first time interaction with bike!

[bender223]

o.k. i dont know why im gonna post it but the board looked a little lonely. i got my first bike today, its a kawasaki zzr600. for anyone that read my previous post thanks so much! i realize that a motorcycle is really hard to push around with out using the throttle. lol- i dont really know how to ride so i didnt wanna ride it to my parking garage (it was dropped of for me by the seller) so i pushed it (with the clutch in of course) to my parking spot. wow was it hard to turn that sucker around and get in into the parking spot area, at one point i leaned it over too much and almost lost my grip on it. also whenever i felt i was pushing it too fast, i would just barely squeeze on the front brakes and it seemed like the thing stopped faster and dipped onto the front suspension more than i thought it would, getting my new bike is already thrilling and a test upon its self, to be a noobie learning something i have always wanted to do. thanks for reading, hopefully it'll help you remind you guys what your first experiance was like, and if it was exciting to you or anything go ahead and post your own first time interacting. -thank you :squid:

[krasiejay]

o.k. i dont know why im gonna post it but the board looked a little lonely. i got my first bike today, its a kawasaki zzr600. for anyone that read my previous post thanks so much! i realize that a motorcycle is really hard to push around with out using the throttle. lol- i dont really know how to ride so i didnt wanna ride it to my parking garage (it was dropped of for me by the seller) so i pushed it (with the clutch in of course) to my parking spot. wow was it hard to turn that suckeraround and about to get in into the parking spot area, at one point i leaned it over too much and almost lost my grip on it. getting my new bike is already thrilling and a test upon its self, to be a noobie learning something i have always wanted to do. thanks for reading, hopefully it'll help you remind you guys what your first experiance was like, and if it was exciting to you or anything go ahead and post your own first time interacting. -thank you :squid:

Glad to hear there's another new rider around, and i'm glad to see you're posting on this site. it means you're learning the safe and responsible way to ride. :thumbsup: it's a good habit to start with. it makes it second nature later on.

ah yes, my first time... cbr F2. i was scared even sitting on it, thinking it would fall over. and coming from mountain bikes, i couldn't quite fathom how i would be able to turn it. I just finished the motosafety class, and i remember thinking how big those bikes were (250's, haha!!).

Anyway, i had it brought to my house at 3pm, and after my friend showing me the basics and various skills, i didn't get off it until midnight. i did a lot of the beginner mistakes. i ran out of gas in the middle of nowhere, stalled at every other light, target fixated, almost dropped it at a stop sign, you name it - all on the first night. At least i was scared enough not to get kocky. That was the second night. I couldn't remember which was my brake and my clutch, but i found the throttle!! A squid doing 120 at night, and i didnt even know how to stop quickly or even steer just yet, and wasn't wearing gear. Thankfully im still alive and not so :squid: ly these days. :cool:

[bender223]

that is an awsome story! lol i dont think im gonna be as ballsy as you tho, but yea i feel you on the "just sitting is scary thing" but i felt that the first tme i drove a car, and probably the first time i rode a bike! im sure i will get used to it, but wow is it nuts for the moment. (btw does anyone know how to adjust the pegs on the side to a lower or higher position, the rear brake feel's a bit high to me, awkward position):bowdown:

[krasiejay]

that is an awsome story! lol i dont think im gonna be as ballsy as you tho, but yea i feel you on the "just sitting is scary thing" but i felt that the first tme i drove a car, and probably the first time i rode a bike! im sure i will get used to it, but wow is it nuts for the moment. (btw does anyone know how to adjust the pegs on the side to a lower or higher position, the rear brake feel's a bit high to me, awkward position):bowdown:

pegs? or the brake pedal? or both? I dont know too much about kawi's, but i don't think that the pegs are adjustable unless you have aftermarket rearsets. For the brake, again, I'm not familliar with Kawi, but there may be a little turnscrew that you can adjust.

I highly reccomend getting a service manual. It'll answer questions like this, and if you can do the work, it'll save you tons of money. For now, you could go to ron ayers (http://www.ronayers.com/fiche/getdesc.cfm?man=ka) since it has an online parts fiche, and figure it out from the diagrams if you're mechanically inclined.

