Hello there

[ShantJ]

Spend your money on gear, then spend whatever's left on the bike.  Not vise-versa.

What do you suggest, in terms of gear?

[Cablebandit]

First and foremost a helmet that FITS.  You'll most likely have to try on a few brands to find one that fits your head shape.

You can find decent deals on other gear online.  Motorcyclegear.com carries lots of last season's stuff at bargain prices.  They also have a great return policy so if you get it and it doesn't fit you can send it back pretty painlessly.  The main thing is get stuff that fits you.  

[ShantJ]

Thanks.  

[Cablebandit]

No problem.

[shawn and gwyn]

bike?? you like older brit bikes..  expensive to replace parts on..  look instead at late 70s early 80s jap standards. .. 550cc, or 650cc... great bikes to learn on.. motorcycle junkyards are full of them, and they are easy to work on..  as said before dont be afraid to spend money on a good helmet... full face.   you are in LA.. or near there... a good combo jacket.  like the tourmaster intake.  find a good pair of gloves.  heavy leather boots that cover the ankles. just be sure to tuck in your laces.  take the class.. pay attention.. find someone who knows how to ride , and ride with them  for awhile.. spend lots of time on the back roads. and slowly move into towns and traffic  ..  my son took the class last year.. and has the benefit of being able to ride with both my wife and i.. and our friends.  he started on a KLR 250.. but we soon found out not good for hi way.. he is now on an 83 Honda V45 sabre.. and he dropped it two weeks ago and broke off a turn signal. no big deal. i am sure he will do it again . as will you..   good luck and have a good time...

Shawn

[ShantJ]

Thanks.

[cbsnbiker]

If you have any questions about the MSF course, feel free to ask.

My recommendations:

Buy the bike *after* taking the course. You'll have a better idea of what you want at that point.

I second the comment about gear.

There is good second-hand gear available out there. However, I recommend that you buy a *new* helmet (preferably full-face).

Best wishes! Let us know how the course goes.

[NoGear]

        You’ve been dreaming about riding a motorcycle for some time, but you don’t know what kind of motorcycle to buy.  Purchasing your first motorcycle can often end up becoming an odyssey trying to figure out what type of motorcycle you want versus what type you need. When choosing your first motorcycle you want to look at the type of riding you are going to do, the performance of the motorcycle, the size/comfort of it, and lastly you, the rider. Hopefully using this guide will help in the acquisition of your first motorcycle.  

   The first thing you want to do is think about what type of riding you want to do. Motorcycles, like automobiles, come in a lot of different shapes and sizes. Many of them are designed for a specialized task. Do you want to ride all day in the dirt or do you want to stick to the road?  Are you only looking for a bike to tour the country on? The type of riding your interested in pretty much dictates the kind of bike you should be looking at.  Be aware that even within groups there are sub-groupings. For example you decide you want to ride off road. Within off road motorcycles you have: motocross bikes, trail bikes, and dual-sport bikes. When you nail down the then type then you actually start looking at motorcycles themselves.  

   You’ve decided on the type of motorcycle now let’s talk about performance. The biggest single mistake new rider make is buying a bike with far more performance than he or she can handle.  A new rider should shy away from any true sport bike. Today’s sport bikes are nothing more than race ready bikes that have had headlights and turn signals added. New riders need a bike that they can safely learn to hone their skills on. Once you have the experience you will appreciate the performance of those bikes more.

         Having a bike that fits right for you is important for a new rider.  A bike that isn’t sized right for you is a distraction that new riders don’t need. Having one that is comfortable allows you to concentrate more on learning to ride better. If it’s too tall, and your feet can’t touch the ground you are going to drop it. Same thing goes if it’s too heavy for you.  Sit on a bike.  Can you reach the handle bars without stretching? Put your feet up on the pegs. Are your knees comfortable? If there is any inherent discomfort, it will be magnified after spending an hour riding.  

          Often first time buyers are hung up on whether to buy a new or used motorcycle.   In a word, used.  Just like cars, motorcycles depreciate, and entry level bikes depreciate the most in the first year of ownership. No matter how much you want to ride now you might discover that motorcycles aren’t for you, so don’t be the one to incur that loss.  Another reason to buy used is because you are going to drop your bike or put some dings on it.  You would feel a lot worse if you dropped a new bike costing a whole lot more. Take your time to do the research and find the one that is right, financially, for you to purchase. Make sure it is reliable and has been well maintained. Have it checked out by a qualified mechanic. You don’t want to make a rash decision.

           Now you have decided on the bike you want and spent a sizable amount of money it’s time for the last step in the process, you. You are at one with the bike. You need to invest in the proper riding apparel and safety equipment. If you crash, wearing the proper gear could prevent or reduce the severity of injuries.  Take a training course to learn to ride safely, then get out there and ride.

   

[UHOH]

Hi. I'm new here, so I thought I'd introduce myself.
I've never actually ridden a motorcycle before, but I'm taking an MSF course in a week.

so how did it go?
If you'd never ridden an M/C before it's no shame to have not passed - just means next time it's sooo much easier
You've been exposed to clutch / shifting at this point ...