New Rider Shopping for Gear and Bike

[Neros131]

Hi there everyone!

I don't have my M1 yet, but have signed up for a MSF course in early January. I have read the DMV Motorcycle handbook, so I know the bare basics (the laws at least...), but I still spend hours reading about bikes online. Most of my riding would be for fun and to commute to Santa Rosa for work, a whopping 8 miles (the long way :)).

I am looking at two different bikes, an Aprilia RS50 with an 80cc kit, and a Ninja 250r (the new one). My girlfriend will be getting her M1 with me, and we decided to split a bike so that we can learn on the same one and share the burden of potentially reselling it later.

Aprilia RS50: I like the idea of this one because I desperately want to ride sports bikes, as does the GF. It has (as far as I can tell) a racing style chassis, suspension, brakes, and riding position, while still having a small engine. This bike would be for around town exclusively, I wouldn't want to be on something this small on a freeway, especially 101.

Ninja 250r: Potentially better choice because it has more power. Not as race-inspired, so I like the idea less, but it could be a better choice overall. The Ninja 250r would be able to carry two people if need be, and since it has more power it would take longer for me to tire of it (if that ever even happens).

The biggest reason I like the Aprilia more is because of its riding position and suspension, I wouldn't really mind being confined to around town on it. With the 80cc kit and its Arrow exhaust, it dyno'd at 14HP, so its not THAT tiny. I would feel happier with the Aprilia than with the Ninja, but I also want to know what other people think about the two choices. I am an advocate of starting small and working up, so I want to keep my first bike on the tiny side, just in case.

That was long-winded, but now I have to talk about gear!

I have been looking at AGV and Arai helmets primarily. I like the looks of the AGV Ti-Tech:
http://www.agv.com/PICTURES/TITECH_EVOLUTION/TITECH_ROSSI_MOTOGP_WEB.jpg
AGV XR-2:
http://www.superbikesupply.com/pictures/483_agv_xr2_rossi_moto_gp_helmet.jpg
The reviews make me wonder a tiny bit about AGV as a brand though, it sounds a little cheap for the price range. I don't mind splurging on gear, its more important than the first bike, but if it as cheap as some of the reviews make it sound, it might be a waste.

The Arai RX-7 is the other helmet I have been oggling, as it gets amazing reviews and looks good, too:
http://www.arai-center.ch/Portals/0/Arai%20Helm%20RX7%20Edwards_yellow_2_640.jpg
This one looks good (not as good as the Rossi replicas...) and gets amazing reviews, so its probably the better bet.

Next comes Jackets, and I really like the looks of some of the Dainese leathers. They sound like they have good (or great, depending on the review) protection, so I really like the idea of these. I am mostly looking at these two right now, but this could, of course, change:
Santa Monica:
http://www.gpmoto.de/Media/Shop/ShopTextMedia/g.santamonicapb1533559-f.jpg
*EDIT* I can't even find photos of the other jacket, must be searching for the wrong thing. It looks like the one above, but with two horizontal stripes.

I am still looking for suitable pants, and am trying to decide if I want knee sliders or not. As a rider with no experience, I won't be using these anytime soon, but it would be nice not to have to buy another pair of pants once I get into riding more.

Boots and gloves would likely be some Sidi B2's and some either a pair of Alpinestars glove or Dainese gloves.

Sidi B2:
http://www.newenough.com/image/path/5084/Default.jpg

Alpinestars SP1:
http://www.motonekoparts.com/files/detailed/d_771.gif
Dainese Duel (in a less terrible color, only photo I could find):
http://www.kneedraggers.com/image_storage/f/5e/f5e94fb937cbed33e43d1c3e87f0cc60_rough.jpg


Now, I am new to this, so some of my assumptions are probably wrong, and I probably am looking at gear that is a little too race-oriented for a new rider. Please tear my thoughts apart, I would rather it be on the internet than on the street...

[Rootsy05]

First off:
:newbie

Well to me, you can never overdo your gear. The fact that you are willing to splurge on gear is a good thing. I think you are looking at two very good helmets, as long as they are DOT approved, you are fine. As for the leathers, boots and gloves, all the ones you have posted are great and should stand up well if, god forbid, you lay her down.

As for the bikes, I have never ridden either, but I know that the 250R is a HIGHLY recommended starter bike. If you are concerned about the sportiness of the bikes, the 2008 250R looks much more sportier than its previous lines.

I checked the RS50 out and it looks sweet! I couldn't find it on the USA website though; is it being sold here? You said it only has 14hp? Like I said, I have never ridden either, but I can't imagine that the RS50 being fast at all. I have a pocket bike that probably weighs 50lbs. and it has 6hp and it can only do 35mph. But like I said, I have never ridden either.

