Almost got my bike...
 

Hey guys - I'm workin with someone to buy a 500R and the deal should be closed hopefully by middle next month. I have a few questions as I am a beginner. I've ridden before but not for a long long time and nothing as big as this. How do you know when u need to switch gears? I haven't operated a clutch in ages it seems like. I know the general principles but I am afraid of stalling out or doing something retarded. For example: Neutral, one shift down is first gear...so after first do I shift twice really quickly to get into 2nd (thus bypassing neutral) - or is my memory horrible? And the positive neutral finder? How exactly does that work? What is good, cheaper safety gear to start? This motorcycle market is HUGE and I am a lost kid in the mall...any help and tips would be greatly appreciated. I'm as excited as you can get for this!

RE: Almost got my bike...
 

First off practice, practice practice. Take the MSF course. When you first start riding, shift when the bike is ready. By this I mean, so it won't stall. Shift too soon it could stall. It takes time but will come naturally before you know it. Neutral. When you shift down to first, then speed up and are ready to shift to second, just give it a full shift. To get neutral give it a half shift. The positive neutral finder allows you to find neutral when you are slowing down to stop. Get a helmet, a jacket and gloves. boots are good idea too. But anything with a high top for your ankles is recommended. Most of all, have fun:)

RE: Almost got my bike...
 

congrats on buying the bike. You'll know when it's time to shift gears you'll hear the engine reving higher and then just pull in the clutch and pull up once and then your in second. And so on an so on. The gear is recomended for riding. I would wear a good helmet like an hjc or kbc there a nice helmet for the price. and a jacket and gloves and a sturdy pair of boots are highly recomended. If it's been a while since you have road you might want to take the saftey course to refresh your memory on how to ride right and safe. Hope i helped you out and have fun with the bike.

RE: Almost got my bike...
 

Welcome to the forums and congrats in asking questions.

RE: Almost got my bike...
 

Oh nice - Looks like I'll be toolin around in some areas that have no real traffic to start and to get comfortable shifting, speeding up and slowing down to a stop. I'll take a picture of me and my bike when the deal closes to "officialize" myself as a member of the Kawasaki family. Keep the tips comin!

RE: Almost got my bike...
 

hi

RE: Almost got my bike...
 

Get to know your bike, learn what it's capable of. Also don't think that traffic is going to do things, You have to act on your own.

Lead follow or get out of the way

RE: Almost got my bike...
 

Seriously guys and gals...I'm in medical school and I cannot concentrate on my last finals because I am getting so anxious about closing the deal on my bike. The seller is great and they are putting the final touches on it - getting it tuned up, and replacing what needs to be replaced etc...Oh man. Get ready! Hope I don't fail out because of this haha. This future doc is gonna be a doc on 2 wheels!

RE: Almost got my bike...
 

TAKE THE MSF COURSE .Get the best gear you can . There are some good deals online for quality gear , you just have to do some research .

RE: Almost got my bike...
 

+1 to that! otherwise we may end up with a Doc in ICU!

RE: Almost got my bike...
 

well at least he'll know what's wronge with him if he goes down and gets hurt but that what the gear is for right.

RE: Almost got my bike...
 

dude, you'll be like Gregory House, cruisin on 2 wheels.


hopefully you won't be as big of an ass as he is. :D

RE: Almost got my bike...
 

Haha - If I were nearly as brilliant as he was it'd be hard not to be an ass! But surgery is my calling, not an infections disease specialist! I bought me a Joe Rocket jacket today on ebay...now all I need is everything else...no one told me motorcycle gear was so expensive! Either way, I'll have a cane and a scalpel with flames on it when the time comes haha.

RE: Almost got my bike...
 

LOL that's funny. yea good gear is expensive but just think of how much your life is worth to you and you'll give up the extra few dollars to be safe.

RE: Almost got my bike...
 

Welcome to KF.

RE: Almost got my bike...
 

By the way .........motorcycle gear can be expensive ........better late than never ....Right ?????
Good luck .

RE: Almost got my bike...
 

Uhh Finally Got it! 2002 Red Ninja 500R. Sexy beast - has progressive suspension, stage 3 jet kit for carbs, and a full muzzy exhaust....now the rider needs some knowledge and experience and I'll be able to represent kawasaki! Woot!

RE: Almost got my bike...
 

[sm=ttiwwp.gif]lol.. congrats

RE: Almost got my bike...
 

hahahaha, +1
[sm=ttiwwp.gif]

RE: Almost got my bike...
 

Damn all of you lol - ok fine - i'll dig up the digital camera and take a pic - I need to figure out hwo to get the bottom fairing on though - the muzzy kinda f's that up

RE: Almost got my bike...
 

ah, and here I was thinking you have a hard time on finding the picture taking button!

RE: Almost got my bike...
 

I'll post a pick later when i find my camera - But i rode her for the first time today - I stalled out like 20 times in a row trying to get from 1st gear to moving haha. Then I kinda figured that out and I realized i am ****ty and remembering what gear I am in...and I am not sure I change gears at the right spots. When you are slowing down - do yoiu just hold the clutch in and down shift while you break? and when going from 1st to 2nd gear, like starting to get moving, is that almost an instant shift? it seems that way to me bc i get to 9mph pretty darn quick except for when i get a smooth start.

Turning...sometimes wide sometimes good...how do I get better at that? Do you speed up through turns or slow down or what? I haven't taken it out on the roads yet, just a big ole parking lot and a no traffic street so far. I am afraid I'll stall out or turn too wide and hit the car in the other lane. Hopefully this is something everyone went through and once you get the jitters out of the way and get used to it you get way better. Any tips would be appreciated.

RE: Almost got my bike...
 

take the MSF it will help alot...

RE: Almost got my bike...
 

I'm signed up but not until September. Damn things are so far backlisted and since I'll be out of the country for most of July and August its no biggy. I just want to do some tooling around so I am not the worst when I get there.

RE: Almost got my bike...
 

Hey chinh9, a little late but welcome and congrats on the bike. Just relax and take your time learning the bike. It will all come around soon enough. I actually taught my girlfriend yeasterday how to ride. She's having the same trouble. She wants a street bike someday but has never rode one before. I started her on my pitbike first ( automatic 4 speed ) then on my 250f. Man, I think my clutch is toast! Almost 2 hours later she started getting the hang of it. Oh, and she almost hit the barn once! It will be a long time before she jumps on my 636.

If you can't take the course for awhile, keep playing in the parking lot. Practice your starts and stops first. Over and over. Maybe a few figure 8s too. Smooth shifting from 1st to 2nd....then slow down from 2nd to 1st. Hold the clutch in to come to a complete stop using both brakes. ( easy on your front ) Put both of you feet down when stopped...and repeat:D......we all went through the same thing, takes time.

RE: Almost got my bike...
 

Just like driving a stick. Takes practice and staying within your comfort zone. Have fun.