15,000RPMs

[Billy Blaze]

Seat time Seat time Seat time...lol
That's the best experience on a bike for sure, watch out for the other guy, expect the unexpected, especially road trash (like me)..haha J/K
lots of stuff on the road though, that's the main hazzard.
I have ridden a few bikes down try and stay on top if you have to dump one, or kick it away...in front of a bike is a bad place to be.
that's about it.
OH and always always make sure you have the proper inflation in the tires and they are in good shape a blowout is bad uumkay, (speaking from experience)
and a good set of leathers and a head bucket.

[TheChadVIII]

Wooo hooo! I passed!
Actually, one other guy and I did the exam flawlessly, but all 11 in our class passed it. IT WAS HOT OUTSIDE.

Going to go look at a 2001 YZF-600R to start off with!
The S2K might be on her way out.

[Monkey of Death]

But yea I'm all set on gear... the only thing I compromised on is a mesh jacket instead of leathers for the 100 degree weather right now, ....

Actually, the mesh gear is tougher than you think. I had a heavy Vanson jacket for cooler weather and a Fieldshear mesh for summer, and felt equally well protected. Especially after I went down (ok, was taken down by a minivan) wearing the mesh. Nothing broken, no skin lost and the jacket wasn't even frayed. Still looked brand new! For all the tumbling and sliding I did, I was amazed at how well the jacket held up. Plus, it was pretty comfortable to wear in the heat. I'd wet my t-shirt underneath the jacket and the evaporation was like AC. Had to stop evey hour or so to re-wet, but it worked like a charm

A bike can be a lot of fun, but be careful! They really are out to get you!!

[driftdevil]

Wooo hooo! I passed!
Actually, one other guy and I did the exam flawlessly, but all 11 in our class passed it. IT WAS HOT OUTSIDE.

Going to go look at a 2001 YZF-600R to start off with!
The S2K might be on her way out.

Way to go man! Welcome to the dark side. The yzf is a good starter bike as well. You've seen mine. Give me a call when you get it and we'll get Bo and go for a ride.

[driftdevil]

When I start trying to ride in a year, I have about $500 budgeted for safety gear. The Ninja 250R costs about $3500 brand new (bike + TTL + assembly fees, etc). Plus the local MSF course is $190. So I figure the whole thing will cost me $4200 total. LOL, just 11 more months until I write my last tuition check! All I need to do now is make sure I study and pass everything so that I don't retake anything over.

On those assembly fees, can I skip those and just take it home to put together?

I'd plan on spending more than that on gear. Save money on the bike and get a good used 250r. You can find almost new ones with no problem due to people riding them for about 6 months and then upgrading to a 600. Take the money you save and put it toward your gear. Just one of my helmets cost $700 and my leather jacket was $300. That's not even including your riding boots($150), gloves ($200) and a good mesh jacket ($170). Just my though.

[MadMonkey]

I don't know how many horse-people are on this board, I think just BR.

I used to be

Then my sister nearly broke her neck falling off of one and I said "hey, this is a dumb hobby"

Interestingly enough, at the slower end of the spectrum, you're more likely to break stuff - collarbones, femurs, etc... whereas in higher speed crashes, you're more likely to just lose skin...

But doesn't a high-speed crash eventually turn into a low-speed crash?

[MX-5EE]

I'd plan on spending more than that on gear. Save money on the bike and get a good used 250r. You can find almost new ones with no problem due to people riding them for about 6 months and then upgrading to a 600. Take the money you save and put it toward your gear. Just one of my helmets cost $700 and my leather jacket was $300. That's not even including your riding boots($150), gloves ($200) and a good mesh jacket ($170). Just my though.

I found a good HJC helmet for $150 or so. It was full faced, Snell approved, had a few vents, and a plain white paint job. I also found a set of gloves at a bike shop that's just down the street from my work for about $50. The rest of your prices are about right.

[pliablemoose]

Wooo hooo! I passed!
Actually, one other guy and I did the exam flawlessly, but all 11 in our class passed it. IT WAS HOT OUTSIDE.

