[eternal05]

The CBR125R is a sweet little bike. I really wish they were available over states-side. You’re gonna have a blast on that thing.

Tip #1) Find out what the availability of motorcycle safety courses is in your area, and sign up for a beginners’ class pronto!

Tip #2) Get your hands on Proficient Motorycling by David Hough:

http://www.amazon.com/Proficient-Motorcycling-Ultimate-Guide-Riding/dp/1933958359/

Tip #3) Unstick your caps-lock key

Best of luck, and again, welcome!

[eternal05]

With respect to rain, I really recommend avoiding it all together until you have some serious miles under your belt. I hate riding in the rain still, even though at this point I’ve done track days in the rain. It just sucks. Visibility sucks, other drivers suck, and traction is TERRRRRRIBLE. Obviously, living in Seattle, it’s a fact of life if you depend on your two-wheeler for transportation. I just beg you to master the bike before you attempt it.

Great rain gear is available all over. Depending on where in Seattle you are, here’s a few:

Aurora:
http://seattlecycle.com/
http://www.aurora-suzuki.com/

Lynnwood (yeah I know, not Seattle, but this place is HUGE):
http://www.lynnwood-cyclebarn.com/

Lake City:
http://www.lakecitypowersports.com/

[eternal05]

As everybody has said, the local MSF course is absolutely your next step. Get that under your belt and they’ll have you riding well, and getting used to a clutch and gears. If you’ve driven a manual car that will be a SLIGHT advantage, but really only slight as you will know that developing the muscle memory is, at least at the beginning, way more important than actually knowing what’s going on, and in that respect a bike is completely different.

Just like I tell every new member coming through here, I heartily advocate the ninja 250. I still own one, despite having enlarged my paddock, so to speak. They’re great bikes to learn on, and plenty of fun.

As far as rides go, I’d say once you get comfortable, just take out a map and look at minor highways (i.e. the type that have one lane in each direction and a speed limit of 50+mph). I haven’t really gone wrong yet, though some are definitely better than others. Really you should be asking eon about his rides in the Rainier area…some of those pictures he posted were really breathtaking.

Anyway, welcome to the club, and best of luck getting your $$$ in order for your new addiction

[eternal05]

2.3L?!?! Wow. As much as I’m not that type of biker, I’d LOVE to give that thing a spin on a closed course. Seems like a hoot!

[eternal05]

That woman at the beginning is Monica Wallace, and she’s one of the instructors for 2-Fast track days. She’s super nice, and a bad ass rider (http://www.2-fast.org/staff.php). The track is Portland International (PIR), right? That’s my next stop for the coming season. The track was recently renovated and I have to check it out.

[eternal05]

You were definitely getting into wishful thinking above, so I’m glad you’ve hunkered down and made the right decision. Best of luck meeting your transportation and budgetary requirements!

[eternal05]

As much as I’m an owner of two high-end Shoei helmets, it seems pretty well established by research that money spent on a helmet does not make it safer. What I pay for when I look at, say, an X-11, is not safety, but rather aerodynamic perfection, noise reduction, ventilation, and especially with Shoei and Arai helmets, comfort.

I do also own a Scorpion EXO-700 and a 400 (I got them from this STG clearance for the many friends that come riding with me on occasion). The difference between them is largely one of comfort and features (more/better vents, etc.), though some argue DOT-only-rated helmets are safer than Snell-rated helmets, though that’s a bit misleading. The truth is that, while Snell MAY be a garbage safety standard, being DOT-approved doesn’t actually involve any certification…it’s a mark of approval that companies purchase from the DOT. Therefore, while being Snell certified could be BAD if you buy these arguments, you have to be careful about thinking all DOT helmets provide the same protection.

[eternal05]

You’re looking at all the same gear. It drives me nuts when I see scooter riders who don’t realize that.

Most really gnarly injuries, deaths, broken bones, etc. happen at intersections. Intersections happen at 25-40mph. Road rash at 40mph is also no joke. Gear doesn’t get cheaper on a scooter I’m afraid.

