[ilnam]

I like most of the ones linked above. Personally, I’ve ordered this Teknic closeout jacket to try.
http://www.newenough.com/closeouts/textile_jackets_and_pants/teknic/chicane_textile_motorcycle_jacket.html
If I don’t like it, then I’ll get this Joe Rocket Atomic 3 jacket since I saw it at a local dealer and it fit nice.
http://www.newenough.com/protective_apparel/textile_jackets_and_pants/joe_rocket/atomic_3_textile_motorcycle_jacket.html

Or maybe I’ll get both. I also saw a heavier cold weather jacket at the dealer which I really liked. It was made by Castle which I really can’t find too well online but it might have been the slate or escape versions shown here
http://www.castlesales.com/html/products.psp?catid=5&&useid=4&&typeid=36

[ilnam]

I’ll be considering some sort of luggage options as well…Including tank bags. So if anyone has comments about those too, it’d be greatly appreciated!

[ilnam]

the 250 is extremely appealing to me. I got a GS500, but it was a close call between that and the ninja 250. I admit, I might move up to a 600 for a second bike (FZ6R?) – they’re just so sweet looking! But in my fantasy world, I’d actually keep a 250 sport or cruiser plus several others

[ilnam]

In Illinois there are motorcycle Basic Riding Courses (administered through the Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Traffic Safety) offered in February and March at a variety of high schools and community colleges. When they open registration, seats go extremely fast. I think it costs $20, which you can choose to donate, or get refunded back at the completion of the course. I’ve wanted to do this for years, but I never sign up in time. Chicago has a couple other riding schools that are offered during the entire riding season and are easier to get into; however, they cost around $300. I recently did one of these and it’s nice because the Secretary of State officials come to lot where we practiced and give us an M license endorsement if we pass the appropriate courses.

[ilnam]

the inside lane is just for going around in circles and testing the odometer right?

[ilnam]

Yeah, I hardly ever inspect my car, but I’ve been getting in the habit of checking certain things on my bike whenever I go out. I found a piece of glass in my front tire tread 2 days ago. I pulled it out and it had cut into the tire a bit, but it doesn’t seem to be leaking any air. There’s a huge subdivision two blocks from me with zero homes, but the roads have all been built up over a year ago. It makes for some great practice!

[ilnam]

ShannonG? This bike hates life under 3500rpm? So do you open the throttle a bit at a red, and then let the clutch out slow?

[ilnam]

I read the other day that this site used to have private messages. I’m eager for Ben to get that going again…

[ilnam]

Yeah. I don’t want to think about that too much. I’m just trying to stay optimistic. I’ll ride if it’s cold, but when snow is imminent I’ll pack it up. What also sucks, is that I’m going on vacation next week for 10 days. I was looking forward to it, but now that I’ll be parting with my bike, I’m less eager to leave Elwood, you are the only one I know who does smiley faces in that direction. what a rebel!

[ilnam]

Do you happen to pull the clutch in while/before you brake hard? Wait to pull the clutch in until right before you stop, then you’ll have the engine working for you too, and I’ve seen where this avoids the rear tire locking up as easily.

[ilnam]

Wow. Awesome. You must have used a jedi mind trick or something. I think I did okay myself. I just bought an 07 with <800 miles, never dropped for $3800. I'm still waiting for my helmet to arrive so I'm just going around my subdivision and to a parking lot. I probably shouldn't say that here though 😮

[ilnam]

I have the same bike and I do like it a lot, although, sadly, it’s been in the garage more than it’s been out. How’d you figure on getting the GS500?

And I’ll be the someone offering an opinion. I’m such a newb.

[ilnam]

It lurches you while upshifting? I only had that problem while downshifting in class on the rebel. We weren’t taught to use the clutch for full lock turns and such, but it seem many people do. I’ll have to test that out a bit.

[ilnam]

Here’s a motorcycle evaluation guide that seems rather thorough:
http://www.clarity.net/~adam/buying-bike.html

I read it through last week when I was shopping around for a motorcycle.

Yeah, the initial break-in period and subsequent 1st maintenance does seem critical although who really knows if the original owner followed the recommended guidelines. Personally, I’m pretty anal about things like that, and would follow the manufacturers break-in and maintenance schedule if I bought new; but it’s something I’ve accepted to forfeit, to an extent, when buying used. One of the bikes I went to look at from a private seller had maintenance records and seemed to care about his motorcycle a lot. That was very alluring; however, I ended up buying a different bike from a woman who didn’t seem as detail-oriented, but it was a better deal and I figured the engine is durable enough even if the recommended break-in isn’t exactly followed.

[ilnam]

ditto what Budd said.

Hey, smokeizfire. Awesome! But I was under the impression you were riding already. My bad. So you had your bike for how long before you got riding? Brutal.

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