[Schmarvin]

My name is Sean, age 16, and turning 17 early September. I recently bought a motorcycle, '04 Kawasaki Ninja 250R. Its in great condition, less than 6,000 miles were put on it by previous owners. I haven't laid it down yet, but I take heed to peoples advice that eventually I will be in a situation where it will get laid down. Since I'm new, and know only a few basics, any tips would be nice.

Some more information about me. I'm a webdesigner and programmer. My coding languages are PHP, MySQL, HTML, and some CSS. I haven't much talent elsewhere in my life. I'm more-or-less a computer nerd. Yes, I do work out, squatting a basic 235 lbs and bench 135 lbs. I'm a Junior at Stratford High School. Yes, I know, some people will actually think I'm "the cool kid" at school because I ride a bike. But, thats not why I wanted a bike. I wanted a bike for two reasons: 1. Because I can't get a license til 17 with experience, and 2. Because they interest me a lot, instead of cars, which everyone has. Better gas mileage is another reason of its own.

Aside from my personal life, I run my own website, http://www.x-ind.com
**If I'm not allowed to post my own site, thats fine. Kinda new hear, gonna learn the ropes.
Its been running a few months now. You can find more about me at my blog http://www.bursting-bullet.com
I post a bit of pictures and some videos there. No videos of me on the bike at the moment.
Lastly, if you have any questions about me or want to criticize me because I'm new, go ahead. I've gone through this before online. Hopefully no one will be too out-of-bounds.

Pictures of my bike from Friday: http://www.bursting-bullet.com/archives/8-8-08.php

**Note: If you want better pictures of the bike, I can send you direct links to the pictures. Just ask.

~Schmarvin

 

[BamBam]

welcome, i didnt think you would get any bashing just from what you wrote, but since you said like 3 times you didnt care then maybe you might...but not from me, thats not my thing, enzo likes to do that.

 

[mac5726]

Hey, don't invite a bashing... other than that, welcome. Advice... wear some gear. A jacket, helmet, and gloves at a minimum. Any question, feel free to ask, pretty good group here. Ride safe.

 

[Schmarvin]

Would you recommend any beginner gear? Maybe some local stores to get good prices?
If you say Velocity, just shoot me. Their prices are out the roof. Other than that, I'd like to hear some places. Like you said, I basically need all the gear now.

Some more information: I'll be riding this bike to and from school after I fix a few dings.

 

[BamBam]

if you do a search you will be able to find loads of stuff, just check out an online store...www.kneedraggers.com www.cyclegear.com www.motorcyclesuperstore.com there are a couple

 

[mac5726]

Helmet, try some on, get one with DOT and SNELL safety rating... it needs to fit good. Arai, HJC, KBC, Icon, ect... lots of good brands, main thing is it needs to fit.

Jacket, personally I like Alpinestars leather, but there are alot of good textile and mesh jackets out there. Make sure it has good protection in the shoulders, elbows, and back. This armor is for impact, the shell is for abrasion (thats why I like leather)

Gloves, good leather gloves (leather again) should have armor on knuckles. Some have kevlar in the palms to help with abraision. This is a good thing.

If you can afford any more gear than this, you are blessed . Boots would be a good investment (go try them on before buying), underpants (armored pants to wear under jeans), draggin jeans (really good abrasion resistant jeans). Hope that helps. As far as stores, just google something like motorcycle helmet and a ton of sites will come up, but if you order online, go to a store and try some of the stuff on first.

 

[Schmarvin]

Well, thank you for the advice. Looked on Kneedraggers at some gear, could you advise if any is good for starters?

Gloves: http://www.kneedraggers.com/details/Tour_Master_Mens_Airflow_Gloves--601942.html
Helmet: http://www.kneedraggers.com/details/AFX_FX96_Full_Face_Helmet_Multi_Silver--633303.html
Jacket: http://www.kneedraggers.com/details/Tour_Master_Mens_Saber_Jacket--601954.html
Pants: http://www.kneedraggers.com/details/Tour_Master_Elite_Series_II_Rainsuit_Pants--522-TM-3.html

I've currently got a good pair of boots that would be fine. Not much of a shoe/boot shopper. Hopefully I can get some feedback on the items above.

 

[The_Punisher]

Welcome, good to see a fellow programmer. I'm a CS major at Sam Houston State University in Texas...but I can bench 250

 

[Schmarvin]

Show-off, lol. Well, hope we don't have to compete against each other.
**Any feedback on the gear I posted?

 

[ZX6RRNewbie]

www.newenough.com

 

[helo-pilot]

I haven't laid it down yet, but I take heed to peoples advice that eventually I will be in a situation where it will get laid down. Since I'm new, and know only a few basics, any tips would be nice.

hey, great to have you here. that is exactly correct, you WILL lay the bike down at some point in time. not just drop it in a drive way, or at a light, but you WILL lay one down at speed some day. but just wear your gear and you will be fine. it sounds like you have the right attitude, and are willing to learn and listen with an open mind. that is a great thing. there is a lot of good advice on here, as well as many experianced riders who have been there.

on a side note. i am looking to starting my own web site, so i may pm you some to ask you some questions about all that. i used to do html programming, but that was something like 9 years ago, so i really dont remember much about it.

anyways great to have you on board.

