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Seizing The Weekend
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RupmiscParticipant
Thanks, I’ll try to make do. Problem is that my knees are already so high, it is more effort to raise my foot to move it forward. But, I will try out, under or just back.
I have been assuming that being able to put weight on the pegs helped with control. Do most people keep weight primarily on seat?
IF not, are there ways to rearrange the peg brake positioning on my bike? Or just be patient and let next bike have more legroom under me. I do not want my legs in front, so no cruiser.
RupmiscParticipantScottyJ, the comments don’t bother me either. I too have loved ones.
Rab, quite right on the book title. I appreciate the rest of your comments.
RupmiscParticipantI’ve had a lot of experience with dealers lately. I think Rab has a good point. Most would rather get what they can-now. Add the fact that at many dealerships, salesperson turnover is high. Loyalty doesn’t matter to a salesperson who thinks they may well be gone in 6 months. I ended up at a small father/son run dealer. Hope they turn out to be a little better then average, but I’m not counting on it.
RupmiscParticipantNot sure yet, but I may call the new Nighthawk 250 Oliver, as I have mentioned elsewhere. Small, underpowered and reliable. Probably not as reliable on sand as its namesake from “Top Gear”.
You mean I’m not the only one who thought of naming a bike?
RupmiscParticipantThe ride home from the dealer was about 20 miles, avoiding the highway. It proved most interesting.
First, I had to return to the dealer twice because the speedometer was not functioning properly. Aside: interesting that it feels as if I’m going slower than actual speed (speedometer is a necessity). The dealer had been very pleasant to deal with, and remained so, but I am now a bit concerned about their service capabilities if it took two tries to check a cable. Anyway, all flawless since then.
Rab, you are absolutely right. The bike is more than up to my needs, especially since I plan to avoid the freeway until I am more experienced (and I know if the 250 can get up to speed).
I had 3 unpleasant experiences on the way home, (Rte. 62 if you remember the North Shore). As I made a right turn from a right turn lane, a truck in the same lane decided to blow past me mid-turn. As I waited to make a left, in a left turn lane, a pickup behind me (towing a trailer) decided to change lanes – – the trailer missed me by about 6 feet but it felt closer). No day would be complete without someone on a cell phone making a left right in front of me no signal-but, thanks to “Precision Motorcycling” I had been watching her front tires.
I also hit a road being repaved, complete with grooves and edge traps. Very glad I knew to avoid the edge traps.
I was a lot happier on the nighthawk 250, than I would have been on a bigger bike. Control is that much easier. Because I bought a new bike, the clutch, throttle, and brakes were much smoother than the much abused bike I rode in the MSF course. I have been practicing on smaller streets until I can find a large empty parking lot where I can practice without bothering anyone (actually not so easy around here). But everything I have read here, or in the books, about just how aware one needs to be is, if anything, understated. Riding my little bike at low speeds requires as much (or more) concentration, as driving an M3 or M5 on a race course. I am very glad that I elected to proceed gradually. Despite the “overdressed for every occasion” comments, I plan to keep the full gear on, even for a two minute trip.
Rab, right about leaves in fall, and shifting. Manual says top gear at 36mph.
Glad I got the Nighthawk, even beginning to think of it with affection. By daughters are debating whether it should have a name (possibly tacky) and if “Oliver” is not original. I don’t feel that an homage to Top Gear would be inappropriate, but daughters will have last word.
RupmiscParticipantThere is one sitting at my dealer right now, so I suspect they exist. I could be wrong about the year, but I did sit on it and I thought it was an ’08.
RupmiscParticipantJust kidding, but I always wanted to write a long-winded novel.
Gear was easy and already done. Cortech Air 2 jacket, Joe Rocket over-pants, Arai Helmet, Sidi boots, Joe Rocket leather gauntlets. Should be ok for summers in Massachusetts.
