Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Yes folks...watch out...another rider on the rode. I passed my MSF class today. And, purchased my 1st bike...I decided on the Ninja 500R, it just felt more comfortable to me. I was debating on that or the V-Star 650, but just felt that the V-Star would require more response time...not to mention it is heavier. Maybe I'll purchase it after I have more experiance with the Ninja.

I purchased the Ninja 500R - new - Out the Door for $5,350 + a 15% discount on all the accessories/gear I purchased. I managed to purchase all my gear (jacket, helmet, top of the line gloves) all for under $500...is this a good deal?

The helmet is a Scorpion EXO700 - approved by SNELL. (Does anyone have any feedback on this helmet?)

The gloves are by Alpine Sport...you can go into Fight Club with these puppies.

The Jacket is by Cortecx...GX-Sport - has some nice reflecting all around.

Do any of you wear riding pants?

The bike is being delivered mid next week...I can't wait. I'll have pictures for you then.

Congrats on the MSF!

The Ninja 500 is supposed to be a great starter bike. I don't know how good your deal was.

VP wrote:Yes folks...watch out...another rider on the rode. I passed my MSF class today. And, purchased my 1st bike...I decided on the Ninja 500R, it just felt more comfortable to me. I was debating on that or the V-Star 650, but just felt that the V-Star would require more response time...not to mention it is heavier. Maybe I'll purchase it after I have more experiance with the Ninja.

I purchased the Ninja 500R - new - Out the Door for $5,350 + a 15% discount on all the accessories/gear I purchased. I managed to purchase all my gear (jacket, helmet, top of the line gloves) all for under $500...is this a good deal?

The helmet is a Scorpion EXO700 - approved by SNELL. (Does anyone have any feedback on this helmet?)

Do any of you wear riding pants?

Congratulations! Welcome to motorcycling.

I understand EXACTLY what you mean about response-time. I was dead-set on a cruiser before I learned to ride. After I learned to ride, I bought a Ninja 250. I like standard seating positions best.

In answer to your questions:
Don't worry if you got a good deal or not. You already spent the money. Enjoy it. Sure, you may have been able to save a few hundred bucks if you shopped around, but why dissapoint yourself with that by doing price-reserach after the fact? You got your bike. Be happy.

Feedback on the helmet - if it is DOT and SNELL approved, it should be fine.

Do any of us wear riding pants? Yup. All the time. I have 2 sets of Frank Thomas full leathers (the oversized ones from +30 pounds ago and the new, better-fitting ones I got 2 weeks ago).

I always advocate full leathers if you can afford it and good fabric/kevlar if you can't afford the leathers. That means pants too.

All it takes is going down once at 30+MPH for you to either be grateful you had full gear ... or wishing that you had bought it ...

I wear pants when I ride.

Actuallly, I usually wear two pairs of pants when I ride.

I haven't tried wearing three pairs... maybe when I've lost 30lbs like DH....



Don't base gear choices on what other people wear. As in, don't ask if anyone else wears pants. That's the wrong criteria. Ask what the problems and benefits are, and decide whether it is worth it to you. Around here, in my informal observation: 70% wear gloves. 40% wear riding jackets. 10% wear riding boots. 5% wear riding pants. If you made your decision based on that, you probably wouldn't have a jacket either.

As one who wears riding pants... benefits:
The pockets close securely..no fear of losing your wallet (which won't happen anyway).
All the dead bugs stay with the overpants...less washing your jeans.
Bugs (and pebbles) don't sting so much as they strike.
You can take them off without removing your boots... this has many exciting possibilities.
They tend to have zippers in unusual places.

Detriments:
You look like a nit walking around restaurants and grocery stores.
You have to undo (and redo) two zippers when you want to take a leak.
They make you look fat.
Difficult to remove two pairs of pants quickly...not as sociable.

Maybe other people will contribute to the pro/con lists.....

Congratulations on both the course and your new ride! Hope you have lots of good times putting on the miles.

Congratz. I know the feeling and experienced it myself about a month ago.

And try to watch out for that Moto150 guy. He likes to chew and spit while he rides.

Congrats!

I too just passed the course. I was a little bummed that we never got out of 2nd gear. I thought performing a swerve or emergency braking would have been more useful at higher speeds.

Congratulations. The Ninja 500R is an excellent bike.

macpilot, actually some of us went to 3rd gear during the class. If you take the Advanced Riders Course, which is 5 hours of riding in one day for $100...they do everything that was taught in the Basic MSF course, but at higher speeds...plus you are using your own bike. I plan on taking the Advanced course after I get maybe 1000 miles in so I can learn more about my bike and refresh safety manuver procedures.

Ok, I'm convinced...I'm going to buy riding pants...thanks for the advice everyone.

Congratulations on the MSF!

I just did a review of the pants I wear in the Review and Opinions Forum section. I've decided that they're too warm for the summer. I recently purchased a set of jeans with kevlar in them. Just have to wait for delivery now....