Let's See Your Motorcycles!

It's too cold to ride in the mornings when I come to work on days, or when I get off work on nights, so I popped home for lunch and rode the bike back to work. Really love where I live aside from the cold and wind making riding a seasonal thing.

 

That looks a lot like the parking lot of 441 Cycle Shop. Congrats.

 

Too bad you never tried out AFM, I raced in 2016 and 2017. It was a massive waste of money but I had a blast and got a bunch of cute little plastic trophies

 

Winter. *sigh*

 

Had a few. Recently sold them. I miss it very much.

 

Just got this 2000 Honda Shadow 1100 ACE. It's pretty clean for being an older year. First bike. Taking my CA written test soon. And then the MSF class early next year.

I'm changing the seat. It's too tall and wide for me. Looking for a low profile and narrow seat. So if you know of one for this bike, let me know. Some of them get expensive.

 

Great looking bike! Congrats!

Now about that seat. Keep in mind saddles are for riding in a comfortable ergodically correct position. How does your current saddle feel sitting with your feet on the pegs and hands on the handle bars. A lot of new riders think they need a low profile seat then later their ass really regrets it.

As a new rider, I understand you've not yet developed the confidence in your ability to hold up the bike while stopped, but that will come quickly.

 

Thank you!

Yeah. I can put the tips of my toes on the ground if I really stretch. Even the guy who sold it to me told me to get a low profile. He's been riding 58 years. My dad is a retired bike cop agreed.

You're right though about the confidence. I didn't think I could push it out of my garage without help but I did. I'm going to be sitting on it for awhile to get used to the weight before even taking it out

 

You only need to get one foot down!

 

I have ridiculously short legs. Like 28" inseam short. I ride dirtbikes which are really tall. Over time you'll develop the confidence needed to not even really need to put more than your toes down on one side. As you develop you'll get more comfortable with all aspects of riding to the point where you won't even think about certain things.

 

Yeah I'm about the same. I get pants that are 30 inseam and still need to roll them up.

I'm actually learning to ride so I can maybe work to Duo Sport. But those are tall too. CN you put your feet down on your sport.

 

The "tall" disappears quick. If you want to ride dual sports, get a dual sport. It'll be much easier learning on that at the significantly lighter weight. Something like a Honda CRF300L Rally would be great as long as you don't need to run 60+ MPH all the time. Even that it will do, but not as well as a road bike.

Disclaimer: I do not have nor have I ever had the CRF300L Rally, but if I were wanting to get into easy dirt/off-road, it's at the top of my list. Watch what Dork in the Road does with his as an average guy who is overweight, or if you want inspiration check out where Itchy Boots took hers on here trip from South America to Alaska.

 

I lucked out in the height category. I can flat foot both sides on my 32" seat height aprilia. My gf can't even touch if I hold it upright, and can barely tippy toe one side on her Z650. I did sit on a Husqvarna dirt bike, 500 something I believe. Yeah, I was tippy toes on that thing. Sketchy.

 

Honestly a dual sport would have been a better bike to learn how to ride with. And while they are taller they're way lighter than the Honda you bought. Also, they are built to be dropped. One of my bikes is a KTM 500EXC which is a street legal dirtbike. It's seat height is just under 38" but it's so light and the seat is narrow so I can easily slide my butt off the side of the seat to get a foot down.

The CRF300 Rally suffers from being pretty heavy for what it is. It's about 80 lbs heavier than my 500EXC, which is a lot when you're offroad. Also the CRF carries it's weight up high so in comparison it feels a lot heavier than my 990 Adventure which is almost 80 lbs heavier but has a much lower CG.

 

It's more approachable for a beginner with several inches less seat height than your 500EXC, no tear your arms off power like a lot of dirt bikes because it's not trying to have huge power to weight ratio, and it's still light compared to a cruiser. It's a full 100 lbs lighter than my CB500X that makes for an excellent beginner bike.

A dirt bike is great for an experienced rider, but (speaking from experience) it's overpowered and sketchy as a pure noob.

 

I've been told that about sport bikes. They may be overpowered for a beginner. But I'm finding out everyone learned a different way. The bike I got is heavy but, man, I'm going to make to work.

Been having a bad year health wise, helping my dad last three months get around, garage door falling off and $700 later the other night, house fire. Kind of treated myself to the bike. Lol

 

Fully agree, I guess I didn't convey exactly what I wanted to (I'm trying to multitask while working). I wasn't saying a beginner should go out and get a high powered bike like my 500. I was more saying there might be better options than the CRF300 Rally for a beginner. And XT250 is a excellent beginner dual sport and actually has enough power to get on the highway. My wife had one and she did a 1000 mile trip on it.

 

Ah, I follow now.

 

Bummer on the health front. I hope things improve.

You'll do find on the bike. You can ride any bike you like so long as you're not an idiot. Sport bikes are fine if you aren't nuts with them. Or you buy a sports bike that isn't fast like the CBR500R or CBR300R. Sorry, my brain only knows a few honda examples of most bikes. LOL

 

The thing I like about riding, is to ride well you have zero time to think about all those other things.

On the reverse, I learned pretty early on that if you can’t put everything else aside and concentrate on riding and your surroundings, then leave the bike parked and try again when you can.

 

I'd say no to learning on a full on crotch rocket. Even a cb650r would be a bit much. I started on a ninja 650, which was also probably too much. Ninja 400 is about perfect.

Anyone who rides a cb500x however......dork.

 

I was just saying people have learned on crotch rockets. Just need to be careful is all.

 

Crazy ass mofos! I accidentally had too much gas/not enough clutch when I was impatient and put myself into oncoming traffic. Glad no one was coming. Now, if I was on a 600, id've looped it. Definitely rode past my ability that day.

 

Yup. My buddy learned on a Gixxer 650 or 750. Can't remember which. Definitely a crazy mofo. Lol

 

My GS Adventure scoffs at your puny little 32" seat height. Since the stock 36" height wasn't enough, I added a Russel Day Long

 

This is something that will make me smile in my dreams...

 

Neat concept, but then all the derp of AI starts to show and I can't unsee it.

 

Took delivery yesterday.

 

I have a couple of blueberries.

2017 WR250R and a 1978 DT250E

 

Okay, this is super out of the blue and against my better financial judgement, but does anyone know of a motorcycle shipper that is reliable about not damaging bikes that doesn't cost an arm and a leg?

I found an absolute steal of a deal, but it's over on the west coast. I don't want to drag a trailer that far, and I don't feel up to a fly and ride with the shit weather that is all around my area for the foreseeable future.



I also want to pick the brains of the more experienced gurus in here. Am I nuts to consider buying a 2016 bike that hasn't really been ridden? What stuff should I get checked out before I commit to something like this? I can't exactly pop over to California to see it and check things, but I might be able to arrange for it to be gone through by a dealership, though that definitely increases the cost.