Old licence holder, new rider! | GTAMotorcycle.com

Old licence holder, new rider!

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Hi guys

Got my licence 4 years ago but never got around to buying and riding a bike until this year. Took the advises and bought a 2010 ninja 250 and been commuting and riding around since the weather turned acceptable. Like all new riders i have questions and would appreciate some feedback!


  1. How often should i be cleaning/lubing the chain? Various answers don't seem to converge...
  2. It seems i can't see directly behind me on my ninja.. is it because i'm too wide? 6' 200lb shouldn't be way too wide.. no? or do i just have to live with it
  3. Everyone on the highway's doing 130-140 these days and i guess i have to follow suit. is it a safety issue if the bike is running at the high end? (no option to accelerate to get out of situations?), at 130 it's about 9-10k revs out of 13k redline
  4. How dangerous are tar snakes on the highway? i've never noticed there are so many of them until now.. The bike seems to slide a bit and i try to get off of it.. but there's so many!
  5. How recommended are these maintenance courses? I've done simple maintenance on cars like oil change, brake change, brake fluid bleed, etc... would a course be necessary or some reading should do it? Any recommendations?
  6. If the bike fishtails on braking that means i should have given more front brakes right? When we're talking front providing 75% braking and rear 25% are we talking depressing both about the same amount?
 
1. Personal preference- after every wash/ rain is a must. Other then that every other week should do it. If it seems dry, spray on some lube.
2. adjust your mirrors. If you have broad shoulders get after market mirrors or live with it and do a shoulder check.
3. No,nothing will happen.
4. Tar snakes don't really bother me now. But try this http://www.motorcycletraining.com/t...-august-2012-take-the-bite-out-of-tar-snakes/
5. If you could work on a car, a motorcycle will be a piece of cake. Just watch how-to youtube video of your bike.
6. Yes, less back brake and more front. You should be gradually increasing the pressure on the front brake as you come to a stop.
 
Thanks for your reply! Tar snakes link suggest attacking tar snakes at 45 to 90 degree angles.. but tar snakes on the highway run along the highway.. often along the left and right tire tracks.. oh well i'll learn to deal with them.

Also my 250 seems a bit.. unstable at higher speeds, do the bigger bikes perform more stable at higher speeds?
 
More weight and wider tires will give you better stability. A larger bike is not as flickable though. Consider something like an SV650 or a Ninja 650 for your next ride. Both cheap on insurance and better ergos for your size.
Kargo pretty much answered all your original questions, I agree with his answers.
 
$2.99+tax said:
Thanks for your reply! Tar snakes link suggest attacking tar snakes at 45 to 90 degree angles.. but tar snakes on the highway run along the highway.. often along the left and right tire tracks.. oh well i'll learn to deal with them.

Also my 250 seems a bit.. unstable at higher speeds, do the bigger bikes perform more stable at higher speeds?
Click to expand...

re: tar snakes - try not to have a death grip on the bars - try to stay loose
 
Tar snakes used to freak me out on my VF500 with skinny little tires.

On my VFR800, I don't even feel them anymore, or even care about them!
 
Also you may want to look at taking a course for your full M (which you will need before the 5th year is up) unless you feel confident enough to do the MTO test
 
Welcome. As you have already found out that bike is too light and underpowered for your size. As suggested, you would likely be more comfortable on something in a 600 and up. Light bikes like the 250, while they can run the highways are not comfortable there as they are easily pushed around by crosswinds and pressure waves off other vehicles. Your weight will compensate a bit but the bike will still dance under you.

With skinnier tires you most likely will feel the presence of tar snakes and when the weather turns hot they will get slick so be careful.

For mirrors, you may have to find or fab up some extensions or try some bar end types. I don't agree that you learn to live with it. That can be dangerous so make the effort to find something that works. Just one reason: If you're sitting at a light behind a vehicle, you won't be able to see anything coming up on you and take steps to get out of the way. Shoulder checks are also essential, but if you suffer from range of motion issues like some of us old farts, you may not be able to turn the head far enough to see sufficiently to save yourself from those around you.

If you haven't ridden in over 4 years, you should think of taking a refresher course or at the very least pick up and study a good manual and hit the parking lots. Riding is a skill that takes constant practice and the experts estimate it takes upwards of 6 months to become totally attuned to a new to you bike.

Enjoy the new ride but be very careful in your first season there's a lot to learn.

cheers,
spyug
 
Thanks again for the replies guys.

Ok so next year it's a bigger bike with wider tires for sure then, that should "solve" the instability. Mirror extensions i'll have to do some research on. I'm still undecided on taking the M2 exit course or not, though i'm feeling pretty confident about the MTO test.. in Aurora right? :D Yes i do need to get it this year or bust! I see on the ministry's site you can take the M test as many time as you want, although i guess $75 a try plus missed wages.. ugh
 
I was a bit nervous about the ministry test vs. a course but couldn't justify spending $400 and felt I knew enough to pass.
Turned out it was super easy - just wag your head like crazy, every side street, every intersection, every stop, everywhere pretty much.
Stay in blocking position all the time as well. The examiner told us what he expects prior to the test, was a cool, relaxed person. That I can't guarantee but I'd say forget the course. It is highly recommended for M1, when people don't know how to ride but for M2 exit, you should be okay.
 
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