I hope someone else on the forum can give you better advice on the bike option, but it looks like you have the right mindset. Keep us updated:thumbup

jeff

[Neros131]

The Aprilia RS50 I am looking at is an imported model, only adding to the coolness. I assume that the gearing is very different, letting it hit higher speeds. I have heard tell of it reaching 60MPH in the UK (where it is primarily sold), and the 80cc kit more than doubles the horsepower. It should be fine for around town.

Obviously I will try both bikes before buying either, although right now I definitely want the Aprilia more. It is cooler and more of what I am looking for. I was mostly curious as to whether any of the minimoto guys have had any experience with it, or if anyone knew anything about either bike that would heavily change my opinion of either.

[hitman5532]

make sure to check for profper fitment. Stlye and product make difference if the item doesnt fit correct. If your ever in the mountain view area, stop by calmoto and ask for dan, ill show you how to fit right- even if you dont buy from us i will educate you on how to try on gear correct

[Neros131]

make sure to check for profper fitment. Stlye and product make difference if the item doesnt fit correct. If your ever in the mountain view area, stop by calmoto and ask for dan, ill show you how to fit right- even if you dont buy from us i will educate you on how to try on gear correct

That sounds great! My parents live in Palo Alto, so I can just come by during the Holiday Season... Is the name of the store simply CalMoto?

[Rootsy05]

Have you considered buying a used bike? A lot of people I have talked to started on a used 250 and after growing comfortable with it, they shopped around and bought a bike they knew fit their riding style. And if you are one of those people who may get the itch to get going a little faster you may decide you want a 600 or 750 after getting some experience under your belt.

Just my :2cents

[Neros131]

Have you considered buying a used bike? A lot of people I have talked to started on a used 250 and after growing comfortable with it, they shopped around and bought a bike they knew fit their riding style. And if you are one of those people who may get the itch to get going a little faster you may decide you want a 600 or 750 after getting some experience under your belt.

Just my :2cents

Well, the RS50 would be a used bike, albeit an expensive one. My thought was to sell it when I am done, but the RS50 would be hard to get rid of, this one has been on the market for over a year.

I was going to ride it for 3 or 4 months and then start looking at 600's. The Daytona 675 is a beautiful bike that I would love to own, but I didn't want to be riding it until after I had some experience on a similarly styled but lower powered bike. The new Ninja 250R might be a better choice, but it is expensive as a new bike, and ugly as an old one.

[Rootsy05]

Well then maybe you should go with the RS50, ride it around for a while and get comfortable with being on a bike. After a couple months or however long it takes for you to feel confident, then you can go out and get a bike for yourself and give your gf the RS50.

[Neros131]

Well then maybe you should go with the RS50, ride it around for a while and get comfortable with being on a bike. After a couple months or however long it takes for you to feel confident, then you can go out and get a bike for yourself and give your gf the RS50.

Thats the plan! I just wanted to make sure I wasnt gonna buy any lemons :).

[hitman5532]

calmoto is at 2490 old middlefield way mountain view 94043

[festizio]

Well, the RS50 would be a used bike, albeit an expensive one. My thought was to sell it when I am done, but the RS50 would be hard to get rid of, this one has been on the market for over a year.

I was going to ride it for 3 or 4 months and then start looking at 600's. The Daytona 675 is a beautiful bike that I would love to own, but I didn't want to be riding it until after I had some experience on a similarly styled but lower powered bike. The new Ninja 250R might be a better choice, but it is expensive as a new bike, and ugly as an old one.

Keep in mind that it's likely that you'll drop your first bike a couple of times while parking, in a driveway, etc, so a used one would be ideal. This should also encourage you not to worry about the looks of you first bike. Get a used Ninja 250 for $1800, ride it and get your skills up to par, then buy your pretty bike. Nice choice of starting on a twin though. The four-banger bikes are wayyyy to high end happy to start on.

Investing in gear more than a first bike is always good. Great job in doing that. However, I would recommend that you buy check sizes before buying. Different brands fit differently. And sometimes, for the same prices as high priced off-the-shelf gear (e.g. Dianese, some A*), you can get gear more tailored to you. I spent $360 on my A* jacket when I started, and Helimot in San Jose was offering custom fitted leather jackets for $400 at the time.


Enjoy! And welcome to BARF! :twofinger

[AkatomboR6]

make sure you stop by a store to check and try everything out before you order them online. I thought I wouldn've fitted in a XL but i ended up with a XXL jacket :o

[Neros131]

Thanks for the help! I will certainly try everything on before buying, I will try and buy local, anyways. Returning stuff to people is always easier than returning it via mail.

[kaihonu82]

I'm interested in selling my ninja 500R. It's the bike I learned to ride on, very comfortable riding position and forgiving with plenty of power (specially on the freeway). your girlfriend might be interested.

