Rider's Resume

[BrotherGrim]

I thought this was a good idea before, so I figured it should be relocated to this site as well. Mine is below.

[BrotherGrim]

Name: Joe

Age: 40

First Street Bike: 1986

Bikes:
#1 1975 Ducati 250 Enduro rode both on and off road with this one. Street legal, but fun on the dirt roads too. (1986 to 89)
#2 1978 Suzuki GS550E First true street bike, considered a "standard" style bike, flat seated top-heavy, and actually quite fast for its bulk (89 to 90)
#3 1984 Kawasaki KZ550 LTD More laid back cruiser style (90 to 92)
#4 1987 Suzuki Katana GSX600 First sportbike crazy fast for the the time (91-94)
#5 1988 Kawasaki Vulcan 750 Back to my cruiser side for a while, heavy but fast bike (95-2000)
#6 2001 Honda Shadow ACE 1100 Big heavy fun cruiser fun and comfortable on long rides, lacking in excitement (2000-2005)
#7 2005 Yamaha YZF-R6 You all know what this one is. Pure enjoyment, twitchy, scary fast, truly the toughest bike to utilize out of the list. Throttle is touchy but way responsive. (2006 - Present)
#8 2001 FXDC Harley Davidson Dyna Custom. Sometimes you just want to cruise and enjoy the scenery. (2008 - Present)

Many other bikes that were mine for limited amounts of time less than a year mostly, but I have owned at one time 8 bikes. I spent time buying repairing and re-selling bikes.


Certs: M/C endorsement for the State of ME since '85, State of FL from '87 - '89, State of ID from 89 to 91, State of VA 91 to 94, State of ME 94 to 2000, State of TX 2000 to 2005, State of AL 2005 to Present.

MSF graduate (FL).
MSF graduate (VA)
Advanced Rider (VA)
USN Motorcycle Safety Course NAS Norfolk VA

General: I grew up in Northern Maine, started riding a clutchless Hondamatic that my Grandfather owned. From then on, I knew I would ride. I inherited the Ducati from my oldest brother. He used to make me work on it before he let me ride it. When he left for the Army, he gave it to me. I rode this bike until I joined the Navy.

That is when I bought my Dad's GS550. Very top heavy bike, hard to learn how to ride, but one that when you could ride it, every other bike seemed easy. I then went through a selection of cruisers until I got the Katana.

The Katana was the bike I had while I was stationed in VA and I rode that bike quite hard. It was as close to my squid years as I get. I rode as part of a group of young sailors with crazy fast bikes and no fear. Fortunately for me, I had a good bit of experience and did not have the CBR900RR that was out at the time and a big favorite among my friends. A few of them are reduced to scrap as a direct result of errors made by my friends.

Fortunately, none of us lost our lives. A large selection of cruisers again with a few sportbikes mixed in until felt it was time for another sportbike. hence the R6. I have been on motorized vehicles since I could pee standing. Snowmobiles, ATV's, mopeds, minibikes, dirtbikes, jeeps and cars.


I will try to give caution and advice when I have something applicable to speak to, and hope for the sound of reason to win out, but I am also easily discouraged with the regularity of the fight.

Current hits from the trackpipe: 5

Runs on the Dragon: 4

Number of Asphalt sandwiches: 2

[jasonn]

Name: Jason

Age: 40

Current bike: 2003 Kawi ZX6R 636 Full Hindle Exhaust, Power Commander III. Frame sliders, custom carbon fibre windscreen.

Miles: A little over 6K

Also Ride: A Friend's Triumph Bonnieville

Grew up on:
Honda 50 Mini Trail (mine as a kid)
Honda 70 (Friends)
Kawi KE 175 (Friends)
Honda 80 (Cousins)

ETC.

I grew up on bikes as a kid. All the street milage I have is on my current bike mostly commuting.

