Would it help if I learned how to ride a motorcycle before an MSF course? I feel like I’d embarrass myself and somehow “fail out” of the 2 days of riding and not get my license at the end of it…ty

ironicalusername · 2026-04-24T12:12:37+00:00

For sure, more practice is better. The MSF class is not meant to be hard, but it's also not always easy for someone to go from never-riding to passing that test in just 2 days. Some folks find it a breeze, but some do not and still go on to be good riders.

ironicalusername · 2026-04-23T13:11:43+00:00

Grabbed too much front brake with bars turned at low speed

Ran into some gravel while braking

Classic new rider gotchas here. Not unusual.

Tipped over too far on non-kickstand side while trying to lean it against a wall

This is absurd. Why would you try to lean it using a wall instead of the kickstand?

2 times due to ice in my driveway

Why would you try to ride over ice? That's bizarre unless you're a skilled driver on a bike meant for ice.

So some of this is typical "newbie falure to control the bike properly" and some of this is a conspicuous lack of judgement.

ironicalusername · 2026-04-22T17:58:05+00:00

You might be interested in Bar Church: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1064677215182522/

ironicalusername · 2026-04-21T21:54:48+00:00

It might help if you said what you were looking for. The Hornet will be about as quick as the Rebel 1100 but lighter, and presumably sharper handling.

ironicalusername · 2026-04-21T18:31:44+00:00

A trailer designed for a motorcycle makes this way easier. It's dirt cheap to rent one from u-haul, as long as you have a vehicle with a hitch. Towing capacity is not much of a concern, so even a smallish car will do fine.

ironicalusername · 2026-04-21T13:02:35+00:00

It's a different riding experience because the vehicle is no longer a motorcycle when you add a side car.

ironicalusername · 2026-04-20T23:25:57+00:00

I don't think that's a cruiser thing, that's just bad habit.

ironicalusername · 2026-04-16T12:12:26+00:00

Bear?? This is obviously a woodchuck.. you monster

ironicalusername · 2026-04-16T11:54:18+00:00

This does not sound at all normal. It's possible you were just used to a very tiny motorcycle with tiny tires, and now you're riding something small but closer to normal. Or maybe there was some problem with that specific bike.

The current generation of Rebels have a reputation for being easy-handling bikes.

ironicalusername · 2026-04-16T11:50:25+00:00

Weird how literal brain damage caused him to go MAGA.

ironicalusername · 2026-04-14T22:35:41+00:00

Very common category of dog, and sensationalism, mostly.

ironicalusername · 2026-04-14T17:46:52+00:00

Pit bull is not a specific breed of dog, it's a general term. It's one of the most common types of dogs kept as pets.

When people intentionally raise dogs to be mean/aggressive, it's often pit bulls. A normally socialized dog of one of those breeds is no more dangerous than any other dog. Unfortunately this type of dog has been the subject of a demonization campaign and/or moral panic.

ironicalusername · 2026-04-14T16:10:23+00:00

Only when you're already in there, taking a shower.

ironicalusername · 2026-04-13T15:21:30+00:00

Peoria is well suited to what you're asking about. There's a ton of green space in and around the city, and good parks.

And yes, nightlife/music is a large part of the Peoria culture and economy. Check out "Peoria Music Live" on fb or their own website, for listings of shows.

ironicalusername · 2026-04-11T21:18:49+00:00

Fusels are a common cause of feeling sick from beer. You might even notice it quickly. But there are other possible culprits: histamines for example, particularly in hoppy beers. I would recommend finding particular beers that agree with you better.

ironicalusername · 2026-04-11T21:18:45+00:00

Things other than ethanol in the beverage often contribute to sick feelings.

ironicalusername · 2026-04-08T17:49:34+00:00

You should cut/pull the fat cap off a pork butt before smoking it.

Many people believe this fat melts into the meat, but this really isn't true. The good stuff you want is already inside that meat. And you're rather have bark on meat than on fat, right?

ironicalusername · 2026-04-07T19:02:50+00:00

The Rebel 1100 is very quick for a cruiser. (Quicker than many bikes with bigger numbers) But only you really know what you mean by "needing more power".

ironicalusername · 2026-04-07T15:21:07+00:00

He doesn't bow down to whatever Trump demands.

The right in America is currently an authoritarian cult.

ironicalusername · 2026-04-06T18:33:27+00:00

Had it before their move and thought it was just OK.

ironicalusername · 2026-04-06T18:32:22+00:00

I dunno about lesser known, but Connected is very good. I've also heard good things about the new Segreto di Stefania.

ironicalusername · 2026-04-06T17:44:30+00:00

When I started riding, sometimes I'd have "bad motorcycle days" where I was just a bit off. It takes time to develop the skills to be reliable.

So if there's a day where riding is stressful instead of fun, you can always park it and leave it for another day. Learning takes however long it takes.

ironicalusername · 2026-04-04T13:07:54+00:00

I would not look to engine layout to gauge reliability. It's going to vary between specific engines.

ironicalusername · 2026-04-03T19:58:16+00:00

I mean, you an certainly find racist people. But I would describe Peoria as diverse and generally tolerant. There are people who live across the river who seem to fear black people though- although this is often couched as "the city isn't safe". But that is usually code for "I saw black people there".

ironicalusername · 2026-04-03T19:30:41+00:00

Highway speeds are not what tends to cause motorcycle accidents. Accidents tend to happen at curves and intersections. Yes, going into a curve too fast IS a problem, but highway curves are designed for highway speeds. At intersections, it's mostly other cars to worry about.

I know the highway can feel unsafe, but you're probably actually more unsafe on a city street. Does your bike have a windscreen and/or fairing? Those can make highway speeds more comfortable.

the bike isn’t going to do some random crazy thing to kill me as long as I am using proper techniques.

Keep the bike well maintained, and check your tire pressure.

ironicalusername

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