New Cyclist?

[123]

Thanks for the advice. And I'm going to for sure take a safety course, as it'll teach me how to ride the thing and better my insurance premiums. :>

[tortus]

a main incentive for going with a bike is getting it new, quickly, and cheaply; and being able to insure it for practically nothing.

You probably need to accept the fact that you won't insure a new bike for practically nothing, especially if you are 17-18 and live in California.

Insurance on crotch rockets (if that's the route you take) can be outrageously expensive, especially for a young male.

[blues2cruise]

Lastly, do you really consider the boots a big deal? I haven't seen any I liked... :/

At least a boot of some kind that covers your ankle. Hiking boots or work boots for example are better than running shoes.

[Media Weasel]

\The thing with a motorcycle is in order to keep price down, I'll probably go with minimum insurance coverage and safety gear.

If you're not ready to buy the gear FIRST, then you don't have the maturity to ride in a safe manner.

Risky, I know.

No, you don't know. Or you'd buy gear first.

So for me a helmet feels like enough

I rest my case.

Listen, I know this sounds paternal and harsh, but here's the facts: you will VERY LIKELY drop your bike in the learning phase. Given your age and gender, I can almost guarantee it, and that has everything to do with reams of statistics - not me being a parternal jerk. For that reason you really should consider a used bike. Me, I'd suggest a 50cc scooter. You will learn more about safe driving than ever dreamed possible, you will have enough oomph to carry you and some stuff across down (I've done 80km round trips with it), you will save money on gas and insurance and you won't have as much power to kill yourself.

But if you're not going to get gear, forget it. If you decide you want to change your mind, check out ironpony.com: they have a sale now on Nitro jackets. I got two (one for myself and one for the wife) and they rock. $60 US.

[123]

Progressive gave me a quote of $156 for 12 months for an EX250R with information that is similar to what I will have when the time comes.


Am I confusing you guys with the blank quotes?

[tortus]

Progressive gave me a quote of $156 for 12 months for an EX250R with information that is similar to what I will have when the time comes.

That's for full coverage? Comprehensive and collision with at most $500 deductibles?

Progressive quoted me $507/year for a ninja 250 and $1029/year for a Yamaha FZ6 (Yamaha's smallest sport bike, but quite bigger at 600ccs), and I have no accidents, no tickets, great credit, and am 29 years old.

I have a hard time believing your quote is for full coverage (if you finance, you must get full coverage), and if it is then holy crap how did that happen?

[123]

No, minimum.

[tortus]

No, minimum.

Ok, and you've said several times in this thread you'd need to finance. If you finance, you can't get minimum insurance. Your insurance quote will go up a good bit.

[123]

Yes, I know; I misunderstood your post. It's to me ambiguous.

[123]

Noticing how serious all you are with safety, I'm becoming a bit paranoid. So more then likely I'll invest in a helmet, jacket, and gloves.

I don't consider the pants or boots practical because the bike would be almost everyday -- if not everyday -- use.

I'm going to find away around the insurance. Perhaps I can with a student loan? I think my sister did that. Family loan? I'll figure something out.