If you’re thinking about learning to ride, you’re probably wondering if you should start out riding a small bike or just “Go Big Time” and buy your dream bike right from the beginning. I’ll admit I’m a firm believer in the “start small” strategy, probably because that’s how I began my riding life. But, I know several people who started riding on bigger bikes and had no problems, so I know there are advantages to that strategy too. For what they’re worth, I’ve tried to outline the positives of each approach here.

Advantages of Starting Small

1. Virtually all beginners’ motorcycle safety classes use small bikes (125-250 & 500 cc) for students. It will be much easier for the new rider to make a transition to their own bike, once they get their license, if they start with a similar-sized, or only slightly larger, bike. The weight and handling of a large-cc bike would be completely different from the class experience, which might cause problems for riders who did not take to motorcycling with ease.

2. Starting small helps you build confidence. A smaller bike will feel more manageable and therefore, less intimidating. You may find that you quickly outgrow it, but you won’t be overwhelmed with a bike that’s too big, feels too heavy to control, or goes too fast too soon.

3. If you start with a small, used bike, you won’t have as much cash outlay at the beginning of your journey. It will be easy to sell the smaller used bike to the next beginner, and you won’t be “upside down” in an installment plan with a big, new bike, only to discover you don’t really care for motorcycling. You’ll also be less worried about “dropping” the smaller used bike, because it will likely have a few dings already – rather than being your brand-new pristine baby.

Advantages of ‘Going Big time’

1. You won’t have to go through the hassle of selling one or more bikes you’ve outgrown, possibly in a short period of time.

2. You’ll learn everything on the bike you plan to ride, so you won’t have an adjustment period getting used to new bikes as you move up.

3. This could be a less expensive option for you in the long run if you are “inheriting” a bike from someone else in the family who’s getting a new bike, or b). Are buying a brand new bike and plan to keep it long enough to spread out the “hit” you’ll take in resale value.

If you’re the type of person who does well by grabbing a new challenge by the horns, and if you have no reservations about being able to handle the size and weight of a larger bike, by all means “Go Big Time” and buy your dream bike. If you learn best by building confidence in graduated steps or if you tend to refer to larger bikes as “beasts,” then starting small is probably your best option. Whichever you choose, ride safe!

Monday February 1st
Chewy’s BBQ, Dundalk
If you eat our Five Pound Burger in one hour you eat free for a year.

Brian Farley
At Horse You Came In On, Baltimore

Tuesday February 2nd
Comedy open mic
Club Reality Bar and Grill, Baltimore

Port Discovery, Baltimore
New exhibit for kids and families will consist of four distinct components: the Stream Table and Water Cycle; On The Dock; the Fountain Garden; and Dryer Tubes. Ongoing

Wednesday February 3rd
Acoustic karaoke with Mark Beauchemin
The Reserve, Baltimore

Baltimore’s Next Superstar
Baltimore Comedy Factory, Baltimore
Become Baltimore’s Next Superstar: Winner receives $1000 and receives work at the Comedy Factory.

Thursday February 4th
5-Ways Thursdays
Power Plant Live!, Baltimore
One cup, one party, all night long at participating bars: Mosaic, Luckie’s Tavern, Angel Rock Bar, Mex, and Plaza Bar.
22nd Annual Good Neighbor Food and Funds Drive
Giant Food Baltimore will give customers the opportunity to help needy families by offering monetary or food donations to benefit local food banks
Friday February 5th

Boomerang Nightlife Party Bus Tour
Pratt Street Ale House, Baltimore
Meet at Pratt Street Ale House for a tour of Baltimore’s best bars and clubs
“Behind-the-Scenes” View of Walters’ Conservation Lab
Walters Art Museum, Baltimore
A “behind-the-scenes” look at a conservation studio by cutting a 4′ by 5′ window to allow visitors to observe the techniques conservators use to examine and treat museum treasures
Saturday February 6th
Antique Car Show
Lil Tony’s, Cockeysville
With Steve Rouse with Rouse and Company DJs. bring your ride in and if you win, get a gift card for Lil Tony’s.
Sunday February 7th

