Area57
Well-Known Member
Hi, I have only ever ridden a bike once, a 250 dirt bike through the bamboo in Haleiwa.
Well, I have been wanting a motorcycle for a long time now and I finally pulled the trigger.
What I want to be able to do eventually is:
Ride around town
Ride for fun
Take day trips with my camera and explore
Go on windy mountain roads
Take ultralight camping gear and take themed road trips. Like a fly fishing weekend. Or a rock climbing weekend.
I decided on the FZ1 because it is what they had for sale locally. It was the nicest, most well kept bike I could find, and that is important. And it fits the bill of what I want. I had always previously looked at dual sports, like the KLR650 and the BMW GS650, but I think I will be mostly on pavement.
Everyone said this bike is too powerful for a beginner. It's only my first day. I don't really have a basis of comparison. The throttle definitely jumps if you touch it just a hair too much, that and emergency braking are what I am really going to have to watch out for.
Otherwise it's a beautiful bike. I'm not a speed demon, I drive my car slow and carefully, but I've got to admit it's cool to have the power in this bike. To know it "can".
Are there any tips on this bike in particular? Any maintenance issues I need to watch out for? Things this bike likes? Like a good warm up or cool down before starting out? I don't know anything about motorcycles. I know my car wants you to let it warm up although nobody ever does, they just get in and go.
What about things I need to watch out for? Ways the bike likes to be treated? My main question really is when to shift. I have no idea when I should shift. Again, it's just my first day, but I was taking it easy in first. Maybe going to about 20mph or 3000 rpm, and then second to about 40, or 4000 rpm. after that, once I get in third I can stay in third and cruise at highway speeds right? I was told to shift more at 6-8000, but that seems high. When do you guys recommend shifting.
That's all really. More just a welcome to the club post if anything, more than any really pressing questions.
Well, I have been wanting a motorcycle for a long time now and I finally pulled the trigger.
What I want to be able to do eventually is:
Ride around town
Ride for fun
Take day trips with my camera and explore
Go on windy mountain roads
Take ultralight camping gear and take themed road trips. Like a fly fishing weekend. Or a rock climbing weekend.
I decided on the FZ1 because it is what they had for sale locally. It was the nicest, most well kept bike I could find, and that is important. And it fits the bill of what I want. I had always previously looked at dual sports, like the KLR650 and the BMW GS650, but I think I will be mostly on pavement.
Everyone said this bike is too powerful for a beginner. It's only my first day. I don't really have a basis of comparison. The throttle definitely jumps if you touch it just a hair too much, that and emergency braking are what I am really going to have to watch out for.
Otherwise it's a beautiful bike. I'm not a speed demon, I drive my car slow and carefully, but I've got to admit it's cool to have the power in this bike. To know it "can".
Are there any tips on this bike in particular? Any maintenance issues I need to watch out for? Things this bike likes? Like a good warm up or cool down before starting out? I don't know anything about motorcycles. I know my car wants you to let it warm up although nobody ever does, they just get in and go.
What about things I need to watch out for? Ways the bike likes to be treated? My main question really is when to shift. I have no idea when I should shift. Again, it's just my first day, but I was taking it easy in first. Maybe going to about 20mph or 3000 rpm, and then second to about 40, or 4000 rpm. after that, once I get in third I can stay in third and cruise at highway speeds right? I was told to shift more at 6-8000, but that seems high. When do you guys recommend shifting.
That's all really. More just a welcome to the club post if anything, more than any really pressing questions.