I got me a bike! [pics]

[teufelhunden]

1988 Kawasaki Ninja 500, about 23k on it. In fairly decent shape, given that it's 20 years old. The only real mod to it is a 2-in-1 Vance & Hines exhaust that sounds pretty good, imo. I'll likely be putting on front flushmounts and maybe changing out the mirrors, depending on if they're actually as bad as everybody says.

Took the MSF last weekend, got my license last week, register the bike tomorrow and off I go Insurance is dirt cheap [well, at least as far as I'm concerned, in NJ], ~$200 for 100/300 bodily, 50k property, etc. Excited to get ~50mpg, too.

Excited to finally get on the road... getting a bike has been something I'd wanted to do for like 2-3 years.










Exhaust video:

[gimp]

congrats dude That is an awesome bike to learn to ride on. I know quite a few people who've learned to ride on the same bike. It looks like it's in pretty good shape too.

Just make sure you start off riding with all the gear. It makes a huge difference if you learn to ride wearing all the safety gear. Don't cheap out and get a mesh jacket either. Go all leather

[MANN]

looks great for the age. Low miles too. Those are great learner bikes. Just remember to keep it on at least one wheel and you will do fine.

[teufelhunden]

congrats dude That is an awesome bike to learn to ride on. I know quite a few people who've learned to ride on the same bike. It looks like it's in pretty good shape too.

Just make sure you start off riding with all the gear. It makes a huge difference if you learn to ride wearing all the safety gear. Don't cheap out and get a mesh jacket either. Go all leather

Thanks-- it was going to be this, a GS500, or a Ninja 250 [realllly wanted the 500..]. My gear currently includes: Scorpion EXO-700, an Alpinestars T-Dyno jacket [high denier nylon... I couldn't bring myself to do leather, at least not the ones I tried on], Alpinestars SP-3 gloves, and the requisite jeans and Timberlands. I'm considering new gloves as these ones have went through the MSF and like, an hour or so on the EX500 and they're already showing some serious palm wear.

[MANN]

the nylon jackets work fine. I dropped my 250 ninja when I was 15, & going ~ 50MPH. I slid on my back like a turtle down the road. After picking myself up off the road, and realizing that nothing was broke (except my pride) I thought it was kinda fun (sorta like sledding). I wouldnt suggest trying it as it is kinda expensive. Luckly It was just me and the road and no cars/trees/anything. The jacket took a beating, but better than my back. IIRC it was ~ 150.00 nylon jacket.

[SCpoloRicker]

Rubber side down, always wear your gear, attend some classes.

And, have fun! Looks like a great starter bike.

[bentothejam1n]

how much was it?

[RA1N1ER]

Congrats !!!

Ride Safe

[teufelhunden]

how much was it?

1500, but incl. an extra set of carbs, an IC ignitier box, some other various parts/fluids/etc... and most valuable these days a full tank lol

[bentothejam1n]

1500, but incl. an extra set of carbs, an IC ignitier box, some other various parts/fluids/etc... and most valuable these days a full tank lol

wow i really like that style of bike. is 23k a lot of miles for a bike?

[Destructo6]

In the last 20 years, the EX500 has only been updated once, last year.

And seeing as that they've been campaigned in the lightweight twins category for a long time, there should be a lot of relatively inexpensive race parts for it out there, if you're looking to do some upgrading.

My buddy bought one of those new in about 1990. I had a chance to ride it a few times before he crashed it. It should serve you well.

[teufelhunden]

In the last 20 years, the EX500 has only been updated once, last year.

And seeing as that they've been campaigned in the lightweight twins category for a long time, there should be a lot of relatively inexpensive race parts for it out there, if you're looking to do some upgrading.

My buddy bought one of those new in about 1990. I had a chance to ride it a few times before he crashed it. It should serve you well.

It actually got it's only major update for MY 1994 -- bigger wheels, rear brake became a disc instead of a drum, styling... maybe some other minor stuff.

The EX250 is the one that got some work for 2008.

[acropilot19]

Good Luck. Just remember to look out for all the people in cars, especially the ones talking on cell-phones, elderly drivers, women drivers, drivers who are texting, drivers who have been drinking and/or are under the influence of prescription or non-prescription drugs or medical marijuana, distracted drivers or those just in a hurry. Especially look out for new drivers, young drivers, and particularly young female drivers. The most deadly are HUA drivers, which pretty much applies to all the above.

Do not, under any circumstances ride too fast, as this lessens your reaction time and exponentially increases the amount of energy your body must dissipate when (not if) you crash. Oh, and dont ride too slow, because you will get tailgated and/or run over by one of the above drivers.

Dress for the crash, because its gonna happen. If your not sure what to wear, just imagine hitting asphalt at 70 mph, and dress accordingly. Only carry passengers if you are okay with seeing them hit the pavement.

Do not ride with stupid riders. The really stupid ones are easy to pick out, they're wearing the same shorts/jeans/T-shirt/sneaker combination they wore to prom night 'cause they think they look kool.

Spend the money on a top quality helmet. It may not save your life, but the nicer helmets generally leave corpses that are easier to look at. You dont want your wife/girlfriend/parent having to identify your body after your melon got squished.

Again, Good luck.
-Acro

[Beemer]

There is no luck its D.R., S.A. and D.B.S. Defensive Riding, Situational Awareness and Dont Be Stupid.

Oh ya, watch your tire pressure like a Hawk. It will relate to the asphalt and time of year and temperature. Be cool if its cool or drop some psi.

Acro is right but man that was brutal. Just be in controll of your environment and you will be fine.

Currently I own and ride a Kaw KZ1300 6cyl triple deuces. Undressed, just a sport fairing and soft bags when I need them. High 11s.

Have you learned the feel of counter stearing yet?

[teufelhunden]

Have you learned the feel of counter stearing yet?

Yeah -- I knew of the concept and was taught about it more in the MSF, but it didn't really start to click until I was on the road. Put up about 300 miles over the past week-- this is fun