Motorcycle WisdomWhy do you need motorcycle wisdom? Because you don't want to lose any more money or skin than you have to. I've lost both, but mostly money. It still hurts either way. If you're just learning to ride a motorcycle, or thinking about it, make sure you take enough time to get some motorcycle wisdom. If you're an experienced rider you can still benefit from taking a motorcycle safety course from the
motorcycle safety foundation.
I learned a lot of things the hard way and that usually cost a lot more than doing it right in the first place. It may help to be aware of these
advantages and disadvantages of motorcycling.
GearFor instance, motorcycle clothes. There are lots of choices to sort through. Motorcycle riding boots, helmets, rain gear, suits, gloves etc. I'll share some of the choices I've made, good and bad, so I can help you avoid the mistakes, wasted money and frustration. Like buying a cheap rain suit and having it split open on the highway. Remember, it will probably be raining at the time! BikesThen of course there is the bike itself. There are tons of choices here too. From what brand, to what type, to what size and on and on forever. I've owned Honda, Harley, Yamaha and BMW. Which one is best? I think you know the answer. It depends on each individuals wants and needs. In my early riding days, I mostly bought small used bikes to learn on. It's best not to have an expensive new machine to begin with since you will likely fall over on it once or twice. Or several times like I did. I've pretty well settled on
BMW motorcycles
There are many different brands out there, so ask around and take your time. A little extra research will probably pay off in the long run. Don't go too crazy with your money to begin with until you decide it's something you will want to continue doing. For those of you that are looking for antique motorcycles for sale, I found a neat shop in western Iowa called Baxter Cycle. They specialize in Triumph and old British bikes like BSA and Norton. They have a lot of them for sale and a boatload of parts. They ship stuff all over the world. If you get a chance you should go check it out. I'll be adding more articles as time goes on, so check back often and learn from my mistakes. Motorcycle Wisdom can be acquired much easier and cheaper than the way I did it.
Mitch Ferguson, May 2009
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as my choice of bike. I've been riding them for about 10 years now. This picture is my current bike, a BMW R1200RT. They are not the lowest cost option, but are no more expensive than a Harley or other bigger bikes. Plus they have several lower cost models that you can start out with. I just like the way they handle and ride. My wife likes the comfort of them too. She rides on the bike with me sometimes. We have ridden from Iowa to Georgia before and other shorter trips. It's a lot of fun. Happiness can be found on a motorcycle.