Now, we’ll see how much of an expert I can turn into in the next 12 months. We had an unofficial motto at one of my schools: “Seldom right, but never in doubt”. I have failed to live up to either part- – – I hope.
July 9, 2008 at 12:37 pm in reply to: H-D Sportster, Ducati Mini Monster, BMW 800(sport-touring) #8591RupmiscParticipantNo, I listened to the comments on this site. It’s down to the Ninja 500R or the Nighthawk 250. Cannot get a Ninja 250 where I am, or at least can’t find one new or from someone I know to be reliable. I am going to wait for anything bigger than a 500. But is the 500 not a great idea?
Many say the 500R is a great beginner, some don’t. Looking for pros and cons. For example “250 better in parking lot but the thing is too freaking light for a highway in Massachusetts (home of good roads and polite, predictable drivers . If all riders should get a 250 for 3 months, fine. But if the 500 has plusses, I’d like to know.
The only reasons I mentioned the 650R is because if someone recommends the SV650, why wouldn’t the same person (not you, not me) recommend the 650R. That’s just curiosity. I’m sticking at 500 or less, but I prefer standard/upright to cruiser.
July 8, 2008 at 5:35 pm in reply to: H-D Sportster, Ducati Mini Monster, BMW 800(sport-touring) #8570RupmiscParticipantthere must also be some general rules. I have pushed all of the bikes that I might ultimately want to second or even third bike in future. Now it’s down to trade offs, not for looks, but for best experience. Neither of the bikes I’m considering, is actually one that I want to own for long. (Nighthawk 250 or Ninja 500R). The peg/gear configuration on these (especially with my knees bent) is tight. With all due respect, feeling good (to the extent it means movement, balance, and flexibility) is not the least important thing.
I sat on a Kawasaki 500 cruiser because it is another bike recommended on this site-I am not psychologically fond of having my feet in front of me, but if it were the best all around to learn on, I would consider it.
According to everything I have read here, size is not the only factor. Weight is a factor. Position is a factor. Light weight and a more upright or forward position make maneuvering easier. But light weight is faster, and easier to flip if you grab the brakes. Cruisers are tougher to lean, but are more stable in a straight line. etc. etc.
I live around Boston. I plan to practice on side roads in the suburbs. But I worry about taking a Nighthawk 250 on a major highway. The 500R is a little heavier, might be a bit more maneuverable, but there is more danger from grabbing brakes and throttle. Neither is ideally suited to my body. The price difference is not material to me. If I thought a 650R would be a good first bike, I would buy it, but I know that I am conservative and am not ready for that one.
So, I would feel more mentally comfortable with a smaller bike. I would like the flexibility to learn. I was under the impression that both of these bikes were smaller. Rab suggests, I believe, that the Ninja 500 is not a good bike for a beginner. For what it’s worth, I am more than capable of controlling my desire to go fast (I really prefer control and precision to speed). I do worry about inadvertent mistakes (e.g. brakes with throttle) and want a “forgiving” bike.
Prior to this thread, I thought both the 500R and the Nighthawk pretty much met these qualifications. If one is way more suitable for the real world, I will listen (I have listened-the 650’s and others are out of the picture). I’d like to get it. So maybe just a list of pros and cons between the two bikes for me. Bluntly, if it’s easier to learn on a 500cc cruiser, fine, too.
Thanks. Again, I’m not looking for permission to get my dream bike, just the best of the available, reasonable choices. I have tried to provide enough information about myself to receive more personalized advice. Finally, I sincerely appreciate all of the comments that I have received non this and related topics. I have taken the lessons of practice and full gear to heart. Now for the bike. I await any comments.
July 8, 2008 at 12:21 pm in reply to: H-D Sportster, Ducati Mini Monster, BMW 800(sport-touring) #8557RupmiscParticipantI was trying to establish a baseline of opinion on this site. I had thought that the general consensus was that a 250 or 500 were generally appropriate as beginning motorcycles. The Suzuki 650s have generated more debate, but are included in the “approved list”.
