Sportbike!

[Lindsey]

For as long as I can remember I wanted a motorcycle. My dad used to ride but sold his bike while my brother and I were young. His brother (my uncle) kept his though, and my dad would take me for rides on that every so often and I LOVED it. Then I got the idea in my head that I would get a sportbike, but never really thought it would actually happen. Then my brother got one, and I really wanted one! Then my ex had one and I went everywhere on the back of his bike. I finally worked up enough courage to try riding his and my brother's last year but I was so scared of dumping one of their new bikes that I didn't really get far.
Sooo fast forward to this year... before we broke up, my ex was like "Don't just get a sportbike because you think i'll like it, because I'm going to do my own thing anyway when we're on group rides and if you want to hang back I'm not going to always hang back with you" and i was like "It's not for you, and I doubt I'll be on group rides. I just want to ride for me!" But he never believed it. Now that it's over, I'm still going for it! I will be getting my learner's as soon as possible, and I've been scouring for bikes because it's just before riding season and they're cheap right now. I'm looking for something older, so it's not going to be a huge deal if I dump it which is pretty much inevitable while starting out.
Tonight I found this one http://usedsportbikes.ca/_image.php?image_id=7976&original=1 Aaaaaand I might take a little trip next weekend to check it out! I am so excited right now I don't know if I can sleep tonight!

[Mandy]

That IS a neat bike!! :thumbup:

[rivermom]

We call those types of bikes "crotch rockets" here. :D My husband and I ride. Well, let me rephrase that. I ride on the back. :p We love it and it's a free feeling out there on a windy countryside road.

I grew up riding dirt bikes. Our family would camp every other weekend and take dirt bike rides that would last for hours. We loved every minute of it.

Worst fall I ever had was hitting a large hole and flying over the handle bars. Broke a couple ribs but I survived. (Thank goodness)

Our rule then and now is to ALWAYS wear a helmet, safe shoes, and pants never shorts or sandles.

I hope you decide to wear a helmet too Lindsey. My Dad's neice fell off the back of a bike a few years ago by a vehicle hitting the bike. She rubbed most her face off and has never been the same. She has had endless plastic surgery to try to restore her face. The helmet I use now has a full face sheild.

The dangers just go along with owning a bike just as do the pleasures. I am guessing that goes w/ any activity in life.

Enjoy your bike search and when you get one, please do post pictures. I think it's great you are following your passions. :thumbup:

[Lindsey]

I'm glad to see someone else here enjoys it too!
It feels so liberating to be able to do this on my own without any guy pointing me in the direction of which bike to get. I've asked my brother for his opinions on certain bikes, and I'm taking him with me to look at it because he knows what to look for, but in the end it's my decision.
I am definitely all about safety. I already have a protective jacket although it was a hand-me-down and I'm going to go find another that will fit me better, as well as a helmet and protective gloves. I also have a pair of steel-toed boots I'll wear, with the laces tucked in! I've heard from a few people that they've had their laces get stuck on the pegs and they've fallen right over!

[rivermom]

I'm glad to see someone else here enjoys it too!
It feels so liberating to be able to do this on my own without any guy pointing me in the direction of which bike to get. I've asked my brother for his opinions on certain bikes, and I'm taking him with me to look at it because he knows what to look for, but in the end it's my decision.
I am definitely all about safety. I already have a protective jacket although it was a hand-me-down and I'm going to go find another that will fit me better, as well as a helmet and protective gloves. I also have a pair of steel-toed boots I'll wear, with the laces tucked in! I've heard from a few people that they've had their laces get stuck on the pegs and they've fallen right over!

Lindsey, I am so glad you are keeping your safety in mind. We have a bunch of "bike riding" friends and most don't wear their helmets. It's not my place to give them a hard time about it, but it clearly fills my heart w/ dissapointment when I hear my girlfriend say "the helmet messes up my hair". UGH! :(

This is a picture of my hubby and my Mom on his bike. My Mom has been riding on the back of motorcycles for gosh I don't know how long. ( many many many many years. Just recently she stopped because of hip/leg issues. She says it sucks to get old!)

Let us know Lindsey when you get your new bike. And...don't forget the pics! ;)

[Tink]

Greg and I used to ride with a group of a couple dozen other bikes. We had a 750 Honda with a fairing, windshiled, etc. It really was fun! We've been talking about getting one again now that the kids are grown and we have the chance to do things without worrying about them.

