Don't feel bad. I was at a stop sign about a month ago when the car in front me decided to back into me Turned out the two guys in the car were illegal and not licensed and were begging me to not call the cops. Too bad for them as I was checking out my bike for damage and they were pleading for me to not call the police a trooper happened to roll up to the stop sign. So I flagged him down explained what happened and let him deal with them. Fortunately no damage to the bike as I was heads up enough to lower the bike as he came into me so the bike went under his bumper rather than into it. Plus riding a supermoto does have it's bonuses when it comes to crashes. Once I figured out my bike was solid minus a couple slight scratches in some of the plastics I walked over to the Trooper and said "My bikes good, you need me?" He responded with "Nope, your done here these guys aren't. You can head out." What really pissed me off is after they backed into me they actually laughed about it so I have no sympathy for them.
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That's what I am going to be going for a 750-800cc cruizer.
I got the scooter to see if I liked being on the road with other people. Like you said it is way easier to ride around some cones in a parking lot then it is to be on the road with the cones be 10 times your size driving at you.
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I too try to drive mine like everyone is trying to kill me.:-)
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Just for kicks here a 'fun' accident story. Guy on our motorcycle board was commuting from from San Francisco crossing over the Bay Bridge on his KLR. A van punted him over the railling. Yes, like 40 feet down and over the side. He lands on a parked SUV down below. Broken ribs, torn spleen, cracked back, some other 'minor' issues but he's alive. The suspension and smashed roof of the SUV saved his life. Guy spends a few weeks in the hospital and is now home about to start rehab to get back to walking. While he's in a ton of pain, he's supposed to make a full recovery.
So what did we learn? NOthing but it's an interesting accident.
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I would recommend the Honda Shadow 750 then. Couple of different looks to pick from. Most folks pimp them out to the max in chrome (which doesn't count in the price). Beautiful balance, small enough to learn on, but still powerful enough if you want to get up on the interstate safely. It does get a little buzzy around 70 - 75 mph but runs strong, even two up with the wife. I rode one for ~20k miles and loved it. A lot out there to pick up cheap as the original owner moves up to a bigger scoot.
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Oh they are, it's just your defense that will keep you alive.
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Taking a MSF course his weekend and then I will be lookng to get either a

Vulcan 900
Sazuki 800
Honda 750

To get into riding again after mny many years away. Fortunately Delaware is a huge biker state (fr such a small state) so most people either ride or know a rider.
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I ride in and around Atlanta, almost every time I ride someone tries to take me out. Over the years I have learned to pick out potential hazardous drivers and I aways try to go through an intersection along side a car.

I saw one of my friend kick a car door while riding. Luckly we we going slow because it threw him off the bike.

Stay Safe Y'all.
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:-)

As others have said, expect people to not see you, and you'll be a lot safer.

On the highway I give myself plenty of space. In the city everytime I approach an intersection I simply assume somebody is going to blow the stop sign, blow the redlight, turn in front of me.....

Saved my ass any number of times.
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All 3 are good rides but I am partial to the Honda 750. Easy to work on... easy to ride and runs for years without any breakdowns. I have owned 3 Honda motorcycles and they just run and run and run. I traded a Suzuki in for my current bike and it ran great as well.

I completely agree with you. Everytime I go downtown invariably I run into these same jagoffs as well and use the same method as you do...use another car as a buffer or shield. We'll have to set up a time for a cigar next time you are downtown...some great cigar places that I visit.
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Pete, Just picked up a 2007 Vulcan 900. Love it. It's replaced my old, trusted '86 Yamaha Maxim.
the Suzuki C50, which I think is the 800 you're talking about, is it's main competition, they are both great bikes but in the end I preferred the Vulcan.

If you have any questions about the Vulcan let me know and I'll try to help
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Stay safe , we are going on a run today!
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Ditto, should be 40 - 50 of us on a memorial ride today. Clear and warm weather, should be good as long as I don't get re-ended again.
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If I didn't have a Fatboy, it would be a Suzuki Boulevard in that size.

Nice cruiser in that range and lots of used ones on the market hardley ridden.
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In that size/style I am a big fan of the Honda VTX.

But for now I will stick to supersport bikes.
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Supposedly the VTX 1800 is done for. No more. Honda killed the Valk and the VTX 1800, nothing is allowed to dare impact the sales of the holy grail Goldwing. Problem is, as supior to all other motorcycles as it is, not all want to ride a tupperware motorcycle. I had a VTX 1300, outstanding motorcycle.
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I'm in that club.

Been a week since I've ridden my Harley as it's in for one of those $500 services they recommend every 10k miles.

Also getting all 3 fluids changed that they need opposed to the 1 a metric needs.

Gotten tighten a bunch of stuff as well that rattles loose on those damn hogs.

What was it called agin? A Valk?
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Austrian bikes aren't much better. My KTM supermoto has 3 oil filters and you have to 'burp' the frame as well since it carries oil in the head tube. Getting the lower filter cover off the bike is a major p.i.t.a. and can take me 5 minutes or 25 minutes depending how how much of a pest it wants to be. It's a big single cylinder and vibrates like crazy. Emergency zip tie repairs have been knows to happen on several occasions when things vibrate off the bike in the middle on nowhere. :-)
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But the best part is, if you lay it down chances are as long as your still in good enough shape to get back on it, she'll be A-OK to hop on and continue your ride. Not too many bikes that have that perk.
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I have crash bars to rest my feet on as well as keep my 850 pound bike off my scrawny frame if I lay it down.
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