New Rider - Advice, tips and comments?

[drtoohotty1]

Originally posted by JordanAndrew
I don't even think I'd want to do 180km/hr on a bike anyways.

lol I think we all said that at the beginning of our riding days, and then one day you will be on a long straight road by yourself and you go "well lets just see what I can do....."

[revelations]

Originally posted by drtoohotty1


lol I think we all said that at the beginning of our riding days, and then one day you will be on a long straight road by yourself and you go "well lets just see what I can do....."

Aint that the truth.

Barlow trail on a late summers evening, in a litre bike, one can go from 70-200-70kph in about 10 seconds.

[Rocket1k78]

Originally posted by drtoohotty1


lol I think we all said that at the beginning of our riding days, and then one day you will be on a long straight road by yourself and you go "well lets just see what I can do....."

Guilty as charged. Said the same thing to myself

[ercchry]

Originally posted by Mibz
Did they change the 300 drastically, cause the 250 didn't have a sporty riding position at all.

Ninjas are boring so i haven't been paying attention to them, I just put them in the rc390/r3 category

[LilDrunkenSmurf]

Originally posted by ercchry


Ninjas are boring so i haven't been paying attention to them, I just put them in the rc390/r3 category

Isn't the R3 touring as well?

[ercchry]

Originally posted by LilDrunkenSmurf


Isn't the R3 touring as well?

I'm use to "standard" bikes now... So anything forward leaning is "sport" to me... I can't do it anymore... This isn't as bad as say a panigale ... But this would wear on me pretty quick:

[LilDrunkenSmurf]

Yeah, that's touring


» Click image for larger version


» Click image for larger version
This is "sporty"

[JordanAndrew]

UPDATE: I ended up getting a 2016 FZ-07 Naked Sport Bike instead of the Kawasaki Ninja 300 as my first sports bike.

HERE'S A VIDEO I FOUND ON YOUTUBE OF MY BIKE

Originally posted by KO22
300cc? Jesus he will be bored of it in a week, those things weigh practically nothing and no way I would even touch a highway in that .. SCARY. Would recommend something in 600+ range depending on the bike. Didnt see if you bought a bike yet or not but I'd recommend something like a Ducati Monster, Yamaha FZ or something along those lines!

My first bike was a bobber'd out Harley 1200cc. Never took classes, but knew how to ride from manual quads so learning was super easy for me at least. Anyway, people KNEW I was around them (it was loud as fuck so presence was known which I didn't care if it was to loud or not cause I rather not have some ass monkey drive into my lane suddenly like a quiet crotch rocket) and I wasn't a effing asshat on the roads when I was riding even though my bike could make my eyes go to the back of my head when I twist the throttle.

Anyway be smart, understand your surroundings at all times and always look around you and never trust the cars beside you, make sure they know your presence. Good luck!

That's funny how you mentioned to get an FZ because that's what I ended up getting. A lot of great reviews on it and it seems to be an overall great bike. I figured since I do have some experience riding already, I should be able to handle 600's just fine, this one just happens to have 693CC.

Originally posted by revelations
Honestly, for a somwhat experienced rider, a 300cc bike will be found lacking, especially if youre a bigger rider trying to merge onto Deerfoot northbound around memorial.

Get a used, older 500 Ninja. Why get a shiny new bike (that youll likely drop) for a first unless you have money to spare

Also, frame sliders are a must have.

You're totally right, I would have been bored with a 300CC bike after a few weeks so I figured and decided to spend the money and buy an FZ-07 instead. I just want to mention again that I do have some riding experience, just not in a sports bike. The Ninja 300 and the FZ-07 are pretty close in weight as well so it's actually easy to handle around.

[ercchry]

That should be fun, and more manageable than a 600cc super sport

[Mibz]

If I were looking at a first bike right now, the FZ-07 would probably be top 2. Good choice, you're gonna love it.

[LilDrunkenSmurf]

As an FZ-09 owner, I approve.

[Darell_n]

Fill out your organ donor card.

[JordanAndrew]

Originally posted by Mibz
If I were looking at a first bike right now, the FZ-07 would probably be top 2. Good choice, you're gonna love it.

Yeah it's a great looking bike, definitely lots of good reviews on it too! I'm pretty stoked, haha!

So what's your #1 choice then since you mentioned the FZ-07 is in your top 2 bike of choice?

Originally posted by LilDrunkenSmurf
As an FZ-09 owner, I approve.

Thanks man, I was actually looking at the FZ-09 as well but I think it's too much power for me to start riding again.

Originally posted by Darell_n
Fill out your organ donor card.

I was looking into doing this a while ago before I even wanted to start riding again. Not a bad idea actually.

[JordanAndrew]

Originally posted by ercchry
That should be fun, and more manageable than a 600cc super sport

Should definitely be a lot of fun. I'm probably going to change the exhaust and install a Yoshimura exhaust with a Power Commander V Fuel and air management system to add the extra fun. haha!

[Mibz]

Originally posted by JordanAndrew
So what's your #1 choice then since you mentioned the FZ-07 is in your top 2 bike of choice?

It'd be between that and a CB500F. No clear #1.

I'm still a big fan of the Ninja 650 as well, but naked bikes are doing it for me lately.

[Rocket1k78]

Excellent choice!

The FZ are very slick. Sliders and a nice slip on are a must on any bike.

[ercchry]

Originally posted by Mibz
It'd be between that and a CB500F. No clear #1.

I'm still a big fan of the Ninja 650 as well, but naked bikes are doing it for me lately.

Just wait till you try the duke... Cb500f was on my list but duke trumped it in every category

[LilDrunkenSmurf]

Originally posted by Rocket1k78
Excellent choice!

The FZ are very slick. Sliders and a nice slip on are a must on any bike.

See, I really like the stock exhaust on my FZ. I also really like the Akro on my CBR, but I picked up the FZ to be more of a longer distance bike.

Originally posted by ercchry


Just wait till you try the duke... Cb500f was on my list but duke trumped it in every category

My issue with the Duke is the single cylinder. After riding with a 1cyl on my grom, the vibrations were always a point of contention for me, and reviews show the same thing for the Duke at higher RPM.

Sure, it's lighter than the Honda, and similar power output, and it's even cheaper, but in Calgary you're limiting yourself to a single dealer vs 2 dealers, and Honda tends to have a lot of aftermarket support just due to sheer volume.

Is the Duke 390/RC390 pretty awesome? Yes. Would I like to ride one? Yes. Would I buy one over a CB500F? I'd definitely consider it, before buying an FZ-07 instead.

[JordanAndrew]

Originally posted by Rocket1k78
Excellent choice!

The FZ are very slick. Sliders and a nice slip on are a must on any bike.

The only slip on exhaust that I saw available was the M4 one and it involved cutting the stock exhaust. Most of the other exhaust that's available is a full system.

I'm actually not a huge fan of the stock exhaust of the FZ-07 as I found it to be too quite, almost sounds like a scooter. I'm not sure if that's the same thing for the FZ-09's but definitely for the FZ-07's.

I just picked up a Yoshimura Full Exhaust system and I'm gonna pair it up with a Power Commander V system tuned specifically for the FZ-07 and I'll see some increase in power, smoother throttle and most importantly, better sounding exhaust note. VROOM!! hahaha!

Originally posted by LilDrunkenSmurf


See, I really like the stock exhaust on my FZ. I also really like the Akro on my CBR, but I picked up the FZ to be more of a longer distance bike.



My issue with the Duke is the single cylinder. After riding with a 1cyl on my grom, the vibrations were always a point of contention for me, and reviews show the same thing for the Duke at higher RPM.

Sure, it's lighter than the Honda, and similar power output, and it's even cheaper, but in Calgary you're limiting yourself to a single dealer vs 2 dealers, and Honda tends to have a lot of aftermarket support just due to sheer volume.

Is the Duke 390/RC390 pretty awesome? Yes. Would I like to ride one? Yes. Would I buy one over a CB500F? I'd definitely consider it, before buying an FZ-07 instead.

I looked at the RC390 but I definitely trust the Japanese over them.

[Cooked Rice]

My advice to new riders:

Watch Keith Code's Twist of the Wrist II. It will teach you things the new rider school won't.

Sooner or later as a new rider there's a good chance you're going to find yourself stuck in a corner ie. off ramp etc. where you go in too hot and you suddenly realize you're going wide in the shoulder, where all that nice winter traction material likes to reside in the summer. Situations like that, is why this DVD really shines. I think they should play it at every new rider class.