im getting my learners permit soon, but before i do i want to do my research into protective gear because obviously motorcycle riding can be dangerous. ive decided i want to buy a yamaha xv250 virago for my first bike,
so i was wondering what the best protective gear to buy would be?
ive looked at many web sites but theres such a big range of gear that i dont know whats better. im mainly after the safest and most comfortable armoured gear (plus something that looks ok as well), money isnt really a big issue as long as the money is well invested. i want to buy every piece of protective gear from my helmet to boots to gloves to pants etc etc. and im after gear that is fairly visible (for obvious reasons).
obviously i'll prob have to go to the motorcycle shop and try on the gear
but i just wanted to get an idea of what types/brands etc of gear i should look at. also any other tips would be great!

thanks in advance

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I am about to purchase this bike for ,200 with 4,900 miles on it. The bike just had a fresh oil change and was inspected. It has an aftermarket slip on exhaust that is carbon fiber, but I don't know the brand. It is in great shape, appearing brand new. Is this a good price? Help is greatly appreciated.

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I'm really looking into buying a motorcycle. I live in Alaska, so not many people are selling them. However a friend of mine bought this 2007 Ninja last summer, and wants to sell it this summer so he can get a faster bike.

He wants ,000 for the motorcycle + the helmet. It has 4,100 miles on it.

My question is... Is it worth it to buy this motorcycle? Or should I keep looking until I can find something cheaper? I'm only 19, and this summer I'll be making around an hour. So I can pay him off, but I'm just concerned that I'm spending too much for a beginner...

Can anyone give me some advice?

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for a 2002 honda 600 f4i

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I'm seriously thinking about getting a scooter/motorcycle, but I've never rode one before. I'm thinking of getting a cruiser if I get a motorcycle and I want something I can go on road trips with.

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I want to buy a new moped or scooter but I really have no idea what a good bike would be. I have a pretty tight budget...like 00 max... I would like it to go pretty fast, but for the most part I will be driving it around the college campus. I read somewhere that if a moped goes over a certain speed that you have to buy a motorcycle license (in Florida)? Can anyone clarify that for me? Does anyone know how difficult/expensive it would be to purchase a motorcycle license in the state of Florida?

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Okay, I am looking into purchasing my first motorcycle. I am going to take the motorcycle safety course before I even buy the bike though but I would like to know what options could be available to me and what opinions more experienced riders have for me. I'm 5'10", 200 lbs. I've always been facinated by bikes but never ridden a motorcycle. LOTS of bicycles (mountain, road, etc) but I don't know if that will make a difference or not. As stated, i'm going to take the course at the beginning of next month and afterwords find a bike. I'm looking at a couple and was wondering what you all though. My thoughts are the CBR600, a FZ6, a Ninja 250 or 500, GS500 or Katana 600. haven't decided on new or used one but thinking used might be better. Do dealerships carry used bikes? What do you all think about these choices? Am I looking where I should be or am I shooting too high. I'd like to keep the price under 00 for the bike and helmet/gloves/jacket to start. Anything else I should consider?

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Can I install a trailer hitch on an '02 or '03 Ford Taurus SES (V6) and haul a small trailer w/ my motorcycle around? Motorcycle weighs roughly 400 lbs.

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My wife suffers from some pretty serious anxiety. She worries. A lot. About everything. I love motorcycles, but never bought one because a: I've never really been one to take the initiative and make a "me" purchase, and b: my wife is very afraid of what might happen to me. This year for my birthday, I said I wanted a used bike to "try out" since I hadn't been on one in ages. Initially she was against it, but something changed her mind, and she surprised me with a brand new cruiser! I love it. I ride it nearly every chance I get. (not many of those this time of year) The problem is that she has an anxiety attack every time I ride, and it's getting worse as we go along. She actually cried the last time she saw me get my helmet. I've offered to get rid of the bike, but she insists that she wants me to have it, because she knows it gives me joy. She's right. It does, but I don't want to cause her extra worry and pain. I'm hoping she'll get more comfortable, but I feel selfish. Help!

