New Bike, New Rider, New Me :)

[sbker17]

Just bought a brand new 2010 Ninja 250. I'm really excited and honestly can't believe I actually bought one. I've had my motorcycle licenses for about 6 months and just now found the bike I really like (too bad it's this late in the season, oh well). The main reason I fell in love with this bike is because I'm only 5'0" 110lbs & this bike just fit me perfect. It's light weight and sits low to the ground.

Any advice for a first time rider/ninja owner?? All is welcome!

[rusninja]

welcome :]

rule #1 is dont fall.x]

and you have to post pictures :]

[cuz]

hi ayyy look down before you get off that your kickstand is out all the way ask me why lol

[ducducgooseit]

Welcome to the 250 party.

[dsims321]

ATGATT! *all the gear all the time* cause the one time you dont is the time you drop it.

[hal9089]

Originally Posted by dsims321

ATGATT! *all the gear all the time* cause the one time you dont is the time you drop it.

TRUE! .. welcome

[Heed]

Nice.

I've had my license for a few months now too. thinking about buying a new ninja

have you any riding experience before getting your license? MSF?

get some nice gear. enjoy

[KJohnson21]

[Lil_Green_Demon]

Welcome. Did you have to lower the bike at all?

[MotoED]

Noob to noob. Don't go too fast lol!

[nickjpass]

Originally Posted by Lil_Green_Demon

Welcome. Did you have to lower the bike at all?

I think he/she definetly had to.

[massacremasses]

Originally Posted by nickjpass

I think They definetly had to.

fixed.

If sex is in question use a gender neutral word.


Welcome! Yeah I bet in Ohio its pretty impossible to ride it in the winter You get a good deal since it IS almost the end of the riding season? I hope so!


Have fun, buy some gear, be safe

[rockNroll]

Isn't "they" plural?

Welcome to the site, Shay!

[str8t six]

welcome to the forum!

[massacremasses]

Originally Posted by rockNroll

Isn't "they" plural?

Welcome to the site, Shay!

They
2. Used to refer to the one previously mentioned or implied, especially as a substitute for generic he/she

so idk ? lol

[nixthewiz]

Welcome! My tip to you is practice in a parking lot or around your neighborhood before you take it on the streets. Once you do go slowly. Say go to a 30MPH zone for a while and then move up to 40MPH zone. Then take it to 50MPH until you feel comfortable with the speed and then try going to a 60MPH zone and finally the freeway.

[akima]

Welcome to the forum Shay.

I'm relatively new to riding, but I have some tips!

As previously said: ATGATT. ~2/3 months after I started riding I had a little accident. I came out unscathed, but I'm certain I'd have broken my ankle if I didn't have my protective gear on.

When riding on a loose or slippery surface (eg gravel) ride very slowly and only use your back break. If you're pulling off the nice grippy road onto this kind of dodgy surface, then make sure you do all your heavy breaking before, while on the grippy road.

As hard as it might be, keep your speed low while you're new to riding. It's best to make those beginner mistakes at slow speeds, so you have more time to correct yourself.

#1 tip... don't hold back that big, goofy, grin that wants to surface when you're riding! It will be safely hidden behind your cool and serious looking helmet!

[nickjpass]

Originally Posted by akima

Welcome to the forum Shay.

I'm relatively new to riding, but I have some tips!

As previously said: ATGATT. ~2/3 months after I started riding I had a little accident. I came out unscathed, but I'm certain I'd have broken my ankle if I didn't have my protective gear on.

When riding on a loose or slippery surface (eg gravel) ride very slowly and only use your back break. If you're pulling off the nice grippy road onto this kind of dodgy surface, then make sure you do all your heavy breaking before, while on the grippy road.

As hard as it might be, keep your speed low while you're new to riding. It's best to make those beginner mistakes at slow speeds, so you have more time to correct yourself.

#1 tip... don't hold back that big, goofy, grin that wants to surface when you're riding! It will be safely hidden behind your cool and serious looking helmet!

Surprisingly, that's another thing I learned on a bicycle. How did I learn, road rash using gravel haha.

[AznJoJo]

welcome!

[Ninjamomma]

Its nice to see another girl on a Ninja 250. I went to your profile - Is that your mother in the background thinking, "OMG!"

It's the other way around for me as I am 54 and bought my first bike (just like yours) after the last kid left home and they are saying, "OMG, Mom!, a crotch rocket?" They love it and am cool in their eyes...FUN!

Hopefully you have taken the motorcycle safety course (highly recommend), but some of the things I did when starting out is practice what I learned in that course in a parking lot(school parking lot is great because they have alot of medians that you can drive around or avoid). They go through stuff pretty fast and you will need to practice.

