Bought a bike
- Thread starter osudewd
- Start date
Congradulations!!osudewd said:
Welcome to the club I just bought my first bilke too and had never riden a bike. I picked up my Katana 750 last Satureday. It wasn't untill yestureday that I got the courage, or the permit to ride it. Its funny how natuaral balancing was.
Be VERY carful when starting while at an intersection you have to turn at. I am still terrible at that and on right hand turns end up looking at oncoming traffic in their lane.
Braking is a more of a b**** then I thought it would be. NOw I just hold the clutch and get it in first while stopping, I don't bother putting it back in gear until I have stopped and am starting again.
Definitly take the course, I am signed up for one, hopefully I get a chance to actualy take it this season.
Which is why I practice on slow and virtualy un traveled roads.shinzen said:
The fvery first moment I was on it, in the forst 10 feet I was taking a right out of my garage and ended up running over my neighbors yard across the street. Goo thing he didn't have his trash out.
Last edited:
congratulations and welcome to the world of two wheeling! I have been riding for 28 years now....and have loved every moment....osudewd said:
don't THINK about taking the course....DO IT. its one of the best things you will ever do.
THEN, once you finally venture out onto the street on your own....do yourself ONE favor. ALWAYS and I mean ALWAYS....ride like you are invisible....for the simple reason that to many if not most motorist....you are. if someone pulls up at a side street...ALWAYS believe they will pull out in front of you....and always stay away from the cars....never ride right beside one, that is unless you are in creaping along traffic. doing these few simple things will keep the rubber side down...and you all assembled like you were when the Dr. slapped you on the ass.
Congrats on the bike...I my self started on a ninja 500, that was 6 years ago.
since I have sold the ninja, bought a fireblade then sold the blade to buy the Pro and now have just aquired my new 2004 Suzuki SV650S. It's a blast, have fun and keep the rubber on the ground...
since I have sold the ninja, bought a fireblade then sold the blade to buy the Pro and now have just aquired my new 2004 Suzuki SV650S. It's a blast, have fun and keep the rubber on the ground...
Biker truths and tips...
Some fun reading here and some good tips also:<?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O /><O
></O>
<O></O>
<?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = ST1 /><ST1:TIME Minute="0" Hour="0">Midnight</ST1:TIME> bugs taste best.<O></O>
Saddlebags can never hold everything you want, but they CAN hold everything you need.<O></O>
NEVER argue with a woman holding a torque wrench.<O></O>
Never try to race an old geezer, he may have one more gear than you.<O></O>
Home is where your bike sits still long enough to leave a few drops of oil on the ground.<O></O>
Routine maintenance should never be neglected.<O></O>
It takes more love to share the saddle than it does to share the bed.<O></O>
The only good view of a thunderstorm is in your rearview mirror.<O></O>
Never be afraid to slow down.<O></O>
Bikes don't leak oil, they mark their territory.<O></O>
Don't ride so late into the night that you sleep through the sunrise.<O></O>
Pie and coffee are as important as fuel.<O></O>
Sometimes it takes a whole tankful of fuel before you can think straight.<O></O>
If you want to get a job, you may have to compromise your principals (you may even have to shave).<O></O>
Riding faster than everyone else only guarantees you'll ride alone.<O></O>
Never hesitate to ride past the last street light at the edge of town.<O></O>
Never mistake horsepower for staying power.<O></O>
A good rider has balance, judgment, and good timing. So does a good lover.<O></O>
A cold hamburger can be reheated quite nicely by strapping it to an exhaust pipe and riding forty miles.<O></O>
Never do less than forty miles before breakfast.<O></O>
If you don't ride in the rain - you don't ride.<O></O>
A bike on the road is worth two in the shed.<O></O>
