Picked up my first bike today!

[sil3nt]

Welcome to our world buddy...bike and a girfriend whose dad is a bike mechanic (and probably a KB poster on the sly so watch what you post...)

And did I read into your words your girfriend is into bikes as well, you are on to a good thing there...

He is on the forum i dont think he posts. He would probably be banned by now if he did

Girlfriend does not ride and isn't keen on it. The gear is for the rides she goes on with her dad.

[LBD]

He is on the forum i dont think he posts. He would probably be banned by now if he did

Girlfriend does not ride and isn't keen on it. The gear is for the rides she goes on with her dad.

So the 3 of you will be out on riding dates...You, Her, and chaparone...(I am the Dad of a georgeous bike riding daughter....I know about these things.)

To the rest of you deviates out there....NAFF OFF

[Kungfaux]

Sweet bike!

I'm gonna be going through all the 'first bike' stuff next week (hoping i won'd do anything too stupid). I got a 1988 Honda VT250F!! Waiting for it to come back from VINZ (cert, vin, rego etc) So excited, i'll chuck some photos up

KB is so great for finding stuff out btw!! Cheers to everyone haha

[Kungfaux]

Here it is!

Got the bike on thursday but couldn't really ride it until friday cos I had to mount the new number plate, rego, wof, l-plate and all that. Bit of hassle really. All sorted now though.

Only real issue i'm having is with putting it on the centre stand! I was trying on the first night i got the bike and as i was rocking the bike back onto the stand it tilted away from me and fell over!! Felt like a bit of a knob dropping it. Luckily, noone saw and the bike fell onto a grass patch in the driveway so no damage was done, phew! I don't think i'll use the centre stand much but it would be good to know how without dropping it haha. Does anyone have any solid methods of getting a bike onto the centre stand? It may just be that i am too small (66kgs) haha.

But since i've started riding its been so much fun, after work on saturday i went for a nice ride and the bike feels so sweet! I think this bike has got enough power for me, i have been riding with the revs at about 4-5000rpm. When i go past that it really pulls! I think is shall keep me interested well into my restricted .

I think i've picked up the basic skills without too much hassle. Things i'm gonna work on are: hillstarts using rear brake, managing my downshifts so i don't lock up (i think i have a bad habit of engine braking at low speed, i've had minor skids whilst in a straight line a few times) and getting more confidence with the brakes in case someone pulls out on me! I'm interested in doing a riding skills thing so i get better at that kinda stuff, is there a KBer one??

I've got an L-plate on for the time being cos i don't wanna risk a fine, maybe in a month or two that may change. Not gonna venture onto the motorway for a while either, just gonna get used to the bike at town speed first.

Haven't got proper gear yet but i have been looking and i think i'm gonna get an ixon jacket, textile with CE armour bits and some gloves too. Maybe some kevlar jeans soon after too. I am only doing a 20min commute everyday so i think boots may be a bit excessive.

So yeah all up i am pretty happy with the bike and am glad to now be part of the motorcycling community!! (cos 50cc scooters don't really count do they?

[discotex]

Haven't got proper gear yet but i have been looking and i think i'm gonna get an ixon jacket, textile with CE armour bits and some gloves too. Maybe some kevlar jeans soon after too. I am only doing a 20min commute everyday so i think boots may be a bit excessive.

Boots are never excessive mate. How much do you value your ankles and toes?

[Slyer]

The trick with a centre stand is to pull the bike up from a bit of frame on the rear of the bike.

You will also come to appreciate decent waterproof boots after your sneakers get soaked many many times.

[sil3nt]

nice bike man! On my bike there is a handle near the back of the bike that is used to pull the rear end up. You can see it here: http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/I_am_ha...ts_centerstand

Im guessing your bike should have something similar.

If you can afford the boots then go for it. I think its the last thing im gonna get. Well maybe boots before proper pants.

[quickbuck]

Only real issue i'm having is with putting it on the centre stand!

Easy one here....
All you have to do it this:
1) Hold the bike by the handle bars and stand on the left... All the while holding the front brake.
2) Put foot on the part of the centre stand protruding from under your bike and plant it into he ground (Of course we are on a flat solid surface!)
3) Now reach down to the left of your bike with your right hand and find a solid piece of frame under the plastic above the rear wheel.
4) Now lift your bike while standing ALL your weight onto he centrestand.
5) All going well your bike will move back 6 inches and the rear will rise up.
6) Job done.

[Kungfaux]

Cheers guys

Yeah just after i posted i went to fill her up and i noticed that handle by the rear wheel, lifting that instead of pulling the handlebar makes it simple, even with a full tank!!

Yeah i intend to get all the gear eventually (i.e within a few months) but money is a little tight, i have about $400 ish and i think the order i should buy gear is :

1. Helmet (already got, clearly!)
2. Jacket (textile, CE etc)
3. Gloves (winter, warm, waterproof)
4. Pants (kevlar jeans and cheap waterproof ones to go over?)
5. Boots (waterproof ones)

[discotex]

1. Helmet (already got, clearly!)
2. Jacket (textile, CE etc)
3. Gloves (winter, warm, waterproof)
4. Pants (kevlar jeans and cheap waterproof ones to go over?)
5. Boots (waterproof ones)

I'd get gloves before a jacket. Hands touch down first and have very little protective skin above the bone.

In both my offs my knuckles would be totally gone if I wasn't wearing gloves. If I wasn't wearing a jacket I'd have some road rash but I'd rather a bit of road rash than lose the use of my fingers.

[caseye]

You are being offered some damn fine advice here, gloves and boots would be the order I'd start in too.
You can't ride a bike with no fingers or feet.