[Scissors]

Name: Scissors

Age: 32

First Street Bike: 2005

Bikes:
#1 2005(?) Honda Shadow VLX Deluxe
#2 2005 Ducati ST4s
#3 2008 Star (Yamaha) Midnight Warrior
#4 2009 Ducati Monster 1100

General:
I purchased the Honda Shadow VLX Deluxe (583cc) within a week of learning how to ride and getting my M endorsement because people said that I should start with a lower displacement, and because I figured a cruiser would be easier to handle. I got bored almost immediately and less than two months later...

I purchased the Ducati ST4s (996cc) because the Honda didn't have anywhere near enough power. I also chose it because I wanted something sportier, something that was in the liter class, and something that could actually haul gear for a weekend getaway. I've owned this bike to this day because it does so much so well. Even though I was a brand new rider, it wasn't the bike's power that scared me--in fact, power was never a problem at all and the fearmongers' warnings of accidentally giving it too much throttle never panned out in reality. No, it was the brakes. I was used to using my whole hand with the Honda, but the Ducati's brakes are way too powerful for that. The first few stops were way too quick. But as soon as someone told me to use two fingers, I never had another problem controlling that bike.

This year I sold the Honda because I really wasn't riding it with the Ducati available. I still wanted a cruiser for comfort and for when the Ducati was in the shop, so...

I purchased the Star Midnight Warrior (1,670cc) because it was almost all black, because it had enough power to keep things fun, because it has the best handling of any cruiser, and because I could afford it (it would have been the Harley Night Rod if I could have ponied up the extra four grand.)

So those are my reasons. I bought the Honda because I stupidly listened to alarmists, I bought the Ducati because I wanted versatility and performance, and I bought the Star because I wanted performance and comfort.

MSF graduate (VA)

I got into riding because an ex girlfriend told me how easy it was to get a license, and because I'd been interested for a year or two.

Current hits from the trackpipe: 0

Runs on the Dragon: 0

Number of Asphalt sandwiches: 0

[stevo_x]

Name: Schta schta schta schtevo!

Age: 23

First Street Bike: 2006

Bikes:
#1 1998(?) Kawasaki 2fiddy!
#2 1994 CBR F2
#3 2007 zx6r


MSF graduate 2006 IA

I got into riding after a friend let me ride his Katana around a parking lot. I spent 2 seasons being a t shirt and short wearing squid riding around town. Not till I bought my zx6r in February of 2008 and found sbn have I really started to ride.

Current hits from the trackpipe: 8 and counting

Runs on the Dragon: 0

Number of Asphalt sandwiches: 1 at the track

[hoaxci5]

Name: Jake
Age: 27

First Bike: 1999 (95 ZX-6E)
Current Bike: 2001 SVS

MSF Advanced Rider Course - CA

I always liked bikes, my dad rode dirt, but I never really got a chance to until I was 16. Turned 18 had some cash and bought my ZX6.

Trackpipe: 15-20ish
Runs on the Dragon: 1 trip who knows how many runs
Ate Pavement: 1, and 1 offroad excursion that didn't do any damage (not even a tipover)

Fun motorcycle fact about me is that my wife and I took our honeymoon on my SV.. we road from Norfolk, VA to somewhere in Maine, and back, hitting the major cities and some twisties..

[Sport Bike Chic]

Name: Traci

Age: 38

Current bike: 2005 Kawi ZX6R 636

Miles: about 6K

Also Ride: 2005 ZX10R, 2004 KTM 625SMC

MSF FL 2007 (instructor said I should have taken advanced but I didn't have my bike yet)

Started riding ATV's at 18 years old....A few years ago, my bf got a 1998 ZX9, we had a bike shop at the time. It wasn't long before it was stretched, lowered, and had a custom paint job on it. I was just about to get a bike of my own, when a friend of ours was involved in a motorcycle crash killing him....He decided he was getting rid of it and getting a 4-wheeler. I got a 4-wheeler a few months later....I still wanted a street bike...we got rid of the 4-wheelers, he built another huge truck (on 18.5 x 44" tires) it was a show truck, he built it just to sell... when it was for sale I told him...I don't care if you get one, but I am getting a sport bike.... we sold the truck, and bought his bike the same day...2005 ZX10R Titanium with 901 miles... I still had a nice chunk to put down on a bike for me... I searched and searched but could not find one, finally I found someone that was going to the aution in ATL, I gave him a couple of bikes to look out for for me... (a ZX6 or a 600RR), he came back with one of each....I of course fell in love with the Green 6 (I have always loved Kawi green) so I got it, started riding it and love it!!!

