save you v expensive mechanical failures in the long run) once done however they're pretty damn reliable, a really sorted one might go for 5-7k and you could still throw several grand at it to get it just right. X1's are a bit cheaper and arguably better value but can have problems with the early fuel injection systems.
Buells eat tyres too!
To keep a Buell on the road for a year of dry weather recreational use say 3-5k miles
is gonna cost on average at least a grand (very rough ball park) don't include fuel btw. some of us have got away with less and some have spent a lot lot more.
Rest assured though now you've discovered this place it will cost you a fraction of what it would have. Due to all the help and advise you'll get.
Get an S1 chicks love em

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Buelling is exhillarating
But downhill bike racing is so terrifying it makes your arse grow teeth

Tool wise you'll also need imperial sockets and spanners (probably got em if youve got a propper mini , a few exra big sockets 1" plus
Imperial alan keys
imperial thread guage
as expensive a torque wrench as you can afford
[b]AND FUCKING HUGE HAMMER[b]

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Buelling is exhillarating
But downhill bike racing is so terrifying it makes your arse grow teeth

Wot Rich sez about outdoor sports base layers. They're light years ahead of a lot of bike stuff. My personal fave is the Merino wool stuff, it's warm even when wet and doesn't smell if you wear it for a good few sweaty days

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If your dreams don't scare you, they are not big enough.

You get what you pay for with bike gear IMO. When I first started I spent a fair bit on a good helmet, good boots and good gloves. I got a deal on a 2 piece textile suite not the best but it would do to start with. When I could afford to buy better stuff I did.
Now is a good time to get gear all the summer stock is being sold off cheap.
The best place I've found for a bargin is at bike shows like the one at the NEC in November. I paid £250 for a helmet that should of been £380. If you look around and haggle a bit you can get some good deals. Also don't rule out Kevlar jeans they are stronger and tougher than you think. It's all I wear now to go to work and for a blast if it's going to be a fast stupid ride I wear a pair of alpinestars knee pads underneath.

Buells are a good buy if you find one that has been looked after. Don't panic about reading all the threads on here about peoples problems with there's. There are 10 good stories to every bad one. That's just the problems with forums you only ever hear the bad things. I put over 10k miles on my xb9 and never had anything major go wrong.

Are you gay

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Wear the fox hat

That's all good advice. These people know what they're talking about.

I should add that decent gear does not have to break the bank. Since you're in the East Midlands, check out JTS Biker Clothing in Coalville, Leicestershire (http://www.jtsbikerclothing.com). I wear a two-piece leather suit by them, which I've had for about 4 years now and it only cost about £200. I'm sure it's not quite up to the protection levels of the very expensive suits, but it's infinitely better than jeans and a t-shirt, and fits my (rather ample) frame very well.

On your other question, how do we justify the risk. This is a very difficult and philosophical question to answer to be honest. Riding a motorcycle is completely different to driving a car. Part of it for me is a pleasure thing - when was the last time you just went out for a drive in your car? I can't remember when I last did it, but I went out on my bike yesterday, with no destination in mind and pure enjoyment the goal. The inherent impracticality of bikes means you spend less time using them, and more time enjoying them, whereas driving the car is fundamentally associated with going to the supermarket, picking up the kids, etc. Cars are mundane.

One of the nicest explanations I know comes from Robert Persig's 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance':


In short, and I'm pretty sure I speak for 99% of the motorcycling community here, we ride bikes because we're in love with them. The risk is not only justifiable, it's necessary, in the same way as the risk involved in crossing the road is justifiable and necessary, and it changes our lives from being ordinary, prosaic existences to being exciting and wonderful. Without our bikes we would be incomplete.

Hope that helps,

Fozberry

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Feros Ferio

I'm inspired. Right, as soon as I finish work today I'm going to cross a road

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Wear the fox hat

Do you work for a survey company??

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Spencer Racing... www.spencerracing.co.uk