New rider from IL

[IceBreaker]

Hi all, just want to introduce myself to you all....I'm a brand new motorcycle rider from N.W. Cook County in IL. I own a 2000 GZ250 with lil over 1400 miles on it. Bought it off from someone who barely rode it after learning to ride. Never drove a motorcycle before, so its a brand new experience for me. Took the basic rider course at the beginning of summer and been a M Class license holder for just over 4 months now. Any valuable piece of advice from all the experienced riders out there? :)
http://www.postimage.org/TshrCJA.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/)

[JWR]

Find some good two lane roads and get to know the bike.

Jerry

[dannylightning]

i would have to say try to stay out of traffic for a while, curvy country roads would be great for getting the hang of riding, if you have any near bye, you'll get to know how to handle the curves well and there wont be much traffic. i started out on curvy country roads and stuck to them for a few weeks, after i got comfortable on the bike i headed out on to the main streets. i stayed off the freeways for for a long time, probably 4 or 5 months till i rode on the highway for the first time, if i had a little more powerfull bike at the time i might have ventured off on the the freeways sooner, the first few times i rode on the highway it was a 3am or 4am when there was no traffic.

just take it slow and easy at first and try not to put your self in any kind of traffic situations you may not be ready for yet. be carefull, never take your eyes off the road if you dont halve to. try to look at whats going on up ahead and not just whats going on right in front of you. when you put attention to whats going on up ahead you will have plenty of time avoid and react to any kind of hazard or potential hazards that may lie a little further up the road.

[Water Warrior 2]

Welcome IceBreaker. Always nice to have a new member to help along their way. Advice..........lots of it. Mostly good too. Best of all is the fact that you took some training to learn to ride. I will probably repeat what your instructors said but here goes. PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE. Find a secluded parking lot and practice your starts, stops, and emergency braking. Do all the manuvers from the course. Do them again. Develop good habits and stick with them.
Pick up a copy of Proficient Motorcycling by Hogue and read it. Above all just have a good time riding and grinning. Always ride safe.

[New GZ250]

Welcome IceBreaker. Always nice to have a new member to help along their way. Advice..........lots of it. Mostly good too. Best of all is the fact that you took some training to learn to ride. I will probably repeat what your instructors said but here goes. PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE. Find a secluded parking lot and practice your starts, stops, and emergency braking. Do all the manuvers from the course. Do them again. Develop good habits and stick with them.
Pick up a copy of Proficient Motorcycling by Hogue and read it. Above all just have a good time riding and grinning. Always ride safe.

BEST BOOK OUT THERE! JUST DO IT! I pick it up every two weeks or so and browse thru it. Just full of safety tips!
:2tup: