5 Things Every Motorcyclist Should Do in 2011
 

From J&P Cycles newsletter

In my continuing efforts to better myself as a motorcyclist, I’ve come up with five things to do this year that will not only help development as a motorcyclist but help promote motorcycling in general. So I thought I’d share with the class and maybe get a few of you to take part as well. I wouldn’t call these New Year’s resolutions, exactly.

1. Install something on your bike: I’m not talking about taking your bike to the mechanic down the road, I’m talking about doing it yourself. Doesn’t have to be a big job, either. Maybe put some new grips or install a new piece of chrome. The point is to get out to the garage and get your hands dirty. Hell, if you’re feeling froggy, go ahead and change your oil or tires. Maybe put in a big bore kit — go nuts. Working on your own machine is very therapeutic. It’s like bonding with your motorcycle. And it saves you money to boot.
2. Learn how to ride your bike: It sounds funny, but this could be the most important of the five. Most people (especially if they have been riding for a while) consider themselves good riders — experts even — but this isn’t always the case. This doesn’t mean you have to take the typical safety course. Instead, go do a track day, read a book, watch a DVD. Do anything to gain better confidence and control of your machine. Besides, practicing is fun…
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3. Visit a motorcycle museum: I’m lucky enough to have the National Motorcycle Museum just a stone’s throw away from my house, but there are other such museums scattered around the country as well. Do yourself a favor and take the time to visit one. This is a great way to educate yourself with some motorcycle history, while at the same time gaining some knowledge about the innovation and engineering that brought motorcycling to where it is today.
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4. Attend a motorcycle event or rally: This one’s easy. Find a local rally or race and just go have fun — even make mini-vacation out of it. Besides the big ones like Sturgis, Daytona, Laconia, etc, there are hundreds of smaller local rally all across the country. You won’t find better people to hang out with anywhere and there are always great bikes to gawk at. And I’ll bet if you look hard enough, you can even rustle up a cold drink. I prefer to find a road race, flat track race or a hill climb because I like to watch the guys and girls duke it out on the track. Gives me goose bumps just thinking about it (Winter sucks.)
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5. Take time to share motorcycling with someone younger than yourself: It might be your son or daughter, niece, nephew or the kid next door. Doesn’t matter. Just take the time to introduce them to our culture. Show them some old pictures, tell them a story or just let them sit on your bike. And they don’t have to be little ones either. Take a minute to have chat with the 19-yeur-old who just scored his first bike and maybe give them a few tips on where to buy the best parts *cough* J&P *cough* or tell them where the best roads are. And if you’re one of the young ones, take a minute from your busy schedule and listen up. Some of you can learn a lot from us old guys.

I AM NOT installing any chrome on my bikes :lol:

good stuff otherwise though :)

6. Kick Gasman square in the nuts

I am game for that :lol:

other then the track day. i do all of those every year.
good suggestion.

Sweet. Then I can cancel my vesectomy appt?

Sounds like a good list for any motorcyclist...well except for the getting kicked in the nutz part. :lol:

get real motherfucker you have always shot blanks out of that minuscule mouse peeping over the haystack..

:rofl: Dayum !!

Holy shit :lmao:

why is mudpuppy checking out the man's mouse?

I apologize for the quality of the rant....I kept losing track of what I wanted to say

lol its so easy to tell when ppl bitch just to bitch

Its a sport

i really didn't want to but he keeps dropping trou and trying to show off his unit..

DUDE! My buddy just went in for his vasectomy today. He decided two kids were enough. Guess what he found out literally a week before? #3 is on the way...

:blowup: :lol:

:lol he's a professional poser.

--Culture? What fruity bullshit is this asshole talking about? What culture would that be? What if you have no culture? What if just like to ride motorcycles? I don't need to share my motorcycle bug with anyone.
If my boys were to turn to me that they will never ever ride a motorcycle, I'd say good for you. Spend your money on something you prefer.
some bikers talk about motorcycling like its a religion and to validate that they need to get as many people as possible to like it too "Its great...just look at everyone else who agrees with me!!!?
Too many people try to define themselves by their hobbies and toss around words like culture and lifestyle.

Bunch of snivelling little pansy assed jerk offs trying to be "part of something"

What the hell is wrong with saying "Its just something I happen to enjoy"
I'm not sharing motorcycling with anyone.
sometimes it's a matter of showing someone about bikes who has expressed an interest and wasn't sure where to start. maybe it's helping someone out with some gear. as he stated show a young person, maybe help them learn how to ride dirt when they've expressed an interest.

I can't count how many people I've gotten started into bikes after they expressed an interest. then if they want to continue they can. has nothing to do with getting them to drink the perverbial koolaid.

It's not even a sport unless you actually race. It's a fucking hobby. I hate those bastards that say it's a way of life too. They need to grow the fuck up and stop being bitches.

I was going to say, your rant seemed a bit diluted. :lol: I think the poor guy is just trying to get people to view their motorcycle as more than just a mode of transportation.

Install something - that message isn't for you. It's for the assholes that buy it and have someone else install everything on it without understanding it takes more than a key to make it run.

Rally or other event - ever been to a race or IMS? Hell, I avoid many rallies - but LOVE going to other events through the year.

I meant bitching...not biking.
:wtfru:

mad tyte dawg........WE RUN DEEZ STREETZ..... It be a way o' lyfe.

Respect!!!

Wtf happened here? I pass along a article to help us get thru winter and it turns into some debate? Wow.

it's winter

Anything good to add to it?

#6 Try to get a ride in on a different style motorcycle than you are used to.. like a sportbike rider taking a dual sport out for a day or a cruiser rider hoppin on a sumo..

#7 Be a little more considerate when riding through your neighborhood late at night or early in the morning. I doubt you enjoy being woken up.

#8 Go against the grain, and stop feeling like you "must" buy a fender eliminator or flush-mount signals just to be accepted by other sportbikers

Probably heading to the EasyRiders show this weekend...just to do something bike related. Should be some cool bikes and hot women to look at. :idk:

http://www.easyridersevents.com/even...Jan-22-23-2011

In February I'll may try to hit this...

http://www.motorcycleshows.com/SouthCarolina

I didn't attend either one last year so hopefully will this year.

#9 Camp off your bike so you can find out just how miserable it is.

This. Very well written and I agree completely.

this


I know I have violated the unspoken rule demanded by "the culture".
I haven't done anything to my bike.
I've had it since 2009 and it still all OEM. License plate holder still outback. OEM exhaust.
No stickers
No lights.
No shiney stuff
no powercoating
no carbon fiber
Nothing


I think I freaked out some dude over the summer

"Hey brah....why is your license plate hanging over the wheel like that? That shits gonna like fall off and slice yo tire in half yo....thats just bad design. Thats why you got mount the plate further in...like way in till you can only see the very top of it when you are looking at the bike from behind. You gotta make sure they see the state so you can represent where you from WHOOO- WHOOOOO!! Yo my boy can hook you up with a kit and make that shit look tight....."

(ok...actual conversation was "Hey they make a nice kit to clean up by the license plate holder and mount the plate further back")


Not saying I wont ever change anything. Just saying...

:lol

I like #6,7,8.

Have stock exhaust on mine. Fortunately, being a Gixxer the exhaust is already OK sounding, plus my intake is K&N so it adds some intake noise to mask the sound of the valvetrain. Some bikes' valvetrains are so rattly and annoying that they really need an exhaust. Fortuantely that isn't the case for mine. Plus, if I went aftermarket then I would lose the cat. converter, which I don't want to do.

I use earplugs so valve train noise doesn't bother me :lol:

I use earplugs too, but can still hear the valvetrain on most bikes. Just a shitty rattling sound.

Loud exhaust on my R1 and on my Vette so I don't have to hear it. :lol:

Stock exhaust on the R6 but it's the wife's first bike...she doesn't know any better. :rofl:

Good post Gas.
1. Check - no one else wrenches on my bike
2. Good idea.
3. Barber is just around the corner.
4. That's an easy one. We've got a good weekly event in Chattanooga that runs Memorial Day thru Labor Day
5. I try, but the dumbasses around here are mostly squidirific

#10 Have a hot slut wash your bike.

#11 poop on a harley seat and leave a little flag that says "fags" sticking in it.

I've got some friends that need that little suprise :lol:

hey, i enjoy this one! :gofurslf:

#12
crash a fellow riders wedding and raise some hell, insult the MIL like a BOSS

As long as you do it like a boss you'll be fine. Nobody will question you.

great idea - give me a call when you figure out when you are going.. i can be vince vaughn and you can be owen wilson..