Got my bike! a pic at last...

[svi40]

Well, maybe some of you read my first post,.... anyhoo....

Kind of a funny story. About 4 years ago, i first started looking into bikes and was kind of hooked on the Bandit 600. Things happened and the whole idea was put on the back burner. Skip forward to a few months ago.

I started here on totalmc.com and learned a bunch. I was very interested in an EX250 as a starter bike. So,... I took the MSF course and had a great time. (BTW - take the course!) Looked and looked and found a GS500. The day I was to look at it he sold it. Found a SECA II, similar story. This went on and on a few different times. So, I was looking through cycletrader magazine and found,...hey guess what, a 2001 Bandit 600. Interesting... So I drove down, checked it out and it was in great shape! 4200 miles, $3400 OBO. I said hows about $3K even. Next thing I know the bike is on the trailer headed home. Now I've been able to do nothing but sit and look and the darned thing since Wednesday!

Hopefully I will pick up all my gear tomorrow, then it's on to the DMV early next week. Good lord I'm itching to ride this thing, its absolutely beautiful! It's a nice deep blue.

While I think I may have felt more confident handling a ~30hp 250, I still feel like I will be able to safely learn on this bike. No, I'm not sure what the bike can do, but I do know what I CAN'T do. Time will tell but I am really happy about my decision.

I'm sure I will be chiming in from time to time with questions so be prepared! Thanks for all of the help guys, this site has been,..eh hem,... a life saver.

[VermilionX]

that's cool.

as long as you keep a level head. your risk would be lower.

take it easy on some parking lots and practice the stuff you learned on the MSF.

have fun and good luck!

oh and PICS NOW!!!

[cherokeepati]

Pardon the intrusion, but ....I also bought my new Honda Shadow 600VLX about a month before taking the MF course. Ditto on taking the course! After passing the course I took many SMALL trips.....4-10 miles to pick up this or that because it was a Big change going from a 250Rebel to the 600. The throttle was much twitchier on the new bike (class bikes were ridden to death) and a big difference in the rake. Within two weeks I MADE myself ride to work (30mi each way) and have been riding since. I luv my bike.. but wouldn't advise any other newbie as myself to do the same..It just felt right for me. Lots of luck to you!

[svi40]

I'll work on posting some pics, I just finished washing her up

[M109R]

Quit staring at it and ride the thing!

Please don't end up like the previous owner of your bike with a 5 year old bike with only a couple thousand miles on it. Bike were built to be ridden (unless you own a tacky restaurant and need one for mounting.)

So many of the people from my MSF course are afraid to now go out and ride their bikes. One girl took 3 weeks just to get it out of her subdivision. That's not building skill that's creating risk for dumping your new bike.

Get up really early before the cagers start moving about and go for a ride on a road that has very little traffic on normal hours. TAKE IT EASY and enjoy getting a feel for the bike. Do this every day for a week and the bike will quickly start to feel 2nd nature to you.

I feel the worst thing to do for your riding skill after the MSF course is to not get out there and start riding on REAL roads (low traffic of course.)

[svi40]

Quit staring at it and ride the thing!

Please don't end up like the previous owner of your bike with a 5 year old bike with only a couple thousand miles on it. Bike were built to be ridden (unless you own a tacky restaurant and need one for mounting.)

So many of the people from my MSF course are afraid to now go out and ride their bikes. One girl took 3 weeks just to get it out of her subdivision. That's not building skill that's creating risk for dumping your new bike.

Get up really early before the cagers start moving about and go for a ride on a road that has very little traffic on normal hours. TAKE IT EASY and enjoy getting a feel for the bike. Do this every day for a week and the bike will quickly start to feel 2nd nature to you.

I feel the worst thing to do for your riding skill after the MSF course is to not get out there and start riding on REAL roads (low traffic of course.)

I agree COMPLETELY!

BUT, I still need insurance, a permit, registration, gear, etc.

[M109R]

Well... get moving.

Insurance - 1 phone call with a credit card

Gear - 1 week if you are smart to save $$$ and buy it online after trying it on at the stealer. Although depending on the stealer, helmets aren't marked up that much.

Registration - couple hours of sitting at the DMV for a temp tag.

It would be torture to have a new bike sitting in my garage held up on details.

Good luck and have fun.

[cherokeepati]

I agree with you completely VTX1300C! Of the three other females in our MSF course I am the only one riding. I was the oldest in the class......and it was alot harder on this old girl, but one other girl had THREE bikes in her garage..one being a Harley. Three months later and she still hasn't saddled her pony. What a shame! The longer I go without riding, the harder it is to start over and maintain my muscle memory.

[M109R]

!!!GOOD FOR YOU!!! To be out riding

I really don't get it with buying the bike and putting it in the garage. Invest the money on stocks instead and get 20% while you wait to get your butt out in the susnshine.

Maybe these folks just got in over their head from peer pressure or whim and know better than to ride. Look at my collection of unridden bikes...to bad so sad.

Fear will kill you, respect will save you. Ride to live..live to ride......

[jmillheiser]

congrats on the new bike, good to see more bandit owners. The bandit is not a bad bike to learn on IF you can maintain good clutch and throttle control. Its a breeze to manuver at low speed and the engine is rather tame for a 4 cylinder. Definately take some time to practice with the brakes though. the bandit has VERY good brakes and WILL pick the back tire up off the ground with the front brake.