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Seizing The Weekend
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SafetyFirstParticipant
Does the tail bag play well with the older Ninja 250? Any reflective stuff on it?
SafetyFirstParticipantThe gear probably would be for the lengthy ‘saturday’ riding and long distance highway riding since I’m on a full license now – no more restrictions.
To work or down the street (35 mph max) will probably just be Shift mesh jacket and textile pants. I might wear the undergear depending on how it goes.
About the ScorpionEXO textile pants: those things bake me like an freekin’ oven. Is it just those pants or are all textile pants like that? Seriously the insides are full of sweat when I take them off but the mesh jacket never gets damp.
SafetyFirstParticipantI hardly ever put the kickstand down, but my bike never drops.
Centerstand FTW (that’s for the win, for you non-techno dweebs.)
All kidding aside, this post of mine has two of mine.
SafetyFirstParticipantDo what you gotta do.
Mine seems content as it is, after a month. I had a heck of a time getting it around the helmet, I’ll keep an eye out for it loosening up.
And, yes, a light grey band around your head will get you noticed when your helmet is black and green. Especially when it’s overcast. A lot of cars run with DRLs, so that’s a plus.
SafetyFirstParticipantPlease tell me I’m not the only one who cringed looking at this page.
Just like seeing a milk crate on a scooter in college, some things just should not be done.
SafetyFirstParticipantUgh, Harbor Freight!
It’s a love-hate relationship, sort of like the bike store.
I love the place, but the wallet hates it.
SafetyFirstParticipantI don’t dislike scooters, but if you wanted to get me on something 50cc, it’d have to be one of these:
SafetyFirstParticipantI have never waved to a cop, mainly because I’m worried that it’d be asking for it.
SafetyFirstParticipantSpeaking of Scorpion helmets…
IronPony.com (and their brick-and-mortar store in Columbus, OH) has a bunch of discontinued EXO-400 and EXO-700 helmets for cheap. If I remember, most of the EXO-400s were women styles (unless light blue and purple is your color) for around $60ish (some might have been ever less) and the EXO700s are Raider green and yellow XS for $80.
A $35 replacement liner and cheekpads later, I’m rocking out in my XS turned S Raider Green EXO-700 for like $120 (yes, Scorpion uses the same shell for XS, S and M. The only difference is the liners.)
I know I say this too much, but pick up a Halo when you get your helmet! It’s a reflective band that goes around your helmet and makes you much more visable even during the day. I can’t get myself to buy a neon yellow helmet, so it’s the next best thing.
SafetyFirstParticipantI tried to get as much sleep last night as I could. Hard to do when it’s your day off any you’re used to working 3rd shift. I’m sure I got at least a full 10 hours.
Started out about a half-hour before the test time, practising on the BRC range in the parking lot of the vocational school about a block away from the BMV, to warm up. Very helpful!
Passed with ZERO deductions.
It all seemed like a dream. I was last in the group, so the fear of being watched was gone.
The left turn in a box went flawless, and the stop in a box was fine. He emphasised that he didn’t want any skidding, no problem.
Everything went perfect. Not a single cone missed on the weave! Wow! The U-turn in a box was fine.
The scorer actually said he was a little worried that I was going too fast for the emergency braking section, but my distance was good and I didn’t drop. So much for worrying about going too slow. The guy on the CBR600 in the group actually had to re-do it because he went too slow. *snickers* So much for displacement, huh? Still, very sweet bike.. a graphite color with special edition ‘urban’ graphics. If there’s one thing I’ve practised quite hard over and over, it’s emergency braking.
The swerve was a piece of cake. The scorer told me to go slower this time. No problem, I have a firm handle on swerving. I had to swerve around what looked like a broken clock radio in the middle of the road going 45 MPH the other day, so a ~12 MPH swerve on a clean parking lot is nothin’.
New license was issued with a new picture of me with helmet hair. Works for me!
First off, I have to give props to Capt’n Crash. Your videos are supurb. I’m sure many a life and bike will be saved from your Youtubes. Also thanks to all of you guys and gals on here for your advice and suggestions.
For all the newbs reading this, get into BRC if you at all can. If there is online scheduling, keep checking daily… or more often. Someone might drop the course, and you could get lucky. If you don’t pass on the first try, keep at it! I never sat on a motorcycle, let alone ever rode one before, and there was a lot of material to cover in a few hours on the range. Even with my full license, I’m still retaking BRC. Unless you can ride like Crash does (thinks of non-stop figure 8 in a box), there’s still skills to sharpen up on.
And last but not least, props to Kawasaki for making such a sweet beginner’s bike — the Ninja 250. I’d recommend it to anyone starting to ride.
SafetyFirstParticipantThey must still be looking for the clutch and the gear shifter. I kid, I kid.
SafetyFirstParticipantHaving spent a lot of time in college on two wheels, without the motor, I can say being on bike is frightening at times.
Honestly, more so than on a motorcycle.
Out of no where, someone pulls out in front of you at the strip mall, blocking the sidewalk you’re on. You’re crossing the street, and just about get plowed down by someone making a right turn without stopping for the stop sign, late for class.
If you think you aren’t seen on a motorcycle, a bicycle is worse.
I look out for them when I’m on the road. Mainly, because a lot of them might not be as defensive as they could be.
SafetyFirstParticipant+1 for the sore rump on the older Ninja 250. Just got back in after sweating it up in the parking lot, practising for the state on-cycle test.
Does anyone make comfortable after-market seats for these?
Other than that…
They are fun bikes, especially once you figure out that they like to rev high. Don’t be afraid to make some noise on them. Once you get used to them, don’t be afraid to see how much power they can give. It’s enough for anyone. At first, I thought they were underpowered. Until I discovered the secret of the 250… it needs to be above 6000 RPM.
Don’t let the less-than-sporty look of the pre-08 Ninjas get you down. The guys you pass on the street on their R6’s and Gixxers probably started on a Ninja 250, too. I have yet to not get a hand back passing out going the other way. Can’t say the thing for Harley guys, but whatever. They’re better than anyone else on two wheels, right?
SafetyFirstParticipantAs for listening to music…
I’d discourage it. When you are learning how to ride, you need to hear what your engine ‘sounds’ like. A lot of my riding is at 35 MPH. On the Ninja 250, that means 3rd gear, 7000 RPM. Just listening to the engine sound, I can tell if I’m losing speed or gaining without looking down. Worst case scenario is 5 MPH over. Which is a good thing, since most of the 35 MPH roads are speed traps around here. Listening to the engine means less looking down at speedometer, and more looking up for hazards.
SafetyFirstParticipantScratch that idea.
http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/I_want_to_install_frame_sliders. -
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