So I've been considering getting my motorcycle license and getting a crotch-rocket for riding everyday when the weather is nice. My question is, is it worth it, and how hard is the license test?
My advice would be to take the MSF rider safety course. It will teach you good habits and in most states it will waive at least the riding portion of the license test.
I don't know if its the same in your state but i got mine in no time. I took a 20 question test which gave me my permit. Then I rode my bike for a long time without a m license. Finally I took the raod test, it was real stupid had to go around cones , and swerve around lines on the ground, really had nothing to do with riding a bike. Was easy to pass on my bike sense its small. There was a dude on a gsxr1000 it looked like he was having alot of trouble sense its a bigger bike. Never took a safety course or anything seemed like a waste of time.
Hmmm, I might look into this.
In GA, the test was harder compared to the driving test for a car. Take the MSF course if you have never rode before. Yes, it is worth it! Once you get comfortable on it, hit some mountain roads and it is like your own personal roller coaster. What bike are you looking at?
Some things to help out
1) Surf motorcycle forums in your community. Especially the social sites.
2) Get to know, and make friends with guys/girls that REALLY know how to ride a bike. If they ever squid it (shorts/t-shirts/flip-flops), they are not who you want to hang with. Guys that race/track thier bikes are who you want to become friends with.
3) Take an MSF course. Well worth the time.
4) Buy a total POS bike for the first 6-12 months. Get the basics down. Spend maybe $1500 on a used Kawi EX500, and when done, sell it for the same amount or who knows, maybe more. THEN maybe pick up a 600 or something....
5) Invest in gear. This is non-negotiable. Get a good jacket, gloves, boots, and helmet (DOT and/or ECE certified...you don't need to spend more than $175 to get a very good safe helmet).
6) Do NOT be afraid to ask other riders any questions. Most of the time, you will find that riders are a very tight-nit community that loves to help people out. It's a dangerous hobby and mode of transportation, but the rewards or riding are incredibly abundant. Especially in the very beautiful part of the country you live in.
7) Insurance is expensive, deal with it. Don't even think about getting just liability.
8) Stay the hell away from 1000cc sport bikes. Later on, after getting to really know bikes and yourself, decide if they are for you. It takes a lot of time and experience to truly get the most out of them AND enjoy your ride doing it.
9) Be open minded when buying your first 'real' bike (the starter bike that you WILL dump doesn't count...). Everyone wants a crotch rocket, but if you're going to ride every day, maybe even a commute, consider an FZ1, Tuono, Monster, Streetfighter, Bandit, or any other serious "sportbike" that's had it's fairing removed, high rise handle bars installed, and ease of riding but still retaining a sport bike motor/chassis/suspension.
For instance, a Yamaha R6 is an extremely potent track day weapon. But the for the street, it's painfully annoying. The counter, is an FZ6, basically a far more comfortable R6with raised handlebars and revised cams so you don't have to rev it to the moon to get some ususable power out of it.
I can go on and on and on as you can see....
+1000 What he said. #9 especially. My street bike is a Street Triple R....
PICS!!!
Perfect street bike! I haven't ridden the Street Triple but have ridden the 675 and Speed Triple. As my buddy puts it "Inline 4 crap and v-twin poo is nothing compared to Zen of the Triple!"
I love my Duc, but I'm probably going to be looking at the StreetFighter and Speed Triple when looking to replace.