Missa said:
OK, So for those not in chat, I was taking the Basic Rider Safety course and Finished it off on Sunday. I had a successful skills evaluation at the end of the class and got my license. WOO HOO!
That's your license to learn. The safety class and license just gets you up to first solo. That puts you at the very bottom of the learning curve. After that you can learn the skills required to ride safely. There's a huge difference between a controlled parking lot and the warzone on the street. (Hint #1: Cars on side streets/redlights: Watch their hubcaps, not the drivers. Even if they wave you through, consider them liars and watch their hubcaps. The front hubcap on a car will tell you what they're actually going to do next) You're not paranoid, they really are out to get you.
Full face helmet is absolutely required IMNSHO. I've seen plenty of pictures of helmets, and several in person, after someone tumbled off. Most have some really scary scraches on the front and across the visor. If they had been open face helmets, they would have been in the why bother wearing a helmet at all category. Most of the rest of the shell only had glancing blow scratches elsewhere. Gloves, absolutely. Adequately padded jacket then pants. (When you buy stuff, seriously consider upgrading the armor. I like my Kilimanjaro Air but the stock armor, while better than nothing, is in dire need of improvement. The new armor is going to be doubled up between the outside and the current armor for extra protection) Hiking boots are far superior to tennis shoes but if you get stupid and slap your foot on the ground for some reason, you're going to know why people spend $200+ for single use boots. Don't get overly concerned about the price tag. Think functional/practical for the type of riding you do and consider the price as a one time payment for a health insurance policy.
I've been casually looking at flip up helmets lately. If you go that route, do your homework. You want a metal to metal latching mechanism that will make the chin bar one with the main helmet shell. I've run across several that have small plastic pins or latches that IMO would fall apart the first time they fall off the seat much less take a high g impact force.
1979 Suzuki GS 850 G? Isn't that like a 550-600lb machine?
If you have minimal experience and aren't 200+lbs, I'd recommend going with something smaller/lighter to get experience then sell it off and get something bigger. A 250 is a learning toy. Maybe a 450cc something?
My bag of marbles worth:
Don't get more motorcycle than you can handle.
Maintain the motorcycle like it's an airplane. (Preflights before each mount up is mandatory IMNSHO)
Stay off the main busy roads until you get some practical street experience.
Practice slow school and proficiency regularly.
Ride like you fly. When you get in the pilots seat the only thing you are thinking about is the ride, not home, work, social stuff, not anger, not stress...just the ride ahead.
Ride your own ride especially when riding with others. If they stroll off and leave you in their dust, let them. Don't push yourself trying to keep up lest you end up in the ditch. If you find yourself pushing to keep up, it's time to roll the throttle to idle.
Plus they will last virtually forever....