I found the following very helpful:
1. Practice getting your speed up to 30mph (then 40 & 50) and stopping as hard and fast as you can in a straight line without sliding. It lets you know what that feels like and what to expect. After you get comfortable doing that, brake a little harder (mostly with your rear wheel brake, locking the back wheel) to produce a little slide. You don't want to learn to brake like this, but it will inevitably happen in your first hard braking experience and it's nice to know what that feels like and where the threshold is.

2. Roll a towel up in a ball and place it 10-15ft behind a line. Approach the towel at 30-40-50mph - when you get to the line, press that handle bar hard to swerve around it (Good practice for animals coming out of nowhere AND cars). You may know this already about pressing down on the handle bar in the direction you want to go, but my husband and I were at a track day and talking to a trainer who said, "Most beginners think the handlebars are what keep them on the bike. Next time you go through a curve, tighten your thighs to the gas tank and take all pressure off the handlebars (just enough to keep a grip), then press for the curve." We tried it and it was like BUTTA (butter). He said when you have a death grip on your handlebars, it makes for an unstable turn as you are putting unwanted pressure on the front tire.

3. This one was hard for me at first, but you may have heard your motorcycle will turn in the direction your looking and to look at where you want to turn (not at the ground or what is in front of you as you turn). This is an amazing skill that takes practice and trust that WORKS great. Practice slow turns first, the kind you would make at a stop to turn around to go in the opposite direction. Cock that head all the way around in the direction you want to go, don't put your foot down and trust you won't fall over. Then when going around a 40 mph curve, look way around the curve at where you want to go.

4. Stopping at a sign or light I thought would be easy (and is, but not smooth). I would come up real slow with my feet out, which messes with the balance. I was riding with an experienced rider who said, "Don't put your feet down until you stop. Come up to a stop at a comfortable pace and then put on your brake for a full stop, then put your foot down right before it is perfectly stopped. Wow! so much easier and I don't look inexperience anymore - AND - look straight ahead when you stop, not down or to the side - it seems to mess with your equilibrium.

5. Look way ahead for possible scenario's and how to manage them. (ie. When driving down a road with paralleled parking, move to the outside lane to avoid someone pulling out in front of you - and seeing a car coming to an entrance to the road (stop sign or light), make eye contact to make sure they see you. If you don't get that, move over a lane (if you can) or slow without causing the person behind you trouble, and prepare for them to do the stupid. Hopefully this never happens, but good to know - the expert at Track days told us, "If a car pulls out in front of you and you are inevitably going to hit them, you don't want to broad side them sending you tumbling over your handle bars. Try to put your bike in a laid down slide toward the car with the motorcycle in front of you.

6. Gravel, OMG this stuff is scary at first. If your going straight and are looking ahead and see gravel, slow down as much and safely as possible before you get to the gravel, then let off the brake, keep your head looking up and straight forward and you will get through if you don't panic over the instability you will feel. On a curve (very important to look way through a curve for this), slow as above, but trying to approach the gravel in a straight upright line (as much as possible). When you get through it, then turn like hell to get through the curve. This will become more comfortable when you get some experience with gravel - then it won't be as scary - but it's always one of the biggest concerns for bikers.

7. I remember my first attempt to finally get on the Interstate (Freeway). I felt like I was 16 at my first attempt in a car, but it is much easier because you have more visibility or ability to see everything - and, on the freeway, all cars are going in one direction (no crossing streets and much to think about). Just pick a day without much traffic, stay in one lane and keep a safe distance to the car in front and it will be better/easier/more fun than you think.

How about that for starters. Sorry if it is too much info., I guess the mother in me is coming out. But, one last thing is to not be fearful in an overwhelming way (this is a women thing guys), because you know what they say.....What ever you fear will come upon you - and - be careful what you wish for (or be careful of the fearful scenario's you play in your head). Great fear causes many mistakes, so ride that bike and don't let it ride you.

I'm having the time of my life so enjoy your bike and practice, practice, practice, and it doesn't hurt to offer up a little prayer of protection before every ride - saved my A_ _ twice.

May the Force be with you (Chime in guys with more experience if you feel my advise needs adjusting)

[Snake]

Hello and welcome.

[saxnbass]

Loved the list of tips Suzanne, I don't think it was too long at all.

[jram]

Welcome aboard! Please enjoy your bike!

[blink]

# Rule

by me; a canadia....ride before the weather decides to **** up

[Zyconic17]

Congrats on the new bike