[CjrJAM]

Congrats on the first bike, it's an exhilarating feeling! The best advice I can give you is to be sure and get some "good quality" gear. Never ride without it! Be very careful and always keep your head on a swivel. Also be sure to get into an MSF course, they are very helpful and informative. Good luck!
Buymoto.com sells everything you need to get you on the road safely. :thumbsup:

[HeinskitZgerman]

Welcome Sean.

:)

[peter1sp]

Now you have to convert 5 more people over the course of the next year. :cheers:

+1 on good gear.

[veejay]

http://www.msf-usa.org

look into taking the basic riders course if you haven't already.

I see A LOT of motorcyclists in the LA area ride with tshirts, shorts & even flip flops. To each their own... hope you don't follow that example

[RadPajita]

The zzr600 is a great 1st bike....trust me, I got a 2000 zx6r as my first (same bike). It's comfy, gets great gas mileage, and it can still hang with your newer bikes (aint that right guys) LOL!!!

Dont forget to take the MSF course...have fun!

[bender223]

awsome advice guys! i actually am taking a msf course, and i get to do the riding portion this weekend (sat, sun) i am super mega excited! the olny experiance i have with a bike is turning it on yesterday and revving it a bit. what a rush i cant wait to be out there on the street. its a bit overwhelming to be truthfull. not in a bad way really. i've just gotta remember to be humble, just because i've taken the course, and read a ton of stuff in books and internet articles dosnt make me valentino rossi! mucho respect to all those veterans out there! and also to those noobies like myself!!

and a definate +1 about the quality gear. i think im actually gonna wait till the motorcycle expo in long beach in early december. i hear you can get gear super duper cheap there, and i would be able to try on everything first. is buymoto gonna have a booth? or does it not work that way?
:bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

[Cliq]

Yes MSF will help you a lot this weekend. Damn you live all the way in LB? I would be more than happy to help you learn how to ride if you are in the vicinity but I'm located in East San Diego.
Just take your time no rush on things. Treat it with respect and it shall do the same for you.

Jason

[Dissident]

Man, I remember my first bike (kan-o-tuna), and the night I had it.... It was dark, so I wasn't supposed to ride it, but I couldn't just let it sit there, so I decided, hey, I'll just ride to the gas station, fill her up, and ride home. I's only a few blocks, and I'd ridden my friends bike before (YEARS before, in a parking lot.....). So, I go get some heavy boots, my crappy leather non-motorcycle-just-moved-here-from-Ohio jacket, gloves, and craptastic helmet and head for the gas station.

So, I'm totally awkward on the bike, but I'm doing actually ok.. What i forgot was that the gas station is (no joke) right next to a donut shop, which is FULL of cops! I thought I was nervous when I started.. Managed to not attract too mcuh attention, filled her up and got her home.

Anyway, congrats on the new bike and just take your time with it. Make sure you find some good friends to ride with who don't push you and who aren't squids.

[soundmann]

So, I go get some heavy boots, my crappy leather non-motorcycle-just-moved-here-from-Ohio jacket, gloves, and craptastic helmet and head for the gas station.


Crappy leather non-motorcycle-just-moved-here-from-Ohio jacket...I don't know why that's funny, but it just is. It didn't happen to say "Just Moved Here from Ohio" on the back, did it?

I started riding with my crappy non-motorcycle-just-moved-here-from-Pittsburgh shoes. Very original, I know. I think most people I've met here moved from somewhere else.

[MilesPerHour]

ah yes, my first time... cbr F2.

YES!!! Mine too was a CBR F2, the 1993 Red, White, and Blue one. I remember riding it up and down our little couldesac, then finally getting the nerve to take it on the street after my MSF course. Then the first time on the freeway scared the junk out of me going 60 in the slow lane. I've changed a little since then... gear up now, ride a few more CC's, and don't drive at 130 mph through traffic. Advice? Try to resist the urge to throw the throttle wide open as much as possible at first, that's what almost killed me... just like kraisiejay. Flying around with mere hours experience at 120+... stupid, stupid, stupid.

[1badboyy]

Damn. The first time I bought a bike, I had to ride it on the 5 freeway all the way from Oceanside to San Diego. And I had never even sat on a bike before! It didn't help that my "friend" who brought me up there was in his car trying to ram me from behind on the way home on the freeway... what a way to learn.

[bender223]

wow! having to ride the bike home the whole way from never sitting on a bike is nuts man! lol crazy storys! and thanks for the advice miles, my goal is to be as humble a rider as possible, i gotta respect the machine, but at the same time i control it not the other way around. thx guys!

