[lurkmoar]

Just thought I would go against my user name a say hi, since I have been trolling through this website for awhile trying to prepare myself for getting my first bike (looking at a 2008 GS500F). Wanted to also say thank you to everyone and their contributions to the site since the insight has been very helpful as I don’t have anyone I know that rides to ask.

Having done MSF and waiting to get my paper work so I can be licensed, I just need to get the bike and equipment any recommendations/warnings? (will be riding in SoCal and then at school in SF Bay area).

-Lurkmoar

[JackTrade]

You’re doing everything right, so keep at it.

As for recommendations:

1) for bikes, craigslist and ebay local are your best friends…GS500s are pretty easy to find, just keep at it and you’ll likely find one with very few miles.

2) for gear, in short: make sure your helmet is (at least) DOT rated, look for jacket and pants with CE armor, and get some good leather gloves/boots.

[CBBaron]

GS500F is a nice bike to start on. Ninja 250R and 500R are also good places to look for sport styled bikes.

As mentioned you should always ride with Helmet, boots jacket, gloves, and pants. For SoCal heat mesh jacket and pants may make it more comfortable. Perforated leather is also an option.

I ride in usually cooler and more variable weather here in the midwest so I have a water proof and well vented textile jacket (Tourmaster Transition 2). It handles he wide variety of weather we see but is hot sitting in traffic at 90F.

Good luck

Craig

[lurkmoar]

This weekend I checked out a lightly used 2008 GS500F with about 1100 miles on it and just serviced hope to pick it up for around $3000. Also went and checked out gear at the local motorcycle shop in town and have to say the Tourmaster textile jackets seem to be a good buy, fit well and pretty adaptable. Now the only problem is finding a comfortable Helmet(ones physically at the shop were ok at best), pants, boots (these werent well stocked at the local store), and gloves. Hope to be on the bike and riding by next week (fully equiped and licensed of course).
-Lurkmoar

[CBBaron]

Excellent, sounds like a good place to start.
I really liked the GS500F when I was looking at bikes. It probably fit better than the Ninja 250R I bought but I got a great deal on the Ninja.
I wear a hi-vis Tourmaster Transistion 2 jacket. I like the extra coverage of the longer jacket, the visibility of the hi-vis color and reflective panels and the flexibiltiy of liner and vents in a water resistant jacket. I’vev worn it for hour long rides in temps from below 40F to above 90F.

Craig

[Author]

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