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I have a 2005 Suzuki GSX R 1000

I need to new back tire and I want to order it now when bought brand new it came with a 190/50ZR17 M/C BRIDGESTONE BT014 R RADIAL E

Now I got Dunlop for it a year back on the tire it says 190/50ZR17 m/c 73w I found the tires on this site http://www.allbikesupershop.com/parts.aspx?category%7ccategory_root%7c528=Tires+%26+Wheels&category%7ccat_528%7c827=Tires&category%7ccat_827%7c897=Street+Tires&canned_results_trigger=&partfamilyid=8669
but there are 3 choices
1. Front Dunlop D616 120/70ZR17
by Dunlop
Item Number: 311650TUC
Dunlop Item Number: 301175
Tire Width: 120 mm
0Tire Class: Touring
Aspect Ratio: 70
Rim Diameter: 17"
Speed Rating: W - Max. Speed 168 mph
Load Index (L.I.): L.I. 58 - 520 LB.
Tube Designation: Tubeless
Tire Construction: Radial
Tire Position: Front
Tire Class: Performance Street
Sidewall: Blackwall
2. Rear Dunlop D616 180/55ZR17
by Dunlop
Item Number: 311655TUC
Dunlop Item Number: 301030
Tire Width: 180 mm
0Tire Class: Touring
Aspect Ratio: 55
Rim Diameter: 17"
Speed Rating: W - Max. Speed 168 mph
Load Index (L.I.): L.I. 73 - 805 LB.
Tube Designation: Tubeless
Tire Construction: Radial
Tire Position: Rear
Tire Class: Performance Street
Sidewall: Blackwall
3. Rear Dunlop D616 190/50ZR17
by Dunlop
Item Number: 311657TUC
Dunlop Item Number: 301022
Tire Width: 190 mm
0Tire Class: Touring
Aspect Ratio: 50
Rim Diameter: 17"
Speed Rating: W - Max. Speed 168 mph
Load Index (L.I.): L.I. 73 - 805 LB.
Tube Designation: Tubeless
Tire Construction: Radial
Tire Position: Rear
Tire Class: Performance Street
Sidewall: Blackwall

I need to know what the differnces are I mean I can see the numbers are different but what do they mean and does it really matter

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I am going to Reinach, Switzerland on a business trip in two months. I will be spending some time in a factory in Cernay, France as well. Where can I rent a motorcycle in the area for the week? I have found a dealer in Frankfurt that rents bikes, but that is a little farther than I wanted to go to get it.

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In particular I'm curious about the maintenance required on both. Seems like maybe BMWs are sturdier in this regard.

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My boyfriend of almost FIVE YEARS that I have put up with so much sh*# from has really never included me in much. I have always looked up to him and tried to get him to include me in things. He has been wanting a Harley for a long time. Not a problem however, I wanted to be included. He goes out and buys one yesterday ..He bought a Harley Davison Fat Boy Softtail..I think...I hope I got it right. Anyway...I always know not to get to excited because there will always be some sort of let down on my end so I waited to see what it was gonna be THIS time. I asked him when he was going to buy me a helmet. He said he only had the bike insured for one person to ride so I couldn't ride it. I started fussing a bit and then he said..that a Harley has a weight limit of 450 lbs and that me and him combined were to heavy to ride. He said he weighed almost 300 lbs and I would put it over the limit because I am over the mark. I AM SO UPSET! Is it true or is he just wanting to play single?

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I'm buying a 2001 Yamaha R6 but i think it might be stolen becouse the guy i am buying it from has another bike also an R6 thats beat up and uses it for parts plus he bought an odomoter of ebay becouse he said the old one birned out so im thinking he switched the frames and is giving me the title to a diffrent frame and the frame is also polished so cant see the vin number. is there anything ican do before hand to make sure its not stolen, maby make him sign somthing or......

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I want to build something like this-
http://www.amazon.com/InStep-Take-2-Bike-Trailer/dp/B000EHY3G6/ref=pd_bbs_sr_4?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1236800464&sr=8-4

I have something I can use for the cloth top, but I need some ideas for the other parts. I thought maybe a square base and then PVC pipe to hold the cloth up. I don't know what I would make the base out of because it would have to be sturdy and water proof.

I also don't know how I would attach it to my bike. I also have a bike rack similar to this- http://www.amazon.com/Blackburn-1003202-EX-1-Bicycle-Rack/dp/B000BNS2U6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1236801137&sr=1-2

Any ideas?
Also, I'm trying to stay cheap compared to buying one, so please keep that in mind.
This trailer isn't for passengers or anything. I ride my bike to the store a lot and to summer marching band rehearsals, and I need something to carry a lot of stuff.

