Motorcycle message boards?

October 21, 2012 2:05 PM

What are the best motorcycle forums? Too many hits from a Google search, so I'd love some specific recommendations. Looking for active members, friendly to relative newby questions. General is good, but some specifics about me: In the Northeast US, recreational rider (not racing), grown-up, older "standard" bike, very interested in riding safely with proper gear. Thanks!
posted by The Dutchman to sports, hobbies, & recreation (14 answers total)

Not a motorcycle person myself, but SomethingAwful often has surprisingly good communities for grown-up hobbies. Check out Cycle Asylum.
posted by wrok at 2:08 PM on October 21, 2012

ADVrider.com is theoretically focused on "adventure" riding, but is really about pretty much anything with two wheels, or two wheels and a sidecar, or...
posted by Forktine at 2:40 PM on October 21, 2012 [6 favorites]

It has a slight California slant, but as a non-Californian, I've always really appreciated the Pashnit forum. Great photos and videos, and some excellent threads on riding tips and safety.
posted by Superplin at 2:48 PM on October 21, 2012

My husband, who rides a Suzuki TU250 and is all about ATGATT, likes /r/motorcycles on reddit best.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 2:52 PM on October 21, 2012

Another motorbiking travel forum/blog is horizonsunlimited.com

Here's a friend of mine's blog on there about cross continent trips he did in Africa and America.
posted by merocet at 3:21 PM on October 21, 2012

Try Sport-touring.net. I would say the emphasis there is definitely toward touring rather than sport, and your standard bike (hey, whatcha got?) should fit in nicely. I personally find ADVrider too concerned with one-upmanship in terms of who's done the most strenuous/outrageous/technically demanding/expensive trip. YM (heh) MV.
posted by scratch at 4:03 PM on October 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

I like advrider myself. Also google the model of your bike with the word "forum" and you'll probably find a site specific to your bike or at least family of bikes.
posted by MillMan at 5:28 PM on October 21, 2012

ADVrider.
posted by swngnmonk at 5:39 PM on October 21, 2012

ADVrider has so much crammed in one spot.

From pictorial ride reports across Siberia, to restoration of old bikes, to never-ending debates on what bike is better, to rundowns on what is happening in your local region, you'll definitely want to put it in your rotation.
posted by ArgentCorvid at 7:10 AM on October 22, 2012

All good answers - thanks a lot. Scratch: Nothing yet! I had a Honda Hawk years ago, but I'm looking to get back into riding. Focusing my search on Late 70's - early 80's Japanese bikes between 500-750 cc, and hoping to find something for less than $1500 that's still reasonably reliable. Still figuring out if that's realistic or not.
posted by The Dutchman at 8:13 AM on October 22, 2012

I have a '78 Honda CB550 Four in pretty danged good shape that I'm looking to sell because it takes too much fiddling. The charging system sucks, which is typical for that model, so I have to kick start it or charge the battery every 8-15 starts. There is rust in the gas tank (which I could fix, but is also endemic in bikes of that era), so I have to clean 4 carbs every week or so. I love it, it is fun to ride, but I wouldn't call it reliable.

I love that era of bikes, but owning one turned out to not be as much fun as I'd hoped. Then again, my motorcycle is my only non-public form of transportation, so my definition of "reasonably reliable" may be stricter than yours.
posted by QIbHom at 9:20 AM on October 24, 2012

Yeah, after much research I've changed my mind. Now looking for the newest cruiser I can afford - both for reliability and so I can get my feet flat on the ground. Still 500-750cc.
posted by The Dutchman at 8:32 AM on October 25, 2012

My everyday bike these days is a Yamaha V Star, the 650 model. If they've been ridden and decently maintained (true of any used bike), they are pretty bullet proof. It is heavy, but several of my buddies started with them out of MSF school and were happy for a couple years (they've moved on to Harleys). In this area, at least, prices seem pretty good.
posted by QIbHom at 9:48 AM on October 26, 2012

Thanks - I'll add that to my list. I've mainly been keeping my eye out for a Vulcan 500.
posted by The Dutchman at 12:50 PM on October 27, 2012