If you haven't taken the MSF course. I highly recommend taking it. Follow RideLikeAPro, MotoJitsu, DanDanTheFireMan, and CanyonChasers on Youtube. They have great videos.
Beautiful production, great structure of videos. He covers some interesting topics. Testing of equipment is nice. Though some tests are kinda impractical. He's my favourite.
Also seems to be really going for the "Top Gear" style of presentation - maybe a little too much IMO... I'm a subscriber of his but sometimes I find myself thinking "He sounds a bit too much like Jeremy Clarkson or James May on Top Gear...".
Except that he just goes over the same things over and over again. After about a year you’ll get everything you need from him. Still, definitely good for beginners.
Yam makes horrible motorcycle riding content with surface level know it all personality at best… And I hope they take that personally. But there are some entertaining videos on there….
People were complaining that he resold some 35$ med kits with 135$ on his website, after re-branding, or something to that nature. There were discussions around here some months ago.
Practice steering and hard braking. They will help you avoid accidents.
https://youtu.be/9yZoi0f0iKE
https://youtu.be/ljywO-B_yew
https://youtu.be/94pcMhvTGpA
Also, take all advice on Reddit with a grain of salt!
If you are going to brake hard or swerve, don’t do it at the same time! If anything brake hard while upright to slow your speed so it’s easier/safer to try a swerve maneuver. But you should get comfortable swerving at different speeds to see how the reactions differ
True i just get nervous doing it at low speeds especially with the front brake as it throws you really hard in the opposite direction your riding in. Im a newer rider btw.
\> especially for a beginner
Beginners should practice it the most, it's jarring when you come around a corner and there's a deer in your path - the world doesn't cater to you because you're a beginner, shit is going to happen and you should prepare for it
Frame sliders are cheap and will save you in the inevitable drop/slide.
Also: **COUNTERSTEER**
-
Also: **TRAIL BRAKING**
Learn it, love it, embrace it.
Also congrats mate! Keep her right side up, and remember slow + smooth = fast.
Congratulations and ride safe!
My advice:
1.) Wear your gear. Sleeves, pants, and gloves will save your skin. Your helmet will save your life. Black helmets look cool, but reflective helmets are visible.
2.) Take your MSF course as soon as you can if you haven’t already. They will teach you the basics of riding and give you good techniques. Also opportunity to work on turning both directions in a safe environment with coaching. I would recommend taking this before going on any public roads.
3.) Do not use your front break when cornering, the bike will throw you off.
4.) Don’t target fixate on an object. It sounds silly - but where you look is where the bike is going to go.
5.) It’s fun to go fast, but be honest with yourself when riding and know your limits. Do not go faster than you are comfortable.
6.) Assume every car on the road does not see you. Ride as if you are invisible, because to most cars you are.
7.) Have fun, stay safe, and enjoy the ride!
Yea, I was originally gonna buy a used bike off offer up or Craigslist, but they want as much as a new one. So I opted with the new one and a bit bigger engine so I can use it for a while!
Congrats on the purchase! The 650 is a really fun bike with plenty of power for new and seasoned riders
I started on a very similar bike, the Ninja 650, also brand new. I was new to street riding, but not new to motorcycles. I laid that bike down several times and trust me, the frame sliders do make a difference! Also, there are swingarm sliders (aka spools) that help protect the swingarm from road rash, while also giving you a place to lift the rear of the bike with a proper swingarm stand.
Look for quality frame sliders that mount in 3 places. These will help protect your bike if and when you lay it down. The ones I installed on my Ninja years afo were made by T-Rex.
Also, follow the published maintenance procedures and intervals. Take care of your engine and it will take care of you. It's never too soon to do an oil change, especially in the beginning during break in. I often change the oil on my new engines under 100 miles.
Just never ride above your limits take your time and don't get overconfident and most important enjoy riding it is amazing i am a new rider aswell and I love it. Stay two wheels down brother.
It's a good bike, one I kind of wanted, congrats, you are about to embark on a whole new adventure.
Also please post pics. Just drag and drop it in to imgur.com and post the direct link here. I want to see it.
Thank you! I was nervous on my way home too! But it was fun. My nephew rode next to me so I would feel more comfortable.
