[speediva]

I am a beginner on a 650cc BMW bike. I've ridden my share of dirtbikes as a younger child, so I am perfectly capable of handling this motorcycle. As for the 250 debate, I swear I saw one on the street the other day (dubbed so by my father, a MANY year veteran rider, and AMA member).

The permit system is a joke. I sent a piece of paper into the DMV, and 3 weeks later, I got another piece of paper saying that I'm street-legal with a liscensed rider "within yelling distance" of me at all times. Hell, you can't get into a car without knowing general road knowledge, why should it be any different? I plan on taking my state's Motorcycle safety course, which grants me my liscense if I pass. That is a very good way, IMHO to be given your liscense.

Despite the fact that the above posts are very eloquent, and thought-out, there still needs to be the factor that not everyone has a deathwish, and ricer-boys should be left with their card-toting car members. If the lot of them want to go to some deserted road or track and leave their own flesh on there, I am all for it. The fewer the @ssholes, the better. Just don't make the rest of us pay for it b/c you are too stupid to use roads that innocent people ARE NOT on.