Rynownd
March 1st, 2009, 05:57 PM
Hello everyone!
I'm going to use this thread to not only introduce myself, but also introduce my new 250R and tell the story of its acquisition. But first... a little about myself.
My name is Ryne, I'm a 24 year old graduate student at Purdue University in the department of Mechanical Engineering Technology. I got my undergrad here last may and realized I didn't have a job. So, what to do? Take the MSF Basic Rider's course between the end of my finals and my commencement ceremony! I had the motorcycle itch way before that, but after the course I had it bad!
Anyway, I used my graduation gifts (money) to support myself and volunteer my time with who has become my graduate adviser. We were working on building our own "Segway" human transport. So, during that time he talked me in to sticking around to get a Master of Science degree. Unfortunately, at the time it was much too late to be accepted into the program for the fall semester. So I applied as a non-degree 'Post bacheloriate' which allowed me to take graduate level courses, but I wasn't a true grad-student yet. I then made sure I had all the requirements to apply for the spring. I applied and was accepted! Before the semester began, however, I received a letter from the MET department offering me what is known as a Graduate Assistantship.
My duties: teach a course, grade papers, hold office hours. My wage: free tuition and $6500. Needless to say, I accepted and this allowed me to begin my search for that perfect bike.
The first bike that presented itself was a 2002 Honda CBR 600F4i that a good friend of mine was selling. Very hard to pass up.... I did manage to resist due to the fact that I wanted to start smaller and the price wasn't very good. This sent me to the internet for obscene amounts of reading on the subject and eventually I found the 2008+ Ninja 250R.
I then began lurking all the 250 forums and reading too much again. While lurking kawiforums.com the one and only kkim spotted me and decided I needed an invitation. Again, I accepted. So, for the last couple months I'd been looking through classifieds, craigslist, and ebay. This wasn't exactly promising since I'm not in California and I couldn't afford to drive half way around the world to get a bike. Low and behold I found an extremely old classified thread on kawiforums (http://www.kawiforums.com/showthread.php?t=123593) and contacted the seller about a week ago. We were emailing back and forth all week sorting out the logistics of the sale and transportation as the bike was almost 200 miles away in Louisville, KY. Throughout this discussion I never truly committed to the purchase (blessing in disguise). Just this past Friday I decided to take the plunge and tell him 'Yes, I want the bike, Ill be there Sunday to pick it up.' Reply: Sorry I sold the bike. WTF?!?! :mad: This was during my lab and I totally flipped out during my student's work time, so they got to hear my rant. What to do now?! Start the search again.
No more than a half an hour later I found one for sale with even less miles, a much lower price, and 50 miles closer to me. I instantly sent an email: "If you still have the bike, I WANT IT!" Within two hours he called me and I made him an offer. Time to prepare for a road trip.
Ok, at this point I have realized I am extremely long winded, but please forgive me I'm just too excited!!
I must also use this intermission to apologize for the following pictures... the quality is utterly terrible. Blackberry camera isn't the best, but it's all I've got. :D
So, my roommate has a 1997 Nissan pickup he so graciously let me barrow. Just had to check the oil, tires, gas etc. to make sure it was ready for the journey. While I was out I also picked up some necessities.
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h9/ecstasyofgold/IMG00173.jpg
Tie-downs (check) Directions (check) $2900 cash (check) Chain to lock my new baby (check)
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h9/ecstasyofgold/IMG00176.jpg
New coat (check) New helmet (check) New gloves (check)
Time to set out.
Here's the route:
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h9/ecstasyofgold/directions.jpg
140miles door to door not too bad.
Get to Bedford, IN and there she is. Beautiful! After about a half hour chat with the owner and exchange of title, money, and other various documents, we got her all loaded up.
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h9/ecstasyofgold/IMG00178.jpg
Time to set out again
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h9/ecstasyofgold/IMG00184.jpg
Rear view mirror: Hello!
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h9/ecstasyofgold/IMG00179.jpg
Trip home couldn't have been easier. Backed up to a small hill and rolled her right off. Here she is:
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h9/ecstasyofgold/IMG00185.jpg
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h9/ecstasyofgold/IMG00208.jpg
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h9/ecstasyofgold/IMG00210.jpg
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h9/ecstasyofgold/IMG00214.jpg
Her new spot behind my car:
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h9/ecstasyofgold/IMG00218.jpg
Unfortunately she has to live outside for a few months until I move to my new house that has a garage.
A little info 'bout her. 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R... duh! haha took delivery with 911.5 miles on her. Asking price: $2900, Price paid: $2900. Was driven by a young lady that had been riding dirt bikes since she could walk. Her whole family are huge motorcycle enthusiasts. Decided to sell because she needed the money for her first year at Indiana University.
Wow, I just can't shut up can I? My little Ninjette is asleep right now under a tarp awaiting a license plate and insurance. Can't get those until Tuesday... Monday's are just packed for me. But first thing Tuesday morning I will be out getting just that. Actually have some decent weather to look forward to!
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h9/ecstasyofgold/weather.jpg
I know, I know, it's not the best but I'll be riding every day.
OK, I'm done.
