Why I want a motorcycle

[Sabin]

For the last three years every time spring came around I have wanted to get a motorcycle, and that desire doesn't go away untill winter. I've finally decided, I have to get one. I love to go on drives around town, just taking random turns and seeing where I end up. The thing is, on those drives I can't stand to have the window up and the rest of the car is almost as bad. It shuts me out from the world. I don't feel like I'm moving along at 65 mph down the freeway, I feel like I'm sitting in a small box with tv's on all sides. Everything about it feels like what it is, a cage. The lack of airflow, the small view out the back, having to crane my body around to see past the posts when I'm checking my blind spots; it all does it. Then there's the price of gas. I'm looking at getting one of the '08 ninja 250's. Wish me luck.

[caddydaddy]

Good luck! The Ninja 250 is a great choice!

[richtazz]

Be smart and take an MSF safety course. It's money well spent and will teach you things you don't know you don't know. When you get your new bike, don't forget to post us some pics.

[BP2K2Max]

yeah definitely take MSf, and the ninja's a good choice. especially since they redesigned it to not look like something out of the 80's. it's probably the best looking bike in the kawi line up as of now.

[Sabin]

I'll definitly be taking an msf course. On a side note, I found a new fieldsheer congo jacket online for $90. That seems like a really good deal to me since msrp is $150. What I want to know is if the jacket will be any good, it still seems pretty cheap for a jacket.

[richtazz]

Make sure you go to a store and try one on the same size. Jacket sizes vary so much, you may need a totally different size from brand to brand.

[Sabin]

Well, I can't find a ninja 250 around here for any price, but I did find a bike I like, for cheap. It's a 1986 Honda VF500 Interceptor for $850. I went to look at it today. The headlights and reserve don't work, but other than that it seems to run fine. He just replaced the fork seals, front tire, and chain. The engine doesn't make any knocking or pinging noises and I didn't see any drip marks underneath it. Also, it just feels good to sit on it, like it fit me. I'm hoping to be able to get one of my friends to come take a look at it and give it a test drive really soon. The guy's also throwing in a jack for it.

[jeffcoslacker]

The Interceptors were really cool bikes and great runners, but known for electrical problems and difficult valve adjustment procedures.

for the price I don't really think you can loose though...I'd buy it

[richtazz]

Actually, with the right tools, the valve adjustments aren't that bad. The worst part is getting to the engine if it's a full-faired version. The valve covers are in two pieces, and a set of 60-90-degree bent feeler guages make reaching the valve train much easier. When I had my 85 Magna, I could adjust the valves in about an 1-1/2 to 2 hours.

[Sabin]

I got it! Check it out.

[jeffcoslacker]

Originally Posted by richtazz

Actually, with the right tools, the valve adjustments aren't that bad. The worst part is getting to the engine if it's a full-faired version. The valve covers are in two pieces, and a set of 60-90-degree bent feeler guages make reaching the valve train much easier. When I had my 85 Magna, I could adjust the valves in about an 1-1/2 to 2 hours.

I remember something about them liking to burn out reg/recs too...some people would mount a CPU fan to it to keep it cooler.

I was thinking you had to remove the engine from the frame to do the rear valves...at least on the early VFR750...but I could be thinking of a different bike. The early ones had screw and locknut, yes?

Later had shim under bucket. PITA.

[es_class]

hey man..congratulations. looks nice..and the jacket looks good too. u look ecstatic. i can tell by the look on ur face... i know the feeling. stay safe and enjoy.

[speediva]

Congrats! GREAT choice in bike! It looks pretty clean overall!

I couldn't tell in the pics if you were excited, though.

[es_class]

ecstatic

1. delighted: showing or feeling great pleasure or delight
------------------------------------------------------
BIG SMILE, EXCLAMATION MARKS AND MY OWN EXPERIENCE= IT AINT HARD TO TELL.

[Sabin]

Originally Posted by speediva

Congrats! GREAT choice in bike! It looks pretty clean overall!

I couldn't tell in the pics if you were excited, though.

That's just my natural poker face. Inside I was like this

It is in really good shape actually. The only major thing wrong with it is that the little round piece of plastic that lets you see the brake fluid level on the handlebar is cracked and leaks. It's completely destroyed the paint underneath it. I've ordered replacement parts off of e-bay, but they're from and '84 so I really have no idea if they'll work. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I had a couple of firsts today...good and bad. First the good. I scraped footpegs! I scraped in a right hand turn while running loops around a set of parking spaces at 20 mph. I also touched the toe of my shoe down a couple of times on some left hand turns, I didn't like that one so much, but the peg on that side is shorter. I think it got broken at some point.

Now for the bad. I was practicing doing u-turns in the stalls, and actually doing pretty well. I was able to make the turns almost every time. Then I let my bike tip too far without enough power, and it acted exactly like a man with a .4 blood alcohol content. It fell and didn't get back up. At least it didn't get back up without a lot of heavy lifting, dropping, breaking off the clutch handle, uncharacteristic swearing, and more heavy lifting. Now I have a really short clutch handle, but nothing else was hurt thank goodness.

I think my bike might be mad at me now.