I too think it's great you're doing this for yourself. We all need to have some fun in life, and it sounds like you'r e heading in that direction!

[Marilyn]

Lindsey, this is so totally cool!!! The bike you are looking at is so cool. I ride a 2000 Harley Davidson Fatboy. This is my 3rd bike. I had a Kawasaki 464 to learn on, and then moved to a Harley 883 Sportster, but it was too top heavy and I kept dropping it, plus I'm just over 5'1", so I got the Fatboy. It's really low and I had a lowering kit installed.

Here's a pic of me a few years ago with my bike in Daytona. I've changed the paint job since this pic. It's now red with ghost flames.

I think it is so cool that you want to ride. Be very careful!!! You have to drive very defensively on a bike. It's not if someone is going to change lanes into you, but when. You have to be ready at any time to take evasive action. I've had some close calls, but there is nothing like riding on a pretty day with that engine between your legs and a throttle in your right hand. Quite a rush!!!

1001

[Lindsey]

I'm getting more and more excited every day. I am also looking at a year old suzuki GSF500F at the same place. It looks just as sporty but it's small enough to learn on. My brother told me I should go with the kawasaki and just use his bike to learn on, but I think even his GSXR 750 is too powerful for me! Luckily I'm tall and have crazy long legs so the height of the bike isn't a big deal. On some dirtbikes I can just put my toes on the ground but they're a little lighter to balance! I love the color of your bike Marilyn!

[Marilyn]

Here's a pic of mine with the current color. The ghost flames don't show up much in the picture, but they are there. I just bought a different tank and fender set. The originals are boxed up because they were a special edition paint job for 2000 Harleys. Each dealer got just one bike of that color scheme. I liked it, but after a while, you just need a change.

1002

I'd really recommend the smaller bike to start. I felt much more comfortable on the smaller bike until I got used to it. One day, when I was first learning, I started off in the drive way, and popped the clutch, gave it way too much throttle and shot across the street into a vacant lot and hit a dirt pile. My front wheel was on the pile and my feet were dangling, unable to reach the ground so I fell right over. It scared me half to death. I almost hit a brick mail box, but after it was over, my husband almost died laughting. He said I looked so hilarious with my feet dangling and the bike slowly falling over. Thankfully I was not hurt, only my pride. I would hate to think what would have happened on a larger bike. Be careful, but enjoy!!!

[Lindsey]

Wow that's a great color! My ex always told me that if I got a bike, don't look at the color or condition of the paint job because he would take it back to his dad's autobody shop and paint it however I wanted, so I said PINK! :D He said he would do whatever I wanted, but he really wanted to put ghost flames on it. Maybe eventually after I'm done with feeling hurt and angry, I'll ask him if that offer still stands.

[Marilyn]

With a sport bike, it's probably a little different. There is so much painted area compared to a Harley, but I bought my tank and fender set on E-Bay from a woman in New York who paints them and sells them. I liked the fact that I bought it from a woman. How cool is that???

Hope your ex's offer does still stand. It would be awesome to be able to pick any color you want & any design. I originally wanted to get a set painted with a dragon on the tank and a castle on the rear fender with the tip of the dragon's tail curled around the castle, and flames from the dragon's mouth on the front fender, but alas, I found the red flame job and went for that. It was much less expensive. Maybe I'll get the dragon sometime in the future. My fear was that with such a complex design, no one would paint it exactly like I envisioned it, and I would be disappointed after paying a lot of money. My license plate is "dragen". Dragon was taken, so I had to alter the spelling.:p

[Lindsey]

That dragon design sounds cool! I love girls who are into "guy" stuff! I went to school with guys, work with guys, and hang out with guys a lot of the time, so sometimes I just want to scream "I'm FEMALE!" But hey, girls on bikes are hot ;)

[Lindsey]

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK! Today I was "just looking" until i ran into this HOT bright blue 2006 Kawasaki Ninja 636. They said they had four left, and it was super super cheap, I'd never see one that cheap again. So I might as well apply and see what payments are like, right? So I applied and went out shopping some more, got a call back, I'm approved. Two are already gone. So I went back in, and just in the time it took me to get there, another went. The last one was left. I jumped on it! I also got a white Icon Jacket, blue and white gloves, and they're ordering in a blue and white helmet! I'm so excited I want to squeal! The bike will be ready to pick up next Saturday! Looking for a pic right now...

