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5 Common Wear and Tear Items on Motorcycles
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ixion00xParticipant
I had the speedo-cable pop off my Ninja 500 once. Didn’t know what was wrong until I pulled into my driveway and heard something dragging under the bike. Just be sure that it is secured in place under the gauge cluster there. If it pops off again, it could get caught in the wheels, and then you’ll have serious problems. You may want to consider using some loctite to make sure that it absolutely doesn’t come off again.
Good luck!
August 3, 2009 at 3:05 pm in reply to: Riding Gear: Are full-body racing suits the only solution? #21174ixion00xParticipantI ride with a fairly uncommon setup. It works for me up here in Boston, but may not do so well in the hotter climes. I use a full body Cordura body suit from Aerostich. It’s designed to fit loosely, so you can wear it over street clothes with no problem. Its well ventilated, water-proof and has a ton of storage pockets.
Don’t lose faith in textile! I can speak for the safety factor. The suit held up completely through my accident. I landed on my shoulder, and the armor prevented me from dislocating it or breaking my collarbone. The Cordura completely prevented any road rash. The worst the suit got was a little scuff on the knee and some dirt on the shoulder. It didn’t need repair after the crash.
I mean, its the kind of thing you buy once and then never replace. Sure, I look downright re-donk wearing it (its gray with high-visibility yellow patches on the shoulders, elbows and knees), so much in fact that my co-workers call me the Power Ranger. I don’t care though, the thing keeps me safe and visible. I would consider it a cost-effective, practical alternative to a full leather racing suit.
Edit: Oh hey yeah, that’s me wearing it in my picture. I had forgotten about that!
ixion00xParticipantI own an ’09 650 and I love it. I’m 5’11 and 150 lbs, it fits me like a glove. So I’ll put in a good word about that, but maybe not as a first bike.
Good call on the CBR, that’s not a beginner bike. That’s a crazy-fast race-bred rice rocket. It has less displacement than some of the other bikes, but don’t let that fool you. It has an in-line four cylinder engine that makes more power than you’d ever need on public roads .
Seems like you’d do well on the ER-6N. Same engine as the Ninja 650 though, lots of low to mid-range power which has caught me unawares a couple of times. The ER is like a quarter-faired version of the Ninja, so you’re going to miss some of that wind protection on the highway.
Have you thought about trying out the Ninja 500R? Its the often-overlooked step between the 250 and the 650. The design hasn’t really been changed that much in the 18 years its been on the market, so its drop dead reliable. The looks aren’t all that sharp anymore, but its an excellent first bike.
good luck on your search!
ixion00xParticipantThe only contrary report I’ve heard about Snell is that the EPS (expanded polystyrene) foam is more rigid to pass the multiple impact test. The jury was still out on whether or not this actually imparted more shock to the skull than a standard DOT-only certified helmet, as far as I remember.
I went with the mid-range Arai. It was a pretty penny, but I will say that the Snell certification might’ve helped out. I took two impacts on the head was completely fine. I mean, I’m crazy, but that’s another story .
Get what fits, what’s most comfortable and try to get it in a bright solid color. Solid white or neon orange is the best. Makes you easier to see.
ixion00xParticipantJust a little update to the problem of leaning on the throttle while trying to brake. I learned a nifty trick that might help. I like to keep my wrist bent upwards at a slight angle while I hold the throttle.
This allows for two things. One, since my wrist is closer to the end of my range of motion, I can’t physically twist the throttle wide open, which helps control my speed. Two, the act of reaching for the front brake automatically rolls the throttle closed.
It might feel a little awkward to hold your wrist like that, but its nice security when you’re learning how to ride. Like others have commented, you want a smooth roll-off of the throttle while smoothly applying the brake.
Good luck!
-Ix
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