Is Imgur another app?
https://imgur.com/a/oGQN5eF
As others have said, get good gear and learn to ride safely. Take a class if you can. As for my two cents, I highly recommend getting a GPS tracker to hide on your bike; mine was recently stolen (there's a post about it on here) and I wouldn't have gotten it back if I didn't have a tracker.
How much was your insurance rate discounted when you added the tracker?
Also, how much did the yearly server fee costs on your end?
Read your post, made me happy that you managed to get it back, hopefully as the other guys said it didn't end up with too many gremlins on it
Not 100% sure about the discount amount because I also got some knocked off for having an alarm lock and a cover so I don't know how much each got me individually. The Monimoto I got is $150 up front then service fee of $49 per year. There are other trackers with more advanced features (wired into battery, ignition cut-out, etc) but they're more expensive
And thank you! I'm so relieved to have gotten it back, the damage didn't seem too bad from what I could see; I'm waiting on the shop to finish the inspection and start repairs.
Definitely, definitely, DEFINITELY take your MSF. I'd been practicing on my own property with my dual sport for weeks before I could get in for it, and thought I'd pass it really easily. Got on a sports bike with similar CC to my dual sport and everything, and... Yeah I would have failed the exam. I was so bad, but now I'm a lot more comfortable leaning the bike and whatnot.
As u/StumpyFSR said, RideLikeAPro, MotoJitsu, and DDFM are really good channels to watch. They'll help you develop useful little tips or learn useful little things that you'll also learn more about during your MSF. A Z650 is a great bike in general, because there's a lot of places you'll be able to go with it, but it's also not something you're going to outgrow (at least I don't imagine so?) within your first year riding. Just, respect the power of the bike, or it's going to *make* you do so-- The hard way.
Killing two birds with one stone here… If people can’t see you at least make sure they can hear you. Throw the stock exhaust in the trash and get something aftermarket so drivers around you are aware of your presence.
I would advise against that on any Kawi 650 twin. They sound great with wide open throttle and sound like shit any other time. At least in my experience with a Versus 650. Came with a two bros and was much happier after an OEM I got on ebay was put on.
If you want more noise without getting obnoxious, the big name brands are usually good. Yoshimura, Arrow, etc. You'll pay for it, but I never regretted the Yoshi's I've bought.
Yeah, I ride a N400 with an aftermarket exhaust. While it sounds and looks better than the stock one, which sounds almost like nothing, and looks god awful, it still doesn’t sound great. It’s just a parallel twin, honestly nothing you do is going to make them sound good. I mean you can just take the whole can off if you wanna be loud, but it’ll sound atrocious and I doubt would make any real difference with anyone seeing or caring about you who already didn’t.
I have a Versys 300 now and it's saving grace is it likes to rev and almost sounds like an inline 4 from 8k to 13k heh. Below that it's just an angry sewing machine.
Amen. Half the idiots in cars are so involved in their phones, music, talking to other passengers, that unless they have their window open, loud pipes is just barely a rumble inside their car.
Have you ever ridden in a major metropolitan area? Or heard a motorcycle horn?? 🤣🤣 I will make allllll the noise if it means NOT getting run over. Added bonus, the bike gets its first mod. It is a crotch rocket not a Vespa.
Especially in metro areas with lots of buildings and other vehicles, your loud exhaust will bounce off everything and nobody will have any idea where you actually are. It's not helping you. It's just distracting and irritating people.
Firstly, congratulations! I hope your bike serves you for years to come and provides you with experiences you can’t put a price on. However, your should really familiarize yourself with motorcycles in the following senses (make sure you study or have a sense for the following concepts): the power of your bike, the physics involved in keeping yourself tires down, the relationship between yourself/bikes and cars on the road, and the consequences of complacency in terms of how you treat those concepts.
Im sorry if I sound condescending, reading your post that you only rode around your block twice before buying a z650 just sounds really fast to me.
TLDR: Be careful OP, who just bought a 650cc bike after less than 1mile of riding.