[Lindsey]

http://www.kawasaki.com/ImagesMain/Products/Action/201_EX650A7F_40103_A.scale.jpg

There it is! Well, a year older, this is a different model but the only real difference in looks is the seat. Where this one is a full seat, mine has a break between the driver and passenger seat.

[rivermom]

Here's a pic of mine with the current color. The ghost flames don't show up much in the picture, but they are there. I just bought a different tank and fender set. The originals are boxed up because they were a special edition paint job for 2000 Harleys. Each dealer got just one bike of that color scheme. I liked it, but after a while, you just need a change.

1002

I'd really recommend the smaller bike to start. I felt much more comfortable on the smaller bike until I got used to it. One day, when I was first learning, I started off in the drive way, and popped the clutch, gave it way too much throttle and shot across the street into a vacant lot and hit a dirt pile. My front wheel was on the pile and my feet were dangling, unable to reach the ground so I fell right over. It scared me half to death. I almost hit a brick mail box, but after it was over, my husband almost died laughting. He said I looked so hilarious with my feet dangling and the bike slowly falling over. Thankfully I was not hurt, only my pride. I would hate to think what would have happened on a larger bike. Be careful, but enjoy!!!

Marilyn ~ Your bike is gorgeous. I even had to show my hubby, LOL. He says "Niiicccee Bike, Nice bike!" Of course he commented saying "They even have a shop to store their bikes in". LMAO - My hubby is working on a shop/barn future plans. Oh, hubby also read your "crash/hurt pride" story and says "Damn! Someone got carried away". LOL!! He's sooo goofy.

Much prettier with the paint job! Good job!

[rivermom]

http://www.kawasaki.com/ImagesMain/Products/Action/201_EX650A7F_40103_A.scale.jpg

There it is! Well, a year older, this is a different model but the only real difference in looks is the seat. Where this one is a full seat, mine has a break between the driver and passenger seat.


Lindsey ~ Congrats on becoming a biker chick! :p Please please do be careful on that crotch rocket. Now you will have to look into various bike rally's in your area. We have tons here. Our most favorite is called "Bikes Blues And Barbecue". It's held in a local college town here and it's the fastest growing bike rally in the country right now. Wish you lived closer and you could go.

[Marilyn]

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK! Today I was "just looking" until i ran into this HOT bright blue 2006 Kawasaki Ninja 636. They said they had four left, and it was super super cheap, I'd never see one that cheap again. So I might as well apply and see what payments are like, right? So I applied and went out shopping some more, got a call back, I'm approved. Two are already gone. So I went back in, and just in the time it took me to get there, another went. The last one was left. I jumped on it! I also got a white Icon Jacket, blue and white gloves, and they're ordering in a blue and white helmet! I'm so excited I want to squeal! The bike will be ready to pick up next Saturday! Looking for a pic right now...

Congratulations!!!! Lindsey, awesome bike!!!! You are going to look so hot riding that!!! Just please be careful!!! Let us know how it goes. Do you have your license to ride yet? Don't know what is required where you are, and is the weather decent to ride this time of year??? I have a friend in New Jersey who rides and he said it was nice there for a few days, and then it started snowing again. Enjoy your new ride!!!!! You crazy, crazy girl!!!! Hugs, ((((((Lindsey))))))

[Marilyn]

Marilyn ~ Your bike is gorgeous. I even had to show my hubby, LOL. He says "Niiicccee Bike, Nice bike!" Of course he commented saying "They even have a shop to store their bikes in". LMAO - My hubby is working on a shop/barn future plans. Oh, hubby also read your "crash/hurt pride" story and says "Damn! Someone got carried away". LOL!! He's sooo goofy.

Much prettier with the paint job! Good job!

Thank you, Sheryl. The cool garage is not ours. It's in a home my hubby built for a Parade of Homes Tour. The owner of the home is a Harley dude & his bike is in the background. They put mine in there with it for the show. Our bikes are in our garage with hubby's restored 1970 Mustang Mach I. All our cars are parked outside. We are thinking of selling our home so we can build where we have more room and can put a nice shop out back for the bikes and hubby's projects and actually park our daily use vehicles in the garage. We've been in this home almost 4 years now, so it's time to move on. It's the curse of being married to a home builder. He keeps coming up with new ideas, and wants to build them for us. I keep planting trees and leaving them for someone else to enjoy.

