Ride report: First 600 Miles

[Hound]

I figured I'd scribble one of those little notes about how much I am enjoying my little ninja. I'm calling to make my service appointment for next week (earliest I can get in) for my first service. I've been lisenced for a month, but only able to ride for 2 of those weeks thanks to the weather.

I find that I am humbled by the action of riding a motorcycle. As the road flows under my tires the understanding that the only thing between it and me is a bit of physics is awe inspiring. A car is just going to roll thanks to its nice square profile and four wheels. A bike has made some type of pact with the gods of physics and I thank them for it.

I've ridden about 750 miles (got to ride the b/fs bike while he was out of town and I was repairing my fairings since I crashed first day after msf) and I have a frightening amount to learn still. The road is not soft at all and I thank my fanatical devotion to my gear already. I also didn't cry when I fell. I hopped back on and hobble to a repair shop to get them to help me bend my shifter lever back out. No one has noticed the damage really but me, its an interesting reminder of what I did wrong and it has saved me through two other panic moments.

I don't understand how anyone says the bike does not have enough power. I have been able to avoid plenty of situations where cars wished to become more friendly with me. They may not scream like a beast in full orgasm when you flick the throttle, but I think I've already been cured of my desire for a super sport. Understanding of the power of bikes really doesn't come till you ride them. My next ride will be a ST.

I am still to nervous/shy to talk to other riders. One is because I am still so new at this. I wanted to stop at a group gathering for a ride into the mountains but in the end my shyness won out. I have to admit as well in the back of my mind I expect people to point and laugh at my bike and at the fact that I wrecked. The bad part of these forms is the constant hate against my little ride mixed with my new apprehensiveness.

For those who think that the 250 or 500 is not 'sexy' enough, hah. The question is who are we impressing? I've had cruiser riders compliment it. In MSF there was a 250 Ninja and everyone was vastly frightened of it for being a 'sport bike here at the MSF oh my god do they want us to die?' The guy that rode it already had one at home so he got to take the MSF on his own bike basically.

I've not *yet* had a ride where I stopped that people didn't compliment the bike. If you want an ego boost from your ride you will get one. Your average person won't care about what you ride.

My next area of puzzlement is how do people keep their mileage so low. In two weeks of actual riding, and about 10 rides I've done a bit over 600 miles. I have not gone out road hunting yet, but stayed local, getting a feel of my bike and my abilities on roads that I know. I'm also commuting to work on it. I find I assume everyone rides whenever they can, so how do people keep insanely low miles on 5 and 6 year old bikes?

Anyway, I'm about to go to the store to grab stuff for breakfast. I will take my bike as well. The gas savings alone are incredible. Its like someone is rewarding me for all the time I waited and took my classes and stuff.

I ripped all my decals off when I got my bike. I then went to streetglo and got some sheets of DIY paper and began to carve a personality into my ride. It may be a bit girly for some but then I might be a bit girly as well...

[R1oldguy]

Originally Posted by Hound

I figured I'd scribble one of those little notes about how much I am enjoying my little ninja. I'm calling to make my service appointment for next week (earliest I can get in) for my first service. I've been lisenced for a month, but only able to ride for 2 of those weeks thanks to the weather.

I find that I am humbled by the action of riding a motorcycle. As the road flows under my tires the understanding that the only thing between it and me is a bit of physics is awe inspiring. A car is just going to roll thanks to its nice square profile and four wheels. A bike has made some type of pact with the gods of physics and I thank them for it.

I've ridden about 750 miles (got to ride the b/fs bike while he was out of town and I was repairing my fairings since I crashed first day after msf) and I have a frightening amount to learn still. The road is not soft at all and I thank my fanatical devotion to my gear already. I also didn't cry when I fell. I hopped back on and hobble to a repair shop to get them to help me bend my shifter lever back out. No one has noticed the damage really but me, its an interesting reminder of what I did wrong and it has saved me through two other panic moments.

I don't understand how anyone says the bike does not have enough power. I have been able to avoid plenty of situations where cars wished to become more friendly with me. They may not scream like a beast in full orgasm when you flick the throttle, but I think I've already been cured of my desire for a super sport. Understanding of the power of bikes really doesn't come till you ride them. My next ride will be a ST.


For those who think that the 250 or 500 is not 'sexy' enough, hah. The question is who are we impressing? I've had cruiser riders compliment it. In MSF there was a 250 Ninja and everyone was vastly frightened of it for being a 'sport bike here at the MSF oh my god do they want us to die?' The guy that rode it already had one at home so he got to take the MSF on his own bike basically.

I've not *yet* had a ride where I stopped that people didn't compliment the bike. If you want an ego boost from your ride you will get one. Your average person won't care about what you ride.

My next area of puzzlement is how do people keep their mileage so low. In two weeks of actual riding, and about 10 rides I've done a bit over 600 miles. I have not gone out road hunting yet, but stayed local, getting a feel of my bike and my abilities on roads that I know. I'm also commuting to work on it. I find I assume everyone rides whenever they can, so how do people keep insanely low miles on 5 and 6 year old bikes?

Anyway, I'm about to go to the store to grab stuff for breakfast. I will take my bike as well. The gas savings alone are incredible. Its like someone is rewarding me for all the time I waited and took my classes and stuff.

I ripped all my decals off when I got my bike. I then went to streetglo and got some sheets of DIY paper and began to carve a personality into my ride. It may be a bit girly for some but then I might be a bit girly as well...

I am still to nervous/shy to talk to other riders. One is because I am still so new at this. I wanted to stop at a group gathering for a ride into the mountains but in the end my shyness won out. I have to admit as well in the back of my mind I expect people to point and laugh at my bike and at the fact that I wrecked. The bad part of these forms is the constant hate against my little ride mixed with my new apprehensiveness.

