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Old 03-04-2015, 07:15 PM
 
Location: Safety Harbor, Florida
17 posts, read 15,556 times
Reputation: 10

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I'm looking to get my first motorcycle here within the next few months. Id'e love to be riding shortly after my birthday in May. The only experience I will have is that I will be taking the Basic Riders course in about a month or so. I already have a helmet and will need to acquire a jacket, riding boots, gloves and maybe some Kevlar jeans. But after that Id'e like to find someone in the area willing to help me learn to ride. I've watched about every video imaginable between " How to" and crash videos to help learn what not to do. But that only helps so much vs actually spending time on a bike. I would like to know and learn as much as possible before getting my first bike.

Also it would be nice to know some people I could befriend and possibly ride together after the fact.
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Old 03-04-2015, 08:08 PM
 
Location: St Pete
554 posts, read 977,224 times
Reputation: 682
The basic rider course will teach you what you need to know to ride safe. To become a good rider, you just need to put some miles on. Learning to ride from other riders who are not instructors is not really a good idea. I am sure I can teach you my 30yrs worth of bad habits!
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Old 03-04-2015, 08:19 PM
 
Location: Safety Harbor, Florida
17 posts, read 15,556 times
Reputation: 10
Hehe, fair enough. I have enough common sense to know what would be breaking the law and what would not be in my better interest to do. Also, as I stated, I would like to get to know some other friendly riders out there. So that I would have some people to ride with on occasion.
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Old 03-05-2015, 05:34 AM
 
Location: The woods of Central Florida
325 posts, read 441,607 times
Reputation: 846
If you learn to ride on the street in Pinellas County, ride a lot, and live for 3 years, I would consider you having learned to be a Good Motorcycle Rider. After over 30 years of riding I can tell my Wife 'look....that red car is going to pull out in front of us' and she says...how did you know. That is from the 6th sense you MUST develop to stay safe and ride surrounded by the Morons who are operating automobiles today. ESPECIALLY in Pinellas.
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Old 03-05-2015, 06:42 AM
 
35,309 posts, read 52,292,554 times
Reputation: 30999
What kind of bike do you envision getting? Sport Bike,Touring,cruiser?
Lots of clubs in the area,find one that fits your riding style.
http://motorcycle.meetup.com/cities/us/fl/tampa/

Be extra vigilant when riding to the idiot who will make a left turn in front of you as you are approaching an intersection. i swear bikers seem to be invisible to car drivers.

Last edited by jambo101; 03-05-2015 at 06:51 AM..
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Old 03-05-2015, 07:19 AM
 
Location: Central Mexico and Central Florida
7,150 posts, read 4,902,831 times
Reputation: 10444
My partner and I rode for 30+ years but sold our bikes when we left AZ where we lived in a very sparsely populated area (could drive on back roads for 60 miles and never see another vehicle. My partner had bikes in DC-Metro too, but not as much fun due to aggressive and idiot drivers and the huge traffic volume.

To be a successful m/c rider, you will become paranoid of cars, as well you should!

Never an accident for either of us, but a few too many close calls. Yes, cars will not 'see' you and turn left in front of you.

We discussed buying new bikes here, but decided not to due to the number of elderly drivers in this area and their ability to 'see' m/c's, frankly.
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Old 03-05-2015, 11:42 AM
 
35,309 posts, read 52,292,554 times
Reputation: 30999
After riding an assortment of bikes over a period of 40 years i finally gave it up a few years ago due to age and too many close calls, bought one of these as a replacement.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...a/DSCF2541.jpg
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Old 03-05-2015, 01:55 PM
 
Location: Western North Carolina
1,294 posts, read 1,120,791 times
Reputation: 2010
First, visit this site - Sport-Touring.Net - Beginner's Garage - there's tons of stuff to help you out as a new rider or answer your questions.

Then, visit The Sandbox - AKA Flatistan - ADVrider - where you can find a lot of local riders.

To get you on the road and having fun, I'd suggest the Tag-O-Rama, or TOR games in this site, particularly Central sandbox tag-o-Rama - ADVrider . I had a ball playing it when I lived there!

Best of luck to you and keep the shiny side up.
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