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So I picked up my bike today!! Its a 2002 Honda Shadow ACE Deluxe. So when I got it home I took it out for a ride through the neighborhood. It handled AMAZING! I am soo happy with it. Unfortunately I pulled a newbie mistake and misjudged a U turn. I hit the curb and dumped my bike. I was only going about 5 mph but it was enough to bend my brake pedal and add a few rash marks on the pipes. I felt sooo embarrassed . I know that its a part of learning but it still made me feel pretty dumb. I only ended up with a hole in my pants and a nice strawberry on my knee. Once I have a few thousand miles under my belt and I feel more comfortable I will replace the pipes but for now I have a few rashes on it. I will be taking my riding class in the next few weeks due to schedule constrictions but until then I will be only tooling around the neighborhood. Ill post some picks once I give it a nice bath and waxing!!! I am sooo Stoked!!!!!!

As has been said before... don't ride your bike until you've taken the class (unless you're taking the class ON your bike, but even then).

It will make handling the range bikes waaay tougher. Friction zone will feel different, braking will feel different, shifting, etc etc. All different on the little 250s generally used as "class motorcyles."

P

Congrats on the new bike bud!
Sorry to hear you dumped it, and yeah, ought not to ride until the class, but to be honest, I would have if I had known how beforehand as well...
Wrider

Now comes the hard part . . .

Park the bike. Really. The MSF is on its way, and it will be here before you know it.

And, engine guards might be a consideration. They'll help when you drop it onto the other side.

Congratulations on your bike!
I winced when I read the "newbie mistake" of dumping your bike on a u-turn. I did the exact same thing trying to teach myself (with help of my rider hubby) to ride before I took the MSF. Do yourself a favor - listen to the others - park that bike until you take and pass the class! My Rebel wound up with exhaust dings, scrapes on the mirror & brake lever. I got the worst of it - I twisted my knee so bad trying to avoid dumping the bike and wound up with my leg between the bike and the curb that I thought I had blown my ACL. I was really, really worried I would not be able to walk or bear weight on that leg when I started the MSF class in a few days. Trying to get ahead of the learning curve is not worth the risk to you or that brand new bike.