License - check, MSF course - check, bike - check......

[oxbow1]

congrats on your endorsement bro!

a used bike though, why didn't you take out a 2nd mortgage and just get a Harley?

take your time and do things at your own pace and you'll have a good time.

don't pick up any passengers at the Rahway DMV though, as I recall it's right next to the prison.

I used to live in Iselin

[jasper_mcc]

Congratulations.

I went 10 years from passing my test (in the UK) to buying a bike.

I went for a 650 last month. I figured someone of my advanced years and maturity could handle it.

Good luck. I hope you enjoy it as much as I've been enjoying mine.

[MZ33]

Rhadam got his bike! Hey, Everyone, Rhadam got his bike!!



Congrats!!

[RhadamYgg]

Rhadam got his bike! Hey, Everyone, Rhadam got his bike!!



Congrats!!

Many Thanks MZ33!!! I somehow missed your message the first time around.

So, I took my bike out for a ride today. Strictly inside my little development.

I took it all the way to 5th gear!!! I was cooking....

I was doing a whole 25 mph...

Ah well. I felt like I was going fast, anyway. It is, in fact the fastest I've ever ridden on a bike. My aim wasn't to go fast, but as I wound through the gears I was like - wow I must be going fast I'm in 5th gear! It turns out not so much on a Ninja 250.

2108 miles when I got the bike home when I bought it - I'm in a really small development and.... I rode it back and forth doing U-turns on one end - 2117.1 miles after my ride.

Back and forth back and forth. Not so much braking practice. It was from 11:30 PM to 12:00 AM that I was doing my practice riding.

Not bad anyway, no drops only a couple oh sh!ts and a little too grabby with the front brake.

I will say this though, with all the shifting, using my turn signals (not really required because some sections are one-way, but doing it anyway) I can't help but think about all the other crap you have to be looking out for while you are doing the motorcycle jam with both hands and both feet. Gonna be a while before I hit the streets in any real sense.

RhadamYgg

[RhadamYgg]

P.S. U turns are all about clutch control

I agree totally.

do NOT try U turns in second gear.

I don't agree with this. It depends on the individual bike, gear ratios, etc. In my MSF BRC instructors recommended we experiment with 2nd gear for the figure 8; it worked better for some folks. I took the course on a TW200, those things are geared low, and I think I used 2nd.

What will Brackstone be riding now?

As soon as I know everyone here will be the second to know! (My fiance` is the first )

Thought you were gung-ho for the Aprilia Shiver?

I did a bunch of U-turns tonight on my bike as I rode it for the first time.

2nd gear was king for the u-turns. 1st was too jerky and I did actually do it in 3rd, but that wasn't very fun.... (forgot what gear I was in). But I was not actually all over the clutch.

Of course, my u-turns probably weren't as small as the ones for the MSF course. We have pretty wide streets here. But some of my u-turns seemed pretty tight to me!

RhadamYgg

[RhadamYgg]

Congratulations!!!

What will Brackstone be riding now?

Thanks man! Took it for a ride tonight and it was fun!

I do remember the first time I had a car behind me! My mirrors were not adjusted right and I was like - "I see their lights, but where exactly are they!" So, I fixed them the first opportunity I had to pull off to the side by my house and stop.

RhadamYgg

[RhadamYgg]

Grats! on both counts (the sale for Brack and the purchase for you!)

P.S. U turns are all about clutch control rather than throttle control, do NOT try U turns in second gear. Good luck and enjoy the journey! Take care.

Thanks! The gearing on the Ninja seems to like 2nd for u-turns. But at the moment I'm still really 'green' and I may change my mind on that over time.

RhadamYgg

[IcyHound]

I have to admit I don't do many uturns... maybe its the type of streets I ride on.

[AsherPalm]

Grats on the bike, RhadamYgg! I just got a 07 Ninja 250 as well (first bike)! I haven't taken her out yet, but plan on it for this Saturday morning. I'm really excited =-)

[koji52]

i do u-turns fine in practice...never have had to do one out on the streets though...NJ doesn't like u-turns.