[nau_lax21]

unless it were wired to a speaker in your helmet, i dont think youd know it was going off, especially if you were speeding.

more importantly, a ton of cops now have laser instead of radar to catch speeders. most radar detectors detect laser too, but the laser is instant, so when the detector goes off, youve already been caught.

[nau_lax21]

check scorpion. at least for helmets, you get a ton of bang for the buck. i have the exo400 and i love it. dunno about their jackets and other gear tho

[nau_lax21]

suprisingly, i saw quite a few people (myself included) around flagstaff who rode year round. it seemed like if snow was not falling, bikes were on the road

hope to see more as the weather gets nicer tho!

[nau_lax21]

shop around. progressive turned out to be the cheapest insurance for me.

[nau_lax21]

if im going on the freeway for more than a few miles, definitely. otherwise i dont use them

[nau_lax21]

they make mirrors that can go where your handlebar balancers go (end of the bars). you could look into getting some of those if you dont want to be moving around to see behind you.

like others already said, mirrors are great, but you gotta turn your head and check too

[nau_lax21]

the gps units made specifically for motorcycles are WAYYYYYYY more expensive than your standard car gps systems. theres the tomtom rider and garmin makes one too.

ive seen some of the portable handheld gps systems on the internet that were fitted to bikes, for the price that might be the way to go

[nau_lax21]

yea… i think its important to know as much as possible about your bike, and changing the oil is about as simple as maintenance gets.

plus you save a few bucks changing your own oil

[nau_lax21]

this should help

[nau_lax21]

the engine type is a big factor. the inline 4 600s are gonna be a lot faster than the 650 2cyl engines (sv650, 650r, even monster 696)

the 600s that are terrible for a beginner, again, are the I4s (GSXR600, R6, ZX-6R, CBR600, etc…)

personally i think that if youre a new rider stay away from anything with that much power, youll learn much quicker that way. (unless youre looking at cruisers)

id be looking at the ninja 250 or 500, gs500, blast, that kinda bike. all your choice in the end tho.

hope that helps

[nau_lax21]

helmets are supposed to fit really snug at first. give them some time to break in. sounds like yours may be a bit too tight. if there’s a store around you that specializes in mc helmets, try them first. i know of 2 in the phoenix az area but thats probably not helpful to you at all.

check online for a helmet-specific store, they will be the most helpful in finding a helmet that fits your head right.

just a warning tho, they will likely be more expensive than online

[nau_lax21]

ah! crampbuster was totally not what i thought it was. seems just like throttle rockers. i dont think i do enough long distance riding to justify that purchase… seems like a great idea though.

[nau_lax21]

progressive was definitely cheaper for me. it asked if i had taken the msf course and if i had an endorsement (yes to both) before i got a quote, so im not 100% that theres discounts with them.. maybe tho

[nau_lax21]

didnt see those last 2 posts. good point about leaving a little earlier, but i dont think theyre gonna be going too fast. slow little car, at 70 ill be setting the pace lol

[nau_lax21]

Thanks for that list megaspaz, pretty sure i can cross cigarettes off your list tho lol. probably maps too as its a pretty direct route and im gonna be sticking by my buddies in a car who have been there before.

also, briderdt… whats crampbuster?? if it is what it sounds like, i think a little gatorade will do just fine.

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