- This topic has 8 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 1 month ago by bigguybbr.
Warm Greetings and salutations…
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November 26, 2008 at 9:35 pm #2383KellisanthParticipant
Hello!
I’m basically a new person to the wonderful world of motorcycling. Many changes since 20+yrs ago.
I’m hoping to participate in the MSF Course this spring of 2009 and be legally licensed. But I’ll still be a rookie.
My bike, that I hope to acquire afterwards, will be a Kawasaki Ninja 250. Green! Any visibility enhancement will help.
I live in lovely Chicago (Wicker Park area) and haven’t a clue on where I would be able to park my new ride. That’s one of my future dilemmas.
I’m 39+ years old, 5’5″ and about 140+/- give or take, depending on holiday foods. My day job, is working for an airline, which will be about 16yrs this July’09.
Magazines, I tend to buy (£££!!!) Fast Bike, What Bike, Super Bike Magazine, Super Street Bike, Cylcle World, and Motorcyclist. That doesn’t includee the magazines I read in regards to my other hobby (art/photography). I spend waaaaay too much! HELP!
Now to figure out how I would be able to carry my camera equipment… And find a good GPS unit that’s cheap.
Anything else, lemme know!
Thanks!
December 2, 2008 at 2:24 am #15105dcJohnParticipantI think you’ll really enjoy the Ninja 250. It should be perfect for bolting around Chicago. Many sportsbikes, including the Ninja 250, have a passenger seat/pillion that you can places bags or slings bags over. Check out the information page on bags at ninja250.org: http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Saddle_bags
Now, if we’re talking really serious photography, and you’ve got lots of expensive lenses and a few camera bodies you want to carry around, I’d recommend going with one of the camera-specific backpacks available at most camera shops. I’ve got a Tamron backpack setup like this:
There’s enough room on the passenger seat of my Versys to lash it down to the top of the passenger seat using an inexpensive motorcycle bungee web, like this:
The Ninja 250 has a few less points to lash down a big backpack than the Versys, but I suspect it’s do-able, and there’s always the option of just wearing the backpack while you ride.
If you’re worried about visibility–and you should be–you should also consider the color of helmet you buy. White or other solid, bright-colored helmets might go a longer way for helping you be seen than the color of your bike: http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/328/7444/857
As for GPSes, it’s not cheap, but I love my Garmin Zumo 550, which was designed for motorcycle use (includes wiring and mounting; waterproof; works with gloves; option to integrate with bluetooth helmet speakers).
December 3, 2008 at 4:50 am #15112KellisanthParticipantHi dcJohn!
Yeah, I have a couple of Tamracs (Adventure 8, Adventure 9) presently. Love Tamracs. My camera bodies are a 400D and a 50D. Lenses are like 50mm, 10-22mm, 17-85mm, 75-300mm and such. And the accessories too.
The Adv 9 would be nice to carry around, esp with my laptop in tow, but I wonder at the added weight, esp when it moves around in how it would affect me when riding along at highway speeds. The smaller (Adv- I don’t think would be that trouble some since it can’t carry a laptop. but either way, a crash on both would royally suck.
As for garb, yeah, been thinking of the brigh neon green jackets and helmet. Forgot the name of the jacket I saw. Seen a iCon Mil-Spec jacket, but I dunno. Leather would be a cooker in the heat/humidity though. 😮
I’m kinda map-impaired, thus was thinking of a GPS. And ouchers on the prices.
Just trying to figure out what mods/enhancements can be done to the 250, and how much things will cost there too. Other than the windscreen and exhaust, what other mods/changeouts are done on a 250?
December 3, 2008 at 4:58 pm #15118MattParticipantI have a magnetic tank bag, that I had planned to use to carry my Camera. While I can fit my camera bag (one body, regular lense, telephoto lense, no extra flash) in the bag, the bag’s magnets really aren’t strong enough to hold it as secure as I like, so I back-pack it.
My dad uses soft saddle bags for his camera, and that seems to work just fine.
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“The two seconds between ‘Oh S**!’ and the crash isn’t a lot of practice time.”December 4, 2008 at 4:19 pm #15134BikerBoyParticipantHay I’m Tylyr .Ty for short . I’m (6’3) blue eyes,love the color green, 15 years old, i own a Kawasaki 500R ninja 2001
email back
March 11, 2009 at 3:03 am #16974KellisanthParticipantCutting things out (like, no need to buy 6-10 15USD magazines every month, don’t need cable -other than the internet-, go on a student food budget *haha* and other stuff) …
Between two dealers … one had a 2004 EX500 with over 5500 miles. Another had a 2005 EX500 with only 47 miles. Both were priced the same. Guess which one I went for?
I’m scheduled for a Rider’s Course next week, and hopefully pass the test on the 25th.
And figure out how to fit “Kitsune” into a small six-character plate.
Now, to see about installing a fuel filter, upgrade the stock windscreen… hrmm… what else…
Star Wars – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvebZ59zwGE
March 16, 2009 at 5:17 pm #17082bigguybbrParticipantYeah I like to keep my bills the same each month so as soon as i paid off my truck i was sure to get another loan right away I’m going to see if any of the boards are getting a group buy going as i need to get a double bubble wind screen for my bike. The fz6r has a really low one. Hopefully it doesn’t look too goofy either.
March 17, 2009 at 2:50 am #17104KellisanthParticipantIf anything, I think I will be mail-ordering things for most things!
I hate paying 10% sales tax.
Not to mention, when they (stores) don’t have it in stock, they say it’ll take them 3-5 days for them to get the order in. By that time, I could have it sent to my apartment, with maybe free shipping, and NO taxes!
/me starts looking at Iron Pony and Chapparal a lot more.
March 18, 2009 at 12:55 am #17126bigguybbrParticipantI want to get things, but alas my bike only came out in January, so there is nothing out for it yet. There are hardly even any pictures of the thing that didn’t come off Yamaha’s website Oh well here is my lonely bike with no accessory pals to speak of
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