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08-04-2010, 10:46 PM
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#1
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Newbie
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: minnesota
Posts: 2
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Jumping in
i just purchased a 2009 250 on tuesday and its being delivered on thursday. i drove a motorcycle one time 17 years ago and i thought i did pretty well. short of a riders course, any recommendations on how to get moving. i understand shifting.
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08-04-2010, 10:59 PM
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#2
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Horn Lake, MS
Posts: 785
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Congratulations! and welcome. Take it easy, stay away from cagers and practice as much as you can in a safe environment like an empty parking lot or when you start adventuring into the unforgiving roads and streets, try to practice EARLY morning on weekends when there are very few cagers out there.
You know we will be expecting pics starting on Thursday...
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Every ride is a joyride on a Rebel
1986 CMX250C "Miss Triplehorn" 17K miles
1984 GL1200A 106K miles
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08-04-2010, 11:45 PM
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#3
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Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Monroe, LA
Posts: 9,022
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Welcome. Read the Hurt Motorcycle report, especially the part about those who are inexperienced, self taught and taught by a friend or relative being in the group more likey to have an accident. Please consider taking the MSF course asap.
Too many folks take up riding, get hurt or have close calls, realize the inherent danger involved, and give up on it. Not telling you this to scare you, but to help you realize there is a lot more skill required to operate a motorcycle safely than a car. And a lot less room for the slightest of mistakes. We want all our fellow bikers to stay as safe as possible, and it's not easy when sharing the road with inattentive, texting, phoning cage drivers. I highly recommend the course; it will teach you how to ride right from the beginning and help keep you safe.
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I'm keepin' all the left over parts. I'm gonna use 'em to build another bike!
2001 Rebel 250, 1989 Vulcan 750
Putting your bike info in your signature helps others help you!
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08-04-2010, 11:49 PM
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#4
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Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: South Central PA
Posts: 4,527
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Another good read that is recommended is " Proficient Motorcycling: The Ultimate Guide to Riding Well" by David Hough
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Comments contained in my posts are not intended to cause physical or psychological stress and are mearly my two cents worth, and in this economy, that's cheap!
87 CMX250C 'the Pygmy Pony'
87 CMX450C 'Black Lithium'
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08-05-2010, 12:29 AM
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#5
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Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Creston, Ohio
Posts: 3,196
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For just starting out, the clutch is your best friend. The brakes are second.
My story is similar to yours. Had a 25 year or so biking lapse.
Also, having broken in a brand new bike, I can attest that it's hard to really have clutch control. In the beginning, the clutch either grabs or doesn't. Don't get frustrated, it'll eventually wear in (2,000 miles or so). When I took the Motorcycle safety course, they actually gave the Rebel riders some slack because the clutch grabbed so easy. The dealer told me that Honda doesn't machine the surfaces of the clutch plates as they do on other bikes. Now that mine are broke in, it's like I remembered 25 years ago or so.
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Some days beer tastes good...other days beer tastes better! 
'07 Rebel 250 26,000 miles
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08-05-2010, 10:39 AM
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#6
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rome, GA 30149
Posts: 168
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cagie
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Just ordered my copy. Kinda excited 
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Kyle Johnson
"So, I'm new at this. Feel free to correct me. "
In my Garage (er... Parking Spot):
1986 Honda Rebel CMX250 *SOLD*
2004 Honda Shadow VLX 600
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08-05-2010, 10:50 AM
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#7
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Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Monroe, LA
Posts: 9,022
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Excellent read. I read it and went back a month later and re-read it. There are so many tips, techniques and suggestions in there that I couldn't absorb it all in one reading. Plan to read it every winter to refresh my memory.
If anyone wants to purchase a copy, I have an extra in like new condition I will sell for cheap.
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I'm keepin' all the left over parts. I'm gonna use 'em to build another bike!
2001 Rebel 250, 1989 Vulcan 750
Putting your bike info in your signature helps others help you!
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08-05-2010, 01:19 PM
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#8
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Honesdale, PA, via York, UK
Posts: 191
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Am I improving? ... not sure any more!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Guba
... having broken in a brand new bike, I can attest that it's hard to really have clutch control. In the beginning, the clutch either grabs or doesn't. Don't get frustrated, it'll eventually wear in (2,000 miles or so)...
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SHOOT ... just the other day, as I rolled over the 1700 mile mark on my '09 (that's 1700 for the bike AND me!), I was thinking, cool, I can now make that U turn so much easier than I used to! ... I was thinking I was getting better, but it might be just my clutch breaking in!! 
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08-06-2010, 02:25 AM
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#9
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Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Creston, Ohio
Posts: 3,196
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PhilipJ
SHOOT ... just the other day, as I rolled over the 1700 mile mark on my '09 (that's 1700 for the bike AND me!), I was thinking, cool, I can now make that U turn so much easier than I used to! ... I was thinking I was getting better, but it might be just my clutch breaking in!! |
I'm not any better making U turns than when I jumped back into biking. Still gotta drop the foot every once in a while, LOL! The difference now is, it's not a low side drop or a race to get around the turn becouse the clutch didn't feather as I wanted. 
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Some days beer tastes good...other days beer tastes better!
'07 Rebel 250 26,000 miles
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08-06-2010, 10:40 PM
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#10
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Englewood, Ohio - '04 Rebel
Posts: 94
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Guba
I'm not any better making U turns than when I jumped back into biking. Still gotta drop the foot every once in a while, LOL! ... |
Guba, your comment made me think of something about U turns. My clutch is smooth as silk, but still after over 200,000 miles on bikes a right U turn still seems un-natural to me for some reason. Probably because I make so many more left turns! OOPs...sorry for the off thread topic comment though. Most clutches will smooth out in time.
Irv
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