[Dagger]

I’d love to.. But I believe they’re illegal here in Cali.. So only time I could use them is when it’s parked.. So not much reason to drain the battery…

*sigh*

They do look cool though…

[Dagger]

Congrats on the new gig! That’s very cool.. Tomorrow I find out if I get into the local Star Chapter here that I’ve been riding with the past few months.. It’s great having such a wealth of Star knowledge to pick through their brains.. I’m sure you’ll love riding with them.

Dagger

[Dagger]

This is similar to what I have.. I just slip it on the disc when I park and that bike ain’t moving more than 6″ without a tow truck…

http://www.rockheadbikes.com/Bully_10mm_Disc_Lock_Chrome_p/132230.htm

If they have a tow truck… You should have made your bike payment..

Dagger

[Dagger]

I’ve gotten most of my gear from Leatherup.com and have been pretty happy with everything so far.. Would have liked a little more neck room and sleeve length in my jacket.. But it’s a nice snug fit in the body.. May go one size larger next time I buy a jacket though just to see if it’s too loose…

[Dagger]

Very nice bike Sangria.. I’ve thought about adding the light kit to mine as well.. It turned out really good.. Which kit did you end up buying? I’m also liking some of the blacked out chrome on the newer bikes.. It helps accent the rest of the chrome better than when everything is just all chrome.. Was also thinking of doing a light mod on my air filter that I saw on the VStar 650 forum..

Good work!

Dagger

[Dagger]

These are the boots that I bought and I couldn’t be happier with them.. I wear them all the time.. Even when I’m not riding.. Good traction and protection..

http://www.leatherup.com/p/Mens-Motorcycle-Boots/Mens-Advanced-Motorcycle-Lace-Up-Biker-Comfort-Boots/41688.html

This is the jacket I bought.. The neck is a bit snug and the sleeves could be a tad longer.. But it’s a snug fit in the chest and the ventilation has been great so far.. We’ll see when summer rolls around how it does it in the 100+ heat..

http://www.leatherup.com/p/Mens-Motorcycle-Jackets/Mens-Advanced-Armored-Padded-Black-Motorcycle-Jacket/42527.html

As for pants, right now I’m just wearing jeans with thermals under them.. (That cold air goes right through jeans) But I’m thinking to buy some padded pants that I can slip under my jeans while I ride..

Other than that there’s the helmet and gloves.. Though I need to get a new helmet and some warmer armored gloves… My fingers freeze in the rain in the ones I have now…

Dagger

[Dagger]

Even though I technically have a car and a bike, I’ve pretty much been using the bike only since my gf uses the car for the kids every day.. My original reason for buying it was just to get to work and save some money on gas.. The thing is.. Once you start riding.. You don’t want to stop.. First it was just to work and back.. Then it was “Just gonna go for a lil drive”.. Then it was trips up into the hills behind the house.. Then it was 5 hour bike rides with a motorcycle club..

There’s nothing wrong with getting a bike for commuting.. Just don’t expect that to be all you do on it.. As for the weather.. I’m pretty much in the same boat as you out here in SoCal.. Though you get a bit more warm in the summer.. Some good gear and a waterproof sweat suit to throw on over your clothes when it rains and you’ll be good.. Make sure your gear is well vented for the summers..

If you have to.. Sell your truck and just get a cheap small used car to have for emergencies..

Dagger

[Dagger]

Glad the site is back up and running.. Sorry to hear about your spill, Ben.. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year.

Dagger

[Dagger]

One other thing to consider is that most motorcycle accidents occur because of rider error.. ie. taking a turn too wide or too fast.. So as much as we bitch about idiot cagers.. On the whole they are pretty easy to avoid if you’re doing your job and paying attention and always leaving yourself an escape lane.. Not to say it doesn’t happen.. But the odds are more likely that if you crash it’ll be because of something you did.. Not because of a cager..

That being said.. You’ll find many opions on what kind of bike you should get.. The only true advise that I’ve found is get out there and sit on as many bikes as you can and find what feels right for you..

Dagger

[Dagger]

Soon to be 40 here.. Welcome to the forum and congrats on passing your MSF.. Duel sports are great fun.. Light weight so you can really muscle them around if you have to..
What part of the country are you in?

Dagger

[Dagger]

I got most of my info off of the 650 VStar C,C & D Forum..

http://www.650ccnd.com/ht.htm

I started with an 1/8″ drill bit then worked my way up to 3/8″.. Getting the holes started on the sloped back cover of the exhausts was a bit tricky but not too bad.. They have another mod on the sight as well to go a step further.. But I may just add three more holes to them and see if that gives me a little more base to the pipes rather than the normal tinny sound.

Dagger

[Dagger]

As far as the insurance goes, anything 650 or smaller should be reasonable to insure. My ’02 Yamaha V-Star 650 Custom costs me about $350 a year to insure.

As for the leg room.. I’m 6’1 and felt cramped on the 650 after about two weeks of riding it. Especially on longer rides my knees would start to hurt. After I put the forward controls extenders on it, it’s been like night and day. It’s amazing what another 3″ will do.
I know I had a hell of a time on the 250 cruisers at my BMRC.. Not only were my legs bent to my chest, the rebel also sits about 3″ lower than my 650.. So even when my feet weren’t on the pegs I felt like I was trying to walk a clown bike.

Dagger

[Dagger]

I’m really liking the windshield.. Especially on the highways.. Doesn’t block the wind as much as I thought it would.. But it definitely helps.. I’m not being pounded in the chest as much as I was..

As for the chrome.. That’s the price we have to pay I suppose..

I just want to make it out of this life alive…

[Dagger]

35? Hell.. I’m 39 and I just celebrated my girlfriends 20th birthday… Never let anyone tell you you’re too old… Hmm.. The Progressive mascot looks much better than my gecko.. Think I may have to switch…

I just want to make it out of this life alive…

[Dagger]

Greeting from down south in LA..

I just want to make it out of this life alive…

[Author]

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