[Taste Of Chaos]

After I shafted the engine of my Eliminator 600, Managed to pick myself up a '05 ZZR600 for £200 off a friend. Not exactly pretty or quick off the line, It has good handling, it's easy for most idiot car drivers to spot with its size and the girlfriend loves it.



However.. The electrics are completely shagged..

[trip]

^^^^
Wow. Great deal on that there bike.

Also, I love your tool boxes .

[Torcidas]

Just picked up my new toy for next riding season!!! Ahhh, I couldn't be any more happy and excited. Been interested in bikes for a long time but finally the patience has paid off and I managed to snatch up an amazing end of the season deal on this.

It's a 2009 Kawi Ninja 250R SE with 5400 kms on it. I paid 2800 CAD for it, and just picked it up yesterday. Yeah yeah, I know it's only a 250cc, but I live in Ontario, Canada and our insurance rates are absolutely ridiculous and the drivers are bad enough as it is. I'm 20 years old too, so I feel going for a "smaller" bike would be the responsible thing to do.

Handles beautifully... it's really heavy (I'm not used to them yet), and I cannot even imagine how litre bikes must feel. My parents refuse to even look at it. Just took out the stock blinker lights to replace them with some flushmount LEDs.

Eye candy:








Thanks for looking!

[sivispacem]

Tidy bike for a 250, but that exhaust is absolutely ghastly. That's the only thing that gives it away as a 250.

[Illousion]

My colleuge at work has one of these babies.

Moto Guzzi Griso. Gorgeous bike, that sounds great too.

[Lurch]

My dad drove a Moto Guzzi once. Automatic as well. The first slushbox bike he had ever seen. Said it was the sh*ttiest bike he's ever driven.

[trip]

QUOTE (Lurch @ Wednesday, Nov 2 2011, 18:48)

My dad drove a Moto Guzzi once. Automatic as well. The first slushbox bike he had ever seen. Said it was the sh*ttiest bike he's ever driven.

I can't imagine riding a bike that was automatic. Just doesn't make sense.

@Torcidas, cool Ninja. I've only ever ridden a sports bike twice. One of those just so happened to have been a Ninja250. The only reason I mention that is because it was in midtown Manhattan and it was straight up crazy.

Riding season for me is officially over until spring The only thing I like about seasonal riding is the renewed excitement every spring.

[sivispacem]

QUOTE (trip @ Saturday, Nov 19 2011, 21:07)

Riding season for me is officially over until spring The only thing I like about seasonal riding is the renewed excitement every spring.

Same here- well, regular riding season, anyway. Next dry weekend I get, I'll re-assemble the SuperTen in it's winter guise. Was great in the snow and ice last year.

[trip]

SVP, I still don't know how you do that. It must take you 30 minutes just to gear up and another 30 to take all your sh*t off once you reach your destination. Even when I was in my indestructible late teens and early 20s, cold weather riding was still painful enough to leave some deep memories and fun stories about having to use assistance just to unbend my fingers.

[sivispacem]

QUOTE (trip @ Saturday, Nov 19 2011, 22:59)

SVP, I still don't know how you do that. It must take you 30 minutes just to gear up and another 30 to take all your sh*t off once you reach your destination. Even when I was in my indestructible late teens and early 20s, cold weather riding was still painful enough to leave some deep memories and fun stories about having to use assistance just to unbend my fingers.

I doubt I'll be doing it for commuting this year, but it was never that bad, even when I was. Thermal under-gloves, thermal socks and long-Johns under biking gear works surprisingly well, even at -8°C. The only bit that gets really cold was my neck, but I've got a couple of alpaca infinity-scarf-like things my better half knitted and they're very warm, though they do look pretty silly under a helmet.

[trip]

What the heck...I relayed my little story in the AMF back room, so why not duplicate it here.

It's almost 70 degrees today which is very odd for this time of year. My buddy picked up a new bike on Saturday. He hasn't been riding for over 10yrs, so I gave him a call and asked if he wanted to out for a casual ride.

Needless to say, he is a bit excited and had to take a pic of the bikes when we were parked.

*notice the R* sticker on my helmet?

We had to look a bit goofy. His bike is the green 250 Kawasaki enduro, my bike is the 1636 Harley next to it. I was all geared up and looked like a biker. He was in street clothes and looked like he just left a poetry reading.

[ajbns87]

QUOTE (trip @ Sunday, Nov 27 2011, 18:47)

What the heck...I relayed my little story in the AMF back room, so why not duplicate it here. It's almost 70 degrees today which is very odd for this time of year. My buddy picked up a new bike on Saturday. He hasn't been riding for over 10yrs, so I gave him a call and asked if he wanted to out for a casual ride. Needless to say, he is a bit excited and had to take a pic of the bikes when we were parked. *notice the R* sticker on my helmet? We had to look a bit goofy. His bike is the green 250 Kawasaki enduro, my bike is the 1636 Harley next to it. I was all geared up and looked like a biker. He was in street clothes and looked like he just left a poetry reading.

