| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
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| New Rider - Bike Selection | 10/30/2009 | Pat Hahn |
Q: Pat: This year I turned 50, took the MSF course, and started searching for a motorcycle based upon ...
A: Ron, good on you for giving it so much thought. A conscientious rider can learn to ride on any ...
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| Difficulty balancing when stopping or stopped | 10/20/2009 | Pat Hahn |
Q: I'm a newbie to the riding world and I just recently received my riders certificate of competance, ...
A: Low-speed riding is a difficult skill and it takes years of riding and practice to really master it. ...
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| Shifting question | 10/12/2009 | Pat Hahn |
Q: Well I been riding on a 250 moving to a 600 yamaha r6 09. Then I saw one of your answer about ...
A: The important thing is to shift where you're most comfortable shifting. My recommendations for when ...
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| motorcycle size | 10/10/2009 | Nigel Bowers |
Q: I'm 5'7 and 230 pounds. what size sportsbike would be best for me. ANSWER: I would be all to happy ...
A: The best thing I can suggest is you go to your local training centre and see what is available. Try ...
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| car | 9/30/2009 | Andrew Booth |
Q: 1. How do you know what motorcycle for me? 2. Can I get a $1500 such as Suzuki or Mitsubishi? ] 3. ...
A: Sorry Henry, I doubt very much if I could answer this one. Being in the UK I know very little about ...
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| Motorcycles | 9/27/2009 | Andrew Booth |
Q: Is Motorycles a better vehicle than cars? ANSWER: Henry, in which way do you need an answer? This ...
A: Henry, I'm sorry if it seems like I am being difficult but it is very difficult to answer this ...
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| new bike | 9/25/2009 | Brent Riffel |
Q: what is the proper size dirtbike for my eight year old son it will be his first bike
A: It really depends on his size and overall capability (you're the judge here). If it were me, I'd ...
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| Motorcycles | 9/23/2009 | Andrew Booth |
Q: Is Motorycles a better vehicle than cars?
A: Henry, in which way do you need an answer? This question is one of those that can't have a ...
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| new teen rider | 9/22/2009 | Pat Hahn |
Q: My 17 years-old daughter just completed the basic motorcycle training course. She has only ridden in ...
A: A dual sport in the range of 250-450 is a fine starter bike, but they tend to be rather tall. The ...
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| 1993 Yamaha Seca II | 9/13/2009 | Brent Riffel |
Q: I'm looking at getting one of these, but since I'm in school I want to make sure I'm getting the ...
A: They are fine bikes for commuting. The engine in that bike comes from a LONG history of Yamaha ...
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| Looking for a bike | 9/10/2009 | Brent Riffel |
Q: My wife and I both took the rider safety course. We bought a Honda Reflex Scooter (250) and we both ...
A: $2,000 would be tough to find something that didn't need some kind of work, but as I was thinking, ...
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| purchasing a first bike | 9/8/2009 | Brent Riffel |
Q: What's a good bike to start with? I'm 6' 4", and weigh about 215. I've been told that I'm too big ...
A: I think the Aprilia will fit your height better, but you can put some highway bars on a Sportster ...
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| motorbike safty | 9/8/2009 | Pat Hahn |
Q: what are the hazards when starting a motorbike
A: Unless the bike is a rickety bomb about to go off, there are no real physical hazards at startup. As ...
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| Thanks | 9/6/2009 | Pat Hahn |
Q: Pat, Just a note of thanks for your efforts. I attended the BikeSafeNC that rainy day in March that ...
A: Wow, thanks very much for the kind words. Mark is a hard worker and a true asset to the motorcycle ...
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| Brakelight requirement | 9/4/2009 | Pat Hahn |
Q: "I live in Minnesota and I know that a headlight and tailight are both required but am wondering if ...
A: A red taillight with a stop lamp is required in Minnesota, so no, the hand signal is not sufficient. ...
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| Brakelight requirement | 9/4/2009 | Steven E. Staples |
Q: I live in Minnesota and I know that a headlight and tailight are both required but am wondering if a ...
A: If a motorcycle does not have a functioning brake light it is not street legal. Not only is a brake ...
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| Stoping distance and time | 8/20/2009 | Nigel Bowers |
Q: I am trying to find out how much time and the distance it takes to stop a 2007 Suzuki GSXR 750 if ...
A: A very open question, but I found this article that may help: ...
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| upshifting on a roundabout | 8/16/2009 | Pat Hahn |
Q: When stopping at a roundabout (to give way), then taking off in first gear. I was told that you ...
A: This is a tricky question, but it's good that you're thinking about it. So: You should "be able ...
|
| Downshifting... | 8/13/2009 | Pat Hahn |
Q: I'm very new to riding, and my main problem has been shifting. More specifically, downshifting is ...
A: It is normal for the bike to rev up when downshifting. You're shifting to a smaller (lower) gear, so ...
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| Motorcycle Engine Size | 8/7/2009 | Pat Hahn |
Q: Pat: I am a pretty big guy, I stand at 6' 4" and weigh around 265 pounds. I am in the market for ...
A: Between the two bikes, I'd recommend the Boulevard. In general, for new riders I recommend a ...
