Cruiser to Crotch Rocket

**Brownbikerbabe** · 17th April 2010, 10:34

Ok, picked up the baby today...My 2010 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Special Edition!!!

I have been nothing but a cruiser rider and ...holy cow, what a huge attitude adjustment I had to make today for my first ride home on a sporty. Its like the first day of ever riding your first bike...scared stiff...Figures it has to be a windy day! I was holding on for dear life...sportys get blown around!!!

I am used to a lovely heavy bike, nice windshield protection, only 5 gears, heal toe shifter, a long wheel base ...holy cow the steering in a sporty is short and tight, I need to get used to that.

Well, hubby tells me I was going too slow

...lots of cars behind him, he was driving behind me in his van as a blocker...first day with sporty and all...The gauges read the speed limits, and I was keeping the rpm upto 6000 max as suggested for a new 250 cc bike for the first 1000km, but damn its a completely different riding experience for me. Although bike speedometer read 100 km, hubby swears I didn't go over 80kmph, maybe it was the head wind.... I feel like a complete and utter noob.

Turning was as if I was on a one of those elderly scooters...slow and steady, new tires and all and now I need to lean MORE! Yikes!

Not used to that. The steering on my cruiser is wide grip and this sporty is alot tighter so a slight nudge and tilt and I am doing cirlcles....

gonna have to go to an empty parking lot some where and do some drills with this new bike me thinks...

There are alot of things I'm going to have to learn, 6 gear shifting for instance, tipping it over more on turns. I am now a human windshield...etc....

but I do have to tell you that being closer to the bike seating wise, I feel alot more incontrol of the bike,where as on a cruiser your basically sitting straight up.

Any tips people for this born again noob?

**duckonin** · 17th April 2010, 10:54

Biggest tip is 'enjoy'

**Trudes** · 17th April 2010, 13:17

Relax your grip and remember to smile (it relaxes you) and have fun

**=cJ=** · 17th April 2010, 13:20

Yip, relaxing the death-grip makes for so much nicer cornering. I've been practicing this as I've got a bad habit of hanging on for dear life

**dasser** · 19th April 2010, 08:45

Sounds like you have turned to the Dark Side. Its not to later Sell the crotch rocket and come back over... LOL.
The more time you spend on the new machine the easier it will become, just like the first time on the cruiser.
Practise and more practise, all over again
Enjoy.

**CookMySock** · 19th April 2010, 09:13

Originally Posted by Brownbabe

Any tips people for this born again noob?

Ride it's wheels off! Get on the track and learn to corner it.

Steve

**The Pastor** · 19th April 2010, 10:49

did you get ur kneee down? all the cool kids are doing it.

**quickbuck** · 19th April 2010, 21:30

Tips include, but not limited to:

Relax
Turn your head
Keep your head and eyes UP
Look for gaps, not objects
Keep the BALLS of your feet on the pegs (Prevents toes getting caught under the bike!)
Dip your shoulder into corners

Read Twist of the Wrist 2 - Keith Code

And as said, HAVE FUN!

P.S. Love the colour scheme

**SDU** · 20th April 2010, 13:42

You'll get use to it. You'll find it easier & faster flicking it through the hills. It'll come with time.
Nice bike!!!

**SDU** · 20th April 2010, 13:42

You'll get use to it. You'll find it easier & faster flicking it through the hills. It'll come with time.
Nice bike!!!

Argh! dble post having trouble with it loading- oh the shame off it all LOL