Cheers y'all!
-Ryno
I'm going to use this thread to not only introduce myself, but also introduce my new 250R and tell the story of its acquisition. But first... a little about myself.
My name is Ryne, I'm a 24 year old graduate student at Purdue University in the department of Mechanical Engineering Technology. I got my undergrad here last may and realized I didn't have a job. So, what to do? Take the MSF Basic Rider's course between the end of my finals and my commencement ceremony! I had the motorcycle itch way before that, but after the course I had it bad!
Anyway, I used my graduation gifts (money) to support myself and volunteer my time with who has become my graduate adviser. We were working on building our own "Segway" human transport. So, during that time he talked me in to sticking around to get a Master of Science degree. Unfortunately, at the time it was much too late to be accepted into the program for the fall semester. So I applied as a non-degree 'Post bacheloriate' which allowed me to take graduate level courses, but I wasn't a true grad-student yet. I then made sure I had all the requirements to apply for the spring. I applied and was accepted! Before the semester began, however, I received a letter from the MET department offering me what is known as a Graduate Assistantship.
My duties: teach a course, grade papers, hold office hours. My wage: free tuition and $6500. Needless to say, I accepted and this allowed me to begin my search for that perfect bike.
The first bike that presented itself was a 2002 Honda CBR 600F4i that a good friend of mine was selling. Very hard to pass up.... I did manage to resist due to the fact that I wanted to start smaller and the price wasn't very good. This sent me to the internet for obscene amounts of reading on the subject and eventually I found the 2008+ Ninja 250R.
I then began lurking all the 250 forums and reading too much again. While lurking kawiforums.com the one and only kkim spotted me and decided I needed an invitation. Again, I accepted. So, for the last couple months I'd been looking through classifieds, craigslist, and ebay. This wasn't exactly promising since I'm not in California and I couldn't afford to drive half way around the world to get a bike. Low and behold I found an extremely old classified thread on kawiforums (http://www.kawiforums.com/showthread.php?t=123593) and contacted the seller about a week ago. We were emailing back and forth all week sorting out the logistics of the sale and transportation as the bike was almost 200 miles away in Louisville, KY. Throughout this discussion I never truly committed to the purchase (blessing in disguise). Just this past Friday I decided to take the plunge and tell him 'Yes, I want the bike, Ill be there Sunday to pick it up.' Reply: Sorry I sold the bike. WTF?!?! :mad: This was during my lab and I totally flipped out during my student's work time, so they got to hear my rant. What to do now?! Start the search again.
No more than a half an hour later I found one for sale with even less miles, a much lower price, and 50 miles closer to me. I instantly sent an email: "If you still have the bike, I WANT IT!" Within two hours he called me and I made him an offer. Time to prepare for a road trip.
Ok, at this point I have realized I am extremely long winded, but please forgive me I'm just too excited!!
I must also use this intermission to apologize for the following pictures... the quality is utterly terrible. Blackberry camera isn't the best, but it's all I've got. :D
So, my roommate has a 1997 Nissan pickup he so graciously let me barrow. Just had to check the oil, tires, gas etc. to make sure it was ready for the journey. While I was out I also picked up some necessities.
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h9/ecstasyofgold/IMG00173.jpg
Tie-downs (check) Directions (check) $2900 cash (check) Chain to lock my new baby (check)
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h9/ecstasyofgold/IMG00176.jpg
New coat (check) New helmet (check) New gloves (check)
Time to set out.
Here's the route:
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h9/ecstasyofgold/directions.jpg
140miles door to door not too bad.
Get to Bedford, IN and there she is. Beautiful! After about a half hour chat with the owner and exchange of title, money, and other various documents, we got her all loaded up.
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h9/ecstasyofgold/IMG00178.jpg
Time to set out again
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h9/ecstasyofgold/IMG00184.jpg
Rear view mirror: Hello!
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h9/ecstasyofgold/IMG00179.jpg
Trip home couldn't have been easier. Backed up to a small hill and rolled her right off. Here she is:
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h9/ecstasyofgold/IMG00185.jpg
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h9/ecstasyofgold/IMG00208.jpg
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h9/ecstasyofgold/IMG00210.jpg
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h9/ecstasyofgold/IMG00214.jpg
Her new spot behind my car:
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h9/ecstasyofgold/IMG00218.jpg
Unfortunately she has to live outside for a few months until I move to my new house that has a garage.
A little info 'bout her. 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R... duh! haha took delivery with 911.5 miles on her. Asking price: $2900, Price paid: $2900. Was driven by a young lady that had been riding dirt bikes since she could walk. Her whole family are huge motorcycle enthusiasts. Decided to sell because she needed the money for her first year at Indiana University.
Wow, I just can't shut up can I? My little Ninjette is asleep right now under a tarp awaiting a license plate and insurance. Can't get those until Tuesday... Monday's are just packed for me. But first thing Tuesday morning I will be out getting just that. Actually have some decent weather to look forward to!
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h9/ecstasyofgold/weather.jpg
I know, I know, it's not the best but I'll be riding every day.
OK, I'm done.
Cheers y'all!
-Ryno