Flying green patty cakes a-roof over the landow deck?! GOP is at it again, dang that rascally Obama!

[K31Fan]

So I've been wondering about motorcycles as of late...

Specifically, I'm a bit of a 'squid' (although I am planning on wearing safety gear) considering I only took my BRC about three weeks ago. Anyway, I have a couple of questions for the more knowledgeable of you - sorry old guys who think they know everything, you don't qualify...

Here goes:
1) Where's a decent place to shop for safety gear? I want to get a crotch rocket, so no heavy chains and leather type stuff. I'm thinking more synthetic jackets and such.

2) What - mechanically - should I look for when buying a motorcycle?

3) What kind of stuff should I be doing to maintain a bike? Namely, I've heard of 'jetting' the carburetor, and I still don't know what that means.

4) Age old debate, 250/500/600? Starting out, I'm thinking about a 500cc Kawasaki Ninja. I don't want to get something underpowered, but I also don't want to get something overpowered and expensive that when or if - scratch that - when I *DO* lay down the bike, will be super expensive to fix. Did any of you start out on a 600cc?

So, here's the rare chance when you get to tell me something I don't know! [Tooth]

Thanks in advance!

[TFOGGER]

Gimme a call at the shop tomorrow

TFOG Wheelsports
303-216-2400

I'm Jim, the HMFIC.....[Beer]

[Monky]

Yeah you could go to TFOG.. I don't think i've ever been to their shop so no idea on selection.

Performance Cycle on Broadway.. just north of Evans. Great place to go finger stuff and then find it cheaper online.

I started on street w/ a 250... waaaayyyy back in the day in AL.. I was 14. Started on motorized death machines when I was 7 though.. dirt untill I got old enough to ride on the street.. legally.

*IF* you have experience on two wheels, I see nothing wrong w/ starting off w/ an older 600 (pre FI). I've always encouraged people to start small, fuck what anyone thinks you look like.. I'd rather get time under my belt than end up like a LOT of idiots I know.. Two whores that I have dated started on 500s.. It was great honestly... they actually learned to ride, not to crash. I've been on a ton of bikes.. as I'm sure Jim has. From a 250cc to a 'Busa drag bike.. I'm fine w/ my 600, honestly as big as I've ever wanted to go was a 750.. I'm not on a race track.

Jetting a carb is not something you should try doing on your own.. ever..

As far as gear goes... I've gone down once, it wasn't my fault, but I still have the helmet I was wearing.. I wouldn't have a face, scalp, or the back of my head if I wasn't wearing gear. The 'mesh' jacket that I had on was worn through quickly, and getting dirt and rock scraped out w/ a steel brush sucks. Gear is a must.. While I won't wear textile, or a mesh jacket (anymore, Hey I was young and dumb)..it's dead cow or nothing, I put it all on even if i'm just going to the gas station. I've always been big on gear.

I have a bike that's been sitting in the garage for about 3 years.. it gets started and maintained, even got new rubber and a chain this past summer.. just never have the time to ride it.. as I'm still sitting at work. It's kind of like my guns.. just no time to have fun w/ them.

So I've been riding on the street for... 19 years nearly? Wow. I feel old now. I say starting w/ a 500 is fine. Depending on your size you might think it's slow as shit, but... getting the experience, and seeing how the idiot cagers are.. will certainly give you an advantage when you upgrade.. Or hell if you want to completely ignore the advice from us 'old' fuckers.. I have a 600 r6 I'll sell you.. it's -1/+2.

Oh.. jetting a carb is not something you should ever attempt on your own.. EVER.

[patrick0685]

the first bike i ever rode was a 250, but it was a friends. I personally just bought a bike in November it was a Aprilia Falco 1000 V-Twin, so that was the first bike I personally owned. I dont think its to much of a bike for me, but im not doing crazy stuff.

[patrick0685]

There is Gran Prix on Santa Fe & 470, SunSports up north, Coyote is kinda small off 25 and 56th or something, Erico downtown is where i get my bike serviced, Fay Myers has good gear. I wouldnt buy from Fay Myers they dont come down on there prices at all from when I dealt with them, but them and Coyote will let you test drive bikes.

[patrick0685]

Most newer bike dont have Carbs, Jap bikes you have to rev way up to get the power, I got an Italian v-twin bike with lots of torque and you dont have to keep it at 13K to have any power

[clublights]

Like Monky said


Start small.
It's perception really ... unless your over 250-300lbs ........

There is not a car on the average road you can't spank the pant's off on a 250cc bike. ( sure some vettes, some super tricked out honda's and anything made in italy that costs more then i make in 2 years will but how often do you see those ? )


if you are over 250-300 .. get a decent 500. same thing applies

I always say get your fist bike as a 250 without any bodywork. Why? you ARE going to drop it. hopefully not while going down the road... but you WILL drop it in the parking lot, driveway, or while just sitting there. much better to have to replace just a lever or a mirror ... rather then 1000 bucks of plastic . ( and the lever and the mirror)

Buy it used. your gunna sell it next year anyways.

Also no need to worry about jetting the carbs ( jetting the carbs is changing the fuel metering jets to fit the altitude we are at in colorado ) all this does is tweak the carbs for an extra 2-3% of power that you wont need as a first time rider anyways.


google " new enough motorcycle gear" great prices on close out gear.

when trying on helmets try on all the brands you can find. they are NOT all shaped the same on the inside. I can "only" wear Shoei helmets cuz of the shape of my head. Arai and AGV just don't fit without giving me a headache. so try them all on and see what feels best.. remember you might be wearing it for hours at a time .... a good comfortable fit matters.

[Monky]

Like Monky said


Start small.
It's perception really ... unless your over 250-300lbs ........

There is not a car on the average road you can't spank the pant's off on a 250cc bike. ( sure some vettes, some super tricked out honda's and anything made in italy that costs more then i make in 2 years will but how often do you see those ? )


if you are over 250-300 .. get a decent 500. same thing applies

I always say get your fist bike as a 250 without any bodywork. Why? you ARE going to drop it. hopefully not while going down the road... but you WILL drop it in the parking lot, driveway, or while just sitting there. much better to have to replace just a lever or a mirror ... rather then 1000 bucks of plastic . ( and the lever and the mirror)

Buy it used. your gunna sell it next year anyways.

Also no need to worry about jetting the carbs ( jetting the carbs is changing the fuel metering jets to fit the altitude we are at in colorado ) all this does is tweak the carbs for an extra 2-3% of power that you wont need as a first time rider anyways.


google " new enough motorcycle gear" great prices on close out gear.

when trying on helmets try on all the brands you can find. they are NOT all shaped the same on the inside. I can "only" wear Shoei helmets cuz of the shape of my head. Arai and AGV just don't fit without giving me a headache. so try them all on and see what feels best.. remember you might be wearing it for hours at a time .... a good comfortable fit matters.

Kade is that you?

[clublights]

Kade is that you?

hahaha yes yes it is LOL

[Monky]

hahaha yes yes it is LOL

You're stalking me... on FB and here! [Beer]

When are we going to get wings again?

[DSB OUTDOORS]

I'm looking for a Yamaha V-MAX if any one is selling one!! Also I'm going to sell my Honda 750 Magna 1994 if any might be interested?? I won't lie I rebuilt it from a fire but my funds are slowly going away! [Bang]

[clublights]

You're stalking me... on FB and here! [Beer]

When are we going to get wings again?


Soon as the weather gets warm enough and we can go shooting then wings. **NODS**

or ride then wings.... I'd say ride, shoot and wings .. but I think we might get funny looks riding motorcycles down the road with the AR's strapped to our backs....

EDIT: oh and I was here first.. look at my join date and post count :-P

[Monky]

Your post count only shows your lack of a gf.. same w/ your join date. [ROFL1]

I still have more and way cooler guns!

ps - to the OP.. sorry for the Hijack..but I've known club forever.. [Stooge]

[clublights]

Your post count only shows your lack of a gf.. same w/ your join date. [ROFL1]

I still have more and way cooler guns!

ps - to the OP.. sorry for the Hijack..but I've known club forever.. [Stooge]

Actually I DID have a GF when I joined this site LOL ...... Dumpped her last year.

And yes sorry to the OP... we kinda railroaded your thread.

[BushMasterBoy]

I like the Kawasaki KLR 650. It's a really big dirt bike with headlights and street gear. Water cooled, they say they last a long time. Would be good for taking the less beaten path, or if TSHTF. The US Marines have a diesel version, but it is unavailable to the public.


http://www.hayes-dt.com/vehicle-m1030-m2.php

[K31Fan]

Your post count only shows your lack of a gf.. same w/ your join date. [ROFL1]

I still have more and way cooler guns!

ps - to the OP.. sorry for the Hijack..but I've known club forever.. [Stooge]


Actually I DID have a GF when I joined this site LOL ...... Dumpped her last year.

And yes sorry to the OP... we kinda railroaded your thread.

Bumps is bumps! Besides, it's not like it's one of the "For sale" threads, right? [Beer]

[2ndChildhood]

I'll go along with "start small on the dirt"
My first bike was a beat to shit yamaha 90 enduro, got it for $50. Six bikes later my biggest bike was an RZ350.
Riding is a blast, but you gotta watch out for every other vehicle on the road and your damn right wrist.

[theGinsue]

I know you said you didn't want hte input of us "older guys", but I can't help myself.

The biggest factor with riding you MUST remeber is that it isn't a matter of if you will wreck, but when you will have your first street bike wreck.

I rode for 20+ years with many close calls due to inattentive drivers. The only thing that kept me from wrecking during all of that time was training (remember SIPDE from your class - use it) and experience.

This all came to a crashing (pardon the pun) halt on August 28, 2000 when I had my first street bike wreck. It almost ended my life. It was all thanks to the guy in the car 4 cars in front of me who decided to slam on his brakes and caused all 3 lanes of traffic to follow suit. I was only doing 35mph as we had just come out of a red light. The only reason I'm here today is that I was wearing a very good full-faced helmet. Anything less than full-faced would have left me DOA for a closed casket funeral.

So, my recommendation to you is once you decide on the bike you want, buy the absolute best full-faced helmet you can find - do NOT skimp on this. This even goes if you were to decide on a cruiser style bike versus the crotch rocket you indicated you're interested in. Good jackets with kevlar imbedded is really good to have, but it's your head that requires the most protection.

I will never forget becoming cognitive in the trauma center and watching the police officer who responded to my accident handing my helmet to my wife and telling her it saved my life - and then one of the nurses attending to me indicating her experience was that most people who had motorcylce wrecks and were as busted up as I was arrived at the hospital DEAD.

Something to consider.

[funkfool]

I will never forget becoming cognitive in the trauma center and watching the police officer who responded to my accident handing my helmet to my wife and telling her it saved my life - and then one of the nurses attending to me indicating her experience was that most people who had motorcylce wrecks and were as busted up as I was arrived at the hospital DEAD.

Something to consider.
Glad you're still with us Ginsue!
[Beer]
As an old guy - I'll second the helmet riff... I'm only old beacuse of them... I was once a professional bike crasher... that's why I don't own a bike anymore... well, that and the wifes' awareness of my aptitude.

[DocMedic]

14+ years of riding experience, I say don't buy a 250, all your gonna do is wish you bought a 600 in about 5months after. I see it all the time. I ride a very "lightly" modified '03 636 ZR6.

[K31Fan]

Some really good advice being given here. I really appreciate that! I totally agree with Mr. Ginsue about the helmets. It's a full face helmet for me, and full riding gear too. There's no way I'm going to aid the road in making me a red stripe. And DocMedic got me thinkin' too. I'm torn on the power debate; I've had people tell me 250's are great, but I've also had people tell me I'll get bored of them in a few months to a year, and to go ahead and get a 600.

Let me put it this way: I was thinking about talking to the place I took my safety instruction at, and seeing if I could test drive one of their 250's. I figure actually getting on the bike is the only way I'm going to know for sure if I'd be wasting my money or not. Barring that, do any of you know of any places that let you test drive old beat up bikes (of the sport variety)? Craigslist doesn't count by the way. If I lay one of their bikes down, I have to buy it, ya' know? [Coffee]