Hi, I just found your site. I am still a fairly new rider(5500 miles) that started in 2016. The only other experience I had was a 50cc bike I had when I was 14.
Took my MSF class in late march of 2016 and got my baby Ninja for my birthday in April. I passed the MSF on my first time on a Honda CB300F. I was interested in Honda at first for the price tag, but the Ninja was so much better after comparing them as far as features and good for beginners.
I have to give a shout out to our awesome local Kawasaki dealer called Vista Kawasaki. They helped line me up with the proper classes, excellent knowledge about the bike, excellent knowledge and help with proper riding gear and accessories. Speaking of accessories I only have a matched pillion cowl and little stuff like dust cover and battery tender and the such. My riding gear is Alpinestars textile gear that matches the bike and a Bell Qualifier Machine helmet. I'll put up a picture.
I started out by just trailering the bike home since I was fresh out of the MSF with no experience. I was nervous about traffic since they drive like complete yahoo's around here. My turning also needed a bit of work.
I did my first 40 or 50 miles in a parking lot. No shame lol.
Then I went to the local neighborhood streets to warm myself up.
After I got comfortable I decided to ride surface streets and I did just fine. I waited to get through my break in period and my first 1000 miles before I did the freeway. That was scary my first time with all of the wind and craziness lol. But now it doesn't bother me as much.
At that point I wanted my partner to share the fun and take the MSF. He did just fine on it as well and passed. He hated the class and sport bikes. So he vowed not to get one. We were at Vista again to get something for my bike and then he saw the bike of his dreams. He got his bike on his birthday as well but he went bigger than I did and he didn't like beginner bikes like I said. He got the 2016 Kawasaki Vulcan S ABS SE. I'll show a picture in a bit.
Anyways we had a great summer riding and we didn't have very many problems.
We didn't drop our bikes on our first year luckily since we bought new. But I had a few close calls.
1. I was riding and a RTA bus was going really annoyingly slow so I wanted to downshift and pass it. I was in 2nd and not 3rd so into 1st I go. Luckily for the slipper clutch I didn't end up on the ground. The rear wheel did lock but it was only for a fraction of a second. Enough to tell me I was lucky.
I was still fairly new and wasn't counting gears yet. On my survey I told Kawasaki a gear indicator would be nice....
2. Came over a blind hill on a rural lane and a half road to find a jacka$$ backing his lawmower onto the street for god knows what. I hit both brakes and got on the horn. He was able to jam the lawnmower into gear and move enough to where I could let go of the brakes and swerve to miss him. That was scary and thank god for ABS!
Other than that just normal spirited riding that went well. Met a cool dude we rode with a few times on a dual sport 350.
Near the end of the season I decided to get a Go Pro Hero 5 Black. I barely messed with it though but it performed well.
I am sad though the season is over so I figured I would join and look at some stories and pictures. I most likely will be a lurker for the most part.
I hang out on /r/motorcycles on reddit more than I do anywhere else.
Anyways here's some pics. I used the IMG tag but the pictures were HUGE so I took the tag out.
My bike new without the pillion cowl
http://i.imgur.com/LxCEhFu.jpg
With the pillion cowl
http://i.imgur.com/wK5ekmm.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/uEDD4ot.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/x6va2fr.jpg
My partner's bike
http://i.imgur.com/7kJeAR4.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/3wP4ej8.jpg
Me and my gear when I got it.
http://i.imgur.com/wXGs6Ij.jpg
http://imgur.com/a/4c4Sn
http://i.imgur.com/33F8J1N.jpg
The bike at a rest stop at Kings Island.
http://i.imgur.com/G2mmtj1.jpg
The Bike at the dealer before I pulled the trigger to get it.
http://imgur.com/a/cKSVe