 

[helo-pilot]

i dont like those gloves you picked out. may i recomend somthing like this
http://www.newenough.com/gloves/street_short_cuff/alpinestars/smx2_air_carbon_motorcycle_gloves.html

they are a little more pricy, no doubt. but i have put them to the ultimate test, while sliding down the highway, and i will be buying another set. i will persionally vouch for these.

also, if i were you right now. i would skip buying the pants, and take that money and put it to a little bit nicer helmet. mabe something like this
http://www.newenough.com/helmets_eyewear/closed_face/hjc/cl_15_draco_motorcycle_helmet.html

or

http://www.newenough.com/helmets_ey...rpion/exo_700_scorpion_motorcycle_helmet.html

my little sister has the scorpion helmet and loves it.

i know that you are a little younger than most on here, but trust me, when i suggest these differant products. i know being a little younger money is a little harder to come by, but you are only looking at something like a 200-300 price differance, in the gloves an helmet, and you will end up being much happier in the end.

when purchasing gear, go down to your local bike shop, or a place like cycle gear. and look at the products in person, try them on. have some one help you find a helmet. tell them you are looking for a helmet in the 250-350 price range. then try them on. find 2 or three that fit well and you like, then go on the new to somthing like newenough.com and see what their prices are, they will be cheaper, that scorpion helmet that i linked to, lists in stores for about 300-350 i think. but newenough has it on for 250.

a good COMFORTABLE helmet is crutial. otherwise you will be buying another one soon because you dont like the one you have.

also on the gloves, my persional feelings are that i like some reinforcement in the knuckles. thats why i chose those ones i linked to. if i didnt have somthing like the hard knuckles in my gloves when i crashed, there is no doubt in my mind that i would have broken my knuckles, and mabe even ground parts of them off. but since i had the carbon fiber in the knuckles, there was not a mark on my knuckles. and the leather palms saved me as well. i could post pics if you wanted to see them, but i hit so hard, i broke the carbon fiber and deformed and concaved parts of the knuckles in the gloves. granted i was at some speed down the highway, but still. thats why i suggest those. if those arent your cup of tea, thats fine, but look for somthing with leather plams, and reinforced knuckles, with either carbon, or a hard plastic.

those pants really wont do much for you in a crash, and you will get very tired of wearing them quickly, thats why i recomend that you take the money that you were going to spend on them, and apply it to the cloves or helmet.

one last thing. ALWASE wear shoes that cover your ankles. i wear leather dessert combat boots, because they are light, and weight is a big concern for me and my job, but make sure you wear good footwear that covers your ankles. prefferbly leather. it protects the best hands down.

 

[mac5726]

I agree with helo-pilot, here's a few more options.
http://www.kneedraggers.com/details/Joe_Rocket_Phoenix_5.0_Textile_Jacket--634927.html

http://www.kneedraggers.com/details/Spidi_Strada_Race_Gloves_On_Sale--604791.html

Check these out http://www.extremesupply.com/escloseouts/escloseout.html

I am trying to think about cost here, obviously. Instead of pants as mentioned above, place the money in a better helmet, most fatality crashes are due to a head injury. But if you want something for you legs without spending alot of money http://www.kneedraggers.com/details/Icon_Field_Armor_Leg--35-ICON05-2.html.

 

[mac5726]

BTW, make sure you try on helmets at a local store before you buy online. Can't stress this enough. Simple test, the helmet should not come off your head when strapped down, and should not move much to either side. Sinch it down and see if you can move it.

 

[Schmarvin]

Yes, I know. I've already found my helmet size. Did it at velocity while checking some prices.

Anyways, sorry, but I don't have much money to put into a helmet. I need the pants due to the weather here in South Carolina. It rains a lot. Lol, and I wear jeans, so, I'd rather not keep bringing an extra pair of pants or two.
Anything over $100 for my size helmet is way too much. I'm only a medium, with a snug fit. My max budget for my gear is $250.

 

[helo-pilot]

Yes, I know. I've already found my helmet size. Did it at velocity while checking some prices.

Anyways, sorry, but I don't have much money to put into a helmet. I need the pants due to the weather here in South Carolina. It rains a lot. Lol, and I wear jeans, so, I'd rather not keep bringing an extra pair of pants or two.
Anything over $100 for my size helmet is way too much. I'm only a medium, with a snug fit. My max budget for my gear is $250.

i would just throw an extra pair of pants in a backpack for now if it were me. and use the differance in money for the helmet.

 

[Schmarvin]

Okay, well, if I don't need the pants, a helmet over $150 is too much from what I've been looking at. It only has to be DOT and SNELL approved, right?

**Of, forgot to mention, my helmet size is only a medium.

 

[helo-pilot]

http://www.newenough.com/helmets_eyewear/closed_face/hjc/cl_15_draco_motorcycle_helmet.html

i used to own a helmet simular to this. same model, differant paint, and a little older. i did me ok for the first year or so of riding until i was able to save up for somthing nicer.

it should run you less than 150

 

[Schmarvin]

Alrighty, it seems to run under $100. Not bad.

**Anyone know where I can find junior jackets and such? I'm around 32 regular, yes, I'm a small person.
Its kind of hard to find one the way I'm looking.

 

[clubracergt1]

Damn, Sean. Four days, and you already have me passed up in post count. You little post-whore, you.

Oh, well. Now for the public congratulations on the two-fiddy. I have to say, you have taken to riding very quickly. And, this has to be the best place (I have seen, anyway) for the celebration of the motorcycle hobby and exchange of useful information around.

Now all you need to do is find a girlfriend from here. It seems to work for many others. :lol: