[Andrew]

My work buddy took a look tonight and he said the bike looks in good shape and like it’s been cared for. The guy who has been riding it used to build and race bikes before he broke his fibula. Bike has a recent oil change and the valves were done recently also.

[Andrew]

2 cars in my household. A 2003 Misubishi Galant GTZ and a 2006 Toyota Corolla. The person doing the most miles that day takes the Corolla.

[Andrew]

…and the moral is to know your limits.

[Andrew]

Not Suitable For Work. NSFW tells anyone surfing at work that they shouldn’t click on the link.

[Andrew]

I’m 34 and I was surprised that my mother had no problems with the bike whatsoever. She had a brother who rode all his life and worked on them for a living. My wife has been a different matter. She was all supportive until I passed the MSF and then reality set in. I don’t have a bike yet but she calls it the death trap. She’s kind of joking on that since she has said she doesn’t feel really strong about it either way. She has told me that I will be upping my life insurance though. Nothing like mixed messages.

[Andrew]

I love the look of naked bikes myself and think yours looks good. It has that industrial look that the Monster and Shiver have. I didn’t even realize it was the same bike as the full fairing version until I read one of your earlier posts.

[Andrew]

Bike was in really good condition and was an absolute blast to ride around the neighborhood. I got it into 3rd gear and up to 45 and it felt fine. The shifting was easier than the bikes at the MSF (Rebel, Nighthawk) once I got used to the foot position. The peg is underneath me but the handlebars don’t need an aggressive lean forward. Stalled it once at a stop sign with a car behind me. rider error though. I think I let the revs get to low.

I have a verbal price agreement that includes a new front tire. A mate who works on his own bikes will give it a once over before I finalize the deal.

Now I have ridden one I know why everyone says the Ninja 250 is good for noob’s and is really fun to ride.

[Andrew]

Bugger. Double post.

[Andrew]

I rode this one tonight for my FIL who wanted to know if it would run. It wasn’t winterized and the gas was 2 years old but it ran ok and it was fun to ride around a residential neighbourhood. The bike shifted ok and the brakes worked ok. did notice a slight “buzzing” noise but i think it was the windshield. Might be rubbing on the frame/mount.

Riding position is very standard and it reminded me a bit of a Triumph I sat on last weekend. Apart from some TLC and a new front tire it seems fine to me. My FIL really likes it so it’ll be interesting to see if he gets it. If I was single it might be a fun project bike.

[Andrew]

Good points. I’d forgotten about part availability for an older bike. What about finding a mechanic to look at one? Is that going to be easy or hard for an ’87?

[Andrew]

They didn’t cover that situation specifically in the class but the rider coaches were willing to answer specific questions about pretty much anything. My guess would be do it in a low gear while covering the clutch and the brakes. Practice going slow down a hill is probably the only thing that will give you confidence doing something like that.

[Andrew]

Don’t sweat it dude. I passed the MSF with no experience driving stick and just 1 ride on a buddy’s dirt bike when I was 16. You will do fine with the riding and may get bored with the early clutch control exercises.

[Andrew]

Why the oil change before and not after winter bu t before riding?

[Andrew]

Good to know about the service intervals. If it hasn’t been back to the dealership in 8K miles I’ll see if I can have a mechanic look at it before I buy it. Although it seems many sellers are not keen on that.

[Andrew]

I’m in IL but I having just got my license I haven’t got a bike yet. Looking but it’s slim pickings out there.

[Author]

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