I have been looking at small motorcycles for my son for a few weeks and came across exactly what I wanted. Slight problem, it was in south Chicago. I drove there Wed night and got back yesterday around 3pm. The last 86 miles coming back, the rain was freezing on the car but the roads stayed wet. Didn't want to get caught in the crap that came down overnight.
Now we get to spend some time cleaning it up.
SteveS said
Apr 4, 2014
Looks like fun (the bike, not the drive). Is the that the 250 version?
Jon H said
Apr 4, 2014
Nice ride. I have been riding for over 50 years but have a great fear of those crotch rockets. They are just too quick and you can get into trouble soooo fast. Teach him well master.
Lost in the 60s said
Apr 4, 2014
No, I started out looking at '08-09 250's but research revealed in '13 they came out with a 300 that has fuel injection instead of carbs and the ABS option. Finding one with ABS has been the difficult part. This one has only 930 miles and look(ed) like new when I loaded it on the trailer.
SteveS said
Apr 4, 2014
The acceleration is the fun and bad thing about them. I've ridden the 250 version and it should be a good learning bike, they are not super fast and acceleration over 40 mph isn't like a bigger bike. I've also ridden a 600 and that was scary, can't imagine a 1000+cc bike.
SShink said
Apr 4, 2014
Mitch, you are the king of the road trips!
Seems like you always run into bad weather though like in Colorado, and now this. Maybe you should buy more projects in the warmer months.
I'm not any bike expert, but that looks like a good first bike to learn on. It's those left turning cars you need him to watch out for.
66 RAT said
Apr 6, 2014
ABS will be nice for a new rider. It's a lot easier to stay upright if neither tire is sliding!
Lost in the 60s said
Apr 6, 2014
66 RAT wrote:
ABS will be nice for a new rider. It's a lot easier to stay upright if neither tire is sliding!
He was gone all weekend until an hour ago. We were going over the controls and discovered it has many more features to prevent beginner mistakes.
When starting it and getting ready to move off, if you leave the kickstand down and let the clutch out in gear, the engine stops !! No way to take off with the stand down. It also won't let it be shifted into any other gear but low at a stand still.
It also has a "slipper" clutch that prevents sudden engagement and being thrown off balance. If engaged with too much rpm or too quickly, the clutch will slip and engage gradually.
Here is a very happy 18 yr old with his UMD t-shirt. He has been accepted there for next fall.
SShink said
Apr 6, 2014
Mitch, that sounds like the kind of bike even an old 50 year old man like me could ride. I better not get near it or I think it could be another hobby that might be trouble.
Nothing like being 18, heading for college, and having life by the handle bars. You had to score some Dad points there!
I have been looking at small motorcycles for my son for a few weeks and came across exactly what I wanted. Slight problem, it was in south Chicago. I drove there Wed night and got back yesterday around 3pm. The last 86 miles coming back, the rain was freezing on the car but the roads stayed wet. Didn't want to get caught in the crap that came down overnight.
Now we get to spend some time cleaning it up.
Looks like fun (the bike, not the drive). Is the that the 250 version?
No, I started out looking at '08-09 250's but research revealed in '13 they came out with a 300 that has fuel injection instead of carbs and the ABS option. Finding one with ABS has been the difficult part. This one has only 930 miles and look(ed) like new when I loaded it on the trailer.
The acceleration is the fun and bad thing about them. I've ridden the 250 version and it should be a good learning bike, they are not super fast and acceleration over 40 mph isn't like a bigger bike. I've also ridden a 600 and that was scary, can't imagine a 1000+cc bike.
Mitch, you are the king of the road trips!
Seems like you always run into bad weather though like in Colorado, and now this. Maybe you should buy more projects in the warmer months.
I'm not any bike expert, but that looks like a good first bike to learn on. It's those left turning cars you need him to watch out for.
He was gone all weekend until an hour ago. We were going over the controls and discovered it has many more features to prevent beginner mistakes.
When starting it and getting ready to move off, if you leave the kickstand down and let the clutch out in gear, the engine stops !! No way to take off with the stand down. It also won't let it be shifted into any other gear but low at a stand still.
It also has a "slipper" clutch that prevents sudden engagement and being thrown off balance. If engaged with too much rpm or too quickly, the clutch will slip and engage gradually.
Here is a very happy 18 yr old with his UMD t-shirt. He has been accepted there for next fall.
Mitch, that sounds like the kind of bike even an old 50 year old man like me could ride. I better not get near it or I think it could be another hobby that might be trouble.
Nothing like being 18, heading for college, and having life by the handle bars. You had to score some Dad points there!