Also, to second what several people have said, learning from a friend is really dangerous if that friend does not know how to TEACH. Being a great rider and being able to explain to a complete newbie how to develop the most basic skills are two totally different things. Spend the money on the MSF course. They teach you more than just riding, and the lot is important, even if parts are tedious if you know them already. It’s the best money I’ve spent.

[eternal05]

Since you live in Missouri, I hope that “biking lesson” refers to a MSF beginner’s course. That’s DEFINITELY the way to start out. Do that FIRST, before you buy anything else. Many people discover that they aren’t born to ride like they though, and others learn valuable information about what they want or don’t want in their first bike as a result of an albeit short exposure to riding.

Second, while you can definitely find some older used 250s in the $1K range, that will mean lots of miles, and since these tend to be beginner bikes, probably multiple beginner owners and thus multiple drops, abuse due to inexperience, etc. Now if this is just a first bike for you and you’re ok with that, fine. However, if you’re looking for a longer-term bike that continues to be economical, you probably want to stick to bikes made in the last five years or so (or with lower mileage). Definitely bring a mechanic with you when checking out used bikes in any case to make sure you’re not going to get ripped. Anyway, if you’re willing to pay a bit more, you’ll find some nicer bikes.

Alright, now for the fun stuff. Helmet. Ok, you don’t want to buy a used helmet. Why? A number of reasons. First, because a lot of times a helmet can be damaged and there is no visible way to tell. Helmets are one-time-use devices. If the foam gets compressed at all (i.e. if the dude, say, has his helmet filled with his gloves, a waterbottle, etc. and drops it on the floor), its protection level drops dramatically. The good news is, you can get new helmets very cheaply if you know where to look:

http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com/Detail.bok?no=1431

This is Scorpion’s mid-tier helmet (they have other colors on close-out too) on close-out at STG. $108. Brand new. They also have the low-end helmet (the EXO-400) even cheaper, though if you’re willing to spend $100 on a helmet, I HIGHLY encourage you to bump up to the 700. They’re more comfortable and better ventilated.

Now to jump to the end of your list: shoes? No no my friend. You want boots. Tall-ass boots. Make sure you don’t skimp on your feet. I think that statistically they’re the most-injured body part, though the injuries are less severe. Still, who wants a broken ankle?

As far as gear prices go, I think all of your estimates are doable, though difficult. Things to keep in mind:

1) Do not buy crashed gear, no matter how sturdy the remaining material looks.
2) Inspect all the seams, everywhere, to make sure that none are slipping, damaged, etc.

One thing right off the bat: your gear is all you have to replace the big ol’ steel chassis your car surrounded you with. Don’t skimp! Being frugal and being a cheapskate are two different things, and the latter can lead to your injury.

[eternal05]

LOL

[eternal05]

Ahhh, personal taste

[eternal05]

Single-sided swingarm and single-sided…fork? I guess it’s not really a fork if it’s only got one side… Damn that’s sexy. I have a big weakness for single-sided swingarms. That’s part of why the Triumph Speed Triple and Ducati Streetfighter are so appealing to me.

I think it’s pretty sweet looking. I don’t know how PRACTICAL it looks, but I’ve never really put too much emphasis on practicality when buying motorcycles, so who knows. Definitely some unique and very sleek styling though.

[eternal05]

I’m pretty sure, based on all his posts, that his current favorite bike and best prospect for future purchase is the Gladius. I think he was only commenting on the fact that it’s a bit of a let down that Suzuki so blatantly copied the stylings of another bike.

[eternal05]

Final Cut is savage…but video in general is just a royal pain in the ass. It’s everything that can go wrong with computer stuff x100000: everything’s proprietary, nothing’s interoperable, things randomly just don’t work, seemingly without explanation, and there’s just so many damn minutiae to worry/learn about it makes me crazy sometimes.

Yet the result is always worth it Nice vid dude.

[eternal05]

Seriously? All they managed to change was the paint? Psh…looks worse now.

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