[grimfandango]

Now you have to convert 5 more people over the course of the next year. :cheers:

+1 on good gear.

it would be good if a good percentage of those 5.. are women :o)


welcome aboard

[SilverRider]

The first time I rode a bike was when I bought it from a private seller. I drove 20 miles to his house and paid for the bike. He threw in his gear with the sale and off I went. I was a bit nervous to say the least. I drove around the block like 4 times before I searched for the back roads home. I had a permit which doesn't let you drive on the freeway. After being lost for a while on the back roads I found the free way and off I went. I have to say cruising through neighborhoods with all of the stopping and U-turns was a quick learning experience. I finally got home and road my bicycle back to the guys house to pick up my truck. When I got home I hopped back onto the bike and rode it for a couple of hours. Man what a great feeling. I lowsided the bike within the first 2 weeks of owning the bike which humbled me a bit. Just have respect for the power the bike has and take it slow. You will learn with practice. Just don't go overboard because right when you feel like you have it all under control Murphy will slap you in the face. I didn't take my bike to the canyons until I had about 1 month of riding under my belt. I did 350 miles a week of commuting so I had some miles on the bike before I started riding the twisty stuff. Riding in the mountains and canyons is a whole different experience and should be done only after you understand the braking and handling of your bike. I took the MSF course right after buying my bike and it helped me to avoid learning lessons the hard way. I rather learn what not to do in class rather than personal experience. Have fun and welcome to the world of two wheels.

Ride and Smile,
Denton

[chrissafari]

First Ride?

Landed in the United States in Frisco. Took the trolley to the Harley store, saw what the bikes cost and found a second hand Zuzuki Intruder for $1200 at a cheap store. I got them to drop it off at a secluded parking lot and rode it round there for an afternoon. The next day I left for San Diego (on the opposite side of the road to what I was used to). I had so much fun on that trip I carried on all the way to Florida and back.

Kbnowing what I know now I gotta wonder how we all survived our "Newbie Cruises", ignorance is bliss.

Thank you newbie fairies!

[NomadRip]

You have a great attitude about it, knowing to respect it. You should fear it to a point, because it IS a very serious thing (this sport isn't exactly as safe as bowling), but if you take it serious enough to know that you need to at least respect it, you will never find anything you like more.

I was lucky enough to have ridden around on 50's and 70's all through junior high, so at least I knew the feeling a bit before I tried a proper motorcycle. Learn it's limitations and the million or so things to be aware of on the streets (that whole "ride like nobody sees you" saying is BS...they can all see you, and they are TRYING to hit you :lol:).

Learn as much as you can, and don't be in a hurry to be "fast", and you'll have a hell of a good time...many, many times!

Feel free to ask as many questions as you can think up on these forums, too. This is a good one for good advice.

[qdbike]

My first experience with motorcycles ever!

When I was riding the 250 nighthawks in the MSF course, my senses were amazed at the feeling of wind rushing underneath my helmet and the freedom of open air. From that day in March onward, I was officially addicted to wind.

"Hi My name is Queena, and I have a problem."

[CBRMANIMAL]

Ha when I got my bike I remember being so scared of the brakes because they were super touchy. Took me about an hour driving around in circles in a parking lot getting use to stoping and going and getting the balance of things. Within a week I though I had it down....until I started going on the freeway without understanding the push right go right theory, almost went off an overpass....Needless to say I figured it out the hard way. :ha:

[sumlouzhegai]

My first interation with a bike....man, it was in the MSF course and I had the wrong pants on the wrong day. It was hella hot that day and when I did my first leg up over the bike, my pants literally locked up on me and stopped me from making it ON the bike....Yeah, the coaches were just like...staring at me and waiting for me....but after I pulled the throttle, the wind felt great and I love riding bikes now. But right before my skills test, some loser switched bikes with me and I didn't even know and the clutch broke right off, so I couldn't switch gears. So they gave me another bike which had a bigger engine on it. When I pulled the throttle, I was litterally pushed with too much power...then I got use to it after awhile, and I passed the test, barley, cause I went too fast on the quickstop....That was my first time, all in the last weeks of November of this year. I love bikes and all, but I have no bike as of right now, looking for one that is a good beginner bike...