Welcome Hound!!

Don't be shy. MOST (I say MOST) serious riders are more than willing to talk to, or ride with, any other sportbike riders. It doesn't matter to me and probably a lot of others what size bike or how much experience a particular rider has. I will ride with pretty much anybody that is safe.
If YOU feel the riders are not safe, then it is best to turn around and go the other way.
Riders are just like any sampling of society. You will meet all different kinds of people!!
Good luck and Be Safe and Have fun

[Jehos]

Another 500 rider here with just shy of 2,000 miles under my belt (bought the bike in December). I totally understand about the mileage thing, it wasn't until I started talking with a few friends who have bikes who I didn't know had them. Like a buddy of mine I was out with this past weekend, he's got a Harley Roadking garage-queen at home. Something like 500 miles on it, and he bought it last summer. He's just plain afraid to get on it, because he took his MSF then bought the biggest cruiser he could get his hands on.

I'm not complaining too much though, I bought one of those bikes, an '06 Ninja 500 with 742 miles on it this past December. She's certainly getting a workout now, I hope she wasn't *too* used to that comfy garage lifestyle.

Oh, and I love the paintjob. You should consider getting some bags for your bike, I've got a fairly large tank/tailbag that I'm absolutely in love with now. It's a tankbag that came with an under-seat strap that lets you clip it onto the tail. It mostly rides on the back seat unless I'm giving my roommate or someone a ride, then it rides on the tank. Plenty big enough for spare visor, the liner for my jacket, toolkit, visor cleaner, and whatever other random stuff I want to throw in. I'm contemplating getting some side bags for it also, give it the full-on sport-touring look and give me plenty of space to take the bike on shopping trips or whatever I want.

[mssdrider]

Originally Posted by Hound

I figured I'd scribble one of those little notes about how much I am enjoying my little ninja. I'm calling to make my service appointment for next week (earliest I can get in) for my first service. I've been lisenced for a month, but only able to ride for 2 of those weeks thanks to the weather.
I find that I am humbled by the action of riding a motorcycle. As the road flows under my tires the understanding that the only thing between it and me is a bit of physics is awe inspiring. A car is just going to roll thanks to its nice square profile and four wheels. A bike has made some type of pact with the gods of physics and I thank them for it.

Hallelujah!

Originally Posted by Hound

I don't understand how anyone says the bike does not have enough power. I have been able to avoid plenty of situations where cars wished to become more friendly with me. They may not scream like a beast in full orgasm when you flick the throttle, but I think I've already been cured of my desire for a super sport. Understanding of the power of bikes really doesn't come till you ride them. My next ride will be a ST.

Originally Posted by Hound

I am still to nervous/shy to talk to other riders. One is because I am still so new at this. I wanted to stop at a group gathering for a ride into the mountains but in the end my shyness won out. I have to admit as well in the back of my mind I expect people to point and laugh at my bike and at the fact that I wrecked. The bad part of these forms is the constant hate against my little ride mixed with my new apprehensiveness.

Don't be!!why would they point and laugh? i went down on my first bike. If you learned from it, that's the important part. who is hating against your bike? one of the best riders i know ride a 500 and he can outride a lot of riders on much bigger bikes. like someone said before, a REAL rider would never make fun of anyone, regardless of whatever bike he or she is on.

Originally Posted by Hound

My next area of puzzlement is how do people keep their mileage so low. In two weeks of actual riding, and about 10 rides I've done a bit over 600 miles. I have not gone out road hunting yet, but stayed local, getting a feel of my bike and my abilities on roads that I know. I'm also commuting to work on it. I find I assume everyone rides whenever they can, so how do people keep insanely low miles on 5 and 6 year old bikes?

depends on the person. I put 12,000 miles in 7 months of riding on my RR alone, and they weren't commuting miles either. I did my breakin period in a day. (Yes i know i'm crazy). When i bought my first bike, the girl i bought it from said it was a 2 year old bike and it had 2000 miles on it... she just didn't like riding so much...

Originally Posted by Hound

I ripped all my decals off when I got my bike. I then went to streetglo and got some sheets of DIY paper and began to carve a personality into my ride. It may be a bit girly for some but then I might be a bit girly as well...

i like it! its pretty!

[phail]

Originally Posted by mssdrider

Don't be!!why would they point and laugh? i went down on my first bike.

I agree. Just go talk to them and see if that particular group are the type of people you want to ride with.

I get annoyed by people asking how many times Ive dropped my ninja because both sides are banged up pretty bad. No one believes me when I tell them it was the previous owners. Screw 'em.

[Oni]

Don't be shy. Sweet bike. Like what you did with the graphics.

[TemplarForGod]

How did you put those blue waves/flames designs on your bike. Where can i buy that sticker paper stuff? do u just put the paper on the bike then carve a design right over it?

[Hound]

I got the DIY paper from Streetglo which is www.streetglo.com if I am correct. I take two pieces of paper, put them facing each other so the back is out on both sides and put that on a piece of cardboard. I then take a razor blade and carve the design I want on it. I draw and sketch a lot so once I know what design I want its easy for me to do it free hand.

Then I apply it to the bike. I have some bubbles under the decal paper because I didn't get the soap/water mixture quite right I think. I have plenty of spare paper so I can redo anything I need to do.

[TemplarForGod]

Thanks dude.

[KWTH8N]

Like everyone else said, dont be shy man. bikers are a pretty easy going bunch. I personally will ride with anyone, as long as your not being stupid, and bringing negative attention to the sport.If you stop and people laugh, trust me those arent guys you wanna roll with anyway. everyone starts somewhere. Good luck, and next time stop off and talk to some people. most of my friend i met at a McDonalds prking lot gathering, or 7 11 stop.