i need help making a budget

[Lion_Lady]

OR you could be cheap like me, go into the store, try the helmets on, have someone try to rip it off your head, etc. Note the make, model #, and size that works for you, leave the store, and buy it online! =-p

And don't be surprised if the next time you need something from that dealer they've locked their doors and gone out of business.

Folks like you who take up the sales staff's time with questions. Who add to the wear(abuse) of stock they have on hand by trying things on and then don't buy anything, are just another factor forcing the closure of storefront businesses.

P

[intotherain]

Being 18 you'll probably get shafted for full coverage insurance on a sport type bike. You might wanna consider cruisers for this reason.

The 250 ninja probably would be considerably cheaper to insure than a 500. Lightly used, low mileage ninja 250's pop up on craigslist and ebay alot in the 2k-2,500 range. Take the rest of the money and buy proper gear. A good helmet, jacket, riding pants, gloves and boots and that could add up to $500-1000, depending on what you get. Plus its always comforting to have some cash stashed away for just in case something breaks on the bike.

well if your into cruisers you could, but insurance isnt really too bad.. I think its more horsepower/CC that they count you on because I pay $92 for motorcycle insurance a month full.

My bikes 16HP 200cc and Im 17

my good grades also brought down my insurance.

yeah and definately get good gear. I paid about... $700ish in my gear.. and you should to. Heres what I have,

$200 HJC Helmet
$220 Leather/armored jacket
$60 boots
$70Icon Motorcycling jeans
$60 Leather motorcycling gloves.

= $610.

this may seem alot at first, (well it did to me) but I actually wished I bought a more protective jacket and boots and gloves, just like 20 or 30 more on each could got me way better gear. Now, $650 seems pretty cheap to me for what it has to protect...

First thing I bought was a helmet and gloves and boots.

later, I bought jeans and a jacket.

good luck on your gear and bike buying!

ha im wearing all my gear in the first picture of my sig

[storysunfolding]

If it's your first time looking for a helmet its worth finding a shop with employees who know their salt and can help you try things on. If you get that help then buy from them. Honestly, with shipping you get close to the same price online as offline, granted with a few exceptions. $30 extra to keep that shop open and that expertise around is 100% worth it.

I don't know about your area but there is a shop in falls church that has amazing staff for this stuff, Coleman powersports. They are known to rip people off on somethings (bikes and service) but their prices on helmets are pretty standard. They can tell you that if you fit a certain way in x helmet and a certain way in y helmet then A,B, and C helmets are the best for you given your headshape, budget and riding style (the same helmet can be quiet on a cruiser but noisy as hell on a sportbike). I've had them give me full walk throughs on helmets, researched what they said online and found it coincided 100% with my findings. I would buy any helmet they told me too.

For a budget, Lionlady hit it pretty well on the head. Go in expecting to pay $800. Take into mind that spring is coming so don't buy a winter weight jacket, at the same time don't buy a perforated summer riding jacket either. A good three season jacket is perfect in my opinion for a beginning rider.

Make sure you get the full gauntlet. Helmet, jacket, gloves, boots and pants.

Your hands, head, and feet are very fragile. Your core has alot of important parts and you don't want to have skin rub away below the belt (jeans are poor protection in any kind of riding)

[sir]

thanks a lot those that have helped so far.

i'll be sure to ask more questions as i get closer and closer to riding!