I have a lot of metal shelving for like, closets. We re-designed our house this year, and my dad replaced his sleving with something different. He saved all the old shelves.

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Hello Answers, I've a bit of a dilemma.

I don't know what to get.

I want a laptop, I've found a few, but I'm not sure. I mean, it's good for portability but, it's computing power is somewhat lacking.

Or, I was thinking of picking out some custom parts and just build my own PC (little pricer, but computing power skyrockets). The only down side to this, I'd have to get rid of the entertainmentcenter (old crappy one) in my room and buy a desk.

I've always wanted to have a motorcycle (Ninja 250 '08/09), and the ones I'm looking at are only 3.5k~ stock new, so figure 1.2k financed? (Plus helmet and armor--400~ and motorcycle license 200~)...

I have a car. It's not the best car in the world, but it's a car nonetheless. It's a Suzuki Swift '96... runs fine, just isn't fancy/fast. I've seen a few nice 02 Mustang GTs on Craigslist... 1-2k down, leather/convertible, I know I'd have a blast with that. Then again though, it's only a car... <_<

So, Yahoo, what do you think?
Thing is though with laptops, once they get too old, you have to ditch them. They're way too big a pain to replace major parts like the motherboard, and in times that are changing, that's not a good investment...

And yeah, I can't sell the Mustang if I got it, I'd have it under a finance.

The motorcycle would take another month of saving ,_,

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Will not be used for regular transportation. Also are motorcycle training schools worth the time????
Thanks for the input. I now own the machine. It is in a different state and I will not see it for a couple of months. I am going to sign up for the MC school. Riding alot 15-20 years ago then some as of late is not sufficient. I have found out that everything that can be done to the bike has been done mechanically and that there has been lots of cosmetics. Whee!!! Again thanks.

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I purchased a scooter last summer for gas savings and just took the motorcycle safety course. I fell in love with idea of a motorcycle. I am looking for something to take on longer trips (300 miles or so), around town, camping, taking my wife on a ride after I gain experience etc. I am thinking something in the 650 -1000 cc range to start with. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

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I've come into some money and would like to buy or start some kind of motorcycle related store, factory, company or rental thing. Any ideas or suggestions?

Thinks big.
Think small.
Think wacky and cool.
Be creative.

I like sport bikes, touring bikes, hotels (not camping), motorcycle classes, restaurants, trailers, Ducati, Buell, Suzuki and scooters, but I don't know what all other people have done.

What would YOU open?

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I love riding with my fellow sisters, but I am thinking of heading out on my own by getting a racing Buell cycle. What kind of bike should I get. Motorcycle riding is a very big part of my life.

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I am interested in buying a Suzuki GN125. It has 12,000 miles on the clock, a 125cc engine (i need a learner bike), is 8 years old, MOTed until November. The bike is in full working order but has a few minor cosmetic flaws. It's a gorgeous bike and I really like it. The Ebay listing is here http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270242599143&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab%3DWatching

What do you think? It is at £650 so far and I would have to travel 44 miles to pick it up and pay £27 to hire a traillor (i wouldn't be comfortable riding it home that distance and I need to drive the car back).

How much should I go up to?

Thanks in advance.
I am in the UK, so I cannot use the American websites to check - I do not have a zipcode (it will not allow me to enter an English one).

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I go for long rides with my mountain bike and was wondering how to make a good trailer that I could carry my stuff on?

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here is the ad for the scooter I am interested in:
Honda Elite 80 scooter for sale. Runs great and can go up to 50mph with one extra passenger. Recommend a new front tire. Engine is running good only need some warm up time. Have only 2344 miles odometer readings on it. I will also include a BONUS open face helmet with the motorcycle (size L) as shown on the picture. You'll need a truck to pick this up and please call me if you have any questions.

I spoke with the man who is selling it and he says that it has not been registered for about 5 years. Is it worth buying? How much would registration cost in California?

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I have a katana and the recomended tire specs are michelin Front : 120/70 ZR17 (58W) Rear : 150/70 ZR17 (69W) Right now I have Dunlop 170/60 ZR17 (72W) on the rear and a Dunlop 120/70 ZR17 (58W) on the front.

My first question is, how are these tires sized? For example, in the spec rear tire: 150/70 R17 (69W) what each number stand for?

My second question is since I have a 170/60 ZR17 (72W) is that bad or good? Is it over or under?

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