Things nobody tells you BEFORE you get a motorcycle
So, you want a motorcycle? Got the need for speed? Maybe you just wanna cruise and feel a bit of wind in your face , right? Whatever your reason(s) may be for wanting to get your two-wheeled beast of your choice, there are plenty of differences between bikes and cars. According to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, the primary differences between cars and motorcycles are stability and vulnerability. In the real-world, there's a few other differences worth noting.
Most motorcycles don't have a fuel gauge. A good percentage of brand new ones do but most people get used bikes rather than brand new ones. In the mean time, that means most people's motorcycles aren't 2012 models. So how do you know when you're low on gas? You might hear figures regarding the gas tank like a 4 gallon tank with a 1 gallon reserve. Contrary to how that sounds, that doesn't mean that there's some mysterious separate tank you have to fill when you're at the gas station. Probably along the edge of the tank is a small knob with 3 settings: On, Off, and Res (short for reserve). On is obviously fuel going into the carbs, while off is what you'd set for long-term storage (think Winter, not overnight). The way that you learn you're low on gas is when the bike starts to stutter, you reach down and turn the knob from "On" to "Res". In the "On" position, the gas tank feeds gas to the carbs from the top of the tank. Once the fuel level gets to a certain point, you'll have to flip to "Res" which will start feeding from the bottom of the gas tank. This feature can be different from manufacturer to manufacturer. On my Shadow, it's a knob. On other bikes, it could be a button or a switch, etc. It's worth noting that not all bikes have a reserve feature. Some bikes such as the newer Harley Sportsters only have a low fuel light.
When I learned this, I thought it was a bit ghetto but makes at least a little sense. In actuality, and maybe this is just my bike but when it happens, I have about a full 2 seconds before the bike dies. The few times it's happened, I've had to coast to a stop, flip to reserve, then start the bike and continue on my way. What you can also do is remember to set your trip meter every time to get gas and learn how many miles you can go before fill-ups. I get about 100 if I don't ride her too hard, but I also only have a 2 gallon tank. Your mileage may literally vary. Another way to tell when you're low on fuel is to open the gas cap, rock the bike back and forth and listen to the gas in the tank. If it sounds like there's not a lot in there then you know what you need to do. Others have recommended tapping the tank. The sound of your tapping will change depending on the level of fuel left in the tank. Yet another method is to dip something in the tank such part of a broomstick to check the level. I stick with the trip-meter myself.
This could be a stretch here but you also need to warm your bike up before just getting on and going. Cars with modern fuel-injection can just turn on and go. Carb'd bikes need to warm up a bit before you hit the open road. As for fuel-injected bikes (and cars for that matter), the engine takes longer to warm up by sitting there idle that it does under normal driving conditions (aka, driving). The main reason this is bad is simply that it's a waste of fuel. The EFI system tells the injectors to stay open a little longer to help the engine run cold. When the engine reaches normal operating temperature, the injectors go back to supplying a normal amount of fuel.
It's true. For those of us who have to park their iron steed outdoors, even overnight, it's not uncommon to find the foundations of a web beginning to form in various places. The kickstand, the foot begs, the swingarm and between the mirrors and grips are popular spider web-making hangouts. This of course can vary depending on your area. North Florida isn't known for being exactly bug-free.
Low on Fuel?
Most motorcycles don't have a fuel gauge. A good percentage of brand new ones do but most people get used bikes rather than brand new ones. In the mean time, that means most people's motorcycles aren't 2012 models. So how do you know when you're low on gas? You might hear figures regarding the gas tank like a 4 gallon tank with a 1 gallon reserve. Contrary to how that sounds, that doesn't mean that there's some mysterious separate tank you have to fill when you're at the gas station. Probably along the edge of the tank is a small knob with 3 settings: On, Off, and Res (short for reserve). On is obviously fuel going into the carbs, while off is what you'd set for long-term storage (think Winter, not overnight). The way that you learn you're low on gas is when the bike starts to stutter, you reach down and turn the knob from "On" to "Res". In the "On" position, the gas tank feeds gas to the carbs from the top of the tank. Once the fuel level gets to a certain point, you'll have to flip to "Res" which will start feeding from the bottom of the gas tank. This feature can be different from manufacturer to manufacturer. On my Shadow, it's a knob. On other bikes, it could be a button or a switch, etc. It's worth noting that not all bikes have a reserve feature. Some bikes such as the newer Harley Sportsters only have a low fuel light.
When I learned this, I thought it was a bit ghetto but makes at least a little sense. In actuality, and maybe this is just my bike but when it happens, I have about a full 2 seconds before the bike dies. The few times it's happened, I've had to coast to a stop, flip to reserve, then start the bike and continue on my way. What you can also do is remember to set your trip meter every time to get gas and learn how many miles you can go before fill-ups. I get about 100 if I don't ride her too hard, but I also only have a 2 gallon tank. Your mileage may literally vary. Another way to tell when you're low on fuel is to open the gas cap, rock the bike back and forth and listen to the gas in the tank. If it sounds like there's not a lot in there then you know what you need to do. Others have recommended tapping the tank. The sound of your tapping will change depending on the level of fuel left in the tank. Yet another method is to dip something in the tank such part of a broomstick to check the level. I stick with the trip-meter myself.
Let it warm up.
This could be a stretch here but you also need to warm your bike up before just getting on and going. Cars with modern fuel-injection can just turn on and go. Carb'd bikes need to warm up a bit before you hit the open road. As for fuel-injected bikes (and cars for that matter), the engine takes longer to warm up by sitting there idle that it does under normal driving conditions (aka, driving). The main reason this is bad is simply that it's a waste of fuel. The EFI system tells the injectors to stay open a little longer to help the engine run cold. When the engine reaches normal operating temperature, the injectors go back to supplying a normal amount of fuel.
Spiders love motorcycles too.
It's true. For those of us who have to park their iron steed outdoors, even overnight, it's not uncommon to find the foundations of a web beginning to form in various places. The kickstand, the foot begs, the swingarm and between the mirrors and grips are popular spider web-making hangouts. This of course can vary depending on your area. North Florida isn't known for being exactly bug-free.
Riding is a gateway to wrenching.
Bikes are more strict on maintenance. That's not to say that they break down more. Some do and some don't. However, most of the people I know will drive their car regardless of any problems it's exhibiting until it physically will not move. You can't do that with a motorcycle. You need to handle basic maintenance items like changing your oil, cleaning your chain and keeping proper tension for it, keeping fuel systems clean, maintaining proper tire pressure and occasionally checking and adjusting valves. If you're at least mildly handy, most of these tasks can be completed with some guidance, instructions, patience and basic mechanic's tools (think wrenches and sockets). If you're not that handy then there's always mechanics who'll happily take your money in exchange for performing basic maintenance and repair on your dream bike.
There's a club.
This club doesn't have a name, no membership, no start-up fees or anything of the sort. When you pass another motorcyclist, you wave. Not like some Princess Diana wave but just a hand out, a piece-sign... something. It's just what you do. Of course, you can't always wave. Sometimes, you're operating the clutch so your left-hand is busy. They might not wave back at you either. Old riders don't like squids, squids don't like older riders and Harley riders hate everything that isn't a Harley.
"....anything at 30+ mph hitting your face will hurt."
Several states don't have laws requiring a helmet, however, most will still require some kind of eye protection. If you really don't wanna wear a helmet then at least invest in a windshield because anything at 30+ mph hitting your face will hurt. Bugs, rain, road debris... anything. Just food for thought.
The rules of the road are what they are for very good reasons. It's for the safety of yourself as well as everyone else on the road, no matter how many wheels are underneath us. However, sometimes, you'll need to run a light. Traffic lights are either timed or triggered. When they're timed, pop the shifter into neutral, relax and wait. If the light is triggered then there's an induction loop under the pavement. An induction is an electromagnetic detection system that uses a moving magnet to create current in the loop which triggers the light. When a car passes over the induction loop, the amount of metal present triggers the loop. Since a motorcycle is inherently smaller than even the smallest car, it means that you'll be waiting and waiting. This is a problem enough that several states have instituted a law to make running a turn light perfectly legal for motorcycles and other smaller vehicles (such as bicycles and scooters). This means that as long as traffic is clear, you can run that turn light as opposed to careening through a steady stream of oncoming autos. Some motorcyclists have suggested putting magnets on the bottom of your steed to alleviate this issue and have reported better results, though others have stated that this is false and doesn't actually work. Your mileage may vary, literally and figuratively.
You may have to run a light.
The rules of the road are what they are for very good reasons. It's for the safety of yourself as well as everyone else on the road, no matter how many wheels are underneath us. However, sometimes, you'll need to run a light. Traffic lights are either timed or triggered. When they're timed, pop the shifter into neutral, relax and wait. If the light is triggered then there's an induction loop under the pavement. An induction is an electromagnetic detection system that uses a moving magnet to create current in the loop which triggers the light. When a car passes over the induction loop, the amount of metal present triggers the loop. Since a motorcycle is inherently smaller than even the smallest car, it means that you'll be waiting and waiting. This is a problem enough that several states have instituted a law to make running a turn light perfectly legal for motorcycles and other smaller vehicles (such as bicycles and scooters). This means that as long as traffic is clear, you can run that turn light as opposed to careening through a steady stream of oncoming autos. Some motorcyclists have suggested putting magnets on the bottom of your steed to alleviate this issue and have reported better results, though others have stated that this is false and doesn't actually work. Your mileage may vary, literally and figuratively.
