danisawesome

Hello everyone! I'm a soon-to-be rider from Portland, Oregon. I've been scouring Craigslist for a few weeks now and haven't come across what I'm looking for yet, which is a CB350 or CL350 that I can slowly convert into a cafe-style bike (emphasis on slowly, I don't even know how to ride yet!) I've always been deathly afraid of motorcycles until just recently, and have since been reading up on riding safe and being smart on the road as well as trying to learn about all of the models of motorcycles out there. I'm already a cautious driver, so I'm hoping that will help discipline-wise when it comes to learning the basics and getting things down.

I will also be taking a bunch of pictures as I love photography, so hopefully I can contribute to all of these awesome bike pictures here already.

Anyways, looking forward to nicer weather and getting my hands on my first motorcycle!

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galenernest

Welcome! Can't wait to see what you come up with... I like old Hondas.

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hath600RR

Welcome

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MotorPsych

Welcome - and yes you are right; converting to a cafe style bike is done best when done slowly. Looking forward to seeing the before and after photos when you find the bike.....

Meanwhile - here' some inspiration :

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SX/4

Sounds like fun! Welcome!!

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SprintnFJ

Welcome, and it sounds like you are making smart choices! I was pretty much convinced bikes were not for me about 5 years ago...now I am fairly fanatical I guess. I mean, I have a rare weekend off and I spent today at 2 different dealers over the course of 5 hours or so and I am not even in the market for a bike.

This is a great place for questions. Just take your time and be safe!

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danisawesome

I can't wait to see what happens either. There is so much inspiration out there that I don't know what I'm going to do.

Thanks!

Ngh! That picture. So hot.

I hope it will be :D

I used to be the same way about Volkswagens, but the I had a hard time with all of the drama in that community, so I'm hoping I will have a better time with fellow motorcyclists. I'm really excited to get going on a project, or even to just get some hands on time to figure out how everything works.

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cassandraj

welcome! fellow pdx n00b here

are you taking team Oregon?

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danisawesome

Nice to see other noobs in the area! I am signed up for June 7th, 9th, and 10th, which can't come soon enough.

Also, nice sig; Brand New is pretty great.

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akambience

I'm also a biking noob, and also plan on on converting my soon to be bike into some cafe racer styling. I already have new bars, mirrors, turn signals picked out.

I dig your avatar. It speaks truth.

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cassandraj

My Team Oregon class is the first weekend. I wish it had been this one, but I guess the DMV would've been closed Memorial Day and I'd have to wait for my endorsement. Next weekend will work, I guess.


Did you find a bike yet?


YUP. They really are.

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Transported

Welcome!

I don't want to dampen your enthusiasm, but when I hear people say they are deathly afraid of motorcycles, I have to wonder if it's the right activity for them.

Even experienced riders have to overcome their fear of riding now and then. But, my experience with riding—and the riders I know—is that we have a real passion for bikes that transcends any sort of fear. This passion begins early on. You see one and you immediately say, "I have to get one!"

I could be wrong.

What got you over your lifelong fear? What convinced you that you could do this?

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danisawesome

At least you got into one that soon, they were filled pretty far out when I registered. And I did find a bike! An 82 Yamaha xs400 that I bought from my father in law for $150 and a bottle of scotch.

Well, I started riding my bike here in Portland (with traffic) and really enjoy it and a lot of my friends have started getting motorcycles, so I was a little influenced by them. I also may have been slightly over exaggerating my fear, but I would blame that on the lack of exposure to real life motorcycle riding as I would only see wrecks and people driving like idiots on TV, but in reality that is the extreme negative side without regard to safe drivers out there. Plus, I consider myself to be a very cautious driver and that will definitely help on safe practices in my riding. I had never seen a cafe style motorcycle until a few months ago and that's when the interest began. I have full confidence that it will be a good experience and it will be as safe as I make it be.

Also, I don't believe in anyone having the exact same experience as the next person. If I had the mindset to never try things that I was apprehensive about, I would be missing out on so many amazing things.

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Phlebmaster

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cassandraj

Sounds like an awesome deal. I guess maybe depending on the scotch...



Maybe we can have a newbie ride in a few weeks after we're both kosher and whatnot! I want to do the Columbia River Historic Highway, eventually...maybe not my first ride but I'm up for moderate speed (45?) and some turns?

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