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08-01-2005, 06:53 AM
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#2 of 31 
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Local Time: 04:28 AM
Local Date: 09-07-2008
Posts: 536
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If you've ever driven a stick, you know the mechanics, and you'll get the idea in a few hours. Getting your license shouldn't be hard either; in PA the hardest part is the figure eight. So I'm sure you could get the license in whatever the minimum time is in Georgia
The bigger concern is doing it under pressure at higher speeds - weight shift when turning, down shifting without loccking up the wheel, riding while staying alert for stupid car drivers. Since you're in Atlanta, a big city, (never been there though) my recommendation is to stay in the outskirts (suburbs?) for a year until you feel really, really comfortable.
Almost forgot, take a riding couse. Not only will probably lower your insurance; you won't teach yourself any bad habits.
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08-01-2005, 07:58 AM
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#3 of 31
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2000
Local Time: 04:28 AM
Local Date: 09-07-2008
Posts: 169
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I think in Georgia you have to take a riding course to get your license.
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08-01-2005, 08:19 AM
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#4 of 31
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Member
Join Date: Jan 1999
Local Time: 04:28 AM
Local Date: 09-07-2008
Posts: 4,197
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www.msf-usa.org <- start reading and sign up for the Beginner's RiderCourse. That Virago - er- V-Star is a terriffic bike. 
Philip Hamm
Moderator Emeritus
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08-01-2005, 08:21 AM
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#5 of 31
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Linda
Member
Location: Darlington, SC
Join Date: Apr 2004
Local Time: 04:28 AM
Local Date: 09-07-2008
Posts: 967
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08-01-2005, 09:08 AM
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#6 of 31
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2002
Local Time: 02:28 AM
Local Date: 09-07-2008
Posts: 3,718
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The hard part is having to find someone to ride with (Can't ride solo with a permit in NY)!
If you can drive stick and ride a bicycle, you should pick it up in a weekend.
"Did you know that more people are murdered at 92 degrees Fahrenheit than any other temperature? I read an article once. Lower temperatures, people are easy-going, over 92 and it's too hot to move, but just 92, people get irritable."
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08-01-2005, 09:37 AM
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#7 of 31
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Member
Join Date: May 2001
Local Time: 04:28 AM
Local Date: 09-07-2008
Posts: 525
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I want to second the MSF beginner's course. Best money I ever spent(a dozen years ago). They teach you how to operate the bike safely, rules of the road, and give you techniques for handling the bike that you do not want to learn the hard way. They provide you with a bike that you can make your early mistakes on and not worry about dropping your own. Plus it's just fun and no pressure, since everyone is there to learn. Oh and a lot of states let you get your endorsement at the end of the course. Win-win-win situtation.
 Mike, FL
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08-01-2005, 10:00 AM
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#8 of 31
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Join Date: Jul 1999
Local Time: 08:28 AM
Local Date: 09-07-2008
Posts: 3,320
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I think motorcycle driving is a very dangerous pastime. I drove bikes for several years (quite a while ago), and owned 3 different bikes over that time.
I just loved going around to dealers to try out the latest and greatest. I drove some bikes that you rarely hear of like Moto Guzzi. That horizontal V-Twin was so heavy, I thought it was going to go down in a turn. Crazy Kawasaki 3 cylinder 750. The big Honda 4 cylinder jobs.
I was pretty fortunate that I only had a couple minor falls. Wet leaves once, ice once. That was enough for me.
I heard recently that motorcycle deaths are up ten fold over the last several years to over 4,000 per year. This has proven helpful to those people waiting for organ transplants. In the Emergency Room, the docs call bikes, "donorcycles".
Bikes are not an inexpensive hobby either. $3K for the bike. If you want to be safe, $150 for a good helmet, several hundred for boots and leathers. Insurance, maintenance. None of this is cheap.
It seems you have already thought about some of these things and decided it is worth it.
If nothing else, I sure hope you will wear a helmet.
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08-01-2005, 10:34 AM
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#9 of 31
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Member
Join Date: Jun 1999
Local Time: 01:28 AM
Local Date: 09-07-2008
Posts: 21,275
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Well, Arthur, let's keep this on the bright side, sir. The issue is that he is taught by a reliable person, and for that go to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Learn on a manageable, smaller machine (meaning that the 650cc machine he has mentioned is a tad large for a newbie -- I'd stay well below 500cc during the learning phase).
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08-01-2005, 11:24 AM
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#10 of 31
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Member
Location: Othyrworld
Join Date: Aug 1998
Local Time: 01:28 AM
Local Date: 09-07-2008
Posts: 8,673
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Ah motorcycles....
I had one for a while, but failed my test (crashed the bike because the tester was too busy gossiping with my instructor to pay attention to my flawless first round) and never got a license. As long as you remember that you are completely invisible to other drivers, and drive VERY defensively, you should be fine.
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