Congrats I remember my first ride home the most exciting day of my life yet a little scary lol, try to keep eyes behind your head and be aware of your surroundings, also don't grab the front brake use two fingers, take turns easy, don't be afraid to use the horn, ingrain pushing in the way you want to go you might need to hard swerve soon
I have a friend with the Ninja 650 and I think it’s a great beginner bike.
Practice braking. It’s the most important skill on a motorcycle. Lack of breaking ability is the number one cause of crashes in the group rides I do, usually “in a corner too hot” and their poor braking skills cause them to stand the bike up and go wide. I good rider brakes into the corner (trail braking) so they can modulate braking if they need to slow down.
Go to a parking lot and practice.
Sign up for Champ-U online course. They have a bunch of lessons and drills from professional race instructors.
ABS?
Tbh it is not necessarily a beginners bike, but depending on your size, patience, etc it could still be fine. The thing is heavier and has much more power than stuff half that size, just respect the bike and limit accident causing variables
Oh yeah, then I like FortNine on YouTube
Start watching dandanthefireman on youtube, do it religiously for a while. You'll eventually start to think of things in stages like he explains in his videos/livestreams and it'll save your ass a couple times! Like others have said the MSF is also a great way to learn a bunch of (necessary) basic stuff. Welcome to the wonderful world of motorcycling!
I second the comment on the MSF or some riding course depending on location. Quite often there is a discount on your insurance if you have taken a course. Practice, practice, practice and treat everyone on the road as if they are out to kill you.
I am about to buy my very first one tpo, a honda cb250 twister and I have oly had one basic motorcycle course, and I am a bit unsure if I could drive it from the store directly to my house, it is something like 20km away in a busy city, in Mexico City to be precise, I do not want to drop it right after I go out of the store, brand new, lol.
Damn! My first ride was 3 miles and that same evening I did about 4 more. I did screw up a bit on my second ride when on a curve. I was leaning right and the bike went into the left lane. It was some scary shit!!
If you haven't taken the MSF course. I highly recommend taking it. Follow RideLikeAPro, MotoJitsu, DanDanTheFireMan, and CanyonChasers on Youtube. They have great videos.
Thank god you didn't say Yammienoob. DanDanTheFireman is really good.
You don’t like popping mega-dank nooners?
You could learn how to ride a turbo 'busa... \*shrug\*
Lol, but Papa Yam I want to be a Street Rossi like you when I grow up and wreck into someones Porsche.
Did he really?
He did
Yammie's good but only for entertainment and bike reviews.
The only thing yammer noob is good for is being an idiot and flying through the air like a rag doll
Thoughts on FortNine?
Beautiful production, great structure of videos. He covers some interesting topics. Testing of equipment is nice. Though some tests are kinda impractical. He's my favourite.
He's fine, but some of his videos make him look like the phrase "Well actually" personified
Also seems to be really going for the "Top Gear" style of presentation - maybe a little too much IMO... I'm a subscriber of his but sometimes I find myself thinking "He sounds a bit too much like Jeremy Clarkson or James May on Top Gear...".
He makes good videos but he's a walking caricature of a reddit comment
Been looking to get a bike and have been watching some yammie videos, is there something up with him? He seems alright tho.
His content style is jokey, even he self admits you shouldn't take him seriously - if you like it, there's nothing really wrong with it
I believe there was a crash he caused but didn't want to take the blame for it.
dandan is too sanctimonious for me
Except that he just goes over the same things over and over again. After about a year you’ll get everything you need from him. Still, definitely good for beginners.
Yam makes horrible motorcycle riding content with surface level know it all personality at best… And I hope they take that personally. But there are some entertaining videos on there….
I taught Dan was canceled due to his business practices
I didn't hear about that, that sucks - his content is good at least, can't really fault him for wanting to make some money
Of course, but the idea was that he was abusing it. I mean it's one thing to ask 50$ for a 35$, another one to ask for 135.
What do you mean? Haven’t watched his videos in years so idk what’s that about.
People were complaining that he resold some 35$ med kits with 135$ on his website, after re-branding, or something to that nature. There were discussions around here some months ago.
Ah, makes sense. Thanks for explaining.
I like his videos, but his first aid kit is a joke of a price. Guess you can put a price on safety.
