Quote:
Originally posted by Adam Chaplin
Very good advice! I've spent up on good protective gear (helmet/gloves/jacket/boots and kevlar armored jeans) as I just turned 30 and the idea of nursing road-pizza wounds while at work didn't appeal. I didn't really intend on it, but I rode it in the pouring rain the other day (weather turned bad and I got caught out) and had a blast. I guess the best thing I can do now, is to get as much experience in poor conditions as I can. I'm just a bit apprehensive about cornering grip and lean angles in the wet... I guess the confidence will come with time. I find it's so easy to just jump on the bike and run errands or go out. If IN have to go anywhere by myself, I just take the bike - sadly, the 911 will get even less use.
Is it always so much damned fun to wind these things out going uphill? 
My state seems to be very safety conscious here - I had to attend a (minimum) day-long rider course as part of my Licencing process (technically it's a Learner Permit) and I go back in a month or two to upgrade to a full licence, but will still have a minimum 12-month period where I'm restricted to 250cc or less, no pillion passenger and a Blood Alcohol level of 0%.
It's no big deal, I want to truly master this thing before I think about moving up to a larger bike - but when I do, it'll probably be a 600 sportbike or something. This thing is reasonably dozy below 10k rpm - plenty for commuting, but to have fun, it needs revs! Under full-blast, it's quick - since it's only 140kg (~300lbs), but with 45bhp. It doesn't hit as hard as some 2-stroke bikes would, but the power comes on strong and it sounds great!
It's strange, though - the day I was doing my course two guys rolled up on a Honda Fireblade and a Yamaha R1, both with sport pipes etc and both wearing full leathers... We thought they were instructors, but they were there for the learner course as well... 
Rick - sounds good! Do you have any pictures?
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I get paid to ride everyday, then ride on the weekends. I talk and deal with alot of motorcyclists. I will also be an MSF instructor by the end of the summer. I wish we had the same licensing restrictions here in the US.
Here you pay your money and with zero riding experience can ride out the dealer on a 160 Hp sportbike. Alot of guys read the magazines and then have to buy the latest greatest. I can tell by your post, that even though your CC restricted your interested in learning how to be a good rider. Good for you. Keep the rubber side down and have fun.