[Lindsey]

Congratulations!!!! Lindsey, awesome bike!!!! You are going to look so hot riding that!!! Just please be careful!!! Let us know how it goes. Do you have your license to ride yet? Don't know what is required where you are, and is the weather decent to ride this time of year??? I have a friend in New Jersey who rides and he said it was nice there for a few days, and then it started snowing again. Enjoy your new ride!!!!! You crazy, crazy girl!!!! Hugs, ((((((Lindsey))))))

Thanks :D I don't have my license yet... I have to go do a written test for my learner's, which I'm going to do soon. With that I can ride within 100 kms of my house, during daylight hours and without a passenger. I'm going to sign up for a safety course after I get more used to riding. They're offering a 3-day weekend course or a 5-day weekday course in my city from May through to August, which includes classroom instruction and they supply bikes and take you out to a parking lot to teach you better riding techniques and how to deal with different situations. After that I think I'll go take the road test for my license.
I think it'll be the end of April or the beginning of May before I'll get to start ridiing. There's still a lot of gravel on the roads, and ice in some areas. On top of that, there was a lot of freezing and thawing between January and now so there are huge potholes EVERYWHERE. But as soon as riding season comes along the price of bikes is going to jump so I'm glad I got mine now. I also have some time now to study up and learn more about my bike before I hop on it!

[Mandy]

Lindsey thats an awesome bike, congrats!! Good luck with your license :thumbup:
It will be nice if you can join those group rides, you will meet the nicest people!

[Marilyn]

Thanks :D I don't have my license yet... I have to go do a written test for my learner's, which I'm going to do soon. With that I can ride within 100 kms of my house, during daylight hours and without a passenger. I'm going to sign up for a safety course after I get more used to riding. They're offering a 3-day weekend course or a 5-day weekday course in my city from May through to August, which includes classroom instruction and they supply bikes and take you out to a parking lot to teach you better riding techniques and how to deal with different situations. After that I think I'll go take the road test for my license.
I think it'll be the end of April or the beginning of May before I'll get to start ridiing. There's still a lot of gravel on the roads, and ice in some areas. On top of that, there was a lot of freezing and thawing between January and now so there are huge potholes EVERYWHERE. But as soon as riding season comes along the price of bikes is going to jump so I'm glad I got mine now. I also have some time now to study up and learn more about my bike before I hop on it!

Lindsey, you may want to check about this course and how it is accepted by your licensing authority. It sounds like the same one that I took. The written test we took for the course was almost identical to the test that I had to take to get my license, and the riding portion of the course counted for my driving test for our Department of Public Safety. I took the course on a weekend and the next day, Monday, took the written test for DPS and I had my motorcycle license. It was so easy, and the course was great. I had been riding a bit around our neighborhood to get used to the bike, but all they required for the course was that you were able to ride a bicycle, they taught you how to ride a motorcycle. It was a great course!! The easiest way to get your license, and really helped with your confidence riding. So glad you have the opportunity to take it where you are.

[Lindsey]

Hey everyone! I picked up my bike on Saturday!!!!!!!!!! It was a really nice weekend but I was stuck in the office working overtime on Saturday (other than picking up the bike!), and now it's sitting in my grandma's garage. Her garage faces the alley which is still full of snow and ice so it's not going far for now, but I did start it, put it in first, and drove about 5 feet to the end of her concrete apron :D After work today my brother is going to drive it out to a giant parking lot and I'll follow him in my car, and he's gonna give me some lessons. I haven't got my learners yet, and I have to see when I can take an hour off work this week to do it. Then I can be out on the streets! Unfortunately it's supposed to start raining tomorrow and snowing again on Wednesday :( Oh well, I'll enjoy the sun and dry pavement for one day at least. I'm counting down... 26 more minutes until I can go home!
Oh yeah and I got all my gear when I picked up the bike too. My helmet is SO CUTE. It's light blue with flowers and stuff... I got home on Saturday night and put all my gear on and just walked around the house for awhile, checking myself out in the mirrors :D :D :D

[Marilyn]

Congratulations!!!!!! Be sure an post a pic of you in your gear!!! How exciting!!! Hope all goes well this evening!!!

[Lindsey]

WOWWWWWWWW! That was SO EXHILIRATING! It was my first time actually driving... not being scared of crashing someone else's bike made a huge difference! I rode around the parking lot for an hour! I started out not going more than 20 kph and I ended up not slowing down to more than 30 kph :D I got it up to 60... to excited right now to convert that into mph for you americans :D My wrists are sore because I was leaning on them too much, but I can't stop smiling. Driving home in my car was so BORING!

[Marilyn]

Sooooo glad you had such a wonderful experience. Isn't it great having that throttle in your hand. Enjoy ladyrider!!!!! Keep us informed on progress.

You're making me want to get out and ride more ofter. Maybe I'll just head up your way someday. I'm dreaming, of course. Not enough vacation to ride that far. Plus I'm a flat lander.:o

[Lindsey]

Oh I'm a flatlander too Marylin! The joke around here is in Saskatchewan you can watch your dog run away for days :) Maybe one of these days I'll have ambition and holidays and money and i'll just hop on my bike and ride down there! I could go on a 4WT meet and greet trip!

[Lindsey]

Here's a bad quality cell phone picture of me tonight... at least the bike looks nice and shiny :)

[Janet]

I had some catching up to do with this thread. Congrats Lindsey!! What a nice looking bike.

I'm a big chicken when it comes to motorcycles. My husband had one many years ago, and I rode with him, but we just tootled around our county. I was too afraid to go on the highway....lol

[rivermom]

Lindsey ~ You look so fitting on that bike. CoNGraTuLAtiOnS!!!!! I am thrilled to hear your excitement over your bike. You soon will be on those curvy roads feeling free.

[Mandy]

WAUUUUWWWWW Thats one COOL bike!!! Congrats Lindsey, just keep in mind to drive safe! Those bikes are FAST! I LOVE them :thumbup: :thumbup:

[AngieDoogles]

WAUUUUWWWWW Thats one COOL bike!!! Congrats Lindsey, just keep in mind to drive safe! Those bikes are FAST! I LOVE them :thumbup: :thumbup:

I agree. It could be tempting to want to test your limits on a bike like that. Just be safe! :) Congratulations! It looks like a really nice bike. :thumbup:

[Chandra Amaya]

I hope you are enjoying riding. Saskatchewan seems like it would be a beautiful area to ride just to see the scenery. Be safe & have fun. It looks great!:D

[Lindsey]

I hope you are enjoying riding. Saskatchewan seems like it would be a beautiful area to ride just to see the scenery. Be safe & have fun. It looks great!:D

There's not a whole lot to see here! Just fields pretty much.. it's really flat. Even our cities are flat! My best friend from home came to visit me a couple years ago from Edmonton and she was like "WHERE ARE THE BUILDINGS" because we really don't have anything tall. It's nice to be able to see trees and sky everywhere though!

[Janet]

Just be careful on your bike. We had a friend wreck and tear the skin off his back and another friend was embedded into the side of a semi. Accidents happen, but driving safely can really cut down on them. BE SAFE.

[Chandra Amaya]

This is off topic of your bike, but I'm pretty sure your quote is new (if not I don't know how I missed it before). I LOVE IT!!!! I am a big Marilyn fan & that has to be one of my favorite quotes :thumbup:
& as for the fields there I guess where we live & what we want to see is just like hair. If its straight you want curly, if its curly you want straight. I see businesses taking over beautiful land & mountains all around. Fields & flat would be a nice change :D

[Lindsey]

Janet - I will be safe, don't worry! And thanks for the concern! I used to be worried sick over my ex everytime he went out because he would stunt and not really care about anything. He wore his gear and stuff but he was still in 3 crashes last year. I don't want to be like him at all!

Traci - You're right about wanting to see things you don't get a chance to see! I would love to go to new york, although I know I couldn't stand living there! A couple years ago I took a trip to the Yukon and Alaska and after 2 weeks I was sick of mountains and missed being able to see the flat horizon! Oh, and I just added that quote last night.. I'm a big Marilyn Monroe fan myself and I have a big picture of her beside my bed with that quote on it!