[Clay Dowling]

It all depends on where the decimal point is in that 2250

If it’s after to 0, that’s a bad deal. If it’s anyplace else, not so bad. If 2nd gear is going I wouldn’t expect any part of the transmission to be in good shape, and honestly most of the drive train is going to be dicey. But if you don’t mind doing the work yourself, $225 wouldn’t be a bad price for what is essentially a parts bike.

[Clay Dowling]

You can save a lot of money on gear by going to web sites like Leatherup.com and Newenough.com. I haven’t ordered anything from Leatherup, but I’ve ordered a couple of things from New Enough now, and I really like them. They’re currently beating everybody’s price on Alter Ego pants and jackets, including ebay, which is why I ordered from there. Their prices on gloves are competitive too.

Helmet, I’d recommend buying your first one at the store just to get it fit properly. You’ll pay more, but as somebody said, getting the fit right is important. The inexpensive HJC line fit my big head perfectly (I can give George Lopez a run for his money on hat size).

[Clay Dowling]

That bike should be able to go faster than 60mph. I’ve seen video of rebels in the 70s and even redlining at 80. My guess would be some kind of tuning issue as well. You might want a pro to get that worked out. Probably cost you a couple hundred bucks, but might be worth it. Maxing out at 65 would be a major downer.

[Clay Dowling]

Steel cable sheathed in vinyl is a good start, with a sturdy lock. You can pick them up at Home Depot. You could drop the money somewhere for a really good one, but mostly what you’re looking to do is make your bike more of a pain to steal, not make it impossible.

If you don’t want to mess with that, there’s a fork lock built in to the bike. It’s less of a deterrent than the steel cable though, because it’s relatively easy to snap that lock on a small bike.

As for maintenance, you’ll be happy with how simple motorcycle engines are, and how accessible everything is. Unless you buy a Goldwing, everything is a lot easier to work on that a car. Also, metric bikes tend to be bullet proof, so you’ll be in good shape there. Change the oil, keep the chain cleaned and lubed, change the tires out when they get worn, and you’re good for the most part. Might want to flush the radiator every few years.

[Clay Dowling]

The V-4 on a Magna is good at leaving V-Twins in the dust. Had a back wreck here a few years back when somebody on a VTX 1800 tried to keep up with my coworker’s Magna. Inline fours are well known for putting out a lot of power though.

[Clay Dowling]

I bought my bike before taking the class, which isn’t a great idea, but a friend had let me tool around in his parking lot on an old Yamaha and I already knew I wanted to do this.

You’ll remember the drills from the class for a long time, so I wouldn’t fret that. You may wind up putting in a bit more practice time before you feel road ready, but that isn’t a bad thing.

Have fun with the class and get licensed. And if the classes are wide open, take them now. Last year around here they filled up very quickly, typically a couple of months in advance. I signed up in June and couldn’t take my class until September. Also, if the classes aren’t entirely full, the instructor can take a little more time and help you work on individual weaknesses more. Don’t know if they will, but it’s a possibility that doesn’t exist in a more full class.

[Clay Dowling]

Interesting looking bike, kind of like a sport-tourer and a silverwing had a wild night.

Pulling a horizon job on a Magna is a challenge, BTW. The bike looks like a cruiser, but it has plenty of speed. Turning into a little dot in the distance is easy against this rider though. I don’t have the saddle time to go that fast in any kind of comfort or safety. I keep it under 80, which is better than I do in my car.

[Clay Dowling]

And gives you a good opportunity to see a lot of different bikes. Once you’re on the bike, it doesn’t matter so much what it looks like. The looks are somebody else’s problem. It’s kind of like having an ugly house: only a problem for your neighbors.

Also, when you buy the bike, look to the used bikes in the 250s. You won’t save a lot, but if you catch the bug and find yourself wanting to move up to a 600cc bike in a year or two, you won’t lose much money on a used bike. You’ll lose a lot on a new bike.

[Clay Dowling]

The HD boots are in the same price range as Red Wings. More good reviews on the RedWings today by people I know. Guy at the coffee shop, who spends all day standing on a hard tile floor, swears by them. They keep him comfortable and he has crap feet. Plus, when they say waterproof, apparently they mean it, including free re-treating.

[Clay Dowling]

Not so good. You’ll need to be a good mechanic. 80s look, fine if you’re into that kind of thing. I hear 80s look and I think about the 80s Nighthawks. I don’t care for the look of them, but a co-worker rides an ’83 400cc Nighthawk and it’s a good dependable ride with a lot of nice comfort features. But it looks dowdy next to the two Magnas.

[Clay Dowling]

There’s a HD dealer near a friend’s house, might have to check in there. I own a pair of Caterpillar steel-toed for my various construction activities and they’re very comfortable. That same friend’s wife gave a good recommendation for Red Wings workboots this weekend though. She wears them exclusively, and works for the electric company. She doesn’t even need them until the weather goes to heck.

I’ll check out both once I get a chance.

[Clay Dowling]

Everyone gets all worried about the upgrade issue. Don’t let it stress you. If you’re pretty sure you’ll want to upgrade, a 250 is actually one of the best things you can buy. Unless you reduce it to a smoking ruin, you’ll be able to unload it quickly for nearly what you paid for it. Any other bike, you’ll probably take a depreciation hit.

Also, the 250 is going to have lower operating costs because it uses less fuel. The small size will also be nice for navigating campus traffic. At least where I went to school, roads were narrow and prone to a lot of twisting.

It doesn’t matter how cool the first bike you buy is, you’ll want another one. I have a very cool bike, a 750 Magna, and I’m still tempted by things like the 250 Ninja.

[Clay Dowling]

You’re right on there, settling for a bike with problems isn’t a good idea, especially for a new rider. And if the seller won’t allow a test ride, I say walk away from this one. It isn’t any kind of stellar deal, and there will be more ninja 250s coming up for sale as the weather warms.

[Clay Dowling]

Applies not only to the way you ride but what you ride. If your friends won’t hang with you because they don’t like your ride, what you need is new friends, not a new bike. I’d rather ride with guys I liked on ugly bikes than guys I don’t like on pretty bikes.

[Clay Dowling]

The seat on a Magna is notoriously uncomfortable. My posterior will be screaming for relief from that long before my pants cause a problem.

Fortunately I do have the matching Alter Ego jacket, so it will match up just fine. That was part of the motivation to buy the pants.

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