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:Sheila:
I don't ride a bike around because I feel it is dangerous. (Most places in my area do not have bike lanes.) What are the rules of bike lanes?
Answer
I've found that the bike lanes are nice when you're in them, but taking a left turn is a bit tricky. I just slow way down and keep looking behind me for an opening and as soon as there is one, I zoom over to the farthest left lane, stick out my arm and take a left.
Where I live the bike lanes are scattered and not very fluid. I generally try to ride on the side streets and trails, but at some point, I have to get on the main thorough ways. I should say that I don't ride my bike in major traffic like some people do, it's too risky. My town just had a horrible occurrence where a woman ran right over a group of cyclist in daylight. It was very sad.
As for the rules, the bike lane is there so the bikes have a good amount of space and a safe area to ride in. The rules are the rules that your local city/county has made for bicycling. For example, some places require a light at night or require a helmet. I know that when I read the book years and years ago, it said to ride your bike towards oncoming traffic so that they can see you, but I'm pretty sure that has changed.
What do you think are the best starter brands for street motorcycles, helmets, and protective gear?
rosato
I don't want to spend too much money, but I would also like to be able to depend on the bike and gear I buy for a while without having to immediately upgrade to something better. If you can help me out with some good suggestions it would be much appreciated.
Answer
Okay. I would buy a Ducati, if I were independantly wealthy, but I'm not. Ducati's have more, and more expensive REGULAR SCHEDULED service, than japanese bikes. If I could pay some one to do it I'd be happy to buy a performnce machine. I'd be happy to by a Buell or Harley Davidson if were independantly wealthy. But I'm not.
I would buy a Honda, or Kawasaki, a Yamaha, or Suzuki, pretty much interchangeably. Not the top of the line, like BMWs. But it doesn't cost as much in maintenance.
Now jackets and the like, if you are a common size in a motorcycle jacket, then Joe Rocket, or Alpinestar or CorTech the other brands are all about the same. Some brands have more cachet, than others, and they all sell 2 or three lines. So you got to get the features you want at a lower cost somehow. Buy at NewEnough.com. Look at and buy from the Close-OUTS. But I wear a 5XLT, and the usual run of the mill doesn't fit, so I have used an ordinary leather jacket (G2 flight jacket, goarskin), and the Bohn Armored shirt. If I could I'd buy a Vanson custom jacket. I can't, or a SCHOTT motorcycle jacket (think Marlin Brando in the movie role that made people scared of black leather jackets.)
I also use bohn armored riding (under)pants. If you are doing something where you have to change at work to look professional , buy a pair of OVER pants with zippers down the sides. These will keep slacks office safe and literally your backside in place and unground. Do NOT count on jeans unless they have kevlar fibers, pockets for knee/hip pads, and a wide belt loop. Now try to get a pair of pants that match up to the jacket if you can, since MOTORCYCLE JACKETS ZIP TO THE PANTS. and if both are the same maker you can be confidant they will hook up. Look for a jacket longer in the back than the front, and with sleeves shaped to extend you arms out front (like holding handlebars, and leaning forward over the tank). make sure collars snap down or velcro to the jacket . A collar can beat you to death, while you are riding.
Pants need extra length. Your legs will be folded somewhat on a motorcycle in riding position, so don't get them too short.
I do not buy Motorcycles boot that make me look like a power ranger, as much as I want to look like a japanese nightmare. Most of these things are just odd for the sake of oddness. I do buy over the ankle books for riding and if I can get side zippers I do, and steel toes too.
Be careful the weak point of many side zipper boots is the zipper pull. It makes sense that these would be harder to pull than your fly. So when the handle breaks or breaks off, you have to throw them away.
You'd think they used a good metal YKK zipper wouldn't you? They do not.
So go to the web and look for "Tactical" boots, and such like footwear, they will list every standard that these things meet. The hottest tip now is to buy a pair of boots with no metal in them to get through the airport without stopping to take your shoes off. I just do not go through the airport.
I tend to prefer THOROGOOD boots and Bates boots, these are cheap enough for my tastes. $100 when you hunt around for a particular model on the web. Bates makes a style that I really like, they are leather chukkah boots with a high polish, and a STRAP to secure them to your feet. they come in mens sizes and women's sizes and EXTRA WIDE sizes. I wear a triple E, so that's one problem solved. I also like the Thorogood Ultimate Crosstrainer, also in Extra wide. Buy what suits you. but they need to be capable of staying on your feet when you are bouncing merrily down the highway, as you are wont to do now and agan. I advise you to tie your shoes, or zip them up or latch the buckle or whatever you need to keep them on your feet. There are pictures of a guy that was wearing flip flops or something that weren't all that strong. His feet were ground down by the pavement, so you could see naked bones in his feet, probably 3 years of work for him to wear shoes again. STRINGS ARE A NO-NO on a motorcycle. Sooner or later they WILL come untied, and then flap in the breeze until you stop and try to put your foot down, and the strings get caught in the rear brake pedal or the shifter or just the footpegs.
Friends don't let friends wear shorts and t-shirts and flip flops to ride motorcycles.
I can here you say, doesn't it get hot in side all that stuff. Yes, it does. There are some things you can do to adapt, to the heat of Texas Summer, where the road surface is around 150 degrees, leaning over on your bike feels like putting you head in the oven.
Buy a couple of the ties you wear around your neck to work outdoors, these things use a product like a disposable diaper to make a cooling gel, that can hold water for hours. There are VESTs that do much the same thing, only there have removable cooling pads, some of them are VERY effective. Thanks to the soldiers, for the field testing in Afghanistan and Iraq. You can get some for 200 dollars or more, and this is the kind of thing I do not have yet, other than the necktie. So you are on your own. Look for Environmental Protection suits. wear MICROFIBER shirts, they will keep you cool and dry asd well as warm in winter. Wear wool socks, winter and summer, NOT COTTON. Wools drys and wicks moisture of your feet, cotton DOES NOT DRY EASILY, Try it, dump a load of socks in the dryer, cotton socks will be that last ones dry.
I also have a couple of towels made from a non-woven matereal, that also absorb water and release it slowly for cooling effects. These are commonly found sold at professional sports places or at the gym, or amazon.com has some.
That covers the the stuff that comes to mind. Any more Questions?
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