[BLS33]

Well it is official, I'm getting a motorcycle. I pick it up on Monday.








I can't wait to start learning, what are your guys gear suggestions? Safety is my number one concern so I'm probably going to pick up a fair amount of riding gear.

[Slenny]

nice bike, is it a Victory?

[Camo Deere]

Great bike.

Be safe out their, a lot of morons on the road.

[Slenny]

Don't wear colors

[War Eagle]

It's a Yamaha Virago. 750, I believe. Take an MSF course, get a good jacket, gloves, boot sand full face helmet. Pavement can skin you alive at 5mph.

[SpeedyCat3]

Very nice.
I am looking around too.
Great choice.
Good helmet and a padded jacket I'd say. Boots and jeans should be on the list.
I remember seeing some padded safety jeans, but they might be overkill.
Gloves will probably be first with the helmet.

[BLS33]

Yep it is a Virago 750.

I will probably take my paycheck next week and swing through a motorcycle shop and get all my gear. I'm going to try and get into a motorcycle safety course but may have trouble since they may be booked solid. If I can't get into one I will have friends and family who ride help teach me. I'm not one to push it and will take it very slowly, my unlce has been riding Harleys for 20+ years so he should help me a lot.

[Slenny]

Originally Posted by BLS33

Yep it is a Virago 750.

I will probably take my paycheck next week and swing through a motorcycle shop and get all my gear. I'm going to try and get into a motorcycle safety course but may have trouble since they may be booked solid. If I can't get into one I will have friends and family who ride help teach me. I'm not one to push it and will take it very slowly, my unlce has been riding Harleys for 20+ years so he should help me a lot.

That's what I did wrong, I was in a rush to ride and I laid it down and never got back on, I might try it again sometime.

[Ubie]

Yeah, try really hard to get into the MSF course, it's completely worth it even if you can't get into it until late in the summer. As for safety gear, DOT approved helmet, leathers (gloves, jacket, pants/chaps, etc and make sure it's thick leather!) and laceless boots (engineer or motorcycle). Don't know how true this is but they say jeans are the minimum for your legs, but from what i've heard at 55mph when you hit the pavement they're good for about 4ft of slide before they burn through! Like i said, don't have anything to back this up, but it's what i've heard.

[NewhampshireYJ]

Nice! I actually wanna get a on/off-road dirtbike. It would be sweet to ride on some trails then just go cruise around town.

[CrazyWalnut13]

Originally Posted by duayne77

That's what I did wrong, I was in a rush to ride and I laid it down and never got back on, I might try it again sometime.

Nearly unused bike shipped to 98006?

[waterboarder]

Originally Posted by BLS33

I can't wait to start learning, what are your guys gear suggestions? Safety is my number one concern so I'm probably going to pick up a fair amount of riding gear.

Congratulations! Hope to see you on the road in Alaska on that thing (:

Your first stop should be to sign up for an ABATE MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) course. As an unexperienced rider, one should sign up for the basic course. If you've got some time in traffic, the advanced rider's course should do. Sign up even if you have to wait a while to start the class. Uncles and whomever can show you too - but you also get their bad habits. The MSF instructors are trained in how to train you. Use the uncle while you're waiting for the class (:

Note when buying gear: In my experience, GoreTex does not really mean waterproof! What it really means is that in heavy rain, it is waterproof for about an hour - then it gets as wet as anything else. This has been true for gloves and jackets. The only thing I can think of that did not get soaked to the bone in the rain is my boots (see below).

As for gear - helmet obviously. Full face. I like the "flip face" style of full face helmet (google it and you'll see what I mean). Personally, my wife and I have Nolan N100 helmets.

Good boots are a must. Please don't be out there riding around in athetic shoes, flip flops, and worse. Steel toes are not required (and can make your feet damned cold when it is cold outside), but get quality boots. These are the ones I have: http://www.ixs-usa.com/boots/ultra.htm - I've had them for, uh, about 7 years now and I still think they're great. I really like the dual zipper action. Holy **** and they are having a big sale too!! I paid $325 for these boots, but their sale is $130.. My god. Get these boots man. At that price, they are a steal! I might get myself an extra pair, just in case I need them 20 years down the road.

Good gloves are also a must. You will eventually find you want more than one pair. A light pair for hot weather use - a thicker pair for colder weather use - and maybe even a rubber pair or super waterproof ones for heavy rain. Strongly consider getting ones with gel in the fingers and the palm - it cuts down on vibration in the hands, which gets old pretty fast on any kind of longer (more than 20 miles) trip. My "middle weight" gloves are these: http://www.ixs-usa.com/gloves/yuma.htm - I dunno what brand my lightest weight gloves are - but they were about $50 or so. Also, make sure you get full finger gloves! Do not get those ones without the finger tips. I dunno why they even make those things. Note that you will not be allowed to wear fingertipless gloves in an MSF course.

Good jacket - lots of choices here. The main thing is to get something comfortable and something that is snug, but not TOO snug. Note that if it is too loose, you will be colder in it because it can't trap the heat. Consider whether you might want to wear something under it, such as a sweat shirt. If so, take that with you when you try jackets on. Get something with lots of pockets. Advise not trying to get one that is waterproof - you can get a shell to wear over your jacket for that if necessary. I have two jackets - one is a super heavy leather bomber jacket - I think it took 3 cows to make that thing. I had a fleece liner sewn into it - it's what I wear most of the time. For really hot weather. I have a Joe Rocket mesh type jacket, with padding in various places to make it crash worthy. I don't wear it too much, given where I live, but it is a nice choice over leather if you ride in a lot of hot weather. For rain - pretty much any Goretex shell you can buy will work - just make sure it is on the large side so it fits over whatever else you're wearing.

So there - helmet, boots, gloves, jacket. Wear jeans. You can get leather chaps if you want that look - but I think they're mostly for show. If you're concerned about just the protection from jeans, get a pair of Draggin' Jeans (google that and you'll see what I mean).

For cold riding, consider an electric vest. It is AWESOME!!!!!!!! I cannot say enough good things about this. It's even good for night riding in regular weather when it is just a little cooler. Keeps you nice and toasty.

You can see some of my gear in these photos...

That's enough to get you started. Good luck (:

td

[Grape Ape]

Sorry BLS but you were seen as a fool by the seller and were jipped. That bike looks real heavy and it doesn't even have pedals. Since it is your first bike you will probably need the following

Training Wheels


Helmet



And last but not least tassles like those on the handlebars of this bike.



Be careful and save the wheelies until you learn to ride and get some pedals.

[CrzyWhtBy]

Nice bike, looks like you will be spending a lot of time over at the Yamaha forum now.. lol. Like you said just take it slow to learn, get on the roads when there is no traffic. Practice your take off and sudden braking..go get yourself a lic. and just spend a lot of time in parking lots doing tight circles and such. Safety check the bike every time you ride visually and keep it maintained. Tight chain good tires and nut and bolts snug. Nothing more dangerous than an improperly maintained street bike. For the gear the esentials are helmet, leather jacket and gloves.

Have fun and don't panic when ish goes wrong!

[Rocky529]

Gear up and be safe... don't trust anybody and assume NO ONE sees you, that includes watching your mirrors at red lights to make sure no one rear ends you. Here is the jacket I wear and I also wear a full face HJC helmet:



... and a picture of my motorcycle: