Made the transition from 4 wheels to 2 wheels...

[iwrock]

Talked about doing it a while back, but finally got all of the kinks worked out and bought a 2-wheeler!


I am now the owner/ride of this:




Nothing too crazy - its a '12 Ninja 250R. Has all of 1020 miles on it!


2 wheels has been a blast so far - looking forward to putting more miles on it.


Thoughts?

[BAVBMW]

I just rolled over to 1000 miles on my first motorcycle this weekend. Be safe, be careful. Have fun.

MV

[elchivito]

How does it ride after a few of those purple cocktails?

[Mölyapina]

Sweet bike, but I hate Instagrammed pictures. So fake.

Sorry...

[aklim]

Have you bought your gear yet so you don't end up making this a "donor-cycle"?

Wifey has a Can-Am Spyder and she has riding pants with shin and knee pads, jacket with elbow and shoulder pads, riding boots, gloves, helmet and back protection. I have a HD Sportster and also have all that stuff. I got more money than skin and body parts.

If you haven't already done so, take a MSF riding course.

[Simpler=Better]

Check the brake fluid color, and if you have the dough slap some stainless hoses on the front brakes instead of the rubber lines. Also, out in hot hot California make sure the rubber is still good.

Excellent choice(I love my Ninja). 250cc has enough power to get around, and handles easily. Plus the resale value on 250s is always high

Oh yeah, don't forget to wear gear

[iwrock]

Originally Posted by BAVBMW

I just rolled over to 1000 miles on my first motorcycle this weekend. Be safe, be careful. Have fun.

MV

What ch'u riding?

Originally Posted by elchivito

How does it ride after a few of those purple cocktails?

Don't know, and am not going to try.

Originally Posted by Jooseppi Luna

Sweet bike, but I hate Instagrammed pictures. So fake.

Sorry...

It's cool. I put it up on hipstagram, as not all of my friends are on FB, but are still on hipstagram.

As for the post processing, it was the only way I could brighten up the image enough.

Originally Posted by aklim

Have you bought your gear yet so you don't end up making this a "donor-cycle"?

Wifey has a Can-Am Spyder and she has riding pants with shin and knee pads, jacket with elbow and shoulder pads, riding boots, gloves, helmet and back protection. I have a HD Sportster and also have all that stuff. I got more money than skin and body parts.

If you haven't already done so, take a MSF riding course.

Yep, I went to cycle gear and bought all of the gear before picking up the bike/getting my motorcycle permit. I'm in 100% agreement about having more money than skin!

A group of 10 of us (myself included) are scheduled to take a MSF course at the end of August. We all wanted to take the class together so it isn't as boring, and so that we all get a discount. They are dropping the price of the course $60 because of our group size!

Originally Posted by Simpler=Better

Check the brake fluid color, and if you have the dough slap some stainless hoses on the front brakes instead of the rubber lines. Also, out in hot hot California make sure the rubber is still good.

Excellent choice(I love my Ninja). 250cc has enough power to get around, and handles easily. Plus the resale value on 250s is always high

Oh yeah, don't forget to wear gear

It's all new/fresh. I might toss a few things on this bike (those lines included) but don't want to sink a whole bunch of money in, as the ROI is pretty low.

And thanks! It is definitely light. IIRC, it is low-mid 300lbs! I like the more up-right seating position on it, as compared to various friends bikes. Doesn't have a whole lot of power, but is more than adequate for my n00b skills!

[Mölyapina]

Originally Posted by iwrock

It's cool. I put it up on hipstagram, as not all of my friends are on FB, but are still on hipstagram.

As for the post processing, it was the only way I could brighten up the image enough.

I see. Is Instagram really that popular? This forum is the only online place where I interact with people.

[iwrock]

Originally Posted by Jooseppi Luna

I see. Is Instagram really that popular? This forum is the only online place where I interact with people.

Yep.


10 of my friends who I talk to on a weekly basis only have an Instagram and no FB.

[BAVBMW]

Originally Posted by iwrock

What ch'u riding?



Don't know, and am not going to try.



It's cool. I put it up on hipstagram, as not all of my friends are on FB, but are still on hipstagram.

As for the post processing, it was the only way I could brighten up the image enough.



Yep, I went to cycle gear and bought all of the gear before picking up the bike/getting my motorcycle permit. I'm in 100% agreement about having more money than skin!

A group of 10 of us (myself included) are scheduled to take a MSF course at the end of August. We all wanted to take the class together so it isn't as boring, and so that we all get a discount. They are dropping the price of the course $60 because of our group size!



It's all new/fresh. I might toss a few things on this bike (those lines included) but don't want to sink a whole bunch of money in, as the ROI is pretty low.

And thanks! It is definitely light. IIRC, it is low-mid 300lbs! I like the more up-right seating position on it, as compared to various friends bikes. Doesn't have a whole lot of power, but is more than adequate for my n00b skills!

Lemme see our bikes...



You can read some of her version(s) of our rides on her blog:

HERE

We agree about avoiding the drinks when riding, we've been doing that. Also the gear. She's pretty well set, I'm still shopping for some riding pants, and maybe some different boots. This weekend we'll be trying out our new GPS/radios, and in general practicing for our first overnight trip. Since that pic was taken both bikes have added racks, but still shopping for dedicated luggage. It will all come together, but we're trying to avoid jumping in too quickly and biting off more than we ought to.

Once we start heading up north, east of you, we'll let you know. Maybe we can meet up.

MV

[iwrock]

Originally Posted by BAVBMW

Lemme see our bikes...



You can read some of her version(s) of our rides on her blog:

HERE

We agree about avoiding the drinks when riding, we've been doing that. Also the gear. She's pretty well set, I'm still shopping for some riding pants, and maybe some different boots. This weekend we'll be trying out our new GPS/radios, and in general practicing for our first overnight trip. Since that pic was taken both bikes have added racks, but still shopping for dedicated luggage. It will all come together, but we're trying to avoid jumping in too quickly and biting off more than we ought to.

Once we start heading up north, east of you, we'll let you know. Maybe we can meet up.

MV

Just caught this.

Let me know when you head up this way, and I would be more than happy to meet up/buy lunch/dinner!

[Simpler=Better]

Think of brake lines and tires as safety gear and the price doesn't hurt as much

Another cheapo upgrade that I LOVE is a "wolo badboy" aka "nautilus" horn from HF. It's a loud but compact air horn. When minivans drift my way I hit the air horn, and they give me some space thinking that a big truck is in their blind spot.

Stick with the stock incandescent tail light. Any LED tail light under $100 is going to be invisible unless it's pitch black out.

[Chris Bell]

Be careful...very careful.

[Skippy]

My first bike was a Ninja 250. I'd probably still be on it if it hadn't gotten run over. By the way, ride like you're invisible, because you are. Bikes don't register in the four wheeled mind.

[elchivito]

I have been looking fondly at a stodgy Ural 2WD sidecar bike. WW2 Rooskie BMW ripoff. The 2WD is pretty amazing.