[jayman2078]

An old grizzly biker said he’s a firm believer in running out the carbs. He didn’t explain and I didn’t ask. I imagine he only does it in gravity-fed bikes though, I can’t think you’d be able to on a newfangled fuel injected one. Can’t wait to get a bike without a chain drive and with fuel injection.

Masquerading as a normal person day after day is exhausting!

[jayman2078]

I have an ’87 Rebel and I find it’s good to shift into neutral so I can use my left hand to turn off the gas and run it out of the carb before putting it up for the night (or around here for several days while I wait for a little better weather). It’s really hard to find neutral once I’ve stopped, but other times I hit it while I’m up or down shifting (oh, isn’t THAT fun on streets!) and I’m not even trying to find it. It’s the only squirrely part about this 21-year-old-and-counting bike. It’s just easier to find for some reason if the bike is moving than if I’m stopped already.

Masquerading as a normal person day after day is exhausting!

[jayman2078]

I only say wrecked because I was stopped when I meant to be going, the bike was ON my ankle (which still throbs), and the handle bars are decidedly more crooked than they were before and I really do have to straighten them now so my right mirror will line up usefully. As for it running a little better, I imagine getting leaned over as far as it did loosened up the gunk in the carburetor allowing more gas to get through to mix with the air and combust a little more the way it should. (I already know the bike needs a tune up). It’s the perfect beginner bike.

Masquerading as a normal person day after day is exhausting!

[jayman2078]

I just wrecked my 1987 Honda Rebel 250 not 30 minutes ago, and it runs better now than it did before I laid it over! I just fixated on the curb during a left turn and darn if I didn’t skid along it until I came over (on the grassy side AWAY from the street – thank goodness!) and stopped it. It’s 400 lbs and I could NOT get it off my right ankle, so some nice guys waiting on the red light got out and got my bike off me. I checked to make sure my ankle wasn’t broken or sprained (a little bruising – had ankle-high boots on), started the bike and rode off with slightly crooked handlebars. Being so old, it already has scrapes from previous owners all over it, so I couldn’t tell if I’ve done any damage, and my idle is working WAY better!

If I’d been on something bigger, I imagine I’d’ve been in worse shape than that, plus if I can’t lift a 400 lb bike up (it was an awkward angle), I ain’t gonna be able to lift an 800 lb bike off me either. But by waiting until I’ve got a several months experience under my belt (this is my SECOND week of riding), I won’t have to worry so much about newb mistakes like I made today.

Masquerading as a normal person day after day is exhausting!

[jayman2078]

I still have my car and since I live in Oklahoma, we have real winters here. I didn’t get a car with heated seats not to use’m, and the bike needs some work, so when rain and cold weather starts hitting, into the car I go! If it rains in the spring and summer, and I know about it ahead of time, I’ll chicken out and drive my car. At least until I get a bike that’s a bit newer and fancier.

Masquerading as a normal person day after day is exhausting!

[jayman2078]

Okay

Masquerading as a normal person day after day is exhausting!

[jayman2078]

Well, at least is started today, but very soon after it started revving up without me even touching the throttle, and until I get a manual and do some regular maintenance on it (which will hopefully clear it up) I won’t be riding until this weekend when I take the MSF course. Hmmmm, which should I spend $$ on first, fixing the bike or getting proper gear to wear………a conundrum to be sure.

Masquerading as a normal person day after day is exhausting!

[jayman2078]

The seller says his son wore it once, and the only reason it has any (hardly noticeable) scratches on it at all is because the guy dropped it, then went to pick it up and accidentally kicked it further. I want to get one of those fancy Scorpions that are full helmets and have the sun visor inside the outer visor and the whole front of it can be lifted up to make it open-faced and has vents out the wazoo. $248 at my local motorcycle shop on Route 66. Then I’ll have two just in case I crack one open!

Masquerading as a normal person day after day is exhausting!

[jayman2078]

I’m paying $1300 for it and it includes the helmet, (which I’m going later to see if it even fits me). I haven’t bluebooked it because this guy is the husband of a coworker and is extremely nice and I’d be willing to bet he’ll help me with *almost* any problems I might have with it. $1300 is how much he’s put into it to lately – new brakes and such, so I offered to get him that. No banks, he’ll just take payments, (means no interest) so I figure I also can’t beat that deal!

Masquerading as a normal person day after day is exhausting!

[jayman2078]

I’ve been hot on getting a 250 cruiser, but after all the rave reviews about the Ninja 250, no matter what generation, I’m broadening the list of considerations. I need to sit on first to see if I’ll like sitting on a sportbike compared to a cruiser (I already know cruisers are a comforable fit for my fat butt.) I hesitated, at first, to even consider sportbikes because I thought the insurance would be more (it’s not) and cops would be more prone to pulling me over even if I wasn’t speeding (any input on that?) and the gas mileage would be less than a comparable cruiser (I don’t think so). Of course, the Ninja is so popular I doubt I’ll find one anytime soon.

Masquerading as a normal person day after day is exhausting!

[jayman2078]

This all sounds much better than the short, flip-flops, dew-rag and Oakley’s that guys (and girls) around here wear doing 70+ MPH. I’m going to be riding to work (office) so I’ll be looking for stuff that goes over regular clothes. One thing I must have is a chrome dome – one of those BEEEautiful shiny-look-at-me-ha-ha-the-sun’s-in-your-eyes-now chrome helmets. Only thing is, I’ve never seen one full-face, they only come 3/4. Oh well, I’ll have to have two helmets. Okay.

P.S. Correction in spelling: I’m looking at the Aquila (Kyosung), Virago and Rebel. Not Aguila. (DANG they’re expensive – $4000!)

Masquerading as a normal person day after day is exhausting!

[jayman2078]

But I HAVE found a site that offers armored jeans for only $161! I’ll be getting those for sure. I’m gonna want a full-face helmet…does that look weird riding a cruiser? 99 % of all the bikers around here wear no gear whatsoever and I’m not exaggerating in the slightest.

Masquerading as a normal person day after day is exhausting!

[jayman2078]

Yes, my sig is below. I”m a noob in more than one way!

Masquerading as a normal person day after day is exhausting!

[jayman2078]

Masquerading as a normal person day after day is exhausting!

[jayman2078]

Masquerading as a normal person day after day is exhausting!

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