Taking action.
I’ve narrowed my search down to two bikes.
Both Honda sport/supersport bikes made in this decade. Both are great handling and have won many awards and competitions.
Both are fuel injected, which I am more familiar with than the carburated systems on bikes; I honestly don’t understand why until 2000 carburated systems were dominate on motorcycles. The technology has been around since the 60′s and car manufactures started switching over in 1990. It is a much more efficient and tunable system. (Yea, screw R&D cost.)
Both are in the 1000CC engine class.
Both will cost in the excess of $120 per month for insurance.
Both produce in the excess of 130HP.
I currently am favoring the Honda RC51 over the Honda CBR1000RR:
One reason is it has V-twin which produces more torque at lower RPM than an Inline 4 (The other bike, Honda CBR1000RR). Which also makes it sound more similar to a Harley than a Honda Civic. The RC51 was a contender to the Ducati in the annual World Superbike Championships from 1990-2000, winning twice. Its not squid bait due to its relatively slowness in stock form (weight mostly). (Squid in motorcycle terms means someone who is: "Any of various neanderthal sportbike owners that ride carelessly & use poor judgement, consistently demonstrating a lack of common sense & similar to the motions of a real squid they are fast then slow, fast then slow (Fast in the straights & slow in the twisties…).") The RC51 will be cheaper in both initial cost and insurance. BUT it is supposedly heavier, dated technology (no real changes since 2002), gets 30-39mpgs (or even less when flogging it), and its aftermarket is geared more towards track (which really isn’t such a bad thing but does mean high cost for parts.)
Also I have registered for a MSF Basic Course:
I’ve decided to take this course so I have some riding experience, it will lower my insurance, and most of all should teach me the correct way to handle a bike (which I think is better than trial and error on my own bike.)
Shopping for auto and motorcycle insurance.
Back in March I saw my grandfather. During one of our visits he was shopping for insurance. Rather getting quotes from other insurance agents to, as he put “Make sure I’m not getting screwed by those dirty fuckers.”
I suppose that influenced my decision to get quotes from multiple agents for the motorcycle I plan to purchase in May. I started off by getting a quote from my current agent.
What’s getting insured:
The three bikes I’m currently looking at and getting quotes are:
2006 Honda CBR 600RR
2006 Honda CBR 1000RR
and a
2002 Honda RC51
Plus I had them give me a quote for the two cars currently on my policy (as a frame of reference):
1993 Nissan 240SX/SE
1998 Saturn SL1
Who is getting insured:
White Male
Unmarried
Under 25 years of age
0 Reported Accidents
0 Tickets have made it to my driving record.
Defensive driving discount
CDL Holder
The Quotes:
AllState:
For full coverage and a $1000 deductible:
06 1000 would be
3585.23 per year,
1792.62 per 6 months,
or 298.77 per month.
06 600 would be
1186.44 per year,
593.22 per 6 months,
or 98.87 per month.
02 1000 would be
2321.85 per year,
1160.93 per month,
or 193.49 per month.
For liability on the two cars:
1434.36 per year,
717.18 per 6 months,
or 119.53 per month
Nationwide:
Full coverage with $490 deductible:
2002 Honda RC51 would be
3440.00 per year,
1720 per 6 months,
or 286.67 per month.
For liability for the two cars:
1172.20 per year,
586.10 per 6 months,
or 97.69 per month.
He ran the RC51 first and after I saw the price, he took the jaw drop as a do not continue. I’m going to be contacting him again for a $1000 deductible for all three bikes as I just noticed the $490 deductible.
State Farm:
For full coverage and a $500 deductible:
2006 Honda CBR 600RR
1440.00 per year,
720 per 6 months,
or 120 per month.
2006 Honda CBR 1000RR
1440.00 per year,
720 per 6 months,
or 120 per month.
2002 Honda RC51
1320.00 per year,
660 per 6 months,
or 110 per month.
For liability on the two cars:
1402.72 per year,
701.36 per 6 months,
or 116.89 per month.
The quote from State Farm for the bikes seems to round and optimistic. I’m going to ask for another quote sent via email.
One of the very few times where being white screws you; plus I’m sure the unmarried and under 25 years old does not help either.
Motorcycles, the craft of riding.