^Thats awesome

Where did you get sticker?

I've been contemplating getting a bike, family nor girlfriend hate the idea, but motorbikes have run in my family, my grandfather must of rode some lovely bikes in his time, I just wish to god he kept them.
He had a Triumph twin Speed 10, a BSA matchless and some sort of Royal Enfield, if he kept them in good condition, I'm they be worth a fortune today, I know I'd treasure them.
My dad also enjoyed bikes in his younger days, reckons he nearly lost in life on one though!

So if you don't mind, for a first bike what would you reccomend? is it law in the UK you must first ride a sh*tty 50cc before a 125 or 250?

Also whats the best way of getting your hands on a classic bike, like the ones I mentioned, grandfather keeps telling me he'd like to have another go.

[trip]

@ajbns87, I think SVP is best to suggest a starter bike for you. I live in the states, and you UK riders have all sorts of weird rules and tests that I don't fully understand. For the record, my first street bike was a 250cc Honda. I think it is pretty universal that 250 is a good size starter bike.

Oh and I have tons of those stickers. I buy allot of stuff from R* Warehouse and you get a pack with every purchase.

70 degrees here again today, but I think today was my last ride of the season - rain all week and then we go back to our regular scheduled winter weather.

[Slamman]

You wanna touch on mopeds and scooters, minibikes as well? I need something I hope, soon... $300 to $600 range, since I want a bike that's cheaper then a car. I've seen them on eBay and you could link to examples there, however, those auctions expire and the link dries up over time. Some needed work, like missing rear-views for example

[trip]

QUOTE (Slamman @ Tuesday, Nov 29 2011, 06:16)

You wanna touch on mopeds and scooters, minibikes as well? I need something I hope, soon... $300 to $600 range, since I want a bike that's cheaper then a car. I've seen them on eBay and you could link to examples there, however, those auctions expire and the link dries up over time. Some needed work, like missing rear-views for example

Here you go

In your price range and even in your home state. I'm not sure the laws in your state, but here in PA you would only need your regular car drivers license to ride it - no need to take the test and get a motorcycle license.

This post has been edited by trip on Tuesday, Nov 29 2011, 21:53

[Lurch]

I've noticed the 50 CC's getting more popular here in TN with the DUI crowd. You don't need any type of license to drive one so pretty much everyone with a revoked license is on one. Only restrictions are that you can't take them on the interstate or down major highways.

[Slamman]

There's still VERY little to no snow where I am, and I saw a guy on a small Honda minibike going down a Metro street, I don't think it was legal even, he had no lights since it was a 70s, SUPER small bike, the kind your knees are up around your middle while you ride!!?? It was a funny sight, and I remember them well, since a guy in our old neighborhood had one, That was the first motorized bike I can remember actually riding...
Not unlike this size and model;



This post has been edited by Slamman on Wednesday, Nov 30 2011, 20:50

[trip]

QUOTE (Lurch @ Tuesday, Nov 29 2011, 18:53)

I've noticed the 50 CC's getting more popular here in TN with the DUI crowd. You don't need any type of license to drive one so pretty much everyone with a revoked license is on one. Only restrictions are that you can't take them on the interstate or down major highways.

That brings up some great imagery in my head. I can just picture of bunch of Lurches all drunk on little 50s motoring down all the local streets.

[GTAvanja]

QUOTE (trip @ Sunday, Nov 27 2011, 20:47)

What the heck...I relayed my little story in the AMF back room, so why not duplicate it here. It's almost 70 degrees today which is very odd for this time of year. My buddy picked up a new bike on Saturday. He hasn't been riding for over 10yrs, so I gave him a call and asked if he wanted to out for a casual ride. Needless to say, he is a bit excited and had to take a pic of the bikes when we were parked. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GrTVdtrU.../scottandme.jpg *notice the R* sticker on my helmet? We had to look a bit goofy. His bike is the green 250 Kawasaki enduro, my bike is the 1636 Harley next to it. I was all geared up and looked like a biker. He was in street clothes and looked like he just left a poetry reading.

That precious little green thing on the left looks like food for Harley.

[trip]

QUOTE (GTAvanja @ Saturday, Dec 3 2011, 07:42)

That precious little green thing on the left looks like food for Harley.

My bike is ok around other bikes. But it does eat babies.

Edit:
My car is dead and goes into the shop this week. I've been riding my bike for the basic errands that my car normally pulls. Thank goodness for the current mild winter - I can't think of the last time I rode a bike in December.

This post has been edited by trip on Sunday, Dec 4 2011, 18:00