[Clay Dowling]

First about traffic awareness: you’re used to a gigantic vehicle that everybody notices (even if they do stupid things about it when they notice it). You’ll be on a vehicle that is a lot less visible. That will take a little getting used to. Also, in the semi if you screw up you aren’t usually the one who gets hurt. On the bike, you’re the one who loses.

Overheating: avoid anything that is air-cooled. Air cooled engines are notorious for failing in Nevada-type heat.

Finances: you’d best consult with a lawyer here. It would suck for the motorcycle to become your wife’s property. And don’t think that an angry person in a divorce wouldn’t go for something like that. She doesn’t have to want to ride it, just want to hurt you. And it sounds like she’s already there.

[Clay Dowling]

Sounds exactly like the elderly people who wrap their furniture in plastic or put a blanket over it, so that it never fades or gets dirty. They’ve merely traded one bit of craptasticness for another.

[Clay Dowling]

Because there isn’t an official citation for “Being a Duffus.”

[Clay Dowling]

that impresses the ladies.

[Clay Dowling]

Your brother gave you pretty sound advice. The Ninja 600 would probably be near the top of the recommendation list. There are quite a few of them on the used market, which helps you out. I’d steer clear of the CBR600 for a couple of years, and I’m completely ignorant of the Yamaha offerings.

[Clay Dowling]

Look, there’s no way I can bench the 900lbs curb weight of my bike. So I don’t try. When it goes down, I lean my back up against it, grab on to the bars and the rear fender, and walk it back up, just like they showed in class. Takes a little to get started, but once you get your grip it comes right up.

[Clay Dowling]

Not for visibility, I just like red. And the red ninja looks pretty nice.

[Clay Dowling]

is not that chesty, and doesn’t need that kind of support.

[Clay Dowling]

have parts in the markets for decades after manufacture. You can still find plenty of parts for GL1000 Goldwings, for instance, because the bike was really popular and still has a massive following (yes, I’d love a classic Goldwing). We’re talking a bike that was last manufactured 30 years ago.

But in general you need to check out your model to see that common wear parts are still available. Especially anything related to the carburetor, because that is the single most fiddly bit about your bike.

[Clay Dowling]

They all do that to some extent. The best thing you can do is get yourself into the slow-air pocket directly behind and over the bike.

[Clay Dowling]

are your friend. They’ll keep your fairings off the ground for simple drops and low-sides. They serve roughly the same role as the crash bars that a lot of cruiser riders install. And my crash bars have kept my chrome from getting the snot knocked out of it a few times.

[Clay Dowling]

There should be no problem with firing right off the first time. Some cold-blooded bikes like mine will actually stall out if they have much throttle applied until the engine is warm. In fact, I know mine is ready to go because I can apply throttle and it will rev instead of sputter. Usually takes about the length of time I need to put on helmet and gloves to get there, unless it’s in the 30s, when I also have time to slip on a balaclava.

[Clay Dowling]

A lot of them have special areas for bikes. Ann Arbor, Michigan is one of the worst places I’ve seen for parking anything. The ramps were designed with the idea that no sane person would bring anything bigger than a sub-compact into town. But they let motorcycles park right by the gate. There’s a big area just for them right at street level.

[Clay Dowling]

Somebody posted those links here last fall I think. I enjoyed the shows on BMW and Honda. Don’t think I have watched any of the others yet.

[Clay Dowling]

First and most important item. Probably also your most expensive.

Good set of metric wrenches & sockets.

I don’t quite have the nerve to tackle the carbs yet, so I can’t speak to that.

Tire changing stand & balancing stand – Paying somebody else $60 to do it gets old after a while. The stand from Harbor Freight can be converted for cars too (probably most of them can), and this might save me a bundle of money down the road. Don’t have it right now though.

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