Dress for the trip, not the destination.
As a bicycle commuter, I was already in this zone but since there's no climate control on a motorcycle, you'll need to dress the part according to your own comfort and the weather. If it's frigid outside, that means leather and layers, not a t-shirt and jeans. Having the bike is fun but it'll require gear too. More food for thought.
You're completely invisible.
You probably already know this but for those who don't, one of the biggest worries of motorcycle riders isn't falling. It's not losing traction in a corner, it's not inclimate weather, or even getting their 2-wheeled beauty stolen (though these things do cross our minds from time to time). No; It's cars, and more specifically, the people that drive them. Even the smallest cars are 2000lb rockets, capable of causing a lot of destruction if driven irresponsibly. With the boom of SUVs and distracted driving a worse and worse problem every year, this makes a bad situation worse. You see, most people when they're learning to drive, are trained to watch for other cars. Since a motorcycle is inherently not a car and much smaller, you're pretty much invisible. This means learning to ride defensively. A mix of paranoia and aggressiveness is needed to stay alive, particularly in large, busy, metro areas.
The MSF course talks about this in their classroom portion but, again, drawing on my bicycle commuting experience, it hardly scratches the surface. Unfortunately, it's one of those things you learn by being in it. That means, being on the road with cars. It can be down-right scary at times. You have to learn to tell when people are going to change lanes, make turns with or without their turn signals, when they're going to turn left right in front of you... There's lots of little fine details that you'll learn. Until then, just think about what everyone's doing around you and be ready to move any direction you need to.
In conclusion, this isn't to deter someone from getting a motorcycle. Yes, it's dangerous, but so is driving a car. Or leaving the house. Or living on earth. There's danger to everything. Back to the motorcycle, it's cool, it's fun, it's cheaper on gas (sometimes), more economical (again, sometimes)... It's the best decision I've ever made and I have a blast every time I swing a leg over my bike, no matter how slow I think it is. I've even got my girlfriend wanting to learn how to ride. I proposed the idea of me getting a new bike (YES!) and she can ride my Shadow until she's ready to trade-up to something bigger.
The MSF course talks about this in their classroom portion but, again, drawing on my bicycle commuting experience, it hardly scratches the surface. Unfortunately, it's one of those things you learn by being in it. That means, being on the road with cars. It can be down-right scary at times. You have to learn to tell when people are going to change lanes, make turns with or without their turn signals, when they're going to turn left right in front of you... There's lots of little fine details that you'll learn. Until then, just think about what everyone's doing around you and be ready to move any direction you need to.
In conclusion, this isn't to deter someone from getting a motorcycle. Yes, it's dangerous, but so is driving a car. Or leaving the house. Or living on earth. There's danger to everything. Back to the motorcycle, it's cool, it's fun, it's cheaper on gas (sometimes), more economical (again, sometimes)... It's the best decision I've ever made and I have a blast every time I swing a leg over my bike, no matter how slow I think it is. I've even got my girlfriend wanting to learn how to ride. I proposed the idea of me getting a new bike (YES!) and she can ride my Shadow until she's ready to trade-up to something bigger.
Traffic light triggers work by induction loop. Weight is not a factor.
ReplyDeleteMotorbikes do not have the right shape or amount of metal to properly change the magnetic field to trip the trigger.
Great article, except for the "...there'a coil under the road that makes full circuit when the weight of a car compresses it enough..." part being very inaccurate...
ReplyDeleteThese lights are triggered by a a coil of wire, true, but that happens when a large metallic presence changes the coil's induction, and not by the weight of the vehicle compressing the road.
Motorcycle have less metal, and even the little metal that is there is mostly non-ferrous (aluminium), and that is why they almost always fail to trigger such circuitry, and you end up having to run the light.
Thank you for the correction. After some research, I found that I was wrong. I've updated the article to correct this. Thank you again. :)
ReplyDeleteHere's a good write-up on the whole stop light sensor issue: http://bikeportland.org/2010/09/27/bike-science-making-sense-out-of-signal-sensors-39517
ReplyDeleteYour post finally intrigued me enough to look into how these work. There is only one light that I frequent where my Shadow doesn't affect the trigger, but most sensors around town even detect me when I'm on my Trek, which probably has about 95% less metal than my motorcycle.