Shoei is a name synonymous with quality helmets and for good reason: they make some of the best helmets out there; used by professional racers and everyday commuters alike. My first (and current) helmet was a Shoei TZ-R and it has served me well throughout my years of riding. When the opportunity arose to test out the new Shoei RF-1000 I was very excited to see what improvements were made over my TZ-R....read more 
The driveway leading out of the parking lot from "The Motorcycle Man" sloped upwards at around a 25-30 degree angle. I rode the bike up to the point where the front wheel was about a foot from the edge of the road and most of the bike was on the incline. On the S40 I probably could have kept the bike from rolling backwards by either applying the front/rear brake or just pressing down with my feet and holding the bike without applying the brakes. The S50 didn’t allow both options....read more 
The new bike was showing about 160 miles on the odometer at the start of the first weekend of riding, as a result of the three 50'ish mile first impression mini test rides that I'd managed to squeeze in during the previous evenings after work.. Fresh oil had been put into the engine at that early mileage mark in an effort to ensure any initial break-in impurities were removed....read more 
Like a one-two punch I am releasing part 3 of this review just a day after part 2. During this ride Gary throws off his rose colored glasses and looks deep down for any problems with the brand new 2008 Ninja 250. Will these new found 'nits' outweigh all of the benefits of the new ninja?
Only one way to find out!...read more 
Now is the long awaited second part in the 4 part review of the all new 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250. Part 1 was more of an easy going ride, but we all knew that wouldn't last long. For this ride Gary starts to open the bike up a bit more and tests the limits of the suspension. Stay tuned for Parts 3 and 4 where Gary takes the bike to even more extreme lean angles and higher rev limits!...read more 
The 2008 Ninja 250 is the bike everyone is talking about this year since it has received a MAJOR face lift from the engineers at Kawasaki. Best Beginner Motorcycles was lucky enough to catch up with Gary Jaehne, the author of Sportbiking- The Real World: The Advanced Riders Handbook and Sportbiking - The Real World 2: Rider and Bike Tuning Handbook. Gary Recently purchased one of the '08 Ninja 250s and has written a 4 part ride report of his experience....read more 
There are a lot of things that are great about the USA: The constitution, action movies, and our love of all things powerful. Unfortunately sometimes the American way can limit some of the things that we get access too, one being smaller displacement motorcycles that actually look good! The Honda CBR 125R is one example that can be found in Japan, Europe, and Australia that has me wishing we didn't love everything so big 'n bad in America....read more 
The Suzuki DRZ 400 SM is a great performing motorcycle with enough power to be fun on the freeways or in the city. It is geared more towards the street compared it's brother the Suzuki DRZ 400S which comes with nobbier tires and a little more torque. Read on for the full review!...read more 
The Kawasaki KLX250S is a dual sport that does everything well, and if you decide to add a couple modifications it does everything exceptionally well!...read more 
The suzuki DR200SE is a smaller displacement dual-sport that would make a great beginner motorcycle. It feels at home on the surface streets, or in the dirt with a robust engine with enough torque to get you over the hills or out of dangerous traffic!...read more 
Look Where You Want to Go:
A motorcycle tends to go where you are looking, so if you are in a turn and a truck is halfway in your lane, trust the lean and look through the turn instead of looking at the truck.
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