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| wheel rim size and safety | 7/28/2009 | Pat Hahn |
Q: Wheel rims for scooters come in various sizes from 10" to 16". Is there any difference in safety ...
A: Not so much safety as stability. Smaller wheels make the bike less stable in a straight line--more ...
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| Safety | 7/21/2009 | Nigel Bowers |
Q: Hey Nigel.. I'm 17 years old and i weigh 58kg.. I really want to purchase a Suzuki gsx-r600 as a ...
A: I take it you are going do take your test in the States........ Here in the UK you would have to ...
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| hieght | 7/10/2009 | Pat Hahn |
Q: i have a 110 right now and i was wondering when i would need to switch to a ttr 120 or yz 80 and i ...
A: When you reach the point that there's nothing more you can learn on that bike--when you can make the ...
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| height | 7/9/2009 | Pat Hahn |
Q: im somewhere around 4-8 and have a yamaha 110 dont no how tall i need to be to ride a yamaha 120 and ...
A: Height is a real issue for novices. For experts, not so much. It's more a matter of feeling ...
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| italica | 6/17/2009 | Andrew Booth |
Q: Andrew, this may be off topic...but doyou have any English speaking web sites for the Italica motor ...
A: I agree, they are the best in the world. As for Italica, all I know is that they are made in China ...
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| Type of Bike I should get | 6/11/2009 | Nigel Bowers |
Q: I'm a new rider and I'm a 5'7" 135 lbs female and i'm not sure what size bike I should get for my ...
A: If I can give you some advice I will. First of all have been looking for a motorcycle yet, if so ...
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| motor bikes | 6/9/2009 | Andrew Booth |
Q: and im looking to buy a scooter, but im not sure what i can and can not ride. there is no bike ...
A: Sorry to hear about your car, hopefully all is ok with passengers and yourself? When did you pass ...
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| First Bike HD Sportster 883 or other | 6/3/2009 | Steven E. Staples |
Q: So I am looking to get into motorcycles. I have done a lot of research online about how to start: ...
A: Colin, if you are just getting into biking, taking the MSF BRC is a good first step. The course will ...
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| Max headlight output laws | 6/3/2009 | Pat Hahn |
Q: I've searched all over the web for an answer to no avail. Are there any laws that you are aware of ...
A: The first sources is the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards: Standard No. 108 - Lamps, ...
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| how to choose the right size motorcycle for me | 5/28/2009 | Steven E. Staples |
Q: How do I choose the right motorcycle for me? I am a new rider, almost 50 y.o., everyone seems to be ...
A: Ricky, your question addresses the most important considerations for making your bike selection. ...
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| license plate location | 5/24/2009 | Pat Hahn |
Q: what are california law regarding license plate location (left side, right side?)?
A: I'm unfortunately not an expert in California's motor vehicle code, but a quick Google search turned ...
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| front wheel wobble | 5/24/2009 | Andrew Booth |
Q: i have a ducati 916,i get the handle bars shaking between 40mph and 50mph,have had the front ...
A: I could do with a little more information about the types of wheel you've been trying. Is your wheel ...
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| First bike | 5/20/2009 | Pat Hahn |
Q: I am a newbie looking to buy his first used bike. I am 6'2" 235 lbs and the bike I am considering ...
A: That's a good enough starter bike. It will probably be a little small for you physically but you'll ...
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| sidecar | 5/9/2009 | Pat Hahn |
Q: I recently got a motorcycle with a sidecar, so both of my dogs could ride along. The hack is very ...
A: The torque upon acceleration and braking is unavoidable, it's just a characteristic of sidecars ...
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| motorcycle helmets | 4/27/2009 | Pat Hahn |
Q: I'm doing a project on if the U.S. government should make it illegal to ride a motorcycle without a ...
A: I disagree--the US and state governments should not mandate helmet use for all motorcycle riders. ...
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| I've never ridden and I'm a big guy. | 4/8/2009 | Pat Hahn |
Q: I'm about 6'5" and weigh in excess of 400 lbs. I have no experience on motorcycles but am really ...
A: Naw, you're not too big. As long as you have your wits about you and have decent motor ...
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| passenger riding | 4/7/2009 | Pat Hahn |
Q: my question is about passenger riding, my girlfriend being the passenger. her dad, and step dad, ...
A: Problem is, 600cc sportbikes just aren't designed for two-up comfort. They're homologated race ...
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| Honda Shadow Exhaust | 4/5/2009 | Steven E. Staples |
Q: I have an '02 Honda Shadow Spirit 1100, I've owned it since '03 and it's been a wonderful bike. But ...
A: Parker, I also ride an EXTREMELY quiet bike and I am hardly ever cut off, even in heavy traffic. The ...
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| Motorcycycle laws | 3/27/2009 | Steven E. Staples |
Q: In my state, I don't need turn signals on my motorcycle. If I ride in another state that requires ...
A: If turn signals are a requirement to legally operate a motorcycle on the street you would definitely ...
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| Un-winterizing my HONDA CM450E for Spring | 3/25/2009 | Brent Riffel |
Q: OK, now that the weather is turning warm in the mid-Ohio valley, and my motorcycle insurance is ...
A: If you haven't run the bike on a regular basis, I'd change the oil/filter, drain the fuel out of the ...
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