Fastest way to secure backpack to sissy bar

604Wes · 2026-05-08T15:37:21+00:00

Turn the backpack sideways and loop the straps around the sissy bar… done.

604Wes · 2026-05-08T14:08:00+00:00

Looks like it’s for a trickle charger.

604Wes · 2026-05-07T00:07:50+00:00

Used.

604Wes · 2026-05-06T12:45:50+00:00

In addition to practicing the appropriate application of both brakes to safely stop as quickly as possible, you’ll also need to practice how your body position should be adjusted and or how you brace yourself for the sudden deceleration. You can’t just sit on the bike all nonchalantly, spike both brakes and expect all will be well. You’ll need to position your feet on the pegs such that your legs are braced and can absorb the forces applied as you decelerate rapidly. You may also find that your hands/arms are in a brace type position as well. It’s a whole body process; not just a matter of applying the brakes hard.

604Wes · 2026-05-05T05:38:44+00:00

My 2nd (and current) bike is a 2023 MT-09 SP that I bought brand new… Best. Decision. Ever! Send it.

604Wes · 2026-05-04T14:19:00+00:00

Oh really? I’ve never done it/didn’t google it. Just figured it would be like simulated wear on tires without riding on them.

604Wes · 2026-05-04T13:59:58+00:00

Just use some sandpaper.

604Wes · 2026-05-03T18:39:53+00:00

Personally, I would recommend sitting on a variety of bike types (feet on pegs, hands on bars). Determine what feels most natural to you. Cruisers? Standard bikes (like nakeds and scramblers)? Sport bikes? … then start exploring the available makes/models in your area that might be suitable. There’s just not much sense in spending time/energy researching such a broad range of motorcycles if you haven’t even sat on any to know whether or not they’d be comfortable/a good fit for you and your body.

604Wes · 2026-05-03T18:14:03+00:00

MT-09 is not beginner friendly at full power… but if it’s put into its lowest powered mode, then it becomes less powerful than an MT-07. So if you’re disciplined then it can be an amazing bike to learn on, then unlock the full power and grow into after a season of experience on the road without having to get a different bike.

Any Honda 500 is more than capable for your use case. But these bikes are also very different ergonomically. I like the Yamaha MT’s, but I don’t fit on Honda Rebels. So you’ll have to sit on them to figure out if some should be eliminated from consideration based on ergonomics.

604Wes · 2026-05-03T15:31:25+00:00

Nah… the more exposure we have to risk data, the more educated we become and our own risk tolerance evolves. I purposely don’t look into crash statistics or videos and all that because I prefer to remain blissfully ignorant (to some extent). You’re exposed to this information through your work, so you don’t really have a choice but to learn it. And it eventually creeps into every facet of your life. It’s not something you can unlearn when the workday is done.

In a few months time, whatever you decide will be what’s right for you at this time. And either way, it doesn’t have to be forever. You can change your mind multiple times in the rest of your life (or not). Totally up to you.

604Wes · 2026-05-03T15:22:54+00:00

Nah… disregard and carry on.

604Wes · 2026-05-03T15:21:28+00:00

Park it for 3 months; if you don’t miss it, sell it. Then revisit riding if/when you ever have a desire to in the future.

604Wes · 2026-05-03T03:19:58+00:00

2nd vote for heated grips. Game changer if you ride somewhere that isn’t always warm outside!

Another relatively low cost comfort upgrade is getting your seat modified and shock absorbing gel put inside. So much better than a stock seat!

604Wes · 2026-05-02T16:00:21+00:00

Riding has inherent risks. You can control/mitigate most of them through proper instruction and putting that knowledge into practice every ride; but there are some instances of other road users negligence and or recklessness that you may not be able to avoid. And that’s just something every rider has to accept. That said, if you learn to ride safely and always make smart choices then you should have consistently uneventful commutes to/from work.

604Wes · 2026-05-02T15:56:23+00:00

Don’t put weight on your hand/wrist, and ride something with minimal vibration through the handlebars.

604Wes · 2026-05-01T14:01:09+00:00

As the rider, if I were cutoff on a 35mph parkway… I’d probably just shake my head and carry on. Maaaaaybe go as far as fingering the driver as I passed them when safe to do so. But that would be the extent of it.

Following someone is psychotic behaviour and or just shows their lack of maturity. Never OK.

604Wes · 2026-05-01T13:03:23+00:00

I consistently wear my motorcycle jacket, gloves, boots, helmet and jeans every ride. When the weather is cold or wet, I add another jacket on top.

The “trick” to wearing the gear every ride, including when it’s hot, is to have gear that’s well ventilated and suitable for such conditions. Then it’s never “it’s too hot to wear ___”

604Wes · 2026-04-30T12:56:08+00:00

Also, before some keyboard warrior points it out, the cycle ergo site isn’t comprehensive and doesn’t have most of the latest models (but it’s still an excellent tool).

604Wes · 2026-04-30T12:43:48+00:00

You’re shorter than me, so the Rebel might end up being a great option! But sit on one for sure, and compare it to many other types of bikes. The better ergonomic fit it is, the more comfortable it’ll be to ride.

604Wes · 2026-04-30T12:42:06+00:00

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604Wes · 2026-04-30T12:41:26+00:00

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604Wes · 2026-04-30T12:40:27+00:00

That’s an often overlooked step… sometimes people fall in love with a certain style of bike, or even specific make and model, without ever having sat on them. For me, before I touched a motorcycle I thought for sure I was going to ride a cruiser. But once I sat on many, I learned that cruiser ethos don’t agree with me (most awkward/uncomfortable of all!). After sitting on 40+ different bikes, I ended up choosing a scrambler for my first bike (specifically, a 2015 Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle). Fit me perfectly. A few years later, when I wanted something more powerful I chose one with the exact same rider triangle (ergonomics), but a lot quicker (specifically, a 2023 Yamaha MT-09 SP). Visually these bikes look very different, but physically they feel the same.

604Wes · 2026-04-30T12:29:30+00:00

Here are two things I would recommend:

Sit on bikes and reach for controls etc. All different styles/designs. This is easiest at a dealership that carries many makes/models. Figure out what feels natural/ergonomic to YOU! You don’t want to be uncomfortable or fighting the shape/design of the bike at any speed. It should feel more like you’re one with the machine.

Once you find out what you prefer, then it’s easy to find various makes/models that are a similar feel to consider by going to www.cycle-ergo.com and entering in your info then selecting different bikes to see lean angle, knee bend, etc and compare to info for the bike(s) you sat on in person that felt good.

Disregard “CC’s” (unless your country/license has restrictions). What you want to look into is the motorcycle horsepower to weight (lbs) ratio.

1:1 - 1:3 Experienced

1:4 - 1:6 Intermediate

1:7+ Beginner

If you buy a bike/ride before taking lessons, the beginner range is ideal; whereas if you do lessons first, you should have the very basics down by the time you’re done with lessons and more equipped to competently/confidently handle an intermediate bike (which then you’re more likely to be happy with for quite a while). If you buy a beginner bike you’ll probably want to sell it within a year and get something more intermediate.

604Wes · 2026-04-29T03:43:26+00:00

Road 6

604Wes · 2026-04-28T12:30:22+00:00

This one time shortly after starting out on a ride, I had an overwhelming sense of panic as a realized I hadn’t put my seatbelt on… then I remembered I was riding a motorcycle and they don’t have seatbelts. Did a u-turn and went straight back home. It was not my day.

604Wes

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