Respect the person who has seen the dark side of motorcycling and lived.<O></O>
Young riders pick a destination and go... Old riders pick a direction and go.<O></O>
A good mechanic will let you watch without charging you for it.<O></O>
Sometimes the fastest way to get there is to stop for the night.<O></O>
Always back your bike into the curb - and sit where you can see it.<O></O>
Work to ride & ride to work.<O></O>
Whatever it is, it's better in the wind.<O></O>
Two-lane blacktop isn't a highway - it's an attitude. When you look down the road, it seems to never end - but you better believe it does.<O></O>
A rider can smell a party 5,000 miles away.<O></O>
Winter is Nature's way of telling you to Modify.<O></O>
A motorcycle can't sing on the streets of a city.<O></O>
Keep your bike in good repair: Motorcycle boots are NOT comfortable for walking.<O></O>
People are like Motorcycles: each is customized a bit differently.<O></O>
If the bike isn't braking properly, you don't start by rebuilding the engine.<O></O>
Remember to pay at lest as much attention to your partner as you do your carburetor.<O></O>
Well-trained reflexes are quicker than luck.<O></O>
Good coffee should be indistinguishable from 50 weight motor oil.<O></O>
The best alarm clock is sunshine on a faceshield.<O></O>
Learn to do counter-intuitive things that may someday save your butt.<O></O>
The twisties - not the superslabs - separate the riders from the squids.<O></O>
When you're riding lead -- don't spit.<O></O>
If you really want to know what's going on, watch what's happening at least five cars ahead.<O></O>
Don't make a reputation you'll have to live down or run away from later.<O></O>
If the person in the next lane at the stoplight rolls up the window and locks the door, support their view of life by snarling at them.<O></O>
A friend is someone who'll get out of bed at <ST1:TIME Minute="0" Hour="2">2 am</ST1:TIME> to drive his pickup to the middle of nowhere to get you when you're broken down.<O></O>
If she changes her oil more than she changes her mind -- follow her.<O></O>
Catching a June bug or yellow jacket in your goggles or honeybee down your shirt going 70 mph can double your vocabulary.<O></O>
If you want to get somewhere before sundown, you can't stop at every tavern.<O></O>
There's something ugly about a NEW bike on a trailer.<O></O>
Don't lead the pack if you don't know where you're going.<O></O>
***Sleep with one arm through the spokes and keep your pants on. (Good advice for Sturgis)***<O></O>
Practice wrenching on your own bike. Two wheels fall over, some sooner than later, but they will fall over.<O></O>
Everyone crashes. Some get back on. Some don't.<O></O>
Some can't.<O></O>
Beware the rider who says the bike never breaks down.<O></O>
Owning two bikes is useful because at least one can be raided for parts at any given time.<O></O>
Don't ever, ever argue with a 18-wheeler, they are much bigger than you.<O></O>
Never be ashamed to unlearn an old habit. It may be good for your health.<O></O>
Maintenance is as much art as it is science.<O></O>
A good long ride can clear your mind, restore your faith, and use up a lot of gas.<O></O>
If you can't get it going with bungee cords, duck tape and electrician's tape - - - it's serious.<O></O>
If you ride like there's no tomorrow - there won't be.<O></O>
Bikes parked out front mean good chicken-fried steak inside.<O></O>
Gray-haired riders don't get that way from pure luck.<O></O>
There are drunk riders. There are old riders. There are NO old, drunk riders.<O></O>
Thin leather looks good standing around, but it won't save your butt from "road rash" if you go down.<O></O>
The best modifications cannot be seen from the outside.<O></O>
Always replace the cheapest parts first.<O></O>
You can forget what you do for a living when your knee is on the pavement.<O></O>
No matter what marquee you ride, it's all the same wind.<O></O>
Patience is the ability to keep your motor idling.<O></O>
And the last ...<O></O>
"Only a Motorcyclist knows why a dog sticks his head out of a car window."<O></O>
<O></O>
"RIDE SAFE, HAVE FUN"<O></O>
Some fun reading here and some good tips also:<?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O /><O