I'm wanting a ZX10 in the near future, I love riding his, but I will keep my 6, she's too much fun....and not as much work in the mountains...

Current hits from the trackpipe: 0

Runs on the Dragon: 2

Number of Asphalt sandwiches: 1 (rain and crappy Battleax tires were involved.)

[Justin726]

Name: Justin

Age: 34

First bike: '00 SV-650 standard bought new in May 2000

Other bikes:
'71 RD350
'97 TL1000S
'?? Honda scooter
'02 VTX1300 cruiser

Current Bike: '03 Hayabusa bought new. Have about 39,000 miles. Use it mostly for cruising around and for long trips. Never been to a drag strip with it. A smaller bike might be nice for some twisties, but I enjoy throwing some bags on the back and being gone for a few days. The Busa works great for that and is pretty much the reason I got the bike.

I also have a KX250 dirtbike that I try hit the track with as much as I can.

I've hit the pavement once on my TL1000S due to an overagressive wheelie attempt.

I've rode to The Dragon once in '07 (2500 mile round trip)

No current plans to hit the trackpipe anytime soon even though there's one just 10 minutes from my house.

[UberGoober]

Moved to the Newbie Forum - I figure this is the place most new people will come first, and this is one of the things they need to see.

OK, I was going to do that, but after seeing it there I decided it should be in one of the other main forums. Since we have a bunch of different bike forums now - sportbikes, crusiers etc I figured the coffe house would be better.

[FatHawk]

Name: Beer Fatty

First bike 1995 FZR600, bought used in 1997. Came with the slick yellow and purple paint job and matching helmet and leathers(ghey, I know, you don't need to remind me). I did the first most squidly thing you can do with a bike and cored the pipe. Sounded like absolute shit, at the time I thought I was the shit.

Army MSF grad, which was required.

Took a ten year hiatus until I met my wife, who had a past with sportbikes and expressed desire. So I bought an SV650, the rest is history.

Past bikes in no particular order:

2003 Honda Superhawk 996 or VTR 1000 for those in the know.
2006 SV 650, that my wife chucked down the road at 65 mph+.
2004 Honda CBR F4i (wife's bike, but I ride the shit out of it).

Current bike:

2003 Kawaski Z1000. Miles....I gotta check, hold on. Way too f'in much.

Crashed three times:

FZR: student driver pulled in front of me when I had the right of way at an intersection. Bike totalled, me hurt bad. Minivan in my way, bike goes under van, I go over, not fun, 15 year old driver vomited upon seeing my helmet split into pieces.

Superhawk: Wet pavement, wide paint strips and cold tires do not a good combination make, especially with a torque monster twin. Miniature high side which I held onto the bucking beast followed by a slapper. Bike salvaged with new bodywork and other sundry parts. Me, very sore.

Z1000: Going up Wilcat Mountain here in WI, right to left uphill transition. Didn't transfer off the bike enough into the left hander. Front tire met gravel, pushed the front and slid into a guard rail doing right around 45 or so. Bike, cosmetically fucked up. Me, separated rotator cuff and sore as fuck.


BOTTOM LINE HERE:

Minimum gear was helmet, boots, gauntlet gloves, jacket (textile and leather) with armor, and leather pants with armor, sometimes jeans (not a good idea, don't think I'm condoning it).


I've ridden roads in Wisconsin and Arkansas that would make you shit your pants, really. Me and wifey did Baraboo Wisconsin to Port Huron Michigan in a day. Return trip was the same. We got hard butts, yo.

Don't ride track, because I'd rather spend my money on gas and tires for the SKREET muthafucka!!!!!


I only pipe in with advice when it is applicable to my experience. If I chime in, it is either because something dumb was said, or I can refute your first bike choice with knowledge and experience.









You don't need a 600SS, no matter how tall or fat you are.