On the smaller end, Rab’s comment seemed to suggest an even more conservative opinion: 250 (although I wonder if the new Ninja 650R is included), or 500, but not the Ninja 500R. So the 500s Rab would sanction, must be cruisers. It sounded, to me, as if Rab would really prefer 250s, with a strong preference for a Nighthawk or cruiser (which is a fairly limited selection in the US).
I’m not looking for acceleration or top speed. Looks don’t really matter to me, but seat and leg position do. I thought going with the Ninja 500 would be conservative (and only after having failed to obtain a NInja 250). I would get a Nighthawk if it were a seriously better choice than the 500. I did wonder about the bikes I talked about at the beginning of this thread, because they seemed lower in both power and acceleration, and because the complete idiot’s guide had mentioned them as beginner bikes.
I asked about the 650R, only because I was curious about why the Suzuki 650 was OK, but the Kawasaki might not be. Personally, I have already decided to stay at 500. In any event, no one here can find a Suzuki naked 650 with ABS (which I confess did appeal to me).
Basically, I just wanted to know if others agreed that even the Ninja 500 was too much (yes, it can accelerate), and if the only real choice other than a cruiser was the Nighthawk 250, being both light and low powered. If so, Is Rab in the minority on that opinion?
RupmiscParticipantalong the bottom. Is that a decal? The black one has them in red but they are a little harder to notice. It looked like factory work.
RupmiscParticipantI was curious about the bar risers-where does one get such things? Also, and it wouldn’t just be on the Ninja 500, is it possible (and reasonable) to try and replace the gear shifting lever with one a little longer, or otherwise make it a little easier to move a big foot under or over it?
July 8, 2008 at 1:46 am in reply to: H-D Sportster, Ducati Mini Monster, BMW 800(sport-touring) #8546RupmiscParticipantRab seems to be fairly similar in body type to me, slightly shorter legs, slightly heavier. Still, looks like I’m going with the 500R over the Nighthawk. The 650 was way more comfortable (as was the Versys [sic?] frankly), but I thought the 500R was supposed to be OK. Actually, if weight is the factor (cruisers are heavier) why wouldn’t the H-D 883 be OK, except that it probably handles poorly and vibrates? Matt, you may not be the most conservative person on this site.
I can, however, personally attest (from day 1 of MSF) that it is possible to gently lower a NIghthawk 250 to that it reclines while its rider stands after having stopped with the front wheel not quite straight.
I suppose it might have been nice if the 500cc qualification in the first response had said “500cc cruiser”. Is the Ninja 500 any less suitable than a Suzuki 500 (sport style)? Is there anything at 500cc that doesn’t leave your feet sticking out in front of you which is an OK beginner bike?
Which raises another interesting point: the Suzuki 650SV is, if not recommended on this site for beginners, at least thoroughly condoned. A sales person, who said I should stick with a 500, said that the 650R Ninja has essentially the same engine as the SV650. Is that true? Just curious, have decided to stick at 500 or below. But hell, I was going to put my money on the 500 in the morning—lost my DSL for a few hours, and then I saw this thread. Speaking of indecision.
RupmiscParticipantWon’t tell you which year is which. Yellow is more visible, black is a bit more subtle.
RupmiscParticipantI may well buy one of these tomorrow, and wanted to ask one question (which I confess to having raised elsewhere). Noticed this thread and it seemed appropriate.
When I sit on a non-moving 500R, my knees come up above the indentation in the gas tank. This is not perfectly comfortable. I can live with it, as my choices seem limited (my legs seem cramped on most 250s (at least the ones I could purchase this year). Would it be a riding problem that should stop me getting this bike. When in motion, my position might be different.
I guess it’s a difficult question if you can’t actually see it, but if anyone has had a similar experience, I’d appreciate advice.
Between finding a dealer I don’t distrust, finding models available, etc. the search for a bike has been something of a strain. Frankly, I’d like to stop looking and start learning. Thanks
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