></O><O
></O><?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = ST1 /><ST1:TIME Minute="0" Hour="0">Midnight</ST1:TIME> bugs taste best.<O
></O>Saddlebags can never hold everything you want, but they CAN hold everything you need.<O
></O>NEVER argue with a woman holding a torque wrench.<O
></O>Never try to race an old geezer, he may have one more gear than you.<O
></O>Home is where your bike sits still long enough to leave a few drops of oil on the ground.<O
></O>Routine maintenance should never be neglected.<O
></O>It takes more love to share the saddle than it does to share the bed.<O
></O>The only good view of a thunderstorm is in your rearview mirror.<O
></O>Never be afraid to slow down.<O
></O>Bikes don't leak oil, they mark their territory.<O
></O>Don't ride so late into the night that you sleep through the sunrise.<O
></O>Pie and coffee are as important as fuel.<O
></O>Sometimes it takes a whole tankful of fuel before you can think straight.<O
></O>If you want to get a job, you may have to compromise your principals (you may even have to shave).<O
></O>Riding faster than everyone else only guarantees you'll ride alone.<O
></O>Never hesitate to ride past the last street light at the edge of town.<O
></O>Never mistake horsepower for staying power.<O
></O>A good rider has balance, judgment, and good timing. So does a good lover.<O
></O>A cold hamburger can be reheated quite nicely by strapping it to an exhaust pipe and riding forty miles.<O
></O>Never do less than forty miles before breakfast.<O
></O>If you don't ride in the rain - you don't ride.<O
></O>A bike on the road is worth two in the shed.<O
></O>Respect the person who has seen the dark side of motorcycling and lived.<O
></O>Young riders pick a destination and go... Old riders pick a direction and go.<O
></O>A good mechanic will let you watch without charging you for it.<O
></O>Sometimes the fastest way to get there is to stop for the night.<O
></O>Always back your bike into the curb - and sit where you can see it.<O
></O>Work to ride & ride to work.<O
></O>Whatever it is, it's better in the wind.<O
></O>Two-lane blacktop isn't a highway - it's an attitude. When you look down the road, it seems to never end - but you better believe it does.<O
></O>A rider can smell a party 5,000 miles away.<O
></O>Winter is Nature's way of telling you to Modify.<O
></O>A motorcycle can't sing on the streets of a city.<O
></O>Keep your bike in good repair: Motorcycle boots are NOT comfortable for walking.<O
></O>People are like Motorcycles: each is customized a bit differently.<O
></O>If the bike isn't braking properly, you don't start by rebuilding the engine.<O
></O>Remember to pay at lest as much attention to your partner as you do your carburetor.<O
></O>Well-trained reflexes are quicker than luck.<O
></O>Good coffee should be indistinguishable from 50 weight motor oil.<O
></O>The best alarm clock is sunshine on a faceshield.<O
></O>Learn to do counter-intuitive things that may someday save your butt.<O
></O>The twisties - not the superslabs - separate the riders from the squids.<O
></O>When you're riding lead -- don't spit.<O
></O>If you really want to know what's going on, watch what's happening at least five cars ahead.<O
></O>Don't make a reputation you'll have to live down or run away from later.<O
></O>If the person in the next lane at the stoplight rolls up the window and locks the door, support their view of life by snarling at them.<O
></O>A friend is someone who'll get out of bed at <ST1:TIME Minute="0" Hour="2">2 am</ST1:TIME> to drive his pickup to the middle of nowhere to get you when you're broken down.<O
></O>If she changes her oil more than she changes her mind -- follow her.<O
></O>Catching a June bug or yellow jacket in your goggles or honeybee down your shirt going 70 mph can double your vocabulary.<O
></O>If you want to get somewhere before sundown, you can't stop at every tavern.<O
></O>There's something ugly about a NEW bike on a trailer.<O
></O>Don't lead the pack if you don't know where you're going.<O
></O>***Sleep with one arm through the spokes and keep your pants on. (Good advice for Sturgis)***<O
