[SaleenDriva]

I guess so…

Here in Hawaii, if you take the class and pass you are given a waiver that exempts you from the DMV driving test. I had to take the written DMV permit test still (and tat was way harder/trickier than it should have been), but other than that and paying to get a new drivers license, you were done.

[SaleenDriva]

Actually…I think you have to be under a certain, ahem, “length” for some of their bigger bikes

I just took the MSF course and the permit test, and am now a fully licensed rider, and the amount of horrible advice I have heard is ridiculous. One of the guys in our class said his friend had told him the CBR 1000 was a great bike to start on. After layin it down 8 times in 3.5 weeks, he went down to a ZX-6R (not far enough I dont think, but whatever floats your boat).

Also, after telling a few people my intention to start off a little smaller (Im still plannin on a Ninja 650R), I was told by a number of people that the ZX-6R would be a great starter bike for me, and that I would be bored with the 650R. I say “Nay”. After driving my tank of a Volvo 960, and even after a higher perfomance car like my moms Mustang, I feel that a 12-flat 1/4 mile time will work out just fine for me. Some people just have no clue what they are talkin about. The guy in my MSF class with the ZX-6R responded to my wanting a 650R by saying “My 636 (the cc’s on the ZX-6R) has more than enough power for me. Why do you want the 650R??” I then explained the whole 2 vs 4 cyclinder bike, and the fact that I will have 70 hp to his 115-120 hp!

I guess we have been a little more thorough with our bike searches than some of the other guys and gals we all know.

[SaleenDriva]

Dont worry too much about the figure 8…I do them tomorrow,but I asked our instructor about it, and the max you can lose on it is only 8 points, so…don’t stress! Focus on hitting braking points more she said…you can lose major points in those areas.

[SaleenDriva]

I did not mean to say that the MSF course would make me a above average rider…I said I consider myself a above average DRIVER, ie-cars. I don’t think the MSF course will do anything other than give me a good introduction on how to be safe and smart on the road, and give me a great starting point. I guess Im not really good at conveying just how much damage I know bikes can do…I had a brother run into the back of a car getting on a on-ramp here in Hawaii, and he got thrown all the way over the car onto its hood.

On being dreamy-eyed…call it what you will, I realize I am a new rider. I know I don’t really know anything about riding. Thats why Im here, to try and learn as much as I can before I get myself in trouble. I am a 20 year old kid, and I realize that few people would call that a “mature” age, but…nothing I can do about that. Anyways, Im just trying to absorb as much as I can. If that mean I should just keep my mouth shut and listen, just go ahead and say that, and I’ll do so. Clearly I don’t have anything to base my choices on other than person preference, styling, and a few friends thoughts.

[SaleenDriva]

Im going to take the course on Tues/Wed/Thursday of this next week, so I guess we will see how I feel after that. I have always felt that I am an “above-average” driver, much more aware of what is going on around me, but I have heard that none of that is really applicable because of the numerous differences between bikes and cars. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see how the class goes, and see if I can get an instructor out there to endorse me getting a 650! Im hoping if I show enough proficiency, and I tell him/her what I intend to use the bike for, they might be willing to tell my parents the 650 is the way to go.

Abomb-thanks for your words of encouragement.

And Matt-I appreciate you tryin to keep me safe

[SaleenDriva]

I agree completely that car drivers are not looking for motorcyclists, and there for dont see them. Someone asked me about a month ago (before getting a bike was a reality for me) if a large number of people in Hawaii rode motorcycles. I said not really, I don’t see that many on the road. Boy was I wrong. Once I took an interest in them, I saw bikes EVERYWHERE! I see at least 3 or 4 on a 5 minute drive to the store, and at least 5-10 every time I jump on the freeway here. It’s like the ‘red-car syndrome”-if you buy a red car, you’ll see them everywhere.

[SaleenDriva]

So, the 500R is my bike, pretty much no matter what huh? I admit, I have fallen in love with the 650R (with a face like that, who couldn’t?!) and the idea of not having to ‘trade up”, but I also don’t wanna be one of those “dumb kids” that “should have listened’ when everyone comes to my funeral!

In terms of the 500R, when was its last update? To be honest, I am having a hard time seeing the changes from 1995 till now! The headlight that Im 😐 about looks the same in the pictures that I have found so far…anyone into 500s that could help me choose the right model year for my bike?

[SaleenDriva]

Since buying a helmet, I have started to notice every bike on the road. We have these stupid moped/scooters that no one seems to wear a helmet on, but most bikers I have seen have one on. Well…excluding two nights ago when I was driving home from work at 2:15 AM in pouring rain (hard enough to even get a speed demon like me to slow down), and a guy blew by my doing at least 70 (speed limit is 50), no helmet, tank top, shorts and sneakers. Oh wait, he had back protection…a tiny BACKPACK. He was weaving through cars, and all I could think is “thats gonna hurt when one doesn’t see you…”

Anyways, no one seems to wear protection out here. Sport bikers wear helmets for the most part, but cruiser guys (exp. Harley guys) stick with bandanas and glasses. Dumb.

[SaleenDriva]

The general consensus seems to be that the 500R is the better path, because it is a smaller bike, according to another forum I am on. One big thing that drives me away from the 500R is it’s styling…

I have read a number of “New Bikers READ THIS” posts, and have read that “if you really care about what your bike looks like, you are riding for the wrong reason” line before. I will admit ignorance to the motorcycle world, but have been a huge car guy (Mustangs esp.) for 7 years, and I know for a fact this is not true there. I know people that choose cars based SOLELY on the way they look, and I would hesitate to call them dumb for doing that. I have friends that drive older Fox bodied Mustangs purely because they like the look of them more than the new bodies. I also know people who broke the bank and bought a Shelby GT-500 because they are so gorgeous in their eyes. I understand that the 650R is more power…but I want it for the styling also. I think the 500Rs are not as attractive (No offense to anyone that owns one, I think they are great from the side, but the square front headlight is not my style), and when I sat on the 650R it FELT so good, and it looked so sexy (granted, it was Red too!), especially sitting next to a 2008 500R.

Anyways, all of this may not matter anymore…my parents, who had originally given me free reign on my choice of bike, dont like the “650” part, and REALLY don’t like the “R”.

[SaleenDriva]

Budd…thats just hilarious!

[Author]

Posts