[Myroadrash]

Hello, my name is Garrett. I’m 17 years old, live in Southern California, and currently in High School. I’m currently in the process of saving up money for my first street bike. I have about $3,000 saved up and hope to be getting a SV650 or a GS500 in the next few months.

I currently have no street style gear, or insurance.. and have not completed the MSF class. (man i have a long way to go….

Any opinions on the particular order i should be getting these in? Like MSF class > gear > insurance > bike?

I hope to be talking with everyone in the near future!

(I’ve also posted on the “General” part of the forums to figure out what bike i should get)

[madjak30]

Get your permit first. By that I mean, do the written part of the drivers license. Then take the MSF course, which is excellent. The course will help you decide on what type of bike you may like to get, you will get to see what a 250cc bike can and can’t do on the street. They will also inform you of what type of gear is manditory, but this website will give you a list of the recommended gear…helmet, gloves, proper jacket, and boots that cover your ankles. Riding pants are recommended, but at minimum wear a nice heavy pair of jeans…I would check it out there, but here in Canada your insurance is much less if you are licensed before you get coverage and the course will also get you a discount. I don’t know if the school that you are taking the MSF course through allows you to use their bike for the road test, but they did at mine…another good reason to take the course. So, take the road test if possible then get coverage.

Then you hit the streets and really start learning…lol…

Welcome to the club…

[eon]

Take the MSF class first. Depending on your State you may need to have your permit before hand (not sure about CA). You will find all the gear you need for the MSF class in your closet (boots, long sleeves) as you will be lucky to hit 20mph in the class. Most classes supply helmets but that was the once piece of gear I bought before the class.

Getting some riding gear is the next step as it is hard to ride your bike home without any. Insurance will factor into what bike you can afford, especially for a 17 year old male, so make sure to check out the rates on the bikes that interest you before buying.

I disagree with madjak on the heavy pair of jeans. Those will not provide adequate protection (either impact or abrasion) on any slide at speed. Everyone comes to their own conclusion on how much gear is enough but for me it is everything; boots, pants, jacket, gloves and full face helmet.

[Myroadrash]

Yeah i forgot to mention that i do have my permit, i just don’t have my drivers liscense. Thanks for the info, i’m probably going to take the MSF class this summer, i need to check and see if they allow us to use their own bikes, or if we need to provide our own.

[eon]

In the basic class they provide the bikes. They want you to learn without worrying about dropping your own bike (and the bikes do get dropped).

[JackTrade]

…get that last. Your agent will likely need the actual VIN number of your bike.

Assuming you’re taking the BRC; if so, you’ll use their bikes.

I think only in one of the ERCs do they allow you to use your own bike in the DMV-test-waiver section. I bet Allen knows for sure though.

[Blkdmn2001]

Hello all. I am a female, in my 40’s and signed up for the safety class next week here in Cali. I am very excited and have never ridden a bike in my life but have always wanted to.

I went to a bike shop just to look at bikes and sit on one. I sat on the Kawasaki Ninja 250cc. But before i sat on the 250 I told the salesman that i had never sat/rode on a bike and he told me the 250cc would be perfect for a first time rider.

I have been reading a lot of postings on here and a lot of ppl have stated that 250cc is best for the beginner. Others have said 600cc but the majority have said 250cc.

I think for myself, 250cc would be ideal since i dont know what the heck i am doing and i don’t want to much power at the beginning…..know what i mean?

Anyone have any suggetions?

[gitchy42]

The MSF course in your area may require that you have a valid drivers license, a permit might not be good enough. You should probably call them or check with a local dealer. In case you don’t know, the phone number for the Cali training is 1-877-RIDE-411, that’s 1-877-7433-411

[gitchy42]

Try not to get too over-excited. Trust me, it’s very easy Also, sounds like the salesman actually gave you some good advice.

Pay close attention to everything in the class, ask questions if you don’t understand something. Chances are that you will be riding 250s in the class, so you should get a good feel for the power they can produce, and know if you want to go with a 250, something a little larger or something a little smaller.

Things to consider before choosing a bike: How will it be used? How tall can the seat be and still flat-foot at stops? Do you want a sport-bike (Ninja), or is a standard(TU250) or cruiser(Rebel) more what you are into? Do you like the look of a full fairing, half fairing or a naked bike (least important of the questions, but looks do matter)?

One more tip, when asking questions like this, it is best to post a new thread. That way you can keep better track of what people have said in response to your post.

Nate

[CBBaron]

The Ninja 250R is very different from most of the other 250s like the Rebel and TU250X. The Rebel and TU250x and most other 250s are air cooled and very small. Great for the smaller rider but may be too small for longer legged. In addition the air cooled bikes have considerable less hp. They are fine on most roads but will struggle at highway speeds. The Ninja feels much bigger, is heavier and has 30-50% more hp. It is very capable at any legal speed limits.

I think the Ninja 250r makes a good starter bike for most riders, especially a used one. TU250x and Rebels are good for smaller riders as they are lighter and lower. Dual sports and supermotos are good for taller riders as these keep most of the advantages of the other 250 bikes but are less cramped.

Craig

[gitchy42]

Very true that the Ninja 250R is a much different bike than most of the other 250s. Especially the newer Ninja 250R. The new Hyosung GT250 and GT250R are comparable, but right now the support isn’t that great.

[owlie]

Also, by permit, madjak may mean motorcycle permit rather than driving permit. Even if you have your driver’s liscense, some states still require you to get a motorcycle permit before getting an endorsement on your license. Again, every state is different.

I don’t know anything about CA except that I’d take a motorcycle over a car in San Francisco anyday…

[eternal05]

It’s getting better over time, but every review I’ve seen puts the build quality, fit, and finish of the Kawi WAAAAAY above the Hyosung 250. The GT250Rs have had a ton of reliability issues, though as I said, they seem to be getting better over time.

[Author]

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