Hey All, New Rider with a Ninja 250!

adamy35 · 04-03-2007, 09:35 PM

Hey all, just wanted to introduce myself as a new rider in the sportbike world. I've had my Ninja 250cc for a week now, but I've only been able to take it out once due to high winds and weather problems, but I've loved my experience so far.

Using a clutch/manual transmission was totally new to me, so I spent the first two days riding up and down my driveway working on takeoffs and clutch control and that helped me learn how my bike should feel and such when accelerating off the start. On Saturday I took the bike to a vacant lot and practiced shifting and downshifting along with turns and cornering. Just in the hour I spent there I felt my skills rise to the point where I felt confident riding on the street in town at low speeds without worry of doing anything really dangerous. I did manage to stall the bike a few times at stopsigns and once at a light, but I figure anyone new to a clutch would do things like that. I put 40 miles on the bike on Saturday and learned a lot in that short time and loved every second of my ride.

My advice to any new rider is to take it slow at the start and make sure you know the basics of your bike before you take to the streets. I look forward to keeping on practicing and learning all I can from riding and reading the forums here. I can't get into the MSF until late July, so I'm taking it really slow and building my skills based on some drills I read in my MSF book and things I read here. If you guys have any imput let me know what you think.

Also, I ride with a helmet, gloves, and jacket. I don't have boots or pants yet, but will be getting them in the future. I'm very happy to be a part of the sportbike world!

QWIK1 · 04-03-2007, 09:38 PM

Hey congrats on getting into "our" addicting, expensive, exhilirating, exciting... yada yada yada... sport! Where at in Ohio you from? I'm in Eastlake (20min. or so East of Cleveland.. maybe we could do some riding?)

Btw - Welcome to SBN

enjoy your stay!

adamy35 · 04-03-2007, 09:40 PM

I'm pretty far away from that area of Ohio. I'm over by Lima in Northwest Central Ohio. So probably a good 4 hours from ya. And thanks for the welcome.

QWIK1 · 04-03-2007, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamy35

I'm pretty far away from that area of Ohio. I'm over by Lima in Northwest Central Ohio. So probably a good 4 hours from ya. And thanks for the welcome.

Yikes.. that is quite a haul.. would hate to take my bike on that long of a freeway ride.... I started on a Ninja 250 as well.. great choice brotha!

21 natas · 04-04-2007, 04:00 AM

welcome to SBN first off.

just take it easy and go slow, keep practicing, and remember to look through the turn (that point always stuck w/me), and avoid target fixation if you can.

rollerchicken · 04-04-2007, 01:02 PM

Congrats on the new bike. I picked one up a couple weeks ago but haven't been able to get out on it too much due to weather. Have fun and be safe.

N.Y.STYLE PIZZA · 04-04-2007, 01:35 PM

Welcome!!

Excellent choice on a first bike and on wearing gear. I would only add that you take the MSF course. It could very well save your life. It's true that many have learned to ride by themselves, or from friends, but there is no substitute for the professional instruction you will receive in an MSF course.

You will be a better rider and will learn some strategies for staying alive on the mean streets.

Just my two cents.........

adamy35 · 04-04-2007, 01:43 PM

I plan on doing the MSF course, but it is filled up until August, so I will have to wait until then. Till then, I will be building up my skills on my own, and so far its been good.

As a side note, anyone have some tips for riding on windy days? My first day out was 20-25 mph winds with some nice gusts also. It was quite scary a few times, but I just backed off the throttle a little to adjust.

rollerchicken · 04-05-2007, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamy35

I plan on doing the MSF course, but it is filled up until August,

I'd like to sign up for the MSF course. I went in thinking it may be too late for an early class only to find out they haven't yet released the yearly schedule. They usually start near the mid to end of April so they're running a little late.

GUTTERbOY · 04-05-2007, 07:29 PM

Congrats, good to see you're having fun. One thing I slacked on quickly once I got on the road was keeping my head up and looking far ahead, and it cost me. Two weeks into my riding career, I fixated on a curb, set up a tank-slapper, and proceeded to execute a 50mph swan dive into a mulch-lined median. Broke my left scapula, but more importantly got a painful object lesson on fixation.

Get that gear and wear it- it only takes a split second to go from confidence to a getoff, and you don't know when it'll happen. I was lucky enough to delay a potential roadrash experience, but my gear probably saved me from many little additional injuries.

adamy35 · 04-05-2007, 08:29 PM

Yes, I definately want to be in full gear as soon as possible. If I ever do go down I want to have the best chance as possible of getting up from it and walking away with as little injury as possible.

As for focusing on whats coming, I think I am doing very well in that. When driving I'm always scanning and trying to predict what will happen next in front of me, and down the road a ways. I also road a moped for a year (I know its a wimpy bike) but it helped me learn the basics of going 25-30mph on a bike and looking through turns and focusing on what I'm doing.

The weather has turned back to winter, so I'll have to wait a few weeks before I can go out again. And I thought April was supposed to be warm

GUTTERbOY · 04-05-2007, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamy35

As for focusing on whats coming, I think I am doing very well in that. When driving I'm always scanning and trying to predict what will happen next in front of me, and down the road a ways.

I've been good about this as well for years while driving... and even while riding I seem to retain a feel for other drivers' intentions. But somehow, when I was first riding, I found myself looking not so far ahead. I've theorized that it was related to keeping an eye on the speedo, perhaps. I know that during MSF we were basically told to not look at the instruments at all, and I suspect that the necessity of looking down on the street caused my problem.

IMO the important thing is recognizing your own bad habits and correcting them. I had noticed myself fixating before and corrected it, but when my time came it all happened too fast to stop. I retrospect, it was not only my "looking down," but also subpar lane position that contributed.

In the words of my instructor, "The day you know everything about riding, find me and give me your keys, because you'll be a danger to yourself and others." There's always something else to learn.

lemosley01 · 04-05-2007, 10:59 PM

Welcome - Columbus rider here.

Hound · 04-05-2007, 11:16 PM

I've been dealing with the wind as well.

The advice I have gotten from reading and other riders is to make sure your arms and hands are relaxed. If you tense up against the wind every buffet of your body will transmit to the bike. If you relax your arms act as shock absorbers.

And you kind of lean into the wind when it really smacks into you.

The relaxation of the arms has really helped me when the wind is kicking up, but it still sucks.