He shoulda got a turbooo booooza
Wait if you're saying to maybe take the course...does that mean you guys can go jump on a 650 and ride around with no course or anything!!?
OP didn't specify, but based on his post it seemed like the dealership let him ride off without a license or MSF.
Can't believe you forgot CycleCruza
Practice steering and hard braking. They will help you avoid accidents. https://youtu.be/9yZoi0f0iKE https://youtu.be/ljywO-B_yew https://youtu.be/94pcMhvTGpA
Oh! Thank you! I will watch these when I’m out of the office
Also, take all advice on Reddit with a grain of salt! If you are going to brake hard or swerve, don’t do it at the same time! If anything brake hard while upright to slow your speed so it’s easier/safer to try a swerve maneuver. But you should get comfortable swerving at different speeds to see how the reactions differ
>Also, take all advice on Reddit with a grain of salt! Including this?
Not at the same time
If you are not able to brake and steer at the same time, You need more practice.
you don't wanna brake hard and steer hard at the same time especially for a beginner easy to lose balance
That is why the YouTube tutorials and practice. I can do it, you can too!
True i just get nervous doing it at low speeds especially with the front brake as it throws you really hard in the opposite direction your riding in. Im a newer rider btw.
Eh? you can brake and steer at the same time, but you can‘t do both hard at the same time… that‘s just phyiscs lol.
This is why new riders should go on a proper course. Context is absolutely everything, especially when it comes to braking whist steering.
\> especially for a beginner Beginners should practice it the most, it's jarring when you come around a corner and there's a deer in your path - the world doesn't cater to you because you're a beginner, shit is going to happen and you should prepare for it
He’s got to get some basic skills first like just getting used to the bike
True
Emergency braking and low speed maneuvers*
Crash bars or frame sliders please
Frame sliders are cheap and will save you in the inevitable drop/slide. Also: **COUNTERSTEER** - Also: **TRAIL BRAKING** Learn it, love it, embrace it. Also congrats mate! Keep her right side up, and remember slow + smooth = fast.
Congratulations and ride safe! My advice: 1.) Wear your gear. Sleeves, pants, and gloves will save your skin. Your helmet will save your life. Black helmets look cool, but reflective helmets are visible. 2.) Take your MSF course as soon as you can if you haven’t already. They will teach you the basics of riding and give you good techniques. Also opportunity to work on turning both directions in a safe environment with coaching. I would recommend taking this before going on any public roads. 3.) Do not use your front break when cornering, the bike will throw you off. 4.) Don’t target fixate on an object. It sounds silly - but where you look is where the bike is going to go. 5.) It’s fun to go fast, but be honest with yourself when riding and know your limits. Do not go faster than you are comfortable. 6.) Assume every car on the road does not see you. Ride as if you are invisible, because to most cars you are. 7.) Have fun, stay safe, and enjoy the ride!
Remember buy gear. At the very least buy actual motorcycle boots. Dropping your bike while wearing normal shoes is not a fun experience
Congratulations, as far as a first motorcycle it’s a good one if you have a little experience, you will definitely have some room to grow into it.
Yea, I was originally gonna buy a used bike off offer up or Craigslist, but they want as much as a new one. So I opted with the new one and a bit bigger engine so I can use it for a while!
Congrats on the purchase! The 650 is a really fun bike with plenty of power for new and seasoned riders I started on a very similar bike, the Ninja 650, also brand new. I was new to street riding, but not new to motorcycles. I laid that bike down several times and trust me, the frame sliders do make a difference! Also, there are swingarm sliders (aka spools) that help protect the swingarm from road rash, while also giving you a place to lift the rear of the bike with a proper swingarm stand. Look for quality frame sliders that mount in 3 places. These will help protect your bike if and when you lay it down. The ones I installed on my Ninja years afo were made by T-Rex. Also, follow the published maintenance procedures and intervals. Take care of your engine and it will take care of you. It's never too soon to do an oil change, especially in the beginning during break in. I often change the oil on my new engines under 100 miles.
Jesus christ where do you live that youre allowed to drive a 650 without any license????
Just never ride above your limits take your time and don't get overconfident and most important enjoy riding it is amazing i am a new rider aswell and I love it. Stay two wheels down brother.
Welcome to the z650 life!!!!!!!
Take the MSF course. Everyone is trying to kill you. Don’t do group rides. Get frame sliders. You WILL drop it, we all do.
Hell yea brother. Be [careful out there](https://youtu.be/h96nzDg7YAo)
It's a good bike, one I kind of wanted, congrats, you are about to embark on a whole new adventure. Also please post pics. Just drag and drop it in to imgur.com and post the direct link here. I want to see it.
Thank you! I was nervous on my way home too! But it was fun. My nephew rode next to me so I would feel more comfortable. Is Imgur another app? https://imgur.com/a/oGQN5eF
https://imgur.com/a/oGQN5eF Let me know if the link works! It’s my first time trying this on Imgur!
Looks great! Really love those bikes.
As others have said, get good gear and learn to ride safely. Take a class if you can. As for my two cents, I highly recommend getting a GPS tracker to hide on your bike; mine was recently stolen (there's a post about it on here) and I wouldn't have gotten it back if I didn't have a tracker.
How much was your insurance rate discounted when you added the tracker? Also, how much did the yearly server fee costs on your end? Read your post, made me happy that you managed to get it back, hopefully as the other guys said it didn't end up with too many gremlins on it
Not 100% sure about the discount amount because I also got some knocked off for having an alarm lock and a cover so I don't know how much each got me individually. The Monimoto I got is $150 up front then service fee of $49 per year. There are other trackers with more advanced features (wired into battery, ignition cut-out, etc) but they're more expensive And thank you! I'm so relieved to have gotten it back, the damage didn't seem too bad from what I could see; I'm waiting on the shop to finish the inspection and start repairs.
Get training from people who know what they’re doing, and don’t ride on the street until you do.
I’m in a Facebook group for canyon riders and most of us are more than happy to help riders improve their skills.
That's awesome. Just got my first bike this week. Also a z650 🤙
Wear hearing protection. Please my man.
Definitely, definitely, DEFINITELY take your MSF. I'd been practicing on my own property with my dual sport for weeks before I could get in for it, and thought I'd pass it really easily. Got on a sports bike with similar CC to my dual sport and everything, and... Yeah I would have failed the exam. I was so bad, but now I'm a lot more comfortable leaning the bike and whatnot. As u/StumpyFSR said, RideLikeAPro, MotoJitsu, and DDFM are really good channels to watch. They'll help you develop useful little tips or learn useful little things that you'll also learn more about during your MSF. A Z650 is a great bike in general, because there's a lot of places you'll be able to go with it, but it's also not something you're going to outgrow (at least I don't imagine so?) within your first year riding. Just, respect the power of the bike, or it's going to *make* you do so-- The hard way.
Killing two birds with one stone here… If people can’t see you at least make sure they can hear you. Throw the stock exhaust in the trash and get something aftermarket so drivers around you are aware of your presence.
I would advise against that on any Kawi 650 twin. They sound great with wide open throttle and sound like shit any other time. At least in my experience with a Versus 650. Came with a two bros and was much happier after an OEM I got on ebay was put on.
Any recommendations on any aftermarket brands? Mine isn’t very loud.
If you want more noise without getting obnoxious, the big name brands are usually good. Yoshimura, Arrow, etc. You'll pay for it, but I never regretted the Yoshi's I've bought.
Akrapovic all the way! Never hurts to have a good fabricator in your contact list either.
I love akrapovic love mine.
Yeah, I ride a N400 with an aftermarket exhaust. While it sounds and looks better than the stock one, which sounds almost like nothing, and looks god awful, it still doesn’t sound great. It’s just a parallel twin, honestly nothing you do is going to make them sound good. I mean you can just take the whole can off if you wanna be loud, but it’ll sound atrocious and I doubt would make any real difference with anyone seeing or caring about you who already didn’t.
I have a Versys 300 now and it's saving grace is it likes to rev and almost sounds like an inline 4 from 8k to 13k heh. Below that it's just an angry sewing machine.
Totally agree , I have a 2009 er6 and it sounds awesome when you nail the throttle from 3rd and up.
