Riding home in a 250
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NightNurse
- Legendary 300
- Posts: 353
- Joined: Sun Apr 01, 2007 12:46 pm
For my used bike, the dealer delivered (free!) and for my BF's craigslist bike we got it home in a U-Haul (you can find aluminum ramps at motorsport stores). I know I probably would have had a serious panic attack if I had tried to ride home...it's difficult enough after you have gotten used to just operating the bike. Definitely start slow, in your neighborhood. Have fun!
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damooster
- Regular
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Tue Jun 26, 2007 2:05 pm
- Sex: Male
- Location: Alexandria, Virginia
I did the opposite of what everyone is recommending here. I passed the BRC last weekend and yesterday I bought a Ninja EX250. I have no prior riding experience, but when the dealer told me that the bike couldn't be delivered until Monday, I got on the bike, did a couple of laps around in the parking lot and off I went. I had to take Arlington Blvd. too (a major highway that runs in to DC).
I'm not saying that it was a smart move on my part (it was actually pretty risky of me) but I did make it home. The BRC taught me more than just how to ride in a parking lot; I was able to scan effectively and I averted two potential disasters (people zipping in front of me at an intersection both times) through scanning and good, hard braking.
I'm not patting myself on the back by any means. What I am saying is that you have to get that experience somewhere and for someone living in Alexandria, Virginia, there are no back streets to practice on. There is a big parking lot (Potomac Yard shopping center) but that would just be more U turns and stuff.
If you can slowly and gradually get your experience by driving through residential neighborhoods, I would do that like everyone says. But not everyone has access to those and we have to take our knocks the hard way.
Good luck and safe riding.
Oh, before I forget: check out this website.
http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Main_Page
There is valuable information there including some info on our break-in period. The recommended break-in method has been shown to not be so effective for 250 owners, so check this site out and see what they recommend.
I'm not saying that it was a smart move on my part (it was actually pretty risky of me) but I did make it home. The BRC taught me more than just how to ride in a parking lot; I was able to scan effectively and I averted two potential disasters (people zipping in front of me at an intersection both times) through scanning and good, hard braking.
I'm not patting myself on the back by any means. What I am saying is that you have to get that experience somewhere and for someone living in Alexandria, Virginia, there are no back streets to practice on. There is a big parking lot (Potomac Yard shopping center) but that would just be more U turns and stuff.
If you can slowly and gradually get your experience by driving through residential neighborhoods, I would do that like everyone says. But not everyone has access to those and we have to take our knocks the hard way.
Good luck and safe riding.
Oh, before I forget: check out this website.
http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Main_Page
There is valuable information there including some info on our break-in period. The recommended break-in method has been shown to not be so effective for 250 owners, so check this site out and see what they recommend.