PM me if you want to know more :)

[Mad Mac]

I have a 250 ninja, 2007. I love it. It keeps up with thraffic great and then some. Some think it's dated and ugly but I like the way it looks. It has a pretty nice riding position as well.

[slower than...]

Well, the RS50 would be a used bike, albeit an expensive one. My thought was to sell it when I am done, but the RS50 would be hard to get rid of, this one has been on the market for over a year.

I was going to ride it for 3 or 4 months and then start looking at 600's. The Daytona 675 is a beautiful bike that I would love to own, but I didn't want to be riding it until after I had some experience on a similarly styled but lower powered bike. The new Ninja 250R might be a better choice, but it is expensive as a new bike, and ugly as an old one.

Well, if I recall, your GF is like 5'-0" tall, and worried the Ninja 250 would be too tall for her (shaving the seat should take care of that problem). You mentioned that you are interested in the 675, which has a very tall seat. So if you are tall enough to ride the 675, I'd think you would be very cramped on the RS50, since I believe it is described by Aprilia as a "7/8 size bike, great for youths". I also wonder if there is that much of a height difference between you and your GF, could you two really find a bike that both of you would find comfortable enough on to share. For sure, I don't think you can two can ride together on the RS50, as I doubt if the suspension was designed to handle the weight nor does the engine have enough power.

You two really should consider what the folks here are suggesting, and get a used naked bike to start with. The fairings on any sportbike will cost you plenty to repair should you ever drop the bike (which can happen a lot when you are just starting).

[Neros131]

Well, if I recall, your GF is like 5'-0" tall, and worried the Ninja 250 would be too tall for her (shaving the seat should take care of that problem). You mentioned that you are interested in the 675, which has a very tall seat. So if you are tall enough to ride the 675, I'd think you would be very cramped on the RS50, since I believe it is described by Aprilia as a "7/8 size bike, great for youths". I also wonder if there is that much of a height difference between you and your GF, could you two really find a bike that both of you would find comfortable enough on to share. For sure, I don't think you can two can ride together on the RS50, as I doubt if the suspension was designed to handle the weight nor does the engine have enough power.

You two really should consider what the folks here are suggesting, and get a used naked bike to start with. The fairings on any sportbike will cost you plenty to repair should you ever drop the bike (which can happen a lot when you are just starting).

I am 5'9", so I don't anticipate any issues riding the Daytona 675, and at the same time I don't think that riding a RS50 will be an issue. The 675 is also supposed to be cramped for most people, with a worse riding position than a 600RR or R6. I don't know how true that is since I haven't ridden any of them, but I don't think height of me or the bikes will be an issue.

As far as sharing the bike, I only want to do that with the RS50. The 675 will be mine, all mine! :) She fit fine on the stock Ninja 250, she isn't THAT short. A F4i or SV650S might need shaving for her, but the Ninja was fine. In fact, the RS50 has a higher seat height than the Ninja 250.

I certainly like to tell myself that I won't drop the bike, but that is another reason I like the RS50. It is extremely light, so it has a much easier to handle heft to it. Also, I don't particularly mind the idea of a minor dropping the RS50, although I would like to avoid it if possible. Frame and handle sliders would be a must, as far as I am concerned.

[Mickey_D100]

Just a note - you and your girlfriend have both mentioned not planning on taking the bike on the freeway much or at all, but in case you weren't aware, that bike is not freeway legal. Technically if less than 150 ccs, it is considered a motor-driven cycle and thus not permitted on most freeways around here.

Other than that, seems like you guys have your heads and hearts in the right place as far as gear goes, so good luck. :)

[Neros131]

Just a note - you and your girlfriend have both mentioned not planning on taking the bike on the freeway much or at all, but in case you weren't aware, that bike is not freeway legal. Technically if less than 150 ccs, it is considered a motor-driven cycle and thus not permitted on most freeways around here.

Other than that, seems like you guys have your heads and hearts in the right place as far as gear goes, so good luck. :)

Hahaha, yeah, I don't see myself riding on a freeway on this thing. I think it will be exclusively for around town and the backroads around here, this ain't no commuter bike. Kinda like a really uncomfortable scooter...

And thanks! I have no issue spending tons of money on good gear. I don't anticipate having to replace most of it anytime soon, as most of it will last for a while. If I crash, so be it, at least I have the gear.

[Jello_Biafra]

Is the 2 stroke really practical? You said it needs pistons every 3-5k, is that something that you're willing to do? People have a hard enough time doing valve adjustments every 18k, I can't imagine that tearing down your top end every few months (as opposed to every year or two with 4 strokes) would be any more fun when you have a fraction of the power to show for it.