></O>Practice wrenching on your own bike. Two wheels fall over, some sooner than later, but they will fall over.<O
></O>Everyone crashes. Some get back on. Some don't.<O
></O>Some can't.<O
></O>Beware the rider who says the bike never breaks down.<O
></O>Owning two bikes is useful because at least one can be raided for parts at any given time.<O
></O>Don't ever, ever argue with a 18-wheeler, they are much bigger than you.<O
></O>Never be ashamed to unlearn an old habit. It may be good for your health.<O
></O>Maintenance is as much art as it is science.<O
></O>A good long ride can clear your mind, restore your faith, and use up a lot of gas.<O
></O>If you can't get it going with bungee cords, duck tape and electrician's tape - - - it's serious.<O
></O>If you ride like there's no tomorrow - there won't be.<O
></O>Bikes parked out front mean good chicken-fried steak inside.<O
></O>Gray-haired riders don't get that way from pure luck.<O
></O>There are drunk riders. There are old riders. There are NO old, drunk riders.<O
></O>Thin leather looks good standing around, but it won't save your butt from "road rash" if you go down.<O
></O>The best modifications cannot be seen from the outside.<O
></O>Always replace the cheapest parts first.<O
></O>You can forget what you do for a living when your knee is on the pavement.<O
></O>No matter what marquee you ride, it's all the same wind.<O
></O>Patience is the ability to keep your motor idling.<O
></O>And the last ...<O
></O>"Only a Motorcyclist knows why a dog sticks his head out of a car window."<O
></O><O
></O>"RIDE SAFE, HAVE FUN"<O
></O>yes....this is the most efficent way to stop....not to mention its easier on your bike...as soon as you see you need to stop, down shift to the next lower gear and start braking...when your speed has slowed enough to go to the next lower gear, do so and allow the engine to slow you down as well...this will not only help you stop...it will make your brakes last a LOT longer.Kooldino said:
Keep in mind that I have yet to top 20 mph so I am mostly in 2nd gear when coming to a stop. Its not like I'm coming down from 4th.
Although I had a new experience yestureday when the bike grabbed quicker then I thought it would and I ended up rocketing toward the mail box shed at the top of my street.
Although I had a new experience yestureday when the bike grabbed quicker then I thought it would and I ended up rocketing toward the mail box shed at the top of my street.
All of it too true
Sir Nuke said:Some fun reading here and some good tips also:<?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O /><O
<O
<?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = ST1 /><ST1:TIME Hour="0" Minute="0">Midnight</ST1:TIME> bugs taste best.<O
Saddlebags can never hold everything you want, but they CAN hold everything you need.<O
NEVER argue with a woman holding a torque wrench.<O
Never try to race an old geezer, he may have one more gear than you.<O
Home is where your bike sits still long enough to leave a few drops of oil on the ground.<O
Routine maintenance should never be neglected.<O
It takes more love to share the saddle than it does to share the bed.<O
The only good view of a thunderstorm is in your rearview mirror.<O
Never be afraid to slow down.<O
Bikes don't leak oil, they mark their territory.<O
Don't ride so late into the night that you sleep through the sunrise.<O
Pie and coffee are as important as fuel.<O
Sometimes it takes a whole tankful of fuel before you can think straight.<O
If you want to get a job, you may have to compromise your principals (you may even have to shave).<O
Riding faster than everyone else only guarantees you'll ride alone.<O
Never hesitate to ride past the last street light at the edge of town.<O
Never mistake horsepower for staying power.<O
A good rider has balance, judgment, and good timing. So does a good lover.<O
A cold hamburger can be reheated quite nicely by strapping it to an exhaust pipe and riding forty miles.<O
Never do less than forty miles before breakfast.<O
If you don't ride in the rain - you don't ride.<O
A bike on the road is worth two in the shed.<O
