nfb: riding helmet

[AmericanZ28]

As long as the helmet is both DOT and SNELL approved, youll be ok! I bought an HJC from Ebay for like 90 bucks brand new! As far as the bike goes, the best sports bike out there right now is without a doubt the GSXR Line from Suzuki! They easily outperform the other bikes like Yamahas' R6 and Hondas CBR! Im not too sure about them outperforming Ducati though. Furthermore, Ive found the Suzuki's to be more comfortable than most other bikes, and the 600's are fun to learn on, but only after some training on a 250, or something similar.

[Mike71]

in cali u can not ride w.o a helmet so i am going to get a helmet (although id never ride w.o one) and ill probably have all that stuff first since the bike will take a little time to save for (esp with no over time now )= )

also..how come u say to get insurance before the bike?? dont i have to own it to insure it?? never done anything like this before so i am learning as i go (im 19 = )

also i have a few questions on jackets and boots..what is something to look for when buyings boots..also what about a jacket?? i see some with spine things and arm things and then i see things u strap to ur back that cover ur spine??? alot to learn there i guess

oh..also can i ride with a backpack?? or can i get something to carry my work boots in that goes on the back of the bike??

[MN6WS6]

www.motorcyclecloseouts.com

That should take care of just about any gear you need. Now the colors may not be what you want, but when you pay 1/3 of the standard price, sometimes you just live with the colors.

Leather is the most protective, then an Aerostitch suit, then regular textile suits. Leather is very hot, Aerostitch is very expensive, but they are the ONLY things that will not completely tear apart in a high speed crash. I've seen guys crash at 150 and walk away with leather, and I've seen guys fall over in gravel at 10 MPH and have rash to the muscle with a textile jacket on. Can you see that I lean towards leather?

I recently bought a Joe Rocket Razor suit, but haven't worn it yet, however a lot of people speak highly of it for in town and highway speed stuff. Whatever you buy, make sure it has armor/foam in all the impact areas (spine, elbow, forearm) and make sure that it's comfortable. Zipper ventilation and pockets are nice too.

The reason I said insurance first is if you go out and buy a bike and can't get anybody to insure you, you will be PO'ed. State Farm is the best, especially for sportbikes, because they rate bikes by cc's and not by style. For example, I have a CBR 1100 XX. Allstate, $6,000 a year. Progressive, $7,000 a year and it must be kept in a locked garage, Geico, $7,000 a year, Alfa won't even insure it. State Farm, $50 a month, full coverage. All the major insurance companies use the "shoulder/hips" rule. If you're shoulders are in front of your hips, the rate is much higher. The reason is all the young punks going out and buying 1000's for their first bike and totalling it in a week. Also, sportbikes are more likely to get speeding tickets, and we're talking BIG tickets, so the idiots that do stupid stuff make us all pay dearly.

[Mike71]

ahh i kinda forgot that the people dont HAVE to insure me i hate being 19!!

thanks for that site also =) im not to picky about the colors..maybe when i know what i want i will be more picky but right now i just need to try stuff and hope it feels right

are tickets more for a bike then a car??


also do u think i should goto some track days at sears point?? whatever its called now some people said that would be a good way to feel out the bike?

[MN6WS6]

The only reason tickets are more for a bike than a car is because you are more likely to get hammered by a cop when you're on a bike. They stick it to you to make up for the times that somebody else ran. It's hard to catch a break on a bike, at least around here it is.

You absolutely do NOT want to go to a track day until you are super comfortable with the bike. There are guys that have been riding for many years at a track that fall all the time, simply because they push to hard. You being a newbie most assuredly don't need to be out there. You're pace could cause somebody else to crash, or somebody may "push" you into going faster than you know how. The best place to learn is in a field or a big parking lot. "Feel" out the bike only when you can't possibly hurt or hit anybody else.

[Mirroredshades]

I have 2 HJC's now. One with a clear visor and 1 with a shaded visor. Good helmets. Had a Shoei before. The HJC's are just as good but cost half as much. Never tested them personally though.

One piece of advice. Everyone else on the road is trying to kill you.

The sooner you realize that, the better.

Ford Explorer's are the worst. I have had more close calls with Exploders than all other close calls combined.

[MN6WS6]

Mine are Tahoes and Ricers. Tahoes because they outsell Exploders 10-1 here, and Ricers because they always want to show off by flying by you then can't get stopped in time so they cut into your lane. The tahoes I let go cause quite simply, they're too big. Tahoe vs. bike = Tahoe wins The ricers get a 10,500 RPM shot in their drivers window through my D&D pipe