good morning from Vancouver!

[Islesfan91]

Only 6 more days......

5 today! Is it apparent I'm a little bit enthused for this?

[Islesfan91]

so they got enthusiastic and delivered the bike on saturday (I may have told them it was okay). No riding for me yet, the only thing I did was walk it around a little bit and played with the friction zone of the clutch (no throttle, hand on the brake!)

As much as I'd like to try it out, I don't feel confident on it especially knowing I will start the course on wednesday. I'm very aware that I don't have any knowledge other than what I've read, and doing it is entirely different. I just got a little bit of experience seeing how it felt on the bike (good!) and letting out the clutch halfway and very slowly, and shifting from neutral into first and back.

I was a bit nervous on it and had a good friend with me who wanted to see it and who has been riding (started on dirt bikes when he was 10) and his advice was quite valuable. He said the only thing I should be doing with the course coming up was to get familiar with sitting on the bike. He said that it was natural to be nervous on it having never ridden and that the course would be a great start.

Feels a little funny as a 38 y/o to be nervous but I've become pretty damn safety conscious in the last 3-4 years especially so I know the course will help me feel a lot more comfortable once I've had some experience with it. I imagine there are some that would laugh at this, but I'm concerned about learning this properly and keeping myself safe, so as silly as I feel owning a bike and not even riding it yet, I'll continue to take it the way I want to and do the course this week. I don't even know if I'll be out on the roads until spring, I see a hefty dose of backstreet practice after the course.



(ps, the left side mirror is down so no one knocks into it!)

I'll get a picture of it in the sunshine after the course, weather permitting of course

[ceemes]

Oh bugger, and I was planning on visiting Burnaby Kawasaki after work tomorrow just for the express purpose of playing around with your new toy.

Anyways, happy bike home day. You are gonna love that machine, just be careful of its electronics, seems to have been a weak spot of every Kawa I've owned, my GPz1000, two KZ550's and my current Concours, all seem to hate getting their electrics wet.

Once you get some miles under your wheels and feel comfortable riding, give me a shout and I will recommend some great rides to you.

[Islesfan91]

Oh bugger, and I was planning on visiting Burnaby Kawasaki after work tomorrow just for the express purpose of playing around with your new toy.

Anyways, happy bike home day. You are gonna love that machine, just be careful of its electronics, seems to have been a weak spot of every Kawa I've owned, my GPz1000, two KZ550's and my current Concours, all seem to hate getting their electrics wet.

Once you get some miles under your wheels and feel comfortable riding, give me a shout and I will recommend some great rides to you.

I was surprised at how it felt comfortable to be on the bike yet how easy it was to get a bit of extra throttle while reaching for the brakes. I'm sure it's because I don't have any experience and don't know what I'm doing, which caused some butterflies so I'm pretty happy my course starts shortly and I'll get some valuable instruction and experience. I liked that the bike has what feels like an easy weight to it and doesn't leap forward when releasing the clutch but I'll leave it parked until my course is over and come back to it next week. My crummy phone pics don't do it justice, especially in a dark garage

[sunshine229]

Hi and welcome!

Absolutely beautiful choice of bike! However I would have suggested the Ninja 400 instead...

Good on you for waiting until your course is out to ride the new wheels. Sounds like you've got a good head on your shoulders so maybe we can spare you the "take it easy" discussions???

Good luck and have fun on the course!

[Islesfan91]

thanks for the welcome! I'd like to think I'm older and wiser, but I know it's a continual process

I did look at the ninja 400's, but I went with the 650 because the purchase price was only a 500.00 difference aaaaand it was too hard to resist the orange. I know, I know

The good thing is that the two friends I have who ride are NOT speed demons or daredevils, and both are saying take it slow and wait until after the course as well. That, and the little bit of the jitters I got while playing with the clutch have made it easier to leave it until next week.

Right now my excitment level is through the roof, but with the nerves it's tempered a bit. Wednesday will come quickly and while the first 3 days are classroom time, it'll still be teaching me the things I'll need to know to be safe and not a danger to myself or others. I'm really looking forward to saturday, sunday and monday though. Those are the parking lot sessions and monday is a road ride as a group. After I finish those I'm hoping to be ready to start riding my bike, at least to practice everything I learn at the course on my bike as well.

It does feel a little embarassing to have the nerves on the bike, but I'm only pushing myself as fast as it feels comfortable with the long term goal of being a happy and safe rider in mind.

[blues2cruise]

Nervous is normal.

[Islesfan91]

first of three classroom sessions tonight, I'm going to be exhausted but looking forward to getting started. I'd be lying if I said I was looking forward to the classroom sessions though, I just can't wait for saturday and the parking lot when we start working on the bikes

[madjak30]

I was 39 when I started...I think you made a great choice of bike to begin with...you will not have any need to "upgrade" with that one...not too powerful, but not under powered...you will be surprised how fast the course will flow...it will be over before you know it, so pay attention to how to set up for corners and braking...the other thing is to not get "cocky" after riding for a few months...I just finished my second season, I have about 19,000kms under my belt...but I crashed and my bike sits in the garage with a bent fork (along with other broken bits, scrapes & bruises...)...so if you start to get the "I've got this..." feeling, take a step back and practice cornering and braking some more...

And being that you are in the lower mainland...try your best not to travel along side someone (I know, easier said than done)...I think a windshield blinds most drivers out there...I lived in Burnaby, New Westminster, North Van and Langley...scary drivers...watch yourself!!

Later.

[Islesfan91]

I was 39 when I started...I think you made a great choice of bike to begin with...you will not have any need to "upgrade" with that one...not too powerful, but not under powered...you will be surprised how fast the course will flow...it will be over before you know it, so pay attention to how to set up for corners and braking...the other thing is to not get "cocky" after riding for a few months...I just finished my second season, I have about 19,000kms under my belt...but I crashed and my bike sits in the garage with a bent fork (along with other broken bits, scrapes & bruises...)...so if you start to get the "I've got this..." feeling, take a step back and practice cornering and braking some more...

And being that you are in the lower mainland...try your best not to travel along side someone (I know, easier said than done)...I think a windshield blinds most drivers out there...I lived in Burnaby, New Westminster, North Van and Langley...scary drivers...watch yourself!!

Later.

Hello and thanks!

the only bikes I ended up really considering were the ninja 400 and 650, both new. I looked at used bikes but was too uncomfortable with my lack of knowledge to buy a bike without knowing how to spot a costly problem, so I felt more comfortable buying new. I went with the 650 exactly because I didn't want to be looking to upgrade within a season or two of riding, but I also didn't want to go with something that was too big. I may have gone a bit too big for a beginner, but I think I have a cautious enough mindset to take it easy and respect it.

Riding in Vancouver is definitely going to take all of my focus and as much practice as the weather will permit. Once I finish the course I'll have 3 days booked off work next week to practice on my bike in a quiet Richmond suburb, with no blind corners, very little traffic and wide smooth streets. I live near downtown Vancouver so at the moment my bike is waiting for me in my parent's garage, so I can practice in their suburb without dealing with the traffic and stop signs in my area that no one actually stops at.

My current plan is to leave the bike insured and in Richmond for the winter, heading there to practice on it on weekends with good weather and then to park the bike at my place in the spring once I have enough time and confidence on it to drive in a riskier area.

Traffic is terrible in Vancouver even with my car. I haven't had an accident since I was 19 (so almost 20 years) but I see one coming multiple times daily, I just drive with enough space and look ahead so I can see it coming and avoid dangerous situations. I'm hoping once I'm comfortable on the bike and take to the road that my habit of looking way ahead will be a big help on a bike.