Bought my first bike last night

[Timebomb7585]

Sadly, it's only a Kawasaki EX250. I've been lusting after a Monster for ever. I took the MSF course last year, but other than that had never ridden a motorcycle (I'm almost 40!). I swallowed my pride and went with the 250 to start. Rode it approx 25 miles home last night through a twisty canyon rd & busy street (Ventura Bl, LA). It may sound funny to some of you guys, but I thought the lil 250 was plenty quick and kinda glad I started out small. The plan is to keep this for 6 months then trade up to an S2R800.

One thing I caught myself doing was locking my arms and having a death grip on the bars. I had to conciously remind myself to keep relaxed. It was fun & kinda nervy at the same time. Anyway, I welcome any riding tips you wanna throw my way, and I hope to be a Ducatista in the very near future.

[Monsterlover]

That's the bike i started on.

I wish I never sold it

I moved to an M900 after probably 6 months or so.

What I recommend is that now that you have take the MSF, take a track school.  By that I mean get with a track day organization that has a beginner group with instruction.

I can't tell you how much you will learn and how much better a rider you will be sooner in your riding career. 

I'm an ok rider.  Fast B group rider/ Slow A rider (at the track and on the street)  It took a while to be at the comfort level I'm at.

Had I take the track school, I'd have been here sooner, and made fewer mistakes on the street.

The most important thing is to have fun.

It's why we do this

[Zulu]

One thing I caught myself doing was locking my arms and having a death grip on the bars. I had to conciously remind myself to keep relaxed. It was fun & kinda nervy at the same time. Anyway, I welcome any riding tips you wanna throw my way, and I hope to be a Ducatista in the very near future.

I think some of the arms locking and death grip also comes from the nervousness or fear, as you are fairly new?. I used to have that problem too . I did accesorise my bike a little with handle bar and all that, but I think one of the "key" thing also was now I have more confidence so without even thinking I hold my handle bar like holding a twinkie.
Except for when in traffic.

Have fun 

[Timebomb7585]

Thx. Yeah, I am planning on doing a track day soon. The nervy part I was referring to is that with the skinny 130 rear tire, the back end moves around a little bit when going over tar strips or cracks in the road. Just gotta remember that the bike will right itself and to keep calm.

[Monsterlover]

Every bike I've owned squiggled over tar strips

[teddy037.3]

congrats on the bike! 

and don't feel bad about starting on a 250; IMO you're doing this the right way

[Meerkat]

If you're anxious about a track day, you can sign up for total control class from lee parks after you bust out some miles. It'll help your confidence in cornering a lot and it's relatively inexpensive. Made a big difference in my riding and was a great stepping stone to hitting the track. YMMV.

(I'm almost 40!).

That's how old I was when I started riding 2 years ago. You WON'T regret it!

[R0CKETMAN]

Lost your virginity, good job post pics of the bike.

[Spidey]

Congrats.  What year 250?

[DRC]

and don't feel bad about starting on a 250; IMO you're doing this the right way

+1 to this.  I started on a 250 as well.  It was a good choice.  Now I'm on a 675, and I can actually maneuver it without feeling like I'm about to break a several-thousand-dollar toy. 

[ungeheuer]

congrats on the bike! 

and don't feel bad about starting on a 250; IMO you're doing this the right way

+1 more.

Welcome aboard 

[toodlepip]

Folk will prolly flame the shit outta me for this but I really wish we had an incremental style of licensing like most other countries do.  I personally think a lot of folk out there need to actually learn how to ride before they get on the latest greatest out there.  I know that a demonstration of self control will keep newbies outta harms way for the most part but helping that along could be the fact that they aren't connected to a throttle on a bike that will seriously hurt you. 


Ok...off soap box
end thread jack

PUT UP PICS OR IT AIN'T REAL!!!!! And congrats on joining the wonderful world of motorcycling!!!! The track is were it's at!!!

[Slide Panda]

Folk will prolly flame the shit outta me for this but I really wish we had an incremental style of licensing like most other countries do. 

PUT UP PICS OR IT AIN'T REAL!!!!! And congrats on joining the wonderful world of motorcycling!!!! The track is were it's at!!!

Not me.. I've said the same.

And yes -pix or shens!

[Kev M]

No pride swallowing necessary, you did the smart thing.

Any stupid moron can learn to go fast in a straight line on a fast bike.

But if you can't go fast in the curves, you got no business going fast in a straight line.

And a small bike is the best way to learn how to be fast in the curves.

Besides, it can be a blast to embarass someone in the curves on a smaller bike.

[Timebomb7585]

Thanks for all the positive advice. Really enjoying this forum & hope to learn a lot from you guys. Not sure how to post a pic as I don't seem to have the "attachment" option enabled.

Not me.. I've said the same.

And yes -pix or shens!

Haha, no shenanigans here! For now I will attach the pic as my avatar until I figure out how to do it properly.