Three weeks ago I thought I more or less understood motorcycles. Since then I’ve only began to realize the error of that assumption. I’ve been reading anything I can on motorcycles and people’s experiences with them. I plan to buy a motorcycle by May and hopefully ride well enough to take a long rode trip during my vacation in the latter part of the month.
The video above is some European examine for a motorcycle’s license. Its too bad that the licensing examines in America aren’t as stringent.
By the end of the weekend I plan to have read all the articles from Sport Rider magazine (all the way back from 95).
Ironically another visit with James Mallory
This time I was at work delivering a package. I saw the street name at the station and thought "I know that street, I’ve been on it. But where and when?" I was thinking and thinking, then realized "Oh yea."
Its a beautiful day, don’t let it get away!
James Mallory kicks ass again. Thank the gods because if it had made it to my driving record there is a good chance I would of got fired for a gray area of falsification at work.
Acquiring new driving licenses and endorsements.
Due to the new position I’ve bid on and won at work, I am required to carry a Class C CDL with a HazMat endorsement. I would certainly prefer not to have a CDL because, well I like the option of getting 4+ tickets in a 12 month/7+ in 24 month period opposed to a CDL’s 2 serious traffic violations gets you a 60 day suspension; which would mean a demotion to a handler position and associated wage. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t have or plan to acquire that many tickets on my record but I like the option if I ever become reckless again. I’m all about options and future moves. Plus I effectively forfeit my right to take a defensive driving course to “expunge” a ticket from my record. AND I am under the impression CDL holders can NOT get their driving record cleaned up ever unlike civilians where tickets only stay on record for five years.
DPS defines a serious traffic violation as:
Speeding 15mph or more or more above the posted speed limit
Reckless driving
Improper or erratic traffic lane change
Following too closely
Any traffic violation in connection with a fatal crash
No Driver License
Unlawful display/possession of Driver License
Fail to display Driver License
No Commercial operator license
Expired Commercial operator license
More then 1 DL in possession – Commercial Motor Vehicle
Domiciled over 30 days – (CDL Operator who has resided in Texas more than 30 days and has not obtained a Texas CDL)
Railroad violations (convictions for violation of a law that regulates the operation of a motor vehicle at a railroad grade crossing)
That is a lot of things to avoid.
I’ve already taken the CDL test and HazMat endorsement test at the DPS. I passed the CDL portion and failed the HazMat portion by one question. I have to go back and retest for the HazMat portion.
Also because I plan on buying a motorcycle, I’m going to need to get a Motorcycle Endorsement which means I have to take a written test (which is misleading because DPS wised up and now is strictly using computer testing) which permits me to operate a motorcycle in the present of someone who is 21 years of age and carries a Motorcycle endorsement on their licenses. The law really should clarify that the person be aware they are supervision a permit carrier’s action, as I think someone would argue if a motorcycle officer were to pull over a permit only motorcycle rider. “Officer, I was obviously being watched by someone 21 years of age and carrying a motorcycle endorsement, I mean shit you pulled me over didn’t you?”
Rather be ticked off, than pissed on.
In the past two days I’ve managed to piss off three people, mostly unintentionally.
I pissed shane off mildly by using all of his plates. Two of them were clean in the dishwasher but he wasn’t aware of that. Ooops, but seriously, there is something wrong with the plates I own. I put them in the mircowave and I can’t touch them for 10 minutes. His, even after being in the microwave for 5 minutes the plates are practically the same temperature as when they were put in.
Then tonight I pissed off my brother who was getting hounded by my mother. Apparently my brother’s girlfriend sent him breast shots accompanied by suggestive text messages. Her parents found out after grounding her due to poor performance at school. He’s been quite defiant lately (since turning 14) and does not get the concept of parental legal responsibility. I had to explain the concept to him after giving his mother a lot of shit about the stuff she owns that he uses. My brash way of putting things went against his grain of being a bad ass/radical like his idol Tyler Durden.
Then I almost sent my roommate into rage when I assess an extra $40 to his $22.23 internet bill because he paid me late. Late is late and business is business. Really when I put that clause in the roommate contract I didn’t expect to have to use it; but I have; twice. I’ll end up the one short because I paid the full amount on the deposit which will all probably go to fixing the door. Which didn’t break itself, when the privacy lock was set and no one answered the door.