Pretend I'm a new rider. What advice would you give me?

[erbgottie]

Take a MSF course and pay attention to what the instructors say/show you!!! Then, apply their concepts as well as using common sense (sound and prudent judgment based on a simple perception of the situation or facts) and you'll be fine because common sense sums up everything that matthew565 said. If you can 't use common sense, then don't bother buying a bike. I've put on more than 28k miles combined from my SV650S, RC51, Suzuki SP250Z DS, Honda Rebel 450 and Honda Shadow 750 and common sense has prevailed in the past as it will prevail in the future. Although, I have done the 85mph wreck down the asphalt and it is NOT fun at all so just be smart about your decisions because you will pay for the bad ones.

[Marvin]

Learn how to turn your head side to side "WITHOUT" moving your shoulders or the rest of your body!

I see too many guys making that mistake, what they do when they look to one side they tend to move the rest of their upper body with their head and the bike steers that way.