[JtownJJA]

I’m shorter than you are, and I really felt comfortable on the BMW G650GS. I really liked the lower seat height, and the riding position. I guess the “hugeness” of it is a result of it’s higher handlebars, especially compared to my Suzuki GS500F. I know the BMW dealer here does allow scheduled test drives… somthing you could check into. For a smaller price tag, you might also check a similar bike, the Suzuki Vstrom DL650, which I believe is available with ABS. However, I think it feels “huger” than the BMW G650GS.
One note on ABS, there has been several comments on that topic lately, so read some of the other topics. Personally, I don’t know much about it since I haven’t ever rode a bike with it before.
As far as where you should begin again, only you are familiar with your confidence level. I did not feel confident enough to start with a 600CC+ bike, but I also thought the 250 would not meet my needs, so I went with the 500CC. It has been just the right fit for me. Others on here have had great starts with 600-650CC bikes. What type of bike did you ride 10 years ago?

[JtownJJA]

Last year it was $8.00 to get in at Cleveland. However, there were some special deals if you ordered your tickets ahead of time online. I was also able to get an even better deal when I went to one of the “special codes” websites and found several discount codes to use on with the online ticket order site. It saved me quite a bit. I won’t buy tickets again this year without trying that again.

[JtownJJA]

I wasn’t expecting that. Buell certainly is full of surprises this year, including some outstanding accomplishments, and then there was that cubed Blast. Although Buell hasn’t had any of my personal favorite models, they were a unique and fresh brand to keep an eye on. A lot of the guys on the ohio-riders site lay the blame on Harley Davidson.

[JtownJJA]

I wish I could have rode on Saturday when the sun was out a bit, but I had to wait until cloudy Monday. Sounds like you had a great ride, other than the scheduled time you needed to be home. I had the same problem, as you can read in my Columbus Day thread. Usually, one of the best things about going for a longer ride is that although you may have a planned route or schedule, the fun part is being flexible and having the freedom to take more time or go off in another direction. For instance, if it had been me, without the deadline time, I would have just parked the bike and enjoyed the festival when I ran into it. It is kind of annoying how other things in our life interfere with our motorcycle riding, isn’t it? C’est la vie!

[JtownJJA]

I had thought of that… Berlin and Warsaw!
Like I told the folks I work with, I enjoy putting the story together with the pictures almost as much as the ride itself. It gives me a chance to re-live it, and allow others to experience the excitement and scenery, just as if they were there.

[JtownJJA]

Keep at it, and the confidence will continue to grow.
I had a similar experience the other day where I went into a sharp right curve too quickly. Luckily it was not a blind curve, and I could see that nothing was coming the other way. I also opted to straighten up the bike and go into the other lane so I could brake, then get back into my own lane.
Think of what a better rider you will be in the long term, having had the experience. I wish I could learn the lessons that come with taking a fall… (without taking the fall).

[JtownJJA]

Thanks!  I haven’t said it before, but thank you for all your video posts.  They are quite entertaining, but ever so helpful and relevant! 
I know I need to practice “the box” more.  The last time I tried is the only time I’ve ever dropped my bike.  It was at a very slow speed, and I almost saved it, but ended up lowering it gently down onto the pavement.  Just shows that I need more work at it. 

[JtownJJA]

All I have for now is a simple Disc Lock ($19.99) that I use when I have to leave my bike parked out in the parking lot at work where I can’t see it.  I hadn’t thought of a group pulling up in a van and just lifting the whole thing and taking it away.  It certainly could happen.  However, the Disc Lock was very inexpensive, and it is what I can afford for now.  It’s also worth mentioning that I always engage the stearing lock before I remove the key.  I’m not sure how difficult that would be for a thief to disengage, but at least I can try to keep someone from making a quick, easy getaway.

[JtownJJA]

OK.  The good news first…  My bike is in great condition.  Through all the inspections done, very little needed to be done to it.  The bad news, it still costed me around $250.00.  I will admit, though, it gives me a lot of peace-of-mind knowing that it has been completely reviewed by a professional.  I don’t have the list of things they looked at here beside me, but it is quite an extensive list.  I can share more details another time if anyone would like. 
Also, the best and worse part of it all was the ride home.  It was wonderful to get to ride again after missing it for over a week, even if the weather was very fall-like with lots of dreary clouds, and brisk wind blowing the whole time.  However, before I got all the way back home, a few light rain showers started falling.  This was my first real experience riding in the rain, and it did help having read about the experiences of so many others here on BBM.  Luckily my vision stayed pretty clear through the face shield, and I took the curves a little slower so that I wouldn’t have to lean very much, and made it safely home. 
All in all, a good experience for my first time to the mechanic.  No one made me feel like I didn’t know what I was talking about or anything like that.  They were friendly, and they charged me what they estimated.  Of couse one of the perks is getting to go look at the shiny new bikes on the sales floor, but I can do that anytime for free.   

[JtownJJA]

Looks like you had a good visit to a BMW dealer with so many of their models listed.  (ha ha)  Anyway, the BMW models don’t get mentioned too often here, but I have been taking a look at them myself.  I’ve sat on the G 650 GS and it felt pretty tame, and very comfortable in it’s riding position.  Also, by what I’ve read on it, and with your experience, I would bet that it would be a good beginner bike for you.  The other BMW models, however, sound like too much to me.  They are around 800CC (including the F 650 GS), which I wouldn’t recommend to anyone for their first bike. If you look around on this site, I know there is at least one other person who recently got a Gladius for their first bike, and they love it.  It could be right for you as well. It definitely has the price advantage if you’re going to start with a brand new bike.  No matter which you choose, just take it slow and cautious at first, as I’m sure you plan to do, and Ride Safe!

[JtownJJA]

I just posted an update to an old thread of mine and my new post shows up two times.  https://www.bestbeginnermotorcycles.com/forum/forum/2778/first-visit-mechanic

[JtownJJA]

I know this thread is an old one, but I finally got the bike in the shop a week ago, and it is ready for me to go pick up.  Turns out this was a good week to do it because we’ve had a lot of rain and I was out of town all weekend anyway.  The price estimate was still the same as it was in July when I dropped it off.  I’ll break out a list of services and costs when I get it back later today.  I’m excited to get back on and get to riding again.  The temperatures are dropping and who knows how many more good riding days there will be before winter arrives.  There is a bit of of a wind advisory today, so I plan to take the slower roads home from the shop.

[JtownJJA]

Looks as good as new and ready to ride.  I bet you’ll be at the BMV as quick as you can.  Ride safe!

[JtownJJA]

Beautiful pictures, Owlie!!  Back in June I went out west for the first time to visit some of the national parks (Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Zion, and Bryce).  I never got tired of just looking at the mountains.  Amazing!  Your pictures remind me of that trip. 

[JtownJJA]

Although I like my 2004 GS500F a lot, I was surprised how comfortable the Ninja 650R felt when I sat on it for the first time over this past weekend. It actually feels like you sit up straighter than I do on my GS500F. Right beside the Ninja at the dealer was the Er-6n, and there really wasn’t much difference between it and the Ninja as far as how the ergonomics felt. I was quite surprised at that. However, I have read an article on the Ninja 650 in Cycle World a few months ago where their only big complaint about the bike was that the seat itself was not comfortable for a long ride. Depends on what your average time in the saddle would be I guess.

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