Just get a used 250. They're plentiful and you can probably sell it for just as much as you bought it for if you work it right. It also sounds like you've already got a lady friend, so there's no need to use an Italian bike for anything but riding, severely limiting their usefulness. Also consider the cost of parts (both maintenance and whatever you might break through unforeseen contact with hard objects or surfaces) between the two. Again, imported bike versus dirt cheap starter bike. No brainer.

After that if you feel that you're ready for a 600 then weigh your options carefully. The 675 is great bike to ride, for sure. It's a beautiful bike and it's equally quick (though the handling is awkward, funny trail angle IIRC). However it's like the Aprilia in that it's a fairly rare bike making aftermarket parts scarce compared to the Japanese bikes. If racing is what you're looking at as an objective I think you'd be much better off getting on something Japanese anyway.

I'm getting tired, so I'll condense the rest:

- AGV is a great helmet but helmets are like bikes. One great helmet might not fit you as well as another. Try a bunch on. When you actually find yourself using it, it's going to matter more how it fits and less about what it looks like.

- Those Alpinestars gloves suck.

- Dainese I can't claim to have experience with but holy crap is it ever expensive. Look into Helimot if you want to spend some money.

Good luck with your permit and MSF. I appreciate that you're taking that step, some people seem to forget it.

[Neros131]

Is the 2 stroke really practical? You said it needs pistons every 3-5k, is that something that you're willing to do? People have a hard enough time doing valve adjustments every 18k, I can't imagine that tearing down your top end every few months (as opposed to every year or two with 4 strokes) would be any more fun when you have a fraction of the power to show for it.

Just get a used 250. They're plentiful and you can probably sell it for just as much as you bought it for if you work it right. It also sounds like you've already got a lady friend, so there's no need to use an Italian bike for anything but riding, severely limiting their usefulness. Also consider the cost of parts (both maintenance and whatever you might break through unforeseen contact with hard objects or surfaces) between the two. Again, imported bike versus dirt cheap starter bike. No brainer.

After that if you feel that you're ready for a 600 then weigh your options carefully. The 675 is great bike to ride, for sure. It's a beautiful bike and it's equally quick (though the handling is awkward, funny trail angle IIRC). However it's like the Aprilia in that it's a fairly rare bike making aftermarket parts scarce compared to the Japanese bikes. If racing is what you're looking at as an objective I think you'd be much better off getting on something Japanese anyway.

I'm getting tired, so I'll condense the rest:

- AGV is a great helmet but helmets are like bikes. One great helmet might not fit you as well as another. Try a bunch on. When you actually find yourself using it, it's going to matter more how it fits and less about what it looks like.

- Those Alpinestars gloves suck.

- Dainese I can't claim to have experience with but holy crap is it ever expensive. Look into Helimot if you want to spend some money.

Good luck with your permit and MSF. I appreciate that you're taking that step, some people seem to forget it.

What gloves do you recommend?

I am not too worried about the RS50 and parts, I am pretty sure they are in reasonable supply here, and I don't mind doing my own work. The biggest piece it needs regularly is a new piston every 5,000 miles or so.

There is a Triumph dealer right next to my house (almost...), so maintenance isn't a hard thing to take care of here. Parts for a 600RR or R6 aren't that much cheaper, and the manufacturer warranty is 2 years.

[Jello_Biafra]

Frankly I'm a little lost in the glove department. I had the Alpinestars that you posted and they were uncomfortable and did not hold up. I've got GP Pros right now, the 2007 and earlier model. The stitching is a little weak and was starting to open up before I had a crash that opened up a few fingers. They did their job, I suppose, and were comfy. I talked myself into buying some of the new 2008 GP Pros, one last shot at Alpinestars. They basically made their most expensive glove, the GP Tech, into the Pro.

What is your mechanical background? Two stroke teardowns are a bit easier by design than a four stroke, but it's still not on par with changing your oil.

When I spoke of Triumph parts I was referring to the go-fast stuff that you will no doubt want. You'll find yourself limited to certain brands and whatever price they see fit (supply and demand.. ;)).

[Neros131]

Well, I am leaning towards the Alpinestars gloves right now, but I might just grab the Dainese ones when I go to get the jacket. They seem to be good, they get good reviews, and they certainly look pretty!

As far as mechanical background goes, I certainly can change my own oil! I haven't ever taken apart a two-stroke before, but I am willing to take my time and to learn. I figure there has to be some good guides or advice somewhere on the internet! Got any advice?

The go fast parts are a necessity, of course. The Arrow exhaust is pretty hot looking, as are the carbon bits. I don't think that they are priced THAT much higher than any of the other bikes, and the 675 is so much prettier....

[Jello_Biafra]

http://bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100500&highlight=stroke

[Neros131]

http://bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100500&highlight=stroke

Excellent! Thanks!