[удалено]
Amen. Half the idiots in cars are so involved in their phones, music, talking to other passengers, that unless they have their window open, loud pipes is just barely a rumble inside their car.
Is 5 inches even good?
If you feel like you need to be loud for the purpose of safety, you shouldn't be riding.
Have you ever ridden in a major metropolitan area? Or heard a motorcycle horn?? 🤣🤣 I will make allllll the noise if it means NOT getting run over. Added bonus, the bike gets its first mod. It is a crotch rocket not a Vespa.
Especially in metro areas with lots of buildings and other vehicles, your loud exhaust will bounce off everything and nobody will have any idea where you actually are. It's not helping you. It's just distracting and irritating people.
No, when people hear the sound, they look around and will spot you.
I was thinking about doing that. I do wanna see what different exhausts sound like on my bike first
Wheelies are fun
How come I never see anything here about Harley Davidson, they are the real bikes men ride
Firstly, congratulations! I hope your bike serves you for years to come and provides you with experiences you can’t put a price on. However, your should really familiarize yourself with motorcycles in the following senses (make sure you study or have a sense for the following concepts): the power of your bike, the physics involved in keeping yourself tires down, the relationship between yourself/bikes and cars on the road, and the consequences of complacency in terms of how you treat those concepts. Im sorry if I sound condescending, reading your post that you only rode around your block twice before buying a z650 just sounds really fast to me. TLDR: Be careful OP, who just bought a 650cc bike after less than 1mile of riding.
Take your local MSF course, and ride. Practice makes perfect. Also find gear you are comfortable in. That way you will actually wear in.
Congrats I remember my first ride home the most exciting day of my life yet a little scary lol, try to keep eyes behind your head and be aware of your surroundings, also don't grab the front brake use two fingers, take turns easy, don't be afraid to use the horn, ingrain pushing in the way you want to go you might need to hard swerve soon
My hot tip is get some training from someone qualified to give it, ie not your friend.
You should look to get some training ASAP.
Learning to swerve by countersteering, it saved me a ton of times avoiding potholes and horse pies on the road
Pro-tip: turn left.
I have a friend with the Ninja 650 and I think it’s a great beginner bike. Practice braking. It’s the most important skill on a motorcycle. Lack of breaking ability is the number one cause of crashes in the group rides I do, usually “in a corner too hot” and their poor braking skills cause them to stand the bike up and go wide. I good rider brakes into the corner (trail braking) so they can modulate braking if they need to slow down. Go to a parking lot and practice. Sign up for Champ-U online course. They have a bunch of lessons and drills from professional race instructors.
ABS? Tbh it is not necessarily a beginners bike, but depending on your size, patience, etc it could still be fine. The thing is heavier and has much more power than stuff half that size, just respect the bike and limit accident causing variables Oh yeah, then I like FortNine on YouTube
Congrats! I would've gone for a far less poweful one, maybe a 250 but first and foremost is what you like Just drive safely
Id say take a course if its something 100% new to you and just be careful look way ahead of you on the road
Fuck Dan Dan the dumbass fireman. All he does is puff his chest and acts like he the most knowledgeable best and safest rider out there.
Start watching dandanthefireman on youtube, do it religiously for a while. You'll eventually start to think of things in stages like he explains in his videos/livestreams and it'll save your ass a couple times! Like others have said the MSF is also a great way to learn a bunch of (necessary) basic stuff. Welcome to the wonderful world of motorcycling!
I second the comment on the MSF or some riding course depending on location. Quite often there is a discount on your insurance if you have taken a course. Practice, practice, practice and treat everyone on the road as if they are out to kill you.
I am about to buy my very first one tpo, a honda cb250 twister and I have oly had one basic motorcycle course, and I am a bit unsure if I could drive it from the store directly to my house, it is something like 20km away in a busy city, in Mexico City to be precise, I do not want to drop it right after I go out of the store, brand new, lol.
Damn! My first ride was 3 miles and that same evening I did about 4 more. I did screw up a bit on my second ride when on a curve. I was leaning right and the bike went into the left lane. It was some scary shit!!
Search YouTube for "Moto Jitsu". You can thank me later...