Going to go look at a 2001 YZF-600R to start off with!
The S2K might be on her way out.

Where was your class? Who were your instructors?

I used to teach it & the advanced classes, had a wreck & ended up as custodial parent of my daughter so I gave up bikes...

[TheChadVIII]

Where was your class? Who were your instructors?

It was in Plano at CCCC/Plano Market Square lot. The only instructor I remember was a big guy named Randy who rode a Goldwing.

[Radio-Active]

If I was still in to motorcycles, that is what I would want.

[driftdevil]

I found a good HJC helmet for $150 or so. It was full faced, Snell approved, had a few vents, and a plain white paint job. I also found a set of gloves at a bike shop that's just down the street from my work for about $50. The rest of your prices are about right.

Just saying you get what you pay for. Ask Bo he noticed a big difference when he traded up to a better helmet.

[Adam Payrot]

Just saying you get what you pay for. Ask Bo he noticed a big difference when he traded up to a better helmet.

+1... I'm getting ready to start buying gear; I got talked out of going the cheap route, especially when it comes to helmets.

[TheChadVIII]

Yeee haw, ok I got my license! I can ride now.

Went into the DMV, filled out the papers, went through the line, eye test, took exam on computer, filled more paperwork, took picture, left with paper license all in... 27 MINUTES AND STILL MADE IT BACK TO WORK ON TIME. That has to be some sort of record.

[Miatamaniac92]

I ride my brother's R6 more than he does, and I'm looking for my own R6 or FZ6 right now.

I've gotten alot of great gear on eBay. I got a KBC Racer-1 and a total of 4 Hein Gericke Jackets off there.

Chris

[TheChadVIII]

Oo sweet, I've been looking at older R6's and 600F4i's... maybe I'll splurge and get a 600RR.

[johnwag]

Just saying you get what you pay for. Ask Bo he noticed a big difference when he traded up to a better helmet.

So true!! My first motorcycle helmet was a $100 out of a JCWhitney catalog. It was too large on the outside and wasn't very comfortable.
When I bought my Shoei last summer, I must have tried on a dozen or so helmets before I settled on my current one. I have no regrets after paying $360 for the helmet. It's the most comfortable helmet for the shape and size of my head, and I don't get tired of wearing it after a 25 minute track session!
Don't expect to spend less than $300 on a helmet.

[johnwag]

Oo sweet, I've been looking at older R6's and 600F4i's... maybe I'll splurge and get a 600RR.

You can't go wrong with a 600 from any of the bike makers. I've had a '99 ninja ZX6 and an '01 Suzuki SV650S. They had carburetors. Definitely get fuel injection!!!! Do a little homework to find out what years certain bikes began fuel injection. I have a book that has all the information about superbikes through 2004.

I get motorcycle envy every spring. Wish I had the money to get a bike again.

[TheChadVIII]

Yea I'd like a fuel injected bike (especially with cold weather coming in a few months), hence looking at the F4i and CBR600RR... they just tend to be a little bit more expensive and this is my first street bike and all... so I'm limiting my budget.

[driftdevil]

The F4i might be better for your first street bike. The new ones (03 and up ninja, gsxr, cbr, and R6) are beasts compared to the other 600s. You should be able to find a clean 02 for around $5000-5500 around the area.

[MX-5EE]

So true!! My first motorcycle helmet was a $100 out of a JCWhitney catalog. It was too large on the outside and wasn't very comfortable.
When I bought my Shoei last summer, I must have tried on a dozen or so helmets before I settled on my current one. I have no regrets after paying $360 for the helmet. It's the most comfortable helmet for the shape and size of my head, and I don't get tired of wearing it after a 25 minute track session!
Don't expect to spend less than $300 on a helmet.

Well, in any case, the chances of me affording a Ninja 250R when I graduate college is rather remote, but we will see January 2009! My original plan was to get a Ninja 250R as a graduation gift to myself, but that is now in doubt. So until then, I try to keep up and what gear is out there. I think a $100-$150 basic HJC helmet will do for me just in case I decide I don't like motorcycling. If I really start to get into it, I will buy a better helmet then.