DJ Jason
Looney’s Pub Canton, Baltimore
Drink till we’re Funny:
Sunday, February 7 at Damon’s Grill, Hunt Valley
Stand-up Comedy > Comedy open mike
6-8 amateur comics and a national regional headliner
Monday February 8th

Charm City Swing
Little Texas, Rosedale
Beginner lesson 8-9 p.m., open dancing 9-11:30 p.m. Big band, rock and roll, and modern dance music.
Tuesday February 9th

Acoustic open mic
The Red House Tavern, Baltimore

Wednesday February 10th
Balls Out Comedy
Nadds, Baltimore

Baltimore’s Next Superstar
Baltimore Comedy Factory, Baltimore
Become Baltimore’s Next Superstar: Winner receives $1000 and receives work at the Comedy Factory

Thursday February 11th

Motor Trend International Auto Show
Baltimore Convention Center

Friday February 12th 13th & 14th
Timonium fair grounds
Timonium Motorcycle Show Mo

February 1, 2010 – February 28, 2010 | All Day Baltimore is home to many museums and interactive attractions where you can revisit history as often as you like. Experience over 100 inspiring African American visionaries and exhibits at the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum, then visit the Reginald F. Lewis Museum or the Douglass-Myers Maritime Park & Museum. There are numerous events and exhibits during the month, including a celebration of the contributions of African Americans in the railroad industry at the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum.

For some people, motorcycling is something done on a weekend, when the sun is out, the temperature is warm, and the days are long. They’re known as the “weekend-warriors.” And then there are the other people… those who’ll get on a bike and ride when it’s cloudy with a chance of rain, when there’s a chill in the air, and when the sun sets all too early. We call them the “hardcore” riders. No matter where you fall in the realm of the motorcycling universe, you are a rider, nonetheless. And we are not here to judge. There is one universal language among enthusiasts, the language of the ride. It’s one that we all know. We speak of big sweepers, tight twisties, and flat open roads.

This column will inform you of rides that are right here within your reach… from short afternoon rides… up to a three day weekends away from home. It will give you our take on what we’ve found to be the best roads and places in the greater Baltimore area and beyond. Whether we’re going to our local bike shop or hanging with our riding buds, we’re always networking for information on a good ride. That’s what we’ll be here to help you with.

In the summer, after work, we love to ride up into Northern Baltimore County. There’s an impressive network of small roads that cut through our local horse-country, and our local farm-country with fields of corn and hay. As we meander through this countryside we repeatedly cross the NCR trail tracking scents of heavy foliage and fresh-turned soil from the farms. There’s an abundance of one-lane bridges crossing clear streams full of wildlife. We will help you find these motorcycle-friendly roads with these beautiful farms and scenic bridges. We’ll share with you our favorite pit-beef stands and we’ll let you know where the best ice cream cone can be found.

If you’re looking for more of a weekend getaway, then we can help with that, too. West Virginia and Pennsylvania are closer than you think. We can let you know about the best motels that we’ve stayed in. Those that are rider-friendly, most of all… When we travel we don’t always look to stay at the major hotel/motel chains. We’ve always enjoyed the more local flair. When we look to do a weekend getaway one of the places we’ll go is the Marlinton Motor Inn in Marlinton, West Virginia. The last time we were there, we were lucky enough to see a bear not far from the motel. There are always a few bikes staying there on any given weekend, and we always find it to be a good time to walk around, have a beer, and chat with the other riders.

This column will help give you some idea about to where to go and what to do. You can use it as a guide to help make your ride all the better. We’ve got decades’ worth of experience and hundreds of thousands of miles under our belts. We just want to pass along a little of the experiences onto you, so that you can go out and enjoy what motorcycling has to offer.
Anyroad Anytime