Upgrade to enjoy this feature!
Vital MX fantasy is free to play, but Premium users receive great benefits. Premium benefits include:
- View and download rider stats
- Pick trends
- Create a private league
- And more!
Only $10 for all 2026 SX, MX, and SMX series.
I haven't really looked into which bike I'd get, but I;d probably end up with an enduro bike or if I'm feeling really confident I'd go for the Yamaha R1 as I always grew up wanting that bike..
The Shop
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
Free shipping: VITALMX
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Borrowed my buddy's ZX-7 and basically just had to ride around the block
and come back safely.
Had a 7 of my own and now my '99 CBR900RR....just a commuter though
saves the wear and tear on the truck.
Got my first bike licence after getting caught going home from work rather fast on the 10 in downtown L.A. on a sunny Saturday afternoon - I thought I would need it before going to court. It's a shame I was one of the first ones called because watching what happened to defendants following my case was VERY informative and I certainly would not have plead guilty up-front if I'd known how it worked there!
Had to get a bike licence when I came back home and started using a ZX6 to commute into the centre of London. You know you're going quick when you can keep up with (and sometimes beat) the bike couriers in London rush hour(s) traffic.
I packed in riding road bikes a few years ago when I became just a little bit too aggressive. Since i'd never once crashed in all my years on two wheels, I could see it coming and just didn't fancy it.
Oh, and don't let anyone put you off. If you've got off road skills ,car experience and a decent head on your shoulders you'll have a great time and be pretty safe. Never take your eyes off the other drivers around you. And if you can make eye contact with them, do.
4 Hours of pure bliss, riding through the twisisties in the little ninja was such a blast.
This picture was taken on November 9, 2014 9:52am on my way back from San Francisco at Carmel California.
But on those warm spring days, I SURE miss that bike...I loved riding the canyons with my buddies. But I love riding dirt more, so I sold the bike.
I'll get another one as soon as I have a little more free time...and when my kids are older (I've got four kids 7,6, 4 and 1...and they need me right now)...but when I get another bike it will probably be something like an FJR1300 or similar. Comfy for the wife, can put lots of miles in the rear view (comfortably...for rider and passenger), and yet still has a sporty edge for the canyons.
My dad has a Goldwing...and I never thought I'd enjoy one of those bikes...but it sure is fun to ride...just don't try for any hair pin turns on that bad boy.
But I passed my riding test pretty easily. I don't know how a new rider could possibly do it though - there are some pretty tough balancing tests here in California.
I don't own a streetbike. It would absolutely impossible for me to obey any speed limit on a motorcycle. I'd be doing 90 in a 25 M.P.H. zone with my left hand in my lap... because it's that easy.
Pit Row
And a GS is definitely on my bucket list as well...adventure riding is going to be a part of my life just as soon as I stop racing. A tent and sleeping back, and dirt roads in the middle of nowhere just seems so fun!
As for the R1....watch out, too easy to go fast. Field gates are always next to the apex of a bend (tractors dragging mud onto road) along with manhole covers(like ice). Pigeons are the dumbest animals alive and love to play chicken with you. Try hitting one at 80+. Oh and a pheasant nearly killed me. 140 ish and it luckily went through my front forks but took my brake lines out. I must of looked like Rossi going round the next bend !
Enduro is the future(KTM300) esp with you living in Wales. Or a tourer like the BMW adventure, not long come back from a round trip to Sardinia. Road of bones is next for us i hope
Sports bike only good for blasts, try going on a long ride and you will need wrist and knee replacements !
After my friend ended his trip in Boise, I continued on through the Sierras and then down Highway 1. Even on this slow pig those twisty roads were way too much fun.
Few years later i do a trackday lesson and the first they tell me is to brake with 2 fingers max.
Those 'daily driving' instructors can't even pop a wheelie or slide into a corner.... Weird thing is, the only thing they do have allot of experience in (traffic) is not even taught/advised properly.
As far as keeping the brake and clutch lever covered, that's just a good safety habit in my opinion. I know in the US, the classes I have taken tell you to keep them covered, especially at intersections.
Here's a tip: I'm on my third one now...and my current scooter is the oldest / highest mileage bike I have owned. You don't need the latest greatest and you will actually meet a better group with an older bike with provenance. Sitting in my parking deck at work is my 2001 HD with 67k. It is a FLHPEI, which is the police Road King model for California. I named it "Moses" because when motorists see this gallant black/white beast-----they get the hell out of your way! Of course, I'm sure many are pissed after I pass---but I'm gone by then. I have a buddy who is a retired LAPD Motor Officer who recites a study that says motorists are more likely to hesitate an additional 2 seconds when observing a motorcycle in black/white enforcement livery. Two seconds can save your life. From personal experience, I believe the metrics he espouses.
Regarding traffic, I ride PCH from HB to NB damn near every day. Texting motorists are the biggest problem, although I find an incredible amount of hostility (in general) by some motorists towards bikes. I get tired of dodging idiots, but I can no longer ride dirt and I cannot and will not quit riding.
I'm okay 'going out' doing something that brings me sheer pleasure. I'm not okay wasting away in a nursing home.....
It's your life---live it.
Scraping platform on a daily basis.......
Cheers.
When the tester asks you to ride around the block, don't ask "on one wheel or two?"
It can be startling how stupid people are on the road. I've been run off the road numerous times by people who never even knew they almost killed me. I've had to jump off into the ditch beside the road to keep from getting hit from behind. I heard the guy's tires squealing and just dumped the clutch. Had to stop and turn my bars to keep from getting hit head on by two cars running a stop sign. The first guy missed me by less than two feet. The second driver saw me at the last second and ran off the other side of the road. I can still see his eyes. On the same day not thirty minutes later, a woman on her phone turned in front of me. Her daughter in the passenger seat screaming. That's the hardest I've been on the brakes in my life. I took a couple of weeks off after that day. I consider myself a very careful driver and rider. I get bent when people drive recklessly. Too many distractions. Not enough consequences for 'accidents'. A friend of mine was hit head on and nearly killed by a kid messing with his phone. He ran off his side of the road and jerked it back on. Crossed the center line and bam. Wrong place. Wrong time. It's unlikely that anyone could have avoided that crash no matter how careful. These days, I ride a dual sport bike and run full knobbies. I'm not tempted to go fast on pavement and I have traction when we hit dirt roads and trails. Something right now is either killing us or, waiting to kill us. You can't not live from fear of dying. I would never try to talk anyone out of riding bikes on or off road. I would however, recommend that you be VERY aware of others on the road. More importantly, be sure you know where you're going when you leave from here.
Post a reply to: Motorcycle Licence - who has one?