Respect the person who has seen the dark side of motorcycling and lived.<O
Young riders pick a destination and go... Old riders pick a direction and go.<O
A good mechanic will let you watch without charging you for it.<O
Sometimes the fastest way to get there is to stop for the night.<O
Always back your bike into the curb - and sit where you can see it.<O
Work to ride & ride to work.<O
Whatever it is, it's better in the wind.<O
Two-lane blacktop isn't a highway - it's an attitude. When you look down the road, it seems to never end - but you better believe it does.<O
A rider can smell a party 5,000 miles away.<O
Winter is Nature's way of telling you to Modify.<O
A motorcycle can't sing on the streets of a city.<O
Keep your bike in good repair: Motorcycle boots are NOT comfortable for walking.<O
People are like Motorcycles: each is customized a bit differently.<O
If the bike isn't braking properly, you don't start by rebuilding the engine.<O
Remember to pay at lest as much attention to your partner as you do your carburetor.<O
Well-trained reflexes are quicker than luck.<O
Good coffee should be indistinguishable from 50 weight motor oil.<O
The best alarm clock is sunshine on a faceshield.<O
Learn to do counter-intuitive things that may someday save your butt.<O
The twisties - not the superslabs - separate the riders from the squids.<O
When you're riding lead -- don't spit.<O
If you really want to know what's going on, watch what's happening at least five cars ahead.<O
Don't make a reputation you'll have to live down or run away from later.<O
If the person in the next lane at the stoplight rolls up the window and locks the door, support their view of life by snarling at them.<O
A friend is someone who'll get out of bed at <ST1:TIME Hour="2" Minute="0">2 am</ST1:TIME> to drive his pickup to the middle of nowhere to get you when you're broken down.<O
If she changes her oil more than she changes her mind -- follow her.<O
Catching a June bug or yellow jacket in your goggles or honeybee down your shirt going 70 mph can double your vocabulary.<O
If you want to get somewhere before sundown, you can't stop at every tavern.<O
There's something ugly about a NEW bike on a trailer.<O
Don't lead the pack if you don't know where you're going.<O
***Sleep with one arm through the spokes and keep your pants on. (Good advice for Sturgis)***<O
Practice wrenching on your own bike. Two wheels fall over, some sooner than later, but they will fall over.<O
Everyone crashes. Some get back on. Some don't.<O
Some can't.<O
Beware the rider who says the bike never breaks down.<O
Owning two bikes is useful because at least one can be raided for parts at any given time.<O
Don't ever, ever argue with a 18-wheeler, they are much bigger than you.<O
Never be ashamed to unlearn an old habit. It may be good for your health.<O
Maintenance is as much art as it is science.<O
A good long ride can clear your mind, restore your faith, and use up a lot of gas.<O
If you can't get it going with bungee cords, duck tape and electrician's tape - - - it's serious.<O
If you ride like there's no tomorrow - there won't be.<O
Bikes parked out front mean good chicken-fried steak inside.<O
Gray-haired riders don't get that way from pure luck.<O
There are drunk riders. There are old riders. There are NO old, drunk riders.<O
Thin leather looks good standing around, but it won't save your butt from "road rash" if you go down.<O
The best modifications cannot be seen from the outside.<O
Always replace the cheapest parts first.<O
You can forget what you do for a living when your knee is on the pavement.<O
No matter what marquee you ride, it's all the same wind.<O
Patience is the ability to keep your motor idling.<O
And the last ...<O
"Only a Motorcyclist knows why a dog sticks his head out of a car window."<O
<O
"RIDE SAFE, HAVE FUN"<O
Well I got my first day of driving in, logged about 60 miles. I just couldn't resist taking it out and opening it up some. Man, if I would have known how fun motorcycles are, I would've got one long ago. I was suprised at how quick I picked up on everything, it's almost second